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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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FIVE POINTS NEW YORK: ALL POINTS MERGE
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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)
EVER since the small venue along Mott Street in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown hosted Filipino-American artists a couple of years back, it has become part of the Filipino-American music and art movement. Almost all the important bands, solo artists, comics and poets in the New York/New Jersey region have played in the venue. In fact, if a Filipino-American music fan wants to catch a FilAm artist either playing or just hanging around, there are more chances of seeing them at Five Points than any other joint in town. If Britpop had Camden Town, The FilAms have Five Points.
In recent months, the influence of Five Points has transcended New York and New Jersey. As we have seen lately, more and more bands from out of state are playing in the venue. Soon, the little place at 30 Mott Street will be hallowed ground and will definitely have a very important place in the annals of Filipino-American music history.
FIVE POINTS IS FRIDAY
Technically, Five Points is more of a state of mind than an actual rock joint. The real name of the venue on 30 Mott Street is Silk Road Place– an Internet cafe that serves baked goods and bubble tea. Five Points exists only on Fridays. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, Five Points is a non-entity. It is nothing but a dark room, with folded chairs and an empty bar in the middle of Chinatown. But on Friday nights, Five Points becomes and explodes with life like a newly wound up antique music box. Almost all local Filipino-American artists play and hang out there: Qwadra, Alfa Garcia, John Violago, Jay Legaspi, Bleud, The Kuwagos, Sodapop Suicide, The Happy Analogues and many more.
Feliza Mirasol, a Filipina-American spoken-word artist, is currently producing the whole thing. She and a team of volunteers work extremely hard to make every Friday night a night to cherish.
The other week, New York’s Blue Mellon Pop and New Jersey’s Trickbag performed at Five Points. It was as usual a momentous occasion. In the audience were some of the well-respected artists in the scene: Bem, Fritz, and Kendall of the hard rock group Qwadra, Jay Estrada of Bleud, Ronnie Lao of the Happy Analogues, and Michael Lesley. It feels great to see a healthy music scene. It even feels greater to be a part of it.
Five Points throughout the years has welcomed people to the scene with its dedication to the community. The scene we have today wouldn’t be as fruitful and united without this legendary happening.
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MANILA -- In young actress Anne Curtis' upcoming ABS-CBN teleserye "Dyosa", she is paired with three of the country's hottest male stars – heartthrob and rumored boyfriend Sam Milby, hunk Zanjoe Marudo, and TV host Luis Manzano.
Directed by Wenn Deramas, "Dyosa" tells the story of Josephine, daughter of Bernardo Carpio and Mariang Sinukuan, whose "simple" life will be altered as she turns 18 years old. Josephine will then discover her "gift" and will reign as Goddess of Air (Dyosa Cielo), Water (Dyosa Agua), and Earth (Dyosa Tierra).
Will love hinder her from fulfilling her life's mission? Who will "Dyosa" choose?
Anne is very thankful that she is being paired with Sam, her leading man in Maging Sino Ka Man and rumored boyfriend; Zanjoe, who openly admires her beauty; and Luis, her "Kampanerang Kuba" costar and best friend in show business.
"Dyosa" will air on ABSCBN Primetime Bida soon. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Actress Angelica Panganiban admitted that the cause of the rift between her and sweetheart actor-model Derek Ramsey was her childish way of thinking. The actress said the rift was her fault and even admitted that sometimes she can not control herself.
"Ako ang may kasalanan talaga. Inaamin ko naman 'yon masyado akong minsn nagiging batang isip," Panganiban said.
The actress did not deny that she and Ramsey had a problem but said that they already resolved things and are now happily back in each other's arms.
"Nagka-problema lang kasi kami at hindi madali ang pinagdaanan naming dalawa…pero masaya pa din back to normal," she said.
Almost three weeks have passed since Angelica broke down and cried, saying that there was a problem between her and Ramsey. Rumors circulated that a third party on the part of Ramsey was the reason behind their rift.
Derek's say
Ramsey said that he kept his silence on the issue because he wanted to keep a little bit of his privacy. He explained that they needed some time to settle their differences. Sure enough, they were able to resolve their issues.
"Pagbalik ni Angelica mula sa New Jersey actually pagsundo ko sa airport wala na, pagbalik niya okay na," Ramsey said.
