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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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ALL human beings are sad. In fact, I believe that sadness is the default emotion of all humans.
We wake up, and right away, we are sad.
When something good happens - a nice thought, a recollection of a beautiful memory, a piece of good news, or when our senses capture beautiful things, then we are elevated to happiness. We become happy, glad, optimistic, hopeful, elated.
That is why perhaps when a day lacks any happy event, we call it an ordinary day. Yet when we have a day filled with good experiences, we call it a happy, extraordinary day. The point is, the usual, ordinary day is usually the sad and boring day.
I will analyze further.
A clear example is a vacation. A vacation is considered an extraordinary experience, hence capable of elevating one’s state from sadness to happiness. That explains why we all feel low when a vacation is done. We all feel that we are going ‘back’ to normal - to reality, which is the uneventful, sad state of existence. The default mode.
Sensory satisfaction. We may experience brief elevation from the default mode through sensory satisfaction. We smell something nice, we feel good. We taste some delicious dish, we enjoy. We hear great music, we become elated, and sometimes inspired. A good movie, a nice cool breeze or a nice warm exposure to to sunlight can make us see joy.
Yet in between these sensory experiences, we are sad and bored.
Nobody is happy by default. Humans, by nature, are sad. Hence, the need to be happy.
If we are happy by nature or by default, nobody will seek happiness anymore. And we all know that it not the case. For happiness is something to be gained and achieved.
Happiness is elusive
Perhaps it is elusive because we tend to look for the big things. We dream of the ‘grand’ happiness that can deliver us from our sad lives. We want to be rich and famous.
But do we need big happiness to elevate is from our normal sad existence? I think not.
I believe that when it comes to beating the curse of sadness, quantity wins over quality. Small but many amounts of happiness beats one big happiness every-time.
It is like in boxing when a boxer waits the whole fight to land his big punch, not knowing that a collection of small punches from the start would have done the same damage.
Sadness is tough to beat for it encompasses our being. Yet if we look at some happy people in history, we all see one thing in common:
They all find joy in little things.
It is important to stress that this minimalist approach to happiness is in direct conflict with the usual approach that involves ambition.
These happy people in history found joy in the sight of flowers. They smiled upon seeing the magnificent sunset. They were glad when they finished their most trivial chore. And they where happy knowing that they found joy in those simple things.
We all wake up sad. It is up to us how we become happy. Yet this remains to be true: Happiness lives in anything small.
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MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) -- AGA Muhlach has a new sitcom on ABS-CBN, 'Thatís My Doc' to be shown Sundays after 'Sharon'. Heís now a doctor of people, no longer a vet like in his past 'Oki Doki Doc'.
We ask him how he feels that his new sitcom is pitted against Vic Sotto's show on GMA-7?
"We're not here to compete with Vic, although ganun nga ang nangyayari," he says. "I want to say something about the network wars. I don't understand why hindi puwede magsama ang stars ng dalawang networks. We're so divided.
It ís crazy when the film industry is down. We say we want to help the industry, but the cast of one movie can't promote here. Hindi ba mas maganda kung puwedeng umiikot ang lahat sa ibang istasyon? Di ang saya. Mas maraming makakapanood dun sa movie at mas marami ang matutuwa."
His co-star, Roderick Paulate, agrees with him: "Siyempre, I want high ratings for our show, pero ayoko naman nung patayan na mawawala ang kalaban naming show. Hindi namin iniisip nina Aga na labanan 'yan, e. Sana, lahat, magkaroon na lang ng trabaho para mas mag-enjoy ang mga tao."
Why did it take so long before his 'Ok Fine' was replaced by 'That ís My Doc'. "I waited for the availability of the stars I want to work with," says Aga. "Tita Nova Villa was busy sa farm niya in Tagaytay so I waited for her to come down here. Dick planned to run in the last election. Bayani Agbayani got busy with a sitcom in another channel.
And my leading lady, Precious Lara Quigaman, I waited munang makipag-break siya sa boyfriend niya. While waiting for them, naasikaso ko ang pagpapayat. I guarantee viewers na masisiyahan sila in watching 'That ís My Doc'." (MNS)
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NEW YORK — Filipino-American playwright Randy Gener has been selected as one of 12 playwrights in residency at LaMaMa Umbria International in Italy in the month of August.
