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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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HAVING seen the inside of the briefcase was nothing short of a twilight zone material. And The fear that has engulfed me since seeing Mr. Tan come up with the infamous briefcase was abruptly replaced by dread and nausea.
“Have you made up your mind?” Mr. Tan asked. And for the lack of a better response and with a tinge of desperation, I said, “No, not yet.”
In a flash, the Tan family let out a thunderous, synchronized “WHAT??!!” . I swear it sounded so much like how the 1 billion or more Chinese people burping all at the same time would sound. It was sonically bone -crushing. But compared to the silent wailing I was doing in the full realization of actually choosing something from briefcase, it was a whisper.
Inside the briefcase were compact discs. Compact discs of the worst hit songs ever written.The Yamashita Treasure of the worst melodies ever recorded since man discovered he has ears. The collection of songs I would never be caught dead listening to.
Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus – If Ludwig Van Beethoven were alive today, and had the chance to “see” the score of this horrible song, he would endlessly thank God for making him deaf. And since classically trained musicians and composers could actually mentally “hear” the notes that they “see”, Beethoven would have asked the good God to include blindness in the package.
The Glory of Love by Peter Cetera, from the movie “The Karate Kid” - “What the hell was Peter Cetera thinking?” After his legendary stint with Chicago, he embarked on a forgettable solo career, which produced this musical cliché. Like a knight of shining armor and I am the man who will fight for your honor? Come on, now, there are better phrases than these. I bet fans of this song does the Ralph Macchio climactic fighting stance while listening this song.
To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before by Julio Iglesias - Allegedly the hunkiest song ever written. I always smell a phantom scent of “Old Spice”, “Brute”, Jovan Musk for Men” or to be brutally honest, the smell of a dirty old man whenever I hear this song. The soapy ballad combined with the imaginary scent of all those I mentioned above would surely stir my tummy and start to reject the digested food inside it. Nausea Grande.
Hello by Lionel Richie - This song, like the number 3 song, makes me imagine a lot of things; most remarkably, a stripper’s pole, I cant help but think of a strip show when this songs plays. By the way, I was told that Lionel gets half of his total monthly royalty earnings from the use of this song in all the strip joints in Vegas.
Through the Years by Kenny Rogers - This is the quintessential “Photo album” theme song. Wouldn’t it be nice to open an album filled with memories trapped in celluloid with this song booming in the background? Or view your wedding album while singing the lines.. “Through the years, you never let me down, you turn my world around”. Cheesy! Speaking of cheesy, I think the only great thing Mr. Kenny Rogers did in his life was his roast chicken with a mac & cheese on the side.
(to be concluded)
Ted Reyes is a journalist, composer, musician and record producer based in NY. For comments about this column or submissions for music or film review etc. you can email him at tedreyes@mac.com or visit his website at http://www.tedreyes.com.
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MANILA --- How sad to hear that in so short a time, Ai Ai de las Alas’ romance with American businessman Art Carter has turned sour.
The comedienne reported to friends that Art’s feelings for her appeared to have lessened when she failed to make good her promise to be with him on his birthday a few weeks back.
The reason? On the day she was supposed to leave for the US, she had an asthma attack. “Kaya ang ginawa ni Ai Ai, umalis siya to be with Art when she felt better,” related a friend. “Kaso raw, when she finally had the chance to talk to Art, parang wala na ‘yung dating enthusiasm nito sa kanya. Kaya raw she texted him and called it quits. Ang sagot daw na kanyang natanggap: Stay cool. Whatever that means.”
Oh, well, Ai Ai, you can charge it to experience. We wish you better luck next time. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Jonard Yanzon is now more known as the boyfriend of Aiko Melendez. Few know that the young singer-actor (he’s turning 25 while Aiko is 29) is a veteran theater thespian who started doing musicals when he was still a kid, like ‘Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ ‘Aladdin,’ ‘The
Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe,’ and ‘Little Prince.’
Later, he did ‘Miss Saigon’ at the CCP. His last play was ‘Beauty and the Beast’ where he played Lumiere. Now, he appears in ‘Footloose’ as the alternate of Jay-R in the lead role of Ren and as the villain, Chuck. ‘I had to memorize the lines and songs of both characters as I’ll get to play both of them,’ he says.
So how is he and Aiko?
“We’re okay. When I courted her, she asked me: Do you know what you’re getting into? Kasi nga, she has a son. But when I met Andre, I also fell in love with the boy, bumigay na ako. Kasundo ko pati mommy ni Aiko and her three siblings.”
So what does he like in Aiko?
