...the UAE's New Pinoy Radio

 

New Pinoy radio channel makes waves in the UAE

 

Ferdinand Godinez

The National (UAE)

Apr 15, 2013

 

 

The presenters on the Filipino radio station TAG 91.1 include, left to right, Loueise da Costa, Joselito Bluebird Echivarria, Jonaphine 'Maria Maldita' Caraan and Nathalia Junbie 'Chikay' Cermino. Courtesy TAG 91.1

 

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Music brings people together. And for the thousands of Filipinos living in the UAE, homegrown songs remind them of anything that is distinctly Pinoy – from the jeepney (passenger vehicle) to halo-halo (shaved-ice dessert) to adobo (meat in a sauce of vinegar, soy sauce and garlic) – and the smiles of loved ones who are thousands of miles away.

And this is exactly what inspired the founding of the country’s first radio station that is devoted to the large and still-growing Filipino expatriate community.

 

TAG 91.1 was the product of long and meticulous planning by the Arabian Radio Network (ARN) group, which was looking to tap into an enormous yet overlooked market in the country’s widely varied demographics.

 

“ARN has spent more than two years conducting wide-ranging -research to determine the under-served communities,” explains Louise da Costa, one of the station’s stable of presenters.

 

Brought over from Virgin Radio where she was dubbed the station’s “Filipina Queen”, da Costa joined the fledgling station to boost its young staff.

 

The station has an all-^-Filipino team and the management made it a point to visit the Philippines to scout for the right talent to represent its new project.

 

Studying Manila’s radio scene, ARN representatives zeroed in on the presenters from the country’s three leading stations. A Filipino music manager and a production manager were also hired.

 

In hindsight, the station is a grand offshoot of the 10pm to 6am Filipino radio programme heard over the past five years on Dubai Eye 103.8.

 

“Nearly 645,000 Filipinos live in the UAE and because of the strong demand, developing TAG 91.1 was a natural choice for ARN,” explains da Costa.

 

The Filipino community has welcomed the new station and social networking sites are already spreading the news. In fact, TAG 91.1 had more than 5,000 visits on its website during its debut broadcast on March 25. “Hundreds of thousands of listeners have already interacted with this programme,” says da Costa. “It has 10,000 Facebook likes, a number that is increasing by the minute.”

 

TAG 91.1 is also a multi-platform radio station: it broadcasts 24 hours a day, is online at www.tag911.ae, has dedicated iPhone, Android, Nokia and BlackBerry apps and a built-in player on all Samsung Smart -televisions.

 

The station’s line-up includes music, celebrity gossip, games and news, all dished out in a distinctly Pinoy fashion.

 

...the best radio program finalist

Kabayan's radio program finalist at NY Festivals

ABS-CBNnews.com

05/17/2012

 

 

MANILA, Philippines -- The radio program of former Vice President Noli de Castro is the lone Philippine finalist at the 2012 New York Festivals (NYF) World's Best Radio Programs.

 

 

 

De Castro's program "Kabayan," which is being aired over dzMM Radyo Patrol 630 and dzMM TeleRadyo, made it in the Best Public Affairs Program category.

"Kabayan" will be competing with radio programs from various countries, including the United States, Australia, United Kingdom and many others.

According to the NYF website, the World's Best Radio Programs honors radio programming and promotions in all lengths and formats from radio stations, networks and independent producers from around the globe.

This year's winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on June 18 in New York City.

Syria series

A series which had de Castro helping overseas Filipino workers who were trapped amid the Arab Spring uprising in Syria last January was entered in the NYF competition.

According to the program's executive producer, Nanette Baler-Quong, in that series, de Castro served as the bridge for Filipinos in Syria to seek help from the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Among these Filipinos was Gande Das, who has since been repatriated to the Philippines.

Baler-Quong recalled that they were calling Das almost daily, especially after she had threatened to jump from the building where she was staying just to escape and return to her family back home.

The Philippine Embassy in Damascus eventually helped her return to the Philippines.

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...the DJ in the biggest dance fest

LovEvolution: World's Biggest Dance Festival features Filipino DJ

by John Paul Tanchanco

Special to abs-cbnNEWS.com

09/16/2011

 

It's really refreshing to see global Filipino talent in the forefront of world entertainment nowadays. Among the Pinoy performing artists who have become popular in the global market are Charice, Arnel Pineda (Journey), Apl de App (Black Eyed Peas), and Maria Aragon.

