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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 --- Rachelle Ann Go, the country’s newly discovered pop princess, is set to release a self titled debut album in the 27th of this month. The 17-year-old Champion of the 2004 “Search For A Star” is enjoying her new found passion in life, music.
 Rachelle Ann started taking voice lessons when she was six years old. Her father, Mr. Oscar Go, knew that even before Rachelle Ann turned a year old, she was already destined to be a singer. Shin would hum songs as her father revealed in an interview.
Although singing has been her dream even when younger, some did not believe on her abilities. Shin (as her friends call her) reveals in her intro video in the Search For A Star grand finals, “marami rin po akong napagdaanan, marami rin pong nag-criticize sakin pero nalagpasan ko rin po iyon”. She also mentioned in an interview right after winning the competition that she often channel these bad criticisms into a way to interpret her songs better.
The 17-year-old’s journey to find her rightful place in the music business wasn’t a smooth one as she recalls. “Simula pa nga po bata ako yun na po ang dream ko, maging isang singer sumasali na po ako sa contests, hindi ko po inaakalang ganong kahirap akala ko po madali lang nung bata ako”. At the age of nine, Rachelle Ann joined her first amateur singing contest in their baranggay. Without any hesitations or whatsoever, she belted out Regine’s Asia Pacific Singing Contest winning piece, “And I Am Telling You” and bagged the grand prize, to think that she was the youngest contestant then. She also joined Eat Bulaga’s “Birit Baby” and ended up being a runner-up. In 2003, an opportunity to audition for the country’s leading singing contest opened up. She won the weekly round with her take on Mariah’s “Through The Rain”, even Regine was praising her for her strong take on the song. She earned the second position in the grand finals after winning the semi finals with her rendition of Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful”. On March 13, 2004, Rachelle was crowned as the Grand Champion of Search For A Star. Her winning piece was Mariah Carey’s “Through The Rain” which is included in her self titled debut album.
Rachelle Ann has already gone far after winning. In a span of four months, she has recorded an album, had a hit song with Salbakuta called “Yo Gloria”, and top billed a concert together with Sarah Geronimo and Erik Santos called “Night of the Champions”. She wowed the audience with her “nakakakilabot” rendition of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” and “Sharon Cuneta Medley” which earned a thunderous applause from the crowd in the Araneta Coliseum. She is also set to perform in numerous shows in the United States with Sarah, Mark, and Christian. They’re going to be in New York on September 18, San Francisco on September 22, Chicago on September 26, Los Angeles on October 2, and in Las Vegas on October 3.
At the moment, Rachelle is a mainstay in ASAP Fanatic, showing her versatility week after week. She’s not just a singer who sounds good with ballads and slow songs, she’s proven that she can sing different genres and can still sound good. She is also preparing for the release of her self titled debut album this coming July 27 with the carrier single “Don’t Cry Out Loud”.
Please visit www.rachelleanngo.com for more information on Rachelle Ann Go.
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 MANILA --- As co-finalist on Star For A Night talent search competition, Mark Bautista’s talent was not ignored as the second best. His exposure in the competition caught Viva’s attention and immediately signed up the young performer. This venture has produced the young singer’s first self-titled CD album and has become a fast seller. The album has 12 cuts which includes Mark’s heart-warming version of Basil Valdez’s “Ngayon at Kailanman” which he sang on the finals of Star For A Night.
There was a duet with Sarah Geronimo titled “Ako’y Maghihintay”, other songs like “Baliw”, “Kapag Ako’y Kailangan”, “Another Chance”, “Sayang Naman”, “One Girl”, “Lahat sa Buhay Ko”, and the cover versions of “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, “Out Here On My Own”, “Lost Without Your Love” and “Power of Love”.
His version the classic “Ngayon at Kailanman” rightfully earns Mark the title of the “Young Balladeer of the Year” hands down. The rendition is fresh and romantically gentle.
As Sarah Geronimo’s romantic pair, Mark has made guest appearances at concerts featuring the former and other artists around Metro Manila and the country likewise. He maintains a close friendship with Sarah, besides being her co-star in the teleserye “Sarah, The Teen Princess”.
