Cinemalaya gears up for 2008 festival

By Nickie Wang
Contributor /Manila Standard Today
25 June 2008

“Anong kuwento mo? (What’s your story?)”

This question is the tagline of the advertising campaign created by Cinemalaya filmmakers to kick off this year’s Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition on July 11 until the 20th at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.

From a total of 194 entries submitted by independent filmmakers, 20 features shot on digital video have been selected to compete in the festival now on its fourth year.

Ten features will compete in the full-length category. These are: 100 by Chris Martinez; Baby Angelo by Joel Ruiz and Abi Aquino; Boses by Ellen Ongkeko-Marfil; Brutus by Tara Illenberger; Concerto by Paul Alexander Morales; Huling Pasada by Paul Sta. Ana; Jay by Francis Xavier E. Pasion; My Fake American Accent by Onnah Valera; Namets by Emilio “Jay” Abello; and Ranchero by Michael Christian Cardoz.

The other 10 will compete in the short feature category, and they are: Andong by Rommel “Milo” Tolentino; Ang Ibang Mga Pamilya by Joel P. Ruiz; Angan-Angan (Dreams) by Sheron R. Dayoc; Diamante sa Langit by Vic Acedillo Jr.; God Only Knows by Mark V. Reyes; Huling Biktima by Vitaliano A. Rave; My Pet by Anna G. Bigornia, Panggaris by Dexter B. Cayanes; Trails of Water by Sheron R. Dayoc; and Tutos by L.A. Yamsuan.

These features on video will be shown at CCP’s Main, Little, and Dream theaters, Tanghalang Huseng Batute, Silangan Hall, and the MKP Hall.

This year’s festival will be highlighted by the screening of world premieres, director’s cuts and the most outstanding Filipino independent films on wide-ranging and controversial topics. Close to a hundred films will be on exhibition during the entire festival period including the finest and exceptional films from Cinemalaya 2005, 2006, and 2007.

Major events

Apart from the screening of the features in competition, the organizers of Cinemalaya are preparing for the Cinemalaya Film Congress on July 15 to 16 at the CCP Little Theater with the theme “Spreading the News: Promoting, Distributing and Exhibiting Indie Films.” On this two-day event, film artists, technicians and businessmen will discuss the following topics: Making Indie Films: Self Expression, Social Commitment, Compromise; Promoting Indie Films: Building Audiences for Indie Films; Distributing Indie Films: Systems Legal to Illegal; and Exhibiting Indie Films: From Cine Katipunan to Cannes.

This year, Cinemalaya introduces the children’s section which aims to encourage the development and production of culturally-relevant content for Filipino children. Nine films will be competing for the Rene O. Villanueva Prize, in honor of the late children’s book author. Presented in cooperation with the National Council for Children’s Television, the Cinemalaya Children’s Section will be dedicated to short narrative features made for viewing of children ages three to 13.

Also new this year in Cinemalaya is the tribute to Manuel Conde, a pioneer in Filipino independent filmmaking who produced, wrote, directed and acted in his films. Conde is credited with introducing Filipino films abroad, at the Venice Film Festival. Six Conde films will be shown during the festival, namely: Genghis Khan (1950), Ibong Adarna (1955), Verganza (1958), Señorito (1953), Cruz na Kawayan (1956) and El Robo (1957). The book The Cinema of Manuel Conde by Dr. Nicanor G. Tiongson will be launched on July 16 during the festival.

New awards at stake

As festival finalists, the 10 full-length films received an initial seed investment of P500,000 from Econolink Investments Inc. The final winning entry, which will be announced in an awarding ceremony at the CCP on July 20, will be given an additional grant of P200,000 plus the Cinemalaya trophy. While the winner for the short film category will walk home with a P100,000 grant plus a trophy.

Aside from the usual acting and technical awards that Cinemalaya has been giving out, this year, in partnership with the CCP, Film Development Council of the Philippines and Econolink Investments Inc., awards for Best Music, Best Supporting Actor and Actress will be given for the first time.

Edu Manzano: From vitamins to mobile phones

By Nickie Wang
Contributor /Manila Standard Today
23 June 2008

Veteran actor and TV host Edu Manzano is endorsing a new line of mobile phone products from China’s leading television and mobile phone manufacturer Konka Group.

