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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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Songs We Don’t Deserve To Hear
- Reader’s Reaction
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BACK in January of 2006, I wrote an article about the horrors of novelty Pinoy music that has permeated all over our culture.
These songs are what I called ‘Songs we don’t deserve to hear’ and these are songs are mostly written by the composer Lito Camo.
Songs like ‘Otso-Otso’ have degraded our standards in music as an artform and reflects how most Filpinos find stupid songs like such as amusing.
The original article I wrote was more than a year ago and it can be read on the Express website: http://www.filipinoexpress.com/20/01_entertainment.html.
I have received tons of emails from readers sharing their reactions on the article and the state of Philippine music as a whole. In this week’s column, I will feature one reaction from one of our beloved readers.
Dear Ted,
Ok, at least I have hope that there are Filipinos who actually fear the demise of OPM with these TFC noon time show songs. Thank you. I do hope that you create a larger crusade against this; but more importantly a crusade towards better and more artistic form of Original Pilipino Music.
I can’t believe that even Joey De Leon, one of the most respected songwriters in the 70s had jumped in the band wagon with “Itaktak Mo” which I accidentally stumbled on in You Tube while browsing for Eat Bulaga, a noon time show that is dear to ever Filipino anywhere in the world. On top of that, the guy dances with a gesture resembling the act of “tapping” one’s male genitals after hitting the john. I mean, I looked up to him on so many ways but this has got to be that low.
The unfortunate thing is, young Filipino parents in their 20s and 30s MAKE THEIR INFANTS replicate these types of song and dances….infront of others! And they reward them in their own ways after that.
These songs are condescending to Filipinos. Of course they will sell multi-platinum, Ted! And I’ll tell you why. When you saturate the television sets around noon time to (a) kids who just got off of grade school, (b) nannies watching over these kids who just got off of grade school, (c) unemployed Filipinos who are deprived of job opportunities – this is another debate in another blog, (c) and the rest of middle to lower middle class Filipinos in the Philippines, yes they will buy these songs!
They make it because people listen to it. I think it’s the other way around. People listen to it because THEY (media) impose it to the people. This is not good capitalism. They underestimate Filipino taste so bad. And all these songs are dirty, innuendo-type songs with innuendo dances.
Please keep the fight alive against this, Ted. Thanks for your article!
Jose Angelo E. Maniquis
I couldn’t have written it any better. Thanks for your concern Jose, and please spread your love for real music and continue your fight against exploitative musical junk.
Pinoys music lovers like you deserve better music from your artists.
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MANILA, Philippines -- A first-ever Hollywood remake of a Filipino film, the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Sigaw,” has started to make big strides in its casting phase, with the reported signing of “Flags of Our Fathers” star Jesse Bradford for the lead role.
Bradford will portray the character Richard Gutierrez played in the acclaimed original Filipino version of the horror film—an apartment dweller who gets haunted by ghostly, violent incidents in his neighbor’s unit and eventually cursed as he slowly gets involved their “lives.”
The film, entitled “The Echo,” will start shooting in August 2007 and will be directed by Yam Laranas, the original director and co-writer of the film now making his breakthrough Hollywood debut. The movie is slated to premiere in 2008.
Eric Bernt, who has writing credits for “The Hitcher and “Romeo Must Die,” will pen the adapted screenplay, based on the original script written by Yam Laranas and Roy Iglesias.
Vertigo Entertainment, behind many Hollywood remakes of cult Asian horror flicks such as “The Grudge” and “The Ring” and the 2006 Academy Award-winning Martin Scorsese film “The Departed,” will produce “The Echo.”
Meanwhile, Jesse will also be seen in another Vertigo flick, “My Sassy Girl”—another Hollywood remake of a popular Asian romantic film/TV series. He also appeared in the 2005 comedy “Happy Endings” opposite Lisa Kudrow and the 2002 thriller “Swimfan”.
Aside from Gutierrez, the original “Sigaw” cast members include Angel Locsin, Iza Calzado, Ella Guevarra, Ronnie Lazaro, and Jomari Yllana. Among all of them, only Iza was offered to reprise her role as the battered wife in the Hollywood version. Iza turned down the offer.
