|
For the past 20 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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aikostar: The album review
|
|
|
|
“LOOK at my shadow now! Look at my shadow now!”, screams Aikostar’s enigmatic front-woman, Vero in the outro of the track The Guardian, which assaulted my ears with such beautiful, yet confusing sensation - kind of like the androgyny of the whole Aikostar thing: Dark, heavy, manly, off-meter songs engulfed by a delicately angry female voice.
Such is Aikostar’s charm - simply, unclassifiable. And their debut album accurately portrays them as such.
True, I could hear musical references to Evanescence, S.O.A.D., and Tool, but the whole oriental vibe of Vero’s voice has put them at a distance from these references.
Again in the song The Guardian, which for me is the best song in the 11-track debut, there’s a part where Vero, in a heavily EQ’d and Compressed vocal track, mumbles some scat-like phrases, alongside shifting rhythmic patterns that sounded very Asian - perhaps like the sound of a woman, fighting her battles during the Boxer Revolution in China. It’s is hard to explain, but it’s all there. And all throughout the album, this east meets west vibe never lets go.
Aikostar is one of the most important Filipino-American fronted bands in New York, and their debut album is highly-anticipated.
In fact, the expectations are so big on Aikostar to come up with a superb debut after the hype they generated over the years, that it must have taken its toll on the band. The band just came up after a brief period of rest and uncertainty.
Now upon hearing the whole album, did it live up to the hyped-up expectations?
Let’s examine the record. As I said, the track The Guardian is a key track in the album, and I have this nagging thought that it should have been the album opener.
Nevertheless, the song established pretty much what the band is all about - Virtuosity.
Another key moment in the album is brought in by the song For Charon - a song that highlights the musical virtuosity of the members due to its complexity. Compared to these two songs, the others seem ‘mellow’, yet still capable of dislocating one’s ears with sublime sonic attack. Not to mention, brilliant tracks in their own right.Lyrically, the songs live up to the promise of its accompanying music - dark yet translucent and very precise with the emotions they want to convey.
As for any album with this type of music, it is a performance record. It is one album that one would cherish because of the mind-boggling performance and the intricate arrangements. It is not a record where you can find a sing-a-long chorus or a sticky hook. It is not one’s source of groovy beats that would make one rhyme. It is a record that pounds one’s senses with brutal sweetness, and fills one’s soul with the need to absorb itself.
Verdict: An amazing record that lives up to all expectations.
Visit them at www.aikostarmusic.com
Their debut album is available this August at major retailers
Track list:
Dromidary
Sfumato
Omni
Over
The Guardian
Glass Ball
Lotus Eater
La Mort De Schroeder
Over The Edge
Koi-San
For Charon
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA -- The child actress has turned into a woman. Many of her fans still regard Angelica Panganiban as the innocent child star in such films as "Ama, Ina, Anak" and "Sarah, Munting Prinsesa." No doubt they’ll be shocked by her daring photos in the first issue of Maxim Magazine. We know she rejected all the offers of other magazines, what made her say yes to Maxim?
"Mr. Johnny Manahan is my adviser and when he turned down the previous offers, I trusted him completely," she says. "Now, he gave his approval for me to do the cover of Maxim and I did it as it’s the number 1 men’s lifestyle magazine in the world today. Also, it’s ABS-CBN that got the franchise to do its local version. It has maintained its classy image ever since it started in the UK in 1995, so I’m glad to be its first cover girl."
"We really want to thank Mr. M for allowing Angelica to be on our cover," says Apa Ongpin, ABS-CBN’s Publishing assistant GM. "And we’re so glad that the day it hit the stands, the demand was so great we’re now printing more copies dahil sa lakas ng sales."
Does this mean Angelica will now go all out in doing sexy films? "I’ve done what they consider a sexy film before, ‘Santa-Santita,’ but actually, I only did a love scene there with Jericho Rosales. I didn’t show any flesh. Here, I’m shown in my bra and panties and it’s my most revealing pictorial ever. But no, it doesn’t mean I’ll go all the way in the movies now. It’ll still depend on the project and the director."
