We Built This City: Raymond Lauchengco on Gen X Nostalgia, OPM, and Sibling Love

There is a familiar rhythm to the way Raymond Lauchengco and his older sister, Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, interact. She is animated and expressive; he is measured and quietly amused. Together, they share the kind of effortless banter that only decades of siblinghood can produce.

At a press conference for Raymond’s upcoming concert, We Built This City, the exchange comes naturally. As Menchu speaks over him with her trademark theatrical enthusiasm, Raymond simply smiles, seemingly accustomed to sharing the spotlight with his outspoken older sister.

“That’s why Raymond’s so quiet,” Menchu jokes. “Because I’m kind of loud.”
“I grew up with her,” Raymond deadpans, summing up their contrasting personalities.
It is a small but telling exchange, offering a glimpse into the relationship at the heart of Raymond’s latest musical undertaking. More than a showcase of classic songs, We Built This City is a celebration of shared history—of the music that defined a generation, the friendships that endured, and the family bonds that continue to shape an artist’s journey.
Happening on November 21 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, the concert will feature an impressive lineup of special guests: Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, and Mitch Valdez. Directed by Menchu, the show brings together familiar voices and decades of musical memories in a tribute to Generation X and the soundtrack of its formative years.

A City Built on Memories
Taking its title from Starship’s 1985 hit, We Built This City, the concert uses the idea of a city as a metaphor for Generation X—a generation that built careers, raised families, forged lasting friendships, and learned to navigate life long before smartphones made everything instantly accessible.

“The city, in my mind, is a metaphor for Gen X,” Raymond reflects.
“Gen X did really, really well. Think about it: we raised families, we built careers, and we built friendships that have lasted the test of time. We drank water straight from the garden hose. We rode our bicycles until it got dark.”

For Raymond, the memories of the 1980s extend beyond the music. They belong to a time when independence came early, neighborhood friendships were nurtured outdoors, and knowing where everyone was did not require a group chat or a location-sharing app.
“We had one superpower,” he says with a grin. “We learned to rely on ourselves early. We knew where everybody was without having to text.”

That spirit of independence and connection informs the concert’s concept. Through music and storytelling, We Built This City revisits the milestones that shape a life: first loves, first paychecks, first hand-holds, and the early ambitions that made the future seem full of possibilities.

As concert director, Menchu brings those memories to life through the show’s visual storytelling and pacing, creating a setting where Raymond’s performances can resonate beyond the songs themselves.

The result promises to be less about recreating a particular decade and more about revisiting the experiences that made its music unforgettable.

Old Friends, Timeless Music, and a Date with a Songbird
Some of the most compelling stories behind We Built This City come from the relationships Raymond shares with his fellow performers. These are not simply guest appearances by celebrated names in Philippine entertainment. Many of these connections began decades ago, long before their careers reached their current heights.

His friendship with Gary Valenciano, for instance, predates the success of Bagets, the film that helped make Raymond a household name.
“I’ve known Gary for like 50 years,” Raymond recalls. “We were in a play called Oliver! together when I was 13 and he was 15. We began together in the theater.”
Their shared beginnings in theater provide a reminder that behind the familiar hits and celebrated careers are years of performances, collaborations, and friendships that helped shape their paths.

Raymond’s connection with Ogie Alcasid goes back to the late 1980s, when both artists were managed by industry veteran Roxanne Lapus. They performed on campus tours and appeared on the same variety-show bills, building a professional relationship through years of working in the entertainment industry.

Then there is Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Asia’s Songbird, with whom Raymond shares a particularly charming memory.
“Would you believe I dated her once?” he asks the room, prompting laughter.
Raymond explains that he once asked Regine out because he had fallen in love with her voice. Their date took them to Bistro Lorenzo for dinner, followed by a trip to the Meralco Theater to watch Evita.
There was, however, one unexpected addition to their evening.
“Third wheel si Mang Gerry!” Raymond laughs, referring to Regine’s father, who accompanied them.
“In my heart, it was a date. The whole time she was talking about somebody else, but it’s okay! I’m an adult. I get it.”

The story draws laughter, but it also captures the personal history that makes this concert more meaningful. These artists have witnessed one another’s journeys, from their early days in the industry to the enduring careers they continue to build today.
Their shared stage becomes an opportunity not only to revisit familiar music but also to celebrate the friendships and memories behind it.