“Sigaw,” a film produced by Regal Entertainment, won several awards since its first MMFF screening in 2004. It won a special prize in the Brussels International Film Festival and best musical scoring in the 2005 Screamfest in Orlando, Florida.
It was in the 2005 Screamfest that “Sigaw” got the attention of venture capitalist Robert Hoff, who looked forward to bankroll a US version of the film. He now serves as executive producer of “The Echo.”
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ACTOR John Estrada finally broke his silence regarding his controversial photos with Gretchen Barretto that circulated on the Internet last week. The said photos—one showing John and Gretchen seated closely together on a couch and the other one showing them kissing on the same couch—were taken at the birthday party of Rufa Mae Quinto last May 27, 2007.
Gretchen, through her manager Boy Abunda, already admitted that she is the girl on those photos. A few minutes ago, PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) received an email from John’s camp containing the actor’s statement as follows:
“I did not want to talk. I did not want to give any satisfaction to those malicious minds that deliberately posted the photos on the Internet.
“But I believe that many feelings have been hurt by all this, and I take the responsibility to set things right. I am taking the blame.
“The photos were from my cell phone. It was a thoughtless moment and bad judgment to even take those photos. I never released, nor gave anyone permission, to release them.
“I am not using as an excuse a night of partying and drinking, but really, we were all good friends there, enjoying a private, surprise party. The kiss began there and ended there.
“There were also many of us taking photos of each other at that time. Kung may malisya ang yakap at halik na iyon, di hindi sana nangyari iyon sa harap ng marami.
“No one has the right to judge Ms. Gretchen. She is a good person. We have been friends since the early ‘90s. She does not deserve all the ugly talk.
“For all those I have hurt unintentionally, I am very sorry. To Ms. Gretchen and her loved ones, I sincerely apologize. None of them deserve this.”
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THE relationship of Gretchen Barretto to live in partner Tonyboy Cojuangco was not adversely affected by the photo of her kissing John Estrada, according to a source close to the couple.
Tonyboy did ask Gretchen if she’s having an affair with John and she said no, the source revealed.
She explained that the photo was just part of their “playtime” at Rufa Mae Quinto’s birthday party. Tonyboy quickly accepted that, hugged Gretchen and then asked her to have dinner.
“Very understanding nga si Mr. Cojuangco at parang walang nangyari,” says the source.
In that case, Gretchen does not have to worry about it at all.
On “The Buzz” last Sunday, Gretchen’s manager Boy Abunda said there’s nothing romantic going on between Gretchen and John Estrada.
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Finally, Ruffa Gutierrez admitted that she was a battered wife for four years and that she indeed got married to a certain Richard Daloia in 1999 in Las Vegas but she filed for divorce in 2002. She claimed (on “The Buzz” last Sunday) that she told Yilmaz Bektas everything about her before they got married in 2003.
Ruffa also said only a few of her friends knew about her marriage to Daloia and that her mom, Annabelle Rama, who was after all the “materialistic relative” that Yilmaz referred to in his first statement sent to “Startalk,” did not know about her previous marriage.
Ruffa filed for divorce on her own and did not seek the services of a lawyer and so she did not know what happened to it. Recently however she decided to hire a lawyer to determine what happened to her petition for divorce from Daloia.
But because of this prior marriage of hers, Yilmaz now claims that his marriage to her is invalid, null and void, and so he doesn’t need to divorce her. To which Ruffa retorted. “thank God hindi pala valid...”
It was an angry Ruffa who appeared on “The Buzz” last Sunday, but in one instance, when she admitted Yilmaz hit her many times (“sampal lang nung una tapos binubugbog niya ako, sinusuntok, sinisipa, tinutusok ng kutsilyo, he even tried to electricuted me in the bathtub”) she couldn’t help but cry a little also she said she promised herself not to cry anymore.
She revealed that even before they got married, Yilmaz has started hurting her “but you know love is blind...” she said in defense. “He tortured me, tinutukan ng baril, at ikinulong sa cabinet, that was in February...I didn’t know how I got out but when I did I said hindi ko na kaya, hindi ko na matake...I took my children and their yayas and took a taxi and called my mom but I didn’t know where to go. I couldn’t go to the police kasi malakas siya sa police...”
