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For the past 21 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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WHEN a band comes up with an album, very few can appreciate the blood and guts involved in pulling off such a task.
Perhaps the regularity of bands coming up with new albums killed the novelty of the deed, especially here in the US, where everyone earns dollars and anybody can just go into a studio and tape whatever there is to be taped.
Likewise, a lot of people buy computers with recording software and record their music themselves - D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself)
In the old days recording artists are often called, recording stars. Now, they are simply called recording artists.
Sadly, the glitz and glamour that was once bestowed upon recording artists have tarnished due to the ‘ordinariness’ of the art of recording. Anybody can be a recording artist today.
This is why The Kuwagos matter.
The Kuwagos, the Bergenfield, NJ band that released their debut album, has put the shine back on the star and has taken D.I.Y to another level - the level of excellence.
The recording of their debut is D.I.Y in the highest order.
The songs were superbly written, the performances were impeccable, the recordings were well done, and the packing of the physical CD is that of commercial quality.
Considering the fact that the hands that wrote and performed the songs were the same hands that put the cellophane shrink wrap around the CD case, it is just fitting to call The Kuwagos recording stars more than anything else.
A lot of aspiring artists, with money, go for the big bucks studio but still manage to create a CD-full of crap. But the Kuwagos, with just about anything needed to come up with a good recording, managed to make a great one.
The Kuwagos matter. for many reasons. Here are a few:
They matter because they have put great song writing into D.I.Y. and proved that financial limitation is not a limitation at all.
Likewise, they have proven once and for all that what really matters is not the million-dollar gear that records and manufactures the CD. It is the material that is inside the CD that counts.
Who really cares that the guitar used in the great Kuwagos track ‘Maynila’ was an old classical guitar, with rusty strings, borrowed from a fellow artist named Binky Veloria?
Who cares that the amp used to generate the massive opening riff of the album kicker ‘Gusto Mo’ was a tiny $50 practice amp?
Who cares that it was the Kuwagos themselves who packaged their debut album using a makeshift shrink wrapper and laser printer?
Nobody.
As long as we feel our hearts warm up to the sentimental yearnings for our home country in ‘Maynila’, ,as long we get our legs moving to the irresistible groove of ‘Gusto Mo’, and as long as we continously look at the Kuwagos CD and marvel at how great the songs are, we could care less on how much money was spent on gear, recording, mastering and packaging.
When good music plays, everybody listens. But when great music plays, everybody remembers. The Kuwagos will definitely be remembered.
I suppose that the legacy that they want to impart to any aspiring Fil Am artist is this : If you do it yourselves, do it well. Do it real.
And if that will not make The Kuwagos legitimate recording stars, I don’t know what will.
The Kuwagos debut CD is available on www.digstation.com and www.soulworksrecords.com.
Visit them at www.myspace.com/thekuwagos
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ALBERT Martinez would have wanted anyone of his children to follow in his footsteps. Surprisingly his three good-looking kids, Alyanna, 21, Alfonso, 19 and Alissa, 14, do not want to be part of the entertainment industry.
“And I do not think it is because they have anything against this profession, which allowed me to give them the kind of life they are enjoying. At nakikita ko naman na siyang-siya sila kapag isinasama ko sa aking taping, shooting or to any industry affair. Siguro nga lang mas gusto nila ang mag-aral,” he reasoned. “Which I don’t mind, of course.”
His kids are all enrolled in the best schools.
Said Albert: “Maski expensive ang school, basta makaka-cope sila sa standards nito, ginagawa ko ang paraan na ma-afford ko na doon sila papag-aralin. So far naman, not one of them has disappointed me.”
Alyanna is graduating this year with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ateneo University. She plans to pursue an M.A. either from the Ateneo or in a university in the US.
Alfonso, his only boy, finished both his grade and high school at the De La Salle University. He is home for a vacation from his studies at the Stockton College in the US, where he is enrolled in computer engineering.
Alyssa is a high school freshman at the Poveda, the same school where Alyanna spent both her grade and high school education.
“I owe my wife, Liezl, for the way our children were raised. Talagang kinarir niya ang pagiging ina at asawa, which is worth it because we have an ideal family life. “Thank you, Liezl,” he added.
The year 2006 was a good year for Albert’s career. He played the unkind Benicio in the teleserye “Sa Piling Mo” on ABS-CBN. He fell in love with Judy Ann Santos but chose to have a child by Rica Peralejo who, in turn, is in love with Piolo Pascual.
“I like working with these three young people,” Albert declared. “Because we are most of the time working together, aba, ang feeling ko I’m the same age as them.
