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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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RICO BLANCO: YOUR UNIVERSE
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Artist: Rico Blanco
Album: Your Universe
Label: Warner Music Philippines Tracklist: 1. Antukin 2. Ayuz 3. Helpless 4. Metropolis 5. Outta This 6. Para Hindi Mawala 7. Say Forever 8. Start Again 9. Your Universe 10. Yugto
AFTER his dramatic departure from Rivermaya, RIco Blanco comes out of the shadows with his debut solo album entitled "Your Universe." The 10-song album under Warner Philippines is currently being buoyed by his carrier single, "Yugto" and the newly-released follow up single which bears the album's title.
Rather than coming up with a totally different sonic approach, Blanco opted to stay safe and trekked the road that his former band used to rule. Although "Yugto" is a worthwhile attempt to break new musical grounds with its progressive arrangements and meaty power chords, it is the lone flower in a world resonating with Rivermaya's echoes.
All the songs in this album sound like they were intended for Blanco's estranged bandmates. Hell, yeah, they all sound like Rivermaya songs because whether we accept it or deny it, Rico was the sound of Rivermaya. He wrote almost all the Rivermaya songs, sang most of it, and produced all of it.
Notable tracks are:
Say Forever– A clear salute to Rico's adherence to 80's New Wave.
Start Again Yugto Your Universe
Rico should have waited a little longer before coming up with this effort. It would have separated him fully from his Maya work, and thus give credibility to his solo work. Instead, Rico decided to release "Your Universe" in haste and failed to carve a new road for his solo career. He wasted his chance to do some work he's never tried before. Though we are all glad that Rico is back making new music, his solo album falls short in making his return a kick ass one. Rico is one of the best songwriters and producers around, so we expect more from him than another 'Rivermaya' album.
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MANILA -- John Lloyd Cruz does not deny that, at one time, he did go steady with Krista Ranillo. This was when he and Krista were both very young. He was about 15 and Krista, 14.
The only reason this tidbit was "unearthed" was when Krista, during the presscon for "Your Song: Someone Like You," was asked to name the celebrities with whom she was romantically linked to. She mentioned that her romance with John Lloyd didn’t last long. "At that time," Krista revealed, "may ginawa siyang show sa GMA 7, where I was under contract. Ang nakakatawa nga, ang director ng show na ginawa niya was Dominic (Zapata, now Krista’s boyfriend). Well, those were the days."
Krista said she knows that John Lloyd is now taken (his girlfriend is magazine editor Liz Uy.). She is, too, she stated. But what if the two of them are offered a project together?
"I don’t see any reason why I should not accept the chance to work with John Lloyd," Krista answered.
"Ganun din ako," John Lloyd declared.
John Lloyd is currently busy playing the role of Armando Solis in "I Love Betty la Bea," topbilled by Bea Alonzo. (MNS)
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MANILA, Oct 2 (Mabuhay) -- Sultry actress Ara Mina said she would like to watch the much-awaited boxing match of the year between Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Mexican-American boxing legend Oscar de la Hoya on December 6.
“Sayang, gusto kong manood, mas exciting. Kaso may show ako December 6. I have a show sa Sydney, Australia. Baka sabihin niyo na naman nandoon ako sa Las Vegas. At kapag nanalo, baka sabihin binalatuhan na naman ako house and lot. Naku, kung house and lot sana ay hindi na ako naglalagare kung saan para mabayaran ang bahay ko.” she said.
Ara also shrugged off persistent rumors that she’s romantically involved with Pacquiao.
The actress said the new report saying that she went to United States to be with Pacquiao is untrue.
“Alam mo, if you have a regular show, hindi ka ganoon kabilis na makakaalis. Ang Amerika, hindi biro ‘yan na parang Davao lang o Hongkong na ilang hours lang. So imposible ang sinasabi nila na lumalabas,” she said.
“Ang daming Pilipino sa Amerika...Saka nagde-date? Uso pa ba ang ang date? Alam mo, nakakatuwa lang, kayo naniniwala pa ba kayo? Saka nandito ako, nagte-taping ng ‘Ligaw na Bulaklak’, may attendant sheet ako doon. Kahit i-check nila, puro hawshaw na issue lang iyan,” she added.
