Live action showdown at the Big Dome

By Nickie Wang

The popular source of action-packed entertainment is going to visit the country to provide live wrestling showdown experience. So for professional wrestling fanatics, today is a red letter day, and the Big Dome is the place to be.

World Wrestling Entertainment brings two of its brands (ECW and Smackdown) to the Philippines for the very first time. Today at 7 p.m., WWE superstars Jeff Hardy, Edge, Batista, Rey Mysterio, Chris Jericho, Mark Henry, John Morrison, The Great Khali, Michelle McCool, CM Punk, and many others will set the wrestling ring blazing with high-flying action.

We had the chance to have an exclusive phone interview with CM Punk, also known as Phil Brooks, to give details on what to expect in the much-anticipated live wrestling event.

CM Punk is already a household name in the United States where WWE headquarter is located. The 30-year-old professional wrestler initially made a name for himself when he worked a few house shows and dark matches, and the real fame came about when he signed with the WWE in 2005 and was drafted to Smackdown.

As the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, he also has three other championship belts (Ring of Honor Championship, ECW Championship, and WWE Intercontinental Championship) that make him one of the most popular and successful personalities in the world of American professional wrestling. He made history for being the only wrestler to win the Money In The Bank Ladder Match twice, in 2008 and 2009.

The Money in the Bank ladder match is held by WWE annually. It features six to eight participants, with the objective to retrieve a briefcase that is suspended above the ring. The briefcase contains a contract, which guarantees a match for any of WWE’s three world titles: the WWE Championship, ECW Championship, or the World Heavyweight Championship.

“I have won many titles but that doesn’t mean that I already have the reason to stop improving my craft. Every match is a learning experience and it enhances my skill. It also prepares me for a bigger fight. You need to practice, train, and learn more. Complacency has no room in the world of professional wrestling,” CM Punk exclaimed.

Born to Smackdown

CM Punk’s first venture into wrestling was a stint in a small wrestling federation called the Lunatic Wrestling Federation in the mid-’90s. He first used his name CM Punk when he was put into a tag band named the Chick Magnets. One of the artists in the band named CM Venom skipped out and he was there all available to take the vacated slot.

“I believe I’m really meant to be a wrestler because when I was young I tried other sports but I just hurt my self badly. I tried skateboarding but it didn’t work out on me,” the wrestler revealed.

At six-foot-one in height, more than 200 pounds in weight, and with numerous tattoos adorning his body, this Chicago, Illinois- born superstar admits that it is heartwarming that people recognize him when he goes out on the street.

“They ask for autographs or take pictures with  me, and it’s a nice feeling how these people especially young kids look up to me. What they see on TV is pretty much the same, I’m CM Punk and I think why people approach me because of being Straight Edge,” he said.

Throughout his career, he is famed for adhering to a lifestyle called Straight Edge. It is a kind of lifestyle wherein advocates make a lifetime commitment to refrain from drinking alcohol, using tobacco products, and taking recreational drugs.

Words of a wrestler

“I have this role to act responsibly. Wrestling is a unique sports-entertainment. Well, people can be involved in basketball, baseball, and to other sports they see on television but the emotional attachment they can have with wrestling is different. There are lots of emotions involved,” CM Punk conveyed.

It’s far too complicated to explain why professional wrestling fanatics look at wrestlers like super heroes. CM Punk is just one of those wrestlers who are treated like celebrities and receive extraordinary attention and admiration from fans, most especially from young kids who believe that what they see on television is real and that there are no gimmicks involved.

“The actions people see really affect them. What they see on television put them closer to wrestlers like me, possibly there’s a psychological explanation for that. They become more hooked up considering wrestlers as their idols. So we promote advocacies to let people know that we only want to bring entertainment and become role models,” the champion wrestler explained.

But there is always a line that separates his profession and his personal life. Punk openly discusses his issues as a wrestler but don’t usually divulge any matter concerning his private life as Phil Brooks.

“I’m like Batman. I keep a lot of things to myself most especially my personal life. It’s not that I don’t want to share myself with the people it’s just that everyone has a personal space or life that they just keep to themselves,” he clarified.

First time in the Philippines

“I’ve never been to the Philippines, and I know nothing about the country. But I will try to Google it after we finish this interview. But going to a place I’ve never been before gives me a lot of things to look forward to,” he said and laughed and continued that answering questions in phone interviews is one of the things he does when he is out of the ring.

We mentioned by chance that WWE and its brands are popular in the Philippines and they have lots of followers. The wrestler just extended his gratitude and ended the interview saying that if Filipino fans are excited to see him and the other WWE World Tour participants, he is more than excited to finally meet the people who are miles away yet still able to support his career.

People 7.4.09

Source: Manila Standard Today

…are talking about

Christine Reyes

Fans of Marian Rivera and Angel Locsin must stop their word war on who is the sexier between their respective idols. FHM, the local edition, of the international men’s magazine, has spoken. It is Christine Reyes.
Will she now be a hot item with producers scrambling for her services? Her contract with the Kapamilya network had expired and Reyes said she wouldn’t go back there, not by any chance. Rumors that she’d like to go back to GMA 7 have been circulating, but her management company, Viva Talent Agency, has not denied or confirmed. In any case, Christine says she wouldn’t really mind if she has no regular TV project for as long as she’s happy. Atta girl!

