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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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THE STORY OF ‘BYE BYE NA’
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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)
I RECENTLY realized that I have not really explained the story about the song Bye Bye Na. The thought came into me after seeing the “Bye Bye Na Karaoke Revolution” that a friend of mine started on Youtube. (Here’s the link)
By the way, the video responses from people are awesome and hilarious – I especially like the little girl singing Bye Bye Na next to a Balikbayan Box. So cute. I guess to see and hear people, especially dear friends, sing a song I wroteis the ultimate fulfillment for a songwriter. I still find myself shaking my head in disbelief whenever I see such, considering that when I wrote the song, I totally had no expectations at all.
Anyway. I have often been asked about the story behind the tune and how come came to be a Rivermaya song. I seldom give the long story for the fear of boring the brains out of the person asking me, so I just give them a general answer: I wrote it for an ABS-CBN song-writing contest. However, I am more comfortable writing about the song's story than actually talking about it, so here it is.
I wrote “Bye Bye Na” in Manila back in 2000, months before I migrated here in the US. It is a song about parting and the anxieties involved in a long distance relationship. The singer says goodbye to his loved one and wonders if they will still be together in spite of the distance from one another. He asks questions: Will you write me? Will you call me? Will this relationship last?
I still have the very first demo of it, and I posted it on my music page for reference.
I worked on the song as soon as I came to New Jersey in 2001 using a Korg D1600 digital multitrack. I added a bridge part and removed some parts. But the song is basically the same( I still have the demo of this Bye Bye Na Korg D1600 version). Though I added parts and deleted some, the original 2000 demo and the Jersey demo are not far from the final Rico Blanco version.
I didn’t have a band back in 2001, so I shelved the song until early 2003, when Sheryl asked me to submit songs for the ABS-CBN Himig Handog song-writing contest. I submitted two songs: Bye Bye Na ( I did not submit the original tape demo , but instead used the re-worked demo I recorded in 2001) and a song called Sasabihin Ko Na (still unreleased).
In the middle of that year, I received news that Bye Bye Na was selected as part of the 10 songs that would make the finals and appear on the record. Production started at once and I told the label A&Rs in Manila, that I will be recording and producing the song here in the US and then select an established artist to interpret the song. They agreed and asked me which artist I had in mind. I told them that if I opt for a female vocal version in the final, it had to be Barbie Almalbis or Kitchie Nadal. If I choose to have a male vocal version in the final, it had to be a band– the choices were, Parokya ni Edgar and Rivermaya. In the same year, Rivermaya was on tour in NY and I managed to talk to them about ‘Bye Bye Na’ and they agreed. So I informed the label heads in Manila about my decision to have Rico sing it.
My relationship with Rivermaya goes way back. It was them, particularly, Rico, who recommended the Freesouls to BMG Records Pilipinas after playing with them the first time in a university gig in 1996. The good word they passed to the label bosses at BMG was a big factor in our signing. When the Freesouls were recording our debut album, Rivermaya were also recording their album, ‘Atomic Bomb’ in the same studio in Makati– Digital FX.
To be continued
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GABBY CONCEPCION has started taping for his “Iisa Pa Lamang”, his first regular show since he returned to Manila. Aside from Gabby, other members of the cast are Claudine Barretto, Diether Ocampo, Angelica Panganiban, Cherie Pie Picache, Laurice Guillen, Matt Evans, Melissa Ricks and Ms. Susan Roces, with Lani Misalucha singing the theme song. This will be directed by Ruel Bayani and Manny Palo.
“I’m excited with the project,” says Gabby. “I’m also looking forward to working with the cast. Most of the young stars, hindi ko pa nakatrabaho. But Laurice Guillen was my director in two movies I did before with Sharon Cuneta, so, nakatrabaho ko na siya.”
Don’t miss the announcement as to when “Iisa Pa Lamang” will start airing on ABS-CBN’s primetime bida. But what can Gabby say about Sharon’s instruction at the presscon of “Caregiver” that no one should ask her about him?
“I respect that, kung yun ang gusto niya. Ayoko rin namang masali sa promo ng ‘Caregiver’. I wish her and her movie the best. Sana kumita. She deserves to have a successful movie comeback.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Young actress KC Concepcion said her relationship with actor Richard Gutierrez is getting stronger especially now that they are set to do a movie together.
"Maganda naman ang friendship namin ni Richard. Iyon nga sinasabi ko free kami, happy kami we just want to have a good time doing this movie," Concepcion said.
“Ewan ko kung ano ang mangyayari pero nagkakasundo kami. Maganda iyong trato namin sa isa’t isa at masaya siyang kasama," Concepcion added.
The model-turned-actress said that she is currently not dating Gutierrez. But she also admitted that she is very close to him.
"Among my guy friends he is one of the top five I’m closest to. I care about him and he is always there for me pero wala pa sa point na, wala pa akong masasabi really," she said.
Concepcion said since of them are both busy doing their jobs, they do not really have time to see each other often.
"But ngayon na we are gonna be spending more time (because of the movie) kung sa ngayon magkaibigan lang kami sana the least I can wish for ay mapagpatuloy ang pagkakaibigan namin at kung ano ang mangyayari iyon na ang mangyayari," Concepcion added.
The two young actors will star in a light romantic movie.
"Ang shooting ang alam namin ay next week na yata ang umpisa. Ang magiging director namin ay si "Direk" Joyce Bernal," confirmed Concepcion.
Ambassador against hunger
As the Philippines’ first ambassador against hunger, Concepcion listened to residents of Balindong in Lanao del Sur about their struggle with hunger on Monday, May 19th during a focused group discussion on rising food prices. After the group discussion she spent some time to mingle with the unprivileged residents especially the kids in the area. Concepcion then helped UN-WFP distribute bags of rice and mongo beans to poor families in Marawi City.