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MANY were apparently turned off anew when Rosanna Roces guested last Sunday, June 10, at The Buzz on ABS-CBN.
Instead of showing the same kind of humbleness she displayed when she first heard of the news that the libel case filed against her by Dr. Vicki Belo was dismissed, some of those who watched the program observed that the former sexy actress once again showed her true colors.
During her interview with Cristy Fermin, Rosanna didn’t seem to express remorse but instead demanded both Dr. Belo and Lolit Solis to also apologize for all the misery that befell her the entire time the case was being heard.
“Humingi rin sila ng tawad sa akin,” Rosanna defiantly said.
According to Osang, her daughter Grace Adriano was the one severely affected by all the bickering and was even pushed on the brink of committing suicide, aside from feeling ashamed to face her classmates at school. It can be recalled that Osang accused Dr. Belo and former talent manager Lolit of spreading the rumor that Grace was pregnant with Jolo Revilla’s baby, which turned out to be true.
The libel case was filed by Belo against Rosanna when the latter publicly questioned Belo’s credentials as a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon.
Osang though spared Lorna Tolentino and husband Rudy Fernandez by acknowledging that she holds no grudge against the couple.
Lorna, during a previous interview, already made it clear that being caught up in a verbal war against anyone at this point in her life were the least of her worries.
As what everyone knows by now, Lorna’s husband, action star Rudy Fernandez is currently battling cancer. But Rosanna once again playfully uttered the line “baka malaglag ang lahat sa kinauupuan nila” when Cristy attempted to fish the real reason of her feud with LT a few years back.
Lolit Solis, meanwhile, conveyed both amusement and ire at Osang’s interview.
“Pati ang hindi pag-aaral ng mga anak niya, sa akin pa sinisisi,” fumed Lolit to Abante Tonite columnist Abu Tilamzik.
“Nang nabuntis si Grace, nandoon ba ako? Ako ba ang nagpapa-akyat kay Jolo sa kuwarto ni Grace? Ako na ang may kasalanan ng lahat. Baka mamaya, kapag ayaw ring mag-aral ng apo niya, sa akin pa isisisi? Ako na ang may kasalanan ng lahat at siya, wala!”
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MARK Herras is very happy with the way “Fantastik Man” is being received by the audience. Many viewers, especially the kids, are pleased with the show and how the story is progressing. The show is really geared for kids and the young ones love it.
How does “Fantastik Man” differ from “Captain Barbell” and “Darna,” two successful series based on super hero characters that also gained a wide following?
“Kasi pag sinabi mong superhero, superhero talaga. Ako kasi minsan, as Fantastik Man, sobrang tigas ng ulo ko kaya pumapalpak ang mga mission ko. May mga mission ako na hindi ko naso-solve,” says Mark. “But I am enjoying it myself very much.
Mark will also be a part of the forthcoming GMA series, “Mga Mata ni Angelita” that had a story conference yesterday. He still doesn’t know what role he’s going to play in the new show. He also still doesn’t know who’s going to direct it. The last primetime show Mark did was “I Love NY” last year. “Mga Mata ni Angelita” would be his comeback in the GMA primetime telebabad slot.
In “Fantastik Man,” Mark is paired with Ryza Cenon and they also now have a following. “Parang nagkaroon kami ni Ryza ng bad image sa mga tao kasi nali-link kami. Parang nasira si Ryza sa ibang tao. But since we are paired in ‘Fantastik Man,’ sana tanggapin din kami. What is past is past.”
Since he started his career four years ago, Mark was often paired with Jennylyn Mercado and they became a love team. Since he has experienced having a permanent love team, would he rather be paired with other female stars as well? He had also been paired with Jackie Rice.
“I am happy that I get to work with other female stars as well. Tapos na po ako sa loveteam – loveteam. Three years na rin po iyon. Okay na rin naman po ang following namin ni Ryza. Sa mga production numbers namin sa SOP, kami ang magkasama sa dance floor,” he says.
He has gotten over the Mark-Jennylyn tag but he acknowledges that they still have a wide following. Their fans still request that they do projects together, like their new movie “Tiyanaks” under Regal Entertainment. And he’s still willing to do projects with her. (MNS)
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