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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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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
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Lilacs and Politics:
The missing liner notes
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MY other band, The Happy Analogues, recently released its debut album called ‘Lilacs and Politics’, and it will be formally launched on May 5, 2007 at Rebel, NYC - 251 West 30th Street, NYC.
We have invited some of our friends in the scene to play with us on that special night: Bleud (my other band), The Kuwagos, PI (from Washington DC), Circled Sin (from Maryland), Noizytoyz(from Toronto), Blue Melon Pop, Qwadra, Binky Bianca, Sodapop Suicide, and triCKBag. The show starts at 6 PM, tickets are for $10.
The missing liner notes
Lilacs and Politics is a very special album. It is one of the best records I worked on, since Bleud’s debut album in 2005, and the Kuwagos debut in January. Not only because I am in it, but because the songs were carefully crafted and recorded by four individuals, who were in the zone for making an amazing product. From the recording to the elaborate album design, we paid very close attention to details to ensure the satisfaction of everybody who will get a hold of the album.
The album was tracked by our dear friend, Anthony Murgola at the Penguin Studios in Paterson, New Jersey from October to December of 2005, and we mixed and mastered it in Soulworks Sound in Jersey City from January to March of 2006. It came out of the replication plant last April 2.
The album design was done by the very creative bassist of the band, Ronnie Lao, who, by the way, also manages the group, He made use of the photos of the Analogue drummer, Rich ‘Jonze’ Saguirre, and one of the most famous rock photographers in the scene, Sheryl Garcia.
The 11-tracks in the record were penned by the band’s guitarist and vocalist, Paul Zurita and myself. Paul wrote four tracks: ‘Memories in My Mind’, ‘That’s Why’, ‘It’s Okay, I’ll Stay’, and ‘Crazy Girl For You’. I, in turn, wrote seven: ‘ Jellybeans Forever’, ‘Shameless’, The Universe is Mine’, ‘That Summer’, ‘Beautiful Pain’, ‘Hodgepodge’ and ‘End Notes’.
Although, the band has a lot of songs in Filipino. Lilacs and Politics is an all-English album. The reason? We decided to concentrate on the Fil-Am audience, who are mostly born here in the States and could barely construct phrases in Filipino. We all thought that it’s high time to give Fil Am music fans an album that they can truly call their own. We made the album with the Filipino-American in mind. Perhaps in the second album, we can incorporate songs written in the native tongue..
We would like to thank you all for supporting the local Fil Am music scene, and we do hope for your continued patronage.
You can purchase the album launch tickets and the CD online at www.poptimesmagazine.com. Mabuhay ang Fil Am music!
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ANGELICA Panganiban was in Amanpulo, a posh resort in the South for the rich and famous, for three days last Holy Week.
“We left Manila last Holy Tuesday. Maundy Thursday, bumalik na kami. Kaya I had time to reflect (on the sacredness of the Holy Week) on Good Friday,” she said.
A Born-Again Christian, she no longer follows rituals practiced by Catholics, although, she still believes in Christ. “Kasi kung wala Siya, saan tayo galing kung ganun?” said Angelica. Who was with her in Amanpulo.
“Secret,” she answered with a smile. “Let’s just say it is a long overdue treat for me. From someone whose identity I won’t reveal, though.”
According to her, she and her companion were able to explore the place. No one they knew was around so they were able to do their thing. “Maraming foreigners,” she noted.
When she was in Perth, Australia last February to visit Sarah Christophers, her best friend who is a former Star Magic talent, she did something which she never thought she would do. She strolled and frolicked in the nude on a beach there! She loved it, she said.
“I also did many firsts while in Australia,” she related without hesitation. “Sarah and I with some newfound friends went to a gay bar. At nanood kami ng show.
“I had a hell of a time, too, posing with strangers. Alam n’yo,” she confessed. “Matagal ko nang fantasy ito. At ngayong nagawa ko na, I feel good.”
One of the busiest talents of Star Magic, Angelica is in the cast of “Rounin,” considered as a very ambitious teleepiko on ABS-CBN.
A most anticipated series, “Rounin” is the creation of Erik Matti and his co-directors, Jerome Hoboken and Richard Somes.
“What we feel most proud of about this project is its technological advanced animation and effects,” said Nini Matilac, “Rounin” producer. “Masasabi ring unique ang plot nito. And we have an all-star cast of characters that will surely make the series memorable and exciting.”
Angelica plays one of the Rounins in the series. Her name is Aura, the master of Aria (Wu Shu). She is involved in a forbidden relationship with another Rounin, Juris (Luis Manzano), the strongest of them.
“May mga fight scenes ako sa series,” related Angelica. “This is another first for me since I’ve never been in an action movie.”
Diether Ocampo is also in “Rounin.” He plays Cadmus, the master Rounin and leader of Lumeria. It is only he who can proclaim anyone as a Rounin. Cadmus belongs to the legendary Rounin circle that fought and won the great war that gave Lumeria ultimate freedom and peace.
