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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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WHAT would you expect of a concert for which you paid $100 to see?
Nowadays, apparently your $100 will take you to a celebrity Magic Mic Show.
A friend of mine complained about a recent show she saw at a prestigious Manhattan venue. According to her, she paid $100 to see the gig, which featured her favorite Pinoy matinee idols. But as soon as she got home she felt she was ripped-off due to the poor quality of the entire production.
Based from what she told me, she has legitimate reasons to feel cheated.
In a ‘sworn’ declaration, she said:
1. There was no live orchestra to accompany the matinee idols. They all sang using a $300 magic mic.
2. No sophisticated stage lighting to illuminate the stage. Apparently they where using white fluorescent lights.
3. ‘My Way’ was sang twice by two different matinee idols.
4. ‘You Raised Me Up’ by Josh Groban was performed three times.
5. One celebrity even had the nerve to lip-synch.
6. One matinee idol pretended to play the guitar in a futile attempt to ‘guitar-synch’.
7. The Lumpiang Shanghai that was sold inside the venue was $2.00 a piece.
8. The wardrobe changes were more frequent than the song numbers.
9. The acknowledgment of sponsors were more frequent than the wardrobe changes.
10. The matinee idols smiled and showed their chest hairs more than they thanked their sponsors
Why would we even spend $100 for a show like such? I wouldn’t see this kind of show even if it were for free!
But sadly, most of the Filipinos here in the US, watch these kind of garbage.
These, for them, connects them to the homeland that they so miss. And that’s what producers tap.
For a lot of producers here, ‘longing for home’ is a source of revenue.
What better business out there would let you charge $100 for a magic mic show?
Only to homesick Pinoys would a ticket that expensive be sold. It’s big money! Less capital, greater profit.
Who cares if the concert productions sucks? As long as the stars are there, it’s a surefire hit.
In 2005, I saw U2 for $120.
The lights and stage design alone is worth more than the $120 that I shelled out.
It was 2 hours of straight rock from the biggest band in the world - minus any wardrobe changes.
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MANILA -- Dino Guevarra said once he gets his divorce papers from his former wife, Kim de los Santos (an American citizen and now a resident of US), he will marry his current girlfriend, Karen. Dino has a nearly one year old child with Karen. He is glad that, like him, Kim has moved on and is reportedly building a new future with her boyfriend in New Jersey.
Dino and Kim got married in the Philippines when they were both teenagers. They were also both under contract to Viva Films.
When they married, Dino already had two children by a previous relationship. Because they were childless, they sort of adopted one of Dino’s son with the consent of the boy’s mother.
“Mabait na ina si Kim,” Dino said. “So much so, when after a turbulent quarrel, we separated and Kim decided to leave for the US, my son was greatly affected.”
Dino and Karen were in the presscon which Mother Lily hosted for Christopher de Leon who is running for vice-governor in Batangas. Dino appeared with Boyet (Christopher’s pet name) in a drama series produced by GMA-7.
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MANILA -- Ruffa Gutierrez admitted she has broken up with Yilmaz after four years of marriage.
“We tried hard to save it and make our marriage work, but it’s so difficult because of basic cultural differences,” she says. “He was even willing to come here with his relatives to thresh things out but I said not to do that anymore as I’ve already made up my mind. There’s really no third party involved. We still love each other but it just so happened marami kaming pagkakaiba.”
What we gather is that Ruffa is giving her career here more importance. Yilmaz wants her to return to Istanbul with their two daughters, Lorin and Veniz, since she has been staying for four months hosting “Philippines’ Next Top Model” and “The Buzz,” but she prefers to stay here as she loves working.
“Showbiz is my passion and now that offers continue to come in, I just can’t let them go,” she says. “I really enjoy and get much satisfaction from what I’m doing.”
We hope Ruffa won’t regret her decision to prioritize her showbiz career. As for Annabelle, she’s just very happy that her daughter and granddaughters are now staying here in Manila for good.
This is the official statement of Ruffa Gutierrez about the breakup of her marriage to Yilmaz Bektas:
“It is with much regret that RUFFA GUTIERREZ and YILMAZ BEKTAS announce their mutual decision to end their four years of marriage. Earnest and sincere efforts at saving their marriage have failed. It is to the best interest of Ruffa and Yilmaz, their children, and respective families that such decision to severe marital ties had to be made.”
All issues and formalities concerning the dissolution of the marriage shall be done in accordance with applicable laws in the most cordial, amicable, and private way possible for the benefit of all concerned.
Ruffa and Yilmaz will remain committed parents and continue to be friends as they live their separate lives. They ask for everyone’s understanding and consideration in respecting the family’s privacy during this most difficult time. No further statements will be issued.” (MNS)
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NOT everybody knows that Christopher de Leon has several properties in Batangas. He has always loved their property in Mabini, where he almost always takes his family.
In his wife Sandy Andolong’s case, though, their place in Lobo, Batangas is the best. “It’s on a beach front,” relates Sandy. “It is ideal for diving, which is a sport Boyet (Christopher’s pet name) and I both love.”
It is Boyet’s love for Batangas, according to Sandy, that inspired the actor to run for vice governor of the province. And he is happy that he does not only have his family’s support but also that of his friends, colleagues in showbiz and the people of Batangas.
He simply felt overwhelmed when, at a special dinner Regal Entertainment producer Mother Lily Monteverde, hosted for him, he saw familiar faces from showbiz and media personalities who all offered their support to him. In Mother Lily’s film firm, Boyet appeared in a number of films, including the award-winning movies “Relasyon” and “Broken Marriage,” where he had for his leading lady Vilma Santos, who is running for Batangas Governor.
