|
For the past 20 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
|
|
|
|
This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
|
|
To tell us what you think about Filipino Express Online or to comment on the stories published here, E-mail us at Filexpress@aol.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The lonely life of songwriters
|
|
|
|
THE bell rings: school is over. You begin your trek home.
Along the way, you see some classmates hang out at a cool record store. A friend calls you and shows you the latest and hottest record out. You dig into your pocket and find enough money to buy the cassette, remembering that you did not have lunch in order to buy the said album – ‘Nevermind’ by Nirvana
You arrive home. Run towards the cassette player with your perspiration running faster than your legs.
You press play, listen while you flip the inlay card. You are in awe. Mouth agape, you could not believe the amazing music coming out of the speakers.
You utter one word: Magnificent. You are happy, yet sad as well.
You are so into the music, but your heart feels the weight of a crushing pain -You silently wished you wrote the songs in the record yourself.
‘How could I miss that?’, you ask. The pain in your heart becomes similar to the pain caused by envy.
Then an inexorable burst of inspiration jumps out of your gut.
You run to your room, pick up your $60 acoustic guitar, and vow to write the greatest song ever written.
You begin to scribble words and chords into your ‘Zebra’ notebook, while you hum, whistle, and smile all at the same time. You are beaming with pride and joy.
Three years later
Your office phone rings: It is your friend telling you that the hottest record is out. - The Smashing Pumpkins.
You wait until your clock strikes 5 PM; finally, it does.
You rush out of the office and go to a small record bar besides your building, buy the said record, and proceed to your car without any delay. The record blows you away.
Again, your joy caused by the sonic smorgasbord slowly turns to anger. You become envious. ‘How could I miss that?’
Moments later, you are in your room tinkering with your old $60 acoustic guitar.
‘Zebra’ notebook within reach, you hum the notes of a new song that you call ‘the greatest song ever written’.
As you flip the pages of your worn out notebook, you notice the back pages containing old songs that you have written years ago: Each one of them you dubbed as ‘ the greatest song ever written’.
Then it dawns on you: These songs you wrote did not even live outside the black and white cover of the notebook. They only exist in the universe of your mind.
Although, they did enjoy airplay: In the privacy of your brain.
Then you begin to admit that the songs are at best mediocre, and not even close to being ‘the greatest songs ever written’.
You feel your feet melt. It is over. You did not write the new song and vow never to write at all.
Instead, the reality of life as an aspiring songwriter is starting to take its toll on your weary soul. With tears in your eyes, you smash your guitar into your sheet rock wall.
A thousand little wooden bits fly across your room as the guitar lets out its final rattle of death.
Four years later
You are in a mall and see a young buy come out of a record store, with the hottest release in his hand: ‘Parachutes’ by Coldplay.
You can see the fire in his eyes as he goes into the car and pushes the CD into the changer. He is blown away by the music.
His smile slowly fades out along with the last song form the album. You know what it is. But you choose to remain silent.
He removes the CD from the CD changer, and then he looks into your eyes.
‘Dad, I am going to top that record. I will write ‘the greatest song ever written’.
|
|
Ted Reyes is a musician, composer, record producer and journalist based in NYC. If you have any comments you can visit his website at www.tedreyes.com or email him at tedreyes@mac.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA --- POLO Ravales is not worried that playing a gay role in ‘Manay Poî might do more harm than good to his career. ‘Good actors like Eddie Garcia and Dolphy have played gay roles before and it only added to their versatility,’ he says.
He has a kissing scene with Luis Alandy in the movie. “Actually, we already had a kissing scene in the stage play, ‘Penis Talks 2,’ but it’s very light, parang smack lang. This time, it’s more torrid.”
Did they rehearse first before facing the camera? “No. Take agad. And we decided paghusayan na agad para hindi na ipaulit sa amin ni Direk Joel Lamangan. So, ayun, take one lang, okay na.”