Rosalinda

July 6 is a crucial day both for Geoff Eigenmann and Carla Abellana because many are curious on how they will fare on primetime TV as a love team. The two are playing the localized characters of Fernando Jose and Rosalinda in the newest adaptation of a Mexican telenovela on GMA Telebabad.
Many say Carla, daughter of 80s matinee idol Rey “PJ” Abellana and granddaughter of 40’s star Delia Razon, could be the next “it” girl, and Geoff, frozen for two years at the Kapamilya coop seems to have sprung to life in the new series.
Kapamilya fans are more than excited…they are already raving!

Diether Ocampo

He collapsed and his head hit the floor in middle of rehearsals for the show in Ontario, Calfiornia’s segment of “Star Magic: The World Concert Tour.”
Many feared he could be suffering from something serious, but apparently he was just overworked. Diether needs to rest, that’s a fact, and even if he takes a whole year off to make himself fitter than fit won’t change the fact that he’s one of the best actors on television these days. We wish him well.

…are not talking about

Piolo Pascual

Fans are just too happy to see Piolo on weekend primetime TV as Krsitine Hermosa’s newest love interest.
Nasaan Ka, Maruja? seems to have taken a new twist with the entry of Piolo in the cast of characters, eclipsing Derek Ramsay and the other male stars that have made the series a weekend favorite for many.
So, are the fans ready as well for Lovers in Paris?

The Wedding

The marriage of good looks and publicity is not enough to put this series at the pinnacle of the ratings race. The stars of the program, Anne Curtis, Derek Ramsay and Zanjoe Marudo, will not be very happy to know that the performance of the The Wedding wasn’t something their fans would be crazy about. In the Mega Manila ratings it only managed to pull viewers to land the show on no. 10 and nor 9 in the nationwide ranking..
Canned for the last two years, the series is showing its age in many scenes, we hope the current production staff could cure it before it hits the inevitable…Disaster.

Gretchen Espina

It takes more than just mental calisthenics to remember such name; it even took us some time just to identify her face. To refresh everyone’s memory, Gretchen is the first ever winner of the reality talent search Philippine Idol, and she’s back to rekindle the career she left a year ago.
When asked why she’s gone for such a long time (one year is a very long time in showbiz), she said that it’s the strategy of her mother network. Unlike other reality search winners who are given heavy exposure soon after they won, Gretchen claims that GMA Network advised her to rest for year before the management could launch her career in full blast. Yes, she is being re-launched now when nobody could even care.

Generation Kill: the other side of the story

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

It got the whole world’s attention, and we have heard different stories of people, civilians and servicemen alike, about the military invasion that led to the second Gulf War or more popularly known as the Iraq War.

So many questions have been asked about the real motives of the world’s most powerful nation in invading the oil-rich Middle Eastern country. The first 40 days of the invasion that started on March 20, 2003 is said to be the most crucial phase of the still ongoing conflict because it was the point when allies and enemies were named.

The US-led multinational military force included troops from the United Kingdom, Australia, Spain, and other countries including the Philippines.

So much about the drama that earned both sympathy and disapproval, a mini-series focusing on the first 40 days of the 2003 Iraq War has been produced. It aims to retell the historical and high-profiled armed dispute in a different perspective.

Generation Kill, a story based on the award-winning non-fiction book of the same name by Evan Wright, is a candid and realistic retelling of the early weeks of the military campaign. Wright is a Rolling Stone correspondent assigned to the First Recon’s Bravo Company’s second platoon during its last weeks in Kuwait.

Currently airing on Max Channel (formerly known as Cinemax), the seven-part HBO mini-series is supported by real events, real names, and precise dialog reported by Wright. Every effort is made to recreate Wright’s account of the Marines riding from the Kuwait border into the slums of Baghdad. Real Marines, who also became part of the series as cast members and advisors, were on the set to help maintain the production’s authenticity.

“Generation Kill gives an objective view of what happened [during the Iraq war] without politics or agenda. It’s the lives of these individuals. The war is just the backdrop,” says Eric Kocher, a Marine who served as key military advisor to the production.

The man in quagmire

An ensemble cast of up-and-coming stars is introduced in Generation Kill: Alexander Skarsgard (HBO’s True Blood) stars as Sgt. Brad “Iceman” Colbert; Lee Tergesen (HBO’s OZ) is Evan “Scribe” Wright; Jon Huertas (Hot Tamale) plays Sgt. Tony “Poke” Espera; and Stark Sands (Day of the Dead) plays Lt. Nathaniel Fick. Eric Kocher; and James Ransone (HBO’s The Wire) plays Cpl. Josh Ray Person.

In a phone interview with Ransone, the actor answered questions about the series where he plays a 22-year-old driver of a military vehicle called Humvee. The actor shared his thoughts about doing the mini-series together with what he considers as a superb cast.

“What’s funny is that I’m not very tall. I had to make elaborate actions because I don’t look like a soldier or a Marine at all. I’m just a small guy but in the series my duty is to drive a big vehicle that takes military personnel from base camp to the battlefield,” the actor said.