With more than 1.6 million units of mobile phone sold in China alone, the Konka Group gears up for international expansion by establishing production bases in India, Indonesia, Mexico and recently in Turkey. The company aims to widen its market by introducing TV and mobile phone products across the globe starting in Asia and in the US.

Now, the Konka Group is trying to tap the Philippine market by introducing Konka mobile phones together with the other electronic products it manufactures. In the recent media launch of the new mobile brand at the Manila Hotel, “Papaya” dance craze proponent Edu Manzano officially endorsed the new line of mobile phones that clings to its tagline: “World-class quality need not to be expensive.”

“Before we do not embrace technology, but now, technology is part of our everyday life.
Two months ago, people from Konka asked me to try their product and the mobile phone instantly impressed me. It’s lightweight, the screen is so clear, not to mention that it is touch screen, and it has impressive features. It impressed me because the phone comes in a very reasonable price,” Manzano shared during an interview with Standard Today.

Manzano stressed during the media launch that Konka mobile phones can provide consumers true and long-lasting value for their money because the products are not just cheap they are of high quality supported by international acknowledgments. In 1997, Konka was the first Chinese TV producer to obtain both the International and Domestic ISO9001 and ISO14001. In January 2000 at the Las Vegas International Consumer Electronic Fair, Konka won the award for Innovation.

“I would never endorse alcohol or cigarette, I am more for something that allows me to communicate real message to the consumer, something that is useful to them,” Manzano revealed. “Timing is essential. Konka has a phone that has a dual SIM feature and surprisingly both of them work actively. You can receive a call while talking to someone and all you have to do is just put him on hold,” he added.

With three world-class R&D centers in China and one in the US, Konka is successfully developing a series of new generation electronics and telecommunications products with high market adaptability and competitiveness, including large-screen color TV, Combo TV, Digital TV, LCDTV, and Plasma screen.

The Konka phone

Konka Group president Nu Wei Dong, who was also present during the event, stated that Konka is a technology within your reach for the products are of prime quality yet still affordable.

For its initial offering for the Filipino consumers, Konka Group introduces: T808, the most expensive phone with a price at around P8000, is a mobile TV with 3-inch screen that receives free channels, an FM radio with dual speaker (3D stereo) and operates without a headset, a 2.0 mega pixel camera, a mobile phone with MP3 and MPEG 4 player and functions with dual Bluetooth; E111, the cheapest phone that costs at around P2,000, functions as an FM radio with MP3 and MPEG 4 playback; E222 phone works with a dual SIM/dual active support feature and is also a 1.3-mega pixel camera; E167 is a versatile phone that stores more than 500 phonebook entries; and E169 model that only weights only 80 grams, functions as an FM radio, and an MP3 and MPEG 4 player.

The Konka Group is optimistic that Filipino consumers will patronage its mobile product. Dong was pleased to announce that T808 is already sold-out after its release two months ago.

French filmfest at the Shang

By Nickie Wang
Contributor /Manila Standard Today
23 June 2003

When talking about France, the first things that come to mind are: the Eiffel Tower, which has become a venue of marriage proposals (remember Tom Cruise’s marriage proposal to Katie Holmes?); street cafes, where lovely and fashionable couple are seen dining; and of course the famous French kiss that has dominated romantic films in Hollywood.

To bring the infectious romantic atmosphere of France, The Shangri-La Plaza in collaboration with the Embassy of France to the Philippines held the 13th French Film Festival at the Shang Cineplex 1.

The festival kicked off on June 11 with the premiere of Un Baiser s’il vous plaît (Shall We Kiss?) by Emmanuel Mouret. The gala opening was attended by celebrities like Robin Padilla and Boots Anson Roa, prominent personalities like Imee Marcos, French Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Chesnel, Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Rora Navarro-Tolentino, designer Kate Torralba, Jackie Aquino and Cutie del Mar.

As a tradition in the festival, Filipino films that had been invited to film festivals in France were shown during the fesitval. This year, Brillante Mendoza’s Serbis, and Raya Martin’s Now Showing, were screened on June 12.

Tranche de vie (Slice of life)

The festival screened nine films that affirm France, most especially Paris, as the honeymoon capital of the world. The films showed slices of life in France and gave us a glimpse of how the French fall in love.

