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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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LAST Tuesday, I had the opportunity to chat with Parokya ni Edgar frontman, Chito Miranda, who along with his band, will be playing Jersey City tonight, November 4 at the Gallery in Marin Blvd. The band is touring the US behind yet another hit album entitled, “Halina sa Parokya” under Universal Records.
Here’s how the tete-a-tete went:
Ted Reyes: This will be your second time here in the US. So far, have you noticed a difference between playing for a PINOY crowd and a FIL-AM crowd?
Chito Miranda: Masaya kahit saan!
TR: The band has been in the limelight for sometime now and it is amazing that you guys are still very well intact, considering, most of you contemporaries have either disbanded or undergone big time crew changes. What’s the secret to the band’s stability?
CM: Secret.
TR: Don’t you get tired of each other?
CM: Nope! .. Sometimes, maybe... we’ve been friends since grade school so I think it’s normal.
TR: Your New Album “Halina Sa Parokya”; how is this different from the previous works? Were you trying to achieve a certain sound different from the well-established Parokya formula?
CM: Same as before! Not that we have a formula.. It’s just that our skills are limited so we have no choice but to stick to our usual sound.
TR: If ever you guys are to make a giant leap when it comes to the band’s sound and image, I mean, if you guys decide to drop the novelty/comedy formula and be something else, do you think your followers would be ready to accept you?
CM: As I said, we have no formula or image. We try to keep things natural. If we take away the humor, then we’d be phonies.. People hate phonies.
TR: Years of continuous hit records, sold out shows and endorsements, I am pretty sure you guys are multi millionaires by now.. right? If so, what are you doing with your millions?
CM: I don’t know what my bandmates do with their money. As for me, I try to save as much as I can. I think my bandmates invest in lap dances.
TR: What’s your take on music piracy? Do you guys stop at sidewalks and play Jesus by driving away and destroying stalls selling your music in pirated form? How about Mp3s being shared online?
CM: As long as they listen to our music, we’re still thankful that they listen to our CDs (kahit na pirated) pero sobrang galit kami sa nagpa-pirate! Sana manakawan sila ng lahat ng pinag-ipunan nila tapos ibenta ng mura sa ebay! Downloads are fine.
TR: It is well-known that being famous makes it extra hard to find real friendships and true love. How hard is it for you to find a friend or a lover who would care for you not because you are the frontman of Parokya , but for who you really are?
CM: Simple... go out with someone more popular! hehe!! It’s easier to try and prove that you’re not a phony than trying to find out if someone else is! hehe! Seriously, we try not to think that way. We try not to judge people. We’re a friendly bunch and we’re friends with everyone! A few phony suck-ups don’t do much damage.
TR: Do you have any plans to be the next Rolling Stones in terms of longevity? Or is there a set time when you guys will just say... it’s over, time to move on.
CM: As long as we enjoy what we’re doing. Hopefully we’d be doing this till death. Once we get tired, we’d move on and try to do something else. No plans set.
TR: Lastly, how would you want to be remembered as artists?
CM: As a bunch of goofballs that made millions having fun and getting drunk.
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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 --- Dawn Zulueta has given birth via caesarian section to a healthy baby boy at the Makati Medical Center, according to Dawn’s publicist, Backroom Inc.
Both Dawn and her son were declared healthy even though it was not yet the actress’ due date until November.
Meanwhile, her husband Anton Lagdameo stayed beside her the whole duration of her labor until she finally gave birth.
Contrary to earlier reports that Dawn was to give birth in her Davao residence, the Bulletin was told that the actress really wanted to deliver her baby here in Manila which is why she stayed at a condominium in Makati with her husband while they waited for the birth of their firstborn.
It will be recalled that Dawn had a sensitive pregnancy. In a previous interview with the Bulletin a few months ago, the “Encantadia” queen said, “I had a hard time at the start of my pregnancy because I have hormonal imbalance.” One of Dawn’s biggest frustrations, she related, was when she got into a chemical pregnancy “when I thought I was pregnant because I had all the symptoms of being pregnant only to find out that it’s because of the work-up.”
