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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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FINALLY, POPTIMES MAGAZINE SEES
THE LIGHT OF PRINT
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Adding history to an already historic weekend, Poptimes Magazine
print makes its debut on Rock in the Box 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)
FOR three years and six months, Poptimes Magazine, the premiere Filipino-American music magazine, could not be touched–literally. It only existed in the realm of binary codes and cascading style sheets. It was a virtual existence for Poptimes no matter how important it became. It will not be the case for long as the magazine finally sees the light of print.
It will be the first Filipino-American printed music magazine. It is a promise kept.
A swirl of questions revolves around our hopeful heads as we ponder on the impact of this birth: How far will it circulate? Will it sustain itself, financially? Will there be enough Filipino-American music to cover?
We suppose that that is the purpose of putting up a printed magazine devoted to Filipino-American music: To find out if our scene is healthy and big enough to sustain a monthly record of its life. How far will it live and circulate depends on how far the scene takes it.
The magazine will live through its readers, like any other publication. It will be there for as long as we buy and read it.
True, this has never been done before, but we believe that the time is ripe for a thing like this because we believe in the scene. We believe in you. We believe that we have one that is worth documenting, one worth covering. We believe that in many years, we will all be looking at the many Poptimes Magazine issues that we have all shared together, and look back with pride and joy. “I had the maiden issue,” you might say. “I got it on that historic Rock in the Box Weekend back in 2008.”
Poptimes Magazine is our magazine. It is our diary. A mirror that will reflect everything important in our scene. It is our voice. It is our own image. What we see and read there is what our scene is.
On August 29 and 30, the same weekend that the biggest gathering of Filipino artists in North America to celebrate Rock in the Box Weekend, Poptimes Magazine printed will be launched. It will be launched with the compilation album Rock in the Box 2.
The maiden issue of Poptimes print will be bundled with the Rock in the Box CD and will be for sale at a very affordable price. We have printed only a limited number of copies for this historic maiden issue, so be sure to get yours.
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MANILA -- Rapper, actor and TV host Francis Magalona is battling leukemia and has requested for blood donations to replace the blood he has used at the Medical City hospital in Ortigas Avenue where he is being treated.
A message from Magalona was aired Thursday over noontime show "Eat, Bulaga! where he is one of the co-hosts. The message confirmed earlier reports from various sources about his struggle with the disease, which is a cancer that affects the blood. .
The official message is as follows: "Sa lahat ng mg Dabarkads ko dito sa Eat Bulaga, miss ko na kayong lahat.
"Araw-araw magkakasama tayo at kayo'y naging second family ko na. Pati na rin lahat ng mga viewers sa mga bahay at sa studio.
"Ngayon, meron akong isang pagsubok na dapat pagdaanan at hiling ko lang ay ang inyong pang-unawa at suporta.
"I have been diagnosed with leukemia and I am preparing for my treatment. Sa tulong ng Panginoon, kakayanin ko po ito.
"Abangan nyo ang aking pagbabalik.'Di ko lang kayo 'miss'... LOVE KO kayong lahat."
A reliable source earlier said Pupil Band's manager and Magalona's friend Day Cabuhat said that the rapper and his family are asking for blood donations to replace the blood used in Magalona's treatment.
Cabuhat reportedly said any type of blood will do. Those want to help and donate their blood in the actor's name may go to directly to Medical City in Ortigas Avenue, and ask the hospital staff for assistance.
The 43-year old Magalona comes from a showbiz clan, being the son of the 1950's legendary actors and celebrity couple Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran.
Launched as a teen star in the 1980s, Magalona's career boomed with his hit rap "Mga Kababayan" which was included in his album "Yo!" released in 1990.
He's also the voice behind the hits "Ito ang Gusto Ko," "Meron Akong Ano," "Mga Praning" and "Kaleidoscope World."
Francis who is married to Pia Arroyo has eight children -- Unna, Nicolo, Francis Jr., Isabella, Elmo, Arkin, Clara and actress Maxene Magalona.
Currently, Magalona is a regular host of "Eat Bulaga." (MNS)
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MANILA -- The long wait is over and it’s official: actor John Lloyd Cruz is still Bea Alonzo’s leading man for ABSCBN’s upcoming television show "I Love Betty La Fea."
Cruz said that he is really happy to be part of the series and to work again with his long-time showbiz love partner Alonzo.
"Nangangapa tayo but I’m very happy more than happy to be working again with Bea," Cruz said.
Cruz recently admitted that he’s on the shortlist being considered for the role of Armando, Betty’s love interest. But the young actor then said he was not yet sure if he will get the role but thanked the Kapamilya network that he was being considered to be part of the series.
Now that he has been chosen for the part, Cruz described his character Armando as a playful and adventurous man who is really his opposite in real life.
"Si Armando ay isang mapaglarong nilalang… hindi yata ako adventurous, si Armando adventurous pagdating sa sports--somehow sa mga babae, ako hindi," explains Cruz.
"Hindi ako ito, siguro may ibang babaeng magsasabing ako ito pero ewan ko abangan niyo po malapit niyo na akong makasama sa pimetime kasama ng aking partner na si Bea," the actor added.
No pretenses
Cruz who’d been Alonzo’s love team for almost six years said that courting her in real life never entered the picture.
