Monique Wilson announced that Eve Ensler, author of The Vagina Monologues and founder of One Billion Rising who will arrive and stay in the country for two weeks, will lead this year’s strikes all over major capital cities in the Philippines on Feb. 14, tentatively scheduled at the Rizal Park. It’s V-Day, the day for victory, vagina and Valentine’s!
From the global success of Eve’s The Vagina Monologues though the stagings of Monique in the Philippines since 2000, One Billion Rising, a global strike to end violence, has been a most amazing three years: One Billion Rising (2013), One Billion Rising for Justice (2014) and One Billion Rising: Revolution (2015).
One Billion Rising has changed social/political activism from red to pink, empty rhetoric to meaningful action, destructive to constructive.
Monique is at the forefront in the Philippines of this new kind of activism. With accumulated angst involved in meeting rape, abuse and maltreatment against women face to face, you’d think she would be an angry woman. Quite the opposite, she is a happy female, the impression she gave at the launch of One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution 2016 at Café Romulo in Makati City.
“I’m full of rage,” she shared during a one-on-two interview with Pablo Tariman. She didn’t look like it as she looked so beautiful even if she is currently under treatment for blood cancer. Could the black she wore be a tell-tale sign of this depression? I failed to ask.
“It’s just I know how to handle it. When I met a raped Lumad, I was so angry I cried for three hours. I had to talk it out in a phone call (with a person close to me) to calm down,” she confided.
Monique was wearing a talaingod bead necklace given to her by a female Lumad chieftain, Bai Bibiyaon Ligcayin Bigcay, as a sign of the confidence she had earned from the oppressed cultural minority. The Lumads are suffering from repression by the military to protect the interests of foreign miners in their ancestral lands.

ESCALATING REVOLUTION. The One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution 2016 shouts out:
“One Billion Rising: Rise for Revolution 2016 is an escalation of the first three stages of our campaign — One Billion Rising, One Billion Rising for Justice, and One Billion Rising: Revolution.
“We’ve danced. We’ve demanded justice. We’ve demanded changes.
“This year we are radicalizing our actions — enlarging, deepening and expanding the revolution.
“We need to continue to radically shift consciousness and be braver, bolder, more creative and determined with our actions.
“And we need to focus on the most marginalized women and girls to bring about true, long lasting change.
“Change can happen if…
“Grassroots movements and marginalized communities are in the lead.
“Change can happen if…
“We demand accountability – making sure our justice calls are realised.
“We will continue to demand justice, and we will continue to highlight the issues surrounding the social injustices inflicted on women, and to keep highlighting where these issues connect. We will continue to challenge institutions, governments, policies, laws — and make these systems, which are responsible for creating situations of poverty and violence, accountable.
“Change can happen if…
“We harness out creativity and energy
“We will keep highlighting, creating and envisioning new, brave and radical artistic initiatives to bring in the new revolutionary world of equality, dignity and freedom for all women and girls. There is nothing more powerful than art as a tool for transformation.
“Change can happen if…
“We Act Now.
“And We Act Together.
 “Why continue the call for Revolution?
Revolution can be expressed in the “for who” and “for what.” It is broad enough to include all issues, and also particular enough to be specific about issues communities want to highlight and raise. It does not diffuse focus, rather — it enhances it.
“The Revolution call helps sustain the focus of what One Billion Rising is – a call for Change. Structural, systemic, long term change.
“Systems have not changed yet, therefore the call for Revolution remains urgent and necessary, to deepen what it can mean, and escalate actions around it. Major changes are still needed, particularly in ways of thinking and consciousness about violence against women issues.
“Revolution allows creative and artistic expressions, multi-sectoral involvement, and more importantly —  provides a unique space to engage people from all walks of life. It allows the use of imagination, art and political actions — and allows everyone the freedom to localize all their campaigns.
“Above all Revolution can bring everyone from the personal to the political — from the “I” to the “We.” It harnesses collective energy because it is hopeful and envisions possibilities and a future.”
 
THE CALL FOR RISE FOR REVOLUTION 2016:
“Listen! Act! Rise!
“Amplify the Voices of Marginalized Women
“Bring National and International Focus to Their Issues
“Bring New Artistic Energy to Create This Possibility
“Raise Other Issues That Have Not Been as Visible
“Amplify Revolution as a Call for System Change
“Platform Voices That Have Not Been Heard Within Local Campaigns
“Call on People to Rise For Others
“Call Upon People of Privilege to Rise for Those Who are Not
“Create Synergy and Connection
“Continue to Call for State Accountability and Justice
“Keep Highlighting the Economic Context of Women
“Remain inclusive, intersectional and comprehensive
“Keep Connecting the Body with Revolution
Rise for Change and Equality.”

WEEKDAYS WOWOWIN TO TAKE DEAL OR NO DEAL TIMESLOT. Although still unannounced, Buzzstation projects that Willie Revillame’s daily game show, Wowowin, will take the 5 p.m. timeslot by Feb. 1. Is it going to air from the barangays? If it is,  ABS-CBS’s Deal or No Deal which doing Barangay Edition starting Jan. 25, 2016 had pre-empted Wowowin.

This Heart Season’s much-anticipated show, “#LoveThrowback,” blends two uber hot catchphrases — throwback and hugot lines — to come up with twice the romance you seek at the PICC Plenary Hall on Feb. 13.
The concert features the Philippines’ most iconic Original Pilipino Music singers and balladeers of the last four decades: Rico Puno, Marco Sison, Raymond Lauchengco, Gino Padilla, Chad Borja, Wency Cornejo, Roselle Nava and Nina. That’s a total of eight performers compared to other Valentine shows that offer four headliners at the most — it’s twice the romance power!
Director Calvin Neria with Marc Lopez as musical director present 28 songs in a two-hour show that will be stitched together by hugot lines flashed on a video wall, doing away with spoken spiels.
Rico, noticed then by record producers as a performer in folk houses and lounges, started the trend of incorporating Tagalog lyrics in English songs like his rendition of “The Way We Were.” For this show, he renders his smash hits “Kapalaran,” “Buhat” and “Macho Gwapito,” among others.
Marco got his career break after winning a singing contest on GMA 7’s noontime variety show Student Canteen in the late ‘70s. His songs like “My Love Will See You Through,” “Make Believe” and “I’ll Face Tomorrow” lorded the ‘80s.
Raymond, after his stints in musical theater, joined mainstream show business and got his biggest break as one of the lead stars in the trendsetting film Bagets. As a singer-actor, some of his hits are “Saan Darating Ang Umaga,” “So It’s You,” “Farewell” and “I Need You Back.”
Gino, the singer behind hits like “Gusto Kita,” “Let The Love Begin,” “I Believe In You” and “Closer You and I,” won as Song of The Year in Awit Awards. He is also known as the artist who starred in a worldwide advertising campaign of a softdrink brand alongside singing superstar Tina Turner.
Wency, the most remarkable vocalists of pop-rock band AfterImage, shared his distinct voice to phenomenal hits like “Habang My Buhay,” “Mangarap Ka,” “Next In Line” and “Hanggang,” which reaped three major trophies in the Awit Awards.
Chad became one of the most in-demand and sexiest balladeers in the ‘90s song “Ikaw Lang.” He was also a favorite duet partner of female singers. His album Show Me The Way churned out hits like “Summer Without You” and “Kung Ako Lang Sana.” Chad’s collaboration with Japanese pianist and composer Yutaka Yokokura “Yakap” also became a hit.
Roselle started her career as part of the youth-oriented show AngTV on ABS-CBN. Her career as a singer propelled after the success of her single entitled “Bakit Nga Ba Mahal Kita” and “Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita,” both used as movie soundtracks. Her rendition of “You,” originally performed by Basil Valdez and composed by Gerry Paraiso, gave her the Best Performance by a Female Recording Artist in Awit Awards. Roselle is a multi-platinum record awardee and her voice captured the hearts of many Filipinos, most especially the hopeless romantic.
Rounding up the roster in “#LoveThrowback” is Nina, tagged as OPM’s Soul Siren. With 10 Awit Awards and the recognition as the first-ever female OPM singer with a Diamond Record Award, Nina truly deserves to be called as one of local music’s treasures. Her body of work and numerous awards are a testimony to her dedication and passion for her craft.
Her album entitled Nina Live! became the benchmark in acoustic recording and made her the number-one female R&B singer in the country. Her string of hits includes “Someday” and her cover of “Love Moves In Mysterious Ways,” “Jealous” and “Through The Fire.”
This powerhouse cast of “#LoveThrowback” guarantees the audience to give them an unforgettable and once-in-a-lifetime Valentine’s Day celebration. Boasting of OPM hit songs, beautiful voices and stories about life and love, “#LoveThrowback” is a show that knows no time, space and age as it talks purely about a universal feeling, love. It is a show for everyone. Showtime starts at 8:30 p.m.
Produced by MKFAE Productions and Royale Chimes Concerts & Events Inc. in cooperation with Echo Jham Productions, the show is supported by Luxent Hotel, Mossimo, GlutaMAX, Nice Day Coffee and Mantego Ads Corp.
Media partners Retro 105.9 DCG FM, Mellow 94.7, Energy FM 106.7, Barangay 97.1 DWLS-FM, Pinas FM 95.5, 105.1 Crossover, Philippine Star, Business World, Inquirer.net, Clickthecity.com, Pep.PH, Philstar.com, Philippine Concerts, MNL Online, Soundcheck Manila, Astroplus, Odyssey, Manila Concert Scene, Legato Music Mag, GIST.ph, and MB.com.ph.
Tickets are available at SM Tickets (472-2222), Ticketnet (911-5555) and Ticketworld (891-9999). You can use your BdO (Banco De Oro) debit/credit card to purchase tickets and get a 15 percent discount. For more info and sponsorships, call Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. at (0918) 497-2121 or (0906) 418-0786.

TOP BANDS AT HRC. Hard Rock Café (HRC) closes the month of January 2016 with a series of special shows featuring a sampling of the country’s hottest and most talented show bands. Dance the night away with Red Picasso on Thursday (Jan. 28), party with the unique grooves and sounds of Part 3 on Friday and Sunday (Jan. 29 and 31), and power your Saturday evening with energy-packed repertoire of Streetbeat on Jan. 30.
Certified hard rockers can come and see the show and look forward to a series of evenings jam-packed with beautiful music with these amazing show bands as they dish our live today’s hottest chart-toppers, homegrown favorites, standard classics, and the most popular party anthems from the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s, and 2000s. All shows start at 9 p.m.

PREGNANT CHALLENGES. The iBuntis team of Grand Challenges Canada and GE Philippines held ultrasound training of healthcare workers of Banna, Ilocos Norte, on Jan. 19 and 20, 2016.
Participants were (from left to right) Dr. Analyn Ngo (iBuntis Team/Manila Doctors), Martin Crisostomo (Government Affairs Manager, GE Philippines), Carlito Abadilla II (Mayor of Banna, Ilocos Norte), Dr. Remedios Peralta (Chief Health Officer of Banna, Ilocos, Norte), Dr. Godofreda Dalmacion (iBuntis Team/UP Manila), Joanne Dawn Seno (Sales Manager-Ultrasound, GE Philippines), Dr. Ramon Reyles (iBuntis Team/Makati Medical Center), Dr. Emmanuel Baja (iBuntis Team/UP Manila), Dr. Denise Lauren Dalmacion (iBuntis Team/UP Manila).

On the cover of Beatriz M. Robles’ new book, A Sensual World: What Do You See?, is an image that appears as an innocent question mark — the contours of a woman’s torso or a complex blend of both. The black and white colors mark it like a Rorschach test to examine a person’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning.

The picture strongly suggests that the sensuality of a woman wafts from the pages of the book, a whiff of desire, a bouquet of wants. Made up of 80 irresistible vignettes, A Sensual World conjures erotic images only to be brought down to reality with a flip of the page as visualized by the author’s titled pastel drawings printed in grayscale.

Like metatalk that uncovers hidden meanings in what a person says, A Sensual World is like literary double-talk purposely invented so as to confuse, amuse or even titillate the reader. But it is treated as a vignette-and-answer game that serves as a check of the reader’s own understanding or misunderstanding.
There is definitely a sense of calculated mischief about these musings, explaining Robles’ ongoing fascination with the female psyche. Most girls have unexpressed thoughts with her friends while growing up and it seems Robles has not outlived hers.
Romantic to an outsider who is not privy to this understanding, Robles is engaged in the idea of secret desires. On a certain level, this can go far deeper than one can discover on one’s own. The vignettes are very personal, but can be easily shared by others.
Enchanting images systematically embellish the book, unraveling meanings or purposes. Women are definitely conversant with this kind of talk — iterations of self, no less than a Rorschach test in reverse.
The drawings gravitate toward the whimsical to the wild. This reviewer hopes these will not be spoilers, but who can miss Mouthful (“There, I make a sudden grab of your hot rod in front of me”), which is about brushing your teeth. Or Touching (“I let my lips meet the tip of your hole.”) about playing a clarinet.
The language is definitely double talk and the imagery so sensual that they lead the reader into a teasing game — only to be let down by its mundane subject. This turns the strategy into something that can become touching or tense-filled depending on involvement. Just go with the stream of consciousness for pure joy.
Between the global and the local, between genius and its virtue, or among a single secret and its infinite answers, A Sensual World is a naughtiness buster. You will see your quotient if you keep tabs on answers, but you have to self-indulge.
The book is pure literature and not ersatz science and your fun is in the overlap of the cusp. The advice is to read slowly, one vignette daily and not to preempt yourself. Then the book will give you approximately three months’ worth of mind massages. It’s really up to you how to maximize the reading pleasure.
This is Robles’ second volume after the inspirational book, Life through Letters: A Writer’s Journey from Sunrise to Sunset, also edited by Danton Remoto and published by Anvil Publishing.
Copies of A Sensual World: What Do You See? are now available at National Book Store and Powerbooks.