The actor also denied reports that his ex-girlfriend model Solen Heusaff was the reason behind their tiff.
"Matagal na siyang nandito at matagal nang isyu 'yon. I haven't seen my ex in over a year and ex ko na siya for over four years," explained Ramsey.
Panganiban and Ramsey have been a couple for almost a year, although they have tried to keep their romantic affair private. They both love to travel, and have traveled locally and abroad together. Some of the places they visited include Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Korea and the country's luxury beach resort Amanpulo. (MNS)
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MANILA, July 31 (Mabuhay) -- Actress Mickey Ferriols said that she deliberately lost weight to be part of ABS-CBN’s upcoming television series “Dyosa” which stars actress Anne Curtis.
“It’s because of Sir Enrico Santos and Ms. Charo Santos’ ultimatum, because when we were about to start taping for ‘Dyosa’, they wanted to see me. They want to make sure that I will fit the role as Dyosa’s mother. So I had to look good and better than I did since I really gained weight before,” the actress said.
She added that since she already lost weight, she is now trying to continue her diet.
“Iyong gym, wala. dinadaan ko lang talaga sa discipline ng pagkain,” she said.
Ferriols said that dieting is one of her ways to thank the Kapamilya network for entrusting her with the role.
The actress said doing the series is another blessing for her. Aside from “Dyosa”, she is also doing a series with actress Judy Anne Santos also for ABS-CBN entitled “Humingi Ka Sa Langit” directed by Andoy Ranay.
She is also doing a television show “Kuwentong Disyerto” for TFC aired every Friday with TJ Manotoc.
Working in "Dyosa"
Ferriols said that she is blessed that she was given a chance to do a project with Curtis and well-acclaimed director Wenn Deramas.
“Si direk Wenn ang bilis pero hindi nasa-sacrifice iyong quality ng palabas. He is very efficient when it comes to time. Kay Anne naman nagkasama na kami sa "Hiram" and this is the first time na magka-eksena kaming ganito. Nakaka-flatter, ang ganda ng anak ko and she’s the kind of person (who's) beautiful inside and out,” Ferriols said.
She also praised her other co-stars in “Dyosa” like actors Zanjoe Marudo, Luis Manzano and Sam Milby by saying that the actors are really kind-hearted, very funny and humble.
Mickey's family life
Ferriols is a mother of a two-year-old boy. She said that she and her partner Archie Alemania are planning to have another child by next year.
“Kasi next year si Brent will be three and half… I’m not getting any younger kumbaga gusto ko nang tapusin kaya naglalagare kami ngayon ni Archie para in preparation for sending Brent to school and having another baby,” Ferriols said.
She also said that given a chance, she would like to go back to her first love which is hosting.
"Yun ang dream ko makabalik ako sa first love ko, sana lang. Pero kung hindi, okay lang. Ang daming binibigay sa akin ni God magrereklamo pa ba ako," Ferriols said. (MNS)
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MANILA, July 31 (Mabuhay) -- ALJUR Abrenica won as the Ultimate Hunk in Starstruck 4 and he’s living up to it as he works out diligently in the gym to beef up his physique that he gets to display in his first movie, “Loving You,” during a beach scene with his screen partner Kris Bernal. Is it okay for him to be identified as a male sex symbol?
“Okay lang po,” he says. “E, yun naman po ang pinanalunan kong titulo, Ultimate Hunk, kaya hindi ako nagrereklamo kahit nung sa ‘SOP,’ may song number ako na pinahubad nila ang shirt ko. Okay rin lang sa movie naming ‘Loving You’ na naka-trunks ako. Wala namang masamang naka-trunk sa beach, di ba?”
Can he go bolder? “Posible po, but it depends sa family ko at sa handler ko. If they feel ready na ako to do more daring scenes, okay rin lang sa akin. Pero palagay ko, premature pa po kasi nagsisimula pa lang ako sa showbiz.”
In “Loving You,” he plays a rocker who falls in love with a girl, Kris, raised by two lesbians. In real life, Kris was also linked before to an admitted lesbian, their colleague in Starstruck Jesi Corcuera. Will he still court Kris if she did have an affair with a lesbian?
“Friends lang sila ni Jesi at wala namang nangyari sa kanila. Napatunayan ko nang hindi lesbian si Kris kaya kung liligawan ko siya, palagay ko, panalo na ako. Pero kahit magkatotoong may pagka-lesbian siya, matatanggap ko. Ang importante kasi, mahal mo ang isang tao.”
