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For the past 20 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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SYLVIA Jimenez, a mother of three, was barely up from a short nap inside her bungalow in west Jersey City, Sunday night, when she felt a subtle rumbling emanating from her sheet rock walls. She got up and traced the origin of the inexplicable vibration, and like a Cheetah sniffing for its prey, Sylvia reached ground zero – her daughter’s room.
It turned out that the rumble came from some music playing on her 18–year old daughter’s boom box – For Charon by Aikostar.
Apparently, her daughter, Maggie, came in from the Philippine Independence Day parade that afternoon and she got herself a copy of a sampler of the band’s upcoming debut album being handed out by Aikostar’s Fil-Am singer Vero. It was perhaps the heaviest music Sylvia ever heard, The music was so heavy; Sylvia had to hold on to a framed high school diploma hanging on Maggie’s wall to prevent it from crashing down.
The return
Aikostar, perhaps the most recognizable Fil-Am fronted progressive-metal band in New York, is back with a BANG after a brief period of hibernation.
Their triumphant return is heralded by the release of their debut album: ‘The Gun Album’, which is destined to shake more walls and propel the quartet to greater heights.
Many Fil-Am music insiders have been baffled on why the band decided to sneak out from the scene and disappear for months.
When asked about their short disappearance, Vero said that the band, at that point, needed rest after breaking its back for some time all over the New York music scene. The break, again according to Vero, gave them time to reflect on the band’s internal workings and carefully plan their future moves – a plan that includes the release of the much-awaited debut album.
The album
Aikostar’s debut album, conveniently called by the band as “The Gun Album” not because it is the title – the album is actually untitled, but because of the album art: A revolver. The CD is filled with 11 tracks pulsating with heavy progressive metal:
- Dromidary
- Sfumato
- Omni
- Over
- The Guardian
- Glass Ball
- Lotus Eater
- La Mort De Schroeder
- Over the Edge
- Koi-San
- For Charon
The record was produced by one of Trent Rezor’s pals - Joe Peretore, and is released independently by the band.
In describing their music, the band, on their myspace page says: “ Aikostar music - Incorporating the melodic architecture of Mahler with the delicacy of the Royal Court music of East Asia, the modern rock band Aikostar presents one of the most impressive visual and musical shows of our time.” And “Estrogen mixed with testosterone and formaldehyde.”
The combination of Mahler and the Royal Court Music of China soaked in Estrogen, Testosterone and Formaldehyde is indeed music you don’t get to hear everyday - Perhaps in one’s dreams and nightmares and in all the homes and clubs that Aikostar had conquered – including Sylvia’s.
Aikostar is composed of four amazing instrumentalists: Alex Kirzhner, Vero, Clifton Aird Hyde and Kevin Garcia. You can all check on the band’s websites – www.aikostarmusic.com and www.myspace.com/aikostar
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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
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NEW YORK – Charmaine Clamor, the first Filipina jazz singer to find success on mainstream American Jazz radio, will be making her New York City debut on June 25, 2006 as her record company Freeham Records holds the release of her CD, “Searching for the Soul.” The event will be held at the famed Iridium Jazz Club in Broadway and 51st Street.
Charmaine’s album, “Searching for the Soul,” was launched in November 29, 2005 at the world famous Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. It has been heard on more than 100 stations around America, and peaked at #1 on the CMJ jazz charts in several markets. Critics has described her CD as “an eclectic collection of musical pieces,” (George Harris, All About Jazz) and her sultry alto voice has been likened to legendary vocalists like Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, and Cassandra Wilson.
A longtime member of the renowned vocal harmony ensemble CRESCENDO, Charmaine has also headlined the First International Jazz & Ethnic Arts Festival in Manila, Phillipines on January 21-23, 2006 performing alongside international artists such as Kevyn Lettau, Russell Ferrante, Jerry Watts & Mike Shapiro. The Filipino audience was awed with her forceful but romantic style. New York City will soon bear witness to her elegant jazz chops.
