...the Asia's Pride

4 Filipino 'Asia's Got Talent' acts bring pride to the Philippines

By CNN Philippines Staff

15 May 2015

El Gamma Penumbra, Gerphil Geraldine Flores, Gwyneth Dorado, and the Junior New System brought pride to the country as they performed their finest pieces for the 'Asia's Got Talent' grand finals.

(CNN Philippines) - Filipino talent was abundant in the grand finals of TV talent show Asia's Got Talent as four out of nine acts were from the Philippines.

El Gamma Penumbra, Gerphil Geraldine Flores, Gwyneth Dorado, and the Junior New System brought pride to the country as they perform their finest pieces for the Asia's Got Talent (AGT) grand finals.

Other acts were from Singapore (Dance Thrilogy), Thailand (Talento), Mongolia (Khusugtun), China (Gao Lin snd Liu Xin), and Japan (Triqstar).

The winner will be announced on TVchannel AXN on Thursday (May 14). The prize includes $100,000 and an opportunity to perform at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

The audience at home will ultimately determine who wins the first season of Asia's Got Talent.

Asia's Got talent is hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Grammy-winning musician David Foster, Taiawanese-American Vaness Wu, former Spice Girl Melanie C. and Indonesian rock icon Anggun judged the competition.

Gwyneth Dorado

The talented 10-year old songstress has always been interested in music. She's all-around performer having learned how to lay the keyboard, piano and guitar -- mostly through Youtbe tutorials.

Asia's Got talent is the first competition she joined.

When she is not practicing for her performance, dorado is typically a student who tries hard to excel in school . 

For her final performance, Dorado performed a stripped-down version of Sia's hit "Titanium

El Gamma Penumbra

 

Filipinos first heard of shadow play group El Gamma penumbra when they became a finalist in Pilipinas Got Talent in 2013, but the whole world took notice when they became a finalist in the AGT.

The team members from Tanauan City, Batangas decided to join the AGt for the reason they wanted to experience the international TV stage and show the world what they can do as performers.

That simple dream led them to realize that they now have an opportunity to honor the Philippines and to make the Filipinos proud.

Judge Anggun pressed her Golden Buzzer for El gamma Penumbra, which automatically advanced them to the competition's semi-finals.

Their shadow play final performance featuring the song "Colors of the Wind" was a touching tribute to Mother nature. Judged moved to tears by the performance.

Gerphil Geraldine Flores

 

The 24 year old powerful soprano singer has always been hooked to the classical music because she feels it transports her to a different world.

When AXN asked Flores as to what she will do with the prize money if she wins, she said she will help her family. Aside from that, she wanted to help aspiring musicians to achieve their dreams.

Flores also joined Pilipinas Got Talent five years ago.

Flores is the second Filipino act to get the coveted Golden Buzzer when judge David Foster gave it to her-- immediately sending her to the semi finals.

She chose to sing "The Impossible Dream" from the musical Man of La Mancha for her final performance.

Junior New System

 

The funky dance group Junior New System prides themselves as a group who performs hiphop with a twist.

they teamed up on 2009, and since then, they have dominated the dance floor where they perform.

In the semis, junior New System received unanimous nods from the judges to head to the grand finals.

Prior to AGT, these young boys were named the grand winner of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Arts NCAA sayaw Pinoy in 2012 and 2013 in the hip hop category.

The Junior New system showed off their dance moves to a song mash-up while clad in American football uniform.

...the Busan Travel Fair Folklore winner

PHL dance troupe wins in Busan International Travel Fair

GMA News

September 17, 2013

 

 

Philippine dance troupe Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild won for the country the Best Folklore Performance Award in the four-day Busan International Travel Fair 2013.

The event, which closed on Monday, September 9, hosted around 210 entries from 30 countries around the world.

Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild. DFA photo.

In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Sindaw's performance reportedly drew 100,000 visitors to their performance at the Philippine Pavilion of the Busan event.

The Department of Tourism's (DOT) Korean team also won the Best Booth Design Award in the event. The booth held daily lotteries that offered free return flights to the Philippines.

Sindaw, meaning flame in Maguindanaoan, formed in May 2001 to promote art and culture through the re-staging of various folk dances of the Philippines.

Lead by their director Randy C. Guevara, the group represents the country in various folk dance festivals and travel fairs around the globe.

Sindaw performed in the Philippine Food Festival in Shanghai last September 6, where they rendered folk songs and dances.