Un Baiser s’il vous plaît” (Shall We Kiss?) by Emmanuel Mouret is a movie about a woman named Émilie who encountered Gabriel in a suburb outside Paris. Although they’re both attracted to each other, they each already have someone in their life. What’s more, they know that they will probably never see each other again. Even so, Gabriel would like to kiss her. She would also like to kiss him. But something prevents them from doing so: a story of a married woman and her best friend overcome by the effects of a kiss, a kiss that should have been of no consequence.

Another film by Mouret is Changement d’Adresse. It’s about a guy named David, a shy, awkward musician who has just moved to Paris, falls madly in love with his young student, Julia. He tries everything to win her heart.

Other films screened were the romantic comedy Qui m’aime me suive (Whoever loves me, follow me) by Benoît Cohen; the rib-tickling Ma Vie en l’Air (Love is in the air) by Rémi Bezançon; the musical drama Clean by Olivier Assayas; the thrilling crime story Roman de Gare (Crossed Tracks) by Claude Lelouch; an unconventionally funny film Je crois que je l’aime (I think I love her) by Pierre Jolivet; and Ah! Si j’étais riche! (If I were a rich man) by Michel Munz and Gerard Bitton.

Multi-awarded dramatic musical La Môme - La Vie en Rose by Olivier Dahan, an inspired portrayal of the extraordinary life of the French songbird, Edith Piaf, will be the closing feature film of the festival.

Novice artists on the rise

By Nickie Wang / Manila Standard Today
19 June 2008

If youR auditory nerves are tired of covers and renditions that only serve as additional rubbish in your playlist, then you need fresh sounds to soothe your ear. It’s only when young blood artists surface that we could experience totally different approaches in music. From the traditional play-safe-and-do-revivals tactics, the Ateneo High School students Mboys ’09 and 2005 Star in a Million product Nikki offer their novice yet exceptional sounds.

Music and the boys

When music virtuoso Ryan Cayabyab heard the talented young students of section M of Ateneo High School sang, he said that their talent must be showcased at the national level. Thus, the Mboys ’09 was born with a self-titled album.
The opening track of the album “Galak” doesn’t sound impressive, but as the song plays on, you will understand why Mr. C applauded these young students. “Galak,” with its simple vocals, goes perfectly with the acoustic.
The album has stored up different revelations. The second track “Bitaw” jumpstarts with a bucolic sound, but from a folk sounding intro, it then astounds you with a pop rock-flavored climax anchored by strong and mature vocals. This lyrically inspiring song drives a message that is solely for people who have gone astray because of drug abuse.
With the album’s intuitive approach to music, the third track “Susan” has more than one flavor to offer. This song is about a girl who probably went through tough situations that can replace Freddie Aguilar’s “Magdalena” or Eraserhead’s “Paraluman.” This track that goes with the piano is fashioned with different vocal styles that sounded like you are listening to three different music genres rolled into one musical masterpiece.
The only English track in the album is “I’ll Always Be There For You.” This track is a kind of music that you could play in the living room without making your mother scream at the top of her lungs. It is something grown-ups and young ones could both enjoy.
“Pakiusap” is the closing track of the album. This very emotional song strummed by the guitar and hummed by a very infectious vocal style won’t beg you to finish off the entire song. Unusually, you won’t mind hearing it over and over again. The track is so affecting that even the track’s performer coos with only “oh,” you would feel the sincerity and the message the song would like to convey.