"It just didn’t happen, ayaw ko silang (the fans) lokohin Magmula ng nagsimula ang team up namin ni Bea walang pretention. May girlfriend ako nang magsimula kami ng team up. Lahat ‘yon alam," Cruz said.
The actor believes that their partnership is getting stronger because they’re not fooling their supporters into believe that they are a couple off-screen.
"Hindi namin niloko ang audience. Hindi namin sila pinaniwala sa hindi nila dapat paniwalalaan. Kaya siguro tumagal kami ng ganito katagal pero alam namin kung paano sila pasiyahin," explains Cruz.
He also admitted that there are people who doubted his capability as an actor, should his love team with Alonzo end. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Actress Kristine Hermosa said that she’s not trying to avoid the possibility of doing a reunion project with former on and off screen sweetheart Jericho Rosales.
In an interview, Hermosa said that she’s very much willing to tape the television series the network lined up for them but the problem really is their individual hectic schedules.
She said that once they have an available time they will definitely start to tape their television series.
After her hit afternoon series “Prinsesa ng Banyera,” Hermosa said that she’s now busy taping for upcoming gag show “Banana Split.”
The actress is also busy with her out of town shows and fulfilling other showbiz commitments.
Banana Split
Hermosa is definitely the woman who can do everything, she can make you laugh and cry, cry and laugh again.
Soon, Hermosa will reveal her talent for comedy through ABS-CBN’s upcoming sitcom, “Banana Split.”
Reports say that Hermosa will be working with actress Valerie Concepcion, Iya Villania, Valerie “Bangs” Garcia and Angelica Panganiban in “Banana Split.
Hemosa said that doing comedy is not a new thing since she already did a sitcom almost seven years ago with celebrity couple Richard Gomez and Lucy Torres-Gomez’ “Richard Loves Lucy.”
In an interview, Hermosa said she’s taking a break from doing drama, saying that she has a great time doing sitcoms as well.
“Banana Split” is an upcoming all-female gag show on ABS-CBN and the spin-off of 1990’s “Goin’ Bananas,” which starred Edgar Mortiz, Johnny Delgado, Al Tantay, Christopher de Leon and the late Jay Ilagan.
Other castmembers include Dianne Medina, Princess Ryan, KoolChx, RR Enriquez, Janna, AJ Perez, Lauren Young, and PBB’s former housemate Riza Santos. (MNS)
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MANILA -- Host-actress Mariel Rodriguez said that negative write-ups against her made her stronger now.
In an interview, the actress said that the abortion issue and bad stories written when she was still inside the Pinoy Big Brother house really changed her for the better.
"You know what, after that abortion after my PBB experience it really made me a strong person. Lahat kaya ko na after that and it's true at first I thought my world would fall apart because people didn't understand me but then it was just magnified and ngayon sobrang kahit ano talaga kaya ko na," Rodriguez said.
It will be recalled that criticisms were thrown at Rodriguez when she really got close to ex-fellow housemate Jon Avila while reports said that she has a sweetheart outside the house and that was actor- endorser Zanjoe Marudo.
Rodriguez who plays the role of ABS-CBN's Komiks Presents: "Varga," said that she's open to the fact that she can not please everybody but added that she is now open to face any issues or questions that people would want to know.
"Okey lang hindi ko sila lahat magpip lease...ngayon kahit anong ibato sa akin ay sasagutin ko, kaya ko kasi wala naman akong tinatago, ngayon kahit anong sabihin mo sa akin kaya ko," she said.
Aside from being happy in love with Marudo, the actress also said that right now she's focusing on her career and really thankful with all the blessings that she's receiving.
She said that she's happy to be Varga and really honored and thrilled to be part of weekly entertainment show "Entertainment Live" with her co-hosts Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Gonzalez and Luis Manzano.
The said show will mark its first year anniversary this coming Saturday, August 16 with a lot of surprises.
"We are celebrating one year already on Saturday, kaabang- abang kasi controversial ang mga ininterview naming kaming lahat isa isa. Si Bianca inteview niya si KC, si Luis and Angel for he first time, ako I will interview my idol si Claudine Barretto. Loaded kami sa Saturday I can't believe it na one year na kami sa Entertainment Live and we survived," Rodriguez proudly said. (MNS)
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Viva Films’ adult film Torotot will compete in the 35th Brussels International Independent Film Festival.
The General Director of the Brussels International Independent Film Festival Mr. Robert Malengreau relayed the good news to the Filipino producer after watching the film.
Mr. Malengreau is a champion of Filipino films and the said international film festival has been a showcase of some of the best Filipino movies through the years.
Filipino films have had a series of victories in the filmfest including two Best Actor wins by Yul Servo for Batang Westside and Naglalayag. Also given a Best Ensemble Actor award were Dolphy, Eric Quizon, and Epi Quizon for Markova. Vilma Santos, Sharon Cuneta, at Nora Aunor also copped Best Actress awards for their respective movies Dekada ‘70, Crying Ladies, and Naglalayag.
Torotot—which is about double adultery stars Yul, Maui Taylor, Baron Geisler, and Precious Adona.
Foster Child is also an entry in the BIIFF. The film just recently received another series of accolades including Best Film and Best Actress for Cherry Pie Picache at the 29th Durban International Film Festival in South Africa. The movie is the closing presentation at the Brussels International Film Festival.
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