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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.
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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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STARTING December 4, 2006, some of the best Fil Am artists from all over the US will be offering a free holiday compilation album entitled ‘ Rocky Yuletide 2’.
The album will be available as high quality MP3 downloads complete with a digital album cover and sleeve on the record label’s website - www.soulworksrecords.com.
Some of the artists who contributed original holiday music are: Binky Veloria, The Kuwagos, Bleud, Trickbag, Then Again, The Happy Analogues, Sheryl Mae and the Astrids, Anthony Margula, Sodapop Suicide and Paul Zurita,
Some artists in the west coast also pledged to send in their entries for the free album. The project is the Fil Am music scene’s gift to all those who supported us and made 2006 a breakout year.
The album can be downloaded from December 4 to January 6, 2007.
I would like to thank the sponsors of this great project: www.poptimesmagazine.com, www.poptimesradio.com, The Filipino Express and Soulworks Records. The Introvoys will be launching their new album, ‘New Beginnings’ on December 16 at the La Trova House in West Los Angeles, CA.
I had the chance to meet and jam with Paco, Chot and Jonathan during the Leyte
benefit gig in Long Beach , a few weeks back and they are pretty hyped up with the upcoming release. It was my first time meeting Paco and Jonathan, and iI must say that they are cool and grounded people. As for Chot, but I met him back in Manila during the band boom days when he was playing with Raincrowd. It has been a while since our last meeting and it is great to see him again.
You can log on to their website at www.introvoys.net for more info.
We are almost in the last month of 2006, and as this year’s calendar turns its last page, I cannot help but get emotional on how great this year was for the Fil Am scene.
From the Leyte BEnefit CD to Rock in the Box, to Poptimes Magazine and Poptimes Radio to Rocky Yuletide 2, this year will forever be remembered as the definitive year of the new scene.
Now, what could 2007 look like for us? Well, here are some early things that will happen in the scene this coming year: The Kuwagos debut, Bleud’s 2nd album, The Happy Analogues’s debut, Rock in the Box 2, Binky Veloria’s debut CD, Sodapop Suicide’s debut album. I bet there will be more releases, but jut looking at the list is enough to convey the message that 2007 will be good for the scene. More records, more gigs.
Likewise, Poptimes Magazine will celebrate it’s first year as an online magazine in February and its community will also see its 1st birthday May, while Poptimes Radio will have it’s 1st anniv as well in June. Wow, I can smell the Tequila already.Speaking of parties, there will be some awesome happenings in the days to come.
These get togethers were put up by Poptimers, artists and supporters alike.
Surely these will be a lot of fun.
The Central Park Ice Skating trip.
Memebers of the bands Bleud, The Happy Analogues, The Kuwagos, Then Again, Trickbag and Blue MEllon Pop will show off their skating chops along with Binky Veloria, Pao, Lyn, Ali and some of teh supporters from all over NY and NJ. The skating gig was organized by Poptimes admins, Sheryl Garcia, Ana and Ivan Balasi.
The Christmas party
On December 17, the local Fil Am music scene will hold its Xmas bash at Bistro San Miguel in Red Bank, NJ.
Bands will be performing their regular sets as well as their yuletide songs from the Rocky Yuletide 2 compilation. Everyone is invited.
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MANILA -- Iwa Moto says GMA Artist Center has allowed her to pose sexy on the cover of FHM. “As long as itís tasteful at hindi bastos ang kuha, OK lang naman sa akin,” she says.
Is she really cultivating her bad girl image? “I honestly donít know why I have that kind of image. Siguro dahil sinasabing pasaway ako at na-suspend ako ng GMA. Also, dahil I play kontrabida on TV and in the movie, ëWhite Lady,í na masama talaga ako. But honestly, hindi naman ako bad girl.”
How come she was reported talking so openly about sex at the set of QTV-11ís “Posh?” “I was with some of my co-stars in the show at napunta ang usapan sa sex. Wala naman sigurong masama roon. Lahat naman ng magkakaibigan, at one time or another, they talk about sex, di ba? Iím glad dahil sa new movie ko, ëPitong Dalagita,í I donít play a bad girl kundi a stupid girl. Tanga ako rito kaya siguro next time, magiging tanga girl naman ang image ko.”
Is she really at odds with co-star Cristine Reyes, Ara Minaís younger sister? “No, weíre good friends. Kaya lang, sa presscon, Cristine was making fun of me sa presidential table kaya akala ng tao, magkagalit kami.”
Cristine says sheís able to relate well with her role in “Pitong Dalagita” as an ambitious teenager whoís goal in life is to be an artista. “Nakaka-identify talaga ako kasi in real life, ëyun talaga ang ambition ko ever since, na natupad. Pero in the movie, hindi ganíun ang nangyari. Some made me believe lang pala na kinukuha akong artista pero niloko lang ako.” (MNS)
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JOLINA Magdangal never thought it would be a big deal when she guested with fiancé Bebong Munoz recently on “The Buzz” for a post–birthday greeting to Boy Abunda. Jolina confessed she failed to inform her home network GMA7 of this TV appearance, and for this she felt sorry.
“When my attention was called by GMA after the guesting, I apologized agad for it kasi hindi ko naman talaga alam na ganon pala kalaki [treatment] yung dadatnan namin kasi ang alam ko lang talaga, babati lang kami kay Tito Boy na malaki naman talaga ang respeto ko at utang na loob namin kay Tito Boy kasi nga siya ang nagpakilala sa’min ni Bebong,” Jolina clarified on Tuesday during the press conference for “Starstruck’s” fourth season held in Quezon City.
