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For the past 22 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)
I AM not much of a golf fan, but the recently concluded US Open that featured an unbelievable duel between the eventual winner, Tiger Woods and the ultimate underdog, Rocco Mediate, sold me to the sport.
I think golf best represents the human condition. Golf needs no referee, umpire or any form or arbitration. Hence, the outcome of the game does not rely on somebody else’s judgment. It is all in the hands of the golfer.
Golf is also one of the few sports that do not have a defensive position. A Golfer’s only defense is offense. There’s nothing between the golfer and the hole but the course’s handicaps. The golfer’s only adversary is himself.
Same with life– It is what we make of it. There are handicaps, but nobody can stop anyone from achieving life goals. We are free to excel and free to fail. No referees or umpires to influence the outcome of our actions. No arbiters to judge our every move. And nobody can stop us from achieving our dreams, except nature and ourselves.
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Local songwriters I love
There are so many great songwriters in our local Fil- Am music scene. I want to name them all soon. But here are a few and why. (Not in particular order)
1. Gatchie Ignacio - It’s the most honest writing I have ever heard. Fearless, if I may add. I want to be as honest and sincere as this tune-smith..
2. Alfa Garcia - Complexity. Her songs does not sound like they are coming from a college student at all. The melodic choices and lyrical depth are dazzling. Not to mention her great instrumental skills. Amazing.
3. Beng and Jun of Blue Mellon Pop– These guys recently inspired me recently to write a song in Filipino– ‘Tayo na sa Ulan.’ What they have is timeless, classic song-writing.
4. Tim De Ramos – I only heard three songs from him, but I can already tell that this Carpools front man and guitarist has the gift. He also has amazing production skills to boot! His Rock in the bOx 2 entry is just to die for.
5. Bem of Qwadra – Bem’s harmonic choices and chord progressions are genius. Try to listen to the vocal harmonies and chord changes in ‘Rakrakan’ or ‘Rosas’ and you’ll know what I mean.
6. Brian Miguel – Three words: Out of Control. Need I say more?
I have many others on my list, but I’ll save them for a later posting :)
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46 Filipino films will highlight the Philippine program at the forthcoming Festival Paris Cinema from July 1 to 13 which pays special tribute to the country’s film industry, its past, current and new generation of film directors. In past festivals, the honor went to Korea (2006) and Lebanon (2007). This is the sixth year of Paris Cinema filmfest, presided over by noted actress Charlotte Rampling.
A French film will open the filmfest proper but there will be a gala screening of “Caregiver” on July 4 at the MK2 Bibliotheque. Ms. Sharon Cuneta, the star of “Caregiver,” and the director, Chito Roño, have been invited to grace the gala screening.
On July 5, the Paris Cinema IFF will mount “An Evening with Philippine Stars” in Champ Elysee where “Decada ‘70 and “Ploning” will be screened. Piolo Pascual, one of the stars of “Dekada ‘70,” and the director, Chito Roño, will attend the special screening of “Dekada ‘70.” Judy Ann Santos, on the other hand, will attend the special screening of “Ploning” together with the director, Dane Nico Garcia.
The Film Development Council of the Philippines announced the final list, which is divided into Mainstream, Classics, Indies and Cinemalaya programs. Last year’s Cinemalaya film fest winners, Jim Libiran’s “Tribu” and Alvin B. Yapan’s “Rolyo,” are competing in the Feature and Short Film categories, respectively. A retrospective of films by Brillante “Dante” Mendoza is also in the lineup: “Masahista,” “Kaleldo,” “Manoro,” “Foster Child,” “Tirador” and “Serbis.”
The list:
* CLASSICS. Lino Brocka’s “Insiang,” Ishmael Bernal’s “Himala,” Mike de Leon’s “Kakaba-Kaba Ka Ba?,” Peque Gallaga’s “Scorpio Nights,” Laurice Guillen’s “Init sa Magdamag,” Tikoy Aguiluz’s “Boatman,” plus a Joey Gosiengfiao retrospective: “Temptation Island,” “Bomba Star,” “Katorse,” “Underage.”