The Sister Who Knows When to Push
If the concert is a celebration of Raymond’s musical journey, Menchu’s presence represents another essential part of that story.

Their partnership spans more than four decades, beginning in the workshops of Repertory Philippines when Raymond was 12 and Menchu was 15. What started as a close sibling relationship gradually developed into an artistic collaboration built on trust, candor, and a shared understanding of their craft.

“She was my very first best friend,” Raymond shares. “I would do everything with her. When she went out on dates, I was always her chaperone. I only went to Repertory Philippines because she wanted to audition and needed someone to come along.”
Their closeness ran so deep that Raymond admits he cried when Menchu got married, feeling as though he were losing his closest companion.

Decades later, that bond remains central to their creative partnership. As director and performer, they can challenge one another, exchange honest opinions, and push each other toward better work without losing the familiarity that comes from growing up together.

That honesty also extends to Raymond’s career decisions.
Following two successful post-pandemic concerts—his 40th anniversary show, Just All Firsts, and his 60th birthday concert—Raymond initially hesitated to mount another major production so soon. He wondered whether audiences might be ready for another show.

Menchu, apparently, had little patience for his doubts.
“She said to me, ‘Tandang-tanda mo na, magpe-break ka pa? Mahihiya ka pa?’” Raymond recounts, sending the press room into laughter.

Her words prompted him to reconsider.
“She opened my eyes, and I said, ‘Yes, I must continue what I am doing!’”
Menchu stands by her tough-love approach, arguing that her brother has more than enough reason to keep performing.

“Let’s be frank,” she says. “He should take advantage! We only do one major concert a year. He’s always taking breaks—sculpting, doing photography, directing. Break ng break! So no more breaks.”

The exchange is funny, but it also reveals something fundamental about their relationship: Menchu knows when her brother needs encouragement, even if that encouragement comes in the form of a well-timed scolding.

For Raymond, having someone who understands both the artist and the person behind the performances is an invaluable part of continuing his musical journey.

A Soundtrack for Every Generation
Although We Built This City draws heavily from the music and memories of the 1980s, Raymond is quick to point out that its appeal is not limited to those who grew up during the decade.

Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha are equally welcome to discover the music and make it their own.

“The music is simply different. It hits you differently,” Raymond explains. “Even when older fans bring their kids, the kids find something to enjoy because ’80s music is universal. That’s why it’s so easily revivable and re-arrangeable into something contemporary.”

It is a fitting perspective for a concert built around songs that have outlived their original era. Music may be tied to a particular moment in history, but its ability to evoke emotions, bring people together, and create new memories does not belong to any single generation.

That does not mean audiences should expect an elaborate costume party filled with neon tights and exaggerated shoulder pads.

“I love everything about the ’80s except our fashion choices,” Raymond jokes. “We meant well, but somewhere within that color spectrum, we got very confused!”
The humor reflects the concert’s approach to nostalgia: affectionate without being overly sentimental, celebratory without relying solely on retro spectacle.
Rather than simply recreating the past, We Built This City looks at what remains meaningful about it—the songs, the relationships, the experiences, and the shared memories that continue to connect people across generations.

The City We Continue to Build
A city is more than its buildings. It is shaped by the people who inhabit it, the relationships they nurture, and the experiences they carry with them as the years go by.
The same can be said of a musical legacy.

For Raymond Lauchengco, We Built This City brings together the many people and moments that have shaped his life in music: the friends who began alongside him, the fellow artists who became part of his journey, and the sister who has stood beside him from his earliest days in theater.

On November 21, those stories will find their way onto the stage of the Samsung Performing Arts Theater, where familiar songs and decades of shared history will come together in one evening.

Featuring Gary Valenciano, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, and Mitch Valdez, and directed by Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, We Built This City promises a celebration of Generation X, classic OPM, and the enduring power of music to bring people together.
Because while generations change and the world moves forward, the songs that become part of our lives—and the people with whom we share them—remain part of the city we build.

Raymond Lauchengco’s We Built This City concert happens on November 21 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. Tickets are available at premier.ticketworld.com.ph.

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