A NEW BEGINNING. Get a dose of Hannah Pauline Manaloto, L.A. Santos, Chad Angeles and Janina Gonzales’ youthful vibe, strong drive and immense talents as they perform live in a post-Valentine concert entitled, “One… A New Beginning,” on Feb. 20, 2016, Saturday, 7 p.m., at the Music Museum with guest Ms. Roselle Nava.
LA, 15, is a grade 9 student at the University of Sto. Tomas. He was a basketball junior varsity player but re-discover his love for music just recently. His first performance as a singer was at the Stylistics concert at Solaire Hotel and Casino, followed by a front act stint during Air Supply concert last March 2015, and as Guest Artist on Legendary Juke Box Queens, an Eva Eugenio, Imelda Papin and Claire de la Fuente starrer, last May 2015. LA just began playing the guitar and piano so he could write his own songs. He also performs with a group called, Winchester Street.
Chad, 19, is a student at DLSU College of St. Benilde. A trained singer, he started taking up formal voice lessons when he was 12 under Muzik Corner, owned by multi-awarded recording artist and former actress, Roselle Nava. His vocal training helped built an impressive portfolio that displays a long list of events and concert performances, and TV show guestings.
Janina, 21 is a singer-dancer who can even play the guitar for her performances. Her wide repertoire lists songs from Billy Joel to Sam Smith, Christina Perri, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, and even Pinoy alternative music scene favorite Up Dharma Down. Her biggest achievement so far is making it as one of the finalists of GMA’s singing talent search, Protégé (Season 1).

DECIDE TO BE HEART-HEALTHY. People are catching on to the idea that one must cut down on bad cholesterol at all costs. There is no more question to this as several government of different countries have already initiated, successfully banned and/or regulated the availability of bad fat from food sources. And the results have been amazing. Deaths due to heart-related diseases have significantly been reduced.
Don’t wait for this to happen here. The decision to be heart healthy can be made for us. But it is our responsibility to make it a personal decision. Inform yourselves on how to remove bad cholesterol from your diet and get assistance from ATC Garlic Oil.
ATC Garlic Oil helps prevent hypertension and heart disease by regulating cholesterol levels and blood pressure in the body. This also stops blood clot from forming and effectively lowers the blood pressure and reduces the risks of stroke and heart attack. ATC Garlic Oil also contains soybean oil, which provides essential nutrients such as protein, fiber and healthy fats while offering protection against heart disease.
ATC Garlic Oil is recommended to be taken one capsule every day. It is available at Mercury Drug and leading drugstores nationwide at P4.50 per piece.

INSIGHT 1! It now appears that the reason Luis Manzano’s Deal or No Deal that airs from Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. over ABS-CBN went Barangay Edition is to pre-empt the introduction of the weekdays airing Willie Revillame’s Wowowin that broadcasts pre-taped from its Kalayaan Studio at 5:30 p.m. over GMA7.  It turns out as a David and Goliath faceoff between Bobet vidanes who presents a more populist and fresh, exciting game show as Luis’ director and newbie Adrian Gret’s beefed up presentation with its Las Vegas style packaging as Willie’s helmer. And Willie’s benefitting from Kapuso network tie-up that has made it TVC-rich. Who will rule? For sure, experience over experimentation!

NO BIG CELEBRATION FOR 50TH ANNIV OF THE BEATLES’ CONCERT IN MANILA? “Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr don’t want to go back here in the Philippines,” shared Beth Mercado of Royale Chimes Concerts and Events who is attempting to bring the surviving Beatles back to Manila in time for the 50th anniversary of their two soldout shows at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium on July 4, 1966.
“My business partner in the UK already tried to convince them but sad to say they really don’t want to come back to Manila,” added Beth. Royal Chimes has a mother company in Great Britain which negotiates talent bookings.
This is the first time that a local concert importer talked about the issue with finality. Nothing had been heard from Ely Buendia who announced last year to bring Ringo for the same anniversary.
Allan Villegas of Random Minds Inc. who is also trying to do the same said, “‘Yung agent na kausap ko still hoping he’ll say yes. Update kita.”
Yes, that’s the current update on the issue. They are standing pat on their word not to return despite hot acts like Cathy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber doing shows here successfully without incident. It’s good Madonna or even the King of Pop Michael Jackson has more business sense.
The Manila swing must bring terrible memories for both of them and they are punishing Filipinos for a commission they had nothing to do with. They could not be blamed either. After being heckled and manhandled where members of their entourage were physically hurt, their plane was held on the tarmac to be able to confiscate their illegal earnings.
Royal Chimes will bring the Bootleg Beatles as a replacement. Every year, it brings the “best” tribute group to hold shows here. It plans to make them recreate the Beatles repertoire of the 1966 concert.

CARPENTERS AND THE PLATTERS IN THE LOVE PLAYLIST. All will agree that the Carpenters and The Platters are music icons.
The Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter. Producing a distinctively soft musical style, they became among the best-selling music artists of all time. During their 14-year career, the Carpenters recorded 11 albums, 31 singles, five television specials, and a short-lived television series.
Before the Carpenters, there was The Platters in the ‘50s and ‘60s, an American vocal group. They were one of the most successful vocal groups of the early rock and roll era. Their distinctive sound was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition and the burgeoning new genre. The act went through several personnel changes, with the most successful incarnation comprising lead tenor Tony Williams, David Lynch, Paul Robi, Herb Reed, and Zola Taylor.
The group had 40 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart between 1955 and 1967, including four no. 1 hits. The Platters were one of the first African American groups to be accepted as a major chart group and were, for a period of time, the most successful vocal group in the world.
Catch is “The Love Playlist” of Carpenters and Platters at the Midas Tent (Midas Hotel and Casino) to hear the best love songs of the Carpenters and The Platters on Feb. 14 and at KIA Theatre, Araneta Center on February 15, 8 p.m.
“The Love Playlist” of Carpenters and Platters features Laurie Briggs as Karen Carpenter with the world-renowned The Fabulous Sounds of The Platters, headed by Donne Ray Radford, a fourth generation member of The Platters.
Laurie has been touring the world for over a decade now as Karen Carpenter and as part of the tribute act called The Karpenters. Her fascination with Karen’s voice and music started when she was eight years old. “It [Karen’s music] moved me and I started to emulate the sound I heard,” she says.
Laurie’s show incorporates all the wonderful hits of the Carpenters as it takes you on a nostalgic journey through the life and times of the Carpenters, performing all the hits including “Close to You,” “Masquerade,” “Top of the World,” “Sing,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “Superstar,” and “Please Mr. Postman.”  
When you watch “The Fabulous Sounds of The Platters,” get ready to be enthralled all over again by classics such as “Only You,” “The Great Pretender,” “Twilight Time,” “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes,” “Harbor Lights,” and more hits of The Platters.
For more info and sponsorships, call Royale Chimes Concerts and Events Inc. at (0918) 4972121 or (0906) 4180786.

TAKE CARE OF WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING. Our heart’s main function is to pump blood to the rest of the body. It supplies oxygen and nutrients to the body. Without the heart, your body will stop functioning. That’s why it is of utmost importance to take care of your heart. This is something that is both hard and easy to do.
ATC Coenzyme Q10 is called “The heart energizer.” With proper diet and exercise, it helps improve the heart’s ability to pump more blood. It also lowers the viscosity of the blood, making it even easier for the heart to function normally. It functions as antioxidant, which protects body from damage caused by harmful molecules.
ATC Coenzyme Q10 is recommended to be taken 2-3 capsules a day, preferably with warm water. It is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide for only P18 per capsule.

INSIGHT 2. Touchy! Touchy! Touchy! Just because the Philippine National Police has regulation power does it mean it can complain every “spot” in its “clean” image. Like it made a big issue out of James Reid wearing a police uniform in a bridal shower scene in the On the Wings of Love when it is clearly a fun sequence not intended to mock!... A Sensual World: What do you see? is Beatriz Robles’ second volume as edited by Danton Remoto and published by Anvil Publishing. after the inspirational book, Life through Letters: A Writer’s Journey from Sunrise to Sunset.

Love ‘em or just like ‘em. Fondant cakes tantalize and mesmerize us with their sight, smell and savor.
A three-tier round butter rum sponge cake in turquoise fondant decorated with cascading, candy-colored classic and exotic blooms, exhilarated my mood as if I had chanced upon the amazing flowers of spring. Its beauty gently grabbed attention — a promise of an extraordinarily sweet feast.

That is how I felt when I received a fondant cake on my last birthday from my friend Bill Perez of La Esperanza Bakery. I had always wanted to taste it ever since he proudly posted on Facebook: “I may not be an award-winning painter, but wait until you taste my fondant cake.”
And I took the statement as a personal endorsement of his fondant cake business, which he established in 2010 at 49 D. Atienza corner C. Tirona Streets, Batangas City, Batangas.
La Esperanza Bakery specializes in cakes for wedding, birthday and special occasions. The fondant cakes are made according to a theme or motif as specified by the client. Cakes can be done in butter rum, mocha, chocolate, red velvet, carrot pineapple walnut, banana date walnut, or other flavors based on request. They can be fashionably embellished by decorations created from fondant, gumpaste or fresh flowers, or real objects in complementary color combinations.
Preferred by celebrities and the well-heeled, it can be made all edible layers but many fondant cakes have mock tiers for stability and ease of transport specially to distant destinations.
Exclusively created, usually after a one-on-one talk with the client about its details, fondant cakes are high-end cakes executed by hand techniques from start to finish. Its relatively high price is justified by the amount of time, money and skill allotted to making each completed fondant cake. “It usually takes two days to make due to the intricacy of design,” Bill specifies.
Cakes can be bought straight from the shelf, but fondant cakes are made of high-quality materials by signature cake shops. And like France’s leading couture houses, the business is a tradition and a standard. La Esperanza Bakery’s story of sincere ways of satisfying consumer wants and its way of focusing on the expected go more than a hundred years back.

A STORY OF HOPE. In 1903, Maximo Sarmiento, a resident near the old market of Batangas City, opened a grocery and dry goods store. As his family had opened credit with the Pana grocery store, the business thrived despite stiff competition from Chinese businessmen. It was one of only two Filipino-owned businesses that did, the other an old botica.
The place was eventually converted into Panaderia La Esperanza after World War II to signify hope, the name’s English meaning, by Bill’s great grandfather, Ramon Sarmiento, who had a daughter named Nicasia. Young Pascual Perez worked as a baker there and fell in love with Nicasia and they eventually turned partners in running it. Bill’s father, Abelardo Perez Sr., is their son.
La Esperanza Bakery sold mainly breads such as pan de sal, ensaymada, biscocho, kalihim, londres, pasencia, jacobina, hopia and paborita, among others. But it was widely known for its specialty, the Spanish pastry originally known as Corona del Rey.
Passed on to Bill’s grandfather by a Spanish pastry maker before the Japanese Occupation, it is a sweet pastry similar to pilipit. The two-inch diameter, crown-shaped dough complete with a hole in the middle is fried, dipped in sugar syrup before being rolled on white sugar. As it incorporates gin, the pastry has a fine texture and crunch.
It was love at first munch, but Batanguenos found the Spanish name difficult to pronounce so it was eventually colloquialized to “oocan.” From neighborhood kids to First Lady Imelda Marcos, the specialty has a loyal following that is still in high demand to stay as Bill’s current product.
To contemporarize the business, however, La Esperanza Bakery now specializes in fondant cakes as innovated by Bill, borne out of his passion for sweets.

BILL’S PASSION. “I’ve always had a sweet tooth and loved eating cakes bought from Goldilocks and Red Ribbon. I would even ask our baker to duplicate them, but couldn’t. Out of frustration, I started experimenting with cakes and icings by reading recipe books and attending baking seminars in Manila such as Sylvia Reynoso, Heny Sidon, Maya Kitchen and others,” Bill narrates.
Using a trial-and-test method, Bill sampled cakes from different cafés and pastry shops and experimented by baking and giving them to friends for feedback. His expertise reached such a point where he could detect a cake’s ingredients and baking procedure just by tasting it.
A graduate of BA Psychology from UP Diliman, Bill eventually turned into a self-taught cake master. This skill encouraged him to put up his own bakeshop in 1995. Called Happy House Bakeshop, it sold cakes and pastries. It closed down in 1997 only to reopen in 2010 under the name of the original bakery, La Esperanza.
He made his first fondant cake for his brother’s wedding in 1999. His inspiration came from a Wilton Cake Decorating Catalog. Relatives and friends began to ask him to make fondant cakes for them until he started to sell them.
“Initially learning to work with fondant, I found one of the hardest parts was actually covering the cake and having it look smooth. I struggled with pleats around the bottom, trying to avoid cracking and tearing, avoiding corn starch or powdered sugar spots all over it,” he recalls his newbie days as a fondant cake maker.
These predicaments had him figuratively banging his head against the work table. As an advice to those new to fondant, Bill suggests to combine watching videos with other available information.
He referred to pictures and instructions, watched YouTube videos and read forums. While there is an overload of available information on the subject, he felt they were too scattered to learn efficiently. “I watched adept hands do quick work of covering a cake with fondant with no issues, but I struggled to figure out their processes,” he comments.