How might rumored girlfriend Ara Mina react when she sees the movie? “I think she knows it’s just part of my job as an actor. She told me she has played a lesbian role before in ‘Tatlo’ na may girl to girl kissing scene din siya, so I don’t see any problem with that.”
Is it true his family does not like Ara for him since she’s a bold star and has had several boyfriends before, like Jomari Yllana? “No, that’s not true. My family welcomes Hazel (Ara’s real name) warmly at wala silang problema kahit may past boyfriends siya. May past girlfriends din naman ako, e. May rumor din that her family does not like me but that’s also not true. I’ve met her folks and they’re very nice to me.”
How does he feel when he sees his huge billboards for Folded & Hung dotting our highways? “It’s a big boost to one’s ego. Nakaka-flatter to be an image model for a top clothing firm like that.”
Aside from “Manay Po,” Polo is also busy taping “Majika” where he figures in a love triangle with Angel Locsin and Dennis Trillo. “I’d be appearing in the show’s fifth week pa,” he says. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW JERSEY --- After a long and much anticipated wait, Fil-Am indie Band Bleud is now available on “the best digital jukebox and #1 music download store,” the iTunes Music Store. Songs from their debut album Musings of A Caffeine Addict can now be purchased for 99¢ each. The whole album costs $9.99.
The iTunes Music Store or iTMS “is a proprietary digital media player application, launched by Apple Computer in 28 April 2003, for playing and organizing digital music and video files.” TIME Magazine named it coolest invention of the year in 2003 for its ability so sell songs at a very low price; iTMS somehow solves the problem of illegal downloading and file-sharing.
Since its launch in 2003, iTMS has continued to evolve and improve, it now offers videos, podcasts and audiobooks. Its catalogue which started at 400,000 has now grown to an enormous 2 million. iTMS truly offers something for everyone, from rock to pop to hip-hop. Music from big stars Madonna and U2, as well as songs from indie great Death Cab for Cutie are all available at the iTunes Music Store.
And now, you can have Bleud too.
A Long Wait, Indeed
Musings of A Caffeine Addict was launched in the fall of 2005 and has since been available at major retailers Amazon, Tower Records and Target; but, it was only last Tuesday that iTunes Music Store included it in their inventory. As drummer Jerwin Glorioso relates, “we were so surprised, just got the news from Apple. Bleud is now on iTunes!”
“This is a huge thing for us. Imagine being in the same catalogue as Coldplay, U2, Weezer and Oasis. We’re excited!” Guitarist Arnold Derama adds.
They surely have a reason to be excited about. Getting into iTMS is considerably stiff. An online form may be available for artists who request to have their music added, but it does not guarantee anything. The iTunes site indicates that since it receives hundreds of applications, it takes a long time for them to evaluate the music and come up with a decision. As one iTunes user expressed, “I’m not sure who makes the final decision as to what gets on the store and what doesn’t, but I have a few friends that have tried to get their music on iTMS, but never received any word back from Apple.” He added, “Once you go through the forms, Apple basically says: Don’t call us, we’ll call you.”
Yes, The Filipino Can
Bleud, composed of four talented Filipinos Arnold Derama(guitars), Jerwin Glorioso(drums), Brian Miguel(vocals/guitars) and Ted Reyes(vocals/bass), has definitely come a long way since it started in the spring of 2003. Their debut album, Musings of A Caffeine Addict, aside from being featured in the iTunes Music Store, is also available in major retailers here in the US. The band is currently busy touring in various bars, clubs and schools in the New Jersey/New York Area. Imaginasian Radio, an online radio that features the sounds of Asian America, calls their song Morning After Paper “hot.” And a cut from their album titled Hello, My Friends Hello is also included in Silver Shiny Jeepney, an indie sampler released in the Philippines which also features great artists like Eraserheads, Imago and Brownbeat All Stars.
“It’s great!” Vocalist/bassist Ted Reyes exclaims. “Hearing Filipino songs on iTunes is surreal, moreso songs that we wrote. Now we know it’s possible.”
