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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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LABOR DAY WEEKEND IS FIL-AM ROCK WEEKEND
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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)
THE recent feature on local Filipino-American rock bands on TFC's news program 'Balitang America,' garnered mixed reviews from scene players. Some took it as a bad spin by the reporter, who made it look like local artists were begging for attention and love. Some think it was good publicity for a struggling local scene, while others think both: Good publicity that came from a bad premise.
Whatever it is, the report is an accurate depiction of what is really happening. Don't get it wrong, we think the scene is alive and well. It is doing fine on its own.
However, as the report accurately relayed, mainstream Filipino businesses do not support local FilAm artists like they do imported artists from the Philippines.It is not an observation, nor a conjecture. It is a fact.
Since 2006, we have organized major Fil-Am gigs in NYC every summer and guess how many local Filipino businesses supported the shows: You guessed right. Zero.
From the monumental Rock in the Box launch in August 2006, to the historic two-night event commemorating the anniversary of Poptimes Magazine, we did it on our own. Artists and fans, we carried the load and gave it our all to have these memorable events.
We did approach businesses for support, however, they were either busy or simply out of budget.
It is a fact that these businesses do not support local Fil-Am artists that much, but it is not true that we are begging for their affections and their money.We are still holding up well, thank you.
This coming Labor Day, we are again putting up another historic event: Rock in the Box Weekend. The second volume of the historic Fil-Am music compilation will be launched in NYC. And It will be another two-nighter in New York City, featuring about 30 bands from all over the US and Canada.
Like it has always been, for three years now, Labor Day weekends in New York are Filipino rock weekends. It is now a tradition for Filipino-American and Filipino-Canadian artists. Supporters demand for it , artists want it.
While mainstream businesses have the Independence Day parades yearly to splurge on and bring imported artists from the Philippines, we have Labor Day Weekends for ourselves.
We are positive, though, that soon, they will find the gold mine that would make them give their undying love for everything homegrown.
We say, long live local Filipino artists abroad who are making their own paths!
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MANILA -- THE multitalented KC Concepcion is now a recording artist. Her debut album, “A.k.a. Cassandra”
(Cassandra being her second name after Kristina) is released by Sony BMG Music. Both KC and BMG execs are proud of the result of their collaboration.
“I’m really grateful to Sony BMG for giving me a freehand in choosing the songs in the album and the musicians that I got to work with,” she says. “They gave me freedom to explore the kind of music I want and the result is an album you can bring anywhere and listen to without being stressed. I was just alone with the sound engineer when I recorded them as I get intimidated pag maraming tao inside the studio.”
“KC is an extraordinary artist,” says Sony BMG exec Vic Valenciano. “She knows what she wants and how she wants her songs to sound like. The influences of her stay in Paris are evident in the songs. There’s a lot of improvisations during the entire recording and everything turned out fine that we’re truly proud of her.”
The album is a fusion of five original compositions and six remakes, done in varied arrangements like the 80’s hits “Melt With You” (Modern English) and “I Just Can’t Get Enough” (Depeche Mode). Imagine these songs being guitar-based, harmonized with percussions which KC herself played live with Pinikpikan during the recording, creating a unique world music sound.
With the original compositions, KC collaborates with seasoned songwriters and arrangers. Maestro Ryan Cayabyab contributed “Ngiti Lang,” while funnyman Joey de Leon threw in some serious Tagalog lyrics for “Doo-bee-doo,” an adaptation of a bouncy original South African hit song.
The alternative contributions came from ex-Eraserheads and Sandwich lead vocalist Raymund Marasigan who wrote and produced two originals, “Breathe” and “Sabihin Mo Na Lang.” Pinikpikan’s Sammy Asuncion has produced majority of the songs together with Angelo Villegas, which explains the album’s world music bent, including Joey Ayala’s “Agila (Haring Ibon)” that showcases KC’s vocal capabilities.
With this album, it’s predicted that KC will be creating a mark in the local music industry as a consummate singer-artist of her generation. Which of the songs will she dedicate to Richard Gutierrez? (MNS)
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MANILA -- AFTER the very successful movie “Caregiver,” starring Megastar Sharon Cuneta, Star Cinema is coming out with another potential blockbuster titled “A Very Special Love” under the direction of Cathy Garcia-Molina. The movie brings together for the first time John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo. This is Sarah’s biggest movie break. The last movie that Sarah did was the action fantasy movie “Lastikman.”
John Lloyd plays a magazine publisher, while Sarah plays a fresh graduate whose motivation in going to work is because she’s in love with her boss (John Lloyd). In this movie, Sarah tries her hand in comedy and she succeeds. According to those who have viewed the rushes, they were impressed by Sarah’s flair for comedy. She has comic timing and is good at delivering her punchlines. In fact, even John Lloyd who first worked with Sarah in an episode of “Maalaala Mo Kaya” was similarly impressed with his co-star’s comic timing, and marvels at Sarah’s fine performance, considering this is just her third movie outing. Prior to “Lastikman,” Sarah was introduced in the movie “Filipinas.”
