...the PH 3x3 hoopers world ranking

Philippines rises to No. 21 in Fiba 3X3 Men's world ranking


Randolph B. Leongson
Spin.ph
25 September 2019

A SPOT in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament is within reach for the Philippines as it rose to 21st from 25th in the Fiba 3x3 Men's World Rankings.

Philippines 3x3 has amassed 8,156,366 points, putting it in play for the Olympic Qualifyng Tournament (OQT) a month before the October 31 Fiba-imposed deadline.

Pasig Chooks made it to the quarterfinals of the Kaohsiung Challenger on Sunday.

Balanga Chooks is also set to participate in the Jeju Challenger and the 2019 Fiba 3x3 World Tour Jeddah Masters next month as the country's last ditch effort to stay within the top 24.

The three highest-ranked federations will automatically qualify for the Olympics, while host Japan has gained automatic entry.

Twenty teams will compete in the OQT for four slots to the Olympics while the last slot will be disputed in a Universality OQT.

Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 league owner Ronald Mascariñas said more 3x3 activities are set in October.  "We just can't wait and leave out fate to chance. We have to continue pushing until our goal is met." said Mascariñas.

...the world class Pinoy singers

Pinoy pride!

By MARK BONIFACIO

MANILA tIMES

19 September 2019

The Filipino singer’s talent is well known the world over. Most foreigners in fact perceive that every Filipino can sing or carry a tune. They believe so what with the likes of Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, Charice (now known as Jake Zyrus), Joanna Ampil, Rachel Ann Go, Jed Madela, KZ Tandingan, Darren Espanto, Morissette Amon, Elha Nympha and the TNT Boys, among so many others, making the nation proud.

And now, two new additions are on the Pinoy pride list in music — the a capella group Acapellago and YouTube sensation Reneé Dominique.

Earning Asian honors

Award-winning a capella group Acapellago brought pride anew to the Philippines when they bagged another victory at the Asian Cup A Capella Competition in Kagawa, Japan.

Acapellago, whose members include Michelle Pascual, Almond Bolante, Joshua Cadeliña, Bogart Laderas and Happy Lemon Laderas, bested other groups from Asia on August 9 at the Rexxam Hall of the Kagawa Prefectural Hall in Takamatsu, Kagawa.

Besides being grand champions, the group was also hailed as the VoiceJam Awardee, which earns them the privilege to perform in next year’s VoiceJam Festival in the United States.

Acapellago

This year has indeed been great for Acapellago. They also won the first place at the Medium Vocal Ensemble Category in the Moscow Spring Acapella Festival last May.

The group is now looking forward to a concert tour of Taiwan. This is a return engagement due to insistent public demand after their sold-out tour last May. They are also excited for the results of this year’s Awit Awards where their single “Kariton” is a finalist for Best Vocal Arrangement. They won the same award last year for their song “Peroplano.”

Acapellago is now getting ready to record their second album which will carry some of their award-winning pieces and tracks they will sing at their extensive performing tour of Europe early 2020.

Duet with Jason Mraz

Another Pinoy Pride who is making waves around the world is the young singer Renee Dominique who not only signed with Virgin Records/Universal Music Germany but also collaborated with famous a American Grammy award winning singer/songwriter for her new single.

Renee Dominique

Weeks before his concert in Manila, American singer-songwriter Jason Mraz told Music Geek in a phone interview that he was in the process of collaborating with a young artist based in Manila. She was none other than Renee.

“She’s such a great talent and a great writer. Beautiful voice!” Mraz praised the Pinay singer whom he had never met before his concert on here on May 8. Naturally, the collaboration was made possible via the Internet.

“It’s as if we were sending messages in a bottle across the sea, working in different time zones between different schedules to make this dream collaboration become a reality. Though we had never met, I feel like I knew Reneé simply through the quality of her voice. I was drawn to her tone and vocal attitude, and through the process of co-writing the song, felt drawn to harmonize and appear on the track. It’s an honor to be featured. But I’m here because I’m a fan.”

The result of this collaboration is the single “Could I Love You Any More” which they first performed during his Manila concert then released on May 31. The track is a conversation put in song between a woman and a man, both realizing the magic of love. The peaceful and touching duet combines the beautiful voices of both artists and delivers a dose of romantic vibes with breezy, calm guitar sounds.