LaMaMa Umbria playwrights will enjoy living and writing in the Umbrian countryside at LaMaMa Umbria International, Ellen Stewart’s artist residence in Italy. During their stay, participants will have ample time to work on new or existing material. Each day, playwrights will engage in discussions, workshops and exercises designed to help the writer with whatever challenges they are facing. Group readings are also possible and feedback if requested by the playwright. Much time is reserved for writing and quiet reflection in the tranquil surroundings.
Participants reside at La MaMa Umbria, a 700 year-old convent that has been transformed into a work center and residence for artists. It is located in the Umbrian hillside just outside the town of Spoleto, less than 2 hours from Rome.
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MANILA, July 27 (Mabuhay) -- ASIA Agcaoili’s father passed away early this year without her ever talking to him again. “My mom was a battered wife. I saw my dad beating her up when I was young,” she says. “I was even hit when he threw a plate. I was so traumatized I felt glad when they split up.”
Was she never able to forgive him? “I forgave him na, pero ayoko na lang siyang makita.”
So there was no closure between them? “He passed away, ‘yun na ang closure kasi he’s in a closed casket.”
After four years, she has also dumped her Aussie boyfriend. “I felt it’s about time I focus fully on my career kaya exit na siya. Also, I’m thinking of him and his career kasi hindi naman siya maka-stay rito for good. He tried to, for me, but his heart was not in it. I’m dating a Dutch guy now.”
She says she’s a bisexual. So who among our actresses would she like to bed? “Among the more mature ones, Carmi Martin. She’s past 40 but still beautiful and sexy. Among the younger ones, Anne Curtis. I find her very cute and pretty. Type ko rin sumubok ng bading, like Rustom Padilla. Among the younger guys, I fancy Richard Gutierrez.”
Did she really try to steal the limelight from Katrina Halili at the FHM affair? “No, it’s not intentional. I was hosting the affair at nang matapos ang dance number niya, I joined her on stage. Katrina and I already talked about it and it’s clear na hindi ko siya inaagawan ng eksena.”
She currently stars in the sex-drama, 'Casa', directed by Deo Fajardo, Jr. She plays the wife of Michael Rivero, who goes abroad. While he’s gone, her ex-lover, Paolo Paraiso, returns, seduces her and she goes to bed with him. Michael returns already blind after an accident. Asia and Paolo continue their affair until Michael discovers it, resulting into violence.
Asia has unabashed bedscenes with both Michael and Paolo.
“'Casa’ is a very daring movie and I did it as I’m playing the lead. Hindi naman ako nahirapan kasi sanay na ko sa several instructional sex videos for Viva. The difference is that I’m acting in ‘Casa’ and the bedscenes, lalo with Paolo, parang totoo na. I was totally nude sitting on his lap and I can feel na tinablan siya sa’kin kasi nakiskis ko ‘yun and he had a hard on. I’m not surprised kasi ang galing-galing kong sex guru.”
So is she really good in bed? “You bet! You can ask all my past boyfriends and they’ll vouch for it.” (MNS)
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MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) -- ANGELICA Panganiban says the rumor that she ís now living in with beau Derek Ramsay simply isn't true.
"Iím not ready for that kind of setup," she says at the presscon of 'A Love Story'. "Baka itatwa ako ng mommy ko. She didnít raise me para makipag-live in."
Another rumor says that Derek got jealous of her numerous love scenes with Aga Muhlach in the film. "Ay naku, hindi rin totoo. Nagtanong nga siya kung marami kaming love scenes, pero sa tonong naglalambing lang, hindi nagagalit o nagseselos. He knows from the start part yun ng job ko."
So which is more enjoyable, her kisses with Aga or with Derek? "Yung with Aga, trabaho lang naman 'yun at nothing personal in it, gaya n'ung halikan namin ni Jericho Rosales in 'Santa Santita'. With Derek, it's definitely much more personal, kaya may halong kilig."
