Another milestone for Philippine Everest team

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.”—Vincent Van Gogh

They succeeded in a great attempt to scale the world’s highest mountain and showed the entire world that Filipinos can achieve such difficult feat. Now, they want to sail across the Pacific onward to the Atlantic, all the way around the world using a replica of a pre-colonial boat.

Art Valdez, who led the first Philippine team in reaching the summit of Mt. Everest in 2006 and another all-female team in 2007, has announced another groundbreaking venture of sailing through silk routes starting next year.

The team composed of Everest climbers Leo Oracion, Erwin Emata, Noelle Wenceslao, Carina Dayondon, and Janet Belarmino-Sardena will embark on a five-year voyage that will initially travel on every port in the Philippines starting 2009.Ted Esguerra, Fred Jamili, and Voltaire Velasco complete the voyage’s core crew.

On its second year, the crew plans to traverse the silk routes of Southeast Asia, and then to Madagascar before heading to Polynesia onward to the Atlantic. The crew aims to be back home to the Philippines in 2013.

The crew will ride a balangay, the boat used by ancient Filipinos for trading and traveling, which will be crafted by master boat builders from the Island of Sibutu and Sitangkay in Tawi-Tawi starting this December. Materials to be used will come from established traditional sources in southern Philippines. The construction of the boat will take place at the back of SSS Building in Manila Bay. A viewing deck will also be constructed for the public to see the progress of the construction before its launching in April.

Balangay or the Butuan boat is the first wooden watercraft ever excavated in Southeast Asia and the first excavated relic of the boat was dated AD 320.

“This is meant to generate national awareness. We estimate the construction of the first boat to be around 90 days,” Art Valdez said during the launch of his book Live the Dream at the Captain’s Bar of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Makati City.

Live the Dream is a coffee table book that chronicles the first Philippine successful attempt to reach the summit of Mt. Everest in texts and photographs.

“We asked ourselves: What’s next? As a team, we are still keen in pioneering outdoor adventure, specifically adventure with a national significance. While the Philippines is a mountainous country, it is also an archipelago. Thus, it was natural for us to look to our seas,” Valdez furthered.

The Voyage of Balangay, will travel along the shorelines and to the open sea without the use of any modern equipment like GPS (Global Positioning System). It will sail using the celestial navigation method used by earliest mariners—steering by the sun, the stars, the wind, cloud formations, wave patterns and bird migrations.

“Aside from outdoor adventure, we will use the balangay trips to assist in community-building, particularly for coastal communities. We will travel along shorelines and stop at communities and key human settlements to hold seminars. We intend to heighten awareness of global warming,” the expedition leader enthused.

While ascending Mt. Everest, the team led by Valdez witnessed the ill effects of global warming. From their first visit, the Mt. Everest base camp was covered with snow. On the second year, they noticed some patches of snow around the area, and on the last year, they were saddened by the deleterious effects of global warming because snow was no where to be traced on the area that was used to be blanketed it.

“In our travels, we will share our self-image and self-assertion that the Filipinos can do the impossible. If the team can succeed on Mt. Everest without ever having seen snow or high mountain, then more so in the Voyage of the Balangay,” Valdez concluded.

Baler wins most of filmfest awards

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

What can a moving tale of forbidden love in the middle of a war do to change the landscape of Philippine Cinema? The awards and the accolades are just frosting on the cake, what is more important is for a film to highlight social issues and promote cinematic excellence by raising the benchmark in filmmaking.

Baler, the historical love epic produced by Viva Films, walked home with not one but 10 awards including Best Picture in the recently concluded 34th Metro Manila Film Festival Awards Night on Dec. 27 at the Harbor Garden Tent of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

The film that depicts the Siege of Baler in 1898 won Best Director for Mark Meily, Best Supporting Actor for Philip Salvador, Best Screenplay for Roy Iglesias, Best Cinematography for Lee Meily, Best Production Design for Aped Santos, and Best Editing for Danny Anonuevo.

“I’m so excited. This is the second time I joined the festival. I’m so happy that there are people who made aggressive move to produce this film,” Mark Meily, director of the runaway winning movie Baler, told Standard Today.

Meily first joined the filmfest in 2003 with the entry Crying Ladies starring Sharon Cuneta. The film received multiple awards including Best Picture. When asked about his feeling outshining other veteran directors this time, the humble filmmaker said: “ Hindi ako 100 percent sure na mananalo kasi there are film directors na magagaling talaga like Joey Reyes, we are just blessed and lucky lang talaga.”

On the other hand, it’s a sweet victory for Anne Curtis who portrayed a convincing role of a young Filipina who professes her forbidden love to a mestizo soldier played by Jericho Rosales. Curtis received her very first acting award after being declared Best Actress.

“The feeling is unexplainable. I’m speechless, ’di ko alam ang sasabihin ko but I’m just so happy. I can’t fathom the happiness that I feel. This is my first acting award,” Anne, who wore a striking red Filipiniana dress, told us on her way out of the hall.

Anne dedicated the award to the members of her family who have been very supportive to her career. The Dyosa star bested other actresses like Dawn Zulueta, Maricel Laxa, Jean Garcia, Marian Rivera, and Ai Ai de las Alas.

“I know that the people I was up against were veteran and amazing actresses, nakasama ko pa sila backstage. I was just surprised and forever thankful. All the hard work of the whole team of Baler got recognized here on the awards night. We couldn’t ask for more except for the people to keep on watching sana,” Anne remarked.

Baler also won the Award for Gender Sensitive Film of 2008 and the coveted trophy for the Gatpuno Antonio J. Villegas Cultural Award. The jurors for the Gender Sensitive Film Award cited Baler as a film that highlighted gender-sensitive issues of love, parenting, and war translated by the intuitive direction of Mark Meily under a well-written script by Roy Iglesias.

Receiving the single award for the Rudy Fernandez tribute film Magkaibigan was Christopher de Leon. He made another history for being the most decorated actor of the festival. De Leon holds the record of most wins of the Best Actor Award in the 34-year history of the MMFF. He now has eight Best Actor trophies courtesy of the MMFF alone.

While Boyet marked another cinematic feat, the country’s first all-digital full-length animated feature film Dayo: Sa Mundo ng Elementalia under Cutting Edge Productions won four awards (mostly in the technical category) including Best Visual Effects for Robert Quilao, Best Musical Score for Jessie Lasaten, Best Theme Song for “Lipad” composed by Jessie Lasaten and Artemio Abad Jr. and performed by Lea Salonga, and Best Sound for Albert Idioma and Wally Dellosa.

Sexy comedy flick One Night Only won two awards courtesy of Jose Javier Reyes (Best Original Story) and Manilyn Reynes (Best Supporting Actress).

According to Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando, the two-day gross of this year’s festival exceeded the last year’s gross over the same period by 37 percent.

Top grosser Ang Tanging Ina Ninyong Lahat (Star Cinema) that won Second Best Picture has accumulated ticket sales amounting to more than P41 million on its second day while the festival’s Third Best Picture Iskul Bukol: 20 Years After (OctoArts Films and APT Entertainment) has grossed P37 million at the box office.

Meanwhile, the sequel of Desperadas that stars Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Iza Calzado, Marian Rivera, and includes Ogie Alcasid got the Best Make-Up plum for Noli Villalobos. Regal Films’ Shake Rattle ‘n Roll X received its single trophy courtesy of Best Child Performer Robert “Buboy” Villar.

The awards night was hosted by Boy Abunda with Phoemela Barranda and Tim Yap as segment hosts. Tony Gonzaga was the trivia host while Sitti, Richard Poon, Karylle, Yeng Constantino, and Sheryn Regis were among the performers who added splendor to the event which had a taped telecast on C/S 9.

The last part of the award’s night, which was exclusive to the people who bought pricey tickets, was a nostalgic presentation of Katy the Musical with maestro Ryan Cayabyab on the piano, and Jericho Rosales and KC Concepcion in the lead roles. The musical featured other performers like Mitch Valdez, Dulce, Eugene Villaluz, Rachel Alejandro, Bituin Escalante, Jonalyn Viray, Ayen Munji-Laurel, Aicelle Santos, Maricris Garcia, Frenchie Dy, Gian Magdangal, Sitti, and Gab Valenciano.

Isang Lahi: A docu-drama that defines happiness

By NICKIE WANG/Manila Standard Today

As if the popularity and influence of the book The Secret by Rhonda Byrne is not enough to draw positive vive, a group of young documentarians made an effort to create a moving documentary-drama that would bring hope to the country and to its people who feel desperate to find the meaning of true happiness.

“What makes you happy?” was the last question directed to the cast and makers of the film Isang Lahi: Pearls from the Orient, during its recent press conference held at MyCinema, Greenbelt 3.

What the press got were generic answers like: love makes me happy; the balance of the four elements (love, success, health, and wealth) makes me happy; beautiful things make me happy; family makes me happy; and the oh-so-usual answer: “Knowing that people around me are happy and contended. That makes me happy.”

Isang Lahi: Pearls from the Orient is a digital feature that espouses the principle of “law of attraction” or the theory that posits “like attracts like,” or just like what Byrne’s book says: “The law uses people, circumstances and events to magnetize what you want to you, and magnetize you to it.”

