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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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WHAT do car salesmen, real estate agents and just about most of us have in common with terrorists?
The answer is that all the above-mentioned people have the innate ability to transform an informational advantage into fear, and benefit from it. Enormously.
Terrorists thrive from the informational edge that nobody else knows when and how they will strike, and convert their advantage into fear that works against their enemies all the time.
Salesmen like car dealers, and real estate agents meanwhile, gain on their informational edge over under-informed buyers or sellers about anything concerning their business from Lemon Laws to amortizations. These salespeople also convert their informational edge into the fear of not getting the right car for a reasonable price, or in the case of houses and lots, the fear of paying too much for a bungalow, or not selling the house at all.
That’s why they are called “experts”. They surely do know better than the average Joe, and thus has what I call a “monopoly of information” that always works to their favor up to the point of abuse and “rip-off” heights..
Same with the Obstetricians who always, suspiciously, suggest a Caesarian section delivery, a procedure, 80 percent more expensive than a normal delivery, to any unknowing husband and pregnant-wife, who only want the best for the baby and themselves.
The doctors are the “experts”, and surely know better; too bad for us, though.
Here, the doctors are using their informational advantage over the couple by creating a fear that would surely make anybody buckle to their expensive demands. Who would want a miscarriage, or worse, death at childbirth or death during delivery, anyway?
I suspect that the real underlying reason why people get college degrees and become professionals or experts, is to gather as much information as they could, and widen the gap between them and the common person, so they could control the truth and monopolize it for their own advantage. But, as later explained, mere informational edge isn’t enough; one must spin the info advantage and turn it into fear to be able to benefit from it.
The truth, though, is that these experts are not the only ones guilty of monopolizing information for their selfish needs. All of us do.
Working on the premise that we are all unique, we have wide discrepancies with one another in the things that we know and what we don’t. And in most cases, experience and age gives older people the upper hand. That’s why children are the most common victims of monopoly of information, since all grown-ups know that kids know less.
How many times have we induced fear to kids to be able to make them do things or not do things? Countless.
It is therefore safe to say, that he who controls the most information is the most feared person in the planet.
But there is hope. Since we now live in the age of information, the importance of the Internet cannot be downplayed in the battle against the monopoly of information and the shameless propagation of fear. The Internet has narrowed the gap between the expert and the common man. No longer do we automatically say yes to the obstetrician who wants a C- section, because we can always log online and visit a multitude of websites explaining the ins and outs of a C-section procedure and even the pricing of such undertaking.
No longer do we become suckers to car salesmen and real estate agents, because we can always do our own canvassing and price comparisons online.
No longer can we tell a kid, that Santa Claus won’t give him anything if he misbehaves, because the kid could always know through the internet, that there ain’t really no old fat man, with a white beard and a red suite.
The Internet has somehow leveled the field and thus created an information equilibrium never known to the human race. If these threatening information beasts are the Goliaths of the modern times, the net is the slingshot that can slay the giant.
So go online, you are never too old nor too young to log on. It could save your money, time and even your life. Now once you are plugged into the information superhighway, which to me is the new declaration of independence, you can always say to those who plan to take advantage of your inferior know-how on their fields of “expertise”, that what they know, whether, they knew if from Harvard, Yale or the New York Times, is just a Google away.
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Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com
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MANILA --- Early birds will get the chance to join award-winning actress and environmentalist Chin-Chin Gutierrez in her crusade to save Mother Earth as she becomes the latest kapamilya to join ABS-CBN’s daily morning wake-upper, ‘Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas!’ with her own segment, ‘Green Patrol.’
Every Thursday, Chin-Chin delivers vital information on the stage of our planet, makes the rounds of barangays to check on their waste management practices, and shares eco-friendly tips that can help every household adopt a “zero-waste” lifestyle. Viewers can also write or call in to raise environmental issues pertinent to their communities, or to commend exemplary ecological projects by groups or individuals, when Green Patrol goes live on the last week of the month.
Chin-Chin made Filipinos proud when she appeared on the cover of Time Magazine as one of their “Asian Heroes” for 2003, where she was cited for using her celebrity status as an actress to gain more support for the environmental cause.
“We cannot afford to leave environmental issues to government, NGOs or other leading sectors anymore,” says Chin-Chin, who is also vice-chairman of the environmental group Mother Earth Foundation. “More importantly, we can no longer view environmental work as the responsibility of the few, the idealistic and the powerful. Everyone must do the patrolling, must be aware of each one’s irresponsible consumption, and assist in bringing back ecological balance before it is too late.
