Pacquiao returns to GMA-7

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

After announcing that his much-awaited fight against Ricky Hatton will be aired on ABS-CBN, Pacquiao made an apologetic announcement honoring the exclusive rights of GMA-7 and Solar Sports to broadcast his May 2 title bout.

It’s a mission accomplished for GMA Network vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante, who personally flew to Los Angeles to have a serious talk with the boxing champ. In a text message sent by the executive, she said, “God is good and Manny Pacquiao will remain a Kapuso.”

Pacquiao, who is part of the series Totoy Bato that also stars Robin Padilla and Regine Velasquez, is having his rigid training in the States to prepare for his fight scheduled in May. He made a controversial announcement that surprised both GMA Network and Solar Sports.

“We were very very surprised and at the same time very disappointed because we looked at all angles and we felt that wasn’t a smart decision,” Solar Sports’ vice president for sales and marketing Jude Turcuaco told Standard Today last week.

Solar Sports immediately held a press conference to discuss the matter with the media and to answer questions hounding the issue. According to Turcuaco, the network’s president and chief executive Wilson Tieng and chief operating officer Peter Chanliong flew to Los Angeles to talk to Pacquiao.

The major development happened after the executive had a thorough discussion with the boxing champ and convinced him not to rescind his contract with Solar Sports because it’s binding and valid.

Meanwhile at the same press conference, the lawyers who are handling the issue stated that Manny Pacquiao’s announcement and attempt to cancel the license agreement was based on the misinterpretation of facts. They added that Pacquiao may have been misled or misguided that Solar Entertainment has committed a breach of contract, but the fact is that Solar has complied with the agreement.

The sports cable channel signed a block-time agreement with GMA-7 to telecast all the fights of Pacquiao until May 2011.

The controversy started when Solar Sports apparently didn’t fulfill its financial obligation to Pacman who was supposed to receive 25 percent of the payment 10 days after the fight contract was signed last January. The boxer made a decision to rescind his contract to Solar Sports and chose ABS-CBN to cover his bout with Hatton and his three remaining fights scheduled within the next two years.

It was reported that Pacquiao also chose ABS-CBN because it can give better coverage and bigger exposure in helping him for his bid for the elections in 2010.

Solar Sports, however, denied that it was negligent to its financial obligation to the boxing icon. But the cable channel apparently deposited the money, which Pacquiao was asking in advance, only last March 17.

The sports cable channel executive Turcuaco stated that legal means are its last option, the initially prepared P150-million lawsuit against Pacquiao was supposed to protect all parties involved in the contract. Now that Pacquiao has decided to cooperate with Solar Sports and GMA-7, everything is well and all parties are back at work.

On the latest development, ABS-CBN made an announcement that it respects the decision of Manny Pacquiao to reconsider his contract to GMA and Solar Sports. The network made this decision to ease things out and avoid for the matter to reach the courtroom.

Cesar Montano: Intertwined life in the movies and politics

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

Is Cesar Montano going to run for a political post again? Well, the right person to answer this question is no other than Cesar himself.

The actor plunged into politics when he made a sudden decision to join the Senate slate in the 2007 elections under the administration’s TEAM Unity. Critics said it was an immature and bad decision. Apart from the fact that actors are no longer popular in winning the elections, Cesar’s senatorial bid was unexpected and his platform was too limited to arts and culture development, relatively unpopular among voters.

“No regrets at all. I learned a lot of things from that experience,” said Cesar during a short talk with the press after the launch of Western Union Gold Card at Teatrino in Greenhills recently.

Cesar is challenged by a clamor asking him to enter politics again. This time, Boholanos are asking him to run as a governor in his hometown.

“I’m almost considering it,” said the 46-year-old actor and occasional movie director. “What delay my decision are questions that I need to answer like, ‘Can I live there for five days and stay here in Manila for just two days to check on my kids?’ Or ‘Can I just transfer my kids there to study, what about my shows and shooting?’ And there are more questions that I need to discuss with my wife,” Cesar explained.

The actor is considering other matters that do not just involve his family but also the people and the province he would be serving in case he’d be voted for a government position. He mentioned that his presence in Bohol would be greatly needed as the father of the province.

The finality of his answer also depends on the decision of his wife, Sunshine Cruz. The Singing Bee host said he is consulting Sunshine and that they are both going to decide on the matter.

“We’ve talked about this thing but I told her that there’s no need to hurry deciding on it. I told her that we could decide later on, maybe on the last quarter of the year,” the actor said, noting the sentiments of his wife and family.

Once final with his decision, Cesar would be up against congressmen from the province who are in their last terms. There is also a strong possibility that the incumbent vice governor of the province would be his strong rival. When asked about the qualifications that suits him for the position, the award-winning actor exclaimed, “The island of Bohol is a tourist zone, I’m in [the] film business. Movie is a great and a very powerful medium to elevate the tourism of an island. I’m saying that because na-prove ko na ’yan with Panaghoy Sa Suba that won 37 awards from abroad. I was able to introduce Loboc River through the film, and dumagsa ang mga tourists sa lugar after that.”

Panaghoy Sa Suba, also referred as Cry of the River, is a 2004 film that earned different accolades here and abroad. Cesar produced, directed and starred the film.

Cesar is excited about a new project that he is willing to do this year even if he wouldn’t get any support from any big film outfits.

“I’m interested to do the [movie on] Francisco Dagohoy, kasi talagang taga-Bohol ’yun. Si Francisco Dagohoy, led the longest revolt in the Philippines, his story is part of our history. Another one is Eskaya, parang alibata ’yan… Alibata [a pre-Spanish writing system] from Luzon, Eskaya from the south,” Cesar discussed.

Eskaya, which Cesar is very excited about, is actually a name of an indigenous group found in the mountainous area of Bohol. Its language Eskayan interestingly has no clear relationship with any known language.

“Many people think that early Filipinos were illiterate. They didn’t know that Filipinos could communicate, we could write, we could read already, even before, way before the Spanish came to the Philippines. We need to share this to the world. I’m thinking of doing it this year, kahit indie I will do it, the Philippines has to do it,” the determined actor said.

Cesar added that he is in regular talk with his Hollywood contacts that would be instrumental in introducing Bohol as good place for location shoot for international movies.

“Two weeks ago, I was in the US. Kausap ko ’yung nag-produce ng The Great Raid [Cesar’s first Hollywood film] and Titanic. I meet people and I gather stories suited for international release. ’Yung mga stories na pwedeng gamitan ng 70 percent na salitang Ingles para maging American picture, parang Slumdog [Millionaire]. We don’t lack talents, we only need to be aggressive, and we need contacts,” the actor related.

He already foresees the project that he might get involved with once elected. To the question that connects him to running as a governor of Bohol in the elections next year, “I’m 70 percent sure,” was his answer.

“Isa pa ’yan na pwede kong gawin sa Bohol . But if I can prove to our Hollywood connections that Bohol is one of the safest places to shoot a movie, then with just one film, ang tourism ay aangat,” he ended and coined the word Bohollywood.

Animax animates the ‘Laminated Woman’

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

LaMB premieres 8 p.m. tonight. It is the first multi-platform, multi-disciplinary, and multi-media production for online, mobile and television produced by Animax.

This $6-million animated film, the biggest Animax original production, is also the channel’s first production in High Definition to be broadcast across several countries. The story is inspired by the script submitted by Filipino amateur writer Carmelo Juinio to the Animax Awards 2007 pan-Asia scriptwriting contest.

Juinio’s entry entitled Laminated Woman: To the Sand Planet Cerra, won in the Philippine leg of the competition and was sent to the regional competition in Japan where it won second prize.

“I lost in the finals in Japan. I massively missed on the fact that I do not have a strong child character in the script. I think all animés should have a strong child character even if it is just a sidekick. Most animés are really about kids,” Carmelo Junio told us before the special screening of the full-length animated movie.

Laminated Woman lost out to the competition winner Takane’s Bike written by Hayato Takamaga from Japan.

According to Animax, Juinio’s script impressed Japanese industry experts with its dark beauty and soulful depth, and was accorded a Special Award recognition for his amazing talent. Handpicked from over 3,000 entries across Asia, LaMB is centered on the life of a woman in a laminated suit.

“Japanese people have a peculiar way of shortening long words. So from laminated, they made it lamb,” the amateur writer said explaining how the title became LaMB from the original “Laminated Woman,” adding also that lamination is a system of virtual slavery that punishes convicts yet still makes them productive members of the society.

The writer’s meme

LaMB revolves around the story of two protagonists named Eve, a laminated woman or simply a LaMB, and Jack, a scientist who is on a mission to turn the unforgiving landscape of planet Cerra green.

“The real-life inspiration would be two people sitting in the same room, probably colleagues at work, they’re seated right across each other but they don’t communicate. It is the same thing here, but it is more extreme,” Juinio conveyed.

He added that a laminated person can barely speak nor make his own decisions. So the two protagonists are practically in the same room but they are not communicating until they discover something which is very Filipino, a communication tool which is equivalent to text messaging.

