|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR modern world is divided into two epochs: The time before the iPod, and the time of the iPod. That dividing line separating the old and new worlds was drawn on October 23, 2001, when Steven P. Jobs of Apple introduced the first generation of the iPod.
Now five years and three months after dividing the modern world, Apple is again set to deepen the divide when it announced the coming of the iPhone two weeks ago.
The iPhone is indeed revolutionary.
It is a cellphone, an iPod with video, and an internet communicator all in one.
And all its great features are housed in a thin glass and aluminum unit that has only one physical button - the home button.All the buttons needed to make it work are invisible and can be controlled using your own fingers through a state of the art touch screen that Apple calls, Multi Touch.
Multi Touch allows you to stretch photos, scroll down through your music and video playlists, type emails and text messages, call contacts and browse the world wide web.
Synching is no pain. It synchs with any Mac and PC like the iPod.
As a phone, it has visual voicemail so you don’t have to listen to all the voice mails in your mailbox just to get to the one that matters. Just scroll through the voice mails and touch the one you want to listen to.
It has one touch dialing. Just touch the name of your contact who you want to call and voila! A phone call.
The iPhone uses the CIngular Network exclusively, so if you want to use it, you have to get out of your ‘non-Cingular’ provider now.
As an iPod, it has the biggest screen on an iPod ever -3.5 inches of glorious widescreen bliss.
It has Cover Flow, so you can flip through your music just like flipping through a stack of compact discs.
It plays video and automatically displays the movie on widescreen mode when you turn your iPhone sideways.
It displays photos too just like the iPod, but you can zoom or stretch the photos like rubber using your fingers unlike the iPod.
It has built in Bluetooth 2.0 to connect wirelessly with other devices.
As an Internet device, it has a real web browser - Apple’s Safari. and it has an eMail program that shows full-rich text html emails. It has Yahoo mail and Google Search and Google Maps.
It is indeed a desktop computer quality internet gadget at the palm of your hand.
Apple intends to ship these things in June. They come in 4GB and 8GB models for $499 and $599, respectively.
Now the questions.
Most people, like me, have separate gadgets for all the things that the iPhone can do. I have an iPod 5G for my music and video needs, a Mac for my internet chores and photos, and a mobile phone to keep me connected. And so far, I am fine with these three things to carry me through this modern world.
So do I really need an iPhone? Do I really need it as soon as the world gets its hand on it?
True, my three separate things can be heavy on the messenger bag, and having an all-in-one gadget like the iPhone could save me from seeing the Chiropractor once-every-so-often.
LIkewise, having the iPhone is easier on the budget than maintaining all three separate units.
Plus, the iPhone is so darn cool. It is the closest thing to the world of Spielberg’s ‘Minority Report’. You can really get hooked up a lot of times with it, trust me.
So, again, do I really need the iPhone?
After careful thought, the answer is NO.
But do I want to be cool? Well, most definitely.
So will I get it? Hell, yeah!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SINCE she was crowned the Grand Star Dreamer of the first season of “Pinoy Dream Academy,” Yeng Constantino had a lot of reasons to be thankful.
That explains the title of her debut album, a 10-track collection, titled “Salamat.” Released by Dream Music (an imprint of Star Records), the album is Yengís way of thanking the people who helped her get to where she is today.
In fact, that is the very thing the title track is about. As most people know, Yeng is a prolific songwriter and she wrote many songs during her stint as a scholar. One of them is “Salamat,” a thank you note to her many fans and fan clubs including the Churvers and the Yeng Speak Society.
Its chorus goes, “Ang awiting itoíy para sa inyo. At kung maubos ang tinig, ëdi magsisi dahil iyong narinig mula sa labi ko, Salamat, salamat.
Proof of Yengís exceptional talent as a songwriter is that she wrote most of the record herself. “She wrote around 60% of the songs,” says Jon Ilagan, Manager of Dream Big Productions, the company that handles not only her career, but those of her fellow “Pinoy Dream Academy” graduates as well.
The album only includes one coveróher take on the Freddie Aguilar classic “Bulag, Pipi at Bingi,” a song she sang on the show to thunderous applause. The album also includes songs written by the following: One Alvin Gonzales (“Pangarap Lang,” a finalist of the Dream Songwriting Competition); fellow graduates Davey Langit (“Cool Off”) and her best friend in the Academy RJ Jimenez (“If We Fall in Love,” also the theme song for the Koreanovela “Princess Hours”).