Ransone explained that completing all the physical and acting requirements was rewarding on his part. He added that to overcome such physically intense and demanding role made him realized that he can do better than just showing his sarcasm.

“My role is not far from my personality in real life. We have a lot of similarities; I think one is my sense of humor. I’m also a very sarcastic person, I don’t spend a lot of time with people to tell them ‘shut up’ so I just do it with elaborate words,” Ransone quipped.

According to the 30-year-old actor, the bond that has built among the cast members reflect on how they deliver their lines and how they treat each other while on the set. Ransone, better known for his role in another HBO series The Wire, furthered that he has found a new set of friends after shooting Generation Kill.

“We still see each other. That’s the good thing when you’re able to build a good relationship with your co-actors. Some people don’t see each other anymore after a certain project. They are called Hollywood friends, but the people I worked with in this mini-series are people that I still talk with until now. We even still see other. They are my favorite actors,” he detailed.

The war according to the actor

Generation Kill is a story of servicemen at the forefront and often working in uncertain conditions with little protection except their lightly-armored Humvees. The Marines were confronted by the reality associated to a military invasion: insufficient supplies, conflicting orders, cryptic combat strategy, unknown enemy, insurgency and civilians caught in the middle.

“I personally do not believe in wars. I can say that I don’t really believe that any military invasion will do any good. My concern is, look at the state of the country [US ], we have many bigger issues than invading a foreign land. It’s like raking your own backyard while your house is on fire,” the actor exclaimed.

Generation Kill is executive-produced and co-written by David Simon and Ed Burns (The Wire). Simon and Burns also share co-writing credits with Evan Wright, the erstwhile Rolling Stone journalist who also served as a consulting producer throughout the production and editing of the mini-series. Susanna White (Bleak House) and Simon Cellan Jones (The Trial of Tony Blair) share the direction.

Two episodes of Generation Kill premiere back-to-back every Sunday. The first two episodes were shown on June 7 at 9 p.m. on MAX. The final episode will air on June 28. Log on to cinemaxasia.com for more play times.

Judy Ann is happy 24/7

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today Everybody is wondering how is Judy Ann feeling now that her surname is spelled as Santos-Agoncillo. The answer is: contented and very happy. A month after her much talked-about wedding with Ryan Agoncillo, Judy Ann made a recent public appearance and answered all the questions people are dying to ask her. At the launching of Sun Double Unlimited at Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila in Quezon City, the young superstar threw nothing but smiles and chuckles as she officially resumes to endorsing products. “I’m overwhelmed with all the trust these products are giving me. Being the newest endorser of Sun and the latest addition to the Sun family make me feel proud. I chose this product simply because it’s affordable,” Judy Ann said. “For a person like me who is starting to have a family, Sun [Double Unlimited] is very practical to have.” As the newest face of Sun Cellular, Judy Ann endorses the Sun Double Unlimited offer that gives subscribers the flexibility of a cellular phone plus the practicality of a landline. These services all come in one sleek unit, all in one single payment and as Judy Ann said, “both in an unlimited service.” “Sun is the fastest growing mobile network in town. Very much like Judy Ann, Sun continues to be more exciting,” said Joan Dueñas, Sun Cellular’s vice president for prepaid marketing, while introducing the actress. Judy Ann’s new civil status allows her to take more endorsements that do not just cater to a particular market. She said that she is beginning to realize that she can now promote products and services that people of different age brackets can avail. “It’s fulfilling in a way that I made a sudden shift. Before the products I endorsed were only for women. Now I can actually endorse products that young children or the whole family can use,” the 31-year-old actress said. On her silent wedding A month ago, Judy Ann and husband Ryan Agoncillo graced the front page of almost all the newspapers in the country. In a very solemn occasion and with a few friends and relatives in attendance, Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo tied the knot on April 28 in San Juan, Batangas. “It was a silent wedding pero it doesn’t mean na hindi makikita ng mga tao kasi utang ko sa kanila kung ano ako ngayon,” the actress explained. “We can’t believe na nakalusot ’yung wedding namin, all the people around us had to lie to keep the wedding secret. We realized that there are people who got inspired with our wedding, so we are very happy.” The newlyweds also had to make it clear that there were two reception parties and the one held in Manila on May 2 was really part of the whole wedding plan. “Hindi ’yun putok sa buho, we really arranged that party for those na hindi talaga makakapunta sa Batangas. Besides, the venue in Batangas was very small and it couldn’t accommodate all the guests,” she furthered. Living under one roof Just like George and Cecil, the couple’s latest television project that will be aired on ABS-CBN, Judy Ann and Ryan are facing new challenges in discovering new things about each other. Now that they are living under one roof, Judy Ann made a few revelations about her married life. “I can say that I’m very happy that I married a perfect husband. Nakakatawa kasi isang buwan na pala kaming kasal. It only means that I’m very happy right now. The only thing na hindi ko pa nakakasanayan ay ’yung tawag ko sa in-laws ko. I used to call them Tito and Tita,” Juday (the actress’ nickname) shared. While the couple temporarily lives in the house of the Agoncillo’s, Judy Ann revealed that there’s a special place that they are still trying to finish designing and furnishing. She did not give any other details about it but she said that the special place is located somewhere in South Luzon. “We are busy with the new house. It has four bedrooms on the second floor and one on the first floor. It’s not that really big but it’s enough for people like us who are starting a family,” the actress said. The Agoncillo couple is just like any other new couples who want to start building a home. Ryan and Judy Ann are excited to have an angel who will be a brother or a sister to Yohan, Judy Ann’s adopted daughter. “Ewan ko parang puro hangin lang ang laman ng tiyan ko. But having a baby soon is our plan, pero kung hindi pa ibibigay, we can patiently wait,” she shared. On her perfect husband To walk down the aisle is every woman’s dream. The actress said that she had attended six wedding ceremonies and thought that she will never have the chance to exchange vows with someone who will be her lifetime partner. “I thought I’m going to be an old maid kasi lagi na lang akong bridesmaid sa mga kasal na pinupuntahan ko,” she quipped. “Kaya when my time came to walk down the aisle, I wore my hair down, and chose a perfect gown. I felt like I was a fairy.” When it was her time to tie the knot, she made sure that the wedding will go smoothly like the way she and Ryan planned it. As her face exudes a certain aura of happiness, she said that she has found a perfect match and a perfect husband in Ryan, who has become more caring and loving to her after the wedding. “Masarap isipin na ’pag gising mo sa umaga kaharap mo ’yung taong mahal mo. We are taking small steps in enjoying the married life. Now that we are married, Ryan became more caring, mas maalaga siya ngayon,” Judy Ann said. Although they already made this lifetime commitment, Judy Ann said that they still keep a personal space. As a Culinary Arts graduate, Judy keeps the kitchen as her territory or the place where she can explore and work alone. “In the house I was telling about, nandoon ’yung dream kitchen ko. Ryan and I agreed na akin ’yun at sa kanya ang garahe,” she ended while still wearing a sweet smile as if her wedding just happened yesterday.