More on Charmaine Clamor
Originally from the provincial town of Subic-Zambales, Charmaine Clamor began her singing career at age of 3, entertaining passengers (whether they liked it or not!) in the back of buses traveling to Manila. As she grew, she began providing piano accompaniment while her mother sang kundiman (Filipino torch songs) and English language classics. From these early memories comes her love of the Great American Songbook.
Charmaine migrated to the United States in 1988 and has since performed in legendary clubs and venues such as House of Blues, The Hop, Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Los Angeles Convention Center, Glendale Civic Auditorium and Cerritos Performing Arts Center, among others. Often described as “mesmerizing, captivating, sublime and powerful,” Charmaine has worked with numerous well-known mainstream artists, including Jeffery Osborne and James Ingram, and legendary Filipino artists, including Gary Valenciano, Banig, and Timmy Cruz.
In 1999, she joined the jazz harmony quintet, Crescendo. The group released a 15-track CD in 2004 showcasing romantic jazz standards. Charmaine provided the alto voice in the group and her rendition of the song “I’m In The Mood For Love” was exceptional.
Charmaine is proud to be a Filipina and has not forgotten her Filipino roots. She is proud to have performed at numerous events that celebrate the Filipino culture, including the First Anniversary of the founding of historic Filipino Town in Los Angeles. She is also one of the founding members of Jazzphil-USA, a nonprofit organization which promotes Filipino-American Jazz Artists in the United States.
Catch her perform on June 25, 2006 at the Iridium Jazz Club at 1650 Broadway (51st st.) New York, NY. Tickets sell at $25.00. For more information go to www.iridiumjazzclub.com.
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MANILA -- DO you know that Jericho Rosales has yet to meet the father of his sweetheart Heart Evangelista?
Actually, Jericho said he’s just waiting for Heart to give him the go-signal to meet her dad. He is eager to meet him, talk to him and tell him frankly how much Jericho loves Heart.
“My intentions for Heart are honorable,” he stresses. “Talagang mahal ko siya. At pa-kakasalan ko siya. Siya na ang babaing gusto kong makasama habambuhay.”
He just loves everything about Heart. Her asthma included, he jokes. After all, he admits, she personifies the girl of his dreams.
Funny, but do you know that before their team-up in “Panday,” they hardly talked to each other, especially at the time when he was still being linked to Kristine Hermosa and Heart, with John Prats?
“Iba talaga when you start working together,” opines Jericho. “Like what happened to us when we were doing ‘Panday.’ Dahil mas madalas na sa location ang taping, we were drawn to each other.
“I don’t think I can live without her from hereon,” he adds.
When he met Heart, stated Jericho in an interview with Yes Magazine, he felt he was ripe for romance.
“‘Yung tipong I’ll do anything for the woman I love. Suwerte ko dahil the woman I finally fell in love with is Hearty,” he says.
Their backgrounds are completely different. He comes from a poor family. His parents are separated. To make both ends meet, he had to help his mom sell fish at the public market of Concepcion in Marikina.
“Nakaramdam lang talaga kami ng ginhawa when I joined showbiz. Ngayon naipagpatayo ko na bahay ang mother ko. May sarili na rin siyang kotse. And she gets a monthly allowance from me.”
Heart’s family is well-known in the restaurant business. Her dad is an Ongpauco, owner of the Barrio Fiesta chain of restaurants. The youngest of four girls, Heart was born with a silver spoon in her mouth. For a while, her family lived in the US, where they still own a house. They go on yearly vacations abroad.
Jericho has just wrapped up shooting for “Pacquiao, The Movie,” where he plays the international boxing champ, Manny Pacquiao. It’s a role he really wanted to do. Manny’s story is the kind which should serve as an inspiration to people who dream of success and hope, in the end, to hit the mark.
“Manny and I have, more or less, the same background. We are men of the masses. Two persons who tried hard, succeeded and are now achievers,” says Jericho. “I thank Manny for giving me an insight into a boxer’s life. It’s a hard life. Hindi ko ma-imagine how Manny’s body can take all those blows. And still wear a smile on his face. Lalo kung panalo siya which he always is.”