The dance troupe also performed in Eat Bulaga's 2013 Super Sireyna in July, and also in Eat Bulaga Indonesia's first anniversary celebration in the same month. — Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News

 

 

...the Goddesses of Bellydance Philippines

Pinay bellydancers top Southeast Asian tilt

 

ABS-CBNnews.com

04/22/2013

 

 

 

Members of the bellydance group Goddesses of Bellydance (from left) Diana Garo, Kristine Aquino, Joyce Zabat, troupe director Jill Ngo, Hazel Uy, and Doris Peligrino pose for a group photo during the recent Raks by the SEA Festival competition held in Bali, Indonesia.

MANILA, Philippines -- Another group of Filipinos made their country proud on the Asian arts stage.

The bellydance group Goddesses of Bellydance (GOB) Philippines placed first in the troupe category in the Raks by the SEA Festival competition held last April 13 in Bali, Indonesia.

The troupe impressed the panel of judges, including master teacher Bozenka who is a member of the world-famous Bellydance Superstars formed by Miles Copeland.

Noted for their choreography, technique and energy, GOB Philippines bested dancers from the region including those from Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia.

Troupe director Jill Ngo was joined by five members of GOB -- Kristine Mae Aquino, Hazel Uy, Doris Peligrino, Diana Dane Garo, and Joyce Renee Zabat.

Last year, GOB placed fourth in the World Bellydance Convention competition held in South Korea.

This year, the group will organize the annual Bellyfest, gathering professional bellydancers and enthusiasts from around the country for the seventh straight year.

Special guest performer will be Tribal Superstars director and international solo artist Kami Liddle from the US. She will also conduct workshops.

 

...the international dance fest host

Puerto Princesa hosts int’l dance fest

 

 

By Alex Wong

The Philippine Star

March 28, 2013

 

 

The Halili-Cruz School of Ballet is one of the dance companies featured in Dance Xchange on April 11 to 14 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - Puerto Princesa City, led by Mayor Edward Hagedorn, will host a grand gathering of world-class performers billed as Dance Xchange: The Philippine International Dance Workshop and Festival on April 11 to 14.

Artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz

The National Committee on Culture and the Arts (NCCA) National Committee on Dance, under the leadership of Shirley Halili-Cruz, established the annual big event five years ago.

Its 2013 edition will feature leading dance companies and experts from Japan, Hong Kong, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, England, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Taiwan. Also participating are 22 Filipino dance companies.

One of the said groups, the Halili-Cruz School of Ballet, will represent the country at the Dance Excellence USA in Los Angeles, California, from March 30 to April 7, before joining the Dance Xchange at Puerto Princesa. With its artistic director Shirley Halili-Cruz, the company won the coveted grand prize Dance Excellence trophy in the international contest participated by 50 American states, 30 countries and more than 10,000 dancers. A potential National Artist for Dance awardee, Shirley’s company has brought home top honors in several dance competitions, all over the world, in the last four years.

Meanwhile, on the welcome dinner alone of Dance Xchange, hosted by Mayor Hagedorn, more than 1,200 delegates are expected to attend.

With dance being the new and creative form of connecting people, culture and nations, Dance Xchange, one of the biggest events of the art, has proven very effective.

Only a leading tourism attraction, Puerto Princesa’s hosting the Dance Xchange will further attract more visitors to Palawan from all over the globe.

 

One of the highlights of the dance festivals is a tour of one of the new Seven Wonders of the World, Puerto Princesa’s underground river.

...the talent competition winner

Phl wins int’l talent competition

 

 

The Philippine Star

January 19, 2013

 

MANILA, Philippines - A team from the Philippines represented by Global-Link MP Events Int’l, Inc.came out as champions at this year’s Pico’s Got Talent global competition. The other teams were from China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. Pico’s Got Talent was the highlight at the annual Pico Group International Conference that brought out the competitive streak of its various offices worldwide.

Receiving the trophy and cash prize from SL Chia, founder of Pico International Group, are members of the winning group, who represented their company in a dance routine that told the story of how dance evolved in the Philippines — from native to hip-hop — and left the audience in awe. Global-Link MP is into organizing and managing trade events.

...the hiphop nation

PHL teams sweep int’l hip-hop dance tilt in Sydney

 

GMA News

December 4, 2012

 

 

 

Boyz Unlimited, a team from the Philippines, emerged the Grand Slam Champion of the World Supremacy Battlegrounds (WSB 2012), a competition among international hip-hop dance groups held in Australia’s Sydney Olympic Park over the weekend.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, four other Philippine groups won major awards in the same competition, besting rivals from Australia, the Bahamas, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States.