The docu-drama cum travelogue is about a group of five documentarists ((Ruel Ruiz, JP Tanchanco, Ayee Domingo, Zoilo Barrel and Naethan Lucero) backpacking all over the Philippines seeking the answer to happiness. Their journey is recapitulated into four different real stories they found from different regions. The four mini-movies are highlighted by the infectious acting flair of veteran actors Joel Torre, Mark Gil, Juan Rodrigo, and Aiza Seguerra.

The feature is divided into three parts. The first part is an upbeat MTV-style take on tourism showcasing Filipinos and the authentically beautiful places they live. The second part unravels inspiring stories Tanchanco, the video’s director and producer, and the team gathered through their six-moth journey throughout the country. Finally, the last part of the documentary features renowned Filipino experts who have empowered by their research, advocacy, embodiment, and endorsement in the fields of love, health, wealth, and success. These Filipino “icons” share their wisdom and insights attesting the power of the principles the film supports. The icons are as follows:

Olympic medalist Bea Lucero, chef and restaurateur Gene Gonzalez, sociologist Josephine Aguilar-Placido, motivational speakers Jhet Torcelino Van Ruyven, Lourdes Elardo-Gant, Severino Reyes and Alex Lacson, television personalities Cory Quirino and Boy Abunda, psychologist Margarita Holmes, parapsychologist Jaime Licauco, environmentalist and empowerment coach Josef Franklin Regis, homeopathic physician Corazon Ibarra, entrepreneurs Claire Villanueva, Edelwina Lema Beech and Elias delos Santos, prosperity guru George Sison, spiritual caregiver Mary Fidelis Estrada, and psychic and fortune teller Madam Rosa.

“We are students of empowerment principles; we decided to do the [sic] film as a way of practicing the principles and to know paano siya naisasabuhay ng mga Pilipino all around the Philippines,” budding video director Tanchanco explained.

The six-month jaunt of the team challenged their patience and passion as they travel in the most rural places in the Philippines just to find real stories from real people. Whether rich or impoverished, the team inquired and examined their conditions, concepts and mental attitudes on the four elements the movie promotes.

“The challenge there is that we only had two to three days to find at least four stories in each region. Apparently, that’s the only time we would ask tricycle drivers and other people from different walks of life. For the drama, we are talking four different places in the Philippines, from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao,” Tanchanco furthered.

As to the originality of the feature, the promising director asserted that it’s completely different from the The Secret that became an overnight phenomenon in the US. Though undeniably that Isang Lahi is delivered just like the Hollywood produced film (most particularly the third part of the film where the team interviewed local ‘icon’ experts), Tanchanco assured that it (the movie) is original on its part.

“Are we ready to face criticism that it is not original? Yes,” raved Tanchanco. “It is original on its part but the law of attraction, the principle is as old as time. What we are doing here is seeing how it applies on the lives of the Filipinos. It is a different way of presenting it [the principle] and applying it most especially that we have really good icon experts. It is very different from the way it’s explained in The Secret; very simple and maiintindihan ng masang Pilipino. Ginawa namin ito para sa mga Pinoy.”

The video features contemporized ethnical Filipino ditties like Naglalakbay by Bayang Barrios. Also part of the soundtrack is Dodjie Simon classic Isang Dugo, Isang Lahi, Isang Musika, covered by balladeer Bimbo Cerudo.

Isang Lahi is supported by the National Commission for Culture and Arts and will be screened for various organizations and institutions in different parts of the country. It is set to go on international showing on Jan. 15, being an official entry to the 2009 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.

Ramielle Malubay comes home for a concert

By NICKIE WANG

She made every Filipino proud when she belted out Aretha Franklin’s Natural Woman during her audition for the seventh season of American Idol television series. Although she was voted off earlier than most people expected, she earned praises and admiration from the talent show’s judges Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul and Randy Jackson.

Ramielle Malubay, famed for being ‘the small adorable Idol with a big voice,’ is here in Manila to celebrate Christmas and to be part of a concert dubbed “Ogie Sings with the Idols” slated on Dec. 20 to 21 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay City .

Ramielle will be singing together with no less than ultimate singer and song writer Ogie Alcasid. Included in the concert are GMA 7’s Pinoy Idol top 3 Ram Chaves, Jayann Bautista and Gretchen Espina, the other 9 Pinoy Idol finalists will have a special participation in the two-night concert. The front act will be an indie rock band called Menaya.

Ramielle, who was born in Dammam , Saudi Arabia and practically grew up in Miramar , Florida , speaks fluent Tagalog. She’s very proud of her roots being a big fan of Regine Velasquez and Lani Misalucha. Besides those local artists she considers Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey as her major influences in music.

Idol Experience

When fellow Filipino-Americans Jasmine Trias and Camille Velasco made it to AI Season 3, Ramiele became inspired to join and audition to the world’s most successful talent search. She first auditioned for AI Season 5 but did not make it. She was sixteen years old then.

“I was eager, first in line, first in the first group to audition. Kumanta ako, three words came out of my mouth and they said next,” Ramielle recalled.

She was discouraged initially but continued to sing and win contests in Florida . She focused with her school. She took up BS Nursing at the Broward Community College and on her third year, she tried to audition again, and her dreams found its realization.

“It’s a really weird feeling, but when I made it I was just so excited because I realized I went through all the people in that line. Many people gave up their jobs. They sacrificed so much just for that show. So just to pass that round and be actually part of the show, it’s already a big accomplishment for me,” the determined singer related.

Controversies are part of the limelight. During Ramielle’s stint in American Idol, some of her photos were scrapped from her Facebook account. While David Hernandez, her fellow AI finalist, was discovered to be a former stripper in a night club that caters to gay clienteles through pictures on the internet, Ramielle was tagged lesbian.

“Oh sexy,” she chuckled when asked about the infamous photos that once became hot items on the internet. “But I was worried about kung ano ang sasabihin nila Mommy, how will they handle it. Okay lang kasi yung mga kasama ko dun mga best friends ko. They are like my sisters already. Loko-loko lang yun. It’s not a big deal to us. Nang nakita ko yung picture tapos binasa ko yung sinulat nila sabi ko: ‘My God, anong nangyari? How did it turn around like this?”

First Christmas in the Philippines

Ramielle arrived in the country on Dec. 12. She is going to stay in the here for three months to do shows while spending some time with her relatives. Her mother Alicia is originally from Zamboanga and her father Roger is from Quezon province. She already visited her relatives on her mother side.

“Three months ako right now, pero kung kailangang i-prolong, why not?" said the singer who stands at 4’11. “This is my first trip here in the Philippines na for work, pero as trip for vacation hindi.”

As her first Christmas in the Philippines , she is looking forward to seeing how the yuletide season being celebrated by most Filipinos in the country.

“Pag dating ko dito, wow andaming ilaw. Everybody tells me, yung mga kaibigan kong nagbabakasyon dito for Christmas na it’s different kahit maiinit or walang snow. Talagang iba daw ang feeling ng Christmas dito,” 20 year-old Ramielle enthused.

Aside from visiting her relatives in Quezon and Zamboanga, she will also visit Pampanga where her boyfriend Austin Torres’ family lives. She met Austin in a Goldilocks store in California .

“Yung Mommy and Daddy ko, they treat me sabi nila:‘Punta tayo sa Goldilocks, kain tayo, family lunch.’ Tapos ‘pag dating ko dun ang daming tao tapos may caremas. Tapos sabi nila:‘Ay nasabi ko ata sa owner na pupunta ka dun.”

On that day, Austin, who never knew who she was, was picking up some enseymada for his mother.

“Akala ko artista siya or something, basta familiar yung mukha niya. Sabi ko sa Mommy ko, ‘Mom, ang guwapo niya.’ Ang Mommy ko naman, ‘Quiet ka diyan!’ Galit siya! Tapos after that we met again,” she giggled. "He's my first real boyfriend,"

Bubbly Pinay

When asked where her voice is coming from considering her very small frame, she answered: “My Mommy said my voice comes from my pata (thigh).”

Unlike other Filipinos who grew up in the States, Ramielle is proud of her language and speaks it fluent. In an interview with the press at Danny’s Grill Restaurant on Dec. 15 to promote her homecoming concert with Ogie, Ramielle answered all questions in Tagalog.

"Well, si Daddy kasi, nagalit dahil noong second time na nagbakasyon kami dito, nag-i-english kaming magkapatid. Tinanggal ni Daddy yung cable sa bahay for months. Ang naiwan lang, Filipino Channel,” she recalled and added: “Sa bahay pag hindi nagta-Tagalog talagang papaluin ni Daddy.”

Aside from The Filipino Channel, their home in Florida has GMA Pinoy TV as well. Is she planning to be a Kapuso or Kapamilya?

“As of right now, hindi pa ko in-offeran ng anything ng GMA or whatever. But binigyan nila ako ng opportunity. It was an honor na binigyan nila ako ng spot doon [SOP]. Hindi lang po isang kanta, they gave a very good exposure. Pag inofferan nila ako, I would think about it,” the petite singer told.

Ramielle was awestruck when she guested in SOP and saw her idol Regine, Ogie’s real-life sweetheart.

Other projects

Ramielle’s contract with American Idol ended last August but she is busy doing projects with Disney Channel. Amidst the huge opportunity that awaits her in the States, she puts on hold her Disney projects to treat her Filipino fans.

“Yung Disney Channel doon, that's very big. Gusto kong bumalik doon. Pero inuna ko muna yung concert dito. You know, this is my home. No matter where I stay, Florida , California , American Idol, dito ako,” she ended.