“I am happy to join ‘Magandang Umaga, Pilipinas’ with ‘Green Patrol’ because it gives me a chance to engage our countrymen, young and old alike, to take action now. At this point, environmental consciousness is not just a matter of doing good deeds or nationhood , it is a matter of survival.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- Claudine Barretto has confirmed the report that she and Raymart Santiago have moved their wedding date from January to March next year.
“It was the management of the golf course where our wedding will take place who suggested that we change the date of our wedding,” explained Claudine.
“Since the golf course in an open space, kasama sa plano ang pagpapatayo ng mga tents where the ceremony will take place at ilan pa which will house our entourage and our guests.
“Pero, dahil nga malakas ang hangin sa buwang iyon, they fear that the tents will not be able to withstand the wind. Kaya March because it’s not a windy month. Besides, maganda ang weather noon dahil malapit na ang summer,” she added.
Claudine and Raymart have yet to announce the complete list of their entourage but she has revealed that their nephews and nieces will all have a part in the wedding.
“Hindi puwedeng wala silang lahat doon. Magru-roll call ako,” she joked.
Claudine is very much loved by her nieces and nephews. They all call her “Auntie Ganda,” because they consider her the most beautiful aunt in the world.
In the same interview, Claudine also revealed that Rajo Laurel will design and execute her wedding gown. She and Raymart might also assign him to do the whole entourage.
The couple has already assigned a wedding coordinator to help them with their preparation.
Claudine is excited over the release of her movie, “Dubai,” which also stars Aga Muhlach and John Lloyd Cruz. “Dubai” is directed by Rory Quintos, who also directed Claudine and Aga in “Kailangan Kita.”
“I always enjoy working with Aga,” stated Claudine. “Siguro, dahil I feel comfortable with him. I’ve known him since he was 14 years old. At that time, I was probably only six years old.”
It’s common knowledge that Aga was once the boyfriend of Claudine’s elder sister, Gretchen Barretto. Thus, he used to frequent the house of the Barrettos.
“Noon pa man, mabait na si Aga,” recalled Claudine. “We all liked him in the family. Maski noong nag-break na sila ni Ate Gretch.”
Aga and Gretchen are now happy with their respective love lives. He is married to Charlene Gonzales, while Gretchen has found happiness in Tony Boy Cojuangco with whom she has a daughter.
Claudine gets to work in a movie with John Lloyd for the first time. Although they play best friends in “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin,” a teleserye on ABS-CBN, they rarely have any scene together because Claudine’s partner in “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin” is Diether Ocampo, while John Lloyd is paired with Bea Alonzo.
Claudine has kissing scenes with both Aga and John Lloyd in “Dubai.” She became the girlfriend of the two, who play brothers in the movie.
“Ang ganda ng ending ng pelikula,” she said with a smile. “But I’m not going to reveal it nor will I say with whom between Aga and John Lloyd I end up.”
From Claudine, we learned that Raymart’s grandma, Ma. Violena Legaspi, who is in her 90s, has passed away.
Raymart’s mom, Cielito Legaspi, was once a movie star herself. She used to be a contract star of Premiere Productions.
Raymart’s dad, the late Pablo Santiago, was the favorite director of the late Fernando Poe, Jr. They did several films together, including FPJ’s memorable movie, “Lo ‘Waist Gang.” The film was the first directorial attempt of Direk Pablo. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Jeanette Joaquin was launched to stardom in FLT Films’ ‘Biyahera’ and went to star in about seven other sexy movies. She does all sorts of sexy scenes with her leading men, but what you don’t know is that she’s really living in with a lesbian lover named Marina Imperial for almost four years now. ‘When I guested in ‘S Files’ and admitted this on air, Joey Marquez told me, ‘Parang sampal ‘yan sa kalalakihaní,’ she says. ‘The truth is I had boyfriends before pero walang nagtagal kasi marami silang ipinagbabawal, unlike Marina who understands me at hindi nagseselos at all.’
Does Marina satisfy her in bed? “Oh yes. Actually, ang kulang lang sa kanya, ‘yung sandata ng lalaki. Pero kung satisfaction ang pag-uusapan, I’m fully satisfied sa kanya.”
How did her family accept Marina? “Siempre, noong una, nahirapan sila, pero ngayon, tanggap na siya. Ako naman, a few days pa lang kami, she already introduced me to her family and they accepted me right away.”
Jeanette turned 21 last September 3. She’s an original member of D’Bodies that became D’ Baywalk Bodies when their manager, Lito de Guzman, had a rift with their producer, Marineth Gamboa, who sued them. Are they still having a feud with the current members of D’Bodies? “May friend pa rin naman ako roon, si Kat de Santos, but we’ve moved on kaya huwag na lang kaming idikit sa kanila uli.”