The winning teams in the International Open Division included

 

• Boyz Unlimited: Gold

 

 

• FlipendemicKru: Silver

• Pinoy Hip Hop: Bronze

• Rockstars: Fourth Place (no pic)

Unschooled and ADDLIB, also from the Philippines, placed seventh and tenth, respectively, in the same category.

Unschooled, 7th place

 

ADDLIB, 10th place

Another Pinoy group, the A Team, clinched a silver in the WSB 2012’s Varsity Division.

A Team, Silver Placer

Two-year winning streak

This is the second year in a row that Boyz Unlimited, a group of seven dancers from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, has won the World Supremacy Battlegrounds.

Formed in 2004 and choreographed by Marion Evangelista, Boyz Unlimited has won in numerous local competitions, including:

• Hundred Islands Dance Showdown in Alaminos, Pangasinan in 2011 (Champion),
• Groove 2010, North Luzon elimination in 2010 (Champion),
• Amplified Hip-hop Dance Competition in Baguio City in 2009 (Champion), and
• Smart’s Best Dance Crew in Dagupan City in 2010 (Champion).

In its Facebook page, the group said its members were brought together in the objective of dancing “for the glory of God.”

The group believes that “as long as we continue to learn . . . we will achieve our dream—to be the best dance crew not only in our country but in the whole world.”

After winning the championship at the WSB 2012, the group expressed its gratitude in a Facebook post:

“Hindi naming alam kung pano naming sisimulan ang sobrang pasasalamat naming sa inyo at sa lahat ng tumulong sumuporta, naniwala, at higit sa lahat nagdasal po para sa amin at sa lahat ng Team Pilipinas,” the page’s administrator said.

Dedicating its award to its Filipino supporters, the group added, “Sobrang maraming salamat po! Iba talaga ang pusong Pinoy!”

Fil-Australian businessman and WSB founder Marco Selorio said the Philippine teams consistently impressed international judges and competitors. - with Karla Maquiling, VVP, GMA News

...the Living Legend of Hiphop awardee

Fil-Am group Jabbawockeez receives Living Legend of Hip Hop award

 

ANDREI MEDINA,

GMA News August 8, 2012

 

 

The Filipino-American dance group Jabbawockeez  recently received the Living Legend of Hip Hop Award at the World Hip Hop Dance Championship Finals at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.

 

 

 

The prestigious award was conferred to the group on August 5 in front of an audience of 6,000 including the world’s best dance crews from over 40 nations.

 

Hip Hop International (HHI) President, Howard Schwartz said that the Jabbawockeez made history by being the first dance crew to receive the prestigious award in 11 years, a news release posted on the the HHI website said.

 

“The dance crew’s unmatched mystic and captivating performance style launched the group from street credible to world famous through live performances and high profile media attention,” Schwartz said.

 

“In the process, they have inspired many of their fellow street dancers to pursue careers and reach for their dreams in dance,” he added.

 

The HHI is the organizer of the USA and World Hip Hop Dance Championships and also created “Randy Jackson Presents America’s Best Dance Crew” where the Jabbawockeez were the champions of the first season of the show.

 

The Living Legend of Hip Hop Award is given to individuals for their contribution to the world of hip hop culture.

 

Some popular awardees include Randy Jackson, Mc Hammer, DJ Kool Herc and Boogaloo Sam to name a few.

...the Crew

UP alumni dance crew wins gold in world hip hop championship

 

By PATRICIA DENISE CHIU,

GMA News

August 7, 2012

 

 

A Filipino dance group stormed to first place in the adult division of the World Hip Hop Dance Championship held in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday (Monday in Manila).

The Crew, made up of University of the Philippines’ StreetDance Club alumni, emerged victorious after battling teams from 43 other countries. The Crew garnered a total score of 7.39 in the adult division finals.

 

“We would like to thank everyone who supported our team, all our sponsors, everyone who believed in us, everyone who supported the Philippines, and most especially, we would like to thank our God Almighty,” said the official UP Streetdance Club - World HipHop International Team’s Facebook account.

 

Chet Buchanan, host of the World Hip Hop Championship, said: “[The Philippines] It’s such a proud nation and they take hip hop seriously."

 

Mexico placed second in the adult category, while the United States landed in third place.

 

Members of the UP StreetDance Club also placed third in the MegaCrew category of the World Hip Hop Dance Championship.