 

In the electronic dance music genre, Laid Back Luke, a Filipino DJ born in Manila and based in Netherlands, is also making his waves. His performances and music releases have achieved a mainstream following to the point that he will be headlining in this year's Lovevolution together with 5 time Grammy nominee US artist/DJ, Moby and Top German Trance DJ, Mark Schulz.

Body Rock was one of Moby's popular hits that was nominated in the US Grammies.

LovEvolution is the US version of the European-based Love Parade that started in Germany. The annual global love events are hailed to be the biggest electronica dance music festivals in the world.  They gather all the biggest dance music names,  brands, establishments and global party fans into a unified event of pure partying.

The event is filled with parades and dance fests happening day and night with Music clubs, Discos, DJs, Models, Promoters and Artists parading in their original creative floats.  Initial celebrations and parties last for 1 week and culminate with a parade and big dance production concert featuring top named DJs and clubs.






Love Parade

Love Parades are annual dance and music festivals that originated after the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989. The festival is aimed at promoting unity in diversity, respect and love around the world. 

There were several years when the festivals were suspended because of their wild uncontrollable success. In 2003, German authorities temporarily suspended production permits to host the event. This is when organizers arranged for a North American production.  When German organizers were able to secure permits back in Berlin, North American organizers decided to continue their own sister event and dubbed it the LoveFest 2004, changing the name in 2009 to LovEvolution. 

The Wild Success of Love Parades

In July 2010, a total of 1.4 million attended the Love Parade in Germany.  Producers did not prepare and expect that the attendees would reach these heights. The unexpected crowd rush at the Love Parade caused the death of 21 people, with at least 500 others injured. As a result, the German version of the festival was temporarily cancelled.

Love Evolution 2011

San Francisco was where the US version of the Love Parade first originated in 2004. In order to have more control over the event, they eventually had to move to a bigger more managable area the from San Francisco site.

This year's LovEvolution will take place in Oakland which is 30 minutes away from San Francisco.

This year's LovEvolution 2011 Dance Music Parade and Festival  culmination day will be hosted at the O.co Coliseum and Oracle Arena in Oakland, California on Saturday, September 24, 2011.

...the Fil-Ams in Hollywood

Fil-Am performers soar in Hollywood

 

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

August 31, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

Anna Maria Perez De Tagle is one of the stars of ‘Hannah Montana;’

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina-American Anna Maria Perez De Tagle is set to cross over from TV to theater as she marks her Broadway debut via the revival of rock musical “Godspell.”

The young Disney star, best known for her role as Ashley Dewitt on “Hannah Montana,” revealed her new project through a series of tweets last Aug. 30, which collectively read, “I am so honored... to be a part of.... the revival cast of GODSPELL on BROADWAY!!!www.godspell.com @BwayGodspell :)”

Her inclusion to the cast was also announced through the “Godspell” official website.

Notable personalities congratulated Perez De Tagle, namely internationally acclaimed Filipina thespian Lea Salonga, whom the former considers as her “all time Broadway inspiration,” and the Jonas Brothers.

“Congrats, @AnnaMariaPdT!!! Guys, she'll be making her Broadway debut in GODSPELL!!!” Salonga tweeted on Monday.

The JoBros, meanwhile, said, “So excited for our good friend @annamariapdt! Congrats on @BwayGodspell.”

She then thanked the artists for their greetings in her succeeding tweets, saying she hopes they would watch the show.

Perez De Tagle, the granddaughter of esteemed performer Sylvia La Torre, has performed in the regional theater productions of “Cinderella,” “Bugsy Malone,” “The Wiz” and “The King and I,” as stated on BroadwayWorld.com. Last year, the 20-year-old singer-actress toured North and South America with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato.

“Godspell” will begin its preview performances next month, while its opening night will be on Nov. 7.

Meanwhile, a former child star who left the Philippines at 13, is making a name for himself as a DJ in America: Tom Taus.

The “Ang TV” kid and star of films “Cedie” and “Anak ng Bulkan” is now known in the US club circuit as “DJ Tommy T,” reported “TV Patrol” on Aug. 30.

"I guess I just wanted a change. I wanted to experience something new in my life,” said the now-25-year-old Taus in his interview on “Patrol.”

Taus got into DJ-ing after his elder sister, former singer-actress Antoinette Taus, introduced him to her DJ-friend five years ago, the report added.

The younger Taus hopes to showcase his DJ-ing skills in other popular foreign clubs and even in his home country Philippines.

"[I want to] put a stamp in America for the Filipino people again, like Manny (Pacquiao), like Apl [.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas], like the many other talented Filipinos who have done great work,” said he.

