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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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IN January 2007, Gatchie Ignacio, Cho Lopez, Marc Lacsamana, and Rommel Kabigting, were in a Bergenfield
restaurant plotting the launching party of their debut
album– The Kuwagos. The lineup of guest bands were discussed, logistics were ironed out, and the set list was programmed. They were like four generals inside a makeshift tent, drawing the blueprint for an assault at a nearby hill.
The excitement was prodigious, the promise– overwhelming. The album, would be launched a few days later, would become one of the biggest releases in Filipino-American music history, and would cement the band’s place in the growing scene. The generals have conquered.
One year later, the same four guys were at the same place. However, the huddle was not about a new album,
nor about a new tour. It was about a breakup– The band’s breakup. The excitement that was present when they were preparing for their launch last year was replaced by tension, and there were no promises this time.
In less than ten minutes, the Kuwagos adjourned. They have decided that Rommel Kabigting, their longtime bassist, will be a Kuwago no more.
“It was a mutual decision”, said front man Gatchie Ignacio. “I could no longer work with him and neither
could he. I laid my cards on the table, but he kept his. I did not see an effort from his side to resolve the tension between him and me and opted instead to leave the band rather than dealing with the situation."
The Kuwagos are known to be a very tight-knit group, and a breakup among the original members was unthinkable until that night. Ignacio also admitted that there were many reasons for the fallout and that the split was inevitable.
Kuwagos lead guitarist Cho Lopez said that the meeting was called to fix differences, however, it was already apparent that the rift was beyond repair.
“Dapat nagsalita din si Rommel kung ano yung sama ng loob nya. I think kung nagsalita sya baka naayos pa ang
lahat. Binigyan sya ng chance to speak up, kaya nga nagmeeting. Actaually, di ko ineexpect na ganun kabilis ang meeting, not even 10 minutes tapos na. Rommel was a good bassist for the band and a good friend as well. Pero minsan may mga bagay talaga na di meant to be. This kind of shit just happens!”
Lopez, despite the grim situation, still managed to beam a ray of optimism regarding the future of the band: “I think the band should move on and continue making good music as a three- piece band”, he said.
For his part, drummer Marc Lacsamana could only utter a few words: “ It has been difficult, and I am left in
between friends. Surprising or not, I am sure there are personal reasons behind every decision made. I feel there is no reason for repeating what has already been discussed. I believe some things are just better left unsaid. For the remainder, difficulties are just another reason to work harder.”
As of press time, there is no official word yet on how
the band would proceed. They are due for a second album this year, however with the way things are going, it is all up in the air.
While the band sorts out their future, their fans, and the whole Fil-Am music scene are undoubtedly apprehensive.
“There will be a huge hole in the scene if the band decides not to go on. And that hole will never be filled”, said one scene insider.
________________
After a brief hiatus from covering the Fil-Am music scene, I am glad to be back in action. Thanks to all who sent emails and messages asking me to do this column again.
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MANILA - Actor/senator Jinggoy Estrada and awardwinning actress Maricel Soriano bagged the Best Actor and Best Actress awards at the 2007 Metro Manila Film Festival.
Estrada had been widely favored to win the award for his role in the film "Katas ng Saudi". He plays a Filipino overseas worker who faces family problems after he returns from Saudi Arabia.
Soriano won the Best Actress award for her role in the film "Bahay Kubo." In the movie, Soriano plays a maternal figure who must contend with the hardships of raising a large number of dependents.
Roi Vinzons was picked as Best Supporting Actor for his work in "Resiklo" while Eugene Domingo won Best Supporting Actress in "Bahay Kubo".
As is the practice in the MMFF, three winners were chosen for the Best Picture category. First best picture went to dark horse "Resiklo" which pulled away from the two top contenders "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo" and "Enteng Kabisote 4".
"Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo" settled for Second Best Picture, while filmfest top-grosser "Enteng Kabisote 4" won Third
Best Picture.
"Resiklo" won two other awards, including Best Cinematography and Best Editing.
Filmmaker and GMA-7 TV reporter Cesar Apolinario won Best Director for the independent entry "Banal".
The Best Child Performer award went to Nash Aguas for his role in "Shake, Rattle and Roll 9".