“She’s a beautiful person, inside and out. She has a good heart and is generous to her family, friends and constituents. And when she helps, you can see her sincerity. She can make me smile when I’m down. She really has a lot of good qualities. Tabain nga lang. Hoy, huwag mo nang ilagay ‘yun,” he laughs.
We tell him Aiko’s Mommy Elsie also used to be so fat but is now very slim. “Kasi she exercises daily.”
Have they talked of marriage?
“Yes, but not seriously. Napag-uusapan lang. We’re still taking our time to get to know each other better. No need to rush.”
Jonard won first prize in the 1997 Metropop Star Search with Faith Cuneta and Kyla as his runners up. He then majored in voice at the UST Conservatory of Music and joined the band 17:28.
Doesn’t he want to have a solo career?
“No, I don’t aim for that. I know I won’t be in showbiz forever, so I have my own business, a flower shop, Janea Flowers & Blooms in Makati and Kapitolyo and it’s doing well. Aiko and I are also putting up our own business soon. Happy na ko doing lead roles like in ‘Footloose.’”
“Footloose” is the stage version of the hit 1984 film starring Kevin Bacon. It has hit songs like “Almost Paradise,” “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “Holding Out for a Hero” and the title song. (MNS)
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MANILA --- It was in 1995 when Angelika de la Cruz won the best new movie actress award for her first movie, “Nights of Serafina.” Now, 10 years later, she celebrates her 10th anniversary in showbiz thankful for all the experiences she gained in this eventful decade in her life.
“I learned a lot, lalo tungkol sa pakikisama sa lahat ng klase ng tao,” she says.
So what else would she want to do now? “A lot more kasi I don’t feel naabot ko na ang gusto kong maabot. I want to continue my singing career, kasi ‘yun talaga ang first love ko. But I can’t dahil sa court case ng BMG Records against me.
“Actually, I won sa lower court but they filed an appeal and considering how slow the courts are, ayun, nagda-drag ngayon and in the meantime, I can’t record for other companies kahit maraming kumukuha sa akin. So I’m praying BMG will just withdraw the case. Alangan namang matanda na ako when I do another album.”
She played big lead roles in the soap she did with GMA-7. Now, she’s playing support to Claudine Barretto in ABS-CBN’s “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin.”
“I admit I’m not happy with my role there. There’s one scene na pinatutulak sa ‘kin si Claudine sa pool and I refused to do it kasi nga I’ll be a villain. E, ang usapan namin, hindi ako gagawing kontrabida roon. My character went to the US but she’s coming back soon at pagbalik ko raw, the story will focus on the love triangle between Claudine, Diether Ocampo, and I. As of now, ‘ASAP’ lang ang regular show ko sa kanila.”
What can she say about the rumor that she changed her chin and that she owes money to some people after her business, the Studio M Bar in Makati, closed down?
“Lumabas ngang nagpadagdag daw ako ng baba but the truth is I had my bite fixed. Kasi, when I joined showbiz, may braces ako, pero pinatanggal sa’kin before facing the camera. Masama pala ‘yon, so I had that corrected.
About my business, it’s true, nalugi ako roon, but I don’t owe money to anyone. Kung totoo, iharap nila sa’kin ang pinagkakautangan ko.”
Is she now going steady with Derek Ramsey?
“We’ve been friends for a long time but he’s not really courting me. He’s not doing anything concrete naman to show that and I don’t want to presume anything.”
She says she’s ready to go sexy now. “Not bold, just sexy. A new outfit will launch me and I think I’m mature enough to do it. They’ll get Anita Linda, Mona Lisa, Hilda Koronel and Gina Alajar to be with me. Ill come from a family of conservative manangs at akong magrerebelde sa kanila, directed by Louie Ignacio.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- Comedy King Dolphy has laughed off reports that he was dead and assured the public that he is alive and kicking.
Reports of Dolphy’s death spread on Aug. 12. It purportedly started from members of the Camp Crame press group.
Dolphy said that he himself was surprised when told that he passed away.
He said he was also clueless as to how the report began. “I don’t know, I have no enemies. Would I go against Crame?” Dolphy said.
It was not the first time the Comedy King has been rumored dead. On several occasions he has been a victim of talk saying he had died from serious illness, and in another instance from an accident.
Dolphy, however, acknowledged that such reports have only made him more inspired to live and enjoy life with his family and friends, as well as do the things he loved including entertaining the public.
The Comedy King has just celebrated his 77th birthday. During his party, Dolphy also announced his clean bill of health based on the results of his medical checkup.
He said he is thankful to God for giving him a good health and for his energy despite his age. (MNS)
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