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THE CROWD at the Pops and Martin concert held at the Mohegan Sun Arena last Sept. 23, 2006 was not disappointed. They were mesmerized and treated to one of the best concerts in recent memory.
Fans came all the way from New Hampshire , Atlantic City and Washington, D.C. to be a part of this great night.
The show started with a short presentation about the Philippines : A video production promoting Philippine Tourism, featuring 24 of the biggest artists/singers in the Philippines singing a song called “Biyahe Tayo”.
Then a young Filipino-American illusionist, Anthony Salazar, kicked the show off and enchanted the audience with his incredible magic skills. Everyone was spellbound.
But the enchantment didn’t go stale. It went up another level as Martin and Pops, backed up by Musical Director, and eleven of his Las Vegas band of chosen musicians, came up the stage and launched into their opening numbers.
Pops looked stunning in her beautiful gown and Martin cam impeccably dressed for he night as well.
After their opening numbers, Martin and Pops greeted the audience and started teasing each other. Pop’s then ‘popped’ the question to a seemingly surprised Martin, “Nagsisisi ka na ba, Martin?” Martin tried all means to avoid replying to an edgy question.
As an added treat Martin introduced a special guest –Jenevi Bach, a stunning Korean-American, who performs regularly in Las Vegas with artists like Wayne Newton. She entertained and delighted the audience with her alluring voice flawless dancing.
The show highlighted the history of the ex-couple through video clips of their Penthouse Live days, where their romance started.
The repertoire was a generous mix of Filipino songs and mainstream hits, just what the crowd expected and requested.
Pop’s medley of Filipino songs, including George Canseco’s hits were well received.
Pops also showcased her dancing skills on her fast-paced numbers, and thus bolstered her claim that she is still the concert queen.
Martin, did an outstanding rendition of some Broadway musicals which earned him a standing ovation from the appreciative audience.
Near the show’s end, Martin tried to answer Pop’s question, but all he could do was to embrace his ex-wife and shed some heartfelt tears.
Martin and Pops, after all these years, are still making beautiful music together. Although their brief union lasted only as long as the concert, it cannot be argued that the chemistry that brought them together is still there and won’t go anywhere as long as they continue sharing the stage.
The Martin and Pops Concert “Together Again…on Stage” at the Mohegan Sun Arena was produced by Nomar Hernandez. Comments may be sent to olelemar@hotmail.com.
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MANILA -- Billy Crawford was inducted into the Eastwood Walk of Fame on Monday, January 15. He was the lone inductee, unlike the previous event where a group of stars were feted to receive their own star at the Walk of Fame.
‘it’s definitely a blessing,’ said the former child actor of him having his own star in the Walk of Fame. ‘I never thought in a million years that we’re gonna have a Walk of Fame in the Philippines. Sobrang talented ng mga tao dito, people that I grew up with and my inspirations... Actually like a lot of actors and actresses and singers, it’s a pleasure to be in the same walk with them. I can’t ask for a bigger blessing.’
Among the former mainstays of ‘That’s Entertainment,’ Billy has definitely gone a long way. According to German ‘Kuya Germs’ Moreno, the main man and spirit behind the Walk of Fame, Billy already made it even as a child actor when he won awards. Billy was only four years old when he was accepted (reluctantly though because of the age factor) in ‘That’s Entertainment,’ the teen program that produced some of the biggest stars we now see on TV and in the movies.
Billy says he was at the right place at the right time when the break to do a recording came to him. He made a name as a singer in Europe and he became number one, instantly gaining a huge following. Up to now, he’s still very popular in Europe although he has moved to Los Angeles where, he says, the best people in the music industry are.
The pop idol left for Los Angeles, California last Tuesday. He has made California his home base as far as his career is concerned, although he still has a huge following in Europe. But while he has had much success as a concert artist in Europe, having toured most parts of the continent, he has yet to conquer the Philippine concert stage.
‘I am coming back to the Philippines to do a concert at the Araneta Coliseum in July, plus two more concerts in Cebu,’ said Billy. He will be coming back as early as March to prepare for his concert at the Big Dome, his very first since his stint at “That’s Entertainment.”
He’s also involved in a charity work for Gawad Kalinga. He’s also putting out a clothing line (his own clothing line that came out in Europe) here in the Philippines. He might record an album for a local record label although he also has to record an album in Europe. He will be doing compositions for other people. He did a song for Britney Spears, plus another song for an American artist.
‘I’ve done so many things and I’ve achieved so many things so it’s time to give back what I owe to my fellow Filipinos. Kaya babalik ako rito in March for the Gawad Kalinga project. It’s for a great cause. It’s one of the reasons why I came here. Most of my earnings would go to Gawad Kalinga,’ Billy says.
