...the Asian girl band

Pinay in first pan-Asian girl band

by Beh Lih Yi, AFP

04/23/2011

HONG KONG - They're a long way from being the next Spice Girls or Pussycat Dolls, but five Asian women are hoping to take the world by storm in what is being billed as the first pan-Asian girl band.

"Blush" is made up of five girls from the Philippines, India, China, Japan and South Korea who beat hundreds of other pop star wannabes during a talent search across Asia last year.

Photo courtesy of www.blushband.com

After surviving weeks of gruelling training and an elimination process, the five are ready to make a big splash on the music scene -- both in the East and the West -- as they prepare for the release of their first single in May.

"We are hoping we can get global and touch everyone's heart out there with our music," Alisha Budhrani from India told AFP in a recent interview as she took a break from dance practice in a Hong Kong studio.

"For us we are really happy that all of our countries can come together through music and we could go out there to show the diversity of Asia, how wonderful it is as a whole."

"We got real different cultures, languages, dialects and (there are) all kind of crazy things going on in Asia," said a self-assured Alisha, breaking into laughter with the other four girls, aged between 18 and 28.

The group's bid for superstardom may be a long shot, but they have been supported by an A-list of Los Angeles-based producers who have worked with top names like Lady Gaga, the Black Eyed Peas and Beyonce.

"Each one of these girls can be a superstar on their own," Steve Schnur said from his Los Angeles studio through Skype, alongside co-producer Darrell Brown, who has worked with Bon Jovi, Faith Hill and LeAnn Rimes.

Schnur has produced over 150 soundtrack albums and worked with Florence and The Machine, a British band nominated for best new artist at the Grammy Awards this year.

"Each of them blend together (to) create something we have never experienced before. It's not the same old, same old girl band, boy band," Schnur said.

The girls were in Hong Kong to prepare for their debut album after winning a place in "Project Lotus", a talent programme led by a former Disney executive who wants Blush to be Asia's music ambassador in the West.

Photo courtesy of www.blushband.com

"It started with a very simple question of why there has never been an Asian singer that made it big in the West," said Project Lotus producer Jon Niermann, the former president of Disney in Asia Pacific.

"We want them to take on the world's stage successfully, we want them to be a very successful group, we want them to achieve the top hits in America, in Europe," he said.

The latest bid from Asia to tap into the key Western market comes after many previous attempts that have fallen flat by Asian artists who first gained fame in their home countries.

The band -- named "Blush" to reflect the members' "feminine, fun, innocent and sweet" side -- has recorded six songs so far, mainly pop.

Blush have yet to set a date for the release of their as yet untitled album but an eight-episode television programme, "Project Lotus", which documented the selection process, will air around the world from late April.

The girls, who recently performed at the Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament, are eagerly awaiting the chance to play their music on the world stage.

"I am excited but a little bit nervous," said 25-year-old Korean Lee Ji-Hae, a law graduate who is living her dream as a singer.

"I cried a lot in the beginning, I missed home. But the girls helped me a lot and we spend so much time together like cooking and they love the kimchi," she said, referring to a popular Korean dish.
"We are from different countries but the same dream connects us together."

...the rich athletes

Pacquiao, Rodriguez highest-paid athletes

By NICK GIONGCO

April 23, 2011

Manila Bulletin


MANILA, Philippines — Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Major League Baseball star Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees have been named as the highest-paid athletes in the world.

Manny Pacquiao, boxing

Alex Rodriguez, baseball

In the latest issue of ESPN magazine, said Pacquiao and Rodriguez each earned $32 million in 2010 and the amount doesn’t include “endorsements, appearance fees, sponsorship money and other sources of income.”

Trailing behind Pacquiao and Rodriguez are race driver Kimi Raikkonen ($26,333,333), NBA player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers ($24,800,000) and soccer idol Cristiano Ronaldo ($19,500,000).

Kimi Raikkonen, race driver

Kobe Bryant, basketball

Cristiano Ronaldo, soccer

The $32 million came from Pacquiao’s fights with Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in March and Mexican Antonio Margarito in November. Both fights were held before huge crowds at the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas.

Pacquiao is expected to cash in once again as he has a much-publicized fight on schedule on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao should earn big once again owing to his drawing power.

The purse Pacquiao has earned the past few years have been incredibly awesome considering that when he made his US debut in June 2001, he was only paid a paltry $40,000 as a last-minute substitute against Lehlo Ledwaba.

Pacquiao only barged into the millionaire’s circle in 2005 when he was pitted against Erik Morales of Mexico.

Arum has said that Pacquiao is going to have a few more fights before calling it quits and tops on the list of priorities is a showdown with the elusive Floyd Mayweather.

A fight with Mayweather should shatter all box-office and revenue records in the sport.

...the most influential people

Bruno Mars makes Time 100

April 22, 2011

Manila Bulletin

World music sensation Bruno Mars, who is half-Filipino, made it to Time magazine’s list of 100 “most influential” people for 2011.

Ranked No. 64, Bruno Mars joins an illustrious list of artists and activists, reformers and researchers, heads of state and captains of industry who have affected people and their views across the globe.