 

“Iba yung feeling nung kinakanta na yung Lupang Hinirang tapos yung flag natin on top of the rest,” Facebook user and MegaCrew member Cari Cruz said. 

 

Another team from the Philippines, The Philippine Allstars, won the same competition in 2008.

 

The dance group Jabbawockeez, which is composed mostly of Filipino-Americans, received the World Hip Hop Living Legend Award in this year’s competition. - BM/YA, GMA News

...the World's Hiphop placer

UP Streetdance Club bags bronze in World Hip Hop dance tilt in Las Vegas

 

August 4, 2012

GMA NEWS

 

 

The University of the Philippines Streetdance Club (UPSC) popped and locked their way to the third spot of the World Hip Hop Dance Championship in Las Vegas, USA Friday night (Saturday in Manila).

 

With a score of 7.43, the UPSC emerged as one of the top teams from a group of 15 competitors in the MegaCrew category, and was only edged out by US dance team GRV (7.62) and reigning champions New Zealand's Royal Family (7.91). A video of the medal ceremony may be viewed here.

During the preliminary round of the competition, the UPSC placed second and owed their victory to the Filipinos and God.

"It's such a big honor and blessing to be representing not only the Philippines but God as well. You saw in our prayer that we were thanking everyone," said one of the dancers interviewed by Pacific Rim Video Press.

The De Salle University's La Salle Dance Company Street also made it past the preliminary rounds, placing fourth but eventually failed to rank in the championship round.

Social media sites immediately went abuzz over the dance competition, with netizens extending their congratulations to the Philippine team.

Facebook user "Gfab Prince Alcazaren" in a comment on the official Hip Hop International FB page said: "kahit na bronze lang for us GOLD kayu gyeah pinaspataas!!"

Bulter Calub, also in an FB comment, meanwhile lauded the UPSC for placing in the dance competition on their debut year.

"Good job UPSDC for winning bronze on your first time!! You all made us proud! Pinas Pataas!!," Calub said.

Several other Philippine dance groups are scheduled to compete in other categories of the competition, including "A-Team" which scored 7.40 in the semis in the Varsity category (age 12 to 18) and will move on to the finals Sunday night (Monday morning in Manila) at the Orleans Arena.

"Hip hop is our passion. It's something that motivates us. It strengthens us. It's something that helps us express how we feel. It's been what we've been doing our whole lives since we were kids. And it's something that really means a lot to us," said one of the A-Team members.

"Something different we're going to be bringing to the stage is our uniqueness and we all think that everyone here hasn't seen something that we have, something that we've been training for. It's really something different. It's like a box of chocolates," she added.

Three Filipino groups, meanwhile, made it to the semis of the Adult category, namely The Crew, Philippine Allstars, and The Project. However, only The Crew advanced to the finals. — Mark D. Merueñas /LBG, GMA News

...the PH dance crews

Nine dance crews from PHL to join 'Olympics' of hip-hop competitions in US

Peterson Gonzaga

July 13, 2012

GMA News

LOS ANGELES — Nine dance crews from the Philippines will be joining the so-called "Olympics of hip hop dance competitions" — the World Dance Championships of the Hip Hop International dance organization in Los Angeles from July 30 to August 5.

The competition will be held at the Red Rock Resort and Orleans Arena.

The nine dance crews from the Philippines include:

• Fresh Fusion,
• Legit Status,
• A-Team,
• The Crew,
• The Project,
• Philippine Allstars,
• UP Street Dance Club, and
• La Salle Dance Company.

The dance crews will be competing in the varsity, adult, and megacrew divisions.

The nine Philippine teams have passed the semi-final and final rounds of their divisions.

The most successful of all the teams so far is the Philippine Allstars, which has won gold medals in 2006 and 2008. They also brought home a bronze medal in 2007.

The Philippine Allstars winning performance in 2008 was widely praised by dance crews from France, Uruguay and South Africa.

Philippine Allstar

 

The other notable Filipino crews are Legit Status and Fresh Flow.

Legit Status

Fresh Flow

Legit Status has been competing at the Hip Hop International since 2009 in various divisions.

This year, Legit Status will compete in the varsity and megacrew divisions.

Although they haven't won a medal yet, Legit Status member Rammy Bitong said: "We're getting closer and closer to those medal positions. In, 2009 we were 7th place overall, 2012 6th place, and last year in 5th place."