But most important of all, Billy wants to reach out to his fans in the Philippines. (MNS)
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CHRISTOPHER de Leon is still unsure if he will enter the world of politics but the award-winning actor says a number of political parties have approached him and talked to him, enticing him to join their ticket to this year’s elections.
Bro. Boyet says he is giving himself up to next week to decide if it’s a go with regards to launching his political career.’ Bahala na ang Diyos. Baka I might run as vice governor or congressman,’ says the multi-awarded actor about his supposed interest in running for office in Batangas.
He says he will have to talk with his lawyers.
There is no problem with regards to his residency but he still have to gather his papers, present it to UNO (United Opposition), and then they will see what they can do about it. Actually, he has no problems with his papers, but what he is doing now is he wants his options to be clear.
‘Every election time, hindi ko ine-entertain e, but now in-entertain ko because I’m a little older. Maybe I can be more of service. Getting into the game is not a joke. You need a lot of money here, ‘ Bro. Boyet says.
He has been approached by several parties wanting to get him from the Liberal Party (the Atienza Wing), Aksyon Demokratiko, UNO and thereís a sort of offer from Lakas.
Why is he running in Batangas, not in Parañaque, where he resides? He considers Lubo, Batangas, his adoptive town. ‘Napakaganda ng Lubo,’ he says. ‘I’m the chairman of the Ecotourism of Lubo. I take care of the environment. I’m a professional scuba diver, so I know the reefs. I know the places where you can dive. My place there, ‘yong harap ng lugar ko, is already considered as a sanctuary. I call it Angel’s Reef.’
Boyet and his wife, Sandy Andolong have a property in Mabini, Batangas and Sandy also has a big property in Mabini. They scuba dive in Anilao and Nasugbu. He considers Batangas his second home. He describes Lubo as a ‘very beautiful place’ but unfortunately the roads are not cemented.
Christopher and Lipa City Mayor Vilma Santos have been paired in several movies and TV specials. Because of their friendship and their work history, the election buzz is that the two will be the tandem to beat-The Star for All Seasons for Governor and The Drama King for Vice Governor.
‘‘Narinig ko, pero mukhang hindi ‘ata ganoon ang usapan,’ says Boyet about the rumor. ‘Ako, saling-cat lang. What I can do for Batangas, whether I run or not, we will do something about Lubo. And three more towns in Batangas na nakita kong napakaganda at hindi pa na-develop.’ (MNS)
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THE underwater adventure, “Atlantika”, is ending next month. “It’s supposed to run for only three months but we were extended up to five months dahil maganda ang reception ng viewers,” says lead actor Dingdong Dantes.
“As the conclusion comes near, every episode is packed with more surprises and big action scenes as I try to fight the plans of the evil Barracud (Ariel Rivera) to make Atlantika float and conquer the world of mortals. ‘Atlantika’ is my toughest show as it’s physically draining because of the action scenes na underwater pa.”
The final weeks will show if Dingdong as Aquano would succeed in his mission to thwart Barracud or if he’d choose his love for Amaya over his duty. Barracud also faces competiton from Celeste (Jean Garcia), the villainous twin sister of Queen Celebes who also wants to conquer Atlantika. She has the power to read minds and finds out who’ll help Aquano carry out his mission. Celebes, in turn, succeeds in reviving the former king, Agat (Gardo Versoza), and finds out he has a missing son. Is this Aquano or Piranus (Paolo Contis)?
So what’s Dingdong’s next project after “Atlantika”? “GMA has new plans but I’m not at liberty to reveal them yet. I’m hoping after two costume-fantasies, ‘Encantadia’ and ‘Atlantika’, they’ll give me a straight drama naman for a change.
“But right now, I’m still hosting ‘SOP’ and ‘Starstruck’.”
How does he feel now that some co-stars in “SOP” have been taken out of the show? “Siyempre, I feel bad, like KC (Montero), kasi eight years na kaming magkasama sa show. Pero ganun talaga. We need to reformat to keep ‘SOP’ fresh and new.
Why is it that only the second and third batches of “Starstruck” did not become as successful as the first batch? “Probably because sobra ang expectations sa kanila.
“Iba kasi ang original. But I’m confident the new batch of ‘Starstruck The Next Level’ will be as big as the batch of Mark and Jennylyn, especially among the girls na marami talagang stunning and talented.”
How’s Karylle? “She’s busy writing her own songs for her new album. Lagi pa rin kami magkasama sa ‘SOP’. Natatawa na lang kami when we hear na hindi na raw kami.” (MNS)
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