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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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IT WAS a warm and misty Sunday afternoon in August 1983.
My father was driving our brand new Mitsubishi Celeste with my mother on the front seat, while my two seminarian brothers Gerry, Jim, and I tried to feather away the boredom and nausea of a 4-hour drive from Binmaley, Pangasinan to Quezon City at the back seat of the car.
We were along McArthur Highway, in Tarlac when my father steered the vehicle towards a small entrance along the road, which read “Hacienda Luisita”. I remember seeing yellow ribbons tied to Mango tree branches, and a number of people with placards littered the premises. The placards read: “Welcome Home” or anything to that effect. Everyone there was in a festive mood.
My father got off the automobile, chatted with some folks and went back in the car. “We’re not going to wait for him here anymore. It’s getting late. We’ll just see them at Times,” my father said, referring to the Aquino residence on Times Street in Quezon City.
It was 12:30 in the afternoon.
We all headed off towards the long road home that ended with the sight of my sister Agnes opening our garage gate in hysterical tears, and with my parents rushing to the small Hitachi black and white, tube television set and bursting out their tear ducts as well. It was a highly emotional scene.
The man we were supposed to welcome in Tarlac lay flat on his belly under an airplane, with his life and blood oozing out from the back of his head. Our long trip home was over, and so was my innocence. I was 7 Years old.
Three Years later
It was also a Sunday afternoon in February 22, 1986. The date stuck to my brain because I just celebrated my 10th birthday 4 days before, and I still got some presents picked up from my sister Grace in Alabang. The scene was eerily familiar; only this time, it was just my father, my mother and I cruising along an empty highway called EDSA.
It was an extraordinary drive. The northbound lane of EDSA where we were driving at, was vibrating with the hum of military tanks, army trucks and armored personnel carriers. My dad knew something was out of hand, so he flipped the radio dial of our car radio away from the station that played his favorite Sunday afternoon music to the AM station that played non-stop news.
Indeed there was something going on in Camp Aguinaldo and in Camp Crame. Apparently, two Marcos officials defected and admitted to massive cheating in the last snap elections. The possibility of a weeklong suspension of classes greeted me like another unwrapped birthday present.
It was not until the second day, the 24th, when my family decided to take part.
My mom, being a public school teacher was scared to the bones. Her stories about her experiences in conducting national polls in her little public school in Makati were more like war stories than normal balloting tales.
My father, who was still a member of the opposition then, commandeered us all to make as much sandwiches as we could. We made 10 balikbayan boxes full of chicken and egg sandwiches; enough to feed a hundred people.
So, right after we sealed the boxes and donned our yellow shirts, we went to Camp Crame.
My brother Mon drove the Celeste along with my sister Zenia and we parked the car miles from our desired destination; we parked along the street named New York in Cubao because EDSA was just impassable.
We had to bring carts to transfer our boxes of bread and filling as close as possible to the gates of the camp. And finally, we did. We managed to give some boxes to “good” soldiers who were protecting the gates of Crame, and to a lot of ordinary people who were protecting the soldiers protecting the gates of Crame.
Everybody protected everybody. EDSA ceased to be a highway. It had become a living, breathing entity far greater than anything I had ever seen. The most I could muster in my 10-year old brain to understand it all was: It was teamwork magnified a million times.
A decade and a half later
In January 2001, 14 years and some days after the miracle of EDSA, I found myself entangled with this highway again. But this time, I was a grown man of 25 years and decided to participate in my own volition. Most of my family, except my brother Jim, whom I followed in the order of birth, have retired from street action, and decided to watch everything unfold on our Sony colored TV.
Another “bad” president had to go so there we were; chanting our emotions and forcing a change with bare hopes and resilience.
My girlfriend Sheryl and I even went as far as borrowing press tags from her father, a journalist, to be able to stay over at the EDSA shrine’s press room, which also doubled as the opposition’s “War Room”. We even had photos with the who’s who of the new revolt. From Fr. Robert Reyes, to Chief Justice Davide.
During those days in EDSA 2, we did not bring sandwiches. We had become the recipients of sandwiches from young families who were starting to turn up their awareness and step up their participation in that historic events. Just like how we were in ’86.
Epilogue
Months after the second installment of the EDSA epic, in May, a third chapter unfolded. It was brief, violent and unsuccessful. By then, the fatigue of it all just made me call it quits and retire from street mobilization.
EDSA 3 was retaliation by the camp who got booted out during the previous revolt. There were thrashings, vandalisms, lootings and other violent occurrences. That’s why many do not accept it as part of the soap opera that is EDSA, which is famous for its non-violence.