Reneé Dominique is known for her creative music and beautifully designed videos on YouTube. In December 2009, she started uploading videos of cover songs of various classic hits (The Beatles, Carpenters) as well as self-written songs on her channel. She stands out for her uniquely soft and soulful vocals, which combined with her ukulele, add a dreamy and distinctive touch to her music. One of her most successful covers, “Somewhere Only We Know,” by Keane counts over 5 million views on Youtube and was chosen by Samsung for one of their global campaigns.

Reneé says about the love song: “Love can never be stopped, it never runs out, because with the right person love exists in abundance. Love is kind and patient, never boastful, proud or rude. Love is not selfish or quick tempered, it does not keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails.”

Their music video was shot in Manila and Singapore and was directed by Jeff Coffman. She is currently on tour with Mraz in the US to promote the single.

...the Indonesian's showtime

Philippines’ ‘It’s Showtime’ franchised by Indonesia 

Jan Milo Severo

philstar.com

March 19, 2019 

MANILA, Philippines — Indonesia’s MNC TV announced that the TV station will be airing its own version of ABS-CBN’s hit noontime show “It’s Showtime” soon.

To announce the franchise, MNC TV’s Facebook page posted a lyric video of the Kapamilya noontime show.

“IT'S SHOWTIME INDONESIA SOON ON MNCTV! The newest and definitely exciting program will be on MNCTV! Curious about what fun and excitement is like? #ItsShowtimeIndonesia SOON on MNCTV,” the TV network said in Bahasa.

"It's Showtime" Business Unit Head Peter Edward Dizon confirmed the news by sharing the video posted by MNCTV on his Facebook page.

“HELLO THERE It's Showtime Indonesia. Congrats Team Showtime!” he wrote.

https://web.facebook.com/MnctvOfficial/videos/255806141968654/

The noontime show’s hosts Vhong Navarro and Vice Ganda also announced the news in the “Bidaman” segment of the noontime show last Saturday.

“It’s Showtime” is not the first Filipino noontime show to be franchised by an Indonesian media company.

In 2012, the show’s timeslot rival, “Eat Bulaga!,” was also franchised by an Indonesian company. The Indonesian “Eat Bulaga!,” however, only lasted for two years.

...the Miss Earth 2014

Miss Philippines is Miss Earth 2014

 

by Robert R. Requintina
November 30, 2014

 

An owner of a dance company in Cebu won 2014 Miss Earth during grand coronation night held at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City Saturday night.

MissVenezuela Maira Alexandra Rodriguez; Miss Earth Water; Miss Earth 2014 Miss Philippines Jamie Herrel. Miss Russia Anastacia Westropp, Miss Earth Fire.Miss USA Andrea Neu, who won Miss Earth Air

Jamie Herrel, 20, owner of Mactan Dynamics Dance Company, bested 83 candidates from around the world to capture the Miss Earth crown. This is the second time that the Philippines won in the environment-driven beauty contest.


In 2008, the 14^th Miss World Beauty Pageant saw Karla Henry, to the first Filipina to be crowned Miss Earth.

Other winners in this year’s contest were Miss USA Andrea Neu, who won Miss Earth Air; Miss
Venezuela Maira Alexandra Rodriguez; Miss Earth Water; and Miss Russia Anastacia Westropp, Miss Earth Fire.

Other candidates who finished in the Top 18 semi-finalists were representatives from Tahiti, Korea, Colombia, Scotland, Mongolia, Zambia, Brazil, Slovak Republic, Thailand, Egypt, Mexico and Spain.

Herrel, who stands 170 centimeters and measures 32-25-28 belongs to the Kagandahang Flores beauty camp, describes herself as hyper and adventurous.

She said “the Philippines is absolutely beautiful with their high mountains, blue beaches, their amazing sunsets, big waterfalls, the delicious food, the exotic animals, the hospitable people and so much more. It’s hard to promote one eco-tourism spot because the country itself is absolutely breath-taking and you can never get enough of the Philippines.”

 

...the new Miss Universe Philippines

 Mary Jean Lastimosa is new Miss Universe Philippines

By Kristine Angeli Sabillo
INQUIRER.net

Monday, March 31st, 2014

Winners of the Bb. Pilipinas 2014 pose during the coronation night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum From left are: Hannah Sison, 2nd runner-up; Parul Shah, Bb. Pilipinas Tourism; Kris Janson, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental; Mary Jean Lastimosa, Bb. Pilipinas Universe; Mary Anne Guidotti, Bb. Pilipinas International, Yvethe Marie Santiago, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational; and Laura Lehman, 1st runner-up. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

 

 

MANILA, Philippines—North Cotabato native Mary Jean Lastimosa was crowned as Miss Universe Philippines 2014 at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday night.