The movie is almost finished and Star Cinema is already eyeing a playdate for “A Very Special Love” that will also be a part of the 15th anniversary presentation of Star Cinema this year. While Sarah and John Lloyd’s team up didn’t materialize in the planned remake of “Dear Heart,” this is finally realized in “A Very Special Love.”
Is Star Cinema aware that fans of the love team of Bea Alonzo and John Lloyd Cruz are planning to boycott the John Lloyd –Sarah team up? But according to Star Cinema sources, Bea says she’s definitely going to support John Lloyd in his movie with Sarah. She’s happy for John Lloyd who’s doing a project with a new leading lady. (MNS)
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MANILA -- JENNYLYN Mercado is back with another album, Kahit Sandali, packed with songs from her two previous albums and with three new tracks, How Do I Live, Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You, and P.S. I Love You. This album is Jennylyn at her prime and at her best.
The first single, How Do I Live, is Jennylyn’s third duet project with Janno Gibbs. This is a mellow version of Con-Air’s OST and also has the soothing effect of Moments of Love. The simple and traditional guitars and keyboards arrangement highlighted Jennylyn and Janno’s vocals, directing the listener to feel the raw ache of the lyrics. Posing a question on the uncertainty of life after a loved one is gone, How Do I Live is a fitting opener for the album.
In P.S. I Love You, a George Canseco composition and theme song for GMA’s 7 telenovela La Vendetta, Jennylyn delivers the drama with her voice cutting clear and painfully honest. In Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You, Jennylyn sings with the awareness of the fleeting present, Hold me now/touch me now/I don’t want to live without you, which draws us back to what the whole album asks of us: just a second, just a moment.
Time has already narrowed to the very second of our breath, and what Kahit Sandali proposes is that we enjoy life and love to the fullest in spite of all the losses we experience. What the album has definitely achieved is a wonderful arc of songs, starting with the singer’s hesitation and worries on How Do I Live, and ending with Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love For You, which is a promise told on in spite of all the uncertainties of the moment. In between, we are offered notable tracks including If I’m Not In Love With You and Kahit Sandali, from Living the Dream and I’d Still Say Yes, The Art of Letting Go, and Moments of Love from Letting Go. Put together in an album, these songs have successfully brought before us life’s split-second reality – how we are always thrown into a quickride from love to love’s loss, and back to love, once more.
“Kahit Sandali” the Best of Jennylyn Mercado album is released by GMA Records and distributed by Universal Records nationwide.(MNS)
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MANILA -- ANGELIKA de La Cruz says she’s happy with GMA-7. “Kasi lahat ng napagkasunduan namin, tinutupad nila,” she says. “Heto nga, ‘Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita’ has not ended, pero may bago na kong gagawin, ‘Una Kang Naging Akin’. Tapos, they’re sending me abroad. First to Macau for the taping of ‘Nuts Entertainment’ anniversary special, then to Europe to do shows for GMA Pinoy TV with Marvin Agustin and Allan K. Meron din akong gagawing album sa GMA Records.”
Is she now ready to pose sexy for a men’s mag? “Teenager pa ako, I already got such offers pero hindi ko pa kaya noon. Now, I can do it na, kaya lang I feel that I should prepare for it muna. Gusto kong magdiet at mag-exercise kasi I can feel mataba pa ako ngayon. Kailangan maging kontento muna ako with my body para confident na ako pag nagpa-sexy ako para walang magsabing wala akong K o dinoktor lang sa computer ang figure ko.”
What does her boyfriend, Orion, say about this?
“Okay lang sa kanya. We talked about it and when I said I’d wear a one-piece swimsuit, sabi niya, ano ka ba, lola o manang? Dapat daw, two piece. O, di ba mas liberal pa siya kaysa sa akin?”
Going back to “Babangon,” what will happen to the character she plays, Via? “Hindi ko pa alam. Basta I’m just happy na my director in both ‘Babangon’ and ‘Una Ka’ is Joel Lamangan na talagang napakagaling.”
Direk Joel says he’s also happy working with Angelika as she’s a sensitive actress. (MNS)
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MANILA -- MARVIN Agustin blushed while being interviewed on the set of “Babangon Ako’t Dudurugin Kita” when co-star Diana Zubiri revealed that he courted her when they were doing “Asian Treasures.” But he suddenly stopped and transferred his attention to another actress (she won’t say who but people around them say it’s Angel Locsin, who dumped him when she moved to ABS-CBN.)
“Sige, rereypin kita,” Marvin threatens Diana as he plays a rapist in “Babangon.” “Sige, puputulan naman kita,” counters Diana who earlier cut off Paolo Contis’ birdie in the show.