Not That Kind of Girl

Star in a Million first runner-up Nikki drops her surname Bacolod and releases her sophomore album. From sweet image and ballad singing, Nikki reinvents herself with mature packaging singing upbeat songs. The album Not That Kind of Girl is her explanation of the new image she portrays.
The album is composed of 12 tracks; three of them were originally Spanish songs translated to Filipino by Chuckie Dreyfus. “Not That Kind of Girl (Yo no soy esa mujer)” is the carrier single that supports Nikki’s transition into a lady sounds mature, however, the chorus is the only part of the song that you would enjoy. “Away from it All (Mas fuerte que tu)” is a weak track for it bores the listener because of redundant lyric. The third song that was translated by Dreyfus is “Somebody (A veces).” This one is an outstanding track for it definitely has an international appeal. All elements of this song complement her voice that resembles Lindsay Lohan’s.
“Malapit Na” is good as the opening track. The vocal is so enticing that it would make the boys be eager to know the girl behind the song. While the boys are wondering, girls could jump to slumber party and sing with the girl band sounding track “Step It Up.”
The most outstanding tracks in the album are “Wild Girl,” “Nalilito…Ginugulo,” “Anything and Everything,” and “Dreaming My Own Dream.”
“Wild Girl,” although could make Nikki be compared to the sound of Avril Lavigne and Ahsley Simpson, is definitely a sensation for it proves her versatility. “Nalilito…Ginugulo” goes with a catchy lyric that could actually make the listeners imagine every scene the song narrates. If narration is what the previous track does, “Anything and Everything” is a blissful song that could bring you to a different setting; a flower farm or grassland perhaps. “Dreaming My Own Dream” that breathes its own life, is a track suited to be a movie soundtrack because it engages listeners with its moving melody and lyric.
“A Little Nervous” is a country sound where you can hear Nikki’s soul speaks. To wrap up the album is “Rock Me Tonight” that pitches with strong electronic beat but fails to impress for its immature lyric. The whole album doesn’t fall short in supporting Nikki’s transition into a mature girl, indeed it proves that 18-year-old Nikki is no longer the kind of girl we used to know.

DAWN ZULUETA: On motherhood, beauty and politics

By Nickie Wang
Contributor /Manila Standard Today
17 June 2008

If a calla lily or honeysuckle would be a person, it would definitely be Dawn Zulueta.
Like these flowers, Dawn is admired, well-known for her blossoming and effervescent personality that appeals to people of all ages. She’s a mother who brings colors to the world of her child, and a wonderful wife who stands by her man.
Her popularity surged in the ’90s with an array of blockbuster films that showcased her refined dramatic flair, and television hosting that engraved her name as one of the most multi-talented actors around. Several years later, with just a few television appearances, it seems like Dawn Zulueta still appears in a daily primetime drama series. This is such a feat enjoyed by not many celebrities of her contemporary.

Dawn on parenting

As a mother to her two-and-a-half year-old son Jacobo, Dawn has learned even more significant things that help build her personality. Just like any other mother who wants only the best for her child, Dawn sees to it that she’s there to witness little things that her child will do, and be able to guide him in every small step that he makes. As the adage goes: “Motherhood is a learning process, an exercise of humility and patience,” and this has given Dawn a chance to know and discover things about herself.
“I find it [motherhood] very character building. I thought when I got married 10 years ago that the whole adjustment of married life was hard enough, a challenge enough, but it’s even more when you are a mother because there’s an expectation that you should always set as an example,” Dawn says over lunch.
She calls motherhood character building because it’s a great time for her to get to know herself and what her principles are, beliefs that she stands for. She says that these are the same things she will pass on Jacobo.

Jacobo goes to school

Dawn is more than excited for Jacobo in his first day in school. The toddler who goes to a preschool has been getting tips from her celebrity mom to prepare him for school.
The entire summer, Dawn had prepared him with little things like potty training, using more of his words, and learning to deal with teachers.
“Jacobo already talks but I encourage him to make use of his words more. I always tell him that school is going to start next week and he cannot scream on the floor so that the teacher would attend to his needs. I tell him that he needs to talk and use more of his words because teachers will not understand him with tantrums,” she said.
Dawn says Jacobo drinks six glasses of milk a day so she doesn’t worry about the nutrition her son is getting. She boasts that the kid doesn’t have any allergy but still consults the pediatrician whenever she’s giving a different milk formula to her child.
“When GainPlus came in, I said I have to consult my pedia[trician] first before I could consider it. I cannot just give something to my child, but I am glad that I switched to it. Even before Jacobo was taking GainPlus he was already taking Abbot formulas,” Dawn adds.
Dawn is enthusiastic to tell us something about Jacobo who was born prematurely. “He doesn’t like choco[late] much, so what I did, I mixed choco[late] with vanilla. He didn’t finish it because he wondered why it tasted different so I asked him: ‘Do you like chocolate or vanilla?’ ‘Nilla,’ he said.”
Dawn sees her son’s progress and she wants to continue the nutritional values his son is getting from Abbot products.

