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For the past 17 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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MANILA --- Dina Bonnevie is one of the few women who proudly declare her age - which is 42 - because it doesn’t show. Thanks to a healthy lifestyle and a conscientious workout program, Ms. D. looks even more youthful than when she was crowned Ms. Magnolia when she was a teenager.
Dina is included among the 100 Sexiest Women Poll of FHM (For Him Magazine) Philippines, the No. 1 glossy publication for men. She has graced the cover of FHM - twice.
During a recent FHM party that feted the sexiest women of the Philippines, Ms. D. was so surprised when photographers circled her. “There were so many other girls who were sexier and younger,” Ms. D gushed. There’s no denying the Ms. D. charisma that has gotten many younger men so smitten.
In Gil Portes’ new film, she plays Carmen, a mother who blames the death of her only son (newcomer Marco Alcaraz) on his fiance Janice (newcomer Iya Villana). “There is a lot about Carmen I can sympathize with,” elaborates the forever young Ms. D. “For one thing, she’s estranged from her husband and she’s very close to her son, just like me. Do you know that my son Oyo Boy actually screens my dates? That’s how close we are,” she reveals.
As if further proof were needed regarding her enduring talent and beauty, Dina Bonnevie is currently starring in a new soap opera with Kris Aquino.
Ms. Dina, as a matter of fact, has never disappeared from the silver screen.
More than 20 years after she was launched as a Regal Baby in the film “Underage,” she continues to dazzle fans with her undeniable beauty and well-honed acting prowess.
The impressive and powerful “Beautiful Life” ensemble also features Miss Gloria Romero, Aubrey Miles, Angel Aquino, Michelle Bayle, Maxene Magalona, Reggie Curley, Raymond Bagatsing, and Ricky Davao.
Making their motion picture debuts are Regal Idols Marco Alcaraz, Iya Villania, and Cristine Reyes.
The award-winning Gil Portes (“Mga Munting Tinig”) directs “Beautiful Life” from a screenplay he co-wrote with Senedy Que and Adolf Alix. The film was photographed by Jun Aves and edited by Kelly Cruz. Roselle Monteverde-Teo is the producer while Lily Monteverde is the executive producer. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Actor Robin Padilla is reportedly considering doing a movie based on the life of freed Iraqi hostage Angelo dela Cruz.
The story of Angelo, after all, has all the ingredients of a good movie - drama, passion, suspense.
However, Robin looks too young for the role. While Robin is in his mid-30s, Angelo must be in his mid-40s.
In any case, did you know that ABS-CBN did the most extensive news coverage of the whole hostage situation? Yes, it was this No. 1 network which came with up-to-date news from the start of the tumultuous situation, when it launched the vigil “Kandila at Panalangin,” until Angelo’s homecoming on July 23.
The highlight of the coverage happened in a nondescript room of the Philippine Embassy in Baghdad, when Angelo finally saw his wife, Arsenia. He was also able to have an emotional talk with his children via cellular phone.
The images of his family and their voices were brought to Angelo from a hotel room in Clark Field in Angeles, Pampanga. It was a touching scene as the intimacy among the Cruz family during the the reunion was brought on Channel 2 and Studio 23, on cable through ANC (ABS-CBN News Channel), on radio through DZMM and on the web through the TFC (The Filipino Channel).
Credit for the comprehensive coverage of the Angelo de la Cruz drama should go to the ABS-CBN news team, composed of Danny Buenafe, ABS-CBN Middle East bureau chief, senior correspondent Henry Omaga-Diaz, correspondent Jay Ruiz, and senior cameramen Benrus Pascual, Val Cuenca and Rolly Marcelo. This group kept us informed of every twist and turn from their stations in Baghdad and Amman, Jordan. ABS-CBN Global in the Middle East, which was headed by Raffy Hizon, pulled out all stops to facilitate the teams’ Middle East shuffle, from logistics to diplomatic assistance. (MNS)
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By Roberto R. Perez De Tagle
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Atlantic City, NEW JERSEY --- On a gray afternoon last Sunday, the clouds held off releasing their drops just enough to allow Filipino-Americans from all over the metro New York and mid-Atlantic region to bask in three hours of melodies and memories of The Greatest Hitmakers.
At the Sand Castle baseball field, Rico J. Puno, Hajji Alejandro, Marco Sison, Rey Valera and Nonoy Zuñiga entertained fans with one great hit after another, drawing non-stop cheers from the mixed crowd of young and old. It was hard to notice that they'd been away from home base for about a month now, such was the energy and enthusiasm they brought to the stadium. I'm sure it didn't hurt that the crowd, despite the weather, was one of the most enthusiastic I've seen at a Filipino artist's concert: There's something to be said for a casual location for a concert.