TURNAROUND. His turning point came when Marbee Shing, a friend from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, asked him to do the cake for her 2005 wedding at the Shangri-La Hotel. Wanting a new cake designer who was not Metro Manila-based, she also required an innovative design.
Bill customized a four-layer white cake with candied sugar tulips and butterflies. The bride gushed over the most important cake in her life. She so loved the creation that she featured Bill as an up-and-coming wedding supplier in a one-page article in Wedding Essentials, July 2005 issue, upon her appointment as editor.
This led to a flurry orders. His satisfied clients raved about his original designs as “beautiful” and “delicious.” This resulted in repeat customers, frequently the whole family ordering from him for every occasion and the all-important referrals that multiplied his clientele.
His fondant cake business flourished that he’s now supplying hotels and caterers in Batangas such as Hotel Ponte Fino and Lima Hotel.
Consult with Bill for your order by landline via (043) 7027615 or send an e-mail @ laesperanza1903@yahoo.com.

Valentine’s Day celebrations have turned so elaborate they are extending the romance beyond Feb. 14.

LOVE PLAYLIST OF CARPENTERS AND PLATTERS. “We are not a tribute group, but the fourth generation of The Platters,” emphasized front man Donne Ray Radford, a fourth-generation member who performs with Laurie Briggs as Karen Carpenter and Douglas Masuda as the Elvis Presley of Japan doing the front act at the Midas Tent (Midas Hotel and Casino) on Feb. 14 and at Kia Theater, Araneta Center on Feb. 15, 8 p.m.
“We thank Beth (Mercado of Royale Chime Concerts and Events, Inc.) for bringing us again this year as she did last year, which was a wonderful experience for us,” shared the dapper and eloquent Donne Ray, who is even better than the other vocalists of the Platters.
Laurie has been touring the world for 15 years as Karen Karpenter and as part of the tribute act called The Karpenters. She opened the media conference with an extraordinary rendition of “Top of the World.” She revealed her fascination with Karen’s voice and music started when she was eight years old. “Her voice moved me and I started to emulate her ever since.”  
“Twenty-four carat gold-plated,” described Douglas of this elaborate belt a la Elvis bought from Graceland. He will add more romantic nostalgia and fun as he performs three hits from the King of Rock and Roll.
Tickets for the Feb. 15 show is only available at Ticketnet (911-5555). For the show at Midas Tent on Feb. 14, tickets are available at SM Tickets (472-2222), Ticketworld (891-9999 and Ticketnet (911-5555). Use your BDO (Banco De Oro) debit/credit card to purchase tickets at 20 percent discount. For more info, call (0918) 4972121 or (0906) 4180786.

ONE BILLION RISING (OBR). With the theme Rise for Revolution 2016, this year’s campaign will escalate the collective actions of mainly female activists worldwide, and amplify their call for systemic changes towards ending violence against women and girls once and for all.
OBR founder Eve Ensler and global director Monique lead the One Billion Rising activists their rising events, artistic uprisings, panel discussions, press conference, town halls, movies, articles, gatherings, poetry, art, posters, actions, and protests to take place at the Rizal Park, Manila, on Feb. 14 starting 8 a.m.
Eve and Monique Wilson will spend a week in the Philippines, in multiple cities particularly Cebu, Tacloban, Manila, Angeles City rising for and with a cross section of Filipina communities including Gabriela Women’s Party, comfort women, youth activists, labor activists, indigenous groups and more.
In Davao City on Feb. 12, they join with activists from many grassroots communities including workers, urban poor, peasants, teachers, students, women’s groups, community groups, families of migrants, LGBT groups, and groups for the rights of sex workers.
They join Lumad communities, who are currently displaced because of militarization and living in evacuation camps in the city as they rise for rights, against militarization, against mining and environmental plunder and against political oppression and killings.
Political will can accomplish the impossible as Eve pointed out. She cited the outlawing of genital mutilation by Gambia’s President ended the primitive practice against women directly as a result of the lead of One Billion Rising. “Continue the Revolution!” Eve stressed.

THE ROYALS. Regine Velasquez and PLDT Home DSL warm hearts this Valentine with ‘The Royals’ concert with Martin Nievera, Eric and Angeline Quinto on Feb. 13, Saturday, at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Photo shows the doting mother onstage with her only son Nate (left) and with PLDT VP and marketing director Gary Dujali (right) at her most recent presscon with PLDT Home. But being Mommy to four-year-old Nate is her utmost priority.
A typical day for Regine involves bringing Nate to school, picking him up and playing with him. She considers time as the most valuable thing she can give to her loved ones.  As her schedule gets filled up each day with rehearsals and shows, Regine is very happy with how technology helped her strengthen her connection with her family especially with Nate.  
It is essential for Regine to be connected at home and even on-the-go because Internet connection doesn’t only help her strengthen her relationship with her family, but also helps her push for what she is passionate about.
The new PLDT Home DSL Speedster Fam Plan 1299 now offers five times faster speeds of up to 10 megabits per second (Mbps), the Speedster Fam Plan has shareable monthly data allowance of 50 gigabytes (GB).
To enjoy the Speedster Fam Plan’s data sharing feature, subscribers can get a Smart mobile line that comes with a free smart phone for an additional P299 per month or with a free iPhone for P799 per month. Subscribers can share 6 GB of the 50 GB monthly data allocation to up to four mobile phone lines, which they can use even outside the home. Bundled with the Speedster Fam Plan, these are all conveniently billed under one subscription.

HE SAID, SHE SAID. Catch RJ Dela Fuente and Julianne Tarroja in a special Valentine concert on Feb. 14 (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.) at 19 East, in Sucat, Paranaque, titled “He Said, She Said.” The show marks the very first mainstream collaboration between RJ and Julianne and offers the personal views and opinions of the two talented artists on love and relationships through a sampling of chart-topping love songs, anthemic “hugot” ballads and homegrown favorites.
RJ started singing in special concerts and events in California, USA as he appeared as a special guest in the shows of Sharon Cuneta, Martin Nievera and Brian McKnight. RJ was a contestant on American Idol season 10 and made it past the competition’s early rounds singing before judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Steve Tyler. This year, he recorded Nonoy Zuniga’s “Never Say Goodbye,” which is part of the official soundtrack of TV 5’s Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap starring Cesar Montano, Diether Ocampo, Meg Imperial and Claudine Barretto.    
Multi-awarded singer Julianne, on the other hand, has been in the music industry since 2007 as she consistently shared her story through the songs she performed in the Philippines and Asia. Pegged as an inspirational artist who speaks to the youth and women of her generation, she inspires through her testimony of beauty, hope, and courage such as her breakthrough single “Tulak ng Bibig.”
Opening the show is singer-songwriter Josh Buizon with his pop-alternative band Over October.
For ticket reservations call 0928-6134905 and/or 0915-3082308.

ART LEADS. Marlin Lopez, ARTlead Best Artist 2015, joins the “2016 Panagbenga Artshow: A Tribute to Nature” at the Baguio Museum located at Governor Road, Baguio City, from Feb. 16 to 29. He exhibits the 24-by-24-inch oil-acrylic-on-canvas The Sun, the Sea and the Wind (2016). Based on his experience as a farm owner, Marlin describes the abstract painting as “a rough strokes to a rough start of 2016 because of weather disturbance that affect rice crops in Nueva Vizcaya.”

MOOD SWINGS. Bob Dylan is not beyond going heavy metal. From folk, he switched from rock to spiritual and took on permutations in between except heavy metal, which he is doing just now in a different way.
Rockers have this natural fascination for entrances, from the predictable to the philosophical.
Ringo Starr sings of it as a tell-tale sign of love (“Waiting for your knock, dear, on my old front door/I don’t hear it, does it mean you don’t love me anymore?”). Jim Morrison made it the name his psychedelic band as an entry of perception when “cleansed, everything would appear to man as it is, infinite.” For Bob Dylan, they are heavy metal or iron gates as art.
Dylan held an exhibit, “Mood Swings,” of eight iron works and seven paintings that satirize popular magazine titles like Life and Archeology Today at the Halcyon Gallery in London. It ran from Jan. 16 to 25, 2016, a second edition. He did a similarly titled show in the same venue in 2013.
Rock’s poet laureate takes the literal meaning of mood swing to create ornate metaphors out of junk scrap metal that takes its meaning to a higher level. They swing that abruptly and apparently changes of mood of the given space.
For Dylan, gates are divides and dividers that mark public and private areas in a matter or moment of a swing. He defines them as free-standing and wall-hanged sculptures, demarcations of the negative space they allow.
The factually elusive storyteller writes in his autobiography, Chronicles: “(Gates) can be closed, but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways there is no difference.”
Dylan’s childhood had been swayed by iron. Born and raised in Hibbing, largely known as the Iron Belt of Minnesota, he lived it daily. Going heavy metal is not common to him although expressed at late term.
He picks from his stock file of bits of found objects from machinery to large gears in the junkyard at his Los Angeles studio, lay them down the floor in possible arrangements, editing them for variations before welding them together.
What he comes up with are rhythmic arrangements that resonate rock, colors certain elements silvery to grab attention very much like a song’s hook. They turn into witty and whimsical interpretations of ordered chaos, reflecting the divergence of rock.
If David Bowie had passed to another dimension, Dylan is still earth-bound. What he’s up to next must be another mood swing.

COMFORT WOMAN SHOUTS OUT TO PNOY. “‘Yung tuwid na daan mo, baliku-baliko,” shouted out 85-year-old frail Narcisa Claveria of Lila Filipina at the media launch of the fourth year of One Billion Rising with Eve Ensler and Monique Wilson at Romulo Café, Makati City only to contrast with her robust determination to seek redress of her injustice.
With the theme Rise for Revolution 2016, this year’s campaign escalated the collective actions of mainly female activists worldwide, and amplify their call for systemic changes towards ending violence against women and girls once and for all.
Accompanied by Ritchie Extramadura, Lola Narcisa was among the sector representatives who participated in the forum with Joms Salvador of Gabriela, Connie Regalado of Migrante, Ka Nitz Gonzaga of Kilusang Mayo Uno, Kharlo Manalo, Zen Soriano, Rep. Emi de Jesus of Gabriela Women’s Party and Alaine Maestro of Gabriela Youth. All pointed to the government of President Aquino as the cause of their current troubles.
Eve traced the violence committed on comfort women, the women and girls forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army in occupied territories before and during World War II. And they are unable to get justice for the longest time from the Japanese government with the tacit cooperation of their own governments including the Philippines.
Asked by Buzzstation if a female president can end the violence against women, all sounded off that it will not. Lola Narcisa recalled that President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo promised to help comfort women but lied big time.
But political will can accomplish the impossible as Eve pointed out. She cited the outlawing of genital mutilation by Gambia’s President ended the primitive practice against women directly as a result of the lead of One Billion Rising.
“Continue the Revolution!” Eve stressed.

LET THE RIVER REST. Ploning director Dante Nico Garcia started IsDA Revolution, a festival last year that gives the Puerto Princesa Underground River three days of rest while an International New Media Convergence was happening all over Puerto Princesa.
This year, he is set to do Let the River Rest again on July 12 but he needs to buy all the pass to the river on those dates right away before it gets booked.
Please look at his online campaign, and he hopes you will be able to figure out a way to help him or just share the link on your timeline: http://igg.me/at/nMlsVKWS7-Q.                                     
The year culminates with a free online film made by the participants. We released the first one on Facebook and YouTube last Christmas: https://www.facebook.com/MrsRecto/posts/1071076.
He need helps to make it happen again this year. You can be part of it yourself by buying a lifetime membership card: https://www.facebook.com/IsDaRevolutionPhilippines.         
Or you can be a benefactor of a young artist from remote areas of Palawan by buying from this online shop:www.facebook.com/FourEightCo.
View the short film explaining his advocacy: https://www.facebook.com/316004525205634/videos.
Dante hopes you can partner with him in raising a generation of artists dedicated in producing content that presents #BeautifulPhilippines and #PositiveValues.