One track sees her collaborating with Cebaloóa band formed by fellow graduates Davey, Panky Trinidad, Yvan Lambatan and Eman Abatayo.
Says Jon of her songwriting ability, “She writes very meaningful songs. Matindi ang pinaghuhugutan niya.”
Yeng has been through a lot, primarily because her family is not well-off. In fact, the house that they lived in before she joined “Pinoy Dream Academy” was to be demolished last November because they were only squatting on the property. That is another reason why she is thankful for winning ó among her prizes was a condo unit from G.A. Towers, so now they have a place to live.
She also won a brand-new Suzuki PAV eight-seater family wagon, but ironically, no one in her family can drive.
Ultimately, her most valuable prize was that her music career got a second lease on life. Before “Pinoy Dream Academy,” she was all set to give up her dream of singing in favor for a real job.
Now, with the release of “Salamat,” Yeng will surely have more reasons to be thankful.(MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK – Pinoy music fans will have a triple treat on February 10, as Philippine-based singer-songwriter Barbie Almalbis , along with three local Fil Am bands: Bleud, The Kuwagos, and S.I.G.H take New York for a one night concert.
The newly-wed Barbie, known for her sweet folk-pop songs, will stop at The Rebel Club - 251 West 30th Street, NYC. This gig is a part of her multi-city tour that would take her across the entire continental United States. She will be having shows in LA, San Francisco, San Diego, Chicago and Baltimore to name a few.
The pretty singer-songwriter is expected to perform songs from her catalog of hits, which she started to build back in the mid-90’s when she was still with her first band, Hungry Young Poets. Likewise, her fans will be waiting to hear her songs from her ‘Barbie’s Cradle’ days. But actually, Barbie is now on a solo career and she is touring her debut album.
Joining the great Barbie are three of the hottest Fil Am bands today: Jersey City’s Bleud, Bergenfield’s The Kuwagos, and NY’s Striving in Greater Hopes (S.I.G.H).
Bleud, still riding high from the success of their debut album ‘Musings of a Caffeine Addict’, which gave them their certified hits: ‘Hello My Friends, Hello’, ‘Field Trip’, ‘Babolbam Music’, ‘Animé Girl’, and the original version of ‘Bye Bye Na’, is a household name in the Fil Am music scene. In 2006, they became the first independent Fil Am rock group to be featured in Apple’s billion-selling internet music store - The iTunes Music Store. They are now recording their sophomore album under Soulworks Records.
The Kuwagos are Bergenfield, NJ’s pride and joy. From humble beginnings, the band captured the hearts of Pinoy music fans with their honest-to-goodness garage rock.
Their songs mostly talk about being a Filipino immigrant in the US. The band will be releasing their self-titled album on January 27, 2007 at Wazzup Cafe and Restaurant - 8 Bedford Ave, Bergenfield, NJ.
S.I.G.H, aka Striving in Greater Hopes, is a hard rock band fronted by a Filipina singer named Sigh Robes. They hail from New York State, and has amassed quite a following mainly due to their energetic live act and catchy numbers.
Make it a date and watch these three local bands share the stage with one of the Philippines most popular artists.
The show is produced by D’ Opulent Productions.
For tickets call: 201-936-0880
Door opens at 5:00 PM, show starts at 6:00 PM.
The show is an 18+ event and 21 to drink.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SINGER-ACTRESS Joanna Ampil is making waves on the European musical stage. She debuted on the West End stage as Kim in “Miss Saigon” in 1993.
Apart from Kim, Ampil’s other popular roles are Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Eponine and Fantine in “Les Misérables” and Mimi in “Rent.” By the end of the month, she will be reprising the role of Fantine, which she first played in 2003 on London’s West End.
Joanna has indeed made the country proud by starring in various musicals, sung on different recordings and appeared in diverse TV programs in the United States, United Kingdom and other European countries.
On top of her theater triumphs, she has also lent her soprano voice to cast recordings of “Miss Saigon” and “Jesus Christ Superstar,” as well as “Stars of the Musicals” album.
Most recently, she recorded a special edition CD “Reach for the Stars,” a song composed by Thomas Schönberg, with lyrics by Robert Vicencio. “Thomas is the son of Les Miz and Saigon composer Claude-Michel Schönberg.
Proceeds from the single will go to a Manila orphanage called Sun and Moon Home for Children. The foundation has helped over 110 babies find homes and families all over the world. “I’ve always been fond of babies. I nearly had one, which I had unfortunately lost.” She said.