* MAINSTREAM. Chito Roño’s “Dekada ‘70,” Dante Nico Garcia’s “Ploning,” Jeffrey Jeturian’s “Bridal Shower,” Erik Matti’s “Gagamboy,”
Ato Bautista’s “Blackout,” Roño’s “Caregiver.”
* INDIES. Jeturian’s “Kubrador,” Mario O’Hara’s “Babae sa Breakwater,” Auraeus Solito’s “Tuli,” Sherad Anthony Sanchez’s “Ang Huling Balyan ng Buhi,” Raya Martin’s “A Short Film About the Indio Nacional,” Mes de Guzman’s “Balikbayan Box,” John Torres’ “Todo Todo Teros,” Lav Diaz’s “Serafin Geronimo: Kriminal ng Barrio Concepcion,” Khavn de la Cruz’s “Three Days of Darkness.”
* CINEMALAYA. Solito’s “Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros,” Mario Cornejo and Monster Jimenez’s “Big Time,” Doy del Mundo’s “Pepot Artista,” Adolfo Alix Jr.’s “Donsol,” Benji Garcia’s “Batad: Sa Paang Palay,” Solito’s “Pisay,” Jade Castro’s “Endo,” Alix’s “Kadin” and Cinemalaya Short Films.
According to Nestor Jardin, Cultural Center of the Philippines president, the Cinemalaya Short Films program consists of Lawrence Fajardo’s “Kultado,” Pamela Miras’ “Blood Bank,” Rommel Tolentino’s “Andong,” Sheron R. Dayoc’s “Angan-Angan (Dreams),” Vitaliano A. Rave’s “Huling Biktima.” This year’s Cinemalaya entry, Michael Christian Cardoz’s “Ranchero,” was chosen for the Paris Project screenings.
The Philippine contingent will be led by Rolando “Jacky” Atienza, chair of the FDCP, main sponsor of the Philippine showcase in the Paris festival.
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MANILA -- SNOOKY Serna looks so healthy and even a bit overweight at the presscon of “Paupahan (Crossroads).”
And we thought she just came out of the hospital after she had a miscarriage?
“That miscarriage thing is a figment of someone’s imagination,” she says. “I got confined due to severe pain caused by extreme dysmennorhea. Tumaba naman ako kasi kain ako nang kain.”
People say she was just staging a gimmick when she reported on the set of “Kaputol ng Isang Awit” on an ambulance.
“It’s not a gimmick naman. Patapos na kasi ang show noon so I had to report sa taping. That day, galing ako straight from the hospital so an ambulance took me sa set, with a doctor. But I really take my hat off to GMA-7 kasi ang galing nila mag-alaga ng artista. May puso talaga sila. They sent a camper on the set that day to make sure there’s a place where I can rest during breaks. Also, all the staff and my co-stars were so concerned and made sure hindi ako napapagod sa taping.”
So it’s not true that she had another boyfriend after her marriage with Nino del Rosario crumbled and she was crushed when he dumped her?
“Sino kaya ’yun? Wala akong boyfriend at all kasi at this point, honestly, I’ve realized na I don’t have to be connected anymore to the opposite sex just to feel complete or fulfilled. Unlike before, ang feeling ko kailangan ng lalaki para validated ang pagkatao ko. By God’s grace, I’ve realized I can now empower myself with the help of the Lord. After all, ang dami na niyang ibinigay na blessings sa akin, like my two daughters. (MNS)
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MANILA -- CRISTINE Reyes is now with ABS-CBN, but she also signed a three year management contract with Viva Artist Agency of Veronique del Rosario. She now joins the ranks of Anne Curtis, Rufa Mae Quinto, Sarah Geronimo and Rachelle Ann Go who are all with VAA.
“I know I’ll have a better future in showbiz with VAA managing me,” she says.
When she left GMA-7 and moved to ABS, she was called a pasaway, an ingrate, and other names. Does she regret leaving GMA?
“No, happy ako maging kapamilya. Heto nga, I have ‘Eva Fonda’, which will be shown on primetime. We’re taping week 4 now.”