As a 24-year old flight stewardess who competes with Maricel Soriano for Aga's attention in 'A Love Story', she considers this her most mature performance so far. "Not only because of the bedscenes but also because the love triangle story is something husband and wives can relate to. I'm no longer playing a teeny bopper role here and I'm glad Director Maryo de los Reyes is there to help me interpret my role. Tinulungan din ako ni Mama (Maricel) so I'm confident I'd be able to do justice to my part here as Karyn." (MNS)
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MANILA, July 27 (Mabuhay) -- ON his 40th year as a recording artist, Jose Mari Chan gathered 21 of his favorite songs in an album titled "Love Letters and Other Souvenirs," with "How Do You Fall in Love" as carrier single.
Joe’s amazing durability in the ever-changing world of pop music could be attributed to his own kind of music which always comes from his heart.
His illustrious musical career which spans four fruitful decades has been filled with unprecedented achievements, duly certified by all the existing award-giving bodies in Philippine music industry. To date, Jose Mari Chan is the only singer/composer/producer who has been bestowed Lifetime Achievement Awards by The Philippine Association of the Record Industry’s Awit Awards, the Composer’s Group Katha Awards and Aliw Awards.
Add to them all the Diamond, Platinum Gold Records, and various honors from other entertainment groups, civic and charitable associations. All these numerous distinctions will overcrowd even a spacious trophy room.
Joe still holds the distinction of the only Filipino recording artist who achieved a Double Diamond Record Award, for the biggest selling Christmas album in the industry’s entire history, "Christmas in Our Hearts." The award is equivalent to 20 times platinum or 800,000 copies sold.
"Christmas in Our Hearts" still sells at least the equivalent of a gold album every Holiday season, so it has already surpassed one million units in sales.
His biggest selling regular pop album, "Constant Change" has also surpassed the Diamond record mark and was also a smash hit in other Asian countries.
Now in his brand new "Love Letters and Other Souvenirs," he gives us a generous sampling of his fine musical taste. His interpretations of pop evergreens transport us to romantic eras, when the world was younger.
It has always been another generous move of Joe to showcase younger talents – singers with golden voices who can also stand the test of time like him.
Listen to Jose Antonio "Jojo" Chan singing "God Only Knows". Liza Chan-Parpan (another chip off the durable block) performs a heartwarming version of "We Can Be Kind".
Aiza Seguerra is really gifted with such a soothing voice, as proven by her rendition of "Just for a While," with English lyrics by Jose Mari Chan.
There are the delightful duets with Agot Isidro ("Moonglow" and the theme from "Picnic"), Rachelle Gerodias ("If We’re in Love"), Samantha Chavez ("Unexpected Song") and Suzy Unas ("Our Love Is Here to Stay").
Laine Laudico has been featured in previous Jose Mari Chan albums. Here she sparkles anew with the song "April Fools."
Of course the main attractions in "Love Letters and Other Souvenirs" are Jose Mari Chan’s solo numbers. His voice has that unique luster which lends to every song such brilliant moments – "You and I," "My Foolish Heart," "Love Letters," "So in Love," "Moment to Moment," "I Just Want to Dance With You," "It’s Not for Me to Say," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "I Talk to the Trees," "Anywhere the Heart Goes," and "Too Beautiful to Last." (MNS)
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MANILA, Aug 1 (Mabuhay) -- GMA-7's Senior Vice President for Entertainment Wilma Galvante talked about Angel Locsin's sudden departure from their camp to join ABS-CBN in a showbiz talk show recently.
"Twice, we asked if she's talking to ABS and twice, she said no," says Wilma. "Sabi pa niya when we met with her and her manager, Becky Aguila, at Makati Shangri-la in early July, 'Hindi ako lilipat. Walang katotohanan 'yan. Mahal na mahal ko kayo.' Even before her contract expired, we offered to renew it repeatedly."
"But they said Angel wants to rest and attend the premiere of her movie, 'Angels', in the US, so they begged off from doing 'Marimar'. We only found out that she ís leaving when they were interviewed in 'TV Patrol', which was obviously pre-taped. Then they sent us a letter notifying us Angel won't renew her contract."