Fab at 39

Yes magazine voted Dawn one of the most beautiful stars in the Philippines. “I don’t know how they came up with that list,” a visibly flattered Dawn says, and adds that eating well and not over-doing everything are the only secret she has. “It doesn’t matter what size you are. What’s important is that you’re healthy. You’re heart is good,” she says.
Dawn who endorses beauty treatments said that she’s looking forward to see her wrinkles but will never ever try any cosmetic surgery to enhance her body or alter something on her face and be under anesthesia. She wants to age gracefully but confessed that she will do preventive measures to delay aging.
“I think I am lucky, that we are in this stage of technological advancement that all we have to do is to prevent aging. But believe me I don’t want to be 60 years old and still look like I am 30. For some people maybe that’s their goal but that’s not mine,” she confessed sincerely.
With her radiant skin and beautiful face she has been receiving movie and television offers but has chosen to decline, at least in the meantime. She is mostly occupied with motherhood and as a supportive wife to husband and Davao Rep. Anton Lagdameo. She plans to go back to hosting, films or TV series but she is choosy with the materials being offered to her. She would rather choose something that suits her taste and see herself doing.

Advocacies and politics

She is an active member of the Congressional Spouses Foundation, and also I Can Serve Foundation that helps women fight breast cancer.
In Davao, she is one of the people who try to seek funds for unit of the Davao Regional Hospital that was destroyed by fire thru Maharlika Foundation. She is also strongly involved with Bataluman Crisis Center, also in Davao, the center for the protection and rehabilitation of battered women and children.
It is no surprise that with these advocacies and projects, her name is always in the list of celebrities who are rumored as being groomed for an elective position. Her friends have been constantly egging her to join politics or be involved in some kind of public service. But Dawn says that politics is not her concern and there are better ways to help people other than being in government.
“I’ll just change my prayer that there’s someone fit, that when the time comes, it wouldn’t have to be me. Honestly, I would rather do what I am doing now and not to be in that kind of service. I think that’s a vocation for people who have empty nest. I have just started my nest. I can’t imagine I am planning to have another baby; I want to be a mom. I am not yet used to the idea that I am a mom and I would play a role of being the mother to my constituents, it’s tough,” she says.

Artists celebrate national hero’s 147th birthday

By Nickie Wang
Contributor/Manila Standard Today
15 June 2008

Artists make new possibilities, and that’s the reason the commemoration of our national hero’s birth is being spearheaded by the Cultural Center of the Philippines with the mounting of Pepe Goes To Market: Sining Selebrasyon ng Birthday Ni Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ Rizal, which features the country’s most celebrated artists in theater, dance, movies, visual arts, and music. It’s a star-studded event that will take place from June 19 to 21 at the Market! Market! in Bonifacio Global City.

This three-day event is presented by Artists Welfare Project Inc. (AWPI) and People’s Assembly for Genuine Alternatives Against Social Apathy (Pagasa). These organizations aim to drive home a message through a series of national festivals that would revive the country’s cultural life. The co-founders of Pagasa are staging cultural activities hoping to rekindle the public’s interest and in support for the “truth” and the positive values determinedly stood for by Rizal during his time.

“If we want to change the Philippines, we need to change the perception and the identity that create our problem and the best way to do that, in a cultural context, is actually through art. Art is understood as a form of entertainment, but it is for those who do not know the revolutionary power of art,” says Pagasa co-founder Nicky Perlas.

With a specific aim to encourage huge number of artists and cultural workers from various communities and fields to work together and support the advocacy efforts for moral transformation, truth and peace, this three-day event calls to the public especially the younger generation to recognize their significant role in changing the society.

“We cannot change our society if we will utilize past models of ideology or whatever it is. Through art, hopefully, we could release the creative energies that are suppressed. And why Rizal, his search for truth is part of his life, a good historical example and Rizal was a person of multiple intelligence,” Perlas explains.

Highlights of the festival include a special opening program and the launch of Corruptionary, a dictionary of terms related to the issue of corruption; choral concerts by the Philippine Madrigal Singers’ Choral Alliance and some government choirs; dance performances by Transitopia, Ballet Manila, Kabataang ROFG, among others; and a one-hour rock band concert to be performed by popular rock bands from the RockEd Alliance to be held at the mall’s Activity Center.

“We are defining a new way of being Filipino which is conscious living with integrity. And this is just an entry point. You, with your own talent, with your own unique expression how you are going to bring change, you are invited to these events,” Panjee Tapales, also a co-founder of Pagasa, said during the press conference at the CCP.