"Ogie Sings with the Idols" is being produced by TheUnderGround Studio, Inc (TUGS) under the supervision of Brian Sombero, vocalist/ guitarist of the band Menaya.

Sharon Cuneta supports reading program

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Knowing how to read is one of the essential factors to achieve literacy. As poverty being closely linked to lack of education, Ronald McDonald House of Charities released its flagship program Bright Minds Read.

BMR is an initiative launched six years ago to be especially promoted in the Philippines in order to support the reading and English curriculum of local public schools. This is in response to the global need for better education and English-speaking skills.

“The aim of this program is to really help children know how to read, because it is the foundation of all learning. We have been waiting for the opportunity to aggressively pursue campaigns that can get regular people to realize that there is a problem in the education landscape and therefore bring them to work with us in changing this,” Kenneth Yang, president of RMHC, stated.

Since the launching of the program, thousands of children have been benefited from it. The RMHC aims to reach its goal in the coming years, which is to cover all the public schools in the country.

Long-time McDonald’s endorser, Sharon Cuneta, joins the initiative of RMHC and takes part in the advocacies of the program BMR.

“Having been a McDonald’s endorser for quite some time now, that’s why when it was brought up to me, I didn’t think twice. It was an instant ‘yes’ because, just like this year, God has been generous to me than usual,” Sharon expressed and continued: “I am thrilled to have been given this opportunity to be part of something I personally advocate, my family is a reading family and we give high value on education. Ako nga bumalik pa sa school, kahit ilang units lang.”

At the press conference of the RMHC that coincided with celebration of World Children’s Day, Sharon expressed that she and the organizers of BMR campaign are humbling themselves in asking the customers of McDonald’s to donate their coins in canisters that can be found in all participating McDonald’s stores.

“A few centavos from people will really go a long way. We are in partnership with the Department of Education. Konting barya lang po, that’s the message we want to put forth, and we want everyone who knows this campaign to spread the word,” Sharon continued.

After her short talk, the Megastar waited for some questions from the press and got disappointed for nobody dared to ask her about the program so she blurted: “Since walang gustong mag-ask, Okay naman po ako may asawa pa! Sabihin ko na para tapos na. Parang nanganak ng nanganak lang naman ang issue… Nag-offer na nga ng ilang milyon ‘yung tao, pahingi naman ng ebidensiya na may girlfriend ang asawa ko, lalu na kung may mga anak daw.”

Over the past month, Sharon’s relationship with husband Senator Francis Pangilinan has been embattled with intrigues that even affected their children. The actress got burnt-out with issues created by irresponsible people who made up stories after hearing them from somewhere else.

“Twelve years na [her marriage], kasing haba ng relationship ko with McDonald’s, puro tsismis wala pa ring nakakarating sa akin, pahingi naman ng picture at tsaka address… Masaya po kami, never kaming naghiwalay,” the actress cleared, adding that politics has something to do with it most especially that election nears.

New movie

After the blockbuster Caregiver, she is set to do a movie scheduled to shoot anytime soon. The movie will star the Megastar opposite Richard Gomez, and it is going to be their sixth movie team-up.

“The ball is in my court because I have to lose weight,” Sharon related, saying that her project with ex-boyfriend depends on her diet.

Sharon dished out some interesting bits about the new project telling the press that it’s going to be romantic-drama. She is so excited with the project, saying: “It’s a beautiful story. The story has been ready for some time and the script is almost done. It's just a matter of me being physically ready, they are ready to shoot any time.”

She added that the movie is a love story that spans like 15 years. “There are flashbacks. Alam ko may location shoot pero di ko pa alam kung saan. Before they brought up Mexico and then Hawaii, pero most of it, dito,” the actress ended.

Art school opens door to new scholars

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Art’s influence is encompassing; it opens the mind to infinite perspectives and possibilities. To be given a chance to study art under brilliant instructors is a rare opportunity because talent can further be developed through an approach where a more solid inclination and passion to art and to its different forms are expanded and given more attention.

The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA), located on the slope of mystical Mt. Makiling in Laguna, is a unique residential secondary school run by the government. It was established in 1977 to specifically create a perfect environment to artistically gifted and talented children.

PHSA is currently accepting applicants to the Annual Nationwide Search for Young Arts Scholars (ANSYAS). Children with exceptional talents from Metro Manila are welcomed to apply until Jan.15, while the deadline for provincial applicants is on Jan. 31.

“There’s nothing like this school. PHSA is a special school with special students,” veteran character actor and PHSA executive director Nanding Josef told the Standard Today. “We need a new batch of scholars, about 30 to 40 students.”

The state allots an annual P300,000 budget per PHSA scholar. The amount includes tuition, board and lodging, classes with master teachers, and a monthly stipend.

Specialized curriculum at the arts school includes various disciplines in Music (instrument and voice), Dance (ballet and folk), Theater Arts, Visual Arts, and Creative Writing. In addition to arts-oriented curriculum, it also offers Basic Education subjects prescribed by the Education Department.

Art school complex

We were given a chance to visit the picturesque campus of PHSA on Dec. 8. After a two-hour drive from Manila, our sight was welcomed by nipa hut-inspired cottages that serve as classrooms, science laboratories, library, instructional media center, computer room, and practice rooms.

“We have another 30 cottages here that serve as residence for more than 130 students, and 40 teachers and support staff,” Josef said.

Other instructional facilities in the 13.5-hectare complex include the state-of-the-art Tanghalan Maria Makiling, rehearsal studios for Folk Dance and Ballet, Visual Arts and Photography Studio, and Journalism Room. The administration office, faculty room, meeting room, medical clinic, counseling office and the Executive Guesthouse, which once served as Imelda Marcos’ rural villa, complete the facilities at the state-run art school.

“During the term of former President [Fidel] Ramos, the complex underwent rehabilitation through a P90-million budget approved during a Cabinet meeting held here,” Josef disclosed.

The school operation depends solely on the budget given by the government and from the monetary donations coming from generous individuals and institutions that recognize the importance of culture and art development.

Artistically gifted students

“The officials are always hard to convince. They say P200,000 [the former budget per scholar] is too big to support one student. So sa tuwing may budget deliberation kailangang ipakita sa mga officials ang mga students para mag-perform, and they are instantly convinced,” Josef related.

We didn’t have to take the word of the veteran actor to believe and consider the artistic talents of the PHSA scholars. During a half-day visit, we had the chance to see how classes are conducted in the special school. Students majoring in Music and Folk Dance showed us sample performances.

After a lunch prepared by the PHSA at the well-maintained Executive Guesthouse, Josef whispered: “I get inspired by seeing really young artists with exceptional artistry in different fields,” pertaining to the students from Music who performed an ethereal version of “You Raise Me Up” by the group called Secret Garden.

The Folk-Dance majoring students performed a number entitled “Cordillera,” which we were told they themselves did the choreography. The dance is their definition of love and courtship inspired by the natives of the Mountain Province. With the use of gongs, native bamboo instruments, and tribal drums, the students rendered a jaw-dropping performance just like professionals do at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that it was just a sample of what these students do everyday.

The scholars, whose ages range from 12 to 16, need to maintain a 90 percent grade average, which is the passing mark, in all art subjects to maintain their scholarship.

“Tinututukan ang bawat estudyante pag bumababa ang grade kahit sa General Education. They are given special or extra sessions. The objective of the school is to make them stay and finish their courses. The faculty and staff members do official and unofficial tasks like acting as surrogate parents to these students with completely different characters,” Josef explained.

PHSA scholars are being trained to be the best artists of this particular time by pushing the limit of their artistic potentials and, at the same time, making them better people. “We praise and criticize them. That’s how I matured as an artist and as a person,” the veteran actor concluded.

Qualifications

Applicants for the scholarship must be graduating Grade VI or VII pupils for the school year 2008-2009; of above-average intelligence, proficient in oral and written Filipino and English; without any debilitating illness; and willing to study in a residential high school.

They must also be willing to pursue a college degree in Dance, Creative Writing, Architecture, Fine Arts, Music, Theater Arts, Journalism and other related courses.

Application forms and the list of requirements per art discipline may be downloaded from the PHSA Web site www.phsa.edu.ph. All documents and requirements must be sent directly to ANSYAS 2009, PHSA, National Arts Center, Mt. Makiling, Los Baños 4030 Laguna. For inquiries, e-mail phsa@laguna.net or call telefax (+6349)536-5971 to 73 and 536-2862.

Novice bands invade the ULTRA

The last quarter of the year always sees a number of live gigs from local rock and alternative bands. Almost at every corner of the metropolis, concert venues witness an onstage invasion of loud and head banging music.

On Nov. 15 at the Nescafé Soundskool Finals, thousands of rock music fans flocked the ULTRA for a musical festivity that featured the biggest local bands performing alongside with the country’s most promising groups.

Now on its fourth year, Nescafé Soundskool is a band competition that serves as a training ground for new generation musicians who want to make it big in the local music arena. This year, the competition gathered the best college bands from all over the country. From one thousand band entries, the organizers meticulously selected thirteen novice groups that competed for a cash prize amounting to P250,000 and a recording contract with Sony BMG.

This year’s call “Handa ka na bang sumikat?” was answered by the finalist from South East Asian College ’s Letter Day Story. The band that lists New Found Glory, Boys Like Girls, +44, Eraserheads, Kamikazee, and Rivermaya as its musical influences, is composed of Aldrick Yu on vocals, Chris Anthony Vinzons on lead guitar, Oliver Agustin on bass, and Emil Arabit on drums.