While, others do. I could simply care less. I’ve outgrown all of it in 4 months.
Now, five years after EDSA 2 and 3, there are talks of more chapters in the EDSA story.
Street action is back, calls for the resignation of another ‘bad president’ are rampant, the Church is showing signs of explosive activity, and the military is gearing up for yet another spot in the recurring soap.
The cast is almost complete, the extras are waiting, and the plot is ripe. All that’s left is for the producers and directors to call action.
Will there be a 4th part? Well, if there will be, What should I do?
Hmmm... I guess I will just have to watch it unfold on my flat screen computer monitor.
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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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Music lovers in Orlando, Florida are bracing themselves for the first significant concert this year: Anthony Castelo Live!
The world-renowned Filipino balladeer will be charming his fans with his timeless set of love songs on April 1, 2006 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort – Airport Ballroom, Orlando Florida.
After his monumental offering of an original composition entitled “Long Live America!” to no other than US President George W. Bush in Washington DC, 4 years ago, Anthony Castelo has taken the world stage by storm. He had several successful stints in Las Vegas, and has performed with Hollywood legends like Liza Minelli, Liza Hartman and Chita Rivera, to name a few.
But the singer-composer-actor-turned politician, is never happier when he is front of his own kababayans, who have enjoyed his music for more than 25 years.
The show is for the benefit of the following organizations: Filipino-American Association of Osceola & South Orlando with Danny Lagmay as President, and VisMindaLuz, headed by Iman Bartolo.
So to all our kababayans down there, don’t miss:
An Evening With Anthony Castelo April 1, 2006 Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resort – Airport Ballroom, Orlando Florida. 5555 Hazeltine National Drive, Orlando, Fl 32812 For tickets call: (407) 301-1739 (407) 656-5232
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MANILA --- International VJ-actress Donita Rose begins shooting for international film “Seed of Contention” this month. The film was written and will be helmed by the award-winning Ann Marie Laperal and also stars Hollywood actor Matthew Settle (“Band of Brothers,” “Celestine Prophecy”).
A love story set in World War II, Donita shall play ‘Emma,’ a misunderstood antagonist that seemingly stands in the way of star-crossed lovers. Donita’s participation in “Seed” comes in the heels of international film “Legacy” which she did recently with David Hasselhoff.
“It’s my first time to play a kontravida role so I’m obviously excited about this project,” she says during a recent interview. “And though some might say it’s just a support role, this film is the kind where there are no small actors as every character here is key in telling the story well. ‘Seed’ is a serious film with some really witty dialogues among its characters.”
Donita met, became friends and promised her participation in “Seed” to Ann Marie, a Filipina based in Guam who graduated summa cum laude in UCLA and won a Samuel Goldwyn Award recently, during an MTV tour in Guam years ago.
“Ann and I just clicked so well then that by the end of five days, we were having a pajama party in my hotel room,” Donita recalls. “It was then that she showed me the script to ‘Seed’ and, really, I was blown away. Though she was unknown at that point, I signed on to the project should it push through. Believe me, Ann Marie will be one of those to put the Philippines in the international entertainment map.”
For the other roles, Donita says that Ann Marie auditioned about 200 named actors in Hollywood. “But in the end, she opted for people perfect for the role and not ones that have a big following.”
Other Filipinos in the cast of “Seed” are KC Montero and Chin Chin Gutierrez. Donita is also ‘courting’ Gary Valenciano to contribute a song in the “Seed” OST.
Some parts of “Seed” will be shot in the Philippines already selected by the same crew members that worked on Steven Spielberg’s “Munich.” These places are Intramuros, Laguna and Manila.
“Seed of Contention” is being primed for submission to this year’ Toronto Film Festival.
While doing the film, Donita will also be working on an autobiography tentatively titled “The Story of My Life (so far).” Before the book is published, Ann Marie returns Donita the favor by final reading the manuscript.
“I just think that I have a lot of interesting stories to tell where lessons can be gleaned from,” she say. “The book will be my legacy to kids, mine and others. As people today are not really book readers, my autobiography will be more picture-driven.”
Will it touch on her, , previous love life?
“Perhaps. But even if it does, I will not put anything there that would offend anybody. Promise,” ends, laughing. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Jericho Rosales has finally admitted: “Heart Evangelista is my real-life girlfriend!”
In the past, like the other screen love teams, who always say that the most important consideration as to their not admitting the truth about their relationship with their partners are their fans, Jericho and Heart have kept everyone guessing as to the real status of their relationship.
