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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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MARCUS Adoro is one of the most enigmatic artists in Philippine music history. It was said that when the Eraserheads decided to call it a day, he lingered on for a bit then drove up to La Union and became a surfer.
As the three other Eraserheads moved forward with new bands: Ely with The Mongols and Pupil, Raimund with Sandwich, Pedicab and Cambio, and Buddy with The Dawn, Cambio and Twisted Halo, Marcus remained in the solace of the beaches of La Union and just caught waves.
For years, he shunned the spotlight and refused to issue statements about the demise of the Eraserheads and his future as a musician. Occasionally, he would be spotted in small rock clubs unannounced, and just jammed with anybody from his musical past.
Now, Marcus is back with a solo album. Perhaps, there's just no killing the music that is in him. His fire for his music, as we now know, could not be extinguished by the towering waves he caught up North.
In an exclusive interview originally printed on www.poptimesmagazine.com , Marcus opens his mind and invites you to take a trip along 'MarkusHighway.'
Ted Reyes: Tell us about your new band.
Marcus Adoro: The new band is called MarkusHighway. Kami "Ang Banda Ng Barrio".
Ted Reyes: What about your new album? Who produced it? Did you write all the songs? Did any of your ex-bandmates contribute?
Marcus Adoro: My new album is called "Behold, Rejoice! Surfernando Is Hear Nah". Me and Mark Villena produced it under Warner Music Philippines. Yup I did write all of the songs for this album and nope there were no collaborations with my former Eheads mates.
Ted Reyes: Are you planning to promote your album with tours? Any plans to tour NY?
Marcus Adoro: Yup a tour is part of the promotion. I hope you guys can help us with the New York part haha yeah we're preparing a multimedia show for New York.
Ted: By all means. We would love to have you here. Now, Tell us about surfing. What attracted you to surfing? Where's the biggest wave you caught?
Marcus: The biggest I caught so far is definitely in my homebreak La Union. I think I got attracted with the romance of the lone surfer and the nature. I also was mystified with the lifestyle and the history so I lived it. Surfing? It's not for everyone I guess.
Ted: Why did you decide to retire to the beach and surf, as well as teach surfing?
Marcus: I 've always wanted to be a surfer even in Eheads days I just did not have time for it then and so when Ely left I followed suit and headed there straight away. Nope I did not become a "surf instructor".
Ted: Where's your dream beach?
Marcus: It's a secret.
Ted: How did the Erasrheads break up? In your perspective, what do you think caused the split?
Marcus: For me Eheads died a natural death. It was just waiting to happen. You know all good things must end.
Ted: According to the official Eheads release, Ely texted you guys and told you that it was over. How did you take that?
To be concluded
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MANILA -- CHARLENE Gonzales and Aga Muhlach were the excited parents of their twins, Andres and Atasha, when the two kids graduated from kindergarten at Maria Montessori recently. They gave a special presentation playing the piano then did a dance number.
“They’ve been playing the piano since they were three,” says proud Mama Charlene.
“Frustration ko kasi ‘yun kaya ayan, sila ang pinaturuan naming mag-piano. Between the two, Atasha plays better kasi si Andres loves dancing more. He even choreographs his own dances.”
The twins will be in grade one come June. “We don’t know yet where they’ll go, but Aga’s dream is for them to study in an international school. Gusto ko naman, ‘yung malapit lang sa bahay namin so we can guard and supervise them well.”
As a graduation gift, they’re bringing the kids to Disneyland in California this weekend.
“Then Aga and I will watch the Pacquiao fight in Las Vegas. Aga will stay in the U.S. for only five days kasi he has to return for the movie he’s shooting with Anne Curtis. I’ll stay there with the twins for two weeks, kaya nga nag-advance taping na ako for my show on Q-11, ‘Proudly Filipina’.
"I enjoyed the last episode where we showed with
Tingting and Mikee Cojuangco, but this Friday, you should watch out for the one with Maricel Soriano. Next Friday naman, my guest is Sen. Pia Cayetano, but we will not talk about politics but about how is it to be a mother and her experience when she lost a child. It’s a different side of her.”
When is she going back to acting?
“When we got married, it’s clear that Aga will be more active as he’s the man of the house, so I laid low. But now that the kids are bigger, it depends on the project and how it will excite me.”
Since she’s the last actress to play Dyesebel, will she agree if GMA-7 asks her to do a guest role in their TV version?
“I might. It depends on what role I’ll play. Siguro one time lang, I can’t do it on a regular basis. My kids learned I did Dyesebel and Atasha told me, ‘Show me your tail.’ Gusto ko ngang makakuha ng copy ng ‘Dyesebel’ so I can show it to them.