The quartet, mentored by Spongecola, stood out with their unique musical flair, striking stage presence and their playing with precision. The band wowed the audience and the judges with a showmanship that lasted until the end of its performance (which most of the finalists lacked).

One discernible characteristic of the band was that it performed as a group unlike other finalists whose footmen took the stage like solo performers. Yu, Letter Day Story’s charismatic frontman, was able to connect with thousands of audience present at the ULTRA and yet was able build a connection with the rest of his band mates.

The band’s final performance made up 65 percent of its score. The other 35 percent was taken from preliminary rounds on Nov. 14. The people who made the tough decision in choosing the best group of the entire competition were Soupstar Entertainment’s Darwin Hernandez, Campus Radio’s John Hendrix, Nestlé Philippines, Inc.’s Yayin Bangcoro, and Sonny BMG’s Jinno Mina and Vic Valenciano.

Other finalists include St. Scholastica’s College’s Grace Note, Jose Rizal University’s Project, and the University of Santo Tomas’ Hooligans from the Greater Manila Area region; Lyceum Institute of Technology’s Maracore, Calayan Education Foundation’s Flaurah, and Wesleyan University Philippines’ 7th Skool from the Luzon region; Eastern Visayas State University’s Skalivur, University of Cebu’s Barorents, and STI Tacloban’s Sounvile from the Visayas region; and AMA Davao Campus’ C-Shifter, St. Mary’s College’s Keyk, and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan’s Teachers Stand Together.

These aforementioned promising bands underwent a mentorship program in Boracay on November 6 to 13 with the countries topnotch bands that include Bamboo, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Hilera, Pupil, Sandwich , Sugarfree, Itchyworms, 6 Cyclemind, Callalilly, Moonstar 88, Chicosci, Urbandub, Up Dharma Down, JR Kilat and Cueshe.

Musical treat

Nescafé Soundskool was not just all about discovering the next big bands; it is also about giving music lovers the rare treat of watching the biggest names in music perform live.

The four-hour nonstop event was opened by Calla Lily performing the Soundskool theme song. The band was accompanied by bouncing dancers in masquerade. The production, which was complete with impressive lighting effects, received a thunderous applause from the audience.

During the competition, mentoring bands performed their greatest hits before introducing and collaborating with the finalists. Some of the most explosive performances were delivered by Spongecola, Sandwich , Chicosci and Hilera.

After the first half of the event, Kamikaze dished out a satiric performance that made everyone laughing and jumping up on their seats. It was quickly followed by Parokya ni Edgar with Chito Miranda roaming around the venue while delivering the band’s rock novelty hit Akala.

Kamikaze and Parokya went back on stage and entertained the audience with the musical parody The Ordertaker.

Before the announcement of the winner, fans were delighted with a pleasing finale performance discharged by ace band Bamboo. It performed some of its now classic hits Noypi, Halleluiah, and Tatsulok.

Getting slimed at the Nick Kids Awards

BY NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

The first-ever Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards Philippines was definitely a tweens affair.

Thousands of kids flocked to the Aliw Theater on Nov. 29 to see their favorite stars walk on the orange carpet and get slimed on stage in an event made brisker and enjoyable by the quick-witted host Michael V.

The personalities, mostly grownups, thought they were “in,” also somehow “out,” based on the perspective of the younger generation. Kids have their own preferences and it was undeniably evident when the winners at the orange event were announced.

Marimar fever had the kids hooked before the boob tube. It was voted Favorite TV Show with Dingdong Dantes winning over other male stars like John Lloyd Cruz, Gerald Anderson, Piolo Pascual, and Richard Gutierrez as Favorite TV Actor. Other nominees for Favorite TV Show were Bubble Gang, Goin’ Bulilit, The Singing Bee, and Zaido: Pulis Pangkalawakan.

Kim Chiu probably has the charisma that makes young girls adore her and young boys giggle whenever her face appears on the TV screen. She received the orange blimp for the Favorite Actress category beating other television darlings like Angel Locsin, Iza Calzado, Marian Rivera, and Sarah Geronimo.

Christian Bautista won Favorite Musical Act besting nominees Gary Valenciano, Parokya ni Edgar, Sandwich, and Yeng Constantino.

If the oldies thought Manny Pacquiao was hot among the teens, they’re definitely wrong for Ateneo cager Chris Tiu was favored over the “Pamabansang Kamao” to win Favorite Athlete. Other nominees for the same category were cue master Efren “Bata” Reyes, two-time Olympian Miguel Molina, and taekwondo athlete Japoy Lizardo.

SpongeBob SquarePants remained the most popular cartoon show among kids. It was voted Favorite Cartoon Program. Other nominees were Avatar, The Legend of Aang, Ben 10, Dora The Explorer, and Tom & Jerry.

Just like its original version, the local Nick Awards also gives honor to a celebrity idolized by most kids. The orange blimp for the Pinoy Wannabe went to KC Concepcion. She was voted among nominees like Charice, Lea Salonga, Marc Nelson, and Vhong Navarro.

Chin-Chin Gutierrez, who was featured in 2004 Time Asia as one of the Asian Heroes for her exceptional environmental advocacies, was given the special award The Big Green Help Award.

Who got slimed?

In the US version of the popular orange award show, one or more celebrities get to be slimed on stage or offstage without them knowing it beforehand. It is one of the most anticipated parts of the show. Normally, the host gets to be slimed at the end of the program and another celebrity during the course of the event.

Although it was pretty obvious that Michael V. rehearsed the act of getting slimed, his effort paid off for the kids did enjoy seeing him partly covered with the green glop.

KC Concepcion, who got one of the loudest screams from the tweens, got slimed right at the center of the stage while bidding goodbye at the young audience.

The live show was interesting and the transition of segments was flawlessly delivered that even older folks won’t feel being tricked. It’s also good to mention that celebrity presenters like Miriam Quiambao, Marc Nelson, Rufa Mae Quinto, Paolo Bediones, Regine Velasquez, and director Joey Reyes did outstanding performances making the first-ever Nickelodeon KCA Philippines truly at par with international Nick Awards staged in the US, Australia, and Britain.

Since its inception in the US, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards has been a venue that gives younger television viewers a chance to vote for their favorites in music, movies, sports, television, books, and more. In the Philippines, Nick reaches over 1 million households via cable 24/7. It also has a five-hour terrestrial block on free-to-air channel TV5.

ABSCBN dominates Star Awards

NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Network rivalry has never been this searing as Internet forums heated up few hours after the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for TV held at the SMX Convention Center on Nov. 30.

ABS-CBN Network dominated the event walking home with 25 awards while its rival station GMA-7 won 19 awards including the coveted Best TV Station.

Since 2004, the award for Best TV Station has been given alternately to the two local TV giants that next year, people will expect that the trophy will be given to ABS-CBN (unless miracle happens it would land on TV5).

GMA’s terrestrial channel QTV-11 won five awards while ABS-CBN’s Studio 23 got just one trophy. UNTV-37 and ABC-5 both won two awards each. RPN-9 and IBC-13 went home empty-handed.

This year’s nominees were programs aired from June 13 until July 1 of this year. Two special awards and 54 trophies where given out by the Philippine Movie Press Club.

The event that saw celestial shower was hosted by Paolo Bediones, Gabby Concepcion, Anne Curtis and Judy Ann Santos.

Iza Calzado and Dingdong Dantes were the trivia hosts with a pre-taped segment entitled “Icons [sic] in the Philippine Television.”

The drama category was a battle between the novice and veteran actors. Child actor Joshua Dionisio bested other nominees like Dolphy, John Lloyd Cruz, Eddie Garcia, John Wayne Sace, and Gabby Concepcion for Best Single Performance by an Actor category via the Maalala Mo Kaya (MMK) episode “Sako.”

Angel Locsin, who graced the awards night with Male Star of the Night Luis Manzano, received the Best Single Performance by an Actress trophy for her first acting project on ABS-CBN through MMK episode “Pilat.” She went up on stage twice after receiving the award for Lobo as Best Primetime TV Series. Angel’s leading man Piolo Pascual was named Best Drama Actor for his performance in Lobo while Sunshine Dizon, who was in a psychedelic black dress, won Best Actress award for her moving performance in Impostora.

Boy Abunda was the most decorated personality of the night. He won Male Showbiz-Oriented Show Host for The Buzz and Best Celebrity Talk Show Host, with Kris Aquino, for Boy And Kris. The Buzz was named Best Showbiz-Oriented Show with Ruffa Gutierrez and Cristy Fermin tied for Best Female Showbiz-Oriented Show Host award.

Edu Manzano, who thanked Pinky Webb (if she blushed, it’s hard to guess but she turned her back on the camera) during his speech, won Best Game Show Host and his program Pilipinas, Game Ka Na Ba! was awarded Best Game Show. Perennial noontime rivals Eat Bulaga and Wowowee shared the award for Best Variety Program. Valerie Concepcion got the award for Best Female TV Host while Vic Sotto snatched the award for the male category. The Best Musical Variety Show went to SOP Rules.

As it has been predicted, in the News and Current Affairs category, the awards were split between the Kapamilya Network and GMA Kapuso, but UNTV-37’s Bitag surprisingly snatched the Best Public Service Program and Best Public Service Program Host for Ben Tulfo.