It ís said Angel is sore at GMA-7 for not supporting 'Angels'. "All the trailers of the movie shown on GMA-7, walang bayad. GMA even bought its TV rights for P3 million and Becky got P1.5 million of that in advance."
Angel is also unhappy that Richard Gutierrez earns more than her. "From 2006 to 2007, Angel earned P60 million from the TV shows and endorsements she did while she ís with us. She can't compare her earnings with Richard who has three regular shows: 'Lupin', 'Nuts Entertainment' and 'SOP'. So he really earns more. E, siya, she only does soap dahil she can't sing and ayaw rin niyang sumayaw dahil pagod na raw siya."
Did they call Angel an ingrate? "The word 'ingrata' didn't come from us. People who say that are entitled to their own opinion. But a grateful person would have negotiated with us in good faith, with honesty, and treated us more fairly because we took good care of her for six years. Despite what she did to us, we still wish her well. Angel, we wish you all the best."
The program manager, Redgie Acuna, who handled all of Angel's shows on GMA-7, says she feels personally hurt by what Angel did. "When she said pagod na siya, we were the one who told her manager to give her a rest kasi hindi na siya maganda sa TV, mukha ngang pagod na. We even gave her a vacation so she can attend their family reunion. When 'Majika' ended in September, December na nag-start ang 'Asian Treasures'. E, hindi lang naman ang show sa amin ang ginagawa niya kaya pagod nga siya.
"Nakakagulat dahil biglang may mga lumabas na nagrereklamo na siya when she never communicated them to us. Ang laki ng hirap ko sa kanya. Alam niya kung paano namin pinaghirapan ang bawat show niya from 'Mulawin' at 'Darna'. Namuhunan ang GMA sa kanya. Puede naman siyang umalis, pero nagsabi sana sila ng maayos ng manager niya. We asked for several meetings with them, lagi silang busy. We're not going to force her to stay. Ang masakit, nagsinungaling siya sa amin. She said 'di niya kinakausap ang ABS, pero kinakausap na pala nila." (MNS)
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MANILA, July 28 (Mabuhay) -- POLO Ravales was scheduled to guest in ABS-CBN’s "ASAP" to launch Boyz.Com, the new all-star singing and dancing boy group that he heads.
Since he’s a Kapuso regularly seen in "Lupin," he has to seek permission from GMA-7 for this and he’s glad they allowed him to appear in the rival network. The male image model of Folded & Hung, Polo got favorable reviews for his role as the addled husband of a crazed woman in "Silip." He’s also the first male endorser of top skin and body clinic Bioessence.
Boyz.Com is a combination of both Kapuso and Kapamilya talents. The other members are Alwyn Uytingco, Frank Garcia, Gabb Drilon and Joseph Bitangcol. Former child actor Alwyn is currently seen on TV in "Pedro Penduko" and has appeared in recent films like "Zsa Zsa Zaturnnah," "Happy Hearts" and "Tiyanaks".
Frank is currently seen in the Neozep series of commercials. Gabb has done teleseryes like "Marina" and "Crazy for You" on ABS-CBN and "Captain Barbell" on GMA-7. Joseph was discovered in ABS-CBN’s "Star Circle Quest" and has done movies like "D Lucky Ones" and "Shake Rattle & Roll 8," both with Sandara Park. He’ll next be seen in ABS-CBN’s new soap, "Margarita," with Wendy Valdez of PBB 2.
Do you know that Polo and Frank have something in common? They’re both ex-BF’s of Sunshine Dizon. Both of them started planning putting up a boy band last year. "We suggested it to our manager, Manny Valera, pero ngayon lang natuloy, when he recruited Alwyn and Joseph," says Polo.
Although they sing and dance as a group, they maintain their own individual personality. "We’re open to all musical styles and when we perform, the audience can make suggestions kung anong kakantahin namin," says Alwyn.
Polo does hiphop and R&B songs. Alwyn, Gabb and Joseph are the rockers. Frank does pop-reggae. "And we can all do love songs," says Frank, who used to be with the P-4. "We’re more effective when combined, parang Voltes-V. First love ko talaga ang singing and dancing and I’m glad to be part of a boy group again."
A recording deal for Boyz.Com is now in the works. (MNSwire photo)
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