“My ideas are accidental; it’s opportunistic in the sense that for example the dinosaurs became extinct and the little furry creatures at that time evolved into large mammals and eventually into us, humans. So I guess it’s opportunism in a grand scale, mine is opportunism in a smaller scale,” the writer related.

Juinio seemed awestricken seeing the animated film for the very first time. He believes that there were changes made in the script to adapt the story to other Asian audiences.

“I tried to control my emotional level because it’s bad for the health, it causes ulcer and all, you know. My excitement is actually gradual; it’s like gradually a rising hill. I’m not overly excited,” Juinio said before the screening.

Juinio, who proclaimed himself as a professional bum (a creative bum that is), said that the idea of the story has been with him all along. Something came to him at the turn of the century but it was only when the contest came around that he took opportunity to evolve the idea into something concrete.

“It came about through evolution, it was a very germ of an idea, I can’t remember what precisely it was but it was a very simple idea like a song in the night, I have this vision of two people holding hands and not touching,” Juinio concluded.

LaMB will have special encores on March 25 to 29 for the Part 1, and Part 2 will be broadcast on March 30. The animated movie also features French-Canadian band Simple Plan and the American band The Click Five. Both bands produced songs that serve as title tracks of the movie. Meanwhile, Hong Kong actress Josie Ho and Taiwan’s heartthrob Van Ness Wu are also part of the animated movie as voice actors of the main characters, Eve and Jack.

Richard Gutierrez relives the Legend of Zorro

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

This year’s most anticipated and ambitious program to be produced on primetime television is the first and official localized version of the story of a fictional character created in the early 20th century.

Zorro, GMA Network’s latest addition to its strong Telebabad block, will be headlined by Richard Gutierrez playing the role of Antonio Pelaez, a nobleman and master swordsman living in the Spanish colonial era.

Gutierrez is set to charm three of the television’s hottest and equally talented young actresses: Rhian Ramos as Lolita, the ladylove of Zorro; Bianca King as Cara; and Michelle Madrigal as Juana.

According to GMA vice president for entertainment Wilma Galvante, this world-class series is shot entirely in the picturesque and Spanish-inspired location in Bagac, Bataan. She added that viewers will have a visual trip into the past with the presence of grand old-style houses, cobblestones pathways and fortifications. The scenes that feature gypsies, carnivals, circus actors, courtesans and pirates are few of the main attractions that will give the series an authentic Spanish-era feel.

Directed by distinguished directors who have helmed numerous top-rating programs in GMA: Mark Reyes, the man behind successful series Encantadia and Codename: Asero; and Dominic Zapata, the virtuoso director whose projects include Mulawin and Captain Barbell, are out to transform the Legend of Zorro into a moving tale that will captivate local audience starting today.

The masked hero

At the grand launch of the series, which was indeed a grandiose event, Richard entered the newly built state-of-the-art Studio 7 of GMA hovering across the venue through a harness connected to a cable. He then gave the entertainment press a peek of what kind of action viewers can expect from the action-packed made-for-television program.

“Our main goal is not to surpass what the original Zorro did. We just want him to look like a Pinoy. With the help and cooperation of the whole team, I think we are on the right track,” Richard related when he was flanked by the press.

Richard will be seen carrying a long, slender, two-edged sword throughout the series, as he reprises the role of the masked hero.

According to the actor, although he knows how to ride a horse, he had to undergo training in horseback riding to prepare for the role. Just like the whole cast, he also had Spanish lessons to prepare his tongue in pronouncing foreign words included in the script. As part of the preparation, the actor even studied fencing that primed him for difficult skirmishing stunts.

The blazing ‘Z’ mark

The original Zorro is famous for branding his tyrants on the chest with a blazing “Z” mark. Will this new series make another mark to GMA’s primetime block?

Zorro is Richard’s seventh collaboration with the station after Mulawin, Sugo, Captain Barbell, Lupin, Kamandag, and Codename: Asero. All of these top-rating programs gave Richard the moniker “Primetime King.” Aside from the established connection the actor has made with the loyal Kapuso viewers, the series’ powerhouse cast is also one of the program’s main attractions.

The star-studded cast are Eddie Gutirrez as Governor Luis Argon, Mark Gil as Capt. Horacio Pelaez, TJ Trinidad as Ramon Pelaez, Jomari Yllana as Diego dela Vega, Sandy Andolong as Maria, Pinky Marquez as Doña Catalina Pulido, Leo Martinez as Don Carlos Pulido, Bobby Andrews as Sgt. Pedro Gonzales, Ricky Davao as Padre Felipe, Sheena Halili as Lena, Bubbles Paraiso as Magda, Maureen Larazabal as Bella, Robert Villar as Pepe, Antonio Aquitania as Bernardo, Elvis Gutierrez as Silverio, Epi Quizon as Shishong, Bodie Cruz as Agustin Manalo, Paloma as Paquita, Shiela Marie as Liza, and Gloria Sevilla as Nana Zita.

The program that also boasts lavish production design and exceptional visual effects tells a story of a skilled horseman who becomes the champion of the masses. Abandoned by his courtesan mother (Marcela, to be played by Lani Meracdo) at a young age, Antonio (Richard Gutierrez) was raised under the care of the well-off haciendero Don Roberto Pelaez (Joel Torre) and his wife Doña Chiquita (Jacklyn Jose).

Amidst being raised by an affluent family, Antonio builds close ties with the commoners called Indios and empathizes with their plight. The romance, on the other hand, starts when Antonio meets the hardheaded Lolita (Rhian Ramos), during his search for his mother.

“I’m excited about this. Even though I didn’t audition, I’m still happy that I got the part,” Rhian revealed. “I’m so happy to be with a leading man I’m comfortable working with.”

The young actress said that because of her busy schedule during the casting of the series, she wasn’t able to audition for the plum role, but it was anyway her intention to be part of the much awaited series. Zorro is the third onscreen tandem of Rhian and Richard after Captain Barbell and Lupin.

Rock band restarts journey with Arnel Pineda

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

Our old pals can still rock, and the inclusion of Filipino rocker Arnel Pineda provided new energy to the band that has been entertaining fans across the globe for more than three decades now.

Last Saturday at exactly 8:30 p.m., rock aficionados had a dynamic auditory and visual experience. It’s a kind of concert that some Filipinos have been missing all these years because it was the Journey’s first-ever concert in the country. The Philippine concert was also the band’s first pit stop in Asia to promote the new album Revelation.

Before the band hit the stage, there was an announcement that the concert is being filmed for a special DVD. The cooperation of 20,000 people was needed to show how the band was received in the hometown of its new lead vocalist.

Right after the announcement, the band composed of Neal Schon (guitars), Jonathan Cain (keyboards), Ross Valory (bass), Deen Castronovo (drums), and Pineda immediately started the show with the upbeat “Never Walk Away.” Pineda moved like a torpedo on the concert platform as if he was trying to familiarize himself with the stage while belting “Only The Young.”

The opening salvo and the succeeding few songs were ripped from the band’s latest album. Indeed, the concert served as a launch pad to introduce the band’s latest offering that features Pineda as its new vocalist. Pineda had crowd stand up with the rock ballad “After All These Years.” It was enough to keep the crowd standing in the succeeding numbers “Change For The Better and “Where Did I Lose Your Love.”

The spirit was high until the five-piece band performed the classic records “Ask The Lonely,” “Stone In Love,” and “Separate Ways.”

For not so avid followers of the band, some of the songs appeared to be unfamiliar. When Pineda went backstage and changed his outfit, the pint-size rocker dished hard rocking performance of hits the band is known for. As Pineda reappeared on the stage, majority of the audience stood up and sang along with him as he belted “Open Arms,” which was introduced by a genius play of the piano. Pineda furthered with “Faithfully” and dedicated the song to all the women present at the concert ground, including his wife.

Did the band live up to the expectation of the audience?

There was no element of surprise in the three-hour rock concert but it was long enough to squeeze in all the songs that the band wanted to share to its audience. Unfortunately, that was the very downside of the whole show. Not everybody who visited the Journey at the Mall of Asia concert ground was a die-hard supporter.

Although the band has established its sound and can brag about numerous hits tucked under its belt, most of its songs do have the same melody. If you would just close your eyes, you wouldn’t be able to distinguish if the band had started performing the next song. It was also noticeable that the band wanted to leave an impression that its musical talent is beyond outstanding. Every number was actually a showcase of each member’s musical flair. Most performances were prolonged to give way for the drummer to do a little exhibition and for the six-string master to do complicated guitar.

Majority of the concert attendees packed tightly onto the standing-only Silver and Bronze areas and the more affluent concertgoers with Gold and VIP tickets sat comfortably fronting the stage seeing the band in action. But these people seemed to have enough of the long performance that the encore appeared to be bland and people started moving to the exit not minding what Pineda would have to say.

One discernable showcase in the concert was the way technical staff played with the lights. The professional and creative lighting system excitingly transformed the stage and the whole venue in producing different visual treats. But the real spectacle in the concert was Pineda who has been fronting the band for two years now.

Pineda, who frequently shouted “Proud to be Pinoy” and waved small Philippine flag throughout the concert, earned some loud cheers from the audiences, which did not just include his countrymen because there were ample numbers of expatriates among the crowd.