It surely is possible. There are a lot of talented Filipino-American bands out there. Now, great talents like The Kuwagos, The Moonbugs, Grim Bottle, Sodapop Suicide, Rubberband and The Happy Analogues all have a shot at partaking in the global market place.
“Slowly, but surely,” vocalist/guitarist Brian Miguel finished.
Bleud will be performing live on Friday, April 21 at Dampa Restaurant and Grill, Jersey City, NJ. Joining them are The Kuwagos and Sodapop Suicide. You can also catch them on Saturday, April 29 at the NJIT Pinoystock, Newark, NJ. To find out more about Bleud, visit their website at www.bleud.net or www.myspace.com/bleud
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BEFORE the rumors about her being pregnant could get out of hand, Danica Sotto opted to set the record straight and deny the issue once and for all.
The rumor said Danica is a few months pregnant by her cager-boyfriend Mark Pingris. “I’m just not,” she said adding, “I’m not surprised that there’s a new rumor about me again kasi sanay na ako. What I’m surprised to hear is that observation that I’ve gained weight because I’m pregnant daw kasi a lot of people I bump into these days tell me that I’m so slim and my face is a lot smaller in person daw than on TV. I look bigger on TV because you gain 10 pounds when you’re on cam,” Danica said last Monday.
She considers this a much serious rumor that could possibly tarnish her reputation that’s why Danica said she has to put her foot down before it gets out of control.
“I believe there are some rumors that die a natural death if you don’t mind it but there are many also that get worse if you don’t explain your side. Unang–una, di ako nagmamalinis but there is really no way that I’ll get pregnant because it is not allowed. Mark and I follow the correct pattern in a relationship which is courtship and then engagement and then marriage. Secondly, if I get pregnant I won’t tape for ‘Daddy Di Do Du’ kasi siyempre mahihiya naman ako sa daddy ko,” she reasoned.
Before the pregnancy issue came about, Danica admitted that she was already hurt by past write-ups stating she denies all the things that are written about her such as her relationship with basketball player Mark Pingris.
“I don’t remember an issue that I denied. That’s why I was tagged as bad girl by the press coz I’m so straightforward like my mom. But the thing about Mark is, naging kami lang nung Feb. 2 of this year. When people asked me before about the real score of our relationship, dating stage pa lang kami noon. People concluded before we even became officially ‘on’ na kami na because they find us too close for comfort. That’s because Mark and I started as barkada. For two straight months, we went out with my mom and close friends,” explained Danica.
With her strenuous work out schedule at the gym every other day for six months now, Danica said she’s never been this fit before. Danica added that her dad, Vic Sotto, even advised her that forming too many muscles in her body won’t look good that’s why she’s taking it a little easier on the weights.
Despite having made their relationship official already, Danica stressed she still categorizes her relationship with Mark as courtship and it will stay that way until he pops the question. At 24, she’s not rushing herself into marriage especially because she feels like a princess with a boyfriend like Mark.
“Honestly, I get embarrassed, especially to Mark’s mom whenever bad write-ups about me come out because his family is very conservative. Mark is old fashioned and may breeding talaga. Even though our relationship is already in this stage, he would still fetch me at home pag may lakad kami. Never niya ako tinagpo sa labas. He would always ask permission from my mom after visiting me. When he comes to my tapings, kahit nagte-take pa ng scene si daddy he would really wait. He won’t go until he has asked permission from my dad,’ she added.
By surrounding themselves with many people, Danica said she and Mark will never go astray.
“Temptation is always near a couple who isolates themselves from people. In our case, we always have people around because we believe we could keep ourselves safe that way,” Danica ended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA --- Do you know that new GMA 7 star Isabel Oli (real name: Marie Olivia Daytia) is an Information Technology Programming graduate from the San Jose Recoletos in Cebu?
Her original plan was to take up a second degree, this time in Multimedia Arts, in Singapore where her parents are based.
But showbiz beckoned. Although at first reluctant to try acting, she was persuaded and now, enjoys it immensely.