The couple has not yet decided on what name to give the baby boy. (MNS)
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MANILA --- What is Maui Taylor’s reaction to the accusation she’s a gold digger? “I felt so hurt when I read na hinuhuthutan ko raw si Brian Revilla,” she says. “Kung manghuhuthot din lang ako, bakit siya pa, e ang daming nanliligaw sa akin na mas mayaman?”
How did their romance start? “I guested in their show, ‘Idol Ko Si Kap.’ He got my number at nagte-text na inviting me, labas naman tayo. So we did. I enjoyed his company kasi he’s nice to be with. Malambing and really thoughtful. Kahit 18 lang siya and 23 ako, magkasundo talaga kami. I also felt good when his mom, Tita Lani Mercado, defended me at sinabing hindi ko hinuhuthutan ang anak niya. I’ve met their family and they’re very nice to me.”
How did she get into “Private Parts”?
“Boss Vincent del Rosario asked me if I want to do it and I got excited as I haven’t done theater yet so this is a new challenge for me. After this, I’ll do a digital film with Carlo Aquino, ‘Mga Alaala ng Tag-ulan,’ to be directed by a new 21-year old director, Ato Bautista.”
In “Hipo,” Katya Santos did full frontal nudity on stage. Is she ready to do that?
“It depends. Kay Katya, few seconds lang daw and dark ang lighting. Kung ganoon, I might do it. But at this point, they haven’t really told us yet if they’d require us to do that. Bahala na.”
How come she’s tagged as the “Pasaway Queen” who’s been getting into fights lately, like with Jen Rosendahl? “Si Jen naman ang nang-away sa’kin. She was against na bumalik ako sa Viva Hot Babes. Noong binabati ko, hindi ako pinapansin. The other incident was when I guested in ‘Extra Challenge.’ Bawal magdala ng cellphone but I did kasi may sakit ako noon and I had to call my mom who was then in Paris. Pero as a rule, professional naman ako, like in this play na lagi akong on time sa rehearsals.” (MNS)
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MANILA --- CINDY Kurleto first appeared in a movie in “Ngayong Nandito Ka,” where she met Jericho Rosales who later became her boyfriend.
Now, four years later, she has finished her second movie, “Ispiritista: Tay, May Moomoo.” “It took so long before I made my second film, but it’s worth it kasi leading lady na ako ni Vic Sotto no less,” she says. “Before this, I was supposed sana to do a Dyesebel remake for Viva, pero hindi natuloy.”
Is Vic wooing her? Someone tells us she has really taken his fancy. “No, he’s not. May girlfriend siya, ‘di ba?” she says, referring to Pia Cabrera. “But it’s easy to see why girls easily fall for him. Kasi he’s such a gentleman. Sobrang maasikaso sa katrabaho niya and very galante pa. Since we’re also paired on TV in ‘Daddy Di Do Du,’ I’ve become very comfortable with him kasi madali talaga siyang kagaanan ng loob.”
In “Ispiritista,” she plays the owner of a haunted boarding house. Vic can exorcise ghosts so she calls him without knowing it’s really Vic’s son, BJ “Tolit” Forbes, who has the power to drive ghosts away as he can talk to them.
“Bagay ang movie sa coming Halloween kasi nga it’s about ghosts,” she says. “Pero more than being scary, the film is really hilarious. With the help of the other comedians in the cast like Gladys Guevarra, Jose Manalo and Willy Bayola, I really learned a lot of techniques on how to make people laugh.” (MNS)
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Vina said she is dating but not steadily with anybody at this point. “I do go out, para naman may konting color ang buhay ko. But I don’t know, for some reason, he (referring to Mr. Right) hasn’t materialized yet.”
Negating that she is setting a high standard on her romantic relationships, Vina said “I really want to be in a good, lasting relationship kaya lang wala talaga e. Maybe it’s not my time yet. Wala pang ibinibigay ang Diyos kaya maghihintay na muna ako,” she said good-naturedly.
She added, “we will know naman when the right one comes along. I truly believe that I will be able to know, to feel it. I used to be impatient but now not anymore. I have stopped planning na rin kasi from experience, there were relationships that I so desperately wanted to work pero no matter how hard you try, kung hindi talaga, walang mangyayari. I just submit to God’s will. I have learned to be still before Him.”