Best News Program went to TV Patrol World with Julius Babao winning the Best Male Newscaster. Best Female Newscaster was given to Vicky Morales for Saksi: Liga Ng Katotohanan. Best Documentary Program was won by I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries while its hosts Kara David, Howie Severino, Sandra Aguinaldo and Jay Taruc won Best Documentary Program Hosts.

Signos: Ang Banta ng Nagbabagong Klima, GMA’s special documentary on climate change and hosted by Richard Gutierez won Best Documentary Special.

This year’s Best Magazine Show Host Korina Sanchez went back-to-back receiving the PMPC trophy as Best Magazine Show.

The night of entertainment

The 22nd edition of the PMPC Star Awards for Television had seen great entertainment from the personalities who were nominated during the night, but the show it self was crappy that people would want to watch the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards Philippines instead.

There were lively performances that made the crowd screaming at the top of their lungs like the dance number rendered by Rayver Cruz, Maja Salvador, Mark Herras, Erich Gonzales, Marky Cielo and Ryza Cennon. Other performances were simply rubbish. Regine Velasquez, who lip-synced just like the rest of the performers, rendered a mediocre performance. The opening number however was a great visual treat seeing Toni Gonzaga, Rachelle Ann Go and Karylle onstage covering Robbie Williams’ “Let Me Entertain You.”

Ogie Alcasid serenaded Senator Loren Legarda and Rosa Rosal who received the Excellence in Broadcasting Lifetime Achievement Award and Ading Fernando Lifetime Achievement Award, respectively.

One of the witty speeches came from Female Star of the Night Rufa Mae Quinto who also received the award for Best Comedy Actress. Not that she gave the most intelligent speech but she blurted some punch lines that truly justified her being the winner of the award in comedy. Boy Abunda’s speech was dedicated to all the gay men and women all over the world.

Most awards nights see several torpid-minded presenters, and the 22nd PMPC Star Awards is no exception. Lovi Poe was the only presenter who committed a mistake. This year’s Best New Male TV Personality Robi Domingo was about to announce the winner for Best Public Affairs Program Host, but Lovi, who probably was out of her mind, announced I-Witness: The GMA Documentaries as the winner.

Other winners of the 22nd PMPC Star Awards for Television are:

Best Talent Search Program—Shall We Dance, ABC-5;

Best Talent Search Program Host—Lucy Torres-Gomez, Arnell Ignacio and Dominic Ochoa (Shall We Dance), ABC-5;

Best New Female TV Personality—Patricia Gayod (Maalaala Mo Kaya / “Dagat” episode), ABS-CBN;

Best Youth-Oriented Show—Boys Nxt Door, GMA-7;

Best Horror or Fantasy Program—Komiks Presents: Volta, ABS-CBN;

Best Public Affairs Program—(Y-Speak) Studio 23;

Best Public Affairs Program Host—Jessica Soho (Hot Seat), QTV-11;

Best Morning Show—Unang Hirit, GMA-7;

Best Morning Show Host—Arnold Clavio, Susie Entrata-Abrera, Lyn Ching-Pascual, Rhea Santos, Jolina Magdangal, Winnie Monsod, Oscar Orbos, Regine Tolentino, Drew Arellano, Eagle Riggs, Love Añover and Lhar Santiago (Unang Hirit), GMA-7;

Best Lifestyle Show—Living It Up, QTV-11;

Best Lifestyle Show Host—Raymond Gutierrez, Issa Litton, Sam Oh and Tim Yap (Living It Up), QTV-11;

Best Reality Program—Gandang Ricky Reyes: Parlor Game, QTV-11;

Best Reality Program Host—Ricky Reyes (Gandang Ricky Reyes: Parlor Game), QTV-11;

Best Travel Show—Pinoy Meets World, GMA-7;

Best Travel Show Host—Katherine de Castro, Uma Khouny, Franzen Fajardo, Kian Kazemi and Jayson Gainza (Trip Na Trip), ABS-CBN;

Best Educational Program—Matanglawin, ABS-CBN;

Best Educational Program Host—Kim Atienza (Matanglawin), ABS-CBN;

Best Children Show—Art Angel, GMA-7;

Best Children Show Host—Pia Arcangel, Tonipet Gaba and Krystal Reyes (Art Angel), GMA 7.

Mutya beauties head to Palawan

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Most women who join beauty contests put on the prettiest smiles whenever they face the camera. A candidate must look perfect whenever there’s a lens trained on her way. She should keep her hair in place that no single strand will be out of place. Her skin must always look healthy and stretch-mark-free with a little help from dermatologists. She must not eat too much so it won’t be hard when she sucks in her stomach when she is wearing a pair of bikini.

It’s really hard to be a beauty queen or even just a contestant of a beauty pageant, but for 24 young women vying for the title Mutya ng Pilipinas 2008, making themselves neat and prim are the basic musts to create a good impression. After all, being in beauty contest is all about making good first impressions, which a contestant will carry until the final night and perhaps to the time when she is finally crowned.

On Dec. 7, the 24 ladies will make the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, a place to spot the countries’ new bevy of beauty queen wannabes. Puerto Princesa, dubbed as ‘‘an amazing city in a forest,’’ will host the 40th edition of the pageant that paved the way to beauty titlists like Michelle Aldana, Mutya Crisostomo, Lorraine Shuck, Tetchie Agbayani, Rio Diaz among many others.

On a steamy afternoon at the Garden Terraces Hotel along Commonwealth Avenue, 24 young women sashayed in a red bikini heralding Mutya’s pre-pageant ceremony.

This year’s finalists are: Katrina Rigets (23 years old), Jessica Paciente, (17), Frances Urrutia, (19) and Riza Selva (19) from Quezon City, Loren Andre Fermin Burgos (21) from California, USA, Karen O’Hara (22) from Antipolo City, Cresta Medez (19) from Palawan, Pia Burgos (19) from Norway, Arline Nicolas (22) from Laguna, Lizl Rosoles (18), Maria Rebeta (18), Sarah Syed (19), and Kathleen Jebulan (23) from Bicol Region, Angelica Damian (22), Venice Acuna, (18) and Laica Jimenez (19) from Bulacan, Rhea Niones (23) from South Cotabato, Ellaine Esteban (21) from Marikina City, Queency Benaldez, (18) from Southern Leyte, Jonavi Quiray (21) from Palawan, Jamie Jean “Jam” de la Rosa (23) from Tarlac, Nadia Hollaway (20) from Australia, Jam Libatong (21) from Cebu City, and Nerissa Dimaculangan (20) from Batangas.

These beautiful stunning contestants will vie for the titles Mutya ng Pilipinas-International, Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Puerto Princesa and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities. Major titlists will be sent to international beauty pageants like Miss Asia Pacific-International, Miss Tourism International, Tourism Queen of the Year, and Miss Intercontinental.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas-International and Mutya ng Pilipinas-Tourism Puerto Princesa stand to win P200,000 cash each, while Mutya ng Pilipinas-Overseas Communities will receive $2,000. P50,000 each will be given to the two runners-up.

One of the radical changes made by the Mutya organizers is staging the pre-pageant and the coronation night outside Metro Manila. Last year, it was held in Olongapo.

The Mutya ng Pilipinas Organization promotes “Beauty Tourism” within the greater Asia-Pacific with the direct participation of the overseas Filipino communities, this being a distinct component of its National Pageant Event.

As the third most important beauty pageant in the land, after Binibining Pilipinas and Miss Philippines-Earth, Mutya ng Pilipinas expands its advocacy by promoting tourism and the environment. It engages itself in endorsing the Philippines as a major and revered tourism destination while redefining Filipino women as beauties with social conscience.

The organization is chiefly headed by its president Roberto de Venecia, supported by the other board of directors, namely, Alfonso Lim Jr., Lauro Amante, director Leandro Enriquez, and Ramona Ty. This year’s pageant is generously supported by Puerto Princesa Mayor Edward Hagedorn.

Mutya beauties will visit the Palawan Subterranean River to advance its campaign as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. The national park currently ranks no. 1 on the online voting on the New 7 Wonders of the World Web site. Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Tubbataha Reefs, and Mayon Volcano of Albay are also among the top contenders in the online poll.

Celebrating 100 years of music

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Taste in music is relative; a person may enjoy a kind of music that other people might consider as noise, but no matter how different types people define it, it all boils down to one single fact: it is a universal language.

When we talk about music, everyone can relate. Although each person would have different interpretations of a single musical piece, this fact alone proves that music has a great influence and can stir a range of emotion.

Operatic and classical music are genres that are much underappreciated especially by the younger music enthusiasts, but little do they know that the industry’s most talented musicians come from these genres.

One of the premier institutions that hone talents that would later become world-class music artists is the University of the Philippines. Celebrated choirs like the Philippine Madrigal Singers, the UP Concert Chorus, the UP Singing Ambassadors, and the UP Staff Choral are among the notable groups from the university’s rich pool of music talents.

In a rare musical extravaganza staged on Nov. 21 at the UP Theater, the UP Alumni Association (UPAA) gathered almost 200 performers in a grand event to celebrate 100 Years of World-Class Music.

As one of the culminating events of the University of the Philippines’ centennial celebration, the musical directed by Behn Cervantes featured virtuoso performers like Evelyn Mandac, Noel Velasco, Frankie Aseniero, Camille Lopez-Molina, and Nolyn Cabahug.

Violinist Joseph Esmilla, flutist Sonny Yangco, and classical guitarist Lester Demetillo also performed with the orchestra of the UP College of Music.

