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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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Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com
IN the middle of the humdrum of everyday, the pressures of existence, and the reality of sorrow, we always fall back to the simplest question with the most profound implication: Why are we here? It is the existential question that we ask and often fail to answer.
The question is valid. For all we know, life could be absurd. There could be no point in life if we consider the suffering and pain it brings. Although life equally brings, joy and happiness, pain and sorrow take predominance in experiencing life.
We get high honors in school, we get good careers, and we have successful marriages, yet in the end, we die. We experience poverty, illness and solitude, however when we reach that certain age, we perish.
If we all know that we’re going to die, what’s the point of living?
I have wrestled with this existential inquiry and somehow I have found an answer that makes sense to me. In my humble opinion, I believe that life only makes sense in the context of God. Without a belief in a higher being, life is indeed absurd.
To be able to answer the question of why we are here, it is imperative to dismiss the idea that man preexisted before birth– that we are souls floating around waiting to get into a corporeal body and live a life on earth. There is no such thing.
We are nothing before conception. We simply don’t exist. Now considering that we accept this idea, we may now answer the question: Why are we here?
My belief is that we exist because were given a chance to win eternal happiness. It is similar to the concept of the lottery: No ticket, no jackpot– No existence, no heaven.
To simply exist is our ticket to win the jackpot that is heaven.
Who then made us exist? The answer has to be God. It cannot be otherwise.
If we suppose that we become because of chance, then it will revert to the original problem, which is absurdity.
Nothing can make anything exist but God. When we say make anything exist, we talk about creation– to make something out of nothing. Man cannot do that. We cannot create something out of nothing. We simply improve things and ‘co-create.’ We make new things by combining existing things. Only God can make something after being nothing. So given that we exist, what then must we do?
We must live.
The very God that gave us the chance to share an eternal life of happiness has made paths for us to follow. These paths will lead us to the jackpot. Without these paths, we will fail and we will assume the original role that we had before God came in, that is non-being. The only way to follow the paths is to live and living involves suffering, hence we must endure.
No pain , no gain.
Now who wouldn’t want that? Who wouldn’t want a crack at the big prize? We were non-beings before, now we are and we have a chance to live happily forever. Ain’t that great?
In this system of belief, death will play an important part. It will not be the dreaded cause of all absurdity, but the gate towards the ultimate goal. Death will have meaning and purpose. Death will validate the meaning of our existence. Death will cease to be the end of life but the beginning of the everlasting one.
We know of people who were good human beings and had followed the paths that God laid and then died. Now we know, that these people are eternally happy. They hit the jackpot.
Now it seems that my answer to the existential question is indeed plausible. Now, we are tempted to ask another one: Why did God choose us? Why did God make us out of nothing and gave us a chance to win his prize? What have we done to deserve such goodwill ? Why did he choose us?
I think I know the answer. I think it is the only answer. I think the answer is love.
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MANILA -- DIREK Joey Javier Reyes and Aga Muhlach described their shooting, especially in Boracay, as a blast. No wonder that almost all of the scenes taken in the popular resort are some of the best shots in the movie.
There are other scenes, according to Aga, that are equally memorable. One of them, he said, was the death scene of Boots Anson-Roa, who plays his mom. In the film, Boots dies of cancer. In her death bed, before she breathes her last, she tells her son (Aga) how proud she is of him.
Aga’s role in “When Love Begins” is that of an environmentalist. Anne Curtis, who is teamed with Aga for the first time, is a marketing assistant at her father’s (played by Christopher de Leon) company.
“That scene with Tita Boots reminded me of my mom’s passing away,” Aga recalled with a crack in his voice.
“The dialogue, especially. A few days kasi before she died, she spoke to me, thanked me for what I have done for her and my siblings (Albert, Arlene and Anton). And then stroking my hair, she added that she was proud of me.”
He said, “Pero, ang instruction nga sa amin ni Direk Joey was for me and Tita Boots not to shed a tear. Let the viewers cry instead of you. Kaya, ang sakit ng naging pakiramdam ko. But I had no choice but to follow Direk Joey’s order. Right after the take, I left the set… That’s when I broke down.”
“Siguro, ganundin ang naramdaman ni Tita Boots,” he said, “since, as we all know, Tito Pete (Roa, Boots husband) also died last year.”