But during the press conference last Sunday of FLT Films and Star Cinema’s “The Manny Pacquiao Story” wherein Jericho will portray the boxer that he admitted about his romance with Heart. According to him, their love story bloomed when they started working together in “Panday.” But if he was keeping mum about everything, it was because he was protecting Heart and his fans!
“I think now the fans are very open and broad-minded, unlike fans before. I’m not blaming them, you know how they feel about their loved ones especially their screen idols. They are protective and sometimes jealous. I was just being careful so as not to incur their displeasure, and to protect Heart most of all. Ang unang reaction ng mga fans kasi before was not very good. So para walang gulo at maganda ang relationship namin with the fans, quiet na lang kami. Heart and I are both of age now so okay lang for us to come out about it,” he explained.
It’s just unfortunate that in “The Manny Pacquiao Story,” Jericho is not being paired with Heart but with Bea Alonzo. It could be remembered that Bea and Heart had some differences in the past and rumor has it that they’re still not in good terms.
“Bea is a good actress,” was Jericho’s only comment when he found out at the press conference that Bea Alonzo will be playing Manny Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee in the movie.
Jericho said he did not think twice when the role Manny Pacquiao was offered to him. He gave the producers (Mommy Rose Flaminiano foremost) the thumbs-up, signifying his great desire and interest in doing the title role in the filmbio of the boxing champ. Like all his fellowmen, for Jericho Manny is someone Filipinos can truly be proud of!
“Para sa akin, hindi na kailangan ng consideration o pag-iisipan pa ang offer na ito. Napakagandang project talaga. Manny Paquiao made all of us Filipinos proud. Lahat ng Pinoy proud sa pagiging Pinoy lalo na with Manny Pacquiao’s winning and giving honor and pride to the country. The making of his filmbio is a significant project. It’s challenging and very interesting to all of us Filipinos. It’s nice to be working with Joel Lamangan too,” he further said.
“The Manny Pacquiao Story” will be directed by Joel Lamangan from a screenplay written by Roy Iglesias.
Jericho also stressed that he would do everything to give justice to his role. If needed he could even use prosthetics, contact lenses and even cut his hair and straighten it for the sake of authenticity for the film!
“Pinakamahirap na part dito yong tsibog. Hopefully yung attitude ko toward food mabawi ko pa rin sa training. Hindi ako kasi sanay mag-diet, Pinoy ako kapag kumain at praning ako pag di ako kumakain. But with this film, kailangan ko good sleep, proper training - because I’m gonna basically live his life,” he pointed out.
To sum it all up, Jericho’s so excited and is filled with renewed energy about his latest movie project.
“Lahat ng offer sa akin lately may puwesto sa pillar ng pagiging Pinoy at lahi ng Filipino like ‘Panday’ and now this film on Manny Pacquiao!”
So why is he blessed in his career?
“Maybe I’ve been praying a lot and I’ve been working hard,” he replied.
A landmark movie that’s expected to teach an enduring lesson as it entertains, Joel Lamangan said “Moviegoers can expect lots of surprises. The movie will reveal aspects of Manny’s life that the public doesn’t know.”
Beyond the movies and television, Jericho and his band called Jericho’s Jeans are making waves in Malaysia and Singapore. Their debut album under EMI Records was even simultaneously released there and in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Brunei before the Philippines. According to him, it might take a couple of months more before their album “Loose Feet” becomes available in the country.
His band is also scheduled to rock Kuala Lumpur and Sabah this March and then Singapore will be next. (MNS)
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MANILA --- Regine Velasquez denies that she’s leaving Viva and moving to GMA Records. “My contract has expired but I don’t know if it’s Viva who has the option to renew it,” she says. “I still have to ask my lawyer. Also, although I’d like to try another company, wala pa namang offer sa’kin ang GMA Records. Basta as of now, I’m busy promoting my new Viva album, ‘Covers 2,’ which is a follow up to the hit ‘Covers’ album I did a year ago.”
“Covers 2” is an even more ambitious project as it has 16 songs with novel arrangements that make them sound new. “My sisters Diane and Cacai gave me a whole bunch of songs to choose from, mula sa ‘50s to the ‘90s. Walang OPM song kasi mas mahal ang rights, unlike foreign songs na may fixed standard fee. I chose my favorite songs na I can give my own interpretation. ‘Pag sobrang ganda na, I won’t revive it, huwag mo nang baguhin at baka mababoy pa. Ayoko naman kasi noong parang you just copied the original. I want to give it my own interpretation. Like Elvis Presley’s ‘Blue Suede Shoes,’ ginawa kong blues. ‘Yung ‘Straight Up’ ni Paula Abdul, ginawa kong jazz. The carrier single, ‘Hold Me in Your Arms’ by Southern Sun in which direk Louie Ignacio made a music video of it.”