Ara Mina said that she doesn’t have to explain anything since she knows the truth.
“Waka akong dapat i-explain. Nakokornihan na ako. Kung sino ang may kagagawan niyan, huwag niyong ipapasa sa akin ang ginagagawa niyo,” she said.
The actress also denied reports that Pacquiao’s wife Jinky called her to check if the rumors are true.
“Alam mo, natatawa ako. Siguro matatawa na lang si Jinky. I’m sure may kilala siya doon at may kasama siya na super close kay Jinky. Anong check, check?,” she said.
The actress said she doesn’t have any idea of who is behind the malicious reports, but she wants a stop to the rumors, especially now that Pacquiao’s wife Jinky is again pregnant.
“Ang masasabi ko lang ay tantanan na natin silang mag-asawa. Maawa naman sila dahil nagdadalantao ang asawa niya. For Jinky, kung may isyung ganyan, huwag siyang maniniwala. Mas kilala niya ang asawa niya. Siguro naman, everyday nag-uusap ang mga iyan. Maawa naman kayo at baka mapaano ang baby, iyon lang. Nanahimik sila, nanahimik din ako, at I’m happy with my life,” she said.
The actress admitted she has no boyfriend. She explained that this is because she is still waiting for the right guy and she doesn't want to rush things.
“Siguro, isa lang ang masasabi ko. Dahil wala pa kong mapakitang boyfriend ko kasi nasa stage ako na naghahanap ako ng guy na iyong makakasakama ko habambuhay,” she said.
Aside from her various charity work, Ara is also busy taping for the upcoming finale of “Ligaw na Bulaklak.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Angelica Panganiban did not think twice about accepting the gag show "Banana Split" even if she still is working on her current teleserye, "Iisa Pa Lamang." All her life as an actress, she has been doing drama. It was time to prove that she can be part of a gag program, she says.
"’Banana Split’ is actually more of a gag show than a comedy show. Mas mahirap gawin. But I love the challenge. And the program allows me to win new friends, who are mostly my age," she said.
Her co-stars in "Banana Split" are Roxanne Guinoo, Valerie Concepcion, Cristine Reyes, Princess Ryan and Dianne Medina.
"We all look sexy, especially in our bathing suits," Angelica beams. "Pero ang puwedeng ituring na pinaka-sexy sa amin ay si Cristine."
Cristine is a new Kapamilya, since she started her showbiz career in GMA 7. She is the younger sister of sexy star Ara Mina.
"Actually, ‘pag nagpapaseksi na kaming lahat," Cristine cuts in, "wala nang itulak kabigin sa amin. We all simply look gorgeous."
Edgar Mortiz and his son, Frasco Mortiz, one of ABS CBN’s most promising TV directors, share directorial chores in "Banana Split."
***
Direk Edgar admits that "Banana Split" is a take-off from the gag show, "Goin’ Bananas," which he topbilled with his friends, Christopher de Leon, Johnny Delgado, Al Tantay and the late Jay Ilagan.
Directed by Al Quinn, "Goin’ Bananas" was a long-running show. Direk Edgar recalled that they started airing 1986 and ended in 1992.
"We all loved the show very much, so much so may baon kaming gag tuwing nagre-report sa taping.
"So far, nakakapag-tape pa lamang kami ng tatlong episodes ng ‘Banana Split.’ But already, the girls are proving to be naughty and wacky.
"To balance the girls’ antics here, we feature one hunk every week. On our list, so far, are Zanjoe Marudo, Diether Ocampo, John Lloyd Cruz and Jake Cuenca."(MNS)
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MANILA – Popular young singer Sarah Geronimo met one of her idols Howie Dorough of the US boy band Backstreet Boys who arrived in Manila, Tuesday, September 23rd. He is in town to record a music video with her and promote her newest album entitled "Just Me."
In an interview with the two, Geronimo and Dorough revealed that it was their first time to meet since they recorded their song “I'll Be There” separately.
"Actually this is the first time I got to meet Howie. We didn't record together," Geronimo said.