If people would ask if Pineda sounded like Steve Perry (Journey’s best-known lead vocalist), the answer is yes. In fact, his genuine energy was outshined by the similarity of vocals to Perry’s.

Final set throws fans into hysterical frenzy

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

It’s around 10:30 in the evening, what emotion would you feel if the iconic “Ang Huling El Bimbo” was being performed by the greatest local band, and you were in the middle of one hundred thousand people who are practically singing the song through their hearts, and the sky was just perfectly lit up by magnificent fireworks display?

To Eraserheads fans, and to anyone who would have the firsthand experience of it, the feeling would be a surreal mix of emotions, if not a four-minute escape from reality.

On March 7, as early as 3 p.m., the E-heads fans (the generation of Pinoy Rock lovers who are generally in the age group of early 20s and early 30s) queued up at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds to watch the landmark concert, The Final Set.

The critically acclaimed quartet of Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro was back onstage to follow-up the last year’s concert that was prematurely cut-off due to Buendia’s health condition.

When the sun went down on the horizon of Manila Bay, the production staff started testing the lighting system on the stage; the entire setup was as high as a seven-story building. It was a trip down memory lane when an audiovisual presentation of one of the country’s most important rock bands was shown on widescreen monitors and video walls, four of them were suspended more than 20 feet above the stage.

The AVP showcased old videos and interviews of the band. It was immediately followed by a countdown that started with the letter Z and ended with the letter E. As the last letter flashed on video walls, the Eraserheads made a grand entrance to play the first song of the night, “Magasin,” which was complemented by fireworks that briefly gushed around the stage.

The first set saw the band’s performance of the songs “Walang Nagbago,” “Maling Akala,” “Maskara,” “Poor Man’s Grave,” “Waiting for the Bus,” “Huwag Mo Nang Itanong” (with Marcus giving it a reggae twist), “Slow/Slo Mo,” “Alkohol,” “Insomia,” and “Torpedo.”

A 25-minute break gave the fans a new feeling of great anticipation waiting for the E-heads to dish out another set of songs that give definition to what 90s OPM rock is all about.

More relaxed and more connected with the mammoth audience, the four music geniuses went back onstage for the second set doing the acoustic versions of their international hit “Julie Tearjerky.” Even though it was an open-air venue, the sound system neatly fit the acoustic versions of the other hits like “Tikman,” “Wishing Wells,” “Fine Time,” “Pare Ko,” and “Kailan.” They went rocking again by reliving the other colossal hits “Back2Me,” “Trip To Jerusalem,” “Spolarium,” and “Overdrive.”

Tribute to Francis M.

The Eraserheads paid tribute to Philippine rap icon Francis Magalona, who died a day before the event of multiple organ failure due to leukemia. The Master Rapper was scheduled to appear as a special guest at the concert and since the demise of the rapper made a big impact across the local music world, the band instead dedicated the concert to the late musician.

November last year, Ely and Francis decided to do a collaboration by coming up with an album called The Sickos Project. The idea came about when both musicians were confined at the hospital with Ely recuperating from a heart surgery and Francis under treatment due to the illness that recently claimed his life. The slated appearance of Francis at the concert is said to be in line with the promotion of the album.

It was during the encore when Ely said, “Sumigaw tayo para kay Francis,” and played the song “Superproxy” ripped from the band’s third and best-selling album, Cutterpillow. It was followed by the performance of “Alapaap.” The band ended the song with “Kaleidoscope World” with its more recognizable lyric.

The final set

The encore witnessed the euphoric performance of “Ang Huling El Bimbo.” The song was accompanied by a genius play of lighting and a boastful surge of gold confetti complemented further by fireworks display. It was a four-minute emotion-filled finale where Ely had to burn the piano they used to render the anthemic ditty; it was the same piano that appeared on the CD cover of Sticker Happy, the band’s fifth album. He even smashed the musical instrument to complete the fiery stunt.

“Group hug, group hug,” yelled the one-tenth of a million number of audience asking the band to give each other an embrace.

Instead of giving its fans the last treat, the quartet just put their arms across each other’s shoulders, bowed, and bade goodbye. And as the exit areas were clogged by people who thought the show was over, Raimund Marasigan went back onstage and asked the audience, “Gusto n’yo pa?”

Raimund said for the last time, “Hindi ’to kasama sa Set List ah,” and Ely followed with “Here’s three for the road.”

As part of the (second) encore, the quartet gave its audience the final treat for the night singing the songs “Ligaya,” “Sem Break,” and the catchy and nostalgic “Toyang.”

The Eraserheads staged a milestone concert, and yes, Edsa was congested three hours even after the concert. Indeed, it is safe to say that The Final Set was the concert of the year. It attracted a number of audiences who were gathered by the same fascination and admiration for the band that made an indelible mark in the history of Pinoy Music.

The performance of the band itself was already predictable, but seeing the members together for the last time made all the difference. The songs played at the concert, and the way the crowd reacted and religiously sang along with them, greatly defined the influence of the Eraserheads’ music, not to mention its successful attempt to bridge the generation gap in musical taste.

Saying ‘I do’ for the nest egg

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

We were invited to an event that launched ETC Entertainment Central’s newest program, Here Come the Newlyweds. Bonifacio High Street was an apt location for a launch that was attended by chatty disc jockeys from top FM radio stations and some energetic and young scribes from magazines and dailies.

Right smack in the middle of the posh location, ETC set up a huge projection monitor and a couple of LCD screen monitors around the venue. While having sumptuous dinner, the program’s first episode was shown on the screens.

The first installment of the 12-episode show (the US version was actually six episodes and ETC decided to divide each episode into two) introduced seven just-married couples. The fresh-from-the-altar couples are diverse, sexy and competitive, including such pairings as high school sweethearts, couples who fell in love at first sight, an arranged marriage, an interracial couple, and two divorcees who are hoping the fourth time is the charm.

As the seven couples met for the first time, each husband was blindfolded and was asked to choose which kiss belongs to his wife. A sex therapist also gave the couples some interesting advice.

All of us had a hard laugh and some didn’t even mind to stand up from their seats to queue at the buffet table because of the show’s interesting kick-starter. The couples, in the episode entitled My Wife the Backseat Driver, were asked to maneuver, drive, and properly park a car, the husbands were blindfolded and the wives were in the passenger seat giving the instruction (imagine motorists doing that on Edsa).

Because couples can’t live on love alone, the couple that earned immunity on the first task took the money offered by the host, Canadian writer and comedian Pat Bullard. Amidst the couple’s willingness to stay in the reality competition, they were subsequently voted off.

Every other week (make it each week for the original version), one couple will be sent home after every competition. Every challenge requires the couples to compete for a nest egg worth hundreds of thousands of dollars by accomplishing a variety of mental and physical challenges together. The idea is to test their love and passion for one another while completing the tasks, which are not so far from the challenges they encounter in real life.

After watching the first episode, we were asked to go back to our designated tables, and then the host of the evening, Karen Pamintuan, told everyone that the program is not yet over. It was our turn now to have a dip on the exhilarating experience the newlyweds had by joining our assigned team to race and go for egg hunting with a twist. Though we had just finished dinner, we agreed to go for the challenge.

There were seven pit stops, where we had to accomplish a task to get one egg that contained another direction that led us to another pit stop. The challenge tested our endurance as we ran from Rox to Fully Booked, then to The Spa, to Topshop, VMV, and practically around Bonifacio High Street before finally getting to the final pit stop, Coffee Bean. The winning team’s four members each received an egg that contains a three-day vacation package for two in Boracay. The other six non-winning teams didn’t go home empty-handed for they were given gift packs that were quite good enough for a consolation.

When the game was over, some of us quipped that if the Here Come the Newlyweds will showcase the same adrenaline rush we had, the show must be good and an exciting one to watch out for.

Catch the show on ETC every Friday at 8 p.m.; ETC is available on SBN 21, SkyCable channel 16, Destiny Cable channel 30, and CableLink 48.

Karylle unravels a story through music

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

Karylle’s reconstructed heart, figuratively we mean, is amazingly strong for she just throws unpretentious smiles when asked about her failed relationship with actor Dingdong Dantes.

Instead of letting herself be doomed to frustration and heartbreak, she comes up with a project that serves as an avenue of her creativity. Truly, people cannot just find love nor depend happiness on other people alone.

Certain that she is in the moving-on phase, Karylle is vocal on how she deals with people asking how she’s doing. She has learned how to be sincere to people she meets and who subsequently seek her advice on how to cope with failed relationships.

“Even though I would rather be quiet about this whole situation, I guess it’s time to speak up and share what I’ve learned to [sic] other people,” Karylle told writers at the launch of Time For Letting Go.

The songs in the album basically show the stages of moving on. The CD comes with a booklet that contains the lyric of the songs plus an explanation of the stages of her life during her troubled times. The 11-track album is a collection of her most favorite songs, including eight covers and three originals. The album showcases a duet with Martin Nievera (“The Best of Me”) and collaboration with mother Zsa Zsa Padilla (“I Live For Your Love”).

Denial and anger

“Denial is when you keep on saying ‘I’m okay’ even when you’re not.”