Mark will be appearing in a featured film together with Sarah and this would also be an entry at this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival on December 2004. Raised in Cagayan De Oro, Mark has dreamt of stardom at an early age. He sought to enter every singing contest, as he continually pursues his passion of singing. As very well documented in a dramatic episode of the popular show “Maalaala mo kaya”, Mark did reach out for his stars and the rest is history.
Mark is disciplined with his life style. Given the unholy hours of taping shows and appearances around town, Mark maintains a healthy regimen and takes care of his voice. He adds that he could not be irresponsible and not take care of his health, given that few are handed the opportunities in his chosen career.
Mark continually seeks to improve his singing and would not mind the long hours of training. He has learned that a singer must first master the basics, like proper breathing techniques. He believes that such training will have long term benefits on his career.
Given the chance to enjoy his free time, Mark seeks the support and company of his immediate family in Cagayan De Oro. He plans to earn a college degree in business or architecture in the near future.
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 SEX videos would not proliferate if we respected one another. I pray that this does not happen to any of my daughters. ‘Wag nila akong bibiruin (Don’t anybody dare). I’ve been to jail, at kinaya ko doon (and survived it).”
Clearly annoyed, actor Robin Padilla told entertainment writers in no uncertain terms on Wednesday that anyone stupid enough to show him or his family any such “disrespect” had better beware.
“I would tell my daughters to be wary, but the guys to be warned,” the actor, also known as Binoe, said.
“People keep blaming cell phones when they should be blaming themselves,” Robin pointed out, referring to the most current mode of passing on sex videos. “Why should [any woman] agree when her boyfriend asks to record their lovemaking? But if you really want to do such a thing, this is what you really want, make sure you delete the video afterward.”
He counseled, like a father to young ones: “Guys should remember that their girlfriends would agree to do such a video only because they trust and love you. Whatever happens to your relationship, it’s important that you still have respect for each other.”
Besides, he added, channeling the more familiar Binoe, “Nakakawala ng pagkalalake ang pagiging tsismoso (Being a blabbermouth diminishes your masculinity).”
In 1995, Robin was convicted and sentenced to a jail term of 17 to 21 years for illegal possession of firearms. He was granted presidential pardon after serving about three years.
The actor and his wife Liezl Sicangco have four children, three of them girls—Queenie, 13, Kylie, 11, and Shin Shin, 9.
Expos‚s related to sex videos have practically been a staple of show biz talk shows for weeks now. ABS-CBN recently complained to the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) and the Professional Artists Managers Inc. (Pami) about the showing of one such video said to involve ABS-CBN talent Piolo Pascual. Other alleged “victims” so far are Paolo Bediones, Troy Montero and Ethel Booba.
According to Robin, his eldest daughter is bent on following in his footsteps as a movie star. He said he was initially disappointed. “But I can’t contradict what she wants to do in life.” He was his daughter’s age, he recalled, when he decided to chase his own dream.
Now, Robin said, he has become very choosy about roles. “As much as possible, I want my movies to have social relevance, to help me share my beliefs with others,” he explained.
He said he has received a lot of offers lately, including one opposite a teen-aged leading lady. “’Yan daw ang uso ngayon, pero hindi na bagay sa akin (They say it’s the fad, but I’m not sure it suits me,” the actor pointed out. “You can’t make me do something that I don’t have the heart for.”
Robin plays the lead in the comedy film “La Visa Loca,” co-produced by former girlfriend Sharon Cuneta and Tony Gloria of Unitel Pictures. Mark Meily directs.
“La Visa Loca,” Meily’s second feature film, is based on the Palanca award-winning script “Penitencia Republic,” which Meily himself wrote.
Talk about social relevance. Robin is Jess Huson, a street-smart limo driver whose ambition is to work in the United States as a caregiver-but first he should secure a US visa. It smacks of his own personal experience. “My first request for a US visa was rejected. Matagal bago ako nabigyan (It took a while before I got it). But I don’t blame anyone; my record is not exactly spotless. I’m an ex-convict. There are people who really deserve to get visas, but get denied. This movie is about them.”
“La Visa Loca” also stars Rufa Mae Quinto, Johnny Delgado, Tessie Tomas, Isay Alvarez, Robert Se¤a and Marissa Sanchez.
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