The 28–year-old actress admitted she agreed to the invitation is haste because of her tight schedule. “That time, magulo kasi yung schedule namin kaya when they asked me kung puwede ako mag–guest sa ‘The Buzz’ to greet Tito Boy, pumayag agad ako tapos sabi nila isama ko na rin daw si Bebong so I said yes. Hindi ko talaga alam na magiging big deal pala lahat.”
But things have blown over between Jolina and her mother network. “Wala nang problema ngayon. Sinabi lang nila sa’kin na sana ipinaalam ko raw. On my part, I realized naman na dapat nagsabi ako kaya nag–sorry ako agad sa GMA.”
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VICTOR Neri reportedly confronted his girlfriend, Michelle Madrigal, when he learned that she agreed to pose in a skimpy swimsuit for the menís magazine, Maxim. “What are you trying to prove?” he asked her.
Michelle allegedly replied, “I just want it. And I donít want you to worry because I know how to handle myself.”
Michelle, at 18, is the youngest among the showbiz girls who have become Victorís girlfriends. Sharmaine Arnaiz, who is now married and a mother to a two- year-old boy, was also once the sweetheart of Victor. Angelika de la Cruz was also linked to him.
Michelle, on the other hand, had one boyfriend. This was JC de Vera, a GMA talent. Michelle is a talent of ABS-CBNís Star Magic.
Michelle and Victor were in the same circle but they were never close. One time, when they bumped into each other, Victor greeted her “hi” and she said “hi” to him too.
They then asked for each otherís mobile numbers and have been texting each other since then.
When Victor started courting her, Michelle asked for a sign from God if Victor was right for her.
They have been sweethearts for several months now. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Willie Revillame, the host of the noontime TV show Wowowee seen on the Filipino Channel is in serious trouble. He is facing a new set of criminal charges apart from the ones filed by the Department of Justice for his role in the Ultra stampede that resulted in the death of 71 people and injuries to many more.
His wealthy wife Liz has recently already thrown Willie out of their conjugal home. With nowhere to go, Willie had to spend several nights at the ABS-CBN studios.
This time, however, it looks like Willie will spend many nights in the streets as Liz, through hotshot attorney Katrina Legarda, has filed a motion for a temporary protective order that will prevent Willie from approaching his wife and their child up to 300 meters of their home. If Willie violates the order issued by Quezon City Regional Trial Court Judge Elsa de Guzman, he will be immediately locked up at the Quezon City jail. Why is Liz very mad at Willie that she had to resort to legal action to keep him out of her sight?
It is public knowledge that Willie is a certified womanizer and this has always been the cause of his troubles. Liz is Willieís third partner after his separation from his second wife that ended in disaster. We all remember Willie getting married to another showbiz personality Princess Punzalan.
Voluminous reports coming from the ABS-CBN circles say that Willie is using violence on his wife. The charge sheet against Willie says that Liz is suffering from what is called as battered wife syndrome. This means that Willie is beating up Liz. It was Lizís multi-millionaire father who convinced her to file that prohibition against Willie.
Sources added that Liz will also file a petition for annulment of their very recent marriage.
Besides that, Liz is slowly but surely getting the sympathy of the people, including the thousands of fans of Willie. Willie has been known to putting women on the spot in his show that resulted in the filing of sexual harassment charges against him in the past. In fact, Liz was on his side during those trying days thatís why he escaped unscathed. But Willie never learns his lessons. He is a recidivist, especially when it involves women.
But now, he is in real big trouble. The Filipino culture can always forgive a womanizer. In fact, they even elected a womanizer president. But when you beat up a woman, society will never let you get away with it. The people will be on Lizís side. Poor Willie, he will be all alone in his lonely world with no one defending him. But that is not the only criminal case Willie is facing. He is also being made to answer for that Ultra stampede that resulted in 71 deaths and injuries to many more.
Legarda is better known as the champion of womenís rights and she will surely do her best to win this very high-profile case.
On the other hand, whatever is the result of the case will not be good for Willie. This is one contest where there are no winners, only losers. This is not Wowowee where everyone wins. (MNS)
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THE writers present at the presscon of ‘Zsazsa Zaturnnah, Ze Movie’ applauded heartily after its full trailer was shown.
The costumes and the special effects (particularly the outer space shots and the giant frog that Zsa Zsa Padilla battles with) are simply dazzling. ‘I encountered a lot of hardships while doing this film’ says Zsa Zsa. ‘When we shot on location in Laguna, I’d wake up at 3 a.m. to be there at 6 a.m. dahil they’ll apply make up on me pa, plus my red wigs. I really look like a showgirl with thick false eyelashes and bright red lipstick. We had real martial arts teachers to train us ni Pops Fernandez in the fight scenes and we really get hurt. Meron pang fight scenes na habang nagbabakbakan, kumakanta pa kami.
It’s sobrang exhausting at nagkasakit pa ako and had surgery.
‘But after seeing the trailer, I’m happy dahil lahat ng hirap namin paid off.
‘Everyone gave his all and now, we’re all proud of the movie. I have a feeling Zsazsa Zaturnnah will be a well-loved heroine and this film will have sequels.’
‘We just wonder how kids will take the film’s very gay sensibility that reminds of the movies of Joey Gosiengfiao then, like ‘Elektrika Kasi.’ ‘I don’t think that will be an issue as the film is just a lot of fun,’ says supervising producer Manny Valera. ‘it’s meant for the entire family and Direk Joel Lamangan has created characters viewers will care ‘
Scriptwriter Dinno Erece says he made many changes in the material and the film is now about 60% different from the original comics novel and the musical play staged at the CCP. ‘The original writer, Carlo Vergara, approved all the changes we made even in the subplots. Even the songs are different from those used in the play, except for ‘Babae Na Ako’. We now have a movie that will surely please everyone.’ (MNS)
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