Born Peter Gene Hernandez to a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father, Bruno Mars is best known for his hit song “Just the Way You Are” for which he won the Best Male Pop Vocal award at the recent Grammy Awards.

His song “Nothing on You” was the Soul Train Awards’ “Song of the Year” for 2010.

Bruno Mars makes Time 100 Bruno, 25, is described by fellow artists as part of the new wave of musicians who can do everything – sing, play, write, produce. “There are a lot of people in this world who can sing and play the piano and guitar. Hell, I sing and play the piano and guitar. But there's something different about Bruno Mars. He has a musicality, a presence in his voice that I've never heard from anyone else,” said B.o.B, a rapper, singer, musician and record producer, quoted interviewed by Time.

“When he performs live, nothing is prerecorded or fudged. It's a straightup, classic performance. That's so rare these days. We needed only two sessions to record "Nothin' on You." But when we perform live is when you really see our chemistry in action.” B.o.B. added.

Other fellow artists who made the Time 100 list with Bruno Mars were Justin Bieber and Glee star Chris Colfer.

To see the complete list, log on to http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2066367_2066369_2066319,00.html #ixzz1KDxdzCNI

...the future of maritime grads

NEDA chief: 'Bright future' for maritime studies graduates

PATERNO ESMAQUEL II, GMA News

04/21/2011

Despite the problems that plague the maritime industry, a Cabinet official has promised a “bright future" for the graduates of Philippine maritime studies as the industry embodies a promising outlook.

In his speech early this week at the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies’ graduation ceremonies, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director-general Cayetano Paderanga Jr. told graduates the country’s economic gains in 2010 will fortify the maritime sector this year, which in turn will widen their opportunities.

Paderanga also projected a boost in the country’s status as a global supplier of seafarers. “At present, the Philippines is the second top supplier of seafarers in the world with only China ahead of us while India comes third," he said in the speech NEDA released Thursday.

“Future projections indicate that there will be a big rise in demand for seafarers, and the Philippines is trying to keep up with the demand," Paderanga added.

He also expressed optimism in improving the country’s position in the area of shipbuilding, saying the Philippines “is also doing well" in this. Paderanga cited statistics from the Department of Trade and Industry that show the Philippines ranks fifth in the world’s shipbuilding industry — accounting for 2 percent of the total market.

“With good management and skilled human resource matched with capital, technology and global market opportunities, the industry is moving forward to make the Philippines the fourth largest shipbuilding country in the world in the next five to 10 years," he said.

“Have no fear," Paderanga told the graduates. “This global competition can be fun, exciting, and rewarding, too."

Maritime disasters

Challenges however remain, Paderanga noted. “We all know that countless lives have been lost at sea. One of the worst maritime disasters in the country is that of the MV Princess of Stars that capsized off the coast of Sibuyan Island in 2008," he explained.

Other problems include the state of the country’s passenger ships, according to a report on GMA News TV’s “State of the Nation" newscast. In its segment called “GMA News Investigates," the newscast said that the Philippines has turned out to be a dumping ground of the world’s second-hand ships.

Paderanga, on the other hand, said the government is on its way to improving the state of maritime safety and security in the country.

“To avoid sea accidents and to be able to respond to global challenges, we need to address transport safety and security issues in the country, as well as produce competent seafarers," he said.

Paderanga noted measures such as addressing the overlapping and conflicting functions of the transport and other concerned agencies “by restructuring port institutions as well as the rail and air transport organizations."

He said the government also plans to establish “a separate and independent regulator that will have jurisdiction over all airports, seaports and railways.

“To improve the country’s business environment and attract more investors, government with the private sector shall address investor confidence by giving priority to key concerns that includes domestic shipping," Paderanga added. —VS, GMA News

...the TV iReporter

CNN recognizes ex-ABS-CBN producer for iReports

abs-cbnNEWS.com

04/21/2011

MANILA, Philippines - A former segment producer for ABS-CBN News has turned into one of CNN iReport's most prolific contributors, spreading positive news from the point of view of the regular Pinoy.

Bien Dacalanio was one of five iReport Spirit Honorees last March 15, for "exceptional" contributions to the citizen journalism community.

Dacalanio said he had always dreamt of becoming a journalist, and was a regular viewer of ABS-CBN current affairs shows.

He said he used to watch The Inside Story, Assignment, and Magandang Gabi Bayan (MGB), and this influenced him greatly.

He then got into ABS-CBN News, working as a segment producer for Rated K.

Now, as a freelance journalist, he became engrossed in submitting reports to CNN iReport.

As of April 20, he has contributed a total of 640 iReports. Out of this number, 123 has been selected by the network for airing on its programs.

CNN described his as "like he had been shot out of a canon" when he joined the site.

"He travels all over the Philippines, chasing down interesting stories. Sherbien is very eager to learn and is always asking for advice on how he can improve as an iReporter.

He says he's so crazy about doing iReports that when he had surgery recently, he chose the hospital with the best view for shooting a time-lapse video during his recovery," the site said.