How about their feud with the Viva Hot Babes? “Bati na kami, lalo si Ella V. na nakasagutan namin noon. Gine-guest nga kami together sa ‘Extra Challenge’ and okay lang sa amin. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Rizza Ruiz is now the most controversial among the Baywalk Bodies because of her affair with John Estrada.
Rea Miraflores in real life, she turned 19 on March 31. She was a nursing freshman in Davao when a talent scout asked her if she’d like to work in Japan. She stayed there for six months and was later discovered by Lito de Guzman, manager of the Baywalk Bodies. She guested in “OK Fine” and that’s how she met John.
“He told me, crush niya ko and asked for my cell number. Three days later, he called me up, fetched me sa condo ko, then took me to Victoria Court. Three months din kaming nag-on. I got tired of him because he’s full of promises na hindi naman niya tinupad. He told me mahal niya ako. I know on sila ni Vanessa del Bianco but he told me Vanessa is already in Canada at hindi na babalik dito. Naniwala naman ako, but Vanessa came back at pag wala ito, he’d ask me to go to their condo in Wack Wack. Maski i-describe ko pa ang bawat sulok ng condo niya to prove na ilang beses akong nakapunta roon. I’m really mad kasi niloko niya ko. Now, I’m receiving threats sa text na kapag patuloy akong nagsalita na nagka-affair kami, ipaba-ban daw ako sa ABS and, worse, puede raw akong ipapatay.”
John is not her first showbiz boyfriend. “The first one was Lexter of Masculados. Pero nagselos siya when he learned na I went out with Yul Servo. E, friends lang naman kami ni Yul. Ayaw na raw niya sa girlfriend from showbiz dahil magulo.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- When he was younger, Yul Servo dreamt of becoming a policeman. That’s why he chose to finish a course in Criminology at the Philippine College of Criminology.
“Right after graduation, plinano ko kaagad na mag-apply para maging pulis. Kaso, one time, kinayag ako ng isang uncle ko (who now works in Canada) to accompany him to a party at a resort in Los Baños, Laguna.
“The party turned out to be one organized by Direk Maryo (O’ Hara). Kaya naman naging kakilala ng uncle ko dahil may talent ito na kaklase niya sa isang speech class.”
His uncle introduced Yul to the award-winning director. “Baka puwede níyong tulungan siyang mag-artista,” said Yul’s uncle, and the director took a good look at him from head to toe. Then, sounding noncommittal, he told Yul’s uncle he will see.
For his first movie, Yul played a lead role. This was in “Batang Westside,” which took almost a year to finish. The film had New York for its backdrop.
Yul remembered he stayed in New York for a period of five months. He lived in Queens. While he was given free lodging and meals, he was not given an allowance. It was good he had P2,000 with him, plus the payment for his appearance in the movie - P150,000.
But “Batang Westside” was worth the sacrifice. Although the movie, which had a running time of five hours, was never shown commercially, it was included as an entry in the CineManila Film Festival. “Batang Westside” garnered several nominations in the CineManila and in several award-giving bodies. It also earned for Yul several best actor nominations and eventually won him two, including one from Brussels International Film Festival.
“Laman,” his second movie, produced by Regal Films and directed by Direk Maryo, won for Yul his second award for best actor from the Star Awards.
Then in “Naglalayag,” where he was teamed up with no less than superstar Nora Aunor, Yul was nominated in the best actor category in several award-giving bodies. He took home three awards, all for best actor, from the following: 2004 Manila Film Festival; Brussels Film Festival and Gawad Tanglaw.
We asked Yul if he is happy with the way his career is going. He has been in showbiz since 2001 and yet, as he said, he has done only six movies.
“Siguro, if the state of the local showbiz industry is not what it is maghihinanakit ako. Magaling naman kasi ako pero bakit matumal ang aking film assignments?
“But as it is, everybody knows there are not many movies being produced. I am even luckier dahil may regular show ako, ‘Kampanerang Kuba,’ on ABS-CBN.”
Another thing which keeps him busy, according to Yul, is his dad’s billboard business, where he sometimes helps. He has also organized an entertainment agency with Direk Maryo. They organize shows for local and foreign audience.
Direk Maryo gave Yul his screen name. His real name is John Marvin Nieto.
Related Direk Maryo: “Yul comes from the screen name of Hollywood actor, Yul Brynner. ‘Yung Servo naman is the name of my favorite waiter at a restaurant in Greenhills. Come to think of it, ‘di ko man lang pinagkaabalahang itanong if Servo was his family name or his nickname.
“Feeling ko, akma kay Yul ang kanyang screen name,” he further said. (MNS)
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