Editor in chief of Maxim Philippines, Vani de Sequera, is very happy to have Angelica on their maiden issue. "The competition has long been dying to get her but couldn’t," he says. "She chose us because our approach is one of respect and celebration of women. It’s sexy, but it’s not just about sex. It’s a magazine even women will find entertaining to read."
Angelica stresses that her current film and TV projects remain wholesome. After the success of the romantic trilogy, "All About Love," she now plays the title role in the youth-oriented horror flick, "White Lady." On TV, she’s training in the martial arts for the action series, "Rounin." "White Lady" opens on July 19 and it will no doubt benefit from the sexy splash she does in Maxim. She’s definitely the most seductive ghost to grace the local screen ever. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA -- REGAL’s Mother Lily Monteverde’s new project, a film which she plans to pattern after the US TV hit ‘Desperate Housewives,’ has encountered a snag even before filming starts.
She discovered that two of the stars she handpicked for the project, Gretchen Barretto and Dawn Zulueta, do not see eye-to-eye.
Gretchen was quite honest about her negative feelings toward Dawn, who has yet to say her piece. Greta reportedly told Mother Lily that unless the Regal matriarch replaces Dawn, she’s out of the project.
“May katuwiran si Gretchen na magmalaki, dahil kaya naisip ang project dahil sa kanya,” said a source. “Mother Lily wanted Gretchen, an original ‘Regal Baby,’ to do a movie for her. Someone suggested a movie patterned after ‘Desperate Housewives.í Since things happened at the birthday party of Ruffa (Gutierrez), nakasama siyang bigla sa pelikula. Nandoon din si Dawn kaya, naisip siya ni Mother Lily.”
Why is Gretchen mad at Dawn? we asked.
“Matagal na talagang masama ang loob ni Gretchen kay Dawn,” said our source. “Noong bago pa raw sila ni Tony Boy (Cojuangco), ini-isnab isnab daw siya ni Dawn, who was then already married to Anton (Lagdameo). Naka-close ni Dawn ang family ni Tony Boy. E, dati ‘di gusto ng pamilya ni Tony Boy si Gretchen, unlike ngayon na kahit mommy ni Tony Boy, close siya. Tony Boy’s mom even considers Gretchen’s daughter, Dominique, as one of her favorite grandchildren.”
Speaking of Dawn, there was a rumor linking her husband Anton Lagdameo’s uncle, Tonyboy Floirendo, to TV star Amy Perez.
Amy, separated from her husband, former South Border frontman Brix Ferraris, once announced on television that she and Tony Boy have a romance. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA-- Do you know that the newcomer who will play the role of Susan Roces’ son in her comeback sitcom of sorts on television “John En Shirley” is surnamed Macapagal? His name is Ritchie Macapagal.
“But he is not in any way connected with the Macapagals of Malacanang,” clears Dolor Guevarra, Susan’s talent manager. A commercial model, he is the nephew of Joey de Leon’s wife, Eileen Macapagal.
Ritchie is supposedly married to Shirley (played by Maricel Soriano). Her dad is John (Dolphy). Ritchie’s dad is portrayed by Noel Trinidad. He has a younger sister, to be played by former “Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition” housemate, Mitch Dulce.
Bert de Leon, who will direct “John En Shirley” for ABS-CBN, does not deny that it’s a take-off from the popular series, “John En Marsha,” a long reigning TV sitcom which lasted on air for 15 years. He has had this project in mind, according to Direk Bert, for more than three years now. Two years ago he said that he mentioned the project to Mr. Gabby Lopez, top gun of ABS-CBN,who promised to call him.
He did recently, two years later. Direk Bert said that Kitchie Benedicto will be line-producing the sitcom for ABS-CBN.
Directing “John En Shirley” fulfills Direk Bert’s greatest wish to direct Dolphy. And he admits to feel so excited about it. They are finally taping for the sitcom tomorrow.
