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For the past 17 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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Aurora’s Hairport joins celebration to honor 15th year
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JERSEY CITY --- Children dressed in bright blue Hawaiian grass skirts swirled their hips with flowers on their hairs as music played on.
Singers serenaded the audience with Filipino love songs as thousands flocked to the Philippine Bread House to celebrate its 25th anniversary last Sunday.
The mood was festive. Guests feasted the mouth-watering food as ladies in nice native gowns of orange , blue and red entertained them.
“I’m proud to say that our company serves as a model establishment in the East Coast through our Filipino delicacies, bread, food and pastries,” said Elma Santander, president of Philippine Bread House.
On regular weekends, thousands of customers flock to the Philippine Bread House compound which houses restaurants, a remittance center, a grocery and a beauty salon. It has been an important Filipino landmark for 25 years now on Newark Ave.
Aurora Del Rosario, owner of Aurora’s Hairport also celebrated its 15th anniversary last Sunday.
“I’m very happy with this celebration. We have plans to make our salon bigger,” said Del Rosario. The parlor has 17 employees and three branches in Jersey City.
During the party, a representative of NJ Gov. James McGreevey read a proclamation, honoring Philippine Bread House. It said that the business has continued to contribute to the state’s socio-economic and cultural life. “It provides authentic food, contributes to the economy and shares Filipino culture,” the proclamation said.
The Philippine Bread House singers performed “Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang ( Why did you come only now) and Bayan Ko (My Country) during the night.
The Kayumanggi (brown-skinned) Cultural Dance group performed animated folk dancing. The event was hosted by health buff and therapist Zeny Antonio.
“This is great. The party is very nice and very interesting. A lot of good food and I met a lot of different people,” said Gloria Cabrera, owner of a salon in New York City.
The tables at the party were decorated with flowers. Red and green balloons adorned the compound. Guests mixed as wine and drinks were served.
“Our business is still growing strong after 13 years. We still plan to build one restaurant in Las Vegas,” said Beth Atendido, co-owner of Little Quiapo which rents a space at the Breadhouse compound.
Her husband Jing Atendido says the compound is an ideal place to do business. This celebration is a way to thank all customers,” said Jing.
The Philippine Bread House has over 50 employees and known for its sweet cakes, hearty meals, and its golden brown lechon (roasted pig). Its building was used to be owned by McDonald’s dating back to the 70’s but Santander bought the place and turned it into a vibrant Filipino restaurant. The place has been billed as the Filipino’s finest restaurant on Newark Ave.
Santander was beaming with happiness and optimistic for the future as she thanked all her guests.
“We owe our success to the solid support of our employees, their faithful service and dedication to the company,” said Santander.
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Controversial film to open in Queens and NJ theaters in Aug.
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MANILA --- Filipinos flocked to cinemas last week to get their first look at a documentary about former first lady Imelda Marcos, whose attempts to block the screening seem to have been the best possible publicity for the film. It seems like “Passion of the Christ” and “Fahrenheit 9/11” revisited. Even Entertainment Weekly has dubbed the film “Fahrenheit: Imelda.”
Tickets for the 103-minute Imelda quickly sold out as it debuted in several cinemas in Manila’s financial district, a week after a regional court lifted an injunction against its screening.
Moviegoers were anxious to see the latest take on the flamboyant 75-year-old, who earned the moniker “Iron Butterfly” for her love of luxury. “There are some facets in her character that people find still admirable,” says Linda Lapid, who remembered the Marcos era and the People Power uprising that turned them out in 1986. “I want to watch it so I can see more of that character.”
The documentary, released by Unitel Pictures and directed by Filipino-American filmmaker Ramona Diaz, has been praised by American critics, winning the best cinematography award at this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
But Mrs. Marcos sought an injunction to prevent its release in the Philippines, tearfully proclaiming in court that the film made a joke of her life. She also said she thought Diaz only wanted to use the footage for an academic study.
“I am looking like an airhead, like a frivolous, wanton, extravagant women at the expense of the poor. I am made to look like a cheap flirt, flirting with all the men of the world,” she said at a court appearance last month. Despite her fears, Filipinos of all ages seemed willing to watch the movie with an open mind. “She is a part of history, part of our culture, and a part of the way the Philippines turned out to be now,” said Blake Sarion, a college student.
“Imelda” is the first and only Filipino documentary to have received a commercial release in the Philippines. While it’s evident that Imelda’s court case piqued everyone’s curiosity, it was still uncertain how the public would receive the film. “How do you market it? After all, many Filipino moviegoers do not equate the word ‘documentary’ with entertainment,” says Tito Velasco, a spokesperson for Unitel Pictures, the distributor.