Other artists featured were Dondi Ong, Ana Feleo, Aileen Cura, Jeanne Velasco-Vicars, Emelyn Santos, Joseph Olfindo, and Eric Ferrer.

100 Years of World-Class Music was also staged to honor distinguished music artist Evelyn Mandac who achieved milestones in the international music arena. The artist is a New York-based soprano who graduated magna cum laude at the UP College of Music. She has shared the stage with Joan Sutherland and has sung opposite world-renowned Placido Domingo in a full-length opera.

World-class talent

“People asked me if I was Europe trained, I said: ‘No, I was trained in the Philippines by our own singers.’ I am very proud of that,” Evelyn Mandac enthused in a recent interview with the Standard Today.

A native of Bukidnon, Mandac is the first Filipino singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. On the same venue, she has sung the lead in more than 20 operas and received standing ovations with her performances in Europe. Her illustrious career abroad spanned three decades before she retired in the 1980s.

As part of her passion in music, she converted her New York apartment, which she shares with husband Sanjoy Bhattacharia, into a studio where she teaches vocal techniques to students of various nationalities.

“Now I am just a teacher, before I had a career performing. I’m out of that in a way as I have devoted my time to teaching, it’s time for me to give in a different way. In the past six years, I’ve come at UP to give Master’s classes. I have my own studio called the Evelyn Mandac Studio,” the artist said.

Mandac started singing as a choir member at the age of 12. After her graduation at UP, she went to the US on a Fulbright travel grant. She then became a Rockefeller scholar at the Julliard School of Music where she received her Master’s Degree.

“I did my career starting with contemporary music. So when I was starting to be known as a contemporary interpreter, I said that I want to have my standard repertoire, too. So I told it to my manager. You know to get a manager right after college is one of the most difficult things to have,” the regal-looking soprano said.

Beyond music

Mandac’s talent is more recognized abroad as her career is based in New York. She considers hard work as her formula in making it to the international scene.

“I did not have to audition. Can you believe it? It’s like being there at the right time,” Mandac said as she narrated relating to her first stint as an operatic singer in New York.

“Talent... that is the most important thing that you need to have and then things will open up for you. But my advice to young singers or to any aspiring performers who want to have a career is to have a tremendous focus, discipline, hard work and passion—love for what you do because it’s going to be hard,” she articulated.

Aside from voice coaching, Mandac contributes her time extending assistance with Children inflicted with HIV. She also devotes some of her time as a major coordinator of “Mother Kitchen” for the homeless and senior citizen.

“I am active in doing selfless service which means I coordinate to feed the homeless. I would love to do that in the Philippines but again I don’t live here. That’s one of my sadness. I just come here once a year to visit my family and of course to give masters classes,” the soprano artist expressed.

The 68-year-old artist said that she is still learning music, and that she still sings everyday as she demonstrates to her students. In a candid conversation with the Standard Today, she revealed that if her life would be a song, it would be a love song.

“Love for life, love for music and love for being able to give of one self selflessly,” she said as if the words were a line in a ditty.

Evelyn Mandac was given special citation at the concert and some of her recordings were performed. Other music greats who were recognized at the event were Noel Velasco, UP Cherubim and Seraphim founder Flora Zarco Rivera and the late UP Concert Chorus director Rey Paguio.

Organization for artists’ welfare

NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Artists—like musicians, painters, sculptors, dancers, writers, actors, production people, weavers, builders, and creators of beauty—are known as cultural workers and arts managers. They are considered as one of the exponents of national identity for preserving traditional arts.

After every performance, artists receive standing ovation or at least an enthusiastic applause from the audience that can be equated to adoration and pride.

On stage, artists or performers look grand as if they live an outlandish lifestyle. People do not know that many artists, after receiving an overwhelming appreciation from the audience, would go home, find their ways in a congested traffic, cross a flooded street or perhaps find another gig to make both ends meet. Indeed, not all artists are well-off.

People have heard stories about artists who are now in impoverished condition. There are some depressing stories of artists who died broke and broken hearted. One particular reason why situations like these happen is because artists like cultural performers, dancers, actors, or musicians, once when they age, project offers become scarce.

When they work, they give all their selves out just to provide entertainment. Sometimes, out of their passion, they even work for free not thinking about themselves in the future. The work they do is of immeasurable value, and yet when they are faced with sickness or disability or other material and physical needs, they are generally left on their own to fend and provide for themselves.

“Did you know,” asked Fernando Josef, president of Artists Welfare Project Inc., “that before Lino Brocka passed away, he was totally broke? I don’t want to say his mother’s exact words but she was cursing him [Lino] for not even providing them a house considering he’s a famous director.”

Passing the hat

“I get emotional when I hear stories about artists who dedicate their life in providing entertainment but don’t have money to pay their expenses in the hospital. When we have friends in the industry that need assistance we just pass [the] hat, we collect money to help each other out, but most of us have shallow pockets,” Josef, a stage, screen and television actor and currently artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino, shared.

In November 2006, Josef and his colleagues met and decided to form an organization that would extend assistance to artists in various fields. Thus, AWPI was born.

“In our first wave of collection we got P60,000, each of us contributed a thousand to have our organization registered,” the veteran actor revealed.

AWPI was formed to extend, provide or grant financial, legal, medical and hospitalization privileges or benefits or similar assistance, support and advice to Filipino artists who may be disabled or incapacitated by reason of age or physical or mental infirmity and are thus unable to earn, support or maintain his subsistence, health, and basic life needs.

Beyond meeting emergency needs, AWPI also hopes to assist artists achieve security in terms of having a place to live, providing education for their children, and having funds for their retirement.

“We must support and help our artists, especially during their times of need—for example, when they are sick, or when they need legal assistance. Artists usually are not practical or business-minded people; they don’t invest their money—most of the time they don’t have much money anyway—or have health or any kind of insurance. We at AWPI are trying to fill that gap,” Josef enthused.

AWPI is run by a 15-member board of trustees and currently has 182 members. Its immediate concern is to build up an endowment fund that will enable it to provide members with benefits such as medical and legal assistance, emergency loans, pension and death benefits, among others.

“We are here to introduce and to call on the attention of other artists who would be interested in joining or perhaps help the organization with its advocacies,” declared Edna Vida-Froilan, one of the board members of AWPI during a press lunch at the CCP Multipurpose Hall.

Projects and events

To build up its endowment fund, AWPI is undertaking various fund-raising activities in the coming months.

In June next year, Lisa Macuja-Elizalde, the organization’s treasurer, will spearhead a production at the CCP with Ballet Manila. It is to be one of the biggest fund-raising events that the AWPI will hold in the future.

Coinciding with the General Assembly of the organization on Nov. 29, an Artists’ Tiangge will be opened at the shady lane between the Main CCP Building and the Production Design Center, CCP Complex.

The Artists’ Tiangge includes many artists whose one-of-a-kind products cannot be found at any other market in Manila. There will be over 40 different stalls showing and selling a rich variety of wares. From the new to the recycled, fine arts to folk art, jewelry to ceramics, sculpture to textiles, curios and collectibles, there will be something for almost every taste and budget. The Artists’ Tiangge also features street performers and a gourmet café.

For more information, contact Artists Welfare Program Inc. at telephone numbers 832-1125 locals 1606 to 07 or e-mail at drama_ccp@yahoo.com.

A night with Visayan artists

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

In a one splendid night at the Cultural Center of the Philippines, witness a celestial rendezvous as prominent Visayan artists grace the stage on a one-night-only performance to showcase Visayan culture and arts in a musical show dubbed Si Lapulapu, Si Rosas Pandan: A Bisaya Musical Extravaganza on Nov. 22, at 8 p.m.

“This extravaganza is a development of regional culture. The Visayan culture is very rich. Many of what have been incorporated into what is known as Philippine culture originated from regional communities in the Visaya,” Baltazar Endriga, president of Kadugong Bisaya Foundation, said.

Kadugong Bisaya, the presenter of the event, is a national organization that promotes Visayan languages, culture and arts, fosters a common cultural identity and solidarity among its members. It also promotes nationalism, civic consciousness and participation, and contributes to the development and use of Filipino by the incorporation of Binisaya, Cebuano-Visayan, Ilonggo and Waray concepts and words into the evolving national language, and to the development of the national culture.

“We’re not attempting to separate or distinguish ourselves from the rest of the local cultural groups. Rather, we want people to appreciate the diversity of regional traditions throughout the country,” Endriga furthered.

Truly Bisaya

During the event’s press conference at the Silangan Hall of the CCP, organizers of the event elucidated some interesting facts that prove the richness of Visayan culture. Endriga told the press that the word bukid, which has been known to be a Tagalong term for ricefield, actually means mountain, and that the Philippine national dance Tinikling is a game originally played by children in Leyte.

“I felt proud when I learned that the Tinikling was the national dance. In my youth, we used to play a game where we used bamboos named after a native bird, the tikling,” Endriga recalled.

Singer Verni Varga, who plays Rosas Pandan, rendered an impromptu number singing Visayan love song Usahay. Rosas Pandan is the mythical Bisaya maiden that symbolizes rustic beauty and virtue. Her stage partner Lapu-lapu, on the other hand, is the heroic chieftain of Mactan, Cebu, who has been a symbol of Filipino valor when his men defeated Magellan in a historic battle.