Direk Bert states, “I have been following Tito Dolphy’s career for as long as I can remember. For me, he is one-of-a kind. I truly admire him.”
A director, known especially for his shows which focus on family life (“Hapi House” being one of them), Direk Bert said “John En Shirley” will still be like the old “John En Marsha,” except that he would inject a fresher approach to it. He is also the creative producer and head writer of the show. He will have a team of six writers which include three of the original writers of “John En Marsha.” Direk Bert said he has a high regard for the late Ading Fernando, who conceptualized “John En Marsha.”
“He was able to masterfully present what an essence of a sitcom really is. He succeeded in showing life in a humorous manner,” describes Direk of Mang Ading.
Direk Bert also directs two shows which are aired on GMA-7. They are “Eat Bulaga,” produced by Tape Productions, and “Daddy Di Do Du,” which Vic Sotto also produces for his own M Zet Productions. Vic, likewise, stars in “Daddy Di Do Du.” (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA -- ANGEL LOCSIN didn’t show up at the FHM presentation of the 100 Sexiest Women 2006 held at the World Trade Center recently.
Some quarters now accuse her of being a bad sport. ‘Hindi siguro matanggap na siya ang number one last year pero tinalo siya ni Katrina Halili this year,’ they say.
About 2,000 randy men waited for her at the venue and when it was announced that she couldn’t make it as she is busy taping for “Majika,” they all audibly expressed their disappointment.
What’s bad is that some of them blamed Katrina for what happened. When Katrina went on stage as the sexiest Filipina of 2006, some of them booed her. What can she say about this?
“Well, maski noon pa man sa ‘Starstruck’, I know na that you cannot please everyone no matter how hard you try,” Katrina says. “Kung ayaw nila sa akin, huwag nila kong sisihin kundi ‘yung mga bumoto sa akin dahil hindi ko naman pinagsiksikan ang sarili ko rito para ko manalo. Malinis ang konsensiya ko.”
As for Angel, she’s glad that she is chosen to be the leading lady of Robin Padilla in the action-oriented soap he’d do for GMA-7. “I’ve heard about it, but the management has yet to notify me officially,” she says. “But it’s an honor, kasi, Robin Padilla ‘yan.”
Robin’s last soap was “Basta’t Kasama Kita” with Judy Ann Santos on ABS-CBN. He was linked with Juday then. We won’t be surprised if he’d be linked with Angel now. Wonder what Oyoboy Sotto would say. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA -- While shopping at a posh department store in Bangkok, Thailand, earlier this year, Megastar Sharon Cuneta saw a very familiar CD that made her surge with pride.
It was of Christian Bautista, the young Filipino balladeer who has been making waves in neighboring countries Indonesia, Malaysia, and of course, Thailand. Though Sharon already had her own copy of the CD, she couldnít resist buying another one from that department store an act that validated Christian’s status as Asia’s Pop Idol.
“I’m really proud of how far his career has taken him and how he has touched the hearts of Indonesians and all these other Asian neighbors with his music. He’s so popular and he deserves it. Ang bait bait pang bata kaya ko laging nire-request na guest,” says the Megastar of Christian.
Indeed, the Megastar has repeatedly invited Christian to be a special guest in her more recent concerts. The two first sang a duet in Sharon’s concert in Guam late last year, where they performed Josh Groban’s “The Prayer” and “He Raised Me Up.” The veteran performer was so impressed with the young balladeer that she invited him again as a special guest in her highly successful “My Mega Valentine” concert at the Araneta Coliseum earlier this year. It wasn’t long after when the two singers hit the rehearsal studios again for “My Mega Valentine: The Repeat,” and for the first leg of Sharon’s provincial tour in Lucena City. On July 29, Sharon and Christian are set to serenade Pampangeños through the second leg of the Megastar’s provincial tour to be held at the Expo Filipino, Clark Field, Pampanga.
Being a big artist herself in Asia, especially during her younger years as a performer, Sharon describes Christian’s voice and appeal to be of the international kind. “We have our own Asian Josh Groban-only ours is cuter!” she laughingly adds. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