Vina says that all her past experiences have helped her become a better person. “Now I weigh things before deciding. That’s a sign of maturity, I guess. All my experiences, good and bad, are working for me right now. Life is never easy that is why I am thankful that I became strong. I have responsibilities, reality check and it’s really a gift to be strong facing all those.”
The beautiful singer-turned-businesswoman (with her Ystilo Salon now numbering to 28 branches nationwide) shared that the greatest lesson she learned was to listen. “I have a good family background, good friends. I am very glad I listened to them especially when I was still younger. Kung hindi, siguro kung saan na ako pinulot. There was a time in my life na pasaway din ako di ba? Buti na lang, nakinig ako,” she said with a smile.
But more than anything, Vina says that the secret to her steadfast life is prayers. “I pray a lot. I commit my ways to God in everything. I have learned already, I don’t want my way anymore,” she concluded. (MNS)
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MANILA --- After eight years in showbusiness, sexy actress Ynez Veneracion is even more focused on her acting career than ever. She said that compared to the time when she was just starting in showbiz, she has shunned competition and is more concerned about improving her acting craft than anything else.
Her seriousness can be gauged from her performance in Gil Portes digital film entry to this year’s Cinemanila entitled “Luke, Matthew, Mark and John” and ATD Production’s stage play “Private Parts.”
“This time around, I’m not concerned about the budget,” she stressed in Tagalog. “What matters is that you are happy with what you are doing. I can even work for free as long as I like my role and the project!”
In Gil Portes’ obra, she plays a sex exhibitionist or “torera” along with her husband. Unfortunately, she was stricken with tuberculosis. Jobless now without her, her husband succumbed to the lure of selling stolen mobile phones. Until, they were both offered R20,000 for a night of sex exhibition for a group of Japanese. Despite her sickness, she agreed to do it.
“Gusto ko yung role, maganda talaga siya,” remarked Ynez.
In the said movie, Ynez went back to baring flesh once again. It could be remembered that her last film with nudity was “Xerex.”
She added that it was a possibility to also have some nudity in “Private Parts. But if ever that happens, she would limit herself to breast exposures only. She wouldn’t like any frontal nudity. She plays a suspect in the play. The play according to her is about a workshop and it involves different characters.
“Ngayon kasi may trabaho na ako talaga so pinagbubutihan ko na yung acting ko kasi gusto ko ng magkaroon ng award at makilalang isang magaling na actress,” she explained.
The job she’s talking about are her regular gigs (as live performer) in Japan and Guam which has become her bread and butter.
From her earnings abroad Ynez was able to build her dream house in Greenwood, Pasig City - a glasshouse with a swimming pool. This according to her was her fantasy and it was built for a year.
Having her own house though does not mean she’s about to settle down. She is dating and has a regular suitor, the lead singer of the band Shamrock, but she says she still has to find a boyfriend. Ynez has been separated from former beau actor Mon Confiado, but their getting back together someday is still a possibility.
“As of now, iniexplore lang namin pareho ang individual lives namin. Kapag sawa na kami alam naman namin na kami pa rin. Nakikita ko yung mga dates niya. Of course nasasaktan ako pero iniisip ko na lang na lalaki siya,” she said.
How much in love is Ynez?
She saw Mon having sex with another woman in his mobile phone. Shocked, she watched the whole video while her whole body trembled.
“Sabi na lang niya sa akin na ang laki na ng pinagbago ko. Kasi kung dati, hearsay lang nagpapakamatay na ako. If I saw that when we were still on, I would have been dead by now,” said Ynez, with a smile. “Sabi niya hindi ko na raw siya mahal. Ang sabi ko nagmature lang siguro ako.”
Why she is still willing to reconcile with Mon is because of their seven-year relationship and her closeness to his family.
With regards to Belinda Bright leaving “Private Parts” allegedly because of her, she only has this to say,”I cannot please everyone. Ang pakikisamahan ko ng maayos yung maayos akong pakisamahan!” (MNS)
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