Boyet was taking up fine arts at the University of the East when he was discovered for showbiz. He was 18 years old when he won his first award for his performance in the movie, “Tinimbang Ka Nguni’t Kulang.” He has, so far, starred in 120 films.
Boyet and Sandy are parents to six children. He has a son, Ian, with his first wife, Nora Aunor.
Boyet is very active in the Oasis of Love Community where all its members call him Brother Bo. He is chairman of this group which, incidentally, he founded some years back. (MNS)
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HE’S far from being a Christopher de Leon, but at his age, he is already very discriminating and choosy with his projects.
“Hindi mo ‘yan mapapa-oo ng basta-basta sa isang project. Kakaiba siya sa ibang mga young actors. Hindi ‘yan gagawa ng for the money lang. Mas importante sa kanya yung ma-satisfy siya artistically. But if there’s a good reason to do it, and it’s explained to him the right way, gagawin niya. He’s not hard to convince as long as it’s a good project,” says manager Veronique del Rosario of the Viva Artists Agency.
Whatever Carlo Aquino’s reasons for thinking that way, you have to give the guy credit, because it’s work. Carlo has developed into one of the classiest and most competent actors of his generation. The biggest affirmation of his talent is his bagging the lead role in GMA-7’s production of “Sinasamba Kita,” the TV adaptation of the 1982 movie of the same title that starred Philip Salvador, Christopher de Leon, Lorna Tolentino and Vilma Santos.
In “Sinasamba Kita,” Carlo takes on the role of Oscar, played by Philip Salvador in the original film. His co-stars include Sheryl Cruz, Valerie Concepcion and Wendell Ramos. Joel Lamangan directs. The show premiered last April 3 at 3:30 p.m. after “Makita Ka Lang Muli” and will be aired every Monday.
Carlo, who has several acting awards to his name says that his latest assignment is probably one of the most challenging of his career, since he plays a rapist which he’s never done in all his years of acting.
People have pointed out the irony of Carlo playing Philip Salvador’s role in the light of rumors linking him to Philip’s niece Maja Salvador.
Carlo is being managed by Veronique del Rosario, which means that as an actor, he has the best of both worlds and is able to work for both networks, ABS-CBN and GMA-7.
More than anything else, though, Carlo is apprehensive about living up to the standards that Philip set when he played the role of Oscar. But judging from his past performances, he has absolutely nothing to worry about. In fact, we point out that Maja’s uncle would be proud of him.
“I really try my best with every role, and this one is no different,” says Carlo. “I want everyone to be proud of me, at siyempre, kasama na si Tito Ipe doon.”
Another thing about Carlo is his versatility. He is one of the few talents of his generation who can both act and sing. In fact, Carlo and his band are about to launch their debut album – of course, under Viva Records. Carlo – who is a gifted singer and songwriter and who can play the guitar, drums and the piano – used to be part of another band that he formed way back with Stefano Mori and John Prats, called CJS. They released one album, but eventually went their separate ways.
This is one development in his career that Carlo is very excited about. “I love expressing myself through music,” he reveals. “Sure, I can do that through acting, but it’s not the same.”
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MANILA -- The movie which will team up Dolphy and Vic Sotto for the first time is definitely pushing through.
Earmarked for this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival, the movie will most likely have Tony Reyes, who directed Vic’s record-breaking “Enteng Kabisote” series, at the helm.
A group of comedy writers have been assigned to write the script with the strict instructions that the roles assigned to both Dolphy and Vic will be equal in weight.
The film will be co-produced by Dolphy’s RVQ Productions and Vic’s M Zet Productions. (MNS)
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THE prevalence of revivals has taken its toll that some local artists end up doing the same songs on their albums. Singer Mark Bautista, whose rendition of an OPM classic had to be pulled off his album probably because of such reason, knows the business side of recording past tunes these days that he finds no problem in him doing an all-remake album. Besides, what concerns him is the kind of choices that comprises his CD, which for him should work for his voice and image.
“My coming out with an all-revivals album was the management’s decision. These days it’s easier to market familiar songs and do versions of it,” said the so-called Pop Heartthrob whose latest album from Viva Records contains 12 previously recorded tracks.
The 24-year-old singer-actor expressed satisfaction on the cuts filling up his third studio album entitled “Every Now And Then” – that same hit number from foreign group Earth, Wind and Fire. He described the album’s six OPM and foreign tracks as “easy listening, soulful, and from the heart.”
The package boasts off songs such “Got To Let You Know,” “Naaalala Ka,” “Kasalanan Ba,” “I’ll Be Over You,” and the carrier single “Break It To Me Gently,” which was the last song recorded for the album. Mark’s take on Gino Padilla’s “Gusto Kita” was taken off the release ‘for some reasons,’ according to him.
Earlier reports noticed that Pinoy Dream Academy finalist Ronnie Liang already released his version of the Snaffu Rigor-penned Tagalog song, and that Mark’s rendition of the song, if ever it got released, would prove that reviving is too rampant in the local scene that a past hit gets recorded by two different artists at the same period of release.
Mark, whose song “I Need You” bagged the “Fave Remake” recognition during the first MYX Music Awards, however stated that he’s not one to stick on doing revivals. “I just finished an alloriginal album which includes my own composition to be released sometime this year,” he revealed.
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