Unlike last year when one tribe dominated the Dinagyang Ati competition, 2016 proved to be a mixed year for every competing tribe, according LEAD multimedia artist Elvert Banares, a true-blooded Ilonggo, who was Radyo Bombo guest analyst with Edwin Duero while at the same time taking the images used for this column.
The Dinagyang Festival is a religious and cultural festival in Iloilo City, Philippines held on the fourth Sunday of January, or right after the Sinulog in Cebu and the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan. It is held both to honor the Santo Niño and to celebrate the arrival on Panay of Malay settlers and the subsequent selling of the island to them by the Atis.
In 2015, Banares observed that many tribes had elements that were off. All tribes need a good production designer who should work well with their costume designers as Dinagyang is a very visual festival (remember that Bakunawa performance by Panayanon years back? That was perfect!).
“Still, I am puzzled why the judges (too biased to let their once favorite tribes win again?) failed to see the beauty of Salognon’s performance by naming them fourth. This tribe has been robbed of a championship last year and they should be second this year. Anyway, second opinions are always welcome in the arts because, quite frankly, people need to see the perspectives of others, too,” he opined.
All tribes of Dinagyang Ati 2016, Panayanon, Pan-ay, Dagatnon, Salognon, Familia Sagasa, Ilonganon, Paghidayon, Baybayanon and Paghidaet had very “off” design elements especially in costumes and backdrop/panel designs.
In the warriors side, huge headdresses dominated the festival — to Dinagyang’s advantage (hello, Instagram!). And the best ones come from Panayanon (all of them), Salognon and, for the sake of the photos, Pan-ay and Dagatnon.
But the rest look very similar to one another. The biggest loss of Dagatnon (a tribe that gave a solid performance) was that “green leaves” costume. Whoever designed that need to go back to the old drawing board.
Many of tribe’s side warriors were dressed in blankets with belts. You can just imagine when watching this live (like us who are right in front of the performance area). You will see the disconnect visually speaking.
Gone were the days when the side warriors were dressed similarly with the warriors. Tribu Familia Sagasa was one of those rare tribe that had visual unity. This year, Panayanon edges out every tribe because of this factor.
Female costumes do not match the male warrior costumes. Except for the costumes worn by the Salognon female dancers when they first entered the performance area, all the other female costumes were kitsch and do not add to visual unity.
Dinagyang, no matter how you argue about the other elements, is both a dance and visual festival. The costumes make the dance. And vice versa. Simply put, costumes must be great in both form and function. This was Salognon’s lapse in 2016 (but hey, they won!). If you ask me if their performance and choreography gave Panayanon tight competition, I’ll say, “Hell, yeah!”
If you ask me if they delivered a winning performance, I’d say, “Yes, just like Panayanon.” But if you ask me if the tribe was visually united in terms of production and costume design, I’d be the first to say, “No.”
The costumes of their side dancers (three changes all over the performance) and their female dancers (first part, great! final part, dud!) did not match the quality (colors, textures, volume, materials etc.) and grandeur of the warriors’ costumes.
In my book, this affects the over-all look of the entire performance. This is why, despite of a rousing performance of Salognon, they landed second (a one-point difference with Panayanon). Salognon’s 2016 performance was the best choreography by the talented Errol Villalobos in years (I already saw this during the rehearsals).
Pan-ay was the tribe that delivered the safest performance (nothing new and nothing disgusting too). But both the choreographers of Pan-ay and Dagatnon need a good team of Production designers and visual artists. Given a good team, Pan-ay’s Ria Espanola can bring a tribe to the top.
This year, I missed the signatures and touches of Vincent Rae Jaena (who used to choreograph Salognon and is now with Buntag-Tala). Buntag-Tala’s performance was one of the weakest this year. Jaena needs to get back on track. Like Ross John Peconcillo, He is one of Iloilo’s most promising too.
So this brings me down to one tribe, which delivered a wonderful performance and had consistent production and costume designs: Panayanon. It’s time the 2013-2015 Dinagyang champion choreographer Romel Flogen remove those large shields (every tribe followed suit when he started this years ago) so we see what his tribe is known for: dancing in precision.
The cubes were a breath of fresh air and look ma, no panels to cover them (although that waterfall backdrop was off). Despite of my very minor complaints, Panayanon was 2016’s winner for me. We saw elements not present in many tribes.
Dinagyang 2016 winners were Salognon, champion; Ilonganon, second; Pan-ay, third; Paghidaet, fourth; and Baybayanon fifth.
Like his practice whenever he is involved in art-related competition, Banares Choices are Panayanon, champion; Salognon, second; Dagatnon, third; Pan-ay, fourth; and Ilonganon, fifth.
Best in Performance was Panayanon, while Best in Choreography was Salognon. Best in Warrior Costume was Panayanon, while Best in Female Costume was Salognon (Intro segment only). Best in Costume (whole tribe) was Panayanon while Best in Production Design was Panayanon. Best in Single Panel Design was The Cube for Panayanon, while Best in Innovation was Panayanon. Best in Musicm was Salognon while Best in Discipline was Panayanon/Salognon.
“I’m excited for next year. Salognon and Panayanon will face the Ilonggos fare and square. The rest of the choreographers will surely level up. So then, let the games begin. Let the warriors dance, dance and dance. But first, everyone should say goodbye to these panels, risers and bad female costumes,” Banares gives his forward-looking wrap-up.
Hala Bira mga kasimanwa! Viva Señor Sto. Niño!

“The main thing is to be moved, to love, to hope, to tremble, to live,” French progenitor of modern sculpture Auguste Rodin said about heart in art. This is often depicted as a rendering of the heart shape in various permutations of love in its limitless interpretations.

As organized by the Office of the Mayor of Mandaluyong City in cooperation with the Kapisanan ng mga Pintor sa Pilipinas (KPP), the HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining) group exhibit explores this theme at the Atrium Building, Mandaluyong City hall in celebration of the National Arts Month and Valentine’s Day from Feb. 23 to 26, 2016.
Considered both Love Month and National Arts Month, it provides the theme of HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining). It will feature visual translations of theme by selected contemporary artists their own idea of love and art form combined using the media of their preference. Thus, the exhibit’s title.

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON. HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining) features KPP as founded by Mayor Benhur Abalos and Rogelio “Maestro” Orobia in 1995 and organized by his son, Abe Orobia, and Ral Arrogante in 2016.
Maestro Orobia has been active in the art scenario since 1983. A Master Art from Thompson Education Direct, he is an event organizer, art educator, civic leader, theologian, philanthropist, writer, media broadcaster, photographer and sculptor. Blessed with multi-faceted talents and skills, he is rated total man of art.
As an artist, Maestro Orobia’s works are described by critics as fashioned by an artist with no such corruption in his heart pertaining to his unique rendition of colors and sense of style. His numerous art collectors, good media reviews, followings and side-by-side successful exhibitions are convincing affirmation of his strength as a painter.
As its president, Abe who is a professor and lecturer organized KPP to help artists in various fields. In 1995, ex-Comelec and MMDA Chairman Abalos purchased Abe’s prophetic tiger mural when Mandaluyong was not yet a Tiger City. Last year, Mayor Abalos sponsored the group exhibit of the Orobia family including the patriarch, Maestro Orobia.
When they were asked to hold another family exhibit this year, they proposed to include other artists from Mandaluyong City and other locations, leading to this group exhibit.
HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining) is held with the valued assistance of Nolan Angeles, head of the Cultural Arts Department of Mandaluyong City.

PARTICIPATING ARTISTS. The exhibit features the works of members of the Mandaluyong Artists League with Arogante as president.
Arrogante is a self-thought artist who ingeniously puts together copper parts into witty metal sculptures. He has assembled clocks, animals or anything with wheels and wings from copper used as electrical, automotive, or computer parts. The basic form of the objects depicted are shaped by creatively tying or connecting copper scraps together. Some sculptures derived from Arrogante’s everyday experiences and surroundings can be manipulated and moved by the viewers.
Arrogante balancing wires Chop-chop Fish will be installed together with the shark sculpture, Anak ng Pating. Wellers Vicencio’s oil on canvas Thru Thick and Thin portrays the outmost love of a man and woman passionately locking lips and holding hands while wearing a common bracelet to symbolize oneness and togetherness under all circumstances, no matter how difficult.
Dan Libor’s acrylic on canvas Walang Pagbabago is a sarcastic commentary of love of country depicting Dr. Jose Rizal biking in our time above a panorama of environmental degradation.
Rene Canlas’ painted the plein aire watercolor Lovers Fountain during a visit at Pinto art museum in Marikina City for its nostalgic and romantic setting.
The typical love story of an Overseas Filipino Worker inspired Emman Nicasio’s diptych Long-Distance Relationship a.k.a. #LDR reflects his situation when he was based in Singapore. The pets that the couple are cuddling represent the thing they left with their love ones which resonates the line “I left a piece of me with you.” But despite the mushiness, these cute cuddles as replacement subject of affection ease the couple’s sadness for each other.
Ethel Dimacuha mixed media on canvas Mix Match 2 depicts her first love, art. Non-objective and subjective at the same time, she collaged different found objects on a textured canvas and let her creative spirit flow freely as she applied and combined colors that are dictated by her heart.
Coneth Amido’s mixed media Calm Serenade shows a child strumming a ukulele not for himself but for everything around him because Mother Nature listens if you sing. A depiction of love for God’s creation, seemingly whimsical and fantasy-like, it speaks more about everyday occurrence and the beauty of life. the idea is to capture a deep moment with the viewer and let them find their own perception based on personal interpretation and observation.
Emman Acasio’s acrlic on canvas Maayang Umaga emphasizes the love within the family by depicting simple life in the province in which every member of the family helps each other and loves one another. Moreso, it reflects love and respect for nature being the provider of everything we need to survive and thrive.
Sonny Fernando’s Something in the way she moves...is a skillful building of a abstract composition that leads the viewer to see a perceived mood or emotion symbolized by the assemblage of geometric forms. What is in his mind questions the meaning of what seems to be the swaying motion of trajecting lines very contrasting to the sharp and calculated composition. Undoubtedly, this artist from Tarlac has pushed the boundaries of geometric abstraction to intentionally affect the mind of the viewer.
Other participating artists are Nonilon Alipio, Jeth Bernal, Joey Cobcobo, Camille de la Rosa, Ethel Dimacuha, Mary Rose Domingo Gisbert, Oying Madrilejos, Joyce Maristela, Omi Reyes, Joel Tabuena and Godfrey Torres, Carlito Amalla, Alfred Capiral, Joey Cobcobo, Janos de la cruz, Jose Leo de Castro, Noell Farol, Homer Fernadez, William Gaudinez, Judeo Herrera, Jisu Kim, Daniel Libor, Angelo Magno, Yvette Manotoc, Jonathan Nicolas, Abe Orobia, Rogelio Orobia, Vincent Padilla, Wilfredo Pollarco, Wilfredo, Roberta Rossi, Bernard Temporosa, Jareds Yokte, Tony Zamora and Juert Asejo.
During the opening of HeART, the KPP will award Mayor Abalos a plaque designed by Maestro Orobia in recognition for his valuable patronage of the arts.

INSIGHT! Although prices hardly breached the P20.0 million mark at Leon Gallery’s The Asian Cultural Council Philippines Art Auction 2016 on Feb. 20, 2016, Arturo Luz’s Magbabanig sold at P21.02 million including premium, grabbing the top rank. The auctions superstars hogged the top eight slots, but a newcomer Jose John Santos III’s Untitled ranked second at P10.51 million.

Hernando R. Ocampo’s Untitled and Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Mother and Child tied at third at P9.93 million. Ronald Ventura’s Lost Race took fourth rank at P8.18 million. Then Lee Aguinaldo’ Linear Explosion No.2 got fifth rank at P9.81 million Fernando Zobel’s Selene III (Fases) and new entrant Elmer Borlongan’s Vulcanizing Shop tied at sixth rank for P6.42 million. Fernando Amorsolo’s classic theme, Under the Mango Tree, took seventh for P5.840 million. Onib Olmedo’s prize winner, The Apartment, snapped eighth, sold for P5.61 million.
Perhaps due to the availability of more important lots and/or a tell-tale sign that the auction market is leveling off, we will have definitive indications in the Leon Gallery’s Spectacular Mid-Year Auction 2016.

Family connections strengthened. The Sottos, Oyo Sotto and Kristine Hermosa Sotto, paint the picture of a happy and connected family with loving parents raising three growing kids. With the celebrity power couple driving the foundation of brood Kiel, 7 Ondrea, 4, and Kaleb, 1, it is important for them to find ways to maintain strong connections with their kids.
“Our days are full of errands that usually revolve around our kids’ schedules, especially now that Kiel and Ondrea have school,” Tin shared. “We all wake up early and have breakfast together, and then Oyo and I separate to take them to their schools if there’s no driver. While the kids are in school, we do our errands and work out. Then after school, we make sure that they get their homework done before we have our family bonding time.”
Like any other family, their best days are spent watching movies and eating. Other than the annual trips abroad and sporadic trips to the cinema, the Sottos love to stay at home, where they say find everything they need. “Aside from streaming movies from iflix and Fox, we also watch a lot of cartoons as preferred by the kids,” Oyo said. “We’re so happy to have easy access to our favorite movies and shows whenever we want, on top of strong Internet and the PLDT TVolution Stick that lets us enjoy them in the big screen.”
Backed by the discipline and mode-ration imposed by the parents, the Internet plays a huge role in the Sottos’ lives. Aside from entertainment and connectivity, the Internet lets Oyo and Tin look up recipes and read the news. “Ondrea loves it when we read stories to her, while Kiel, being more visual, prefers to watch TV to be educated,” Tin added. “It’s really all in the Internet.”
The Internet now strengthens family connections even beyond the home. Thanks to the country’s first data sharing feature by the newest PLDT HOME DSL broadband plan, the Sottos stay in touch even outside the house. It is now easy share the connection of their HOME DSL to their mobile phones — whether it’s to get updates on Kiel’s most recent commercial shoot, plan their next travel getaway or simply share different experiences to make those experiences more meaningful.
The PLDT HOME DSL Speedster Fam Plan 1299 offers speeds of up to 10 Mbps and a monthly data allocation of 50 GB. Families who upgrade their Speedster Plan with a Smart Mobile Plan 399 or Plan 600 can share 6 GB of the 50 GB monthly data allocation to their smart phones. They may get up to four Smart mobile phone lines bundled with their Speedster Fam Plan, all conveniently billed under one subscription.
“As we always say, Internet today is not just about high-speed connectivity” PLDT VP and Marketing Director Gary Dujali said. “It is about the Internet helping build strong connections among family members within and beyond the home. We are more than happy to hear that families like the Sottos make the most out of technology in nurturing their bonds to each other wherever they may be.
Powered by the PLDT Group’s robust and resilient fixed and wireless networks, the Speedster Fam Plan will also allow families to access and enjoy exclusive offers from PLDT HOME and Smart’s other digital lifestyle partners such as Zalora, foodpanda and Airbnb, whether at home or on mobile.
For more information, log on to pldthome.com.

HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining ) opening swarmed! Not only was the National Arts Month celebration well-organized, it was also well-attended by artists, collectors and art enthusiasts. Photo shows the crowd present at the opening ceremony. (First row, from left) Ethel Dimacuha, Lino Acasio, Rolly Dalupan, Noni Alipio, Joel Tabuena, Godfrey Torres, Kim Jisu, Mayor Benhur Abalos, Ral Arrogante, Maestro Orobia, Mary Rose Gisbert, Joyce Ann Maristela, Coneth Amido, and Daniel Libor (Second row) Emman Acasio, Abe Orobia, Rowel Vicencio, Judeo Herrera, Camille de la Rosa, Councilor Charisse Marie Abalos and Joey Cobcobo.

Like father, like son. If Maestro Rogelio Orobia, who founded Kapisanan ng mga Pintor ng Pilipinas in 1995, is like his son, Abe Orobia, who is both a visual artist and organizers of artists and art exhibits, so are Lino Acasio and his son Emman Acasio. Abe organized HeART (Kalayaan sa Sining) with Ral Arrogante held at the Atrium building of the Mandaluyong City Hall from Feb. 23 to 26,  
Lino exhibited his acrylic on canvas Maayang Umaga that emphasizes the love within the family by depicting simple life in the province in which every member of the family helps each other and loves one another.
Emman showed his diptych Long-Distance Relationship aka #LDR that reflected his situation when he was based in Singapore. Their styles reflect meticulous attentions for details and restrained use of colors that the father must have passed on to the son.

Amazing evenings at HRC. Hard Rock Café (HRC) closes the month of February with a series of great performances from the country’s top artists and show bands.
Singer Paula Bianca performs back-to-back with show band Part 3 on Feb. 27 (Saturday), while Part 3 is set to power the house on Feb. 28 (Sunday), and Kudos Loves 80s will have the ultimate throwback musical party on Feb. 29 (Monday).
Hard rockers can look forward to amazing evenings of beautiful music as these artists dish out live a sampling of today’s hottest chart-toppers, homegrown favorites, standard classics, and energy-packed party anthems.
HRC recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in the business and it continues it advocacy to provide Filipino music lovers an alternative entertainment venue that provides quality and topnotch entertainment from the country’s biggest and most respected bands and artists. All shows start at 9 p.m.

BIASED REPORT! “The sale of ¿A Do...Va la Nave? — P46.72 million or $995,731.05, including buyer’s premium and value added tax — is the highest for an artwork at a local auction, and a new Philippine auction record for Luna, Ramon E.S. Lerma, chief adviser at Salcedo Auctions, told Rappler via email on Tuesday, September 29, (2015),” reported Lynda Corpuz of Rappler.com in “Rare Juan Luna painting fetches record P46.72M at PH auction,” published Sept. 29, 2015, and updated Jan. 14, 2016.
An article clearly about Salcedo Auctions, the report declares the sale of ¿A Do...Va la Nave? as “the highest for an artwork at a local auction.” This is erroneous. In fact, it is only third in rank as Anita Magsaysay-Ho’s Fish Harvest at Dawn (1979) that sold for P52.6 million holds the distinction and Benedicto Cabrera’s Sabel (2003) for P46.7 million holds second rank. Both were sold at Leon Gallery, a local auction house. Prices also include add-ons.
Corpuz also states in the same report: “The painting shows a skiff bobbing along a turquoise sea. There are six elegantly garbed women sitting languidly on the boat, with the one perched highest, presumably Luna’s most favored model, Angela Duche, Salcedo Auctions wrote.”

‘SAVAGE: JUAN LUNA IN PARIS.’ Such loose reports are plugging Juan Luna. Howie Severino — in the I-Witness documentary shot in Paris, France, entitled “Savage: Juan Luna in Paris,” also entitled by Severino in the less controversial “Juan Luna in Paris” on GMA 7 on Feb. 28, 2016 — alluded that Duche is the same model in Luna’s My Girlfriend, the unidentified boseto (study) of a reclining Caucasian woman Portrait of a Lady and The Parisian Life, all at the National Museum of Fine Arts.
 Severino posted in his Facebook timeline: “The woman in Juan Luna’s The Parisian Life was based on his model Angela Duche. He spent a lot of time with her, while raging with jealousy about his suspicion that his wife Paz was having an affair.” (“Juan Luna Sa Paris.”)
As he stated in the documentary and repeated when asked on Facebook: “Kamukha niya, notebooks ni Juan Luna.”
Following is the thread of our chat:
EDGAR O. CRUZ: Howie, assumption ‘yan. Even the National Museum gave that the title Portrait of a Lady, not the Portrait of Angela Duche. Did you check the painting’s tag? It is even identified (in some reports) as supposedly Paz.
HOWIE SEVERINO: Definitely not Paz — we examined photos.
EOC: Then that’s an opinion, not necessarily fact. Alfredo Roces, another authority on Juan Luna, stated that Caucasian women look identical. He did not state Duche or even Paz. BTW, brave ang documentary mo, well-documented.
HS: But Juan Luna himself mentions Duche in his notebooks as his model in his paintings. Better source than Alfredo Roces. Pls. compare with Paz photos — it’s very clear they are not the same. Caucasian women do not all look alike. Besides, Paz was not purely Caucasian —  look at her mom Juliana, very Indio ang features.
EOC: Thanks for doing the documentary. Did Luna specifically write (Duche) was the model for My Girlfriend, Portrait of a Lady and The Parisian Life? Ang attribution mo vague. Please post images you were referring to here. I’m quoting Mr. Roces as an answer when I argued with him that Paz does not look entirely Caucasian. Also, you are basing your comparison on faded photos. How accurate?
HS: What’s Mr. Roces’ basis? The ladies in several of Luna’s most famous paintings had the same face. Paz photos are on the Internet. But you do not have to believe me. If you were not convinced by my documentary, so be it. We did our best.
EOC: Mr. Roces’ basis? His expert opinion!
EOC: Did Luna only have one model? Do you know that Paz’s parents are both pure Spanish? As a documentarian, you must be open to questions about your assumptions and conclusions. I praise you for doing that now, but it also requires open-mindedess to answer them.
HS: Haven’t I answered already? But if you’re still skeptical, that is your right and I cannot force you to see things my way. Even experts like Roces need evidence. That’s why I ask.
EOC: I’m seeking for the truth.
HS: Yes, Mr. Roces has the evidences in his book on Luna.
Which book? What evidence did he cite? Did he mention the Luna notebooks that contain the Duche references? I read the Roces book Rage, which is a fictionalized account of the Luna story.
EOC: I am sure Mr. Roces is a credible writer.
HS: I’m afraid even the experts are not sure of the truth when it comes to who that woman in The Parisian Life is. But I’m very sure Paz is not her. She does look like other women in Luna’s paintings like the reclining nude with a rosary. You can see that for yourself. Pls don’t take my word for it. Check the evidence yourself.
EOC: I have no idea of the notebooks that you are referring to, that is why I asked photos to be posted here.
HS: You are free to believe Roces. I respect him myself. But no one is right about everything.
EOC: Rage is a more truthful word than savage. Who editorialized?  Yes, Howie, you are right... including us.
HS: Savage is the word that Luna’s lawyer used. I’m not editorializing. That was Luna’s defense in court — that he is a savage so the normal legal and moral standards cannot apply. Sad, but that’s what happened. Look it up if you don’t believe me again. Or watch the docu again when it is replayed next Tuesday night.
EOC: Yes, the title of your documentary editorialized. You are aware of it. If not, why did you remove the word in your title in a Facebook post? The correct way to do it is to put savage in qoutation marks as in “savage” so you will not be doubted.
HS: If you think I editorialized, I can live with that. It’s a documentary that has a point of view. But I did not invent the word; it’s in court documents. If you disagree with my point of view or did not like the work, I can live with that, too. I will respect your opinion. Hope you respect mine.
EOC: So you admit you editorialized.
HS: So you didn’t mean what you said? Here’s what you said: “BTW, brave ang documentary mo, well-documented.”
EOC: I mean every word I used. Well-documented can mean the images used in the document, right? I’m impressed with the extent your team went through to document its POV. Something wrong with that?
HS: Thanks for the compliment and your honest point of view.
EOC: I do not compliment; I just state my real opinion. Expecting your next historical documentary.

Eric John Salut, then head of Star Magic publicity and promotions and now with Deo Endrinal’s Dreamscape, asked me to interview director Wenn Deramas during a press conference when I was a newbie entertainment writer, and I am glad I did. Published here in the Daily Tribune, it turned out to be a humorous unraveling of a gay director who loved his mother so dearly as he exposed his commitment to his art.

This started an association with him including being privy to his romantic relationship with DJ Durano that they did not admit publicly. They agreed to make an album with the record company that I used to be associated with that told me how much he cared for his professional growth.
In an interview with ABS-CBN news, DJ spoke about how the death of his former boyfriend caught him by surprise.
“Nagulat talaga ako. I was scrolling on Facebook at doon ko nalaman. Noong una ayaw kong maniwala. Then I called Direk Wenn’s driver tapos sabi niya na it is true. Hindi ako makapaniwala kasi naalala ko siya na full of life,” he shared.
DJ credited Deramas, with whom he worked in numerous television and movie projects, for paving the way for him to realize his dream of working in the entertainment industry, and recalled some of the biggest lessons he learned from the director.
“Hindi nila alam kung gaano kami ka-close ni Wenn. He was my mentor. He managed my career for quite some time,” he said.
“Si Direk Wenn, master iyan sa lahat eh. Alam niya kung paano ang career path mo. Tinuruan niya ako kung paano maging...kung paano makisama — hindi lang sa kapwa artista, pati na rin sa kaillit-liitan na crew. Tinuruan niya ako kung paano maging professional, paano aralin ang script, at tinuruan niya akong maging grateful.”
Asked for his message for Deramas, Durano said: “Sayang; marami pa tayong mga gagawin, marami ka pang ibabahagi sa industriyang ito, hindi lang sa amin.”
“Masyado pang maaga pero kapag tinawag ka na talaga ng langit eh lahat iyan may rason — everything happens for a reason. God has better plans for all of us. Sabi ko nga, nagkulang na mga anghel sa itaas kaya tinawag na siya.”
I will miss Direk Wenn. I just wonder if Eugene Domingo visited his wake. They were also close, and he considered her as his lucky charm. He once intimated she was devirginized by a now out gay director.

BOYCOTTING THE 2016 OSCARS. That early morning of the 2016 Academy Awards in the Philippines, I still did not get the usual Oscar fever. And to think I’m supposed to be an in-the-know entertainment writer.
Why? I used to have the hang from the major play-up on the subject by exclusive broadcaster ABS-CBN. Multimedia artist Elvert Banares gave an update when he posted on Facebook his annual “fearful” predictions that Monday morning. As no local network had aired the coverage, he told me to tune in to HBO, which narrowcasted it exclusively. Displeased by the unwelcome suggestion, I told him of my boycott.
ABS-CBN had always been a viewer-friendly carrier of the awards ceremony, an outstanding broadcaster. Aside from information dissemination, it held Oscar-related promotions. To top these, it showed the ceremony in two channels, ABS-CBN and Lifestyle Network with same-day and off-day replays. Can HBO beat that?
Now I could not watch it as I use an analog television that airs only free TV channels and not cable-linked. Although our other TV has it, mine was not by choice. I found the HBO exclusive deal too elitist and insensitive as not all Filipinos are cable-connected. So rather than view it from my mother’s TV, I decided to boycott.
This is the first time in years as I had been a regular viewer. I used to be an early viewer, from the pre-red carpet moments up to wrap. Trouble with my boycott, I seemed not to miss anything when before I was starstruck. Damaging shift!
This appeared like a sympathy with the boycott called by minority nominees led by Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee, but it was not. Nielsen did not immediately have any ethnic breakdown of Oscar viewership.
True enough, the boycott seemed to have affected viewership in the US. Viewership meters registered a dip to its lowest level since 2008. The popularity of movies being honored tends to be the biggest factor in whether the audience for the live telecast is up or down.
Nielsen buzzed preliminary estimates showed 34.3 million people watched the telecast, where Spotlight won best picture. Last year’s show was seen by 37.3 million people, a hefty double digit decrease of 10 percent. Revenant or even Leonardo Di Caprio did not turn out as viewer pullers, more likely as audience pushers.
Since 1990, only two Academy Awards telecasts were flops: No Country For Old Men won best picture in 2008, and Chicago was honored in 2004. The peak came when Titanic won in 1998 and gathered 55 million viewers.
This year’s Golden Globe and Grammys also saw ratings drops. The Globe that prides film and television were watched by 18.5 million people, down from 19.3 million in 2015. The Grammy telecast registered a seven-year low in viewership.
For sure, the same appeared to be true as in my case. I think it was a wrong business decision to go HBO exclusive. This shows cracks that the Oscars is not a must-watch annual global event. It better learn from this experience. If the Oscars got choices, the same is true with viewers.
The Oscars has nobody to blame except itself and its voting members. Let this be a wake-up call unless it suffers more reversals next year.
BTW, Elvert correctly forcasted seven out of eight major awards!