Aga’s mom, Anita Aquino, died of cancer last November. Aga has not overcome the pains and loss.
“When Love Begins,” a co-production between Star Cinema and Viva Films, is a romance-drama. It is the story of two people who go into a relationship without commitment. Yes, as you guessed it right, their romance started when they met in Boracay.
Opening on April 30, “When Love Begins” also stars Ronaldo Valdez, Rafael Rosell, Dimples Romana, Desiree del Valles, AJ Dee, Angel Jacob, Mandy Ochoa and Jon Avila. (MNS)
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MANILA -- PEOPLE were shocked by the news that Anjo Yllana and Jackie Manzano have broken up after they just weathered Jackie’s crisis having a difficult pregnancy that endangered her life while she was in the U.S. last Christmas.
It was their fourth baby, and yet now, they say that their problem has been going on for years. Why then did they have another child? Imagine how their four kids will be now that their parents are separated.
In an exclusive interview with “Showbiz Central,” Jackie said they parted as friends and that there’s no third party involved as it’s just a mutual decision. There’s no truth to the rumor that she’s having an affair with Batangas Vice Governor Mark Leviste.
“I met him twice lang in my entire life,” she stresses.
“Nang pumasok ako sa La Salle, graduating na siya noon, but we had common friends. Wala talaga kaming relasyon, kahit paimbestigahan pa.”
Their kids will stay with Jackie during weekdays and with Anjo on weekends. They will have a divorce in Las Vegas, where they were married. How convenient, isn’t it? No need for expensive and tedious local annulment procedures.
“It’s not the first time na nagkahiwalay kami pero kung noon, nagka-kabalikan pa, ngayon, final na,” says Anjo.
“Pero kahit hiwalay na kami, I will always be here for Jackie.”
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MANILA -- LJ Reyes had a freak accident while taping "Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita."
In the story, she gets kidnapped and she fights her abductors. But the floor of the place where they taped the scene was so dirty that she slipped. Her head hit the concrete wall and she was quickly taken to the nearest hospital.
Director Joel Lamangan felt that it was his responsibility for LJ to get proper treatment so he stopped the shooting and waited until the doctors cleared LJ and told him that it was okay for her to resume work. LJ was so embarrassed as most of the scenes to be shot that day were all hers.
"I don’t want to be the cause of the delay," she says.
"They observed me for one hour pa baka I might lose consciousness or vomit, which is bad sign, buti na lang no such thing happened."
In "Babangon," LJ grieves over the death of her brother (Paolo Avelino) and Derek (JC De Vera) doesn’t know he’s really the killer’s target.
In the show’s other love triangle, Tyrone (Paolo Contis) warns Melvin (Ian de Leon) to stay away from Julie (Diana Zubiri) as he’s obsessively in love with her. He puts a hidden camera inside her room and sleeping pills in her drink so he can rape her. After his dastardly act, a wedding is set but this will not push through due to a heart-rending twist in the plot.
This drama that reflects real-life situations is rating very high and is expected to rate higher when Yasmien as Salve finally meets JC De Vera as Derek in the story, which is long awaited by the fans of their love team. (MNS)
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MANILA -- R&B songstress Arnee Hidalgo makes a timely comeback as she launches the deluxe edition of her You Got It All album under Musiclink Record Productions and distributed by Star Records.
The album launch was held last Friday evening at the Eastwood Activity Center. Friends, family and loyal fans braved the sweltering weekend shindig, all raring to hear their favorite R&B chanteuse after a rather long absence from the music scene.
Mossimo Music, Seafood Island, Calayan Surgicenter, Benefits Style Salon, Paradigm Entertainment Productions, Pregroe, Mismo, with media partners 103.5 MaxFM, Wave 891, Jam 88.3 and Magic 89.9 also threw in their much needed support.
Among the highlights of the launch were the fun games hosted by pre-event host Veronica, Arnee’s smoldering duet with guest Kris Lawrence and the short but meaty mini-fashion show which featured hunky Mercator Models, John, Bjorn and Ken strutting Mossimo’s latest summer line. Actor James Blanco and DJ-host Eri Neeman made a cameo appearance for this segment.
Pinoy rock guitar legend Gary Perez also guested on Summertime, where his bluesy wails and scorching guitar work served as a haunting intro for the classic standard. The former guitarist of rock queen Sampaguita just flew in from the U.S. after an 18-year hiatus.