How did he find working with their director in “Loving You”, Don Cuaresma? “First time namin ni Kris to work with him kasi taga-ABS siya but her’s very nice. Talagang he teaches me to be always in character as a rocker. He’s very patient as he knows first movie ko lang ito. I have two song numbers in the movie and it helped na kumakanta talaga ako in real life.”
He and Kris now support Marian Rivera and Dingdong Dantes in “Dyesebel” where they play Paolo and Shiela Mae. When will they go solo? “We’re not in a hurry kasi satisfied naman kami sa projects that GMA gives us. At least hindi kami nababakante. After ‘Boys Nxt Dr’, we had ‘Zaido’ and now, ‘Dyesebel’. Parang pinahihinog nila kami, hinahasa para mas gumaling. We trust the way they’re building us up at kapag ready na kami, we’re sure we’ll be given the chance to play lead roles someday.” (MNS)
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ANNA Maria Perez de Tagle rubs elbows with Miley Cyrus a.k.a Hannah Montana, and the very popular Jonas Brothers. She is popularly known for her role as Ashley Dewitt on Hannah Montana and Ella on Camp Rock. She is also known as Miracle on Cake T.V.
The 17 year-old was born in San Francisco, and was raised in San Jose by Filipino parents.
When she was 13 and with zero showbiz background, Anna Maria sent her audition tape to Disney in the hopes of clinching the role of either Hannah or Lily. Her dad Artie was initially opposed to that plan as he knew how stiff the competition and how high the rejection rate in Hollywood were. Yet Anna Maria was determined.
Born in the Bay Area in California, Anna’s only exposure to performance was with the Children’s Musical Theater. She joined Star Search as well and even beat American Idol’s David Archuleta.
“I always wanted to be a singer, I just love to sing. I was the very first Asian Cinderella in the Bay Area, by the way,” she smiles.
Anna Maria has a showbiz bloodline, being the granddaughter of Sylvia La Torre, one of the famous comediennes-actresses during the heydays of Sampaguita Pictures and LVN Films. In fact, of all the Perez de Tagle grandchildren, Anna Maria is the one who enjoys her lola’s TV shows and movies so much. Her lola discovered that Anna Maria, at four years old, could already sing!
“My mother said may tono daw ang batang ‘to, and from then on, she would give voice lessons to Anna Maria whenever she could. Even during her performances, she would ask Anna Maria to go up the stage and perform with her, and Anna Maria never said no,” relates her dad Artie, Sylvia’s eldest son. Anna Maria’s mom is Evelyn Enriquez.
When Anna Maria bagged the Ashley role over the thousands who auditioned, the entire Perez de Tagle family had to relocate to Los Angeles from the Bay Area. After all, their baby, the youngest among three children, was about to make a name for herself in Hollywood and all the support she could get was needed.
She enrolled for a time at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACSA or Arts High) where she was an honor student. Singer Josh Groban, actress Jenna Elfman, and Corbin Bleu of “High School Musical” also went to the same school for the artistically gifted. At present, she is being home-schooled by her parents.
It has been four years since that big move and Anna Maria has been reaping the rewards of the entire family’s work eversince. Recently, she was seen with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato in “Camp Rock,” a Disney Channel original movie, which drew 8.9 million viewers during its premiere last month, rating even higher than “High School Musical1.” “Camp Rock” will soon be shown in the local Disney Channel in September.
“In Camp Rock, I play the role of Ella, a talented girl who gets bossed around by Tess Tyler (Meaghan Jette Martin) to make the life of Mitchie Torres (Lovato) miserable. In the end, Ella realizes she is her own person and does not need to be anybody’s follower,”
Anna Maria shares. “I think I am breaking out of the Asian actress mold who is usually typecast as ditzy. Disney takes good care of me.”
A “Camp Rock 2” is reportedly in the works, and hopefully Anna Maria’s talent for singing would be showcased all the more.
“Not many people know that I sing and I write songs because I show a different side of me in Hannah Montana. But I do all these and I also design clothes,” she says.
No wonder she looks up to Lea Salonga, who is another Disney alumna. Anna Maria says she always watched Lea’s concerts when she was a young girl, and until now when her busy schedule permits.
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