 

An emotional Lastimosa, who also won the Best in Swimsuit award, received her crown from reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler of Venezuela.

 

Mary Jean Lastimosa (center) is crowned Binibining Pilipinas Universe 2014 by last year's winner Ariella Arida (right) and assisted by reigning Miss Universe Gabriela Isler. The 26-year old North Cotabato beauty bested 39 other contestants in the coronation night Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.  

Best in Swimsuit

Bagging the Bb. Pilipinas International title was Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti from Taguig. The statuesque beauty queen also won Best in Long Gown.

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile the Bb. Pilipinas Tourism crown was awarded to half-Indian half-Filipino Parul Shah of Pangasinan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yvethe Marie Santiago, the 20-year old accountant from Albay, was announced Bb. Pilipinas Supranational.

 

 

On the other hand, Kris Janson of Cebu was awarded with the Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental crown.

She was also the pageant’s Best in National Costume and Miss Photogenic.

 

Declared first runner-up was Laura Lehman, and second runner-up was Hannah Sison. Both hailed from Makati.

 

Other candidates who received a special award were Gabrielle Erika Tilokani for Miss Talent and Racquel Kabigting for Miss Friendship.

 

It was the third time that the 26-year old Lastimosa joined the pageant, winning second runner-up in 2011 and landing in the Top 12 in 2012.

“Binibining Pilipinas’ Maricar Balagtas is her inspiration for joining the pageant again, because she joined three times before winning. Whenever she feels down, she looks up at her and thinks that if she was able to do it and so can she,” read Lastimosa’s profile at the Bb. Pilipinas website.

Balagtas won the Bb. Pilipinas Universe title in 2004, the third time she joined the contest.

 

Because of her long experience in the pageant circuit, Lastimosa has developed close friendships with other beauty queens. Last December, she was included in the wedding entourage of her best friend Shamcey Supsup, who finished third runner-up in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant in Brazil.

 

Lastimosa will compete at the 63^rd Miss Universe pageant later this year.

 

...the Oscar winner

Fil-Am Robert Lopez wins Oscar for 'Let It Go'

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

03/03/2014

 

 

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez win for their song "Let It Go", best original song for the film "Frozen" at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

Filipino-American composer Robert Lopez made history on Sunday (Monday morning in Manila) when he and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez won an Oscar for “Let It Go” from the hit Disney animated movie, “Frozen.”

During the 86th Academy Awards hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, Lopez won in the Best Original Song category after “Let It Go” beat “Happy” from “Despicable Me 2”, “The Moon Song” from “Her” and “Ordinary Love” from “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

Lopez is the first Filipino-American to win an Oscar, according to Hollywood-based Filipino journalist Ruben V. Nepales.

In their acceptance speech, the husband-and-wife team honored their fellow nominees and thanked those who inspired them in writing the song.

The two ended their speech by thanking their children.

“Our girls, Katie and Annie, our song is inspired by our love for you in the hope that you never let fear and shame keep you from celebrating the unique people that you are. Thank you, we love you,” Anderson-Lopez said.

“Let It Go” was previously named Best Original Song at the Critics’ Choice Awards, and was also nominated at the Golden Globes in January.

"Frozen," a Walt Disney Animation Studios musical fairy tale, tells of the bond between two royal sisters in an icy Scandinavian kingdom.



Filipino roots

Lopez's father is part-Filipino as his grandfather was pure Filipino, while his grandmother was part-Filipino and part-Scottish-American.

With his Oscar win, Lopez joins an elite club of artists who have won all four major awards -- the Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony.

Lopez had previously won a Tony Award for “Avenue Q,” and another Tony Award and a Grammy for “The Book of Mormons.”

He has two Daytime Emmys for his music direction and composition in “The Wonder Pets.”
Lopez earlier told ABS-CBN that his inspiration in writing the song had been the many well-loved Disney movies.

"We've been listening to Alan Menken and all the other Disney composers. We really wanted to join the canon. We're really, really glad that the song caught on like this. The album is now No. 1 in the country," Lopez said during the Golden Globes.

“Frozen” will also hit Broadway although no date has been released. It is Disney's No. 1 all-time animation debut and it is expected to surpass “The Lion King” as the highest grossing Disney movie of all time.

The musical soundtrack and hit anthem "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel have sold more than 1 million copies each and inspired thousands of YouTube videos by young girls singing the tune.