The star of the night looked elegant and dazzling as she donned several costume changes throughout the twohour affair. As expected, her voice showed no tell-tale signs of wear and tear.
One of the highlights was her female R&B medley where she did covers of R&B royalties Fergie, Alicia Keys, Beyonce and Rihanna, all done in her signature style.
Breezing through ballads, remakes and upbeat grooves with equal aplomb, and an electrifying stage presence, Arnee proved why she remains one of the rightful heiresses to the R&B throne.
Originally launched in May 2006, Arnee’s third album, You Got It All, marks her excursion into pop territory, buoyed by the memorable, catchy refrains of such remakes as You Got It All, What Might Have Been, Miss You Like Crazy, Inside that I Cried, I Can’t Make You Love Me, Mahal Kita Walang Iba and the original Kahit Minsan Lang.
Special guest performer Piolo Pascual shares the spotlight in the duet track, Love Is. A true-blue R&B trouper at heart, Arnee feels that the inclusion of the four new tracks marks a fitting return to her musical roots, in preparation for her all-original R&B album in 2009.
Elder brother Jeffrey, who takes much of the album’s production credits, believes there’s nothing like going back to her first love.
The new CD boasts of four new remakes: I Try, How Do You Heal a Broken Heart?, Summertime and Again, which will be released this month.
Arnee was last seen in the Moment of Greatness concert with Philippine Idol finalists, as well as Life in the City with Christian Bautista. (MNS)
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MANILA -- MARK ANTHONY Fernandez is glad to have signed a contract with GMA-7 that makes him an exclusive star of the Kapuso Network.
“I’m glad they gave me another chance after I did a soap with them some years ago na hindi ko naituloy dahil nagkaroon ako ng personal problems,” says Mark, who’s managed by Dondon Monteverde.
It was in “Impostora” that GMA got him again as Sunshine Dizon’s leading man.
He acquitted himself quite well so they got him again to be Lucero/Talim, the main villain opposite Richard Gutierrez in “Kamandag”.
“It’s so nice to be part of a hit telefantasya like ‘Kamandag’,” he says.
“Everywhere I go, people call me either Lucero or Talim. Now that the show is about to end, we cast members all feel sad as we’ve all become close while doing the show.” (MNS)
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ReckaWrecka was formed back in November of 2007. Although the band aren't really a destroyer which what the name ReckaWrecka stands for, they never fail catch people’s attention when they perform on stage.
The band originally consisted of only three youngsters, namely Mark, Yman, and Jackne. Initially, these three guys weren't thinking of performing in public, they just wanted to jam during their free time – Mark was on rhythm, Yman on lead guitar, and Jackne on drums. Meanwhile they were also searching for two others to be the band’s vocalist and bassist. The three would play around every weekend in a garage and have Mark sing, since they were still searching for the right people that would become part of the band. This was when the members started to recognize Mark's talent in singing. The originally rhythm guitar player then became the band's front man.
After few weeks of playing around, the band decided to play at a restaurant in Bergenfield and have a bass secessionist play with them just to showcase their talents and have others see what they got. Inspired by the clapping and cheering of the audience who didn't expect such a performance from a group of teenagers, the band decided to do a follow-up to their successful first gig.
From hereon, they were more determined to take the jamming and playing around more seriously. They were able to get more shows and continue to get very good raves. They also found the right guy who would become the band’s official bassist, John, who was a friend of the group. They played in many Filipino restaurants around New Jersey and New York. They were frequently invited to play at different occasions by those who recognized the band's talent to entertain people through their music.
A few months after playing cover songs, the band decided to take it to the next level and have their vocalist compose songs. The band felt it was the right time to make their own songs and revive old Filipino songs just to have their "flavor", as the band would call it.
Right now, they are busy practicing and improving their craft so they would be able to please and satisfy their audiences and make those who helped and supported them proud of what they have become.
At the Phil-US Expo ’08 RECKAWRECKA will perform. If you’re a follower of the group you can watch them play at the New Jersey National Guard Armory at 678 Montgomery St. and Summit Ave. in Jersey City. For more info, please call 201.920.6936 / 973.239.2539 or visit www.phil-us-expo.com
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