"Unfortunately that time I was in between Backstreet Boys tours and I had a very short time to do it. So, Christian de Walden actually came to me in Orlando where I was back home with my family for a couple days off and I recorded my vocals there. I already heard her sing on it and I was already singing with her on the demo," Dorough said.
Dorough said that he is very happy to do a project with Geronimo.
"She's a lovely lady. When I was asked about doing a project with her about four or five months ago by Christian de Walden I was very honored. I went online and I checked out on the internet and realized that she's a huge superstar here and around the world," he said.
"I was in Canada for Backstreet Boys on tour just a month ago in two different areas. I was at a different place where I bumped into some people from the Philippines and I said I was going to the Philippines they said 'ah for vacation' and I said 'I'm actually working with a girl name Sarah Geronimno' and they said 'Oh Sarah Geronimo!'. She's very popular, very, very famous around the world," said Dorough.
The male singer said that he finds Geronimo to be a very humble and sweet girl, while Geronimo confirmed her admiration for the Backstreet Boy.
"I'm a big, big fan super. Very happy. Isn't it obvious that I'm very happy. Happy and honored to work with you Howie Dorough," said Geronimo.
She said that it's actually another dream come true for her to be working with Dorough.
"I can't believe before I'm just listening to my walkman.... 'I want it that way'. Another dream comes true. I've only daydreamed about this and I never thought this would happen," Geronimo said. (MNS)
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MANILA -- After keeping everybody guessing with what was really going on between them, Cristine Reyes and Dennis Trillo finally came clean and admitted to the public about their relationship a month ago, but then subsequently declared that they were a couple no more.
When Cristine was hospitalized last week supposedly due to a suicide attempt (which Cristine later clarified. She was just over fatigued), tongues started wagging that her ex-boyfriend was the main cause for her condition.
During the presscon for her new all-girl gag show Banana Split last September 25 at ABS-CBN, Cristine shares that there was definitely no connection between Dennis and what happened to her. The Eva Fonda star said that she didn’t even know if Dennis had already heard about it.But the 19 year old actress says she does not feel bad that he was not able to visit her while she was in the hospital.
“At this time, kailangan kasi naming i-prioritize yung mga kailangan naming i-prioritize. Yung aming mga career,” she says to the press.
Although the two have been saying they have definitely broken up, reports say that Cristine’s car is still very much visible in the vicinity of her former network. But Cristine clarifies that it was just her driver who goes there to pick up her stylist, who also does work in the network.
During the presscon, the media also showed concern with the bruises visible on both sides of Cristine’s arms, but the Kahit Isang Saglit star clarifies yet again that the marks also had nothing to do with Dennis for anybody else for the matter.
“Pasain kasi talaga ako. Madali lang magkaroon ng pasa. Isang bunggo lang, pasa na kagad,” she stresses.
Looking visibly happy, Cristine looks thoughtful when asked if she is doing okay now that she’s single again. “I’ve moved on because kailangan ko mag-move on. We’re okay naman. We’re just friends now,” she shares.
With regards to a possible reconciliation, the pretty actress replied positively, “I’m not closing any doors, but siguro time will tell na lang,” she says.
With back-to-back tapings, it’s understandable that Cristine would rather focus on work issues rather than her personal life at the moment.
“Wala kasi akong time sa lalake ngayon eh. Kung babae ang itatanong mo, mas madami akong maisasagot sayo. Sina Angelica, at Anne Curtis. Si Anne sobra sobra talaga, as in (laughs). ‘Wag na natin sila pag-usapan, baka ma-isyuhan akong tomboy eh (laughs),” she says in jest.
Since Banana Split features a different male celebrity guest every week, Cristine also gets asked if there was any chance her ex-flame would be in her new show, but the pretty actress says matter-of- factly, ”Malabo po yun., siyempre nasa kabila siya,” she concludes. (MNS)
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MANILA -- JEAN Garcia is on the cover of FHM’s October issue. She looks so alluring in that revealing pose where she is seated and covers her boobs with nothing else but her bent legs. How long did she prepare for her first sexy pictorial?
“I had no time to prepare,” she says. “Actually, two years na nila akong inaawitan to do a pictorial for them, but I have my reservations. But my manager, si Manny Valera, said aka kung ‘di ko gagawin, later ’d regret it na hindi ko sinubukan. ’m 38, so I finally agreed to do it.