After an opening by Jamie Ciello of New Jersey, the Fab Five, fresh from an Orlando, Florida performance the night before, came out one after another on to the field, headed by Nonoy, then Hajji with May Minahamahal, and Rey Valera with Ako si Superman. The group bantered back and forth with obvious cheer, clearly comfortable with each other on stage. That should not be a surprise, considering they've worked together in one concert or another over the years, and, as the five performers in The Greatest Hitmakers shows over the past year.
Marco Sison then started his solo segment with Make Believe and The Way You Look Tonight, reminding me of Perry Como with his smooth easy style. (I mentioned this to him, and he said that, no, he hadn't been told that before.)
Nonoy followed Marco on stage, his full, rich tone wrapped around the words of Lou Rawls' You're Gonna Miss My Loving, followed by my late mother's favorite, the poignant Kumusta Ka? He continued with the wistful Doon Lang, my favorite (particularly at sing-along parties). It was funny how this song's lyrics mirrored the afternoon gray: "doon ay kaya kong igapos ihip ng hangin, doon ay kaya kong ipagbawal buhos ng ulan…." Finally, two game crooners from the crowd sang along with Nonoy on his Love Without Time. That to me was a nice moment.
Rey Valera, the hit songwriter from Meycauayan, meanered next to the mound area of the field and brought the house down with his jokes about his resembling both Marc Anthony, the Latin singer, as well as Harry Potter and Freddie Aguilar, and how the venerable Rico J energized him to try his luck at stardom ("si Rico ang nagpasikat ng pangit sa Pilipinas…if he can make it, so can I"). I think of Rey as every Pinoy's singer, and singing his Maging Sino Ka Man, he proved how he could relate with his fans. After Naaalala Ka/ Pangako (sa Iyo) and Kung Kailangan Mo Ako, he ended with a new song that tells of the troubles, particularly economic and political, in the Philippines, Sa Aking Panahon. I mentioned to him right afterward that I hope that the next time we hear him sing this, there will reason to have lyrics of more hope and more determination than lament.
Mr. Hajji followed with a rousing segment that highlighted his dancing skills. After Tag-Araw, which I remember as one of the very first OPM hits, and Nakapagtataka (penned by Jim Paredes) with guest Alina, he brought the crowd to its feet with his Motown medley of Get Ready and You Can't Hurry Love, at one point welcoming a Michael Jackson-style dancer to join him on stage.
The Hitmakers then joined for a medley of Mr. Suave and Sex Bomb, including dancing sequences from would you believe Rey and Nonoy and a very game Marco, who had the best moves.
Mr. Rico J then sang, between his continual risqué jokes and comments, his solos of Kapalaran and Martin Nievera's Kahit Sandali and his signature Macho Gwapito Daw Ako. He was the boldest in going into the crowd, clambering up to the first row of the stadium above the bullpens on both sides. While his off the cuff comments kept the crowd on its toes, he asked Christine Marcaida to join him in a duet of I'll Be There made famous by Mariah Carey. His final number was his classic hit, The Way We Were/ Alaala. I was at this point by the upper rows and noticed a lot of people sing along.
The concert was organized by a very professional and courteous group of promoters headed by Odie and Dina of ODINA8888, with Five Star Cargo and Michael Gurfinkel Law Offices, along with MagnoPI's Hector Magno, and OLE Group's Ching and Ramon Legarda, Diamond Hut Jewelry, Perlas ng Silangan Restaurant, Hudson Buffet, Eyellusion Vision, Filipino Times and Southern Star.
The finale, too soon it seemed, though it had been three hours on this cool damp Sunday, had the Five sing Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika, Ayos Lang, Lupa, My Love with See You Through, and Never Ever Say Goodbye.
At the meet and greet the next evening at Perlas ng Silangan restaurant in Queens, we got to talk more casually with the performers, who were extremely approachable and, well, friendly. Nonoy and Marco talked about their families, and stocking up on phone cards and getting on email to keep in touch, and Nonoy doing charity medical work and Marco a Laguna official. Manager Norma Japitana, so gracious and attentive, talked about their lagare schedule from Australia to the Philippines and then this one-month tour ending in Chicago. And Rico focused on how this was truly an enjoyable musical journey (while the overhead screen showed their past show at Music Museum), with his juggling his role as an elected official in Makati with performing, and their attempts at energizing the music industry in the country.
This was truly a satisfying concert experience, with not one or two but five established singing stars who not only have their own distinct styles and following but also have demonstrated the staying power of true talent.
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