Encouraging kids to learn science

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

How does a seed grow? It germinates, becomes a seedling then becomes an adult plant or tree. Science books can give a pretty fair description of the whole process with terms a student can memorize. But experiential learning is different; it involves complete understanding not just by memorizing the entire process.

Complete or concrete understanding happens when a person has a direct experience in observing, analyzing, evaluating and making conclusion.

Just like in a Nido Fortified commercial, the tagline “Let them go, let them grow” is a way to allow children to learn things by themselves. The tagline is actually an advocacy that encourages parents to let their children to personally experience the world. After all, even sages agreed that personal experience increases one’s awareness and intellect.

As we have mentioned experiential learning, the re-opening of Science Discovery Center at the Mall of Asia ( now renamed as the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center), gave us a better understanding why science and experiential approach are essential to students.

According to Dr. Josette Biyo, Philippine Science High School-Iloilo director and Intel Excellence Teaching Awardee, science learning does not only take place in the classroom. She explained that to nurture children’s curiosity, teachers can make the natural environment their laboratories to teach science concepts.

“Another factor critical to improving science competency in the Philippines is the proper method of teaching science. Educators must be properly trained on how to teach science in a more interesting and fun manner. This will help kids learn to love the subject and stimulate their interest in studying nature, phenomena, and the natural world,” the educator said.

Dr. Biyo’s excellent credentials are indeed exceptional that a minor planet, or an asteroid that can be found in the asteroid belt between planets Mars and Jupiter, has been named after her. The honor was given to Dr. Biyo when she became the first Asian teacher to win the Intel Excellence in Teaching Award in 2002. Her innovative teaching method is simple, she doesn’t teach by the book. She allows her students to have hands-on experience that she calls experiential learning.

Knowledge is power

At the re-opening of Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center , Dr. Biyo delivered a compelling speech that explained why people should embrace science.

“Memorizing facts and information is not the most important thing in today’s world because such facts and information are already available. It’s the mutual learning, on the other hand, that provides the students the opportunity to observe, to design, to manipulate, to analyze, and to construct the information necessary to have a deeper understanding,” Dr. Biyo elaborated.

Supporting the need of science learning advocacy, Nido Fortified has taken on the task to institute an advocacy that would help cultivate young minds to take a keen interest in science through projects and programs that encourage interactive and experiential learning.

“We want children to have a new attitude toward science. We want them to know that science is important in life and studying it can also be fun and enjoyable,” Joseph Eugene David, Nestlé Philippines Inc. executive, said.

Putting fun in learning

The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia is a 3,000-square-meter and a two-level facility that houses highly-advanced interactive learning tools. It also features nine walk-through galleries, many of which contain interactive stations that enhance visitor experience.

“Here at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center, we put the fun in learning through our interactive and entertaining galleries,” Raymund Maclang, assistant vice president for operations of SM Family Entertainment Center Inc., shared.

Smart Media City is one of the four galleries that can be found on the first level. It features the Gesturetek, where players can interact with and move around various 3D virtual environments using simple body movements.

Then there is the popular Grossology station, where kids can learn about the ways and quirks of the human body. Here, children can enjoy the hands-on experience of “operating” on a mock human body in the Patients Please section, minus the blood.

Interactive fun at center continues at the Transportation Nation where children can build their very own virtual car at its kiosks, or try landing a plane in its flight simulators. Graphic panels also display video presentations of the history of various modes of transportation.

The Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center is located at the south side of the mall’s Entertainment Building , and is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

When less is really more

By Nickie Wang/Manila Standard Today

How can “less is more” be possible?

A lot of people asked when a couple of billboards along Edsa were seen with the catchy tagline “Less is More.”

Because the huge ads didn’t indicate the product or service being advertised, the white and pink balloons gave us the idea that something wonderful will soon be unveiled.

And we were right. Flawless, the country’s leading aesthetic beauty clinic chain, was re-launched with a much better promise to its customers.

Celebrities, party people, entertainment press, and invited guests all came in white and pink at the grandiose Blue Leaf Pavilion located at McKinley Hill Village, Taguig City on May 24 to witness the grand re-launch of Flawless.

The white and pink-themed event was hosted by Phoemela Baranda and featured celebrity endorsers like Lorna Tolentino, Allysa Milano, Yasmien Kurdi, and Butch Francisco. Other Flawless endorsers like Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Mark Herras, Richard Gutierrez, and the very controversial Katrina Halili were not there to unveil the new Flawless tagline “Less is More.”

All endorsers who were present at the momentous event appeared before the guests in their simple attires that still made them elegant-looking like Lorna Tolentino who had a brief appearance wearing a simple white gown. The short but sweet program was so simple that it furthered the adage “simplicity is beauty.”

“Less in more, right? So let’s focus less on other issues and more on Flawless. I’m so proud of how this brand has evolved. This is such a pioneering approach to beauty. It’s an honor for me to be associated with this brand,” was the short but very evocative statement of Vicki Belo, part-owner of Flawless.

The new look

Flawless was established in 2001 to provide top beauty services to people who put premium on their looks and appearance. Eight years and 30 branches later, the aesthetic beauty clinic chain has consistently raised industry standard by providing high-quality services at reasonable price.

Part of the new image, each Flawless branch has been renovated to complement the new slogan.

“Less Is More is more than just a tag-line; it’s a mindset, a way of life. Our endorsers have embraced that, and I know our customers will do, too,” said Ruby Sy, chief executive officer and managing director of Flawless.

She added that having an aesthetic clinic chain debunks the myth surrounding the beauty industry. Sy explained that beauty is not about narcissism or just capitalism anymore. “Flawless slogan affirms that beauty is just as much as social as it is physical,” she continued.

The services Flawless provides are drafted to replenish and rejuvenate each costumer’s physical and mental being. Services are customized depending on the customers’ budget and privacy requirements. It provides options of economy (Ruby) class, business (Emerald) class, or first (Diamond) class.

Emerald and Diamond classes are serviced by more serious aestheticians and priced 10 percent and 20 percent, respectively, higher than Ruby. Emerald wards have fewer beds compared to Ruby and provides ample space for those who absolutely need it, while Diamond wards hold only one or two customers at a time guaranteeing privacy and discretion at all times.

Flawless TVC

One of the featured segments of the Flawless grand re-launch was the unveiling of the new television commercial that features its hottest endorsers.

Seen on the 50-second TVC are Yasmien Kurdi, Mark Herras, Katrina Halili, Richard Gutierrez, Lorna Tolentino, and Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo in their simplest moments that make new slogan more understood. It captures the essence of the “Less Is More” mindset by showing the glamorous endorsers at their most unguarded and natural moments.

The TVC was directed by world-renowned GJ Bleechmore who is best known for working on feature films such as Truth or Dare starring Madonna. He also directed music videos for The Rolling Stones, Elton John, and Janet Jackson.

Back home with Gary V.

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

When asked if pursuing a political career ever crossed his mind, Gary Valenciano’s answer was a big “No,” punctuated with conviction. He has his own way to selflessly touch other people’s life and that is through his talent and passion for music.

Gary V. will stage a two-night concert at the Bro. Rafael Donato Center for the Performing Arts at La Salle Green Hills on June 5 and 8. The musical treat dubbed Back Home is part of the LSGH’s year-long celebration of its golden anniversary.

The concert is the highlight and the culminating event of SING-kwenta, a series of mini concerts that started September last year. According to an LSGH official, Gary V.’s Back Home concert also marks the exact date of the school’s foundation day which is on June 8.

In a press conference held last week at LSGH’s Cesar Cruz Hall, the seasoned artist detailed some of the exciting musical numbers that will surely bring the audiences on their feet or go down memory lane. A secret no more, he said that he will also share the stage with his children, who are all members of the La Sallian community. Paolo is a graduate at the De La Salle University, Gabriel is an LSGH Batch 2005 alumnus, and Kiana is an incoming senior at La Salle Antipolo.

“The La Sallian community is very much like family. I felt like why not have my children in the concert, they are all from La Salle anyway. It’s different, the venue is small, and it’s very intimate,” Mr. Pure Energy shared.

Gary V., an LSGH Batch ’82 alumnus and recipient of the DLSU La Sallian Achievement Award in 2007, is doing the concert for free. The proceeds of the special musical show will benefit the Bahay Pag-asa and the One La Salle Scholarship Foundation, which aims to raise P1 billion. The amount will be used to fund the full scholarship of some 18,000 students out of the 90,000 population of the De La Salle schools in the country. In other words, one in every five students people meet in any La Salle campus will be a scholar. As of this year, the One La Salle Scholarship Foundation has raised about P200 million and hopes to generate at least half a million peso from the fundraising concert of Mr. Pure Energy.

