Geneva Cruz’s 35th anniversary concert, “Gen Evolution,” was originally planned as a Smokey Mountain concert, with Tony Lambino, James Coronel and Jeffrey Coronel.

“But we couldn’t do the concert with all four of us,” Geneva lamented. “James would be in the audience. Tony will be with me onstage. We might do a surprise. Jeffrey will direct the concert.”

“Gen Evolution” was originally scheduled last April in time for Geneva’s 49th birthday. However, Geneva and her team realized there were too many dance numbers to be choreographed.

“We would not have enough time to rehearse,” said Geneva. “I need more time with my dancers. Choreography is hard to rehearse than the vocals. More than memorizing the songs, the dance should be polished.

Hence, the concert was moved to May 30 at the Music Museum. “Basically, I’m ready,” said Geneva. “It’s just the costumes and the choreography. I’m a better dancer now than when I first started with Smokey Mountain. I’m really excited. I train more now.” 

“I also want to invite Tito Ryan (Cayabyab). If he doesn’t have work on May 30, I will invite him. It’s the Smokey Mountain anniversary, too. That was when we also started. That’s the 35 years.

“I just feel like it’s worth celebrating. People my age love to remember their younger years. Whenever I’m with Tony, Jeff and James, I feel like I’m 13 again.

Admittedly, Geneva and her concert director, Jeffrey Hidalgo, will feel the pressure when Mr. C will give his nod to guest in the concert.

“He’s our mentor,” Geneva said. “He was the one who discovered us. We will be pressured, me as the lead artist and Jeff as the concert director.”

Geneva recalled when she was part of the “demure girls of class ’94,” she remembers her crush.

“(Actress) Bernadette Allyson was my classmate,” said Geneva. “She was my best friend from Grade 7 to fourth year high school at OB Montessori in Greenhills. I remember our retreat, intrams.” 

After she completed her triathlon last year, Geneva feels she could do anything these days. She amazingly feels stronger now than when she did in her 20s and 30s.

“It’s still harder to sing and dance at the same time,” Geneva said. “It takes mental strength. You need to be alive. Your legs should be alive. Your brain needs to be alive. Your mind and body should be connected.

“I’m more athletic now than I was when I was younger. The audience will witness that. Just because I’m pushing 50, that doesn’t mean you can’t gain muscles anymore. You still can, more so now. Nothing is too late.”

In her “Gen Evolution” concert, Geneva will sing a lot of original songs, as well as new ones in her set list. “That should be part of your growth as an artist,” she said. “Hindi pwedeng sarado ang isip mo at puro luma na lang ang kakantatahin.

“As an artist, we have to evolve. Part of that is listening and singing songs that are new, from the new artists. That’s very important. Jeff, my concert director, is teasing me that he’s Gen Z. That’s why we do TikTok.

“We don’t refuse doing TikTok because that’s just for the young generation. If you’re a creative artist, you should be open to embrace the new things in a good way. You need to be able to do what’s new.

“Evolution is very important that’s why we adapted that title for my concert. For me, that’s not a problem. I always have this growth mentality. That has always been very big to me.

“That’s why I also pushed myself with my manager, ALV (Arnold L. Vegafria), for 28 years, almost three decades now. One year old lang si Heaven when I joined ALV.”

Geneva is back to school again. She is finishing her college degree, something that she always wanted to do.

“I feel that I want to do finish my studies for my children – Heaven, 29 and London, 11,” Geneva granted. “London admires me so much. Sometimes, when it’s like that, you really have to take care of what you do.

“It’s a big part of who I am. When you talk to me, I’m straightforward and honest. I’m done with pa-cute and pa-tweetums. That part of me, being sweet, is still there. I’m still occasionally shy. It will always be there. I’m just really grateful. I focus on gratitude now.”

Heaven recently turned 29 last March and Geneva is even proud that her son is adult now. He’s 6-feet-tall and very protective.

“I’m not afraid to grow old,” she said. “Heaven has a girlfriend now and according to my late mother, it’s wonderful to become a grandma.

“I’m also excited to become a lola. I know it’s different. I will be a glam-ma. I like lo-la, too. That’s cute. I’m ready for it. We really have to keep on evolving so we will not be left behind.”

Geneva is not only talking about the physical aspect, but more so her mental state. “Sabay ‘yan dapat,” she said. “Geneva now is different from 20 years ago, very different.

“Geneva then was very tame. Remember, I was a kid when I started with Smokey Mountain. I was only 13. I didn’t know about life and love then.”

“Paco Arespaochaga came into my life. He was my first boyfriend. I was only 17 then. I had Heaven when I turned 20. I will not change anything because of my son.

“My love with Paco was a different type of love. It wasn’t aligned. But Paco is a good friend until now. I think that looking back, there are people who are better off as friends.”

Costume change is also the hardest for Geneva’s stage venture. “I was a cheerleader in high school at the OB Montessori in Greenhills,” she offered. “I want to bring back that time. I want to relive that time when they remember Gift Gate, Sanrio, Swatch.

“I want them to remember the songs of those big brands. It was like people growing up with me. I lived in a fish bowl since I was 13, when I started singing professionally.”

Young artist Sam Shoaf will join Geneva as guest and will render Gen Z medley like songs of Bruno Mars. Her cousin, Donna Cruz, will also be a special guest.

Geneva will also do a Michael Jackson medley, being a fan. She is also a fan of South Korean artist Jungkook. The songs of Dua Lipa will also be on her set list, as well as songs of Kendrick Lamar.