The other winners are as follows:
Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Cultural Award: Regal Films' "Bahay Kubo" and Maverick Films' "Katas ng Saudi"
Best Float Awards: First Place - "Resiklo"; Second Place - "Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo"; Third Place - "Bahay-Kubo"
Best Story: May Cruz and Cesar Apolinario for "Banal"
Best Screenplay: Jose Javier Reyes for "Katas ng Saudi"
Best Theme Song: Resty Hernandez for "Anak ng Kumander"
Most Gender Sensitive Film Award: "Despseradas"(MNS)
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MANILA - Martin Nievera celebrates his 25th anniversary in showbiz with a concert at the Big Dome, “Martin
Nievera XXV,” on February 1, 8 p.m., in time for his natal day on February 5. What are the highlights of his 25 years in showbiz?
“First is my very first concert, ‘Wanted: Martin Live’, held at the Folk Arts in August, 1983. It’s about a kid realizing a dream and things went wrong during the show that we weren’t even able to record it. Then hosting ‘Penthouse Live’ on TV, getting married and having a family, then losing my marriage.
“I’ll also never forget having a taste of an international career in the U.S. and I’m determined to make a go of it again. But the best highlights are yet to come.”
What’s the difference between Martin of 25 years ago and Martin now? “Well, I hope I’m wiser and more mature
now, but I doubt it. I just hope every single battle scar I have is going to pay off. I now live each day like it’s going to be my last.”
Will he ask Pops to guest in his concert? “I’m not gonna say if I’d invite her or not as I don’t want to be accused that I’m making it part of my promo for my show. I just don’t want to talk about it at all. But I’m glad that she finally replied to a text message I sent her on January 1. I greeted her Happy New Year and she said Happy New Year, too.
“Then I asked her if she already had a gift for our son Ram’s birthday and she said she already has a gift for him. That’s two text replies. I’m so happy I printed it and framed it, because during the taping of the ABS-CBN Christmas Special at Meralco Theatre on December 12, the day of her birthday, I saw her in the dressing room and greeted her Happy Birthday and she didn’t say a word. It’s like I kissed the wall. I’m hoping everything’s okay between us now.”
Martin says he’ll sing all the songs he has recorded in his concert, from ‘Be My Lady’ to his most recent recordings.
“Martin Nievera XXV” is directed by Rowell Santiago, with Louie Ocampo as musical director, and Gerard Salonga conducting the 28-piece Filharmonika Orchestra, produced by XVR Events and 105.1 Crossover. Tickets range from P375 to P3,800, available at Ticketnet, tel. 911-5555.
Right after his concert, Martin flies to Las Vegas where he will have a stint at the Flamingo Hotel with Lani Misalucha and the Society of Seven. (MNS)
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MANILA - Jennylyn Mercado’s pregnancy came at a time when Patrick Garcia is being admonished by people
concerned for his alleged addiction to gambling in on-line casinos. So Patrick should better reform now that he’s going to be a father, for the sake of their child. Jen is 21 while Patrick is 26.
As a result of her "infanticipation," Jen and Patrick have been yanked out of the cast of the TV remake of "Maging Akin Ka Lamang." They’ve been officially replaced by Nadine Samonte and Polo Ravales who have already started taping for the show. All the scenes previously taped by Jen and Patrick will now be junked and GMA management doesn’t care even if they wasted more than P1 million for it.
How does Nadine feel about being a second choice? "I don’t really mind as this is a good project," she says. "This is my second afternoon soap for GMA after ‘Kung Ma-hawi Man ang Ulap’ that rated very well."
Did she try to inform Jen about the role? "I tried calling her sa cellphone but she doesn’t answer. I don’t really know kung ayaw niyang ako ang pumalit sa kanya, pero sa’kin trabaho lang naman ito. I was assigned by our bosses, so I have to do it. Magka-sama kami ni Jen sa "Starstruck 1" where she became the winner. I want to think na friends pa rin kami kahit pinalitan ko siya rito."
How about Polo? "I also don’t mind being a second choice kasi I’m playing the male lead originally played by Christopher de Leon. I promise to do my best dahil first lead role ko ito sa soap." (MNS)
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MANILA - A testy Ara Mina said that if rumors are true that the wife of Manny Pacquiao is jealous of her, then the boxing champ should just quit making movies.
The sexy actress-singer at first laughed off the so-called "sweet" publicity photos of her and the boxing champ turned movie actor. Mina however became visibly irritated when asked about rumors concerning the Pacman's allegedly jealous wife. Mina added that she's sick and tired of the rumors.