Although she doesn’t have a song selected to define denial, Karylle explained that in the beginning, she chose to believe that everything was fine even if something wrong was really happening. When she finally realized the truth, her anger was released through rock songs, loud angry songs. For the album, nonetheless, she chose to cover a Regine Velasquez original “You’ve Made Me Stronger” and a Sheena Easton ballad, “Almost Over You.”

Anger is the emotional state that inhibited Karylle to have a sound and clear thinking. As her depression was tough, she relates to the song “I’ll Never Get Over You, Getting Over Me,” the album’s kick-off single borrowed from the ’80s vocal group, Exposé. It is her outlet to express what she felt at the height of her much publicized breakup with Dingdong.

Depression and bargaining

Right after the denial stage, Karylle had to comprehend reality pushing her to write songs and include them in the album like “Minamahal Kita,” and “Hulog ng Langit.” She revealed that “Wala Na Ba Ang Lahat” is actually a song that she co-wrote with former boyfriend three years ago when their relationship was still sunny.

“I asked for his [Dingdong] permission, I don’t remember if I called him up or simply sent a text, but I told him that I’m going to use to the song for the new album. When I recorded for the album that I also produced before, ’di ko siya sinama dahil malas kasi siya, now is the right time,” Karylle said in a very teasing tone.

Sense of peace and calm

“These are some things that I have come to accept and appreciate that after everything that happened, and being so open to everyone, we’ve reached a certain level of friendship. This is my way of saying to other people na kaya niyo rin ’yan,” Karylle said.

As she accepts reality, the songs “Something New In My Life,” and “Leaving Yesterday Behind” are musical tales that narrate her being brave in facing the new promising chapter of her life. Just like what the songs speak of, she begins to find a new purpose and meaning to her existence.

“It was hard in the beginning when they told me about the concept [of the album], when they gave me the list, it was the whole list of top 100 breakup songs. It was another emotional journey, all the emotions were involved but we tried to find a way around it by listing the stages in my life, na kapag may mapulot ka naman something dito, and if you think of it that way if, ‘eto na yun,” she said in reference to the question about the hardest and easiest part of recording the album.

As the album launch concluded, Karylle said some inspiring words about what she had learned while going through all the trials she had of late.

“In every opportunity that is presented to you in life it’s really how you handle it. I think it just so happened because it was so publicized. Had I handled it the different way, I don’t think that the result could have been the same. I consulted so many people and prayed so hard,” she ended.

Karylle had two albums recorded in 2001 and 2005, Time To Shine and You Make Me Sing, respectively. Both CDs were released under Universal Records. Her latest offering Time For Letting Go under Polyeast Records is now available at all record bars.

Francis M. raps no more

After eight months of treatment and four excruciating chemotherapies, actor and Philippine rap icon Francis Magalona (Francis M. to his fans and Kiko to his friends), succumbed to leukemia yesterday, 12 noon at The Medical City on Ortigas Avenue in Pasig.

The news of the death of the 44-year-old rap star was heard across the Philippines when Vic Sotto announced it in Eat Bulaga. Magalona used to be one of the hosts of the popular noontime show until August last year, after he was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia. The illness is the most common form of leukemia and is a fast- growing cancer that attack the blood and bone marrow. It was after the Eat Bulaga show in the United States when Francis, complaining of fever and body pains, went to a specialist and found out about his condition. From then on, it was a series of medication and chemotherapy until he was finally declared clinically dead at 12 noon yesterday.

Francis was the youngest son of 1950s legendary actors and celebrity couple Pancho Magalona and Tita Duran. In 1984, he was launched in the teen movie Bagets 2 along with Ramon Christopher and the late Jon Hernandez.

Magalona seemed to have found his calling in music—rap in particular. He started doing rap and became the first to successfully cross over to mainstream music. He became an advocate of Pinoy Rap and encouraged, as he inspired, upstarts in the genre to pursue their rap ambitions. His first album entitled Rap Is FrancisM was released in 1992 and immediately became solid gold. It produced numerous hits like “Mga Praning” (Paranoids), “Halalan” (Elections), and “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy” (We Are Filipinos). Many of the young generation would associate Francis M with the anthemic “Tayo’y Mga Pinoy,” a song that has been largely used in many Filipino-themed events here and abroad.

His songs, while sounding too eclectic for the general audience, were like modern poetry that dealt mainly with the ills of Philippine society.

Throughout his career, he was always with wife Pia Arroyo who also served as his manager. He has adopted Pia’s children by a previous relationship, Unna and Nicolo, when they got married. Francis bore Pia five children, Francis Jr., Elmo, Arkin, Clara, Saab and the most popular among them all, Maxene, who was last seen in Una Kang Naging Akin.

His last project was a collaboration with another music icon, Ely Buendia. Dubbed as The Sickos Project, the album features various artists on the local music scene. The progress of the project was detailed in his blog called “A Free Mind.” It’s on the same blog where Francis posted entries that detailed his battle against leukemia and how he did with chemotherapies.

In the last entry posted on Jan. 14, the prolific rapper said:

“I look forward to the pain as I know my journey is on full speed ahead. I will not be bold to say that without asking a favor from you all. Please pray for me as I undergo treatment. Your prayers, as always, have sustained me. And am sure the Lord will listen to all our prayers. To His will I submit myself.”

Francis Magalona’s wake is at the Christ The King church in Green Meadows.

‘Unforgettable’ singer in Manila

By Nickie Wang

Manila Standard Today

American singer-songwriter Natalie Cole is on a mission to fill up the Araneta Coliseum on March 11 crooning the most beloved ballads and R&B classics that catapulted her as a hot R&B star of the ’80s.

The 59 year-old singer, who popularized the Grammy Award-winning songs “Unforgettable,” “When I Fall In Love,” “This Will Be,” and other hits like “Inseparable” and “Miss You Like Crazy,” will relive her songs in a concert called An Unforgettable Evening with Natalie Cole.

“I’m pulling a lot of stuff from way, way back,” Cole said. “When you have 25 years of great stuff in your catalog, you want to give them as much as you can, especially an audience that has been with you for all of it.”

Natalie’s first-ever concert in the country promises great entertainment as she pays tribute to her musical influences like her legendary father, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.

She started and achieved early success as an R&B singer in the ’70s. Over the years, most especially in the ’90s, she gradually shifted her genre to a more jazzy musical style and even released singles that are pop standard-oriented. Her change of musical style is evident when she recorded the album Take A Look (1993), When I Fall In Love (1996), and Snowfall on the Sahara (1999).

The American chanteuse, who is behind 10 Grammy Awards and more than 30 million record sales worldwide, first released an album in 1975 (Inseparable) followed by a self-titled album in 1976. Almost every year from 1970 to 1991, Natalie came up with high-profiled materials that endeared her to legions of fans across the globe.

One of the most remarkable feats of her luminous career is the successful remake of her father’s classic, “Unforgettable,” which she recorded in 1991. With a little help of technology, Natalie had a duet with her father Nat King Cole, who had passed on by that time. The late legendary R&B singer’s vocal from the original recording was spliced into the new track to recreate the single. The album that included that track peaked at the US Billboard Pop Chart at no. 1 for five weeks. It also received eight times platinum certification from RIAA selling more than seven million copies in the United States alone.

At the height of her career, Natalie had to deal with the prize that came together with her overwhelming success. She had to battle a growing addiction to illegal drugs while being in and out of bad marriages (she has been married three times). In an autobiography released in 2000, Natalie admitted that she was addicted to heroin and crack cocaine. In 2008, she was diagnosed with hepatitis C, which the doctors believed she contracted from sharing needles during her rampant addiction to heroin.

“I’ve had my share of doing things that I really wish I hadn’t done,” Cole stated. “It doesn’t mean I’m not going to make mistakes again, but don’t let it be in the studio. Let that be at least one place where I can kinda get it right.”

Natalie’s illness doesn’t stop her from doing the things she loves. The international multi-platinum diva continues to tour the world to do concert and promote her music. With a career that spans four decades, Natalie continues to produce great hits.

Last year, she released an album entitled Still Unforgettable. The pop-jazz album earned Natalie her 10th Grammy trophy and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Artist. These just prove that Natalie Cole and her music are one, that’s why she is called an international artist; she has an impeccable talent that makes her an optimum songstress whose recognizable voice produced unforgettable classic hits that have touched millions of fans all over the world.

Introducing Nikki J.

By Nickie Wang

Manila Standard Today

Exceptional music talents are not the usual voices you hear over the radio. Great music and extraordinary singers must be discovered by music aficionados who posses discriminating ears and distinctive tastes.

Nikki J. is one of the intelligent singers who decide to remain away from the limelight, but that doesn’t mean she conceals her passion for music. Her artistic ability is lauded whenever she performs in corporate shows and intimate events seen by few —music listeners who like standards and whose ears are burnt out with crappy renditions of other singers who don’t even know the real science and art of music.

In October last year, Nikki J., a former member of Ryan Cayabyab’s 14K, staged a first solo concert at Teatrino Theater and Bar at Greenhills. The sold-out performance got good reviews and endeared Nikki to a captive audience, who are mostly members of Manila’s affluent lot and definitely all music lovers.