Idina Menzel performs nominated original song "Let it Go" by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, for the film "Frozen" at the Oscars. Photo by Lucy Nicholson, Reuters

'Frozen' wins best animated film
Meanwhile, "Frozen" won the Academy Award on for best animated feature film.

The win is the first in the category for Walt Disney Animation Studios, the animation house founded by the man who pioneered the genre. The animated feature category was created in 2002 and has been dominated by Disney-owned Pixar, which has won it seven times but was shut out of the nominations this year for the second time in three years.

"Frozen" cemented a resurgence for Disney Animation Studios, becoming a global phenomenon with over $1 billion in movie theater ticket sales, according to Rentrak.

The film features the voice of Kristen Bell as a Scandinavian princess searching for her sister, the queen, who has the power to freeze anything with a touch and accidentally sets off a long winter that is destroying their kingdom. The story was inspired by "The Snow Queen" fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Chris Buck, one of the film's two directors, dedicated his Oscar to his son Ryder, a musician who was killed last year when he was struck by vehicles as he crossed a Los Angeles area freeway.
"He's our guardian angel up there," said Buck.

"Frozen" beat "The Croods," a caveman comedy from DreamWorks Animation SKG ; Universal Pictures' "Despicable Me 2," produced by Illumination Entertainment; "The Wind Rises" from Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki; and French-language entry "Ernest & Celestine." -- With report from Reuters

 

...the Survivor Cagayan

Survivor’s Cagayan edition to air in 156 countries

              

By Charlie Lagasca

The Philippine Star

February 28, 2014

The cast of the 28th Survivor series which was filmed entirely in Palaui Island

 

SANTA ANA, Cagayan , Philippines — The 28th series of the American reality-TV show Survivor, which was filmed entirely in Palaui Island here last year, will be shown in at least 156 countries over international television networks.
  

Lope Juban Jr., president of the Philippine Film Studios, Inc., which took part in the production of the series from March to August last year, said that Philippine viewers can catch the show over JackTV.
According to Juban, however, the Survivor’s Palaui series titled Brawn vs. Brains vs. Beauty, produced by Mark Burnett with Jeff Probst as host, debuted in the US yesterday.

The Cagayan Economic Zone Authority (CEZA) facilitated the filming of Survivor as part of its tourism development and investment plans for the economic zone, which covers this once-obscure fishing town and parts of the Aparri islets.

Palaui, an idyllic island located northeast off Luzon along the West Philippine Sea, is described as one of the world’s best beaches and eco-tourism destinations because of its unparalleled natural beauty and rich biodiversity.

Last year, CNN Travel adjudged Palaui Island as one of the world’s 10 Best Beaches, the only one from the Philippines and the entire Southeast Asia to make it in the prestigious list.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the Palaui areas included in the filming of the Survivor 28th series were the scenic Anguib Beach, Pozo Robo Beach, Siwangag Cove and the centuries-old Spanish built Cape Engano Cove.

The production group had its first shooting day at Anguib Beach for the previous season — Blood vs Water (27th season) and Survivor Cagayan (28th season) on May 19, 2013.

The Survivor’s preparation and filming, which involved some 500 international and local production crew, lasted for seven months.

Nilo Aldeguer, CEZA senior deputy administrator, said that the producers of the Survivor series, spent at least P300M for its entire production, wherein 60 percent went to hotel and accommodations, while the rest was spent for talent fees and salaries of participants and production crew as well as incidental expenses.

 

...the Nick's Favorite Asian Act nominee

Kapamilya star, Anne Curtis nominated in the Favorite Asian Act category in Nickelodeon award show

The Global Dispatch

Robert Herrimsn

25 February 2014

 

 

The Philippines “Princess of All Media”, Anne Curtis is among the nominees in the Favorite Asian Act category in Nickelodeon’s 27th annual Kids’ Choice Awards.

 

Image/Anne Curtis Instagram

 

The excited “Philippine’s National Sweetheart” went to Twitter to say, “Ecstatic to be nominated at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards 2014 as Favorite Asian Act!!!!

 

 

 

She will be competing against G.E.M. of China, Coboy Junior of Indonesia, and Lisa Surihani of Malaysia in the category.

 

The announcement comes just days after Anne revealed on It’s Showtime her new concert, “The Forbidden Concert Round 2: AnneKapal” and corresponding new album, ”The Forbidden Album”, all due to happen in May.

 

Nickelodeon’s 27th annual Kids’ Choice Awards will be hosted by Mark Wahlberg and will take place on March 29 at University of Southern California’s Galen Center. It will be aired in the Philippines on March 31.