When asked whether it was true that the Pacman's wife blocked the early release of the publicity photos, Mina declined to answer directly. Instead, she looked at the studio audience and said, "Kayo, may nakita ba kayong publicity photo? Ngayon lang di ba, kung kelan na showing na yung movie? Di ba dapat before pa lang?
"Ang masasabi ko lang siguro hindi sila sanay sa pelikula. Kung totoo man na nagseselos siya, alam mo wag na lang siguro mag artista si Manny, kung pagseselosan niya lahat ng babaeng makakaksama niya. Dapat siguro siya na lang
ang leading lady."
The photos that appeared In newspapers belatedly on New Year's Day, were publicity shots meant for the Metro Manila Film Festival entry "Anak ng Kumander".
Pacquiao plays a rebel leader in the film while Mina stars as a reporter who becomes his character's love interest.
The photos should have been released long before the film opened on January 1 but was reportedly delayed because
someone had tried to stop their publication. That someone, according to the showbiz grapevine, is supposedly Jinky, the wife of Pacquiao.
Even months before the film was shown, there have been persistent rumors that Pacquiao and Mina are having an affair. The actress and the boxer have denied the rumors. Jinky has stayed silent.
Mina explained that her testy remarks were borne out of her own exasperation. Otherwise, she said that her relationship with Pacquiao is okay.
Mina appealed to the public to leave behind the whole issue about her, Pacquiao and his wife, and move on.
Ara Mina was again in the news lately after she left her old network, GMA-7, and moved to ABS-CBN to portray Cassandra, a new character on the afternoon soap "Prinsesa ng Banyera."
Interestingly, Mina moved to ABS-CBN to replace actress-singer Angelika dela Cruz, who moved to GMA-7.
Mina, who used to be a regular on a comedy series, even joked about the prospect of her taking on a sexy look for "Prinsesa ng Banyera". When the show's producer's asked her if she was comfortable going sexy on the soap opera, she quipped: "Sure why not? Dalaga na ako, eh. (Sure, why not? I'm a big girl
now)."
Mina was making reference to the fact that she started her career in the 1990s as a sex symbol, appearing in several Filipino soft porn films when such movies were still hot. When the sexy movie trend passed, Mina took up singing and comedy. For several years, she was a mainstay on the late night comedy show "Bubble Gang" which capitalizes not only on jokes, but the voluptuous charms of its buxom cast that used to include Mina.
For the New Year, Mina said that she wishes to have a new boyfriend. She said that for one thing, it would end all speculation about whom she's having a relationship with. (MNS)
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For bringing honor to the country by her singing talent, Laguna native Charice Pempengco was given the chance to meet President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in person. She met the President on January 4, for a courtesy call at the Malacañang Palace at 6:00 pm.
Charice became an Internet singing sensation when her fans posted her videos (in singing contests) in the video-sharing site Youtube. com. This paved the way for her to be known in Asia, in the United States, and even in Europe.
She was invited to guest in Star King, a televised talent contest in Korea, and even got to meet some Korean stars such as Kim Jung-Eun of the Koreanovela Lovers in Paris, whom she was a fan of when it was shown in ABS-CBN.
In July 2007, she landed a recording contract with a Swedish recording label, Ten Songs Productions. Charice and Star Records managing director Annabelle Regalado-Borja traveled all the way to Stockholm, Sweden, last June 14 to July 21 to start the demo recordings. The young Filipina singer then recorded six songs of various genres to cater to the U.S. and U.K. markets.
But her biggest break so far was her appearance on the December 19 episode of The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Charice was personally invited by Ellen DeGeneres to perform in her show that was being taped in Los Angeles, California. The NBC show was aired in the East Coast from 2 to 3 p.m. EST. The American TV host-comedienne learned about Charice through her YouTube videos and described the young Filipina singer as "amazing."
In the American television show, Charice performed "And I Am Telling You" performed by Jennifer Hudson in the film Dream Girls and Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You." She received two standing ovations from the
audience while Ellen presented her with an iPod Touch to replace Charice's iPod, which was lost during her flight to the United States.
The 14-year old singer is also the newest addition to the pool of talents of Star Records. Charice was a finalist in Little Big Star, a children's singing contest hosted by Sarah Geronimo. She placed second in the show's Big Division (for 10-13 year old competitors), behind Sam Concepcion and Gian Barbarona.