Catching up with the love month, Nikki J. is set to stage another concert called Standards in Love tomorrow at Teatrino.

Nikki J., or Nikki Junia, will croon her own interpretations of standard classics made popular by Connie Francis, Cliff Richard, Doris Day and other artists of yesteryears.

Among the songs that she is going to perform are “Stuck on You,” “Return to Sender,” and “Lipstick on Your Collar.” Nikki will also do the bossa nova versions of Elvis Presley’s classics “Jailhouse Rock,” “Blue Suede Shoes,” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” All arrangements are done by guitarist and musical genius Kettle Mata.

“It’s basically the same concert I had last year but this time, we added more songs and invited different guests,” Nikki told us during an intimate talk over a lunch on a Saturday afternoon.

Her lineup of special guests includes singer-comedian Dyords Javier, and fresh talents Tina Chong and Jastine Alfonso. The concert will be directed by her father Ray Junia.

Early years

“What really inspired me to sing was after I watched Lea Salonga’s concert at Nikko Garden Hotel. She was still so young then. We just dropped by to watch her sing, and then I told my Dad, ‘I want to train, I want to sing and I want to learn how to sing,’” Nikki recalled. She was just nine years old then.

Being a former member of 4K, the first batch, of course, it is not surprising that windows of opportunities easily opened up for Nikki. In the late ’80s when she was just 12 years old, she climbed the stage of Carnegie Hall in the United States. Then, with the help of Fr. Sonny Ramirez, she did a series of concerts with other young singers who would later become top college students of the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music.

At a tender age of 13, she became the youngest Fe Panlilio OPM scholar in the class of Robert Seña. After her stint with the musical group, she went serious with gospel singing and continued studying music and eventually graduated cum laude at UST.

The road less traveled

Instead of pursuing a career in mainstream music, like what other singers would normally do, Nikki devoted her time teaching young students to learn the proper technique in singing while doing corporate shows on the side.

“The reason why studied music because I wanted to know the technique, it’s like how can you share something if you don’t experience it,” Nikki said and furthered, “When you perform you still learn a lot of things. So that’s what I teach my students, my personal experiences. It’s rewarding when you hear your students improving after a year.”

According to the singer and a music guru, she is very thankful to her past mentors because they were generous in terms of sharing their experiences. That is the same urge that inspires Nikki to share what she knows to the next generation of music artists.

“I want them to have the right attitude and discipline. They really have to work hard. Some people’s impression is that after one year you can already sing. I started training when I was nine years old, and I continue learning until now,” Nikki said and revealed that she has been teaching young music students since she was high school back in her home town in San Pedro, Laguna. Currently, she owns a music school that hones about 30 aspiring talents.

As a classically trained soprano, who can easily go from classical to pop, she doesn’t just listen to music for pleasure but studies and analyzes the material. With careful planning, the petite singer plans to come up with an album.

“We are still finalizing the concept because I don’t want to make a mistake on that. I will still be standards of course. There will be original songs that will sound like oldies and I will do some revivals that will sound like new,” she concluded.

Nikki J.’s Standard in Love concert is the latest installment of her Standards Concert Series. For tickets, call or fax J Events at telefax 869-1531 or e-mail j.events@yahoo.com.

Four failed voices trying to make it in the business

By Nickie Wang

Manila Standard Today

Less than a year after the quartet You’ve Got Male was formed to entertain the avid viewers of SOP, this fearless group tried to test the waters of performing live last Feb. 20 at the Music Museum.

On a busy Friday night, avoiding the busier thoroughfares like the Aurora Boulevard, we decided to watch Four…The First Time at the Music Museum since we already know what’s going to happen at the Big Dome. The performance we thought would be a breath of fresh air just disappointed us, or maybe we just expected too much from the four young men who aimed to introduce themselves as legitimate concert performers.

From the opening “Bohemian Rhapsody” to the closing “Time of My Life,” and an hour and 40 minutes in between, the quartet who call themselves a group and individual performers at the same time practically showed the audience why they didn’t win the respective talent searches they were once part of.

Just when they thought that boy bands are still in, the fallen talents of disparage searches paid tribute to Barry Manilow crooning classic hits like “Mandy,” “When Will I Hold You Again,” and “Can’t Smile Without You,” boy-band style of course. On the surface, the four looked and sounded good together because of excellent harmony in vocals but turning to their individual performances was a completely different story.

More recognizable Gian Magdangal, whose live outings include stage plays and guest performances in several concerts, made elaborated movements during his moment on the stage. His interpretation of Bread’s “Everything I Own” sounded as if he has just lost everything he had. We got completely distracted by his exaggerated facial expressions making him not so pleasant to look at. His unnecessary movements overshadowed the talent he had to showcase on that defining night.

Bryan Termulo, who rendered his own version of 1979 hit “Cool Change” and Rob Thomas’ “Smooth,” tried hard to act and move sexy. His attempt to seduce the female and gay people at the audience only earned him the moniker “the sissy boy.” We also noticed that his outfits didn’t fit quite well with his short and stocky thighs, except the ensemble for the final part of the show when he was groomed with a sleek white suit just like the rest of the members of the group.

The only classy member of the You’ve Got Male on that particular night, Jan Nieto, really made the fans go loud. His distinctive presence on the stage encouraged our thoughts that he has better potentials than his band mates. “I’ll Never Say Goodbye” and his debut album’s carrier single composed by Ogie Alcasid “Bakit Kailangan Pang Lumayo” were flawlessly delivered. Jan also visibly carried his outfits better than the other three members of the group.

Harry Santos, who sounded like a pale imitation of Josh Groban, nearly didn’t hit the high notes of “You Still You” and the Ryan Cayabyab’s masterpiece “Araw Gabi.” The downside of his performance is that he was associated to Josh Groban because of his being vocal in idolizing the American artist. It’s obvious that the young singer is trying to imitate the famous crooner but the problem was he didn’t even sound close.

The people who put together the four performers didn’t make fine touches on the concert’s concept. It is safe to say that it looked like a prolonged version of SOP’s segment “Three of a Kind” having You’ve Got Male occupying the center stage the whole time.

Special guest Lovi Poe was the big surprise. Although veteran singer Pop Fernandez and choreographer Regine Tolentino were also guest performers, Lovi, who sang “Someone to Watch Over Me,” saved the first half of the show when the audiences were getting restless with the middling performances delivered by Gian and Bryan.

The four performers’ excitement of having a very first concert was evident in the way they horse around the stage but it was their spiels that we found evidently canned. During the entire show they uttered phrases that didn’t have any connection to the songs they were about to sing, not to mention the long lines they dropped that gave the impression that they’re not actually included in the disorganized script.

The concert ended with a medley of the songs the quartet performed in the contests they joined. Harry emotionally sang “You Raised Me Up,” Bryan belted “Flying Without Wings,” OPM lover Jan went romantic with “Will You Say That You Love Me,” and Gian crooned with his version of “Impossible Dream.”

It is hard to tell if there would be a repeat or would we still see You’ve Got Male at a different, or perhaps a bigger, venue. The concert didn’t fill up the minuscule Music Museum, and that is despite the number of performers featured on stage.

Reviving life with a touch of a finger

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Is there any benchmark for fantasy series in terms of originality, creativity, and appeal? If there really is, then Pushing Daisies fits to be one of the barometers in adjudging fantasy series on television.

Pushing Daisies had its second season premiere on 2nd Avenue on Feb. 17, almost one-and-a-half years after the first season’s cliffhanger ending. Pie-maker Ned (Lee Pace) is back with the rest of the gang to give viewers a vibrant definition of what forensic fairy tale is all about the dramady (drama plus comedy) style.

On the eve of Valentine’s Day, we were at the preview of Pushing Daisies’ pilot episode in the picturesque Fernwood Gardens in Quezon City.

Flashback

The first season introduced Ned, an ordinary pie-maker with extraordinary gift. With one touch he can bring the dead people, animal or anything back to life for one minute. Beyond that, he must use the same touch to send that person back, or someone else or something else must die.

With the help of local private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), Ned uses his special ability to solve murder cases and cash in on hefty rewards. The romance started when Ned came across his childhood sweetheart Chuck Charles (Anna Friel), who was murdered in a cruise ship.

Determined to be reunited with his one true love, he decided to let her live. Unfortunately, the pie-maker may never touch Chuck again or she’ll be gone forever.

The new touch

The second season’s pilot episode sees Chuck going undercover as a “Bee Girl” at a honey-based cosmetics company called the Betty’s Bees. Chuck agrees to be an accomplice with the help of Ned and Emerson to resolve the death of the company’s new spokesmodel who was stung to death by a swarm of bees.

The trio of Chuck, Ned. and Emerson stumble into remarkable discovery leading to the capture of Woolsy Nichols, owner of Betty’s Bees. They get him to confess about the whole truth that was clouded by mystery of the young model’s death.

Meanwhile, the bizarre love story of Ned and Chuck has to hurdle a trial as the latter starts to have a growing independence. Chuck moves out of Ned’s apartment. Although she just moved in to the next door, the pie-maker Ned does not find it romantic knocking at the door of his girlfriend whenever he wants to see her.