Diana admits they became close when they were doing “Asian Treasures.” “He’d invite me sa bahay niya on Sundays and then he’d even cook for me.”
“My mom likes her kaya sinusundo ko pa siya to have lunch with us,” he says. “Nagsu-swimming pa nga ako sa kanila,” she adds.
“May naiwan ka pa ngang swimsuit sa bahay hanggang ngayon.”
“Sinabi ko na sa’yong dalhin mo sa taping, ayaw mo naman.”
“Aba, ikaw dapat ang mismong magpunta sa bahay at kunin mo.”
Now that they’re paired again in “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,” is there a possibility that they may continue with their interrupted romance before?
“I don’t know, it’s all up to him,” says Diana.
Do they have chemistry as husband and wife?
“I think so,” says Marvin. “Sabi ko nga sa kanya, dapat, ngayon pa lang, mag-praktis na kami para credible kaming mag-asawa at hindi kami mahirapan sa taping.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Even with the current international status she is now enjoying, 16-yearold Charice (minus her surname, Pempengco), still wants to continue with her studies. Thank God.
Charice said she would have been in fourth year high school now. But because she passed the evaluation test offered by the DepEd for college students, she's now privileged to "skip" fourth year high school.
She plans to take up medicine or law. College, though, will have to take the back seat in the meantime for she still has a lot of commitments to fulfill here and abroad.
"Besides, heto pong mga singing stint ko ang susi para maka-ipon ako for my studies," she explained.
According to Charice, her guestings in the international shows of Ellen Degeneres, Winfrey Oprah, and the tribute to David Foster, a world renowned songwriter, has not earned her anything financially. They have given her personal gifts which, she said, she will treasure all her life.
"Just the idea of meeting these international celebrities in person is an honor for me," Charice said. "All my life, 'di pumasok sa isip ko na maging guest ako sa kanilang shows at makakapag-perform ako before an international audience.
"Bonus nang maituturing 'yong nakausap at nayakap ko sila."
***
Charice is scheduled to leave for the US again to grace the Philippine Independence Day celebration in California. She will have to be back for her Araneta Coliseum performance on June 14 with the Air Supply.
She is also doing a mall tour to launch her new album, simply called "Charice" on June 15 at SM Clark, June 21 at SM Marilao, June 22 at SM Fairview and June 28 at SM Bacoor. "Charice" is produced by Star Records. Two of the songs in the album, "Born to Love You Forever" and "It Can Only Get Better" are also in a CD she did for a recording company in Sweden. (MNS)
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For the nth time, New Voice Company is presenting “Vagina Monologues,” with Monique Wilson and Cherie Gil leading the powerhouse cast.
Monique is of course the greatest force behind New Voice Company. She will also be directing “Vagina Monologues,” along with Rito Asilo, with Rossana Abueva as executive producer.
One of the country’s finest actresses who has won awards for her unforgettable film performances, Cherie Gil has also performed in past VDay events with NVC since 2001, bringing audiences to tears with her performance of the show’s final monologue -”I Was There in The Room - on childbirth, a piece popularized by Hollywood icon Jane Fonda.
Scheduled on June 1 at the RCBC Theater in Makati, NVC’s VDay Manila 2008 benefit performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” is being performed back to-back with VDay’s newest work, “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer,” which this time features men. “A Memory…” showcases monologues about women and men’s inspiring and moving stories of violence, redemption, survival and hope.
Joining Monique and Cherie in VDay Manila 2008 are some of the best theatre names of the country: Lynn Sherman, Joy Virata, Juno Henares, Madeleine Nicolas, Tami Monsod, Lily Chu, Dulce Aristorenas, Missy Maramara and the VDay men: Jamie Wilson, Bart Guingona, Rody Vera, and Michael Williams. To do special numbers are Cynthia Alexander, and the young members of the New Voice Company: the Kaibigan Streetchildren and Sining Lila, Gabriela’s cultural group.
“The Vagina Monologues” is the internationally acclaimed play that has been a hit around the world. NVC, of which Monique is artistic director, has successfully produced and presented the play around the Philippines , in Hong Kong , Singapore and Tokyo . It is still being toured around the country and over a hundred Filipina artists have performed it either in the commercial productions or for VDay fundraising events.
It would surely interest fellow Pinoys to know that Monique has just returned from a successful performance in New Orleans where Ms. Ensler personally invited her to do a monologue for the VDay 10th anniversary show. At the show, Monique was joined by other international stars like Jane Fonda, Rosario Dawson, Jennifer Beals, Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Doris Roberts, Shirley Knight and Kerry Washington, among others.
Monique, one of the country’s most accomplished and multi-awarded theatre and film actresses, is also one of the original cast members of NVC’s “The Vagina Momologues” and has performed it in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo at the Tokyo Comfort Women’s International Tribunal and in Vday productions in London.
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