The program of One La Salle Scholarship Foundation started in 2007 and the officials of the foundation are on a mission to raise the whole amount by 2011. Emmanuel Canalog, development office director at LSGH and organizer of the SING-kwenta series, noted that 2011 is the centennial of La Sallian presence in the Philippines.

“This will help us share the gift of La Sallian education to deserving students, give them a voice in our academic community and open them up to a richer dialog all over the country,” Canalog said.

“What I’m proud about is the fact that there is a drive, as to whether the target would be met this time, we don’t know. But we will continue to create certain events that will make us meet that target,” Gary stated and discussed about how members of the La Sallian community support each other most especially during events that aim to create awareness geared toward the improvement of the whole community.

“When there is a vision like this that requires people to participate, there is a guarantee that the whole community will get involved,” the energetic performer added.

Back Home concerts are the 18th and 19th showcase of the SING-kwenta concert series. The Powerplay band will provide the back-up music. The concert will be under the musical direction of another LSGH alumnus, Mon Faustino.

Held every other week for the past nine months, SING-kwenta has featured other LSGH alumni who also have remarkable musical careers. It’s good to note that all of them were members of La Salle Green Hills’ famous Kundirama musical group. Some of them are Ogie Alcasid, Rannie Raymundo, Carlo Orosa, Dingdong Avanzado, Dingdong Eduque, Juan Miguel Salvador, Louie Ocampo, Montet Acoymo, Charlie Ysmael and Von de Guzman.

Ticket prices at Gary V.’s concert are at P5,000 (VIP), P2,000 (Gold), P1,000 (Silver) and P750 (Bronze). Tickets are available at the LSGH Development Office (727-3760), Genesis (721-4406) and Studio V (726-4614).

Maja Salvador: Darling of the masses

By Nickie Wang/ Manila Standard Today

Maja Salvador is one of ABS-CBN’s most bankable stars. Her exceptional qualities make her career afloat even after staying in the business for already six years. She is a star in a complete package: a singer, a dancer, and an actress.

It is good to note that her talents were not discovered by any reality television search. More than half a decade ago, Maja was just a young 14-year-old whom people saw on national television in her one of the most unforgettable days. She was reunited with her father after seven years of separation.

Her reunion with her actor-father Ross Rival (Rosauro Salvador in real life), who passed away in 2007, was facilitated through efforts by ABS-CBN and seen by Charo Santos-Concio. The executive thought she saw a potential star that’s why she advised her staff to look for Maja, and then the next chapter of the story is her becoming a contract star to one of the country’s biggest television networks.

“So alam niyo na, why I’m always featured sa Maalaala Mo Kaya?” Maja candidly said when members of the entertainment press interviewed her during the provincial tour of Sisters Feminine Napkins in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro. “Kidding aside, I’m very thankful kay Ma’am Charo. Siya kasi ’yung nag-open ng windows of opportunity para sa akin.”

Maja’s recent appearance in Maalaala Mo Kaya, hosted by Charo Santos-Concio, marked the seventh time that she’s being featured in the longest-running drama anthology program. “It’s a very challenging role,” she said. Still part of MMK’s month-long Mother’s Day Special, Maja played a young woman crippled by polio when she was just two years old. Amidst the challenges, the character struggled to reach her ultimate dream of becoming a teacher.

Reluctant star

“I want to stay like this. Hindi ko hinahangad na maging big star ako. Kasi ’pag dumating ako sa point na sobrang popular na ako, hindi ko na alam kung ano ang kasunod,” Maja explained why she is so afraid seeing her career soar higher.

In spite of Maja’s fear and reluctance, she is actually very popular most especially among the teens and the masses. Not only that they can easily relate to the charming star, these people genuinely like her because even with her status as a celebrity, she remains humble.

“I work hard kasi gusto kong maka-quota,” she uses the word “quota” to refer to the earnings she gets from endorsements, television shows and movie projects. “Dati kasi palipat-lipat kami ng bahay, kaya ako nagko-concentrate sa work para makabili ako ng maraming bahay,” she lightheartedly said but punctuated her words with seriousness.

Fresh from her three-week vacation in the States, where she toured her mother and younger brother Kirby to theme parks like Disneyland, Sea World and Universal Studios, Maja is back at work. She was excited to announce that Estrella, a horror film that also stars Shaina Magdayao, Jake Cuenca, and Geoff Eigenmann, is almost finished and ready for release sometime in July.

“Four taping days na lang kami, I can’t say anything more. Abangan n’yo na lang. We promise that it’s going to be a great film,” the 20-year-old actress assured.

Estrella is under Star Cinema and directed by former independent filmmaker Rico Ilarde. The movie is a teen horror flick that features a group of teenagers who have the ability to see ghosts.

Charming and bubbly

Last May 18, we were invited by Aileen Go, vice president of Megasoft, maker and distributor of Sisters Feminine Napkins, to accompany Maja Salvador in one of her provincial tours. The destination: Calapan, Oriental Mindoro.