He would truly miss the ballet of avoidance that has become the daily move of the couple inside the apartment. They can’t touch each other so they orchestrated steps to avoid each other. Ned’s slippers are adorned with small bells so Chuck would know if he is near or approaching.

In other developments, the pie waitress Olive finds herself moving into a nunnery after discovering the secret of Aunt Lily’s (Swoosie Kurtz) relation to Chuck. She is off to the convent so she won’t spill Lily’s deep, dark secret.

The colors of daisies

Bryan Fuller, who also has 22-episode writing credits for Star Trek and first season of Heroes, was able to bring Pushing Daisies into its magical qualities again. The series remains quirky and flashy in a sense that the colors of the set add up to mood of the characters that became more interesting.

The singing pie waitress turned convent boarder Olive seems to be more interesting as she morphs into a vivacious character. Viewers will find her more charming as she adopts a pet pig named Pigby. Lovers Ned and Chuck, on the other hand, will kiss each other more using a plastic cover.

For people who will see the series for the very first time, it is recommended for them to check the previous episodes of Pushing Daisies online through video- sharing Web site and they would definitely get hooked up with its whimsical Tim Burton-inspired storyline.

The first season was nominated for 12 Primetime Emmy Awards and won three trophies. Now it’s back with another season of more whimsical and visually entertaining blend of romance, crime procedure, and high-concept fantasy.

Catch Pushing Daisies every Tuesday at 9 p.m. on cable TV 2nd Avenue. 2nd Avenue is available on RJTV UHF Channel 29, SkyCable Channel 19, and Global Destiny Channel 31.

Charging the Big Dome with punk rock music

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

“I Don’t Care” is the latest single of Chicago-based punk rock group, Fall Out Boy (FOB). The song, which is the carrier single of the band’s fifth studio album Folie A Deux, was included on Rolling Stone’s “100 Singles of the Year 2008” and was one of the highlights of FOB’s loud concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 13.

At exactly 9 p.m., first-rate lighting system transformed the concert stage into an arena for alternative and pop punk music with Patrick Stump (vocals/guitar), Pete Wentz (bass), Joe Trohman (guitar), and Andy Hurley (drums).

When the band stepped on the stage and performed “Thnks Fr Th Mmrs,” fans howled a deafening scream and sang along with the quartet. FOB’s second visit to the Philippines was warmly welcomed by thousands of mostly Filipino teenagers who packed the Big Dome. It was a clear indication that FOB’s market here in the country belongs to the younger age group primarily because of the band’s contemporary appeal.

As the fans continued to scream from the top of their lungs and didn’t care to take their seats at all, the band continued with its other hits like “Thriller” and “A Little Less Sixteen Candle, A Little More Touch Me.”

High energy was obvious among the members of the band. Frontman Patrick seemed to have mastered singing continuously for he didn’t even sip any liquid. He was able to maintain his vocal strength all throughout the show without showing any signs of getting exhausted.

Pete, the most controversial and most recognized member of FOB mainly for being Ashlee Simpson’s hubby, served as the band’s talking head. Contrary to the known fact that Patrick is more vocal and eloquent, more popular Pete was the one who conversed with the crowd while introducing the songs that they’re about to play.

Scream was not the only evidence that the audience was completely hooked up with the band, everyone clapped their hands attuning with every song’s melody, not to mention that most of the people who packed the venue knew the lyric to every song. It was even observable when the little less known “A Bit of American Boy” was performed.

The concert’s front act Hey Monday with its vocalist named Cassadee stole the scene while FOB was performing “We’re Going Down.” She collaborated with Patrick singing the chorus and some parts of the song but instantly left the stage when the quartet proceeded with “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race.”

Charismatic Pete, who definitely got the loudest scream among the members of FOB, asked the crowd to do a human wave, the cooperative crowd followed the instruction of the band’s bassist. The “wave” somehow heralded the band’s latest single “I Don’t Care.” We mentioned that this was one of the highlights of the concert because the guitars clung over the shoulders of Patrick, Pete and Joe lighted up when the whole venue went dark. The guitars were the only visible light on the stage most especially during the song’s chorus.

The soaring energies among the band and crowd kept on as Patrick introduced a familiar tune. For the first time, he asked the crowd to sing along with them as they played their cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.”

The quartet just kept on playing and gave what their fans like the most, which is hearing the songs that made them popular among punk and alternative music lovers. The band played songs that catapulted them to pop punk stardom like “Nobody Puts Baby in the Corner,” “The Take Over, The Breaks’ Over,” “I Slept with Someone in Fall Out Boy and All I Got Was This Stupid Song Written About,” “Grand Theft Autumn” and other two songs from the new album, “Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes,” and “Headfirst Slide Into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet.”

Encore

While everyone screamed “more, more, and more,” the band, in less than five minutes, reappeared on the stage charged with the same vigor as when they started the show.

While the fans were expecting a much longer performance, that obviously disappointed them because opposing to long titles of FOB songs, the band performed for only 70 minutes, that’s an hour and 10 minutes to be exact.

FOB performed the finale with its popular songs “America’s Suitehearts,” “Dance, Dance,” and “Saturday.” While singing the near end of the last song, Pete removed his hooded jacked and jumped into the crowd. One of the bouncers held Pete high and the crowd just went crazy. Pete went back on stage and the band thanked the people who attended the concert.

The abrupt ending of the show surprised the audience after the adrenaline-pumping finale. Because some of them kept asking for more, some people didn’t immediately leave the venue wondering if the concert was really already finished.

Despite the disappointing end, FOB’s concert defined the attitude of an alternative and punk band. Listening to its music, we recognize that the melodies almost sounded the same. Trademark rhythm, guitar, and vocal styles, were evident but it was actually the provocative and anthemic lyric of the songs supported by FOB’s edgy attitude made the band identifiable as a prominent music act.

Folie A Deux

We learned that the chief reason why FOB came to Manila for a second concert was to promote its latest album Folie A Deux that literally means “insanity shared by two.” According to Patrick Stump, when we had the chance to see FOB face to face during a press conference held at the Edsa Shangri La Hotel a day before the concert, Folie A Deux is actually a metaphor that does not just talk about the insanity of two people but of everybody.

“We are newer and better people now,” members of the band quipped when asked how the concert would be different from the previous concert they had. They said that they’re just excited to perform with dynamic crowds like the Filipino audience. Filipino people have practically gone closer to the band as Patrick returned to the Philippines with his half-Filipina girlfriend.

To front-act the Friday the thirteenth concert, FOB also brought the girl fronted band Hey Monday. It opened the concert performing some of its singles including “Josey” and “Homecoming.”

Members of Hey Monday revealed before the press that they grew up listening to the songs of FOB. Apparently, the band is signed to Pete Wentz’s label, Decaydence.

Saving children from hunger

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

While you are reading this article, somewhere in the world, two or three children might be dying or had just died.

Based on the statistic of World Food Program, 18,000 children die each day because of starvation. That is one child after every five seconds.

In an effort to combat hunger, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, both operated by Philippine Pizza Inc., donated over P1 million to the WFP on Jan. 29 in a ceremony held at Gateway Mall, Araneta Center.

The amount was for the benefit of young children who are pitted in the war-stricken area of Mindanao. The event was graced by Philippine Pizza Inc. chief operating officer Lars Peterson, WFP country director and representative Stephen Anderson, and Social Welfare Department Assistant Secretary Theresa Alano.

“We have been involved in this [program] for a couple of years now, our commitment is, we want this campaign to be the primary vehicle for our costumers, employees, and partners to give back in a way that will benefit people here in the Philippines,” Peterson enthused.

He furthered that the reason why Philippine Pizza Inc. is excited about the program is that unlike some other worldwide programs where the money collected is distributed to many countries, the campaign will benefit those who are in need here in the Philippines.

In coordination with Yum Brands, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell teamed up with United Nations World Food Programme, the world’s leading humanitarian hunger relief organization, to raise awareness and funds to help eradicate hunger. In a period of two months (from November to December), Pizza Hut and Taco Bell had collected an amount of P1.2 million through their 700 coin banks located inside and outside of 150 Pizza Hut and Taco Bell food outlets.

“Our commitment is to continue our partnership with the World Food Programme for many years to come. Our goal, just like the way we try to increase our sales every year, we will to try to increase our donation as well,” Peterson affirmed.

KC Concepcion, the face of the campaign against hunger in the country, was no show at the event. Nonetheless, the young actress who joined the campaign as the National Ambassador against Hunger for WFP-Philippines sent a text message through Anderson that was read before the press.

Her message stated that she wanted to express her sincerest appreciation on behalf of the children and families supported by WFP’s Food-for-Education activities that provide nutritious support during challenging times of conflict in Mindanao. The message also conveyed her apology for not being personally present to grace the momentous event. KC was said to be busy with her tight work schedule for her forthcoming movie.

WFP will use the donation to implement regular school-feeding activities that provide both a daily hot meal and a take- home family ration to 71,000 pupils in 427 schools in the provinces of Sultan Kudarat and North Cotabato.