Concepcion’s visit to Lanao del Sur is part of WFP’s program to expose its global partner TNT and members of the media to the gains and challenges faced in conflict affected areas in Mindanao. Last February 18, Concepcion went to Pikit, North Cotabato where she also distributed rice, prepared meals and took part in on-site feeding programs of WFP.
KC, Maria Kristina Cassandra Concepcion in real life, is the daughter of Sharon "The Megastar" Cuneta and controversial comeback actor Gabby Concepcion. Concepcion was designated as WFP’s national Ambassador Against Hunger specifically to raise awareness of hunger and promote WFP activities in the Philippines. (MNS)
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MANILA -- MARIAN Rivera won three honors at the 38th Box-Office Entertainment Awards of Guillermo Mendoza Memorial Park Foundation: Most Promising Female Star, Phenomenal TV Star (for “Marimar’) and Face of the Night. Most of the people present at the awards night believe she’s very deserving in winning all three awards.
“I’m really so thankful to the Lord sa dami ng blessings ko,” she says. “I’m so happy dahil ‘Dyesebel’ is now also confirmed as the number 1 show nationwide, hindi lang ito sa Manila.”
What can she say that some commercials originally meant for Angel Locsin are now assigned to her?
“I don’t know if that’s true. Ako naman, artista lang and it’s my manager who arranges my commitments. So hindi ko alam kung kinukuha ako for a commercial to replace anyone. The important thing is that they were offered to me and I’m just happy and thankful na maraming nagtitiwala sa akin. Huwag na lang sana kaming intrigahin ni Angel at baka magaya pa roon sa intriga about Claudine (Barretto) na sinabi ko raw bilasa na at ako’ng sariwa, even if I didn’t say anything like that.”
What about the allegation that she’s a gambling addict often seen in casinos?
“Hindi ko na lang pinapansin. As it is, I hardly have any time for myself because of ‘Dyesebel’ tapings and my endorsements. Saan pa ko kukuha ng oras para magkasino?” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Actor Jericho "Echo" Rosales insists that rumors that he was unfaithful to ex-girlfriend actress Heart Evangelista are untrue. He said that news about his infidelity may have come from wrong conclusions made by people on the set of his foreign film and and TV projects. Echo has been romantically linked to two of his female co-stars in separate foreign projects. One project, tentatively titled "I Love U Virus" is a Hollywood flick that stars him and young American actress Briana Evigan. The other project stars Echo with Malaysian actress Carmen Soo. It is a Malaysian soap opera.
Echo insists that whatever romantic overtures other people may have seen him make toward his co-stars were all part of his performance. His projects, after all, he explained, are both love stories. He said that God knows what really happened between him and his co-stars.
"God knows what I'm doing. Nagtatrabaho kayo bilang nag-iibigan sa pelikula. Ano'ng makikita ng tao? Nasa Pilipinas po tayo, maraming nag-iisip."
Echo said that he still hopes that he could someday be friends again with Heart.
"Sana malampasan naming dalawa itong pagsubok na 'to. I just hope and pray that someday we'll bump into each other and we'll talk. And then we'll be friends. And then we could fix our lives. I hope and pray that if that special day will happen, na magkakabalikan kami, I'll still have my heart for Heart.
"Siyempre mahal ko sya eh. Gusto ko siyang safe, masaya, maunlad, payapa, maliwanag ang pag-iisip. Balang araw magkakaroon rin kami ng clarity then magiging magkaibigan kami," he said.
Heart, however, insisted that she knows for a fact that Echo was unfaithful to her.
"The third party it's true. Pumunta si Jericho sa bahay ng Malaysian girl. Aside from nakita ko si Jericho meron din silang something ni Briana girl from L.A. And nakita ko rin ang pagbabago niya. Nag-aaway na rin kami dahil parang hindi ko na siya mapigilan," she said.
Heart added that contrary to Echo's claims, she made it very clear to him that she was breaking up with him. She denied that she only sent "vague" text messages to Echo, responding to his earlier statements that he was "surprised" by the break-up, and only learned about it when Heart announced it on TV. (MNS)
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MANILA -- KIM Chiu’s wish when she marked her birthday last April 19 was to have a car. A pink car.
After getting her pink car, given to her by her screen partner and future (?) boyfriend, Gerald Anderson, Kim has a problem. Her dad considers the gift too expensive, coming as it is from a suitor, and has advised her to return the car.
"Pero hindi po ba mas nakakahiya iyon?" she inquired. "Imagine, he made the effort to give me what will make me most happy on my birthday, tapos, ipapahiya ko siya by returning his gift?"
The car is a used Ford Lynx. Kim does not know how much it cost but someone said it is about P200,000.
"The amount is immaterial," said Kim. "What really counts is Gerald’s going out of his way para maibigay sa akin ang gusto kong regalo. A pink car nga. And it’s not everyday na nakakakita ka ng ganitong car."
She has driven the car only once, and only in the vicinity of her home. She has yet to apply for a driver’s license. Kim said that the most expensive gift she has given Gerald is a set of wakeboarding equipment, which costs P50,000. She really saved for her gift, she said. She knows Gerald’s current passion is wakeboarding.
Kim and Gerald are the lead stars of the new teleserye on ABS-CBN, "My Girl," an adaptation of the Korean teleserye of the same title. "My Girl" will premiere on May 26. Because of her oriental look, Kim was chosen to play the role of Jasmine, a street smart, charming and witty girl. She is poor but courageous and hardworking. She and Gerald, who is made to look older for his role, will meet unexpectedly. Gerald plays Julian, an heir to a business empire.
"Talagang ang mga roles namin ni Gerald sa series na ito ay new to both of us. But we made sure we delivered," Kim said.(MNS)
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