Before the trip and while we were waiting for Maja for already an hour, Go told us that Maja has never been late. Some press quipped that they will blame Maja as cause of delay because we were still in Quezon City at 9 a.m. and the ferry in Batangas port will leave at 12:30. We were told that instead of going directly to the meeting place, Maja had to fetch her aunt who was waiting for her in ABS-CBN compound.

When Maja arrived and boarded the bus, which shuttled us from Manila to Mindoro, she waved hello and kissed everyone including the people whom she met for the very first time. That gesture was more than enough to appease us, she’s worth the wait.

Before she took her seat, she said, “Welcome everyone, I’m your tour guide for today. We are going to Mindoro.” Everyone laughed.

Past lunch time we arrived in Calapan City and were accommodated by Carlito and Felie Go, the owners of Citimart Group of Companies that manage Citimart Island Mall where Maja’s fans had a chance to meet her for photo opportunities and autograph signing.

After a sumptuous late lunch, we headed to JJ Leido Gymnasium where hundreds of Maja fanatics were waiting. We arrived at the venue at exactly 3 p.m. and were informed that Maja’s fans started to flock the area as early as 8 o’clock in the morning.

With the help of Go, Maja gave out 52 school bags to students. Then several photo opportunities later, Maja strutted on the dance floor and treated her screaming fans the kind of entertainment they’ve been waiting for.

Maja’s Mindoro visit is part of Sisters Feminine Napkins nationwide tour. After a successful event in Mindoro, Maja is scheduled to visit Baguio, Dagupan, Pampanga, Cavite, Laguna, Lucena, Bicol and Batangas.

Sci Fi channel now available on cable

By Nickie Wang/Manila Standard Today

Just like the way a father welcomes a newly-born member to his family, Solar Entertainment president Wilson Tieng was all emotional when he acknowledged the guests at the launch of the new channel, Sci Fi, on May 15 at the A. Venue Events Hall.

Holding his microphone with both hands and almost teary-eyed, he said, “This is a great opportunity for me, my family, and my company to thank all of you—our advertisers, our media partners—for your continued support.”

Instead of reading a prepared speech that he purposely left on his table, Tieng just delivered an impromptu welcome remark.

“Especially during [maybe] the darkest moment of our company, or during our episode with another network regarding Manny Pacquiao, we are very appreciative of your sticking with us during those times. I hope the support you’ve shown to the Solar Sports Channel would somehow be the same kind of support to Sci Fi, the new member of the family,” still trying to conceal his emotion, Solar Entertainment’s head honcho appealed.

Owned by entertainment powerhouse NBC Universal and reaching millions of viewers across 40 countries worldwide, Sci Fi is the only global brand dedicated to the world’s favorite genre—science fiction. According to Raymund Miranda, managing director of NBC Universal Regional Office in Singapore, Sci Fi is doing very well in the United States and it is also making waves in Southeast Asia when it started operations in 2007.

“We are very pleased to be partner with Solar Entertainment Corp. that represents Sci Fi in the Philippines both on distribution and marketing perspectives,” Miranda, a former GMA Network executive, said.

Focused on the tagline “Where Imagination Lives,” Sci Fi offers the best in science fiction, horror, fantasy and alternate realities. The channel is also dedicated to bringing the best and the hottest television series and blockbuster movies.

The world of Sanctuary

Sci Fi’s Philippine debut is anchored by the channel’s gothic-themed original series Sanctuary that premiered May 20 at 9 p.m. The Sci Fi-produced series takes viewers into the unknown where they can discover the mystery about the strange creatures that lurk in the corners of the earth. It is the first series to shoot extensively on green screen using virtual sets and extraordinary visual effects.

From Stargate SG-1 and Atlantis creator Damian Kindler, the popular Web-turned-television series follows the exploit of Dr. Helen Magnus (Amanda Tapping), an immortal from Victorian England doing battle with modern-day monsters. Dr. Magnus and her team track down, study, and protect the extraordinary and paranormal creatures called the “Abnormals”—a clandestine group of strange and sometimes terrifying beings that hide among humans.

The cutting-edge series also features forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman (Robin Dune) and her fearless daughter Ashley (Emilie Ullerup). An insightful psychiatric profiler with a knack for finding the strange and curious, Dr. Will reluctantly joins Dr. Magnus in the study of strange creatures he can hardly believe himself. The team uses its unique combination of instinct, medicine and cutting-edge technology to find the strange beings.

Alternate realities

Science fiction is a genre that cuts across all age groups. During the launch of Sci Fi, Miranda mentioned that 70 percent of the top-grossing films of all time belong to the science fiction genre. He elaborated that science fiction has been in the mainstream but no media organization intended to have a channel dedicated to the genre that is perceived to cater to a much larger audience.

Aiming to give Filipinos the best of sci-fi entertainment, for its initial offering, Sci Fi takes the viewers into a journey in the uncharted depths of space while evading the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica every Tuesday at 9 p.m., and then will let them experience how is it like to have the oddest job on earth in the quirky series Dead Like Me, every Friday at 9 p.m.

Sci Fi also features best-loved science fiction series like Blade: The Series, Smallville, Heroes, Mutant X, Andromeda, Xena: The Warrior Princess, Quantum Leap, and Sliders, among others. As Solar Entertainment’s latest addition to its cable channels like Jack TV, 2nd Avenue, ETC Entertainment Central, and Solar Sports, Sci Fi is available on Global Destiny Channel 90 and Cable Link Channel 50.