“I told them okay on a Friday, the following Wednesday, pictorial na agad. I was telling them give me two weeks sana to prepare, pero wala na raw time. ‘Yun pala, iko-cover na agad sa October, their 99th issue. The pictorial was shot just three weeks ago. Ang bilis nga. But they complied with all my requests. May peg sila ng poses that I’m supposed to do. They showed it to me at okay naman sa’kin. Tapos noong naka-layout na, they showed it to me again if I approved it. So, lahat ng lumabas diyan, may approval ko and I’m very proud of it kasi classy naman dumating at hindi mukhang binaboy lang ako.”
What did her daughter Jennica say about it? “When I asked her about it, she said, why not?”
Would she allow Jen to do the same pictorial? “Why not? Basta ang importante, wholeheartedly na gusto niya. Wala siyang reservations.”
She’s still so slender like her daughter. How does she maintain her youthful looks?
“I guess blessing ‘yan. Ako kasi, kontento ako with my life, my children, my friends, my career. Basically, I’m a happy person who enjoys life at kung may dumating na problema, I take it as part of life, di harapin and not just worry about it. I did this pictorial also to show women my age that you can still look fit and young kahit magpo-40 ka na. Ako nga, feeling ko, blessed talaga ako kasi heto, matatapos ang ‘Dyesebel,’ then two shows agad ang kapalit. I play Dennis Trillo’s main villain in ‘Gagambino’ and I’m also with Eula Valdes in ‘All About Eve.’ Also, I just finished a new movie, ‘Walang Kawala’, directed by Joel Lamangan, where I play the battered wife of a violent cop, si Emilio Garcia. It’s going to be released abroad as ‘No Way Out’ kasi the characters here all feel trapped in the kind of lives they lead.”
How does she feel now that Jen and Mart Escudero admitted that they are on?
“Mabait naman si Mart, so okay lang. My only request is for them not to be so serious about it kasi ayokong magaya ang anak ko sa akin. I had her when I was only 19. Sana, i-enjoy muna nila ang kabataan nila and their career, lalo na’t good opportunities are coming their way.” (MNS)
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Pinay-British beauty Leilani Dowding is one of the Britain’s most sought after glamour models for magazines and tabloids. Born January 30 1980 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England to a British father and Filipino mother, Leilani is a Page Three girl, glamour model, television celebrity, and former beauty queen.
While studying for an economics degree at Royal Holloway, University of London, in Surrey, the nineteen-year-old entered and won the 1998 Miss Great Britain competition. In Hawaii later that year she became the first woman of Asian descent to represent Britain in the Miss Universe pageant.
After her success in beauty pageants, Dowding dropped out of university to pursue a full-time modeling career. Although she had not originally considered topless modeling, she started appearing as a Page Three girl in The Sun newspaper in 1999. British tabloid newspapers and magazines have featured her regularly since then, both in topless and clothed glamour poses. Her younger sister Melanie (”Mel”) Dowding also had a brief career as a Page Three girl, and the sisters have posed together for photoshoots.
Dowding has been a guest on various British television shows, firstly appearing on Jerry Springer style talk show ‘Guilty’ disputing her prospective career, modeling on the Big Breakfast and This Morning, acting on Dream Team and Mile High and appearing on The Weakest Link, Drop the Celebrity, Faking It and Celebrity Wrestling and Celebrity Fear Factor.
She has also enjoyed a season in pantomime as Tiger Lilly in Peter Pan. She has traveled to Bosnia, Kosovo. Iraq and Cyprus on morale-boosting trips for British troops abroad. She dated footballer Anwar Uddin in 2002.
She has been engaged twice, both times to football players. Her first fiancé was former Wimbledon and Northern Ireland defender Mark Williams, who broke off their relationship in 2004 to date, and eventually marry, the pornographic actress LinseyDawn McKenzie. Dowding later became engaged to the then Arsenal footballer Jérémie Aliadière, although the couple ended their relationship in October 2006. She is now engaged to an American called Richie Palmer, the owner of Mulberry St Pizza, and former husband of Hollywood siren Raquel Welch.
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