In fact, with a few exceptions, Filipino films have been performing poorly at the box-office this year. Industry sources say the recent Manila Film Festival was a dismal flop, with Nora Aunor’s “Naglalayag” raking in less than a million pesos, and even top-grossing “Volta” starring AiAi De Los Alas made less than five million. Adds Velasco, “Of course, it bodes well that local moviegoers are learning that documentaries can be funny, entertaining and educational at the same time. If it opens the door for other non-fiction films, whether local or foreign, it can only signal hope for the industry.”
“Imelda” holds on to all its 20 screens in the Philippines for the second straight week. It played 7 weeks in in San Francisco, 6 weeks in Manhattan, and is slated to move over to Queens and New Jersey theaters. The film is currently playing at the Visions Cinema in Washington D.C., and is slated to open on August 6 in Boston at the Landmark Kendall Square, and on August 20 in L.A. and suburbs. For special showings and benefit screenings in other cities, call (646) 435-9431 or e-mail: vincemagi@cs.com
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What a rare treat for Filipino-Americans to have kundiman and comedy combined to make Philippine Fiesta a truly grand Filipino celebration on August 21-22 at The Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey. Who else could best carry the Filipino love tunes other than the Queen of Kundiman herself, Lirio Vital? And who else could turn the house down with the intelligent, careful, and often thought provoking delivery of slapstick lines other than the wacky and versatile actor Bernardo Bernardo?
These two and more are part of a package Special Edition Press has prepared for Filipino-Americans who will grace its 6th Philippine Fiesta celebration.
 Vital is a charming chanteuse. Out of her sweet solid voice, comes magic to bring every fondest memory to life. You get enamored at her rendition of Rene Novelles composition, Sa Iyo Lamang, a carrier single of her album, Mga Gintong Awit ng Kahapon Ngayon. Other cuts in the album are Willy Cruz’s Kahit Na, Sanay’s Wala nang Wakas, Mahawi Man Ang Ulap, Mike Velarde’s Habang Buhay and Dahil Sa ‘Yo and Ernani Cuenco’s Bato sa Buhangin, to name a few.
Vital has been in the entertainment business for so long that she has traveled far and wide. Everywhere she goes and performs, she gets an outstanding review. She sang with Larry Gibbs and with a keyboard specialist for Beatles and Rolling Stones, Billy Preston. She has performed at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas with Pilita Corrales and Carmen Soriano; a solo concert at La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, Hilton Hawaiian Village and at the Nikko Ilikai Hotel in Waikiki, Hawaii.
Time and again, she would go home and perform in the Philippines. There’s really no place like home as we all say.
Her singing career took off in the early 70s. She has become a household name via her beautiful rendition of kundiman love songs and other original Filipino music.
Vital, when she was still at the peak of her career, met an Italian/Spanish/Jewish US Navy serviceman in December of 1988. She was performing in Yokosuka, Japan at that time and the man was picked out from the audience. The guy was love struck when she sang him a “Smile” medley. Little did she know, that Robert Arrendondo would soon marry her.
Happily married with two kids, Vital gets all the support she needed for her career from her husband. She’s free to record, to perform and to travel to her concerts.
 Joining her in the same event is Bernardo Bernardo who will showcase his antics. As Vital sings, Bernardo, on the other hand, is expected to tickle the audience’s funny bones. A hard task to do. However, with his experience, that’s certainly not a tall order for him.
He has repeatedly surprised audiences from all walks of life. His recent series of concerts in San Francisco, Chicago, San Diego, Sacramento and Los Angeles as triple treat host, singer and stand up comedian has been rewarded successfully.
Bernardo could also be serious at times. And when he gets serious, he gets awarded. His performance in Ishmael Bernal’s movie, Manila By Night, earned him an Urian Best Actor. Over these years, he has been recognized in his leading roles in several musical Repertory Philippines’ productions.
He also appeared as Mr. Ao (second lead) at the Aurora Berkeley Theater staged reading of Lonnie Carter’s China Calls under the direction of Loy Arcenas.
Bernardo has an M.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He received various scholarships from Inner City Cultural Center of Los Angeles, the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco (Summer Workshop) and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (under a British Council grant).
He was an instructor at the University of the Philippines and De La Salle University; a consultant/Trainor for Mercuri International in Singapore (one of the largest Human Resource Companies in the world), a teacher at John Robert Powers; and a trainor at the Institute of Inner Studies (Pranic Healing and Medication).
General admission tickets are available at $15 at the door, $12 in advance. Children 7 years old and under are free. For ticket hotline and show info, call (212) 682-6610. email: sepmgzn@aol.com or visit www.philippinefiesta.com
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