“We chose Lapu-lapu and Rosan Pandan as main metaphors for the extravaganza to showcase the whole spectrum of art and culture and contributions of the Visayan culture to the national concert,” Chris Millado, the shows director said.

Millado was ecstatic to reveal that the stage design will be done by renowned furniture designer Kenneth Cobonpue whose clients reportedly include Hollywood actor Brad Pitt and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Among the special performers in the much-awaited musical event are Cesar Montano, Varga, Joey Ayala and Bayang Barrios, Elizabeth Ramsey and Jaya, Rachelle Gerodias, Jose Mari Chan, the Philippine Dance Sports Association, Noni Buencamino, Raki Vega, Deeda Barretto, Jerry Dadap’s Andres Bonifacio Choir, Ballet Philippines, Modern Ballet Dancers and Ramon Obusan Folkloric Group.

The Philippine Madrigal Singers will pay tribute to Yoyoy Villame by reliving his novelty classics. Cameo appearances will be made by Visayan cinema personalities like Gloria Sevilla, Caridad Sanchez and Virgie Solis.

The extravaganza also celebrates several venerable Visayan composers, lyricists and singers like: Jovita Fuentes (Ay Kalisud), Gregorio Labja (Usahay), Ben Zubiri (Matud Nila), Manuel Velez and Jose Galicano (Sa Kabukiran), Maning Villareal (Kahibulongan), Manuel P. Velez (Rosas Pandan).

The finale of the program, which will be participated by the entire cast, is the singing of Kasadya Ning Taknaa, an original Bisaya Christmas carol that was adapted in Tagalog as Ang Pasko ay Sumapit.

For tickets call CCP Box Office, with telephone nos. 832-3704 and 832-1125 local 1409.

PICTURE-PERFECT FAMILY

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Carmina Villaroel and Zoren Legaspi were holding hands with their twins Maverick Peter and Maria Cassandra when they showed up at the press launch of their new television commercial. The twins, who are now seven years old and already in second grade, were comfortable as they smiled when photographers started flashing their cameras.

Some good-looking celebrity couples are not blessed with the same breed of good-looking offsprings, but Carmina and Zoren are exception to the rule. Mavy and Cassy (their twins’ nicknames) are very adorable and you wouldn’t mind staring at them for the longest time.

“We sleep in one room, minsan nga pag natutulog sila sinasabi ko kay Zoren: ‘Tatay ang-cute ng mga anak natin. They look so perfect. Atin ba sila?’” Carmina chuckled while sharing her experience with her kids. “They are so friendly, one time umuwi ako sa bahay, meron sampung bata sa loob ng bahay namin and my kids said, ‘Mom these are our friends.’”

On camera, their family looks very close and very happy. Some people wonder how they are as a family in real life.

“Maraming nagsasabi na hindi nila alam kung ano kami as a family. We are very normal and very ordinary. We only want simple things,” Carmina revealed.

With hectic schedules, late-night tapings and to the last-minute important works to do, Carmina and Zoren still manage to spend quality time with their kids. The couple is able to maintain a stable relationship with their kids and bond with them during weekends.

“As much as I want to give them quantity time, hindi ko pa kaya. So I make it a point na kahit puyat, ako pa rin ’yung maghahatid sa kanila sa school. Our bonding moment starts sa loob ng kotse,” Carmina shared.

As celebrity kids, Mavy and Cassy are being raised by a loving mother and a disciplinarian father. Zoren, who ventured to directing and still does acting on the side, explained that they do not spoil their children. “Bawal mag-utos. Hindi puwedeng sumigaw ’yan,” Zoren said, pertaining to his twins. “Hindi puwedeng sumigaw ’yan ng ‘Yaya! I need this…’ Ay, hindi. You have to do it yourself.”

Everyday, after eating, the twins bring their own plates to the kitchen. There are times that Mavy waters the plants and washes his father’s car.

Working as a family

An official from Selecta said that casting a celebrity family endorser like the Villaroel- Legaspi was not a problem. “We needed a family endorser and not just a family for a show, but a genuine family. Last year we had a great experience with Carmina and the kids. We saw how they are off cam.”

Zoren, Carmina and their adorable twins are now seen on a new TV commercial of Selecta family pack ice cream. The newest ice cream creation of Selecta promotes family bonding. In fact, this is the first endorsement of Zoren with his family, because in the past it has always been only Carmina and the twins.

In making television commercial, Zoren still keeps the discipline. “Ayokong isipin nila na pag may ginawa, eh laging may sukli. Ayoko ’yong, ‘O, you smile, ha! We’ll give you a toy, ha!’ Ang sinasabi ko, ‘You better do your job, kasi pumayag kang mag-commercial.’ Hindi ’yong uutuin mo.”

After strings of successful commercials and other promotional ads, it is inevitable for people to ask whether Zoren and Carmina would allow their kids to enter showbiz. For Carmina, she wants her children to finish school and after that it is up to them if they would like to pursue a career in showbiz, but for Zoren, who already prepared a script for the whole family, it is fine to let their twins to be involved in a rowdy environment of entertainment.

When asked by the press if they want to be actors like their parents, Cassy said she wants to be like her Mom but bedimpled Mavy just smiled and wrapped his arms around his mother’s back.

Another twins

The press people never failed to ask the celebrity family personal questions during the press launch of Selecta Family Pack TVC. The lovely couple was asked if they want to add another member to the family.

“Sabi ko sa kanya kung magkakaroon kami ng anak gusto ko twins ulit. Tutal kabisado ko pa naman ’yung mga moves na ginagawa ko noon. You know as much as we would like to have four more or five more, ’yung pagpalaki ng bata ay madali, patulugin mo bigyan mo ng pagkain pero ’yung palakihin sila ng tama, eh ’yun ang hindi madali,” Zoren explained and turned to Carmina.

“For the longest time parang ayaw pa muna naming sundan kasi parang hindi pa kami sawa. Kasi di ba first time parents kami tapos isang boy and girl agad. Tsaka malay ko sa mga moves niya,” Carmina smiled and ended.

Chasing Solace

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Most men fantasize about driving a high-end car with a gorgeous chick buckled up in the passenger seat. Talk about a scene from a James Bond film. Every man wants to be like Bond and enjoy high-class lifestyle. After watching Quantum of Solace and seeing Agent 007 bruised and bloodied, there is less reason to imagine yourself like him.

Don’t wait for him to say, “The name is Bond, James Bond” because Daniel Craig who is out for his second foray as agent 007 will not drop the famed catchphrase in the 22nd installment of James Bond film. QOS is a great action film that capitalizes on hazardous action sequences that could possibly make your heart stop beating, and if you are an epileptic, better keep yourself away from the movie because QOS features tight closeup actions that can definitely put you on a close clonic-tonic convulsion.

These complex stunts, however, are old school actions. The opening car chase in a narrow street, where raining gunfire target agent Bond, has been an expected scene in every action flick. Boat chase, above ground chase and rooftop chase are also present in the film. Director Marc Forster included them perhaps to make the movie as James Bond-ish as possible. While they may look recycled, these scenes are made to look real enough to make you fidget on your seat. Yes, QOS is action-packed, literally. There are more action scenes than anything else, including dialog to complement its very simple plot: Bond wants to discover more about a very mysterious (yes that’s why he’s a spy) organization named Quantum. It is the name of an outwardly respectable front organization run by Dominic Greene (Mathieu Amalric). While trailing Greene, he meets Camille (Olga Kurylenko)—a beautiful but deadly killer who wants revenge on one of Greene’s associates.

As the story progresses, Bond is not only battling to uncover the mystery behind the organization run by Greene, he is also in conflict with his own grief and urge to pursue a mission of vengeance. This makes QOS a sequel of Casino Royale; Bond is out to avenge his lover’s death.

Quantum of Soulless

Derived from an Ian Fleming short story in his 1960 collection of short stories called For Your Eyes Only, which was the title of an 007 film with Roger Moore playing the Bond character in 1981, Quantum of Solace delves through different meanings. If the film or the lead character finds some certain amount of comfort in sorrow, misfortune or distress, that does not reflect in the film.

As plenty violent action sequences are being featured in the movie, the title itself is a little off tangent to the whole story and to what it visually showcases. The audience might lose track of the number of characters agent Bond eliminated in the movie. The number of killings rises after every delivery of action sequence.

Talking about the main character Daniel Craig, he gives James Bond a new identity (which actually started when he did Casino Royale). He ditches the dinner jackets and grooms agent Bond with the brooding image. From a sleek undercover agent armed with sophisticated gadgets, James Bond turns to be a rough chap who just casually holds the gun. He still drives an Aston Martin DBS V12 but his sleekness deteriorates seeing him riding a flivver motorbike.

Not the usual Bond

Instead of using high-end gadgets and sophisticated arms, Bond utilizes mostly his physical power while in pursuit of the henchmen. His physical power can even be compared to a superhero except that he could not fly or run like the Flash. On a rooftop pursuit that ends in a bell tower fisticuff, Bond seems to have the power of Spiderman as he accurately lands safely when he jumps from one corner to another.

The movie underscores that James Bond is strong, dangerous and fearless, and Daniel Craig delivers.

The film, though, will not be complete without the Bond girls, this time provided by Olga Kurylenko and Gemma Arterton. Although they are not the usual eye candy as in previous Bond movies, they are able to justify their characters most especially Kurylenko. You will not see her in a traditional Bond-making-love-in-a-strange-place scene (which is really absent in QOS), but there is a short kiss between her and Bond. Although Ukrainian in real life, she portrays a Latina in the movie, complete with the accent that can make Jennifer Lopez smiling all the way.