There will also be film screenings of Eddie Romero’s Noli Me Tangere, Marilou Diaz Abaya’s Rizal by GMA Films, and Ditsi Carolino’s Riles and Bunso at Cinema 6. For theater aficionados, outstanding theater groups from Tanghalang Pilipino, Philippine Educational Theater Association, Barasoain Kalinangan Foundation Inc., Gantimpala Theater Foundation, and the Philippine High School for the Arts will showcase excerpts from their musical theater productions.

An interactive exhibit will be mounted by the artists of Tutok Karapatan. Handmade objects from music CDs, bric-a-brac, souvenirs and other arts and crafts will be on display for sale at the artists’ tyangge. Leading opinion makers will lead discussions after selected performances, film screenings and forums.

The culmination the three-day festival is a grand concert with a 500 - voice choir together with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) featuring the country’s top vocalists Isay Alvarez, Bayang Barrios, Lolita Carbon, May Bayot, Joey Ayala, Noel Cabangon, among others. The Philippine All Stars will perform a special hip-hop number to the tune of Ipanalo Ang Totoo by Fr. Albert Alejo. Dramatic readings of Rizal’s Mi Ultimo Adios will be presented by leading television, theater and film actors who have portrayed Rizal in the past, like Ricky Davao, Joel Torre, Tommy Abuel and Pen Medina. Stage and television actor Gary Lim will be the festival’s contemporary “Pepe”.

The grand finale of the production will be the singing of the theme song of the festival entitled Bayang May Dangal, by Fr. Alejo and Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ.

Painting Araneta red

By Nickie Wang
Contributor / Manila Standard Today
10 June 2008

The futuristic theme of the PBB Teen Edition Plus at the Big Dome was an apt setting for its big night, especially when ex-housemates came together and welcomed promdi hottie, 18-year-old Ejay Falcon, as this edition’s Teen Big Winner.

Araneta Coliseum was nearly kaleidoscopic with colors as fans and supporters of the Teen Big Four flocked the venue early in the afternoon. Ambulances were situated at every entrance of the venue. Four colors were designated to the supporters of the four teenagers who successfully accomplished Big Brother’s final tasks; green for Beauty, red for Ejay, yellow for Nicole and blue for Robi.

The venue seemed to collapse when the program started at 8 p.m. with video clips showing the highlights of the whole season that premiered on Easter Sunday, March 23. The roaring screams of PBB fanatics got louder when, on the big video screen situated at the middle of the stage, Big Brother’s house was transformed into a space shuttle and went off the outer space.

The program was officially opened by a production number by celebrity ex-housemate John Prats and PBB Season 2 ex-housemate Mickey Perz. The cosmic dance number of the two was followed by energetic appearances of Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu and resident extra-terrestrial Kokey. All teen evictees and house players sporting red and white clothing graced the stage in an electrifying production number accompanied by the Project One singing Ang Sarap ng Buhay. Teen housemates Valerie and Priscilla, who wore angel wings, were lifted by a harness during their presentation.

Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson delighted their fans when they came back on the stage in a production number with the rest of the My Girl cast. The ABS-CBN proved that it was indeed a big night when Billy Crawford was officially welcomed as a Kapamilya during the teaser of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2. He made his hoofs and sang his previous hit “Bright Lights” before an ecstatic crowd at the Big Dome.

Red was the color of the night

The ultramodern themed stage was highly applauded. The lighting system was superb, so were hosts Toni Gonzaga, Mariel Rodriguez, and Bianca Gonzalez who were applauded by the crowd at every commercial break.

Luiz Manzano came in riding the space shuttle-like prop at the back of the stage. He sported an astronaut suit that was later taken off by the dancers as soon as he started his spiels.
The show was extraordinary but the crowd kept on stealing the show. The upper and the lower boxes were occupied by supporters in red t-shirts. They didn’t waste time screaming the name of their favorite teen housemate. Although the name of Robi resounded at the blue occupied patron and VIP area, the rest of the Araneta roared Ejay’s name.

The famous recognizable voice of Big Brother made his final talk to the Teen Big Four and reminded them about their goals before they entered his house. He also mentioned the lessons they learned throughout the 77 days of their stay inside the camera-filled residence and advised the four teenagers to remain as inspirations and good examples to the Filipino youths.