Bitong also said: "It's important for Philippine crews to participate because we have so much to offer. There's dancing everywhere you go in the Philippines and it's a good way of representing our nation."

For more information and real time results during the competition visit hhi.pacificrimvideo.com or hiphopinternational.com. - VVP, GMA News

...the ballet dancer at Finland tilt

Filipino ballet dancers triumph in Finland competition

By Maria Sheila Riikonen,

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

06/08/2012

 

 

HELSINKI - Ballet Philippines' principal dancers Candice Adea and Jean Marc "JM" Cordero won the top prizes at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition on June 7.

 

Adea won first prize for Seniors: Ladies (8000 euro) while her dance partner and real-life sweetheart Cordero won the Jury´s Special Prize for Best pas de deux -technique (2000 euro).

They won the jury’s approval in this prestigious competition, which attracted 69 dancers from 28 different countries. In the senior and junior division, the top male and female dancers received prizes worth over 55,000 euro.

During the Gala Award Night, the winning pair performed the classical ballet “Diana ja Acteon” pas de deux, which  Finnish dancer and professor Jorma Uotinen widely applauded and described as a “dream, delicate, and achingly beautiful”.

HIBC 2012 guest blogger Johanna Aurava heaped praises for the second time on their final performance.

“Magical was no other than my early favorite, Candice Adea. Again. She danced her Diana and Actéon variation with such technical purity, exquisite expression and warmth.. I think most of the audience has already fallen in love with her! Adea and her now non-competing partner had also one of the scariest over-head lifts, which had one of my back-stage friends praying for their safety! If Ms. Adea doesn't place high, I should be very surprised," Aurava said.

Deputy Principal Arja Tervo from Finland’s Ballet School commented: “...they (Candice and JM) reached out to the audience and touch their hearts....they made us feel special.”

“PILIPINAS we got the GOLD and the BEST PAS DE DEUX TECHNIQUE award ,“ Candice thanked her fans through her Facebook fan page. “Thank you Lord for being there every step of the way."

"We came here to Finland...to just give our best," Cordero said earlier in an interview with ABS-CBN News.
"We are truly satisfied with the results and... overjoyed," Victor Ursabia smiled to the Pinoys who congratulated him right after the results were announced.

"The women's race was tight...but Candice Adea's virtuosity was dazzling,” Mika Saarelainen from a leading Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat wrote.

The competition's top prize, the Gloria Grand Prix, worth 15 000 euro went to Chinese Yun Wang, 23, who won 7 of the ballet competition prizes. 

Finnish National Ballet dancer and homegrown favorite Maria Baranova, 2009 Junior First Prize winner,  came second and third went to Belarusian Ekaterina Oleynik .

Meanwhile, the Senior Men's category was not awarded any First Prize, at all.  Instead, two competitors were placed second --  Rodrigo Almarales Cuba and China‘s Ruichen Sun.

“We are not just looking at the highest jumps and the perfect pirouttes, we also want to see depth and passion,” Kenneth Greve, Director of the National Ballet of Finland, summarized the jury’s decision.
The elegant Gala was hosted by well-known Finnish performance artists Uotinen and Minna Tervamäki. World famous ballerina Barbora Kohoutková also performed with the National Ballet. 

The National Opera was full and corporate sponsers were highly visible. No less than Finland's former President Tarja Halonen graced the final round last June 4.  Professor Doris Laine-Almi, who is credited for starting the Helsinki International Ballet Competition was present in the preliminaries.

‘Proud na proud tayo sa kanila (We are very proud of them),”  Celine Railonkoski, a long-time Pinoy resident, said after watching the performance. Ticket prices for the performances ranged from 25 to 150 euros.

Tessie Ruutu, cultural director of the Finnish-Philippine Association ry who sat in the fourth row said she was nervous and excited before the results were announced, “para na akong hihimatayin sa kaba” (I almost fainted with excitement).

Now, she and the 2,000-strong Pinoy community are just looking forward to celebrating the Philippines Independence Day party in Finland with Adea and Cordero performing a special dance on June 10.

---

...the promoter of Pinoy culture

UP grad now a world-class designer promoting Pinoy culture

 

China Jocson

GMA News

April 18, 2012

 

 

Leonora Luisa “Len” Cabili, a graduate of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, is now a world-class fashion designer who is committed to promoting Philippine culture through her international clothing brand "FILIP + INNA."

Aside from being a Clothing Technology graduate of UP, Cabili was also a former member of The Bayanihan Philippine National Dance Company, which became her avenue for her

love of tradition and dance.