At the rate she's going, this young Filipina diva is well on her way to becoming one of the biggest and brightest teen stars ready to captivate the international market. ABS-CBN and Star Records are truly proud to have Charice as a Kapamilya. (By: Jocelyn Dimaculangan)
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MANILA - Susan Roces is having a good time working with Kris Aquino, Jodi Santamaria, and Maja Salvador on
the set of "Patayin sa Sindak si Barbara," ABS-CBN’s newest primetime soap.
"They’re all pleasant and nice to work with. Lahat professional and no primadonnas," Susan quipped. "At first, I was reluctant to do the show as I know inuumaga ang taping nila and I might not be able to cope with that kind of schedule. But Kris requested that we start early and pack up at 12 midnight as she has Baby James to take care of, so pareho kami
ni Kris ng schedule na parang Cinderella, kapag hatinggabi, kailangang umuwi na."
Swanie (Tita Susan) played the first Barbara in the original movie made in 1975 directed by Celso Ad Castillo with Rosanna Ortiz as the avenging ghost. This was remade 20 years later, in 1995, directed by Chito Rono, with Lorna Tolentino as Barbara and Dawn Zulueta as the ghost. Now, 13 years later, it’s Kris who plays Barbara and Jodi is the ghost.
The original "Patayin Mo sa Sindak si Barbara" won Susan her first FAMAS best actress award. (MNS)
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MANILA - Lani Misalucha revealed that all is not well for her.
Lani, known as the Asia's Nightingale, said that she will be having an operation on the second week of February to have her ovarian cyst removed. Her cyst initially measured 2.5 cm. but has now enlarged to 7.1 cm.
An ovarian cyst is any collection of fluid, surrounded by a very thin wall, within an ovary. Any ovarian follicle that
is larger than about two centimeters is termed an ovarian cyst. An ovarian cyst can be as small as a pea, or as large as a grapefruit. Ovarian cysts cause bleeding and pain, which is why surgery may be required.
"Yung sa akin ay masyado nang malaki. And it was affecting my kidney already. At nakadikit siya kumbaga, nagkikiskis na sila ng uterus ko. They really have to open me up," she said.
She admits that it was her fault that she neglected her health.
“Ngayon, ayoko lang maisip siya kasi definitely it will affect me. Ang lakas ng mind... very powerful ang mind mo, you know. So, ayaw mo pang... we'll never know kasi baka the more na iniisip mo, the more na naapektuhan yung loob. Everything follows, you know," she said, hopeful that her health will improve." (MNS)
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MANILA - Senator Bong Revilla and his siblings, Rowena, Marlon, and Andeng, are simply overwhelmed by the
number of awards "Resiklo" garnered in the recently concluded Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) awards night.
Aside from winning Best Picture, "Resiklo" also got Best Production Design for Rodel Cruz; Best Sound for Ditoy Aguila; Best Editing for Jay Halili; and Best Visual Effects for Ignite Media.
Earlier, "Resiklo" went home with the Best Float award given during the Parade of Stars, held on Christmas Eve, a day before the opening of filmfest entries.
Said Andeng Ynares: "Nag-bunga rin ang pagnanais ni Kuya Bong to give our local movie audiences only the best. Kaya nga, even if we had to spend sa float lang, we did. ‘Di biro ang ginastos namin sa pelikula. Ngayon, puwede naming ipagmalaking magkakapatid na nly the best movies ang ginagawa g Imus Productions. "
Sen. Revilla stated, "With ‘Resiklo,’ mukhang muling maka-kapag-export tayo ng pelikulang tatangkilikin sa ibang bansa. The awards ‘Resiklo’ received from the MMFF will guarantee that the movie is really good, if not world-class."
Like "Exodus," which was Imus Productions’ entry to the MMFF two years ago, "Resiklo" won the interest of a
number of foreign distributors who want to release the film internationally.
"Aside from the awards, another come-on of ‘Resiklo,’ especially to foreign audiences, is its being environment friendly. We have publicized that the costumes and weapons used by the fighters of aliens are recycled from worn tires and junk military equipment, including those which we used as robots."
"Resiklo," directed by Mark Reyes, also has the biggest number of stars in the cast: Dingdong Dantes, Jennylyn
Mercado, Paolo Contis, Michael Madrigal, Benjie Paras, TJ Trinidad, Mylene Dizon, the Revilla brothers, Jolo and Bryan, Ram Revilla, and child stars Ella Cruz, Jarius Aquino, and Barbie.(MNS)
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