The moment that all had been waiting for started when the countdown for the last minute of text voting was announced. The two girls were the ones who first appeared onstage. Beauty with 10.91 percent or 186,523 votes was announced as the PBB Teen 4th Big Placer. Nikki follows suit as PBB Teen 3rd Big Placer, garnering 18.39 percent or 314,582 votes. The two boys remained inside the cubicle where the Teen Big Four stayed during the entire show before the winners were proclaimed. Based on the tally, the two boys were neck-and-neck; they even switched ranks at times. Robi was awarded the PBB Teen 2nd Big Placer, with 34.39 percent or 588,115 votes. Finally, with 36.31 percent or 620,934 votes, Ejay emerged as the PBB Teen Big Winner taking home P1 million, a condominium unit at Château Valenzuela, a business franchise from Crystal Clear drinking water worth P1.5 million and a Sony Bravia plasma TV.

The Teen Big Winner

Ejay Falcon was born on Nov. 21, 1989. Towering at six feet tall, he endeared himself to the followers of the reality TV show with his good looks and down-to-earth attitude. He left his hometown Pola, Oriental Mindoro and went to Manila to find his biological mother. He was disappointed when he found out his mother has another family.

According to his profile in the PBB Teen Edition Plus Web site, this shy rural lad grew up with his stepfather. His biological father is a Frenchman. During his first visit in Manila, he confessed that he had troubles dealing with technological gadgets and even elevators. He is a courageous and determined young adult who would do whatever it takes to free his family from poverty. He regards poverty as the main reason why his parents’ marriage was ruined. He dreams big for his family that even if he is granted one wish, he’d not ask for fame but for his family to be together again.

Movie industry in mourning

By Nickie Wang / Manila Standard Today
09 June 2008

Movies depict life, and not all movies finish off with happy endings. Rudy “Daboy” Fernandez’s script had ended after the sunrise of June 7. At the age of 56, he passed away at 6:15 in the morning. He was surrounded by his loving wife Lorna Tolentino and sons Renz Marion and Raphael.

After being diagnosed two years ago with pariampullary cancer, a rare and an aggressive form of illness, Rudy, with wife Lorna, had traveled to the US several times to obtain treatments to prolong his life. With great courage, Rudy battled the punishing effect of the cancer to his entire body system, yet the fatal illness had trounced his courage that he had to succumb to his sad yet peaceful demise.

Rudy’s death is a fact that Lorna had to unwillingly accept. The actress who never left her husband’s side until his last breath issued a statement two days before Rudy’s death that she’s ready to accept her husband’s sad fate.

Rudy was confined at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center for a month before he was brought home where his family, closest friends and relatives watched over him agonizingly and reluctantly as they waited for his fadeout.

Their home on Joeylane Street in White Plains in Quezon City was filled with grief with the presence of Rudy’s closest friends like Senator Jinggoy Estrada, actors Tirso Cruz III and Amy Austria, who gave way to Rudy’s immediate family during his last moment. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, another close pal of Rudy, left the Fernandezes’ residence two hours before Rudy expired. Tirso was fighting back his tears when he had an interview a few hours after Rudy’s death saying that two or three weeks before, he and his wife had to do the ocular for the action star’s burial place.

Rudy’s final wish was to be laid to rest at the Heritage Park in Taguig City and to have all his fans allowed to visit his wake and be given free shuttle service. The action hero is getting this wish as his supporters flock his wake at the Heritage Memorial Chapels and Crematorium at The Fort in Taguig City when it was opened for public visit on Saturday afternoon.

Daboy, the action hero

Rudy started his stint in showbiz at the age of four, his debut film was Luksang Tagumpay (1957) directed by his father, the late actor-director Gregorio Fernandez. He then rose to fame with Bitayin si Baby Ama (1976), Ruther Batuigas... Pasukuin si Waway (1984) and Victor Corpuz (1987). These are the films that gave Daboy acting awards from Famas and Film Academy of the Philippines.

Rudy was known for his portrayal of true-to-life characters like Markang Bungo, in which he became famous for the tagline: “trabaho lang ito, walang personalan,” and movies like Ping Lacson: Supercop, (2000) and Lagalag: The Eddie Fernandez Story (1994).

With his movies where he usually played the hero who fights for the rights of the downtrodden, a hero who topples the villains, a loving father and a husband, an actor who supports his colleague, and a person who struggled to fight his personal obstacle, Rudy Fernandez served as an inspiration to many people in and out of showbiz. And just like his movies, from oppression and defeat he would rise to victory. He was defeated by an illness, yet inspired millions with his courage to face his Creator.