 

 

...the International Media Excellence Awardee

'Matanglawin' wins int'l award for 'Sabang Dragons'

 

By Jenny Ybañez,

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

11/08/2013

 

LONDON - The International Media Excellence Awards 2013, organized by the Association for International Broadcasting (AIB), recognized ABS-CBN show 'Matanglawin: Sabang Dragons'" with the highly recommended award in the children's factual category.

"[The Matanglawin show] overcame daunting logistical challenges to produce a highly informative, skillfully shot and edited show," the AIB said.

 

"The objective of AIB awards is to honor the best content in the world. We have some excellent nominations from across the globe and the whole idea was to have an evening to honor the best and their excellence and recognize them," said AIB's Amitabh Srivastava.

Hosted by Kuya Kim Atienza, Matanglawin is aired on ABS-CBN Channel 2 every Sunday at 11 a.m.

Fellow winner for Children's Factual Category was BBCs Children's News Show 'Newsround'.
"We made a documentary we did it and we got great feedback from the audience and getting something like this was just a bonus," said Ricky Boleto, presenter for BBC Newsround.

The second ABS-CBN show also nominated on the night was 'Failon Ngayon: Island of Boracay 2', hosted by veteran anchor Ted Failon.

On their 9th year running, it is the first time a program from the Philippines was nominated in the awards.

"I was mighty surprised that you do have almost world class content and the fact that you're nominated in two categories is a true testimony to that," said Srivastava.

AIB is known for its unique center of information about international broadcasting, covering tv, radio, online and mobile.

 

...the Dutch-Pinoy flick at Copenhagen fest

Dutch-Filipino film wins at Copenhagen filmfest

byIra Agting
09/19/2013

 

SNOW WHITE. Sandy Talag in a brave role. Screen grab from the trailer


MANILA, Philippines - "Once upon a time," opens the film's trailer, "there was a girl in the Philippines named Snow White. But one day, her mother and stepfather made her eat a poisoned apple."

"Lilet Never Happened," a riveting narrative on the Philippines' underground sex trade, won Best Youth Film at the 2013 Copenhagen International Film Festival held September 5 to 15.

The film, by Dutch director Jacco Groen, stars Sandy Talag, as 11-year-old Filipino-American streetgirl Lilet.

The young girl, introduced as Snow White to "clients," has big dreams of becoming an actress in order to lift herself and her brother from poverty.

Meanwhile, Gloria, a foreign social worker, tries desperately to save Snow White.

In an interview with Filmz TV, Groen recalled meeting a real-life Lilet who inspired him to make this film. He met the young girl in a mental hospital a day after she tried to commit suicide.

Despite the film's earnest and complex themes, Groen said the movie is not meant to be depressing.
"This story never left my mind," he said. "It's not a depressing type of film because the girl I met is a tough kind of girl."

Groen said a psychologist was on the set for consultation.

Sandy Talag, the film's 15-year-old lead actress, said her imagination helped her to act out the scenes.
"I would imagine, 'Okay, Sandy, this is not a taping, this is real. You're on the streets and you're selling your body just to have money, just to eat something.' I just imagine things and, voilà," she told Filmz TV.

Groen said the film is meant to reach out to the youth.

“'Lilet Never Happened' is made for the younger audience, you need to reach the new generation who will say enough is enough, we cannot accept this anymore in a society that we call civilized.”

“With this movie, we really hope to raise awareness about the sad reality of child prostitutes not only in the Philippines, but all over the world."

Watch the trailer here:



"Lilet Never Happened" has already been shown in more than 22 international film festivals in 2012.
In the coming months, the film will travel to Switzerland, Australia, Armenia, Dubai, and India. It will be shown in the Philippines in December.

Others in the cast are John Arcilla, Marife Necesito, and Dutch actress Johanna ter Steege. - Rappler.com

 

...the 2013 MTV EMA Nominee

Sarah Geronimo nominated at 2013 MTV EMA

             

By Eunice Blanco

philstar.com

September 18, 2013

 

 

Sarah Geronimo is nominated for Best Southeast Asia Act in the 2013 MTV EMA. File Photo

 

MANILA, Philippines – Popstar Princess Sarah Geronimo has been nominated for Best Southeast Asia Act in the upcoming MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA).

The Kapamilya singer’s recognitions were enumerated on MTV EMA’s page, including the Best Asian Artist (Philippines) at the 2012 MNet Asian Music Awards held in Hong Kong, making Sarah the first Filipino to receive such award.