CHEERS TO COLON CLEANSING. They say a healthy tummy is a healthy body. Digestive problems such as constipation, diarrhea or flatulence can easily turn a peachy day into a ruined one. Consider colon cleansing. Proponents of colon cleansing believe that removing toxins and body wastes from the colon can help you feel better and improve your bodily functions. As an added bonus, if you’re trying to lessen heaviness and decrease your risk of acquiring colon cancer, colon cleansing achieves both. To aide you with colon cleansing, there’s FatOut.
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GALLERY VASK IS NUMBER 39 IN ASIA. Gallery Vask, a contemporary art gallery with a fine dining restaurant at the fifth floor, Clipp Center, 11th Avenue corner 39th Street, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, Metro Manila, was awarded as number 39 in Asia, and Best Restaurant in the Philippines, by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants. Gallery Vask has curated installations every two months by alternating local and international artists using different mediums such as photography, painting, sculpture, digital art, holograms and performance art. The awards were based on votes from more than 300 chefs, restaurateurs and experts in six countries across Asia. Gaggan of Thailand, its cuisine described as “progressive Indian cuisine,” bagged top spot for the second year in a row.

SLOW COURT (SC). Did you notice how slow the Supreme Court is in deciding on cases? Like it has not decided on the Rizal Monument photobomber case since it stopped construction of Torre de Manila and held its 6th and last hearing on Sept. 1, 2015. The Solicitor General asked to demolish the illegal construction at its own expense in a memorandum dated Sept. 21. It has been almost half a year and it has not decided on the issue. Although it has announced release this month, it also has not issued its decision regarding the disquisition case for President of Sen. Grace Poe.

MAJOR DISCREPANCY IN YEARS IT TOOK PLACE CITED. The daring clarification that denied Sen. Tito Sotto III’s involvement in whitewashing Pepsi Paloma’s death cover-up showed that he is a just and concerned lawmaker worthy of another term as Senator.
“Una, 1988 po ako naging vice mayor ng Quezon City. Matagal na hong wala ‘yung kwentong ‘yun,” Sen. Tito explained to Alvin Elchico, anchor of dzMM’s election special Ikaw na ba? Ang Senador para sa Pamilyang Pilipino on March 4, 2016 when asked about his purported involvement in the Pepsi Paloma case. “1982 ho ‘yung kwentong iyun eh. So, wala ho akong pakialam sa isyung iyan nung araw.”
Having pointed out this glaring discrepancy, he proceeded to explain the lie’s source: “Hindi totoo ‘yan. Gimik ‘yan ni Rey dela Cruz,” Sen. Tito said in the radio interview. Running for another term, he maintains the top senatorial spot in recent surveys.
Sen. Tito’s popularity is accelerated by his outstanding performance as a Senator and regular appearances in the longest running number one noontime show, Eat...Bulaga!
Rey, an optometrist by profession with a closed down shop for eyeglasses in Sta. Cruz, Manila, was talent manager in the ‘80s of the so-called Softdrink Beauties that included Pepsi Paloma. Coca Nicolas. Sarsi Emmanuel plus Myrna Castillo and Myra Manibog. As they were all minors when he recruited them to be bold actresses, he could easily be charged with child exploitation if it happened today.
Rey was known to be a loose mouth. When he got Divina Valencia so angry with such loose talk when they appeared in Inday Badiday’s showbiz talk show in the ‘90s, she lost her temper that she hit Rey with a microphone.
In 1982, Paloma was allegedly drugged and gang-raped by comedians Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon and Richie D’ Horsie. With thriving entertainment careers, Vic is a younger brother of Tito, that made many question why they would involve themselves in such act. Seeking the services of lawyer Rene Cayetano, nothing was proven.
Tito Sotto’s alleged involvement came in when he allegedly coerced Pepsi into signing an affidavit of desistance and dropping the rape complaint against the three comedians. He pointed the gross discrepancy on above quotes during the dzMM interview.
Joey, Vic and Richie supposedly issued a public apology to Pepsi published in the People’s Journal on Oct. 13, 1982.
After taking an overdose of sleeping pills in 1985, Pepsi  reportedly hanged herself in her rented apartment due to depression because of “monetary problems.”
Her death was ruled as suicide but there were speculations that she was murdered to silence her further in pursuing the alleged rape case against the comedians.
Vic and Joey filed libel case against Rey. Rey was eventually shot by an undefined assailant outside his optometry shop that remained unsolved up to this day.
“Hindi po totoo ‘yun, wala pong katotohanan,” Sen. Tito summed up the interview. The senator blamed Pepsi’s death on alleged drug use. “Wala ho, droga ho ‘yun! Kaya ‘yang mga kumakalat sa Facebook, hindi totoo ‘yan. Paninira lang mga ‘yan,” he added.

BANK WITH HEART. Heart Evangelista-Escudero is Philippine Veteran’s Bank’s (PVB) first celebrity endorser in its latest brand campaign, Banking with a Heart for Every Filipino. Heart advised people, especially the youth, to start learning the value of money and the basics of financial literacy. She urges people of all ages not to be intimidated by banks such as the PVB.
The new ad campaign aims to refresh the bank’s image by focusing on what makes PVB unique among the country’s 36 universal and commercial banks. Corporate social responsibility is at the core of the PVB’s existence. It has to be profitable to be able to give aid and assistance to surviving Filipino World War II veterans and their descendants. Twenty percent of its annual net income is reserved for such a purpose. PVB is the only bank that looks after the welfare of the veteran community.
The bank’s chairman, Dr. Bobby de Ocampo, who appears in the TVC but has no speaking line pointed out during the its media launch that PVB is not only for old people, the military, or pensioners; that is not a government-owned or military-owned bank; but for young people like Heart. His advice: “Don’t spend too much; learn to keep on saving money and invest.”

BUY ONE-TAKE ONE PROMO. Healthcare is for people from all walks of life. Recognizing this need, ATC Healthcare is on hand to provide a range of supplements that are more accessible to the Filipino people through the “buy one, take one promo,” available until March 15.
Included in the “buy one, take one promo” are: FatOut (slimming supplement), RedoXfat (weight management), Reducin (anti-obesity), BitterGo (diabetes/blood sugar control), LiverMarin (liver health), ATC Evening Primrose (premenstrual syndrome), ATC Garlic Oil (hypertension), ATC Fish Oil (stroke and heart attack), ATC Coenzyme Q10 (heart energizer), ATC Vitamins (overall bodily functions), ATC Ginseng (energy and endurance), Robust (energy and endurance), PowerUp Xtreme (energy and endurance), ATC Spirulina (muscle building), ATC Ginkgo Biloba (cognitive function), ATC Grape Seed Oil (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Squalene (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Vitamin E (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Vita-E (anti-aging and skin enhancement), ATC Calcium with Vitamin D3 (bone health), Nocaf (cough and asthma). Plus Strike Multi-Insect Killer Spray, Strike Coil Mosquito Repellent, Strike Liquid Electric Mosquito Repellent, Strike Mat and Strike Patch for Kids.

If art is beautiful and children are angels of love, there’s nothing on earth that is more valuable than being beautiful and joyful. Collecting a piece of art from this auction will bring more angels in our lives and will give children the chance to fulfill their dreams, reads the catalogue of the World Vision Charity Dinner and Art Auction held at the Marriott Cafe, Marriot Hotel Manila, recently, written by Kunst Gallery and Kunst Pilipino art impresario Virgilio Cuizon. The event raised P1.6 million, 50 percent of which is earmarked for World Vision Philippines’ Sponsor a Child for P20 a Day program that will send 600 marginalized Filipino children to school this year.
Versatile visual artist Aris Bagtas sold five paintings worth P400,000 to top the P5,000-per-plate fundraiser. His La Esperanza sold for P100,000, I Do for P100,000, Sto. Nino for P80,000, Kanlungan for P60,000 and Happy House for P60,000.
The project was coordinated and co-curated by Bill Perez. Cuizon did not attend the charity event as he had to return to Essen, Germany where his family is based to be able to take care of his first granddaughter, Laura Viola Baturi (LaVi for short). This shows his outstanding trait — a love for children — not only his own, but children in general specially the marginalized kind.
His involvement in this advocacy started in 1993 when Kunst donated paintings to an exhibit organized by World Vision.
After the exhibit, he encouraged ALAEH (Association Lending Assistance in Exigencies at Home), an association registered in the district court of Essen, to adopt a child for school. They adopted 11 children and sent them to school until grade 6.
As facilatator between ALAEH and World Vision, Cuizon used to visit the children yearly, continuing his contact with the organization.
During the Kunst Christmas party, Maf Aguila of World Vision attended and asked Cuizon if we could do again the art exhibit together with an auction. He agreed if 50 percent of the outcome would go to the artist. This led to the meeting of purpose for this dinner-cum-art-auction.
The attendance by World Vision ambassadors led by Marc Nelson and Cristalle Belo Henares as hosts and Tim Yap as auctioneer added sparkle to the fundraiser. Ogie Alcasid, Nikki Gil-Albert and the Malabon Children’s Choir delighted the exclusive event with renditions of special song numbers.
Jasmine Curtis-Smith made generous bids for Bagtas’ mixed media on circular wood, La Esperanza, and Emmanuel Bueza’s pen and ink, San Agustin Church. Miriam Quiambao-Roberto won Melvin Vargas’ Blank Page. Gil-Albert purchased Anabelle Afable’s Celebrating Joy.
Participating artists were Zorrick Enriquez, Sherwin Paul Gonzales, Vincent Christopher Gonzales, Von Gonzales. Ronna Manansala, Wilfredo Rufon, Rene Robles, Rafael Cusi, Edwin Wilwayco, Marlow Cartagenan, Emmanuel Flores, Anna Cuisia Lindayag, Anna Lumps, Ian Maigan, Misha, Rafael Cusi, Nante Carandang, Bryan Yabut, Nante Carandang, Annabelle Afable, Lita Ang and Noel Bueza.

‘KAY GANDA NG PILIPINAS (BAKIT LAGING BINABALIK BALIKAN).’ This is the theme of the Kunst Pilipino Gallery and Macuha Art Gallery ongoing national representational and non-representational painting competition.
Prizes at stake are P50,000 and trophy (first prize); P30,000 and trophy (second prize); P15,000 and trophy (third prize) and P10,000 plus certificate (for the seven Juror’s Choice awards).
The painting must be an original work of the artist and never been exhibited. The artist must sign the artwork. Entry form must be notarized. Addendum to the rules and regulations will be posted before the submission of artworks.
The required size is two feet by three feet, horizontal orientation (landscape), gallery or museum wrap, ready to hang. The acceptable media are oil on canvas, acrylic on canvas, mixed media and watercolor. Water color should be properly framed. The frame/stretcher must not exceed 4 kilos and must be 2 inches on all sides.
Submission on April 16 (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and awarding ceremony on April 16 (7 p.m.), both at Macuha Art Gallery Antonio Ozaete Street, BF Resort, Las Piñas. All winning paintings including the Juror’s Chpice will be the property of Macuha Art Gallery.

TOXIC WORKING CONDITIONS AFFLICT ABS-CBN. It may have been no strange coincidence that director Wenn Deramas, talent coordinator Cornelia “Angge” Lee and director Francis Xavier Pasion were afflicted by heart diseases, two of them terminally.
Deramas died of a heart attack after a day’s shoot. His reconstructed heart failed. You see, ABS-CBN directors are expected to meet the tall order of wrapping up 50 sequences per shooting day, frequently extending the following day.  
Lee suffered a massive heart attack late Saturday night, rendering her in critical condition. She was pronounced dead on arrival at the Cardinal Santos Memorial Medical Center in San Juan City, but was revived by physicians.
Pasion was  found dead in the bathroom of his house in Quezon City on Sunday afternoon. Findings of PNP SOCO reports that he died of a heart attack. He had been having chest pains, which is why he went to Cardinal Santos Medical Center to undergo a medical exam. His last project was the hit romance-comedy series, On The Wings of Love.
I can attest that it can be toxic to work at the network. When I was editor-in-chief of StarStudio magazine, I developed a bad case of diabetes. Due to the politics that operated at ABS-CBN Publishing back then and due to the coddling of non-performing staffers by my immediate bosses at that time, besides the heavy work load, I became addicted to diet softdrink as comfort food.
And I am not alone here. Entertainment journalists Maridol Bismark and Kaye Losorata, who later joined ABS-CBN Publishing, eventually resigned for the same reasons.
Now even Kris Aquino had decided to leave her kingdom as Queen of All Media starting this March 23 for health and family reasons. Many question if such departure will hold, as she had done the same several times in the past but eventually reconsidered as she could not stay out of the limelight for long.
Will she do the same this time around or is she bent on preempting brother Noynoy’s departure from government? We also know her contract with the Kapamilya network is expiring and she is renegotiating.
Buzzstation’s take? Kris stays put!