How long did it take her to record the album? “I record very fast, sometimes, six songs a day. Kaya lang, I want to listen to it nang paulit-ulit muna to further improve on it hanggang makontento ako.”
The other great cuts in her album are “Call Me,” “Come Together,” “Xanadu,” “Never Give Up,” “On the Radio,” “So Much in Love,” “Kiss,” and many more. She will return to original pop songs in her next album. Who’s her favorite composer? “Si Ogie Alcasid. Madaling hingan, e. He made all my hit movie theme songs. Pag sinabi mo, pahingi naman ng new song, he’d say agad, ‘o, heto,’ parang dinudukot lang sa bulsa niya. At hindi mo na kailangan pang i-audition dahil siguradong maganda.”
Rico Puno has just confirmed that she and Ogie are really on. “He’s just joking, alam níyo naman ‘yon. Kasama namin kasi siya ni Ogie in our Valentine’s concert on February 10 and 11.”
So who’ll be her date on Valentine’s? “My dog, si George. Also, tulog ako sa Valentine’s mismo dahil tiyak na tired ako sa concert namin.”
She hasn’t done a movie for more than a year. “There’s the Star Cinema project with Piolo Pascual pero they haven’t called me kung kailan ang shooting. If they’d schedule it in March and April, I’d be with Pops Fernandez on a concert tour sa US and Canada. Sa May and June naman, I’d be on tour with Ogie and Ai Ai de las Alas. So ewan ko kung saan isaksak sa schedule ko ang shooting.”
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MANILA --- STAR Cinema is currently preparing for a movie project which will reunite Sharon Cuneta and Aga Muhlach. The title of the movie has yet to be finalized, although both stars have suggested Lauren Dyogi to direct it.
Direk Lauren directed Aga in his first movie, “All My Life,” opposite Kristine Hermosa. It was direk Dyogi’s first directorial attempt. “All My Life” didn’t only emerge a blockbuster; it also got good reviews from film critics.
Now busy with the ABS-CBN’s “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB), which he handles together with Linggit Tan, direk Dyogi says he will make sure that he will find time to direct the Sharon-Aga project. After all, he explains, it’s the dream of every director to handle either of the two in a movie. And this time, he will be directing them. “Di ba jackpot?” he enthuses.
When told that the film will be shot in London, direk Dyogi exclaims, “What is this a bonus, ‘di pa man Disyembre?”
There’s this story as to how this Sharon-Aga project came about. In October last year, Aga together with Claudine Barretto and John Lloyd Cruz (his co-stars in “Dubai”), were in London for its premiere. They were with Star Cinema’s managing director, Malou Santos.
During the premiere of “Dubai” in London, Malou was asked to say a few words. In the middle of her speech, the audience shouts, “Why not a movie, too, here in London. If Star Cinema can do one in Dubai, dapat mayroon dito sa London.”
Malou replies: “We’ll do a study on your suggestion.” To which Filipinos in the audience answer back: “Huwag nang pag-aralan. Gawin na lang. And make it a Sharon-Aga movie.”
Back to his hotel room which he shared with wife, Charlene Gonzales who was with him throughout the trip, he made an overseas call to Sharon. He told her about the possibility of the two of them doing a movie together. And of all places, it will be in London.
“Kaya, magbawas ka na ng timbang,” he reminds her.
She replies, “I will, Magpapa-lipo pa ako.”
As a common knowledge, Sharon has lost weight lately. She’s trying to lose more before she starts shooting her movie with Aga.
The friendship between them which developed during the filming of their first movie team-up, another blockbuster “Kung Ako na Lang Sana,” has remained. Their respective spouses Sen. Kiko Pangilinan and Charlene plus their kids also became very close. They see to it that during each other’s important occasions, their respective families are there so they can celebrate together. No wonder Aga and Charlene were at Sharon’s concert at the Araneta Coliseum last Sunday.
Aga and Sharon still call each other by the names of the characters they portrayed in “Kung Ako na Lang Sana,” (Emy for Sharon and Enteng or Vincent for Aga).
“Maski ang anak nilang sina Frankie at Atasha are good friends too,” says a kibitzer. “They frequently call each other on the phone. Since both love to sing, ay naku, they make it a habit to sing to each other kapag nagtatawanan.”
The informant adds, “And guess naman how they address each other? Friend.” (MNS)
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