...the Star DJ

Former child star now a DJ in Hollywood

By Yong Chavez, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

08/30/2011

Former child star Tom Taus now making a name for himself in Hollywood.

LOS ANGELES, California – Former Philippine child star Tom Taus is making a name for himself in Hollywood as a DJ.

Taus started out in show business as a child star in ABS-CBN’s "Ang TV.”

He continued acting in movies like "Cedie" and "Anak ng Bulkan" until he moved to the United States at age 13.

At 25 years old, Taus is now known as "DJ Tommy T" to Los Angeles club crowd.

"I guess I just wanted a change. I wanted to experience something new in my life, go to a different country, be somebody totally different," said Taus.

For the past 5 years, Taus has been working on his craft as a DJ through various gigs in Hollywood.

Taus said he has fond memories of his child star days, but has no plans to return to acting.

He, however, said he would like to have a DJ gig in the Philippines in the future.

How he started his DJ career

A chance encounter in Manila with a DJ friend of his sister, actress Antoinette Taus, sparked his interest in pursuing this career.

“I tried it out, I DJ-ed at a birthday party. I was like, when I get back to Los Angeles, I'm going to buy the whole set up and really work hard at it, not waste my time, but really invest my time well, and see what comes out of it," Taus related.

What came out of it was a passion for a new career and a chance to reinvent himself.

Taus said it was not easy starting over in a competitive field, especially in Los Angeles where many superstar DJs are constantly getting discovered.

Through Filipinos who stage events in Los Angeles, he was able to put his foot in the door.

He is also getting support from Pinoy stars who now live in America.

He added his sister Antoinette is also his biggest fan.

“I feel really blessed to have all that support behind me. Seriously, everybody's been showing me so much love to my music. They're saying 'Go, Tom,'” he shared.

In a recent gig, a former showbiz colleague, Tootsie Guevarra, came to see him in action.

Michael Geist, the manager of “Elevate”, a popular club in Los Angeles, said DJ Tommy T is a rising DJ star and he is a crowd favorite. The manager added his percussion skills is an added come-on for his growing group of fans.

"No matter what's going on, Tom comes on. He gets them going. That thing he does with the drums? People love it," said Geist.

No love life

Taus, however, said one downside of his hectic schedule is he has no time for a love life.

"I've been single for a while now. I've been busy working on my music. This is really what I want to work on now, really concentrate and put my time into it," he said.

Taus said he is working toward getting DJ gigs at major cities in the US as well as internationally.

He is also currently producing his own music.

He said he also wants to perform in the Philippines one day.

Asked for a message for his Filipino supporters, he said: "I'm working on things here to further my career in music, to do good things and put a stamp in America for the Filipino people again, like Manny, like apl, like the many other talented Filipinos who have done great work already. I want to be one of those people also.

I'll be back and I miss you guys.”

DJ Tommy T's next major event is slated for the first weekend of September in Las Vegas.

...the young DJ in Westbay

Young Fil-Am deejays dominate airwaves

By Henni Espinosa

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

08/06/2011

 

 

SAN FRANCISCO - Ten-year-old Michael Antonio Ruiz also goes by the name "DJ Mini Me".

DJ Mini Me is among the resident deejays at KWBY or Kids at Westbay, launched just a few weeks ago. Westbay is a multi-service center for Filipinos at the South of Market in San Francisco.

 

He said, “I like being a deejay because music inspires me and we’re doing a lot of stuff.”

 

DJ Mini Me belongs to the after-school program of Westbay, where they not only learn academics.

 

Rudy Asercion, executive director at Westbay said, “Here, they’re actually learning skills, new technology.”

 

Besides playing modern music, KWBY also plays Original Pilipino Music (OPM) and even Kundiman for the younger generation to appreciate.

 

KWBY is also a talk radio. Asercion said, “One of the things that excite me about this is that our kids can talk about anything.”

 

KWBY airs via live streaming through Westbay’s website, www.westbaycenter.org.

 

It only cost Westbay $3,000 to set up the entire radio booth as it uses mostly donated computers and sound system. Today’s technology also makes KWBY available all over the world through the Internet.

 

Jun Reyes, program director of KWBY said, “As compared to 3 to 4 years ago, the Internet is much more accessible. Speed is great for video and audio broadcast.”

 

KWBY also plans to air classic Filipino children tales that teach Filipino values and culture.

 

Ultimately, KWBY not just hopes to make children discover their talents, but make them realize they are indeed the voice of the future generation.