Making Boracay even hotter this summer

By Nickie Wang/Manila Standard Today

What makes the tropical island Boracay the hottest and best beach this side of the planet?

It’s not the 7-km stretch of powdery white sand beach with pristine blue water or the upscale resorts and hotels that are lined up along the beach of the tropical island. It’s actually the lifestyle and culture distinct to the island that match the expectations of party people, beach bums, backpackers, and tourists alike.

While the rest of Luzon was being ravaged by a typhoon, Boracay island made everyone’s sky bright and sunny as celebrities trooped to the small paradise for some summer actions. From May 8 to 9, a bevy of television personalities attended the Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09, this year’s hottest summer event, and gave the adage “work hard and party harder,” a whole new meaning.

Celebrity volley

Nestea Fit Beach Volley is an annual sports event that gathers some of the country’s best collegiate teams. This year, 18 dynamic teams from different colleges and universities battled out for a hundred-thousand-peso cash prize and the prestige to be called the country’s best.

The real highlight of the summer event was not the presence of the athletes or the physically vigorous sport, but it was the appearance of local celebrities who brought entertainment to the crowd at the white sand court of Bora. Crowds couldn’t help but cheered for their favorite celebrities and consumed megabytes of memory taking gigabytes in digital snapshots of Rhian Ramos, Paolo Contis, Alfred Vargas, Iza Calzado, Polo Ravales, JC Tiuseco, and Survivor Philippines finalists Jace Flores, Kiko Rustia, Kaye Alipio, Nikki Dacullo, Rob Sy, and Vern Domingo.

“We are here to enjoy and have fun, that’s the real essence of the entire game,” Survivor Philippines first sole survivor JC Tiuseco told us after his team ruled the sand court and won the celebrity volley showdown.

Most of the personalities who participated in the celebrity matches admitted that they don’t know how to spike or didn’t even have a short volleyball crash course beforehand. In short, most of them often hit the inflatable ball out of the line and committed numerous service errors like not having the ball reached the other side of the court or hitting the ball in a straight upward direction.

Sure these celebrities drink Nestea Fit with L-Carnitine, which is a naturally occurring amino acid that plays a vital role in the metabolism of fat, because they look oozing hot, and we are actually pertaining to Iza and Rhian who basked in the sun without wearing any make-up (the way it is supposed to be because it’s a beach, right?).

“It’s also our chance to meet and bond with other people. With our busy schedule back in Manila, it’s hard for us to play and enjoy because we need to work. I can’t even go to the gym as often as I have to,” JC, who became an instant celebrity after winning a reality contest, shared.

Beach buddies

Enjoying the sight of picturesque Boracay, we often see people enjoying some activities together. JC Tiuseco with close friend and fellow Survivor Jace Flores consider their Boracay summer experience as their time to catch up with friends, even most of the time they have to pose for photo opportunities whenever people recognize them while walking around the busier side of the island.

“I feel like I’m still in the Survivor series. The location is pretty much the same and I’m reunited with the people who were also part of the Survivor series. So the whole game was not really hard. I used to play volleyball but this one is a different kind of fun. We didn’t look at it as game but a friendly competition,” Jace explained. “If we would consider the beach volleyball a challenge, it’s nothing compared to the challenges we had in Survivor. Kaya it’s like, kahit saan na kami dalhin, we are quite sure that we can easily do all the challenges,” JC quickly added.

While Survivor buddies JC and Jace were having a good time and nostalgic about their beach experience, smitten couple Paolo Contis and Lian Paz looked so inseparable. Lian was like Paolo’s number one fan supporting and cheering her boyfriend most especially when he makes service aces during the celebrity matches.

On the other hand, Polo Ravales and rumored ex-girlfriend Bianca Paz Villamores were also seen together holding hands in public. “Are they back together, were they really an item or what?” asked one of the guests of the event.

All roads lead to a party

Beach party, that is. With Boracay’s reputation as the country’s premier summer destination for party animals, Nestea Fit Beach Volley National Circuit ’09 featured an array of events dedicated to people who purposely visited Boracay to have a moonlit merriment with overflowing bottles of beer and glasses of cocktails.

After the fashion show dubbed “Hot and Fit Body of Work” featuring invited celebrities and the Survivor castaways sporting the latest summer island wear designed by PJ Arañador at Juice Bar at Plazoleta on May 8, people present at the venue continued to party the night away with feel-good music and bottles of malt drink, wine and vodka.

“This year’s event is much bigger; aside from the new product [Nestea fit], we also expanded the event by including parties and concerts that guarantee unique Nestea summer experience. So far, all our expectations have been met and we can basically say that whole event was very successful,” Ronald Chuacokiang, Nestea brand activation executive, told us before the dinner arranged during the victory party.

Capping off the three-day event was a victory party cum concert on May 9 headlined by music heavyweights Sandwich and 6cyclemind as they rocked Boracay with their famous hits at Paraiso Bar. Members of the press, celebrities, athletes and Nestea officials partied all night with a safe idea that next year will be just another exciting time to celebrate fitness and enjoyment with the iconic brand Nestea.