They also recognized the local awards that the Popstar Princess received through Awit Awards, namely Most Promising Female Entertainer in 2003; Entertainer of The Year and Record Breaker in 2010; Best in Collaboration For A Concert for What Love Is in 2011; Best Female in Major Concert for 24/SG and Best Selling Album of the Year for “One Heart” in 2012.

Also in the list is her Nickelodeon Philippines' Kids' Choice Award in 2004.

Other nominees for the Best Southeast Asia Act are Hafiz from Malaysia, NOAH from Indonesia, Olivia Ong from Singapore, Slot Machine from Thailand and My Tam from Vietnam.

Justin Timberlake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus are likewise among the nominees.

The MTV EMA will be held on Nov. 10 at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

 

 

...the Gensan Boys at Ellen de Generes Show

Aldrich Talonding and James Bucong guest on Ellen DeGeneres show

 

By Karen Valeza

Yahoo Southeast Asia Newsroom

12 September 2013

Reuters/REUTERS - Ellen DeGeneres smiles as she talks to a reporter while arriving for the Mark Twain Prize ceremony in Washington, in this file photo from October 22, 2012. DeGeneres has been chosen to host …more the annual Oscars telecast in March, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said August 2, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Files

 

 

Remember Aldrich Lloyd Talonding, the YouTube sensation from General Santos City who caught Ellen Degeneres' attention? Well, the talented boy has finally graced Ellen's top rating show!

Along with his cousin, James Walter Bucong, Aldrich talked about how his life changed after their YouTube video became viral.

"People started recognizing us along the streets or in the malls. They even recognize us in the restrooms. That's weird," Aldrich said.

The short interview was followed by a heartfelt performance which rightfully deserved a standing ovation from the crowd. Luther Vandross' song "Dance with My Father" is more meaningful for the fourteen year-old after his father died in June due to non-hodgkin's lymphoma.

 

 

Video from Facebook

Ellen gave Aldrich a set of music goodies - a guitar, an amplifier, keyboard and more, not to mention a check worth $10,000!

According to a report from Associated Press, Aldrich is "a son of Christian ministers and members of the B'laan indigenous group."

Other Pinoy artists who have graced "Ellen" are Charice, Rhap Salazar and Zendee Rose Tenerefe.

 

 

...the Miss Saigon legend

NY Times raves about Lea Salonga at the Carlyle

By Bayani San Diego Jr.
Philippine Daily Inquirer

June 6, 2013

FRAMED New York Times review at the Carlyle. PHOTO FROM Fletcher HC

Fellow singer Ogie Alcasid once joked in one of Lea Salonga’s local concerts that the Tony award winner had come a long way—“From Broadway Centrum to Broadway!”

In the 1980s, Salonga was among many starry-eyed teenagers who vied for attention in German Moreno’s afternoon youth show, “That’s Entertainment,” aired from the Broadway Centrum studio in Quezon City.

That she managed to rise above “That’s Entertainment” (not to mention another 1980s cult schlock fest, “Ninja Kids”) was a testament to her almost incredible gift, matched with an iron will, as illustrated in the mega-production “Miss Saigon” on the West End and Broadway.

‘Formidable’
These are the same personal qualities highlighted in a recent New York Times review.

In the prestigious paper’s May 25 issue, Stephen Holden wrote a rave review about Salonga’s performance in a three-week concert series at the Café Carlyle that ends tomorrow.

Holden described Salonga as “a performer whose formidable talent is matched by her unstoppable drive and keen intelligence.”

The Filipina’s third outing at the Carlyle, dubbed “Back to Before,” is a tribute to her idols Barbra Streisand and Ella Fitzgerald. Holden reported, “As Broadway divas go, [Salonga] is a cut above most.”

Holden said Salonga’s rendition of standards (for instance, “The Song Is You,” “Manhattan,” “How Long Has This Been Going On”) “[was] delivered with an almost machinelike perfection.”

Unapologetic

The critic said Salonga’s “unusually strong and focused interpretation” of “Greatest Love of All” (Whitney Houston’s early hit) was apt because its “message of unapologetic self-reliance resonated with (Salonga’s) show business biography.”

Holden, however, noted that, in treading gentler terrain like the lullaby “I Won’t Mind” or Stephen Sondheim’s oeuvre, Salonga “demonstrated her comfort in a more intimate, psychologically subtle mode.”

The piece was titled, “Serenely indomitable, whatever the challenge.”