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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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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
WE can all throw stones at the Beatles now for what is going on with music today.
We can blame Brian Epstein’s genius for the vomit-inducing phoniness of artists in circulation.
And for heaven’s sake, we can blame Adam Smith for the economic system that encourages such fraud.
Why do artists have to be marketable? Whatever happened to music? Is it really all about the drainpipe jeans and the eye makeup and the belly button?
Well, we would not really blame the Beatles, or Mr. Epstein, and neither would we pass ill judgment on the founder of capitalism. We just want the have great music that would outlive any fad and any sneaker model.
As we all know, the Beatles invented branding during their reign as emperors of the world. They have cultivated this image of fun-loving, clean-living, lovable mop tops that would earn them millions and millions of dollars and catapult them to iconic levels of stardom. Their image was the quintessential look of the 1960’s. They have sold more sticky tape, toothpaste, hair comb, bath soap, and chukka boots than any company during their era.
Yes, the Beatles were the original Rock ‘Brand.’ They were as much as a brand as Coca Cola and Nike. However, their music mattered. Their music changed the world, and in the end, their legacy is their music and not their brand. Their songs outlived their fad.
Now we look at today’s music, and we find that it is all marketing. Music is not much of a factor now with musical artists. Music does not sell any more, artists do. Music among bands and pop artists are a bonus, a side dish to a moneymaking brand.
Bands now are 80% image and 20% music. For pop artists, it is 95% belly button, 5% scandal– yes, including spreading out without undies.
Music? What music?
Sadly, that is how it goes. That is what drives the industry. Fans pay no attention to musical talent anymore. As long as these artists look hip and cool, then they buy into it. More so, in the advent of digital pitch correction and sampling, anybody can be artists and form bands as long as they become a brand.
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MANILA -- ABS-CBN's newest star KC Concepcion got teary-eyed after signing a three-movie contract with the Kapamilya Network's movie outfit Star Cinema.
"Kasi sobrang excited po ako talaga and hindi ako makapaniwala na kailan lang MMK 'yung ginawa ko dream come true po kasi. Ang tagal kong hinintay and ngayon pelikula na and hindi lang isa mayroon kaming tatlong pelikula. Hindi ko alam kung how many years pero committed po yung tatlong pelikula," KC said.
KC said she will be doing a light romance flick for her first ever movie, which will be helmed by director Joyce Bernal.
"Handa na po akong maging leading lady....sobrang nagpapasalamat ako sa ABS-CBN dahil bibigyan nila ako ng opportunity na makatrabaho ang ilang respetadong director like sina Joyce Bernal na magiging director ng first film. And si direk Chito Roño and direk Cathy Garcia-Molina," she said.
She also gave a hint that she will be working with one of the famous sought after leading men in local showbiz. "Let's just say we both fought for this project," Concepcion said.
Asked if the leading man was her rumored flame, GMA- 7's star Richard Gutierrez, KC said: "Secret... pero wala pong imposible pero sobrang happy ako. Malalaman niyo for sure."
Present during the signing were ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio, Star Cinema Managing Director Malou
N. Santos and Concepcion's managers Sandra Chavez and Shirley Kuan.
"This is a dream come true for Star Cinema and ABS-CBN," Concio said. The network's president said she could even recall the days when KC would play in the network's hallway in between tapings of her mom's show on ABS-CBN. KC is the daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta and 80's matinee idol Gabby Concepcion. "This is an auspicious day for ABS-CBN,” Santos- Concio added.
KC had her acting debut on the ABS-CBN drama anthology "Maalala Mo Kaya." She also celebrated her birthday with her long-month television series "I AM KC." (MNS)
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MANILA -- Friends are telling Regine Velasquez that if there’s ever a time for her to have a baby, now is it. As her boyfriend Ogie Alcasid revealed, she is nearing 40. Ogie also said he is eager to have a baby with her. But they are not in a hurry. He has two daughters with former wife Michelle Van Eimeren, a former Miss Australia. Friends are egging Regine to undergo artificial insemination, like some of them.
Well, neither Regine nor Ogie appears to have any objection to the idea. But the problem is Regine would want to do a movie, possibly with Aga Muhlach, before finally deciding to become pregnant. She is willing to take a year or two away from showbiz once she becomes a mom.
Regine had actually talked to Vic del Rosario of Viva Films and proposed a movie with her and Aga.
Viva Films produced the two blockbuster films of Regine and Aga a few years back: "Dahil May Isang Ikaw" and "Pangako Ikaw Lang." Both had Joyce Bernal at the helm.
Regine Velasquez is singing the theme song of "Urduja," the first full-length digital and traditional animated movie in Philippine history. Likewise, hers is the voice of Urduja.
"Urduja" is the brainchild of "Eat Bulaga" producer Tony Tuviera, who has dreamed of doing an animated movie for the past 11 years. Mr. Tuviera credits hundreds of people for their dedication and belief in the project and who sacrificed their time, effort and resources to ensure that the final product will be something Filipinos can really be proud of.
The project runs a total of 85,000 drawings which are shown in 1,922 scenes and is equivalent to 8,771 feet of film. "Urduja" involved around 400 Filipino digital and traditional animators who worked in animation studios in Makati and Palawan.