Boston pop quintet clicks with Pinoy teens

By Nickie Wang /Manila Standard Today
03 June 2008

“You get one shot, one song and that’s it. And you’re in a room full of screaming girls and we played acoustically and couldn’t hear ourselves.”

Ethan Mentzer, The Click Five’s bass player, was definitely right when he uttered this quote two years ago. Last Friday night, the Boston-based quintet raised the roof of the Araneta Coliseum for their 90-minute bubblegum rock concert.

It was a night of glass-breaking screams and chair-banging as over 10,000 fans waited for the much-anticipated concert to start. The show that didn’t start just yet minutes after two front acts made the teen-dominated audience screaming at the top of their lungs even with just video clips being shown through wide screen monitors at both sides of the stage.

After almost two hours of endless waiting, the wide curtain that covered what was beneath the stage became a screen on which never-before-seen clips of Ethan Mentzer (bass), Joe Guese (lead guitar), Kyle Patrick (vocals), Ben Romans (keyboard), and Joey Zehr (drums) were projected.

The audience went wild when finally the curtain was pulled down and revealed members of The Click Five in black and gray outfits for the opening number of the show, the smash hit Flipside. With guitars adorned with glistening stones slung around their shoulders, the band members sustained and even poured out more energy when they sang “Happy Birthday”—two of their members, Kyle and Joey, actually celebrated their birthday here in the country.

Apparently, the band must have dispensed much vigor during the opening that for the third song, their performance began to show signs of weariness, hence it ended as dull and lifeless. With “Addicted To Me,” a track from their Modern Minds and Pastimes album, some of the young girls who queued at the center aisle of the Big Dome and were wild wiggling their butts with the rhythm, slowly went back to their seats. Still, they couldn’t get over the euphoria and continued moving their heads like they were banging them on an invisible wall, making them look like zombies possessed by incubus. The monotonous performance continued when they played “All I Need Is You” but instantly revived their presence with the songs “Empty” and “Summertime.” An exact irony of the song “Empty,” the Big Dome was alive and full, with the audience enjoying the last taste of summer. Grown-ups were also present at the event letting their young ones bawl to death over band members who didn’t look as dashing as they were in photographs, excluding Kyle and Ethan of course.

Ethan, Joe, Kyle, Ben, and Joey lined up on the stage when they performed their songs “There You Are,” “Just The Girl,” “Long Way To Go,” “Pump It Up,” and “When I’m Gone” before they opted for a five-minute break.

The band returned with much-renewed verve and mesmerized the screaming fans with dynamic hit “Catch Your Wave,” proceeded to another song before singing the most popular girl’s name of the evening “Jenny.” Yes, “Jenny” was the most popular name of the night and The Click Five’s performance of the song was defied by 10,000 jumping and screaming fans that even the drum beats were barely heard.

The whole audience area had its own lighting system that challenged the stage that constantly changed from yellow to green then blue to purple and red. The upper and the lower boxes were lighted by neon sticks held by the audience not to mention the red devil horns that were worn as headbands. Complimenting the effulgent crowd was the finale Headlight Disco where Kyle lay down on the floor while flaunting his flair in guitar.

The Click Five is one of the reasons Filipino fans rush to concert venues even if tickets are sold at sky-high prices. With just two albums, the band was able to produce more than five hit songs; enough to keep the crowd in a concert hanging on to the finish. How many local artists have produced two or three chart-topping singles nowadays? We can count them with our fingers in one hand. The truth is, upcoming Filipino artists are not given a chance or the financial support to show their attitude just like Ben Romans, the mad keyboardist of The Click Five who danced and waved his hands like he got away from a cuckoo’s nest. Though the band has a massive popularity here in Southeast Asia, it doesn’t enjoy the same treatment and publicity in its homeland. Well, Americans know better, they don’t enjoy shallow lyrics and redundant phrases for a song.

Indo-Pinoy singer-guitarist Lala opened the show at the Araneta at 8 p.m. and rendered some of her songs. She was able to wow the impatient crowd with her impressive vocal range. But the front act that really rocked the stage was Rivermaya who happened to have thousands of fans present at the venue. Rivermaya, with its newest lead vocalist Jason Fernandez, went retrospective playing its ’90s hits before endorsing its latest album Buhay and gave the audience a little taste from it.