“With streaming concerts, we can all be together at the same time — the whole world, all at once, can be sitting front row, from wherever they are in the world! What an awesome time we live in!” Arnel Pineda shared at the press conference of the live streaming concert themed "Voyage to Rockville." This will happen on April 5, 2016 at the Newport Performing Arts Center, Resorts World Manila, Parañaque City.
“We want everyone to take this voyage with us!” Arnel, lead singer for the world famous rock band Journey, invites all to an exciting new moment in Manila music history just a few weeks when he performs live on stage in his first global streaming concert.
Sanre Streaming, a division of Sanre Entertainment Worldwide, and the US record label Imagen Records, has announced that Arnel will perform at the concert that will be streamed live and on edited delay around the world.
Voyage to Rockville comes from the idea that now everyone can be there, whether in the stadium, or concert hall, or any venue, and join in, listening and watching music being performed live as they take a Voyage with the bands and live audience as well to a very special place known as Rockville.  
Arnel’s first streaming concert is in conjunction with the launch of Sanre Streaming, a new enterprise for the entertainment giant, Sanre Entertainment Worldwide. Arnel will perform songs from his upcoming album scheduled for release later in 2016, as well as other hits.
Morgan Rose of the band Sevendust, 2016 Grammy Award nominee for best live performance, will join Arnel as special guest. Morgan is known throughout the music world as one of the most dynamic drummers on the planet.
Namesake, a band hailing from Atlanta, Georgia in the United States, performs with Arnel. Widely acclaimed to be one of the most talented young acts today, their recently released hit song “Borders and Fences” and their controversial current hit song and video “Worlds Away” are being featured on music broadcast and video outlets throughout Asia. Shortly after this concert, Arnel returns with Journey for their highly anticipated US tour.
Sanre Entertainment is bringing its 21st Century approach to providing world-class entertainment to everywhere and beyond. Sanre, its affiliates and subsidiaries have become a major force in the music and entertainment industry with offices in the North America and Asia. This is just the beginning of Sanre’s commitment to streaming entertainment. It intends to produce numerous concerts yearly for global streaming.  
This is the beginning of something very big for the future of music, not only in Asia, but everywhere and beyond. This is where the excitement revolving around Arnel’s upcoming streaming concert comes from.
Tickets to Arnel Pineda Live in Manila Voyage to Rockville are now available at TicketWorld hotlines/outlets: 02 (891-9999) 0917 (5506997) 0999 (954-5922) www.ticketworld.com.ph,  www.namesakerock.com, www.imagenrecords.com,  www.sanreentertainment.com.
 
HOW ABOUT MEGASTAR SHARON? Kris Aquino’s much-loved talk show, KrisTV, airs for the last time on March 23, 2016. This is in connection with her decision to take a three-month leave from ABS-CBN for health and family reasons. She will use the hiatus for wellness and travels with sons Joshua and Bimby.
The buzz is Karla Estrada, who just signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN, will take over her vacated timeslot starting March 21. But the network has not made any announcement to this effect. Karla herself is not convinced about this as she knows she is incapable to taking over the “big shoes” Kris will vacate.
This also shows that work conditions at ABS-CBN are certainly demanding following a spate of recent heart-related deaths of network employees. Such a situation involves personal choices, but the network appears ready to give way to employees who make the stand for wellness.
How about Megastar Sharon Cuneta subbing for Kris?
BTW, talent coordinator extraordinaire Cornelia “Angge” Lee has been brain dead at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center where she was rushed for a heart-related affliction. She has been put on a 72-hour monitoring period after which her two children, along with Sylvia Sanchez, Smokey Manaloto and other talents, will decide the best alternative for her condition.
 
THE 'HELE' CHALLENGE STARTS MARCH 26. Have you watched any of Lav Diaz’s multi-hour cinematic masterpieces in black and white? Now is your chance with the eight-hour full-length feature Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis screening in selected cinemas starting March 26!
With Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz in the lead roles, Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis merges mainstream and indie actors in a cinematic mix of history, literature and mythology to unearth the burial spot of Andres Bonifacio.
Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis was selected to compete for the Golden Bear at the 66th Berlin International Film Festival. It won the Alfred Bauer Prize.
 
CREATIVE CAMPAIGN CHEATING. On March 6, Sunday, a motorcade of cars and fire trucks decked with balloons and  tarpaulins of Fifth District Councilors Joey Hizon II and Robert Ortega, who are seeking reelection, either blared sirens or honked horns on Apacible Street Paco, Manila. It definitely celebrated Fire Prevention Month, but also doubled as an election campaign. This is no less than creative cheating and the candidates involved do not deserve your vote!

HE SAID, SHE SAID AT MUSICAL HALL. RJ de la Fuente and Julianne Tarroja return in a very special leg of He Said, She Said on March 18 (Friday, 8:30 p.m.) at the Music Hall in Metrowalk, Pasig City.
RJ recorded Nonoy Zuniga’s “Never Say Goodbye,” which is part of the official soundtrack of TV-5’s Bakit Manipis Ang Ulap starring Cesar Montano, Diether Ocampo, Meg Imperial and Claudine Barretto. Julianne’s collaboration with Quest and Gab Valenciano for the song “Digmaan,” gave her the Best Collaboration Song at the 2015 MYX Awards. She recently released her second album, Ashes To Beauty, composed of original songs that try to speak to every woman’s heart.    
He Said, She Said is the very first mainstream concert series collaboration between RJ and Julianne, and the show offers the personal views and opinions of the two talented artists on love and relationships through a sampling of chart-topping love songs, anthemic “hugot” ballads and homegrown favorites. For ticket reservations call 0928-6134905 and/or 0915-3082308.
 

“The Oscars has become too expensive for ABS-CBN to broadcast,” Sky Cable Corp. chief operating officer March S. Ventosa replied when ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Media Relations head Aaron Domingo introduced us at SKY Alive and I asked why the Kapamilya network did not broadcast the last Academy Awards ceremony.
“We pay big money and promote it heavily and it is not on an exclusive basis so we decided not to broadcast. But SKY did carry it through HBO,” Ventoza added. SKY celebrated its 25th anniversary with the first and exclusive weekend theme park-inspired cable fair free for all its subscribers at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.
“It took a year to launch SKY Alive!” proudly revealed Domingo.
For sure, Sky Alive brings the world closer to Filipino families’ home. As part of the 25th year celebration, Sky Cable held a grand launch of Sky Direct. Participating channels included ABS-CBN HD, ABS-CBN Cable Channels, HBO, FOX, AXN, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Cartoon Network and RTL CBS Entertainment.
Divided into zones composed of the different participating channels and their top-rating shows, each showcase had interactive games, as well as art sessions, selfies with mascots and cosplayers and a replica of HBO’s iconic Game Of Thrones with a model as Daenerys Targayen at the iron throne.
Featuring games galore, AXN’s Cash Cab Philippines gave guests a chance to enter the actual Cash Cab and play the role of contestants of the only mobile game show in the country. For music enthusiasts, MYX channel allowed them to join the open karaoke booth, while RTC CBS had a mock recording studio where aspiring artists recorded their performances.
Aside from fun and games at the booths, participants got the chance to watch live performances by Kapamilya stars Erik Santos, Angeline Quinto, Morisette Amon, Jed Madela, Jason Dy, Tippy Dos Santos, Sharlene San Pedro, Jairus Aquino, Darren Espanto and Juan Karlos Labajo. It’s Showtime’s Hashtags also performed.
Ventoza took over SKY when ex-head Carlo Katigbak assumed the role as ABS-CBN president and CEO. With Charo Santos accompanied by granddaughters Julia and Thalia, they inaugurated the two-day event organized like a festive fair.
As the innovator of the national cable industry offering great value for money, it currently holds the leader position. To give subscribers more reasons to celebrate, it opens once again over 190 of its cable channels for free until tomorrow, March 20 (Sunday). “We always offer more for them,” Ventosa shared.
Sky Direct is a prepaid subscription package that allows subscribers from non-franchise area to enjoy the services of the company. They also plan to have more HD channels this year, noting that they will add at least 10 to 15 channels. As of now, they have 50 HD channels.
SMELLS LIKE TEEN SPIRIT. Made to believe that he was presenting an award, Ogie Alcasid was presented the evening’s highest award at MYX Music Awards 2016, The MYX Magna Award for his contribution to Original Pilipino Music after a massive showcase of his biggest hits, among them Jed Madela, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Jaya, Yeng Constantino, Kyla, Angeline Quinto, Jona, Matteo Guidicelli, Jay-R, Aicelle Santos and Top Suzara.
But the biggest twist of the night was the appearance of Charice. Wearing an oversized black hoodie with a tattered black slim fit jeans with her stylized blonde bob, she sang Nirvana’s “Smells like Teen Spirit” with Mayonnaise.
Aired live on MYX and online from the Kia Theater at Araneta Center in Quezon City recently, the MYX Music Awards presented a world-class show in striking-in-stripes motif complete with a red carpet and a celebrity corral reeking of youthful spirit.
Still reeling from the phenomenal success of the Nadine Samonte and James Reid starrer, On the Wings of Love, the lead actress was in seventh heaven after winning five awards. Nadine bagged the Favorite Female Artist and Favorite Artist awards, Favorite Song and Favorite Music Video awards for her single “Me and You” and Favorite Collaboration for her duet with James in “Hanap Hanap.” Kyla won Favorite Remake for “On The Wings of Love” and Favorite Media Soundtrack also for “On The Wings of Love.”
Other winners were:
Favorite Male Artist: Darren Espanto
Favorite Group: Silent Sanctuary
Favorite Mellow Video: “Dance Without the Music” by Yeng Constantino, Directed by Cristhian Escolano
Favorite Rock Video: “Firepower” by Bamboo, Directed by Paolo Valenciano
Favorite Urban Video: “Diwata” by Abra feat. Chito Miranda, directed by Marco Gatchalian and Mark Ginolos
Favorite New Artist: Jason Dy
Favorite Collaboration: “Hanap Hanap” by James Reid and Nadine Lustre
Favorite Guest Appearance In A Music Video: Alden Richards for “Kapangyarihan ng Pag-ibig” by Aicelle Santos
Favorite International Video: “Bad Blood” by Taylor Swift
Favorite MYX Celebrity VJ: Darren Espanto
Best Music Video: “Cerberus” by Abra feat. Loonie and Ron Henley, Directed by Willian Rivera
Myx Blogger Award: Sunny Ki.
TLC AT TULONG CENTER CELEBRATION. With TLC (Teaching, Learning, Caring). The ABS-CBN Tulong Center of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. (ALKFI) adhered to its mission of extending assistance to Kapamilyas in various ways to celebrate its second anniversary,
For the entire day of the celebrations, the center gave free medical consultation, medicine distribution, dental services, reading glasses distribution, legal consultation with “Ipaglaban Mo,” storytelling with Jolina Magdangal and Sarah Lahbati, and a feeding program at the Sacred Heart Parish in Old Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The day of activities was opened welcome remarks by Fr. Tito Caluag, head of ABS-CBN Integrated Public Service, and Robi Domingo hosting. Adding fun and treats for Kapamilyas were a number of special raffles, games and a fun karaoke contest.
Martin Nievera livened up the crowd even more while the love teams of Loisa Andalio and Joshua Garcia, together with Miles Ocampo and Inigo Pascual rendered special song numbers. They also helped serve food and distribute medicines to Kapamilyas.
The Boto Mo Patrol Mo team was also present to show support for the advocacies of the center.
“In 2016, we hope to continue to help our Kapamilyas and further improve all the services being offered at Tulong Center,” according to Higino Dungo Jr., head of ABS-CBN Public Service Group.
For more information on how to get help and help the ABS-CBN Tulong Center, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tulongcenter or call 4141296/4145431. You may also e-mail them at Tulongcenter@abs-cbn.com.
 