All eyes set on Miss Earth finals

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

She walks like a queen in a five-inch stiletto, gracefully waving her hand to the people. Even when she is only in a skimpy bikini, she is all smiles, notwithstanding the lack of sleep, and with her beautiful face and body, she could be the next beauty to be crowned Miss Earth.

On Nov. 9 at the Clark Expo Amphitheater in Angeles City, 85 beauties from around the globe will compete for the title of Miss Earth. The pageant will be broadcast on ABS-CBN and to many countries worldwide via Star World, The Filipino Channel and other partner networks.

Now on its 8th year and touted as the world’s third most popular beauty pageant, this year’s competition focuses on the theme “green lifestyle.”

As early as Oct. 19, delegates from Asian countries arrived, and Miss Philippines Paula Karly Henry, a native of Cebu, has been busy welcoming the world’s most eco-friendly beauties.

“Everyone here is beautiful in many different ways,” Miss Venezuela Daniella Torrealba said during a dinner hosted by the Department of Tourism for the Miss Earth delegates at the Mandarin Oriental Manila.

As the only pageant in the world with a defined purpose, Carousel Productions has gathered the world’s most beautiful women with varied backgrounds and physical attributes. Miss USA is the oldest candidate at 26 while there are few candidates in the 18- year-old group, including those from Argentina, Cuba, Germany, Israel, Malta, Sweden, and South Sudan.

Miss Guam Jennifer Neves, who is also one of the oldest delegates, is the tallest candidate at 185 cm while Miss Mexico Abigail Elizalde, who stands at 183 cm, and Miss China Ying Kun Zhou at 182 cm, are the next tallest. At 165 cm, Miss Ghana Adoley Addoh is the shortest beauty queen in the pageant.

Some beauties are already veteran of international beauty contests. Miss Nicaragua Thelma Rodriguez competed in the Miss Universe this year but failed to win a title. Miss Ethiopia Kidan Tesfahun is also a thank-you-girl in this year’s Miss Tourism Queen International in China.

Nine countries have sent their respective delegates for the first time and these are Bhutan, Congo D.R., Guam, Luxembourg, Malta, Rwanda, Scotland, Serbia, and South Sudan. While these countries are trying their luck in this prestigious beauty pageant, 20 countries have decided to withdraw and these are Cameroon, Denmark, Fiji, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Iceland, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nepal, Niue, Norway, Paraguay, Sierra Leone, St. Lucia, Tibet, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, US Virgin Islands, Vietnam, and Zambia.

Confident beauties

Last year’s winner Jessica Nicole Trisko, a Canadian beauty queen with Filipino heritage, will crown her successor on the final night. Online polls and betting are starting to heat up. But those will be invalid once the pageant culminates at Clark Expo Amphitheater.

Standard Today talked to some of the global beauties joining the Miss Earth, and most of the delegates said they are confident that they are going to win the most coveted crown. Miss Philippines said that she has one in 86 chances in winning the title.

“I underwent training with my mentors; emotionally, physically, mentally and everything that is needed to be done. I went abroad to promote the pageant and I believe it gave me a lot of exposure,” Miss Philippines said.

Early favorite Miss Mexico, an Electronic Communication Engineering graduate, who says that Mexico and the Philippines have a lot of similarities in terms of culture, food, and traffic, said: “Although English is not my first language, I will not have an interpreter on the final night. I will try my very best to express myself. I think this will be a very good advantage.”

“Of course, my favorite candidate is myself. We don’t get to meet everybody, every time we leave the hotel, we are divided into groups, so to know who the best delegate is lies on the final pageant night,” Miss India Tanvi Vyas, whose environmental message focuses more on creating awareness among slum people, enthused.

The frontrunners

According to a Web site that tracks the events concerning the pageant, 16 beauties are the early favorites based on an online poll. They are the delegates from Spain, Romania, Tanzania, Greece, Brazil, Botswana, Colombia, Czech Republic, the Philippines, Kosovo, Jamaica, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Poland, Bosnia, and Mexico.

At the recent national costume competition held at the Pagcor Theater, some beauties proved their potential, like Miss Philippines who was awarded Miss Photogenic. The towering Miss Mexico was awarded Best in Swimsuit. She also received Gandang Ricky Reyes Award. Miss Panama won best in National Costume and Miss Greece, who received minor awards like Miss Micu Confidence and Joel Cruz Signature Award, were some of the crowd favorites.

Beauty for a cause

Miss Earth contest has been continuously gaining popularity throughout the world. Aside from beauty that every delegate must possess, environmental involvement and awareness are never forgotten. During her reign, Miss Earth tours and works worldwide as spokesperson for the Miss Earth Foundation, the United Nations Environment Program (Unep) and other environmental groups. Moreover, national Miss Earth winners from various nations are doing their own part in their home countries promoting environmental causes.

On the pageant night itself, 85 women will prepare for the culmination of their bid to be the next Miss Earth. Part of their grooming is hairstyling, and it’s inevitable for their stylists not to use hairspray. How would their perms look like without CFC (chlorofluorocarbon or the chief pollutant of the ozone layer)?

“Some of the women here are not for the advocacies that the Miss Earth has been involved with. They are just here for the sake of representing their country. What you see on TV or in photograph is entirely different from what they are in real person,” a delegate from Europe who wished not to be mentioned said. “Joining a beauty contest is really tiring, some of us are already planning to go home because we don’t feel free, but we don’t have a choice,” she concluded.

During the dinner organized by the DoT, there were delegates who answered questions sarcastically even they already knew that they were dealing with the press. Some girls complained of being sleep-deprived as they only have four hours a day in bed.

Van Ness Wu is a geek

BY NICKIE WANG/ MANILA STANDARD TODAY

Taiwanese-American superstar Van Ness Wu makes thousands of fans screaming over his sleek stage presence. Little do they know that this former F4 heartthrob considers himself as a nerdy kind of guy.

In a phone interview with Standard Today to promote an Animax’s first-ever high definition animation movie made for TV, Van Ness made this interesting revelation.

“I’m a big dork and a bit of a nerd. When I was young my cousins and I were too involved with gadgets and we were all crazy over animation. But I found it very cool because I was with my cousins and we enjoyed what we were doing,” explained Van Ness who does not have an accent similar to other Asian actors.

He will be lending his voice to the all-animé TV network’s first multimedia multiplatform, original animation production for online, mobile and TV entitled LaMB. It is a full-length animated movie to be produced under the Singapore Economic Development Board and SPE Networks-Asia Joint Production Fund with a startling production budget of $6 million.

LaMB, which is based on the award-winning script submitted by Filipino amateur writer Carmelo Juinio to the Animax Awards 2007 pan-Asia scriptwriting contest, is also set to star another Asian artist and rock star, Josie Ho, as voice actor to a villainess role. She will dub the movie in English and Cantonese.

Van Ness is providing English and Mandarin dubs. It is his first attempt to voice-act in English and second in Mandarin.

“There wasn’t any audition, the producers of the project just approached me and I thought it was a privilege. They needed an actor who can speak both in English and Mandarin so my name popped up,” Van Ness, who is also a big fan of Japanese animé Naruto and Walt Disney’s classic character Pinocchio, answered when asked if he went on auditions before getting the plum role.

Van Ness will face the challenges in bringing to life the character named Jack, a scientist who is on a roller-coaster ride with his emotions, starting with the pain and despair of moving on after the loss of his wife, the struggle against the system of virtual imprisonment and a doomed romance with a female prisoner named Eve.

“I am very excited about my involvement in Animax as it looks set to reach out to Asian youths in a big way. The only challenge is that I need to study the character so I could deliver the lines with a heart. Right now, everything is not yet finished and we are still doing a lot of adjustments,” the 30-year-old star enthused.

Currently in production at Singapore-based animation studio Peach Blossom Media and concept art house Imaginary Friends Studios, LaMB is being directed by Ryosuke Tei, ex-creative director of Japanese design agency Furi Furi, with storyboards by Yasufumi Soejima, formerly from famed animé studio Gonzo. It will premiere on the TV network across Asia early 2009.

LaMB follows protagonists Jack and Eve’s struggle against planet Cerra’s “Lamination” system of imprisonment where criminals called “LaMBs” are kept in laminated suits to remain productive but not free members of society.

Eve is an ex-scientist serving her sentence in the suit having accidentally taken innocent lives in an experiment gone wrong, while Jack is a visiting scientist immersing himself in work to forget his dead wife. Inadvertently, Jack gets pulled into the political system of “Lamination” and a romance with Eve.

While LaMB represents Van Ness’ first attempt at voice-acting for animation in English, he is no stranger to manga and animé having shot to fame in Asia playing a handsome and suave university student in the wildly popular Taiwanese idol drama series in 2001, Meteor Garden, Meteor Rain, and Meteor Garden II.

Van Ness is best known as a teen idol and singer of Taiwanese Mando-pop music group “F4” now known as “JVKV.” With “F4,” Van Ness released three music albums, and has produced two albums individually including Body Will Sing (2002) and V. DUBB (2007). He has also collaborated with international and regional musicians including Beyoncé Knowles, Coco Lee, and Wang Lee Hom.

His acting credits include a part in epic period movie Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon (2008), as well as roles in TV drama series Peach Girl (2002), Say Yes Enterprise (2004), and Wish to See You Again (2008).