Jericho reveals that it was Manny who trained him personally for his boxing scenes in the movie. “Pati stance niya, tinuruan niya ako kung paano gawin. Kahit kung paano niya pini-prepare ang sarili for a fight, he gave me an insight on how to do it.”
In the movie Jericho wears the same boxing shorts and robe which Manny wore during his fight with Eric Morales in Las Vegas, Nevada. The scene of Jericho, incidentally, was also shot in the same boxing arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“It’s an expensive movie,” says Mrs. Rose Flaminiano, who co-produces “Pacquiao, The Movie,” with Star Cinema. “But we want the public to see a good, if not excellent, movie. Maipagmamalaki ko ang pelikulang ito. At maging ni Manny rin.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- Entertainment news presenter Phoemela Barranda will neither deny nor admit that she had her pair of boobs enhanced.
But she now sports a cleavage and she feels proud of it. ‘Where my body is concerned, it is Dra. Vicky Belo (of the Belo Medical Group) who takes care of it,’ she says with a smile.
It was Phoemela herself who informed us that she’s currently going steady with Ira Cruz of the Passage Band. Good-looking Ira was formerly linked to Aiko Melendez, Agot Isidro and Mylene Dizon.
Phoemela has no reason to feel jealous of the three ladies. All three are now happily playing the roles of housewives. Two of them are now even moms.
Aiko is pregnant with her second baby by second husband, Martin Jickain. Aiko was first married to Jomari Yllana with whom she has a son, Andre, now nearly eight years old.
Though still childless, Agot has a happy relationship with husband, Manu Sandejas. She continues to appear on TV and occasionally performs as a singer.
Mylene has a one-year-old son by aspiring actor Paolo Paraiso.
Phoemela herself was once linked to a TV host-comedian. But this happened many years ago when she was still a student at the De La Salle University.
Phoemela regularly appears in “The Buzz” and “TV Patrol,” both on ABS-CBN. (MNS)
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IN celebration of their 20th year in the recording scene, local rock band The Dawn is doing a bio-pic for the 2nd Cinemalaya Festival dubbed “Tulad Ng Dati.”
The half-documentary, half-fiction project being directed by Mike Sandejas traces the quartet’s career inadvertently paying tribute to guitarist and founding member, the late Teddy Diaz.
“We still pray for the guy and in our minds still thank him,” says The Dawn vocalist Jett Pangan. “The Dawn’s vision remains his. He showed us the way not only by knowing clearly what he wanted for us but how to get it. Though Teddy was only with the band for two years, his impact on us we will carry up to our dying days. He taught us how to turn the band into family and to never stop rehearsing with or without gigs.”
Teddy, who co-wrote the band’s signature hit “Enveloped Ideas,” was senselessly stabbed to death by a deranged drug addict in front of his girlfriend’s house in 1998. His demise inspired two of The Dawn’s biggest hit songs “Salamat” and “I Stand With You.”
When asked to talk about Teddy on a personal note, Jett’s voice turned near reverential.
“He was almost like a myth to us. There’s this rocker who never smoked, never drank alcohol and was also very in touch with his spiritual side. Teddy heard mass and prayed the novena everyday. He was also friends with the Sisters of The Holy Spirit. These people gave him the book ‘The Dawning of The Holy Spirit” from where he lifted the name of our band,” says Jett.
It was also Teddy’s legacy that held The Dawn together despite several changes in line-up. Their newest member is ex-Eraserheads Buddy Zabala who replaced Mon Legaspi formerly of Wolfgang.
Bio-pic “Tulad Ng Dati” is not just about the band’s dark moments but good times as well that continues to this day. The Dawn is also currently on nationwide tour (kicked of in Boracay a few weeks ago) and wrapping up work on a new album where they rearrange and rerecord their biggest hits.
Come last quarter of this year, The Dawn will also be honored by the release of a tribute album of their hit songs as interpreted by other bands.
Rounding up the band’s current lineup are drummer JB Leonor and guitarist Francis Reyes.
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