We thought they stopped taping and had to reshoot.
“That’s true. After management previewed the first few episodes, ABS decided to reshoot the scenes of Jean Saburit, Mark Gil and Baron Geisler who play a family kunsaan nagtatrabaho ako as maid. May binago yata sa istorya, pero sa scenes ko, walang ni-reshoot. Meron din daw part na nasira so kailangang ireshoot.”
The trailer shows she is raped by Baron. “Very violent rape ‘yun kaya nagkapasa-pasa ako at nabukulan. But we had to do it kasi kailangan talaga sa eksena. Baron is good and he even talked to me before we shot it. Kung anong puede niyang gawin sa’kin, like puwede raw ba niya kong sakalin. I said okay lang at ‘yun, nabugbog ako nang husto. But he’s not my leading man here kundi si Jason Abalos. It’s directed by Jon Red and Frasco Mortiz, the son of Edgar Mortiz.”
Has she patched things up with her Ate Ara Mina?
“No. Ayaw niya. Siyang nagtampo sa’kin, e.”
Why? Is it because her show is in primetime and she’s the lead while Ara’s “Ligaw na Bulaklak” is in the afternoon and she only supports Roxanne Guinoo?
“Hindi ‘yun ang dahilan. Ang babaw naman. Basta don’t ask me the reason anymore kasi hindi maganda na magkapatid kami, tapos may ganitong tampuhan. I tried makipagbati (sa kanya). Nagpupunta pa nga ako sa new coffee shop niya, Cafe Mina, in Marikina at bumibili ako roon ng adobo flakes niya na masarap at ‘yung cake nila, pero hindi pa rin ako binabati so I already told our mother to talk to her dahil gusto kong matapos na ito. Gusto ko lang linawin na wala talaga akong galit sa ate ko kaya sana maayos na ito.”
How about Dennis Trillo? Are they back in each other’s arms?
“I’ll admit that we’re dating. I’d like to think exclusively kasi wala naman akong ibang dine-date. Ewan ko siya. Pero kung lumabas kami, siguro once or twice a month lang kasi pareho kaming busy. Wala kaming commitment as of now kasi, sabi ko nga sa kanya, may magulong mga bagay, like his having a son. So I told him, let’s just enjoy each other’s company at tingnan namin kung tatagal ito at kung saan pupunta ito. Tama na ‘yung ganun as of now.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- International performer and host of ABS-CBN’s Philippine Dream Academy Season 2, Billy Crawford said he’s still looking for Ms. Right. Crawford he admitted that presently he is single and still looking for his special someone.
"Wala pa e. I’m single but looking," Crawford said.
A former "That’s Entertainment" member, Crawford said that with his busy schedule as an international artist, and now as the newest member of Kapamilya network, the number one quality he is looking for a girl is someone who could understand the nature of his work.
"As I've said before I think Ms. Right just has to understand what I do kasi ngayon I'm really in love with what I do." he said.
Right now, Crawford is focused on his career. He said that as a bachelor he is also happy since he gets to meet a lot of girls. (MNS)
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The 30-minute film of Pedro “Joaquin” Valdes “Bulong” won the Golden Duck award for Best Short Narrative at the 2nd New Beijing International Movie Week.
According to the actor/director, the original list of 150 entries was later trimmed down to the 25 short and feature- length films that were screened at the film fest. The screenings for the films were held in clubs and bars, as well as in the Beijing Film Academy (BFA) and the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) to reach a wider audience.
Valdes said “In spite of the language barrier, the Chinese students who watched the movie at the CAFA got it, and the students were shocked to learn that my budget was only US$4,000 (about P200,000).”
He stressed that he was dedicating his film to today’s youth. “I want to address the issue of apathy among Filipino youth. We cannot just watch from the sidelines. We should all be catalysts for change.”
Valdes is now working on two movies: “Hamog,” an indie horror flick set in the Mountain Province; and “Hakaw,” a celebration of food and family as experienced by three generations of Chinese- Filipinos.
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