“We are concentrating in Mindanao. We have always indicated that we could help the government to extend the program in a national setting. But for now, we don’t want to stretch ourselves so we could have a focus,” Anderson explained why WFP specifically indicated the people in Mindanao as the recipients of the donation.

According to Anderson the program in partnership with the Yum Brand started two years ago with a goal to increase awareness and raise critically needed fund to help feed poor children. In Mindanao alone, 60 percent of households have very poor access to food, while 30 percent take life-threatening risks to meet their daily food needs.

Eradicating extreme poverty and hunger is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Rachelle Ann reaffirms the title ‘ultimate champion’

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

At the Music Museum on Jan. 31, Rachelle Ann Go held a coming-of-age performance as she brought down the house and showed the audience why she is called the “Ultimate Champion.”

Although it didn’t start right on time, the two-hour concert opened with a loud bang as Rachelle appeared at the center of the stage in a skimpy shorts singing “Womanizer,” “Supergirl,” and “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” After the bouncy opening number, the medley was then followed by Rachelle plugging a new album Falling In Love, which was coincidentally the same title of her second major solo concert.

As the plugging continued, she sang the carrier single of the album, “This Time I Will Be Sweeter,” and announced that the album was just officially launched on Asap a couple of weeks back. She sang two more samples from the latest album like covers of Bread’s “If” and Dennis Lambert’s “Of All the Things.”

Special guests

The second day of Rachelle’s solo concert was graced by artists who have always been supportive of her whenever she had a performance. Mark Bautista shared the stage with her and sang an unfamiliar song while Rachelle was at the backstage changing her wardrobe.

When Rachelle reappeared, she indulged the audience with a sexy performance singing Shontelle’s “T-shirt,” Leona Lewis’ “Bleeding Love,” and Pussycat Doll’s “I Hate This Part Right Here.”

One of the loudest cheers from the jam-packed Music Museum was for the appearance of Christian Bautista who collaborated with Rachelle in an awe-inspiring rendition of Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy.” Christian was singing, “If I were a girl.” Although it was obvious that the former lovers just did it for the show, the act clicked to the screaming audience.

Christian gave an entertaining performance while Rachelle was at the dressing room for another change outfit. The crooner serenaded the crowd with Joe Cocker hit “You Are So Beautiful” and another similar song popularized by Joshua Kadison (“Beautiful In My Eyes”).

While some people thought Christian was the big treat, Gab Valenciano blasted the stage in a production of Chris Brown’s chart topper “Superhuman.” After the dance number, that saw Rachelle and Gab in an intimate lifting stunts, Gab caressed the keyboard as her rumored girlfriend sang a love ditty.

Total performer

Proving that she is a versatile performer, every time she reappeared on stage she splashed elaborate production numbers complete with hippie and giddy choreography. She bounced her body and sang like she didn’t even catch her breath, and still pitch-perfect.

In the middle of the concert, the singer admitted that she lost her voice after the first day of the concert and that she was so thankful she got her voice back right before the concert’s final day. Ogie Alcasid, who was the last special guest, said that her vocal problem was not evident for she sang every song perfectly.

The singer songwriter covered Rachelle, who had her third costume change, and sang several of the songs he penned like “Kailangan Kita” and “Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.”

Songs of her life

For every costume change (a total of four costume changes) and whenever she reappeared on stage, Rachelle would always let the audience know the importance of every song she was about to sing. She performed classics that have been part of her life, contemporary music she enjoys listening to, songs that complete her day, and songs that have always been associated to her rise as a popular young diva.

She made heartwarming versions of Barbara Streisand’s “All I Ask of You” and a gospel song entitled “Jesus Loves Me.”

For every transition, she also shifted singing songs of different genres. From pop and R&B during the first parts of the concert, she geared toward singing music from the ’70s and ’80s like “September,” “A Night to Remember,” “I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round),” “I Will Survive,” and “Let’s Dance (Tonight).”

For the finale, Rachelle sang the only Filipino song in the entire concert (except for the ones Alcasid performed) “Bakit.” Then it was followed by Mariah Carey’s “Through the Rain,” the ultimate song she sang during the finals of Search for a Star, and Melissa Manchester original “Don’t Cry Out Loud,” which was her first-ever known hit coming from the self-titled album that went double platinum.

Off on a tangent

The concert was supposed to be a pre-Valentine offering of Rachelle Ann Go. With the lineup of songs she performed, and the redundant spiels she dropped when she conversed with the audience, the concert just sounded like an outline or a gist of her career that spans over five years.

She certainly proved that her talent is a great delight to someone looking for an impressive entertainment experience but she needs more original materials and a couple more hits to bring her natural talent to a bigger venue like the Big Dome. If she did that, she will no longer have to ask support from other artists to back her up so her concert would draw more audiences.

Karylle finally finds her love

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Last year, in the last three months particularly, Karylle was confronted with issues that put her at the center of attention. Who can forget the controversial smile that generated a lot of reactions from people who tried to ride on the bandwagon of her bittersweet moment?

Months after the much publicized breakup with longtime boyfriend Dingdong Dantes, Karylle revives and reinvents herself as an independent single lady. Well, she should thank Beyoncé’s song “Single Ladies” because it has been the mantra of her newfound image.

Endorsements, television series, movies, concerts, and albums, name it; she is becoming busier than ever. Indeed, she gets the sympathy of not just the public but of the entertainment industry as well. It’s just the upshot of what people see on her —a more determined artist.

Wearing a sangria colored dress, Karylle welcomed the press in an intimate launch at the Edsa Shangri-La on Jan. 28. Looking stunning, she greeted everyone with a vibrant smile.

Before the open forum started, she rendered a song entitled “Touch Me in the Morning” in a very engaging way, and just like what the song says, “We don’t have tomorrow but we had yesterday,” the 27-year-old singer-actress can now openly discuss her failed relationship without her going into a teary-eyed moment.

Karylle’s answers to the questions sounded more positive as if she has fully recovered from the heartbreaking experience. Although she claims that love is still there, and admits that Dingdong served as an inspiration to improve her craft, she could only hope that one day she could just brush it aside and laugh about the love affair she had with the actor.

“People have to hear it from your mouth, but it doesn’t stop there. Time will come that I could just talk about it, laugh about it, and there are no more tears,” Karylle said.

On Valentine’s Day, at the Lobby Lounge of the Edsa Shangri-La Hotel, Karylle will pour her heart out and express deep emotions singing songs that will make people fall in love in a concert entitled The Magic of Love. She will be backed up by the band Reasons that has been working with her for more than a year now.

“I always feel that I have so much love to give, there’s a lot of love inside of me and I think it’s inherent among people. Instead of giving it to just one person, as an artist it’s good that you can share your love with your audience. That’s what I love about music, it’s one way to release all these love,” she explains on how to reconcile the title of her concert and her status as a single.

Moving on

As a woman and a determined artist who hurdles such tough moment in her life, she finds refuge in the people surrounding her. Her passion in music, meanwhile, serves as another outlet in which she can unleash all the emotions that she has been suppressing of late.

“There’s a certain connection that I feel now with my audience. People give me smiles or words of assurance or support. I see it in their eyes. They actually say certain things to me that help me at this time in my life,” Karylle related.

She reveals that Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret has helped her in realizing things that are happening in her life right now. The book gave her certain amount of optimism and taught her how to tap positive energies that could help keep her composure in the middle of difficult situations now that she is in the moving-on phase.

Finding another love is currently not her priority, “Besides nobody is courting me right now,” she says. There are men who flank her but most of them have stated their intentions and according to Karylle these are clear.

“A lot of people are befriending me. These people have clear intentions even the ones who are being linked to me right now,” she reveals pertaining to Jericho Rosales and Christian Bautista.

Karylle doesn’t mind being loveless. She mentions that she feels good that there are women and other friends who call her and send her text messages saying that they are singles, too.

“These are people who are not really close to me but we find time to bond with each other. I think somehow, it’s a good time to be single now that it is no longer a taboo word, not like, ‘Ay ang kawawa mo naman.’ I think we try to look at it on the positive side,” she says while throwing a beautiful smile.

Karylle’s Feb. 14 concert at the Edsa Shangri-La begins with a dinner at 7 p.m., the performance is at 8 p.m. For reservations to the romantic evening concert, call Edsa Shangri-La Hotel at 633-8888 local 2777.

Life begins anew as CCP turns 40

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

Along Roxas Boulevard lies one of the country’s greatest treasures. It has been the symbol of Filipino ingenuity, a venue that showcases incomparable local talents, a catalyst for a major leap in cultural development and preservation, and the world’s window to the Philippines as the Asia’s Mecca of culture and the arts.

The Cultural Center of the Philippines, or just CCP to many, marks its 40th anniversary with a year-round celebration that will feature special performances and events. Some of the most talented and well-known artists and performing arts groups will gather together for the celebration.

“The CCP has been the home of the most outstanding performing arts groups in the country. For the last four decades it has helped discover, nurture and support Filipino artists. I think that’s one of the major achievements of the CCP,” president and artistic director Nestor Jardin said during a press conference that unveiled the roster of events prepared by his staff.