"Basta as of now, mas enjoy ako sa hosting. I find my work in ‘Proudly Filipina’ very fulfilling as I get to interview so many women, not just celebrities, with inspiring stories, like this private teacher in Leyte who transferred to a public school in the rural area and made her students number one in the national achievement test, and another teacher who devoted her time to teaching autistic kids in her home in Antipolo.”
How did it feel hosting the Bb. Pilipinas pageant last Saturday?
“I was the anchorwoman three times but that’s really just the first time I hosted it. It felt like a homecoming for me as the other beauty queens were also there.”
Charlene won Bb. Pilipinas in 1994 and Aga was a judge then. Dayanara Torres crowned her. Aga and Yari later became an item. But it’s Charlene who became Mrs. Muhlach. How does she feel about the bad feedback on Bb. Pilipinas World Janina San Miguel whose English was laughable?
“I think ninerbiyos lang siya. Kasi, I talked to her later at okay naman ang English niya. It’s the first time for her to join a contest so understandable that she’s so tense. But she’ll do okay kasi they’ll still be trained naman. The beauty queens nga today have an edge as they’re sent to Colombia for further training. In my time, we were just on our own. But all the winners this year were deserving. They have the chance to prove themselves again in the international arena.” (MNS)
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MANILA -- REALITY shows definitely change the lives of winners. In just a short span of time, they could command big talent fees, and have under their names fat bank accounts, aside from newly acquired properties. Such is the case of PBB Teen Edition grand winner, Kim Chiu. And because of The Filipino Channel (TFC), her name is now widely known to Filipinos all over the world. It’s the reason why her shows abroad are such a hit.
Her life after PBB Teen edition remarkably changed. She has become so mature mentally and emotionally. In fact, even her relationship with her stepmom has changed for the better. The most significant thing that happened to her was her first big screen appearance. This has been her childhood dream. Kim believes in karma that she shares her blessings, at the same time, saving up for the future.
And her lovelife?
“Wala pa po talaga.”
What about Gerald Anderson?
“We’re the best of friends. Busy rin po siya sa kanyang career. Love can wait. Mas importante ang career.”
Meanwhile, Bahay ni Kuya’s door will open once again as PBB Teen Edition Plus is launched on March 23. It is hosted by Toni Gonzaga, Bianca Gonzales, Mariel Rodriguez and Luis Manzano with a premiere on March 16 on ABSCBN. (MNS)
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Brillante Mendoza's Foster Child bags another major accolade this time in Spain. The independent filmmaker's latest project was awarded the Signis Award at the 9th Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Film Festival in Spain last March 8.
This is Foster Child's fourth international recognition after the Best Actress Award for Cherry Pie Picache in New Delhi, Special Jury in Kazakshtan and Best Feature Film in Paris Environmental Film Festival. The film also stars Eugene Domingo, Jiro Manio, Dan Alvaro, Alwyn Uytingco and Kier Segundo. The script was written by Ralston Joel Jover for Seiko Films.
Mendoza's Masahista was also a part of the retrospective and it won the Signis Award in Brisbane in 2006. The Brazilian film Andarilho won the Golden Lady Harimaguada and 100,000 Euros while China and France's Crime and Punishment won the Silver Lady Harimaguada plus 35,000 Euros.
Thailand's Wonderful Town won a Special Jury and South Korea's The Girl with a Black Soil was given the Cinematography and Audience Awards.
Tussenstand from Holland won the Best Actor and Actress awards while Argentina's Matias Piniero got the Best New Director for El Hombre Robado.
Foster Child is competing yet again at the Cinema Novo Film Festival in Stutges, Belgium and in Durban, South Africa in July. It will also screen as part of the New Directors, New Films in New York on April 3 and 4 at the Lincoln Center and MoMA.
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A Filipino actress is making her mark in the Korean movie industry. Mercedes Cabral has been handpicked by Korean director Park Chanwook to play an important role in the horror film Thirst.
The acclaimed Korean director is responsible for some of South Korea's critically acclaimed films, like Joint Security Area (2000), Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), the "Cut" episode of the horror trilogy Three...Extremes (2004), Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (2005), and I'm A Cyborg, But That's OK (2006).
The 48-year-old director won the Grand Prix at the 2004 Cannes International Film Festival for Oldboy.
Mercedes, a 21-year-old Fine Arts student at the University of the Philippines, is quite popular in the independent film circuit. She won as best supporting actress at the 2007 UP Inbox TV and Radio Festival for her performance in the digital film Bitin.
"Hindi po ako makapaniwala na mapipili ako. Nagpadala lang po kami ng screener ko at nagustuhan naman nila. I am kinda nervous," Mercedes said about her inclusion in the South Korean film.
Mercedes has just finished the indie film Baliw and will also be part of Brillante Mendoza's gay film titled Servando. Thirst will be top billed by actress Kim Ok Bin, who has starred in several TV series and movies.
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