His advice for other young people - pursue one's interests and work hard to achieve one's dreams. Report by TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

...the Asian Games

Phl to host Centennial Asiad

 

 

By Joaquin Henson

The Philippine Star

April 20, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose Cojuangco Jr. announced yesterday that the country has been awarded the rights to host the 100th year celebration of the Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) in late November or early December 2013, in what will surely mark an epic milestone in the nation’s sports history.

“This will put the Philippines back in the Asian sports map, if not the world,” said Cojuangco who received the confirmation letter from OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah of Kuwait the other day. “We’ll take the opportunity to showcase our country in this national effort.”

The Asian Games date back to 1913 when Manila hosted what was called the Oriental Olympics, later known as the Far Eastern Games. The Philippines was the prime mover of the event, initially held every two years by turns in Manila, Shanghai and Osaka. There were 11 Games staged until political unrest and wars forced the cancellation of the conclave in 1934.

After World War II, representatives from the Philippines and China conferred to resurrect the Games in 1948. The next year, the Asian Athletic Federation was established in New Delhi and declared the birth of the Asian Games to be held every four years.

In 1951, the first Asian Games were hosted by New Delhi with 489 athletes from 11 participating nations vying for honors in 57 events in six sports, including swimming, athletics, basketball and football. Manila hosted the second Games in 1954. Bangkok has hosted four Games in 1966, 1970, 1978 and 1998. Other hosts were Tokyo, Jakarta, Tehran, Seoul, Beijing, Hiroshima, Busan, Doha and Guangzhou. In 2010, the 16th Asian Games assembled a record 9,704 athletes competing in 476 events in 42 sports in Guangzhou. The next Asian Games will be hosted by Incheon in 2014.

Cojuangco said the Philippines gave up its rights to host the Asian Beach Games in 2013 for the privilege to stage the Centennial celebration.

“We pursued the opportunity to host and fortunately, Sheikh Ahmad gave his go-signal,” said Cojuangco. “Definitely, we’ll use this event to sell our country as a tourist destination. The OCA will hold a General Assembly meeting and we’re thinking of a tourist spot as the venue.”

Cojuangco said given whatever resources are available, a plan will be formulated to list the different sports and cultural events to serve as the highlights of the celebration. “Of course, we’d like to put the events in different provinces so we can showcase as much of our country as possible,” he said. “But that depends on which sports will be played and whether the member countries are willing to play in different provinces.”

Cojuangco said his idea is to calendar representative sports in the events that the OCA sanctions – the Asian Games, Asian Indoor Games, Asian Martial Arts Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Beach Games, Asian Youth Games and Asian Indoor Martial Arts Games.

“The Olympic compulsory sports will be at the top of the list – aquatics and athletics,” he said. “From the Winter Games, we’ll probably include ice skating. We’ll include taekwondo from the martial arts. Basketball will be in the schedule and maybe, we’ll consider the Youth event of three-on-three. For football, we’ll have fields compliant with FIFA standards by then with a Quezon City turf being put up by FEU and the Rizal Memorial, among others.”

Cojuangco also disclosed a plan to inaugurate an Asian Sports Hall of Fame, honoring the region’s 100 most outstanding athletes in the last 100 years as a feature of the Centennial rites.         

...the soap opera Mara Clara

'Mara Clara' remake gets Banff nomination

MB – Wed, Apr 20, 2011

MANILA, Philippines - ABS-CBN's remake of the 90s classic soap opera "Mara Clara" is set to compete in Canada's 2011 Banff World Media Festival in June.

According to Banff's official website, "Mara Clara" is one of the two Asian nominees in the Telenovelas & Soap Operas category, pitted against South Korea's "Bread, Love and Dreams," popularly known locally as GMA 7's "Baker King."

Aside from "Bread, Love and Dreams," "Mara Clara" will be up against the United Kingdom's "Coronation Street"; and the USA's "Days of Our Lives," "Eva Luna" and "The Queen of the South" in the same category.

"Mara Clara" was originally aired on ABS-CBN from 1992 until 1997. The original story, created by Emil Cruz, Jr., follows the life of two young ladies, the meek but poor Mara and the rich villain Clara, who were switched at birth. The original starred Judy Ann Santos (Mara) and Gladys Reyes (Clara).

In 2010, ABS-CBN announced that a remake of the hit TV series will be aired and will star rookie actresses Kathryn Bernardo as Mara and Julia Montes as Clara. The show is currently airing on ABS-CBN's primetime block.

The Banff World Media Festival, also known as the "Rockies," is an "internationally-recognized awards program celebrating the very best in international television and digital media production" and will run from June 12-15.

Generally, the festival is divided into three categories: the Fiction Rockies, the Non-Fiction Rockies and the Interactive Rockies. The Telenovelas & Soap Operas category is under the Fiction Rockies, a category that "recognizes the very best in scripted television programming from around the world."

The Fiction Rockies awards ceremony will take place on June 12 at the AOL Canada Theater and will be hosted by "Entertainment Tonight" Canada's Hollywood correspondent Matte Babel.