The Rounins are the elite warrior of the Land Lumeria. They are considered the greatest warriors. (MNS)
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WHEN Jomari Yllana filed his candidacy as Parañaque councilor on March 29, no less than girlfriend Pops Fernandez was with him to show her support. But a week later, Jom went back to the Comelec office by himself (Pops has already flown to the U.S. to do shows) and withdrew his candidacy.
Some people say they’re glad he has finally seen the light, unlike other actors who continue to run even if they’re sure of losing. But some folks say Jom withdrew as he lacks the dough to finance his campaign.
Jom himself reveals he decided to back out upon the request of his Kuya Anjo, who’s running for vice mayor. Anjo is under the Lakas party and his party-mates who are running for councilor are the direct rivals of Jom, who’s running independently.
“Sabi niya, tulungan ko na lang siya sa kampanya niya,” adds Jom. “Ayoko namang magkaroon pa kaming magka-patid ng misunderstanding dahil dito, so I withdrew na lang.”
As far as we’re concerned, it’s a wise decision, especially now that his ex-wife, Aiko Melendez, openly complains that he no longer has time to visit their son, Andre. (MNS)
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AFTER the much-ballyhoed cellphone throwing incident on the set of “Super Twins,” Alessandra de Rossi has been the subject of opinion columns.
The so-called ‘antagonist,’ Rhian Ramos was crucified by some writers close (or feeling close) to Alex, until the latter was interviewed by some writers to air her side.
Now, it seems the table has turned against Alex. We were deluged by emails calling her names, citing past incidents where she showed “her true color.” What puzzles us is the way these emails were sent. They come in volumes and even if they came from different senders (names), it looks to us like a concerted effort to really put her down.
We hope it did not come from Rhian’s camp, lest it would boomerang on her later.
Meanwhile, Alex seems not affected by this hate campaign against her as she was seen at Isdaan, a restaurant-cum-theme park in Gerona, Tarlac on Black Saturday.
She was laughing as she threw a number of clay plates against the tacsiyapo wall.
Or perhaps she was imagining throwing those plates on Rhian’s face? She seems to be not loveless, either. Alex was with a band member-looking guy at Isdaan. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Remember beauty queen-turned-actress Alma Concepcion? Since giving birth to her only son, Alma has not been visible on screen but this doesn’t mean that she is idle. Actually, she has not forgotten her roots in beauty pageants and ramp modeling. Only recently, Alma lent her presence in the “Miss Tanuan” pageant where she sat as a judge. A former Binibining Pilipinas International title holder, Alma said that being a beauty queen is always a delightful experience.
On April 18 at the Cultural Center Main Theater, Alma will walk once again to display the exciting new collection of Narda Capuyan, the Benguet weaver who attained international stature with her hand-woven fabrics of eco-fibers. With designs by Shirley Alejandrino, “Fibers of Life by Narda” is a fiber and fashion event directed by Steven Fernandez, with lights design by Joey Nombres, and performers for the Integrated Performing Arts Guild.
Alma, likewise, has ventured into business. In the past couple of years, she has gone into distribution of tuna from General Santos. She has joined bazaars, set up workshops to train prospective beauty queens and supervised the rentals of her various property acquisitions. Now she owns and runs the Persiana Grill of Mediterranean food in Santolan, Quezon City. In the near future, she also plans to venture into the build and sell business.
Alma has also been active in the legitimate theater scene. At the moment, however, she would like to join the digital film arena. She might even star in it as, she revealed, she has yet to do a digital movie.
Alma was also active in singing gigs here and abroad. She tried her hands at radio hosting in DWIZ’s “OK Ka Mare Ko.” She also served as speaker in various NGO events.. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Actress and television host Lani Mercado revealed that she can no longer bear a child. Lani (also known as Jesusa Victoria H. Bautista in real life) made the clarification after her youngest son, Ram asked her and husband Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. for another baby sibling during their vacation in Boracay.
Lani told Ram that she was already ligated and could no longer get pregnant.
“Ram is asking for another baby sibling, I just simply explained to him that no, because I’m already ligated. I think I was 31 when I had the operation and right now I’m 39,” Lani said.
Ligation is an operation to stop a woman from getting pregnant. The fallopian tubes, which carry the eggs from the ovary to the womb (uterus), are burned, clipped, cut or tied (the tubes are sealed). The tubes are therefore closed so the sperm and egg do not meet.
Lani and her family arrived in Manila Monday morning from their Holy Week vacation “We just arrived from Boracay we stayed there because we really need a break. The whole family [was] there, Bong and the six kids.”
Lani was married to Bong in 1987. They were blessed with: Leonard Bryan (born November 22, 1986), Jose Lorenzo (Ramon “Jolo” Revilla III, born March 15, 1988), Inah Felicia (born October 2, 1989), Ma. Viktoria Gianna (born August 15, 1995), Ma. Franzel Loudette (born October 15, 1997) and Ramon “Ram” Vicente (born December 8, 1998).
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