 

During her years with the dance group, Cabili was drawn to their costumes which are often traditional Filipino wear.

These Philippine costumes exhibited intricate patterns and color combinations that are recognizably local and some, even tribal. 

These eventually became Cabili’s inspiration for her international brand FILIP + INNA, which she started in 2010.

With the help of tribal workers, designer Luisa "Len" Cabili (right) manufactures one-of-a-kind clothes that are sold in various parts of the world.

Asked how she managed to make her clothing brand global, Cabili told GMA News Online that   “there are no shortcuts, work hard on creating the best product and always stay true to your vision and mission. Also, pray for opportunities.”

The FILIP + INNA line features designs exclusively embroidered and handcrafted by several

Filipino tribes, namely, the T’boli, Maranao, Gadang and B’laan.

 

Len incorporates these distinct Filipino elements with classic silhouettes to produce one-of-a-kind pieces.

She commissions tribal women to embellish, weave, and embroider the clothes, and since they are handcrafted, most patterns vary from one another.

FILIP + INNA items are also considered exclusive, making only a maximum of 10 pieces per design.

 

The uniqueness of the designs and the labor of love that goes to every piece are some of the brand’s formula that captured the international market, Cabili said.

“They appreciate the work that goes into each dress. They love the fact that it is made by hand and they enjoy hearing stories behind the brand. They are amazed at the work done by the different groups," Cabili shared.

"I am grateful and hopeful. The challenge to do better for each collection is constantly before us,” she said.

FILIP + INNA is a brand exclusively sold abroad through trunk shows, travelling souks and global sites.

It already boasts of a following in the United States for it has been around New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and The Hamptons.

FILIP + INNA also just finished a successful run of sales in neighboring Asian countries like Singapore. International designer, Tory Burch and American Socialite Amanda Hearts were recent patrons.

FILIP + INNA will also soon sell in Europe.

This year, it is launching a new accessory line and adding both a men’s line and a children’s line of clothing.

 

“The dream plan is to open a store in New York! Only God knows when that will happen - but I pray for it. There is so much hard work before that dream becomes a reality,” Cabili said.

 

FILIP + INNA not only helps in preserving the indigenous craft but also enriches the lives of tribal communities because portions of its sales go to funding a school for the tribes.

 

“I am inspired by anything Filipino. This is my main design philosophy," Cabili said. - JLA, VVP, GMA News

...the Canadian theater world

Fil-Canadian shines in theater industry

by Rhia Alcantara,

ABS-CBN North America News Bureau

04/12/2012

CANADA – Filipino-Canadian Joseph Sevillo from Winnipeg is one among the few who is able to break into Canada’s competitive world of theater.

“I first tried singing, dancing and acting when I was 13 years old in high school. My choir director pulled me out and told me I had a really good voice and pushed me to audition for my very first professional show at the Rainbow Stage which is an original theater company here in Winnipeg Manitoba," said Sevillo.

 

Sevillo has toured major cities in the country through memorable performances and hits like Rent, Evita, Miss Saigon and his biggest break so far, Mamma Mia in Toronto.

 

But Sevillo remains grounded and visible in the community.

 

Despite a vibrant career in his hands, Sevillo still sees plenty of growth opportunities in his career--one that takes him beyond theater to the new generation of the web.

 

Sevillo's latest project is a web series filmed with YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos.

 

“Prison Dance is an all new Filipino musicale inspired by the viral event, the dancing inmates of Cebu. In this competitive industry, I was lucky enough to be selected as the only Winnipeg Filipino to land in one of the supporting roles in the show,” he said.  

...the World Latin Cup host

PH to stage World Cup dance tourney

 

The Philippine Star

 12/07/2011

 

 

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will host the WDSF World Cup Latin Philippines Professional Division Championships on Dec. 15 at the Harbor Tent Sofitel Philippine Plaza with over 22 countries and 400 dancing pairs competing in the dancesport showcase.

 

"This is the first time that this prestigious competition is being held in Asia since it is regularly held in Europe and gives the opportunity for Asian dancers, including our own, to compete in the event," said Gymnastics Association of the Philippines and organizing committee head Cynthia Carrion in yesterday's PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch in Manila.

Dancesport Council of the Philippines president Becky Garcia joined Carrion, who is also the Professional Dancesport Association of the Philippines (PDAP) chair, in the session sponsored by Pagcor, Smart, Outlast Battery, and Shakey’s to give more details about the one-day dancefest.