Mr. Tuviera’s son, film and TV director Mike Tuviera; Mimbi Eloriaga, who oversaw the animation of the entire film, and director Reggie Atienza, who wrote the film’s original script, were the three people who encouraged the elder Tuviera to pursue the project despite the countless hindrances in the 11 years of the movie’s conception.
Other stars whose voices are featured in "Urduja" are Cesar Montano, Eddie Garcia, Johnny Delgado, Jay Manalo, Michael V., Allan K., Ruby Rodriguez and Epi Quizon. (MNS)
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Charlie Green, a tenyear old half-Filipino and club singer Madonna Decena are singing their way to the next round of Britain’s Got Talent. It’s a talent search created by American Idol judge Simon Cowell who also acts as judge in the show, alongside journalist Piers Morgan and actress Amanda Holdren.
During the program’s second week of live auditions in Birmingham, Charlie gave a spirited rendition of Frank Sinatra’s 1966 hit record “Summer Wind.” He was cool and composed throughout the entire performance, even doing some old-fashioned jazz scatting and finger snapping. After he sang, the audience gave Charlie a standing ovation and chanted his name for a few seconds.
Charlie is the second Filipino to make waves in the talent search. First was the 32- year old single mom and club singer Madonna Decena, who auditioned in Manchester, and wowed the judges with her powerful rendition of “I Will Always Love You.”
Piers Morgan, who called Charlie, the boy “Old Charlie,” was entertained with both his singing and dancing. Amanda went as far as giving a bold forecast: “I predict, you could win in this show.” Even the panel’s harshest critic, American Idol judge Simon Cowell, had nothing but praises. He said, “Charlie, I think you’re a little star! I really, really like you!” In the end, Charlie got three “YES” votes from the judges, and is now set to move on to the next round of competition.
Charlie’s mom is a Filipina Cecilia Sumargo, who hails from Dumajug, Cebu and his dad is British. Auditions for Britain’s Got Talent are currently ongoing and will air locally very soon.
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MANILA -- GENEVA Cruz is living a simple and happy domesticated life with husband KC Montero in the U.S. but she misses singing. She’s now home to do a special one-night concert, “Back in Time,” at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental on Friday, May 2, 9 p.m., with Jeffrey Hidalgo, Kris Lawrence and other surprise guests.
Is it true she came back because she’s having problems with her in-laws in the U.S.?
“No, we get along fine,” she says. “Ewan ko nga kung bakit may tsismis pang hiwalay na raw kami ni KC, which is also not true. Sobrang bait ng parents ni KC and they also love my son, Heaven, and treat him as their own grandchild.
We live in Washington State.”
Her ex-husband Paco Arespacochaga also lives in the U.S. and she says his new wife is now pregnant. “Wala kaming problema at all doon,” she stresses.
What can she say now that two of her cousins, Sunshine and Sheryl, are having problems with their marriages?
“I don’t want to comment on that kasi, buhay nila ‘yan. I’ve been there when my first marriage also crumbled and it’s really sobrang nakaka-drain. I just wish both of them peace of mind. They can always call me if they need my help. But si Shine, she’s a strong woman, kaya niya ang anumang problemang pinagdaanan niya. How I wish na lahat kami is like our cousin, Donna, na very successful ang married life. Kapapa- nganak lang niya with their third child at ang payat-payat agad niya, huh.”
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Fil-Am artist Charmaine Clamor is a rising jazz star in the United States, that critics can’t get enough of her. LA Weekly’s Brick Wahl, for one, recommended her recent two-night gig at Hollywood’s Catalina Bar & Grill as his jazz event pick of the week this way: “She made a big splash with Flippin’ Out— its hip mix of beautifully arranged standards and jazzed-up Tagalog love songs took the ‘Filipina Singing Sensation’ into the upper reaches of the jazz and world charts. And no wonder: Her husky, sassy tone, languid moves and unpretentious Pinoy attitude that’s just a tad rebellious have the kind of natural appeal you can’t buy at any music school.”
This acclaim is typical of the critical plaudits that Charmaine, who grew in Zambales, has been getting since she released her first CD. “Her debut album, Searching for the Soul, announced the arrival of an impressive new vocal artist,” raved Don Heckman of the LA Times.
Striking while the iron is hot, Charmaine will simultaneously release two CDs later this year —one, an album of harana (serenades) songs, and the other, a follow-up to the very successful Flippin’ Out (available on charmaineclamor.com) showcasing jazzipino, her hybrid of jazz and Filipino music and lyrics. The concurrent release of these albums will make Charmaine the first Filipino artist to have two recordings climb the American charts at the same time.
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MANILA -- The 21-yearold daughter of movie personalities William Martinez and Yayo Aguila has filed a complaint against young actor Baron Geisler for acts of lasciviousness. Patricia Martinez, together with her parents, went to the office of Superintendent Sotera Macatangay at the PNP Women and Children's Desk in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
"I feel so disgusted because I treated him as a kuya," said Patricia.
Martinez said Geisler allegedly touched the breast of her daughter and told her to have sex with him. He said her daughter was in a bar in Quezon City with friends when the incident happened. Geisler was allegedly drunk at the time. Martinez said it was his daughter who wanted to pursue filing a complaint against Geisler.
"Ilang araw na umiiyak ang anak ko. Na-trauma siya. Ang anak ko mismo ang gustong lumaban," he said. (MNS)
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