The calendar of activities starts with the grand public launch of the 40th Anniversary Celebration tomorrow, Feb. 1, during the annual CCP Pasinaya Open House Festival that coincides with National Arts Month.

Opening salvo

Highlighting the anniversary is the first chunk of activities that will revolve around the fact that the CCP for the last four decades has helped discover, nurture, and support Filipino artists.

“The whole celebration is built around activities that will not only be celebratory but activities that will help the Filipino public recall what is CCP’s role now in the society, and what was its work in the past,” Jardin enthused.

For initial offering, Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino restages the comedy musical Zsa Zsa Zaturna (Ze MuZikal) from Feb. 3 to 8. On the same week (Feb. 6 to 8), a showcase of the country’s dance groups in folk, ballet, contemporary, and street dance will entertain the public with series of motion and steps in a dance gala entitled Turning… Turning 40 at the Main Theater.

Just outside the main theater, a projection bombing light and sound spectacle at the façade of the CCP building will show the latest outstanding works in animation and graphic arts. This display dubbed Skin will take place on the night of Feb. 7.

On Feb. 13, as the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra marks its sixth season concert, a grand musical extravaganza called Gabi ng Musikang Pilipino: A Rendezvous with National Artists at the Main Theater will be staged featuring the works of Filipino National Artists like Felipe de Leon, Antonino Buenaventura, Lucrecia Kasilag, and Lucio San Pedro.

From Feb. 19 till the end of March, the different venues at the CCP will witness an array of different performances, musical, concerts, drama and exhibits that celebrate the excellence and accomplishments of Filipino artists in different fields.

Tribute to Imelda

Formally inaugurated on Sep. 8, 1969, the CCP was the brainchild of then First Lady Imelda Marcos, and as the institution celebrates 40 years of fruitful years, an Imeldific tribute will be dedicated especially to honor the visionary woman who created it.

“You cannot ignore the fact that this was her vision, this was her idea. We’re looking at it from an institutional point of view. For this year we’re not only inviting her, we’re paying her a tribute,” Jardin told the press during an open forum held inside the Main Theater.

Jardin announced that the special tribute is slated on Sept. 8. It will be a whole day event capped by an eight o’ clock gala at the Main Theater. On Sept. 11, the special tribute will continue featuring the artists whom Mrs. Marcos supported in the past.

New logo

With a new logo that still symbolizes katotohanan (truth), kagandahan (beauty) and kabutihan (goodness), a new representation has been introduced that depicts CPP’s transformation from small stones to strong boulders that anchor and support excellence in arts and music in the country within the past four decades. The logo bares the new slogan, “Life Begins Anew.”

“When we were having, I think Christmas mass or another anniversary mass, our parish priest congratulated us on our 40th anniversary and said that when we celebrate milestone anniversaries we should always recall, rejoice, and then renew,” the artistic director recalled.

Jardin said that based on those three Rs (recall, rejoice, and renew), the people in the CCP have built around the next six months a program that would allow them to not only reminisce but also show to the public the accomplishments of the CCP.

“Our projects within the past 40 years have helped create an outstanding body of original Filipino works that speak of us as a nation and has helped define our national identity,” Jardin related.

Through various programs that are not only limited in Metro Manila, the people behind the institution believe that the CCP has contributed a lot in promoting cultural empowerment in the country.

Defining the future

“The CCP has been a catalyst in the creation of original, cutting- edge, innovative work by young Filipino artists.”

In May, a major forum will be conducted to help CCP define its future direction. As it continuously involves and encourages more young artists to promote their works, a series of events is dedicated to acknowledge contemporary talents and art.

For the months of June and July, the theme will be Brave New Works: Original Filipino Creations. New works in literature will be presented in a literary performance series entitled Word Jam: Spoken Word Festival on June 10 to 24 and July 1 to 8. A concert of classical artists in tandem with artists from Philippine cultural communities will be featured in Cultures in Harmony on June 21. Playwrights collaborate with directors, actors and designers in staging their untried, untested, and unpublished works in Virgin Labfest 5 on June 24 to July 5 back-to-back with WI-FI Body: Independent Dance Festival with cutting-edge works by the country’s most exciting choreographers today. New symphonic works will be premiered in Music Underkunstruktion on July 15 in a co-production with the Metro Manila Community Orchestra. Also in July are the Thirteen Artists Awards and Exhibit and the much-awaited Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition.

All venues of the CCP Complex will be part of the grand event including Star City and the Manila Bay.

One-man show retells engaging story

By NICKIE WANG/ Manila Standard Today

The story itself is an engaging tale of a personal struggle and a quest for identity. It chronicles a journey that covers the time when the character was just a kid seeing a hula dance for the very first time until it became a permanent part of his life. Dance, music, humor, and cultural values are integrated to essay the fascinating life of Keo Woolford in a stage production entitled I Land.

Fresh from his off-Broadway outing, Keo is here in Manila to stage his semi-autobiographical journey in a one-man show set to run at the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino starting Jan. 22, 8 p.m.

Accentuated by Keo’s exceptional talent, I Land is a moving search for the meaning of heritage in a post-modern world weaving together traditional Hawaiian hula, hip-hop, Hawaiian talk story, and spoken word.

“The story starts when I first saw hula which I was a kid until I would be in my early to mid- twenties,” acclaimed actor and hula dancer Keo Woolford shared during an interview with Standard Today.

His story

The show chronicles Keo’s first exposure to hula and how he came under the instruction of his idol, whom he dubs the “Hula god.” In the production, he also describes his fleeting brush with fame as a member of a boy band that almost hits the big time; his subsequent descent into a world of drugs and partying; and his rediscovery of the dance that connects him to both his culture and to himself.

“It’s a one hour and twenty minutes of performance,” Keo, who is fit to be an undergarment model with his chiseled physique, said and continued: “So it’s more of the adrenaline rush that keeps me going. I can’t see them [audience] and I’d rather not because it makes me nervous, but I feel the audience. It’s actually the audience that keeps me going. Audience is the key to my every performance.”

I Land as a one-man show also features original songs and choreography done in the ancient or traditional style known in Hawaii as kahiko. The one- hour-and-twenty-minute production will give the audience an experience seeing an engaging actor, who was born and raised in Hawaii to a Filipina mother and to a Hawaiian father, morph into a dozen characters.

The actor’s passion in music, dancing and acting began at a very young age that being a multi-disciplinary artist is no longer surprising.

“Acting is my passion. It’s so funny because when I was younger, right before I got into acting, I never thought that I was going to be an actor. When I was sort of figuring out what I was going to do with my life in music, I wanted to be a pop star,” Keo laughed as he sipped his coffee.

Aside from being an actor, dancer, and a musician, Keo is also a prolific writer. In 1995 in Los Angeles, he penned the one-man show He Hawai‘i Au. The show earned him praises that opened new windows of opportunities.

Keo’s remarkable performances include a plum role in a production entitled In My Father’s House that earned him a Virgo Award for Best Actor. In New York, he has been seen in Karaoke Stories, The Greeks, References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot, Sonnets for an Old Century, and The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen. His film and TV appearances include East Broadway, Hawaii, True Vengeance, and Happy Texas.

Turning point

In 2007, before the off-Broadway staging of I Land, Keo’s mother passed away. It was one of the defining moments for the actor because he had to stage the show a day after the funeral.

“The off-Broadway run is ironically the toughest run I have ever did. The thing that was really really tough, I don’t know if I should talk about this, is when my mom passed away right before opening night. The funeral was a day before the performance so from my mom’s funeral I went straight to the theater,” the actor narrated.

Despite the loss, his mother’s death pushed and inspired him to pursue his performance and thus his career. He found his self-salvation through music and claimed: “Dancing is therapeutic. Dancing with music is a way of self-salvation because it’s so raw and natural that people celebrate with it. You could be by your self; listen and dance around and it’s like you’re connected to the universe.”

He lands

I Land was created by Keo in collaboration with director Roberta Uno. Uno encouraged him to write something again as to follow up his first self-penned show more than a decade ago.

“I’m really grateful that I have gone through what I have gone through because it enabled me to share my experiences. I actually turned her [Uno] down at first because I said, ‘What am I going to say and who will care to hear about it,’” he affirmed.

The production will highlight the hula dance that has been famed for its unique style. According to Keo, hula is like a bunch of different things because it involves history, language, and values. A hula dancer also needs to learn a language and a history that are essential in telling a story.

“Hula is more about expressing the story you are telling more than the actual body movements and that it’s the key or the correlation between hula and acting. Before you even learn anything else, you need to learn the basic steps and that took me a long long time. Some people don’t have the patience, skill, and the attitude,” Keo concluded, disclosing that hula doesn’t work for everyone.

I Land’s limited run from Jan. 22 to 25 at the Tanghalang Aurelio Tolentino is a fundraising activity spearheaded by the Asian Cultural Council Philippines for the benefit of the ACC Philippine Fellowship Program and the Makiling Academic and Research Institute for the Arts (MARIA) Scholarship.

Call the CCP Box Office at 832-3704 or 832-1125 loc. 1409 or call Ticketworld at 891-9999 for more information.