"There will be four divisions in event, namely Professional Latin, Professional Standard, Open Standard and Open Latin," Garcia said, adding that the champion pair in each division will receive 1,500 euros (roughly P200,000), runner-up 1,200 euros and third place 800 euros.

"The champions in each division from all over the world have been invited to compete in the World Latin Cup so this will be truly a tough competition," Garcia said.

The eliminations will be held in the morning while the semi-finals and finals will be in the evening.
Both Carrion and Garcia said that the Filipinos' brightest hopes in the event are newlywed partners Ronnie Vergara and Charlea Lagara, who bagged two golds and a silver in the Asian Dancesport Championships held in Beijing, China last September.

"The Vergara couple will be competing in the Open Latin division," Garcia said.

An P8-million budget is being earmarked for the World Cup Latin Philippines "because we want to put our best foot forward and show our visitors that we can put on a big international competition of this magnitude," Carrion said. Spicing up the evening affair will be a Latin dance featuring street kids trained by former 2005 Philippine SEA Games gold medalist and PDAP president Belinda Adora, according to Aguila.

...the hip hop stars' advocacy

Hip hop stars to raise funds for PH orphanage

by Loui Galicia,

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau

11/23/2011

AMSTERDAM - The Netherlands’ hip hop stars are returning to the Philippines to raise funds for an orphanage for street children.

Noah Smidstra, John Boy Denekamp, Muztafa Ozdemir, Andy Huber, Ersin Kelekci, Sabina Mehic and Albion Gaxherri are the members of the “All Style Division”, which won the 2008 Mars World Championship, among other international and national hip hop competitions.

All the dancers are half Dutch, with Noah and John Boy being half Pinoys.

The hip hop world champions are going on an SM Mall Tour from February 18 to March 10, 2012.

The tour is part of the group’s continued efforts to raise funds for Bahay Aurora, an orphanage in Baras, Rizal.

Bahay Aurora was founded by Filipina Arleen Smidstra and her Dutch husband in 1992.

All Style Division already visited the Philippines in May, appearing as a guest at Calla Lilly's concert in Morong, Rizal, as well as ABS-CBN shows Showtime and

Pilipinas Got Talent.

The dancers paid for their own expenses in the Philippines yet donated all their talent fees to the street children of Bahay Aurora.

“It's all for the orphanage. We can help others by doing what we love to do and that is by dancing. So if we can help anybody just doing the thing we love and maybe we can teach them, then it's just very fulfilling for us,” Noah said.

Noah is the son of the Bahay Aurora founders, who was still a young boy when it was established almost 20 years ago.

The orphanage is very close to his heart and even suggested the idea for the hip-hop group to visit the Philippines and to perform to raise funds for Bahay Aurora.

While other hip hop champions take full advantage of their youth and status in order to perform full-time at gigs and other competitions, the All Style Division members always allow space in their busy schedules to help the less fortunate.

John Boy, who is considered the acrobat of the group with his love for somersaults, said that performing without compensation is not a waste of their time at all.

“It's just to exchange my knowledge to the orphanage, to express myself through dancing. Even if we are world famous or something like, we hear all the people’s voices so we like to help everyone,” John Boy said.

Looking at their loose sweatpants, shirts, hoodies, baseball caps and snappy moves, one would think these young men only speak street language, which might have a negative connotation to some.

But these young adults have a pure spirit, believing that hip hop is not just a dance, but a serious form of expression.

“I know we're blessed because we come from Holland, we have a better life than in other countries…but that doesn't stop us from exercising our love, our passion through our four goals of peace, love, unity and having fun,” Andy said.

“Love is the first place. And money, it's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that we can dance together like a family and we try to share our skills, talent, with another people,” Muztafa said.

“In the end, dance is what connects all of us. It is not that we're only doing it for ourselves but also for others if we can help them, then we will,” Albion added.

...the X-factor

Pinay's group enters 'The X Factor' finals

 

abs-cbnNEWS.com

10/29/2011

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – InTENsity, which has Filipina singer Ellona Santiago as a member, has made its way to the finals of "The X Factor" US singing competition.

 

 

 

Santiago led the way for InTENsity to be among the top 12 finalists since she was the lead female vocalist for the night.

The other contestants joining Santiago’s group in the top 12 are Melanie Amaro, Rachel Crow and Drew for the girls; Astro, Marcus Canty and Chris Rene for the boys; LeRoy Bell, Stacy Francis and Josh Krajcik for the over 30s; and Lakoda Rayne and The Stereo Hogzz for the Groups.