On her most memorable performance so far? It would have to be “Les Miz” during the Entente Cordiale in 2004. It was in celebration of the friendship between England and France, and among the dignitaries in the audience at Windsor Castle were Queen Elizabeth II and other members of the British royal family, President and Mrs. Jacques Chirac and Prime Minister and Mrs. Tony Blair. We met them after the private concert. That was out-of-this-world!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JOHN Estrada denied there’s any truth at all to the rumore linking him to Mylene Dizon. “Sobrang hindi po totoo yun. Sabi ko nga, nakakatakot na ngayon, siguro kahit ang Mommy ko ang ilabas ko, masusulat na sugar mommy ko,” he lamented.
John said since breaking up with long-time girlfriend Vanessa del Bianco, his lovelife remains zero. “Wala po talaga,” he stressed saying he and Vanessa remain as friends, not enemies. “Nakakapag-usap naman po kami,” he added but at the same time denying that they might be reconciling.
John seemed to be so sure that Vanessa, after graduating from her college course in Canada this year, will not be returning to the Philippines where she can easily start a career. “Malabo po siguro yan. Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala na sa plano niya yun.”
The former husband of Janice de Belen is now returning to soap opera via “Maria Flordeluna” as the rival-brother of Col. Leo Alicante, played by Albert Martinez. “This character was not part of the original ‘Flordeluna’ but it is a very good role. I like playing contravida roles because I find it more challenging. The presence of my character, Col. Gary Alvarado, will provide the background on Col. Alicante so the audience could understand him better. Medyo intense yung role and you feel the tension even at the first scene you will see the two of us together,” John said.
In case you’re wondering why there were slight differences between what we remember “Flordeluna” to be from before, ABS CBN has secured the rights of “Maria Flordeluna,” the radio version instead of the TV version. Although no one went on record why, we’ve been told it was because the TV version was charging super high for the rights.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JOLINA Magdangal says it is not true that she and boyfriend Bebong Munoz are getting married soon to help his political ambition as a congressman in Caloocan.
“I hope tigilan na nila saying Bebong is using me,” she adds. “If he were, edi dapat noon pa. Six years na kami at never did he announce na he’d get into politics. At any rate, kung totoong he’s using me, willing naman ako magpagamit simply as I love him. Mas pangit naman kung ibang artista pa ang gamitin niya to help him in his candidacy. The reason why he returned from the US is para magkasama na kami. Bagong development lang ang decision niya to run for public office. Basta, kahit anupang intrigang ganyan, our relationship won’t be affected.”
Jolens now hosts “Starstruck 4” with Dingdong Dantes and Raymond Gutierrez.
She’s happy that it’s rating very well. The Final 14 have been chosen and we got to interview them. The girls are really more impressive than the guys. Renee Lascuna is a charming combination of beauty and brains. Born on November 18, 1988 and an international studies freshman in Ateneo de Davao, she stands 5’7” and many people urge her to join a beauty pageant. “I don’t feel I’m ready,” she says. “Dapat, mas matuto pa ko in many things.” The eldest of four kids, she looks better in person than in photos. Who does she think is her chief rival? “Stef Prescott.” Who will win among the boys? “Aljur Abrenica and Prince Stefan.”
Jesi Corcuera, who turned 16 on Christmas Day, is one of the prettiest girls. Viewers now know she’s an admitted lesbian. How does she feel when she hears people saying “Sayang ang ganda pa naman.” “I’m flattered when I hear maganda ako kasi I lack self confidence. My parents separated when I was very small. May isa kong kapatid ko sa mom ko and four sa dad ko. I had a hard time coping with family problems kaya wala rin ako ganang mag-aral. Now, when I hear na kaya lang ako pumasok sa final 14 dahil kakaiba ko, hindi ko na lang pinapansin. Basta masaya kong napasok ako sa showbiz.” Who does she think is her biggest rival? “Kris Bernal.” Who’ll win among the boys? “Aljur and Paolo.”
Most of the finalists are placing their bets on Aljur. “Ang dami na niyang fans,” says Paolo Avelino. Born on March 24, 1990 in Angeles, Pampanga, Aljur stands 5’ 9” and has clean-cut moreno good looks. Where did he get his name? “Al is from my dad, Alfonso, and Jur is a contraction of Junior.” He’s a high school senior at Don Bosco Mabalacat and took the audition at SM Clark. He has a good voice and started singing when he was in 1st year high school. He thinks Prince is the biggest threat to him and that Stef and Kris will win among the girls. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