Currently, she’s one of the busiest newcomers in GMA 7. “I had difficulty, at first, in speaking in Tagalog. I was born and I grew up in Cebu,” she explained.
Isabel started her acting career with ABS-CBN. She was cast as the “other woman” in John Lloyd’s life in the teleserye, “It Might Be You.” It proved a challenging role, as she said she cannot imagine sharing a man’s love with another.
Isabel, who is currently being linked to Paolo Contis, spent the Holy Week with her family in Hongkong. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NEW YORK --- ‘Unaccessorized’, the award winning solo play written and performed by Filipino-American Rich Kiamco returns to New York City after a successful series of shows in 2004.
In 2004, the one-man show won the overall excellence in solo performance at the New York International Fringe Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in America. The solo play also won the best solo performance in the Montreal GLBT International Theatre Festival in 2005.
‘Unaccessorized’, also directed by Dan Bacalzo, is an autobiographical solo performance of a queer, overachieving Filipino, who escaped the suburban cornfields of Illinois and embarked on a journey of self-discovery to the streets of New York City.
The solo play, which takes on coming-out hate crimes, career issues and cross cultural clashes in a fun and intense way aims to let people find themselves in the same quest to find what they want from their lives and what is most meaningful.
Chasing Dreams
Rich Kiamco was born in Chicago, Illinois. He came from a family of overachievers. His father, an engineer from CIT, and his mother a doctor at 21.
Growing up, he was taught the importance of academics, religion and family perfectionism. He came out to his parents at age 14; they told him they would find a “cure.” Going against his parents’ dreams of medical school, he chased his own dreams and studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
Rich started doing stand-up comedy in 1987. He worked with Judy Tenuta, a huge comedy celebrity in the late 80’s and early 90’s, as a costume designer then eventually became a dancer/side-kick for her. Kiamco appeared in Las Vegas, on The Howard Stern Show and venues nationwide as the side-kick to Tenuta.
Since then, Rich has continued doing performances. But touring campuses reminas is his top priority, offering workshops to students. Kiamco hopes to “inspire students to find their callings and dreams...and to give them practical workshop exercises to access their visions and implement them into their daily lives.”
Kiamco’s story will definitely inspire them. Rich’s decision of fulfilling his own dreams is paying off. NY Theatre describes Unaccessorized as “highly physical, almost an athletic event…it’s impossible not to be impressed,” and Theatremania sees it as ”one of the best of [NY] Fringe … quicksilver talents…smart and sophisticated.”
For more on Rich Kiamco, visit his website at www.richkiamco.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MANILA --- With the current box-office success of her comeback movie, “D’Lucky Ones,” Sandara Park proved that she really has that elusive x-factor.
While it cannot be denied that she was overshadowed by co-stars Pokwang and Eugene Domingo in most scenes, especially when exchanging witty repartees, she was able to hold her own beside these seasoned performers in other parts of the movie. Apparently, her new leading man in “D’Lucky Ones,” her boyfriend Joseph Bitangcol, had a lot to do with it.
“Malaking dahilan ang presence ni Joseph sa pelikula sa pagiging magaling ni Sandara,” said Pokwang. “Inspired siya lalo na kapag kasama si Joseph sa eksena.”
The showing of “D’Lucky Ones” came on the heels of new issues raised about Sandara (including the huge debt incurred by her Korean father). All throughout the shooting of the movie, however, Sandara kept her cool and did not allow any of her problems to affect her.
Wenn Deramas directs “D’ Lucky Ones.”
Is it really over between Anne Curtis and her much older boyfriend, Paolo Araneta? The age difference between them is reportedly 10 years.
Report has it that Anne these days has been seen enjoying the company of Luis “Lucky” Manzano, one of her leading men in “Kampanerang Kuba.” Christian Bautista was also paired with Anne but it was her team-up with Lucky which obviously clicked with the audience. When “Kampanerang Kuba” ended, Anne and Luis continued to appear together in other shows and they obviously became close. It’s no surprise then if the closeness between them has turned to love. (MNS)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