The finalists will compete for America's votes starting on Thursday, November 3, during the first live performance night airing at 7 p.m. via satellite on Studio 23.

This will be followed by “The X Factor’s” first results night on Friday, November 4.

...the troupe

Bayanihan dance troupe wins in South Korea festival

INQUIRER.net

October 4, 2011

Ina Feleo (center), soloist of the Philippines' Bayanihan Dance Group, shows off her best female performer award at the Cheonan World Dance Festival.

Bayanihan, the national dance company of the Philippines, on Monday won over 100 other participants in this year’s Cheonan World Dance Festival in South Korea. The best female performer award went to Bayanihan’s solist, Ina Feleo.

The festival is held annually in Cheonan, in Chungcheong province, in celebration of Korea’s traditional dances, songs, and costumes.

Included in the Cheonan World Dance Festival program were street parades, local dance contests, dance classes, dance parties, Korean traditional dances and plays – with the international traditional dance contest highlighting the whole event.

Feleo, a daughter of film director Laurice Guillen and the late Johnny Delgado, is also a stage and film actress.

South Korea is divided into eight provinces, one special autonomous province , six metropolitan cities , and one special city.

...the celebrity dancer wins in Korea

Ina Feleo wins Best Dancer award in Korea

By Reyma Buan-Deveza,

abs-cbnNEWS.com

 10/04/2011

Ina Feleo kisses award. Photo from Feleo's Twitter account

MANILA, Philippines - Star Magic artist Ina Feleo won the Best Female Dancer award at the Cheonan World Dance Festival held in Cheonan Samgeori Park, Cheonan Station Square, Ceinan Main Stadium, Korea.

Feleo danced with Bayanihan Philippines, the dance group which also won the Grand Prize in the competition.

"Nanalo kami grand prize! At nanalo ako bilang female dancer!!" Feleo said in a text sent to abs-cbnNEWS.com.

Feleo said she's really proud to represent the Philippines.

The Cheonan World Dance Festival celebrates the traditional dances, songs and costumes of Korea.

Visitors participate in singing and dancing competitions or attend reenactments of Korean traditional wedding.

Feleo, daughter Laurice Guillen and the late actor Johnny Delgado, competed in Korea just a week after the death of her grandfather, Ben Feleo.

...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 choreographers

Fil-Ams shine at Creative Emmys

By JULIEN MERCED C. MATABUENA

September 13, 2011

Manila Bulletin

 

 

Napoleon (L) and Tabitha D'umo: A husband-and-wife tandem (Photo courtesy of hollywoodoutbreak.com)

MANILA, Philippines – Filipino-American choreographer Napoleon D’umo and Anthony Ocampo were two of the praiseworthy individuals honored at the 2011 Creative Arts Emmys held a few days ago at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles, California.


D’umo, who shares the Outstanding Choreography award with his wife Tabitha for their routine for “Scars/Fallin’/Outta Your Mind” in reality dance show “So You Think You Can Dance,” recalled telling ABS-CBN North America Bureau in a previous interview, “I don't care if we win, I'm just so happy to be nominated.”


“But when we sat down last time, I grabbed her [Tabitha] hand and I said, 'I think I wanna win,’” D’umo was quoted as saying in an interview posted on abs-cbnnews.com on Sept. 12.


While Ocampo was only a nominee this year for his work as lead visual effects animator for “The Walking Dead,” he had already won a visual effects society award and his first Emmy in 2007 for his work on hit medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy.”


An alumnus of the University of the Philippines who immigrated to the States in 2000, Ocampo told ABS-CBN that he credits the training he got here for his success.


“We just love art a lot and we also don't take anything for granted. We push ourselves really hard,” said he.

More, the animator remains grateful despite being unable to bring home the award because of his love for his job and the opportunity to work with the Hollywood industry’s best.


More, the same report enumerated other Fil-Ams who were honored in previous Creative Arts Emmys Awards Night, including visual artist Meliza Fermin and animators Joe Mateo and Jess Epanola.


According to a separate report on “Umagang Kay Ganda” on Tuesday, the annual Creative Arts Emmys’ Awards Night is held a week before the Primetime Emmy Awards, Hollywood’s most prestigious award-giving body for television. The Creative Arts Emmys pays tribute to technical achievements by people working behind the scenes of today's most popular TV series.

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