 

“Nakakabit pa ang pusod niya nu’ng siya ay matagpuan sa simbahan ng Jaro,” Susan Roces described the circumstances in graphic terms when Sayong Militar discovered a baby girl swaddled in bloodied cloth in the marble font of Iloilo’s Jaro Metropolitan Cathedral in September 1968.
As fate would have it, foundlings are assigned the lowest rank among abandoned children, but many of them spend their lives creating their own lofty destinies that providence seems to have surreptitiously assigned to them.
A Pharaoh’s daughter brought Moses to the palace as a foundling from the Nile River, raised him as an Egyptian prince who would eventually lead the Exodus of the Israelites across the Red Sea. Turning into a religious leader and lawgiver, God revealed to him the Torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Scriptures.
The rise of humanitarianism made the care of foundlings acceptable to minimize infanticide or their abandonment due to illegitimacy, unwanted pregnancy, psychological incapacity, or poverty.
Vaguely resembling Moses’ from foundling to forerunner role, the parish priest named the child at Jaro Cathedral Mary Grace as a sign of God’s kindness. Iloilo Archbishop Jaime Sin officiated her baptism. Tessie Ledesma Valencia was among her godmothers.
Born and raised in Bacolod, Negros Occidental, the unmarried Tessie was an orphan who later inherited a sugarcane plantation in Bacolod.Hard up, Sayong decided to pass on Grace to her Ninang Tessie.
Fascinated by a different business — show business, particularly local movies and their stars — Tessie had always been a big fan of Susan, the Queen of Philippine Movies at her prime. As national president of her fan club, Tessie lavished her idol with expensive gifts and even threw big parties for her.
The fan and the idol soon became intimate friends. Tessie served as veil sponsor at Susan’s wedding to the King of Philippine Movies, Fernando Poe Jr., on Dec. 25, 1968. By then, she had brought Grace on frequent trips between Bacolod and Manila, and often stayed at the Greenhills, San Juan residence of Susan and Ronnie, FPJ’s nickname.
Unqualified to adopt Grace legally and about to migrate to the US, Tessie asked Susan if she and Ronnie would be interested in keeping Grace. Susan, then a new bride, was nitially hesitant to accept the offer, but Ronnie had fallen in love with Grace, saying, “Bakit pa? Andito na siya (pointing to his heart).”
But someone else began this story to spin. Sayong was also hesitant to let the famous couple adopt Grace as she was unfamiliar with them. Another Ilonggo, Arch. Sin, moved the story ahead. His Excellency assured Sayong that Grace would get the best care from the famous couple. Sayong listened and gave her consent.
Grace could very well be the offspring Ronnie and Susan did not still have. Married around the time Grace was found, the loving couple considered adoption as a quick solution, but it took some time due to legal requirements.
Ronnie and Susan treated Grace as their own child. Calling Ronnie “Papa,” she immediately was Papa’s Girl. She would visit him, with Susan bringing her to the set, when shoots took several days on end.
Ronnie found simple but immense happiness and comfort carrying Grace in his arms. He showed his fondness for his beautiful and precocious daughter who instantaneously made him smile.
Having consciously recognized her parents were film stars, Grace as a kid wanted to appear in the movies with her Papa. She would beg him for a small part. Her wish was fulfilled when she had a bit role in Ronnie’s action war drama, Dugo ng Bayan (1973).
As Roman Santiago, assassin of Japanese military personnel, Ronnie asks the five-year old Grace sitting on the concrete steps of Kikong Tuko’s (Paquito Diaz) hideout for his whereabouts. She gets to say, “Andoon,” and points to his direction. The little girl stretches out both her arm to Roman, signaling him to carry her. The man readily accommodates.
Grace finally found a home in 1975 when she was legally adopted by the showbiz royal couple. But at seven, she was rudely awakened to being a foundling.
After considering several schools, Grace decided to take her elementary grades at Saint Paul College  Pasig. Her classmates there beat her to a disclosure about her foundling status and often taunted her: “‘Ampon ka lang, hindi ka tunay na anak,’” Grace recalled.
At 11, she played a minor role in her Papa’s film, Durugin si Totoy Bato (1979). As Bonding, the daughter of Paquito’s ex-boxer character, she works as a weaver in the blind father’s rattan chair cottage industry. She has speaking lines with Julie Vega, the decade’s biggest young star.
By then, she had made her adoptive parents her heroes. “Mahal nila ako unconditionally.”
But she identified more with her father. “Pinanonood ko ang nanay habang nagme-makeup. Ang ganda-ganda niya. Pero tapos pupunta ako kay Papa. Mas type kong kausapin... macho.”
Grace aspired for an acting career, but her Papa wanted her to finish her studies before entering show business. She eventually decided against acting as a career because of her parents’ stature and the possibility of failing in comparison. She wanted to be her own person, and the way to do that was to stay out.
When Grace wanted to enroll at the University of the Philippines, she asked her Ninang Marichu Maceda to get her Papa’s permission. She later decided to continue her undergraduate studies in the US.
Her independent-mindedness surfaced when she married US citizen Teodoro Misael “Neil” Llamanzares at 21 despite the objection of her Papa, who wanted her to build a career for her before settling down. She had her way and migrated to America.
But when her Papa ran for President in 2004, Grace came home to help in the campaign. Becoming more involved when he was cheated, she joined the conveners of Kontra Daya versus electoral fraud in the 2010 elections. Finally entering show business in a different way, she went into public service by accepting the chairmanship of the Movie and Television Regulation and Classification Board.
Then the founding realized what British politician/writer Benjamin Disraeli called “a settled purpose.”

EASTER AT HARD ROCK CAFÉ. Celebrate Easter with the whole family at Hard Rock Café (and enjoy its exciting lineup of events from lunch to evening. Feast on the best sampling of Filipino, Asian, Continental and American cuisines in HRC’s fabulous lunch buffet for adults and kids. Kiddies can participate in HRC’s annual Easter egg hunt and magic show and win amazing prizes. In the evening, Part 3 will dish out live the best of classic rock. Hard rockers can look forward to an evening of great music as Part 3 performs a combination of classic rock ballads, homegrown favorites, chart-toppers and party anthems. Part 3’s performance starts at 9 p.m.

A gown designed by Joyce Pilarsky was worn by 17-year-old singer Diamond White of The X Factor, and the revealing creation made it to The Post’s “Red carpet rundown: The 10 best dressed at the Grammy Awards” at the 58th annual Grammy Awards.
Others in the list were Ellie Goulding, who looked stunning in a Stella McCartney. The baby pink gown fit her perfectly and was played up with a statement necklace.
Florence Welch is known for taking some risks on the red carpet, and the Gucci dress she wore was made for the purpose.
Selena Gomez, the “Hands to Myself” singer, looked amazing in a Calvin Klein dress. The cut-outs on the side perfectly showed off her figure.
Adele looked beautiful in a Givenchy gown that accentuated her waist.
Kacey Musgraves looked impeccable in an Armani Privé gown, textured in colors that seemed to fade into one another.
Chrissy Teigen wore an all-white gown that showed off her baby bump. The mother-to-be was glowing beside husband John Legend.
Ariana Grande received great attention in a Romona Keveza dress.
And Taylor Swift stunned in an Atelier Versace crop top and flowing skirt. The singer also flaunted a new, shorter haircut.
At the Armenian Educational Foundation’s 65th Anniversary Gala, on the other hand, Armenian American recording artist Maria Cozette who performed the National Anthems, “Adana,” and “Roses in ’99” also wore an attention grabber by Joyce Pilarsky.
And at the Dream Builders Project 3rd Annual A Brighter Future Charity event in Hollywood, American singer/actress Lauren Mayhew attended in a smashing Pilarsky gown.
BATAAN FREEDOM RUN. Relive history and help preserve the memory of our Filipino and American WWII heroes. Join the Bataan Freedom Run and trace the Death March route to commemorate Bataan Day on April 9.
Through an ultra marathon and a fun run, it will trace the original route that some 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers forced to walk from Mariveles, Bataan province, to Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac province, where Japanese troops held them as prisoners of war.
 With actors dressed up as Japanese soldiers to make the experience “realistic,” the Bataan Freedom Run will remember the heroism of soldiers who defended the Philippines during World War II, said Miguel Villareal, head of the Corporate and Consumer Relations Division of the Philippine Veterans Bank, organizer of the event.
The third year of the Bataan Freedom Run that organizers hope will attract 2,000 runners, running enthusiasts are invited to join the Freedom Run on April 9 and 10, which involves a 68.9-kilometer ultra marathon and a fun run open to adults, children and their four-legged pets.
The ultra marathon will begin on the night of April 9 in Mariveles, Bataan, and will pass through the towns of Orion, Limay and Pilar.
The runners then tackle Mount Samat where Dambana ng Kagitingan, a national shrine, is located. It will run alongside a torch relay involving Bataan students, and will end in Balanga.
The fun run will begin on April 10, with 10-kilometer and five-kilometer categories for adults, one kilometer for children and a 500-meter division for family pets. Hydration and medical aid stations will be set up every 10 kilometer.
“We want to make this a family activity so that every Filipino may remember what happened during the Death March, and our heroes who perished there,” Villareal explained.
“It’s about time that our generation believes that there are still heroes, and that we can be heroes. We have to rise to the occasion. Remember, we were the last to surrender to the Japanese,” he added.
Proceeds from the P1,000 registration fee will be used to restore World War II markers and shrines in Bataan, some of which have become worn over time. Online registration is at http://regonline.activeglobal.com/bataanfreedomrun2016.

CESAR DEFENDS SON DIEGO. Cesar Montano sent the following statement to Ginger Conejero of ABS-CBN News to defend son Diego Loyzaga, who was tagged in a mauling incident outside a posh club in Taguig City. Montano said that his “poor son” was wrongly being blamed for causing the “rumble.”
“Apparently, what happened was a small version of what we used to call back in the day, a rumble,” Montano said. “The moment it ignited, sa sobrang gulo at dami ng tao hindi mo na alam kung sino ang kakampi mo at sino kalaban mo.”
He admitted that Loyzaga and Lopez had a “misunderstanding” involving a girl inside the club, but managed to patch things up “like real gentlemen.”
“Then a few hours later this commotion broke out where (a) Lopez brother apparently got beaten up. Sa sobrang dami ng tao, you cannot name names except for the actor himself, my son Diego,” Montano said. “Eh, sino pa ituturo mo?”
“But the truth of the matter is, from the time this rumble took off, Diego, my son, was a few meters away where Lopez being was beaten up. Simultaneously, Diego was trying to protect himself from being hit by flying fists coming from different directions.”
He continued: “(Diego was) looking for a safe place, but unfortunately, he got punched in the nose. And before he even knew it, Diego’s face was covered with his own blood.”
“Yes, Diego was in the area where the commotion took place, but definitely not part of it. He was a victim, too. He got injured, and he has a medical certificate to prove it.” Montano summed up.

EXCITING ‘JOURNEY’ WITH MOCHA GIRLS. The all-female group Mocha Girls was formed about a decade ago. After several changes of members, the present line-up is composed of group leader Mocha Uson with Mae de la Cerna, Franz Fainsan, Seika Hashizume and Georgina Knight. The sexy Mocha Girls endorses Robust Extreme, an all-natural dietary supplement for men that enables them to boost their performance during intimate activities. Take one to two capsules of Robust Extreme preferably with warm water, one to two hours before intimate activity. Robust Extreme is not a medicinal drug and is not used to treat the symptoms of any disease.

Celebrity wife and mother, former talent manager and actress Jessica Rodriguez-Bunevacz is a woman of faith, tenacity, talent and resourcefulness.
Happily married to triathlete and businessman David Bunevacz for 15 years now and blessed with three lovely children, Jessica migrated with her family to the US under painful circumstances many years ago. But as they say, you can’t put a good (wo)man down!

Jessica is a brand new author of a self-help book called Date Like a Girl, Marry Like A Woman: The Polished Woman’s Guide to Love, Romance and Sex. The book has just been released online and can be purchased at amazon.com. Jessica is preparing for a bigger launch soon!
She found good use of all her complex life experiences by writing them down, and thereby proving to everyone that indeed, even the wildest of our dreams can become a reality. Date Like A Girl, Marry Like a Woman is such resounding proof of victory for this lady.
“I will be the first person to tell you that I never thought it was in me to write, much less author an entire book! Since we resided in California, I have been in search of my real purpose. My relationships are always the best part of my life and I found I had it in me to inspire people, and actually give them sound advice about love and life. So, I learned to write. And then I found my purpose. I hope people will enjoy reading this book as much as I had enjoyed writing it and sharing my life in the process,” Jessica says of her new book,
Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman’s Guide to Love, Romance, and Sex will help you navigate how to have a good time with “Mr. Right Now” and how to hold onto “Mr. Right” once you find him.
Providing a mix easy-to-follow rules and anecdotes showcasing how they worked (and in some cases what happened when they were ignored), Jessica is the best friend you’ll wish you had all along and the one whose advice you’ll go back to again and again. It never asks a woman to shy away from her impulses or to hide who she is or what she wants, and instead celebrates her independence and sensuality while showing her ways that she can make her romantic life more fulfilling.
Her book is about shedding your insecurities, and offers insight on looking, feeling, and being your best, with an emphasis on having your own life. Additionally, this is the book you’ll come back to even after you say “I do” to your man. Understanding that happily ever after may be a good way to end a movie, but isn’t a good way to start a marriage. You can find real tips about everything from friendship to sex to finances with both humor and heart.
Ultimately Date Like a Girl, Marry Like a Woman: The Polished Woman’s Guide to Love, Romance, and Sex is a work that is meant to transcend beyond the pages as it’s lessons are applied in daily life.
You can purchase your online copy now at amazon.com.

LET ARNEL TAKE YOU DOWN TO A VOYAGE TO ROCKVILLE. The Beatles Sang about taking you down to Strawberry Fields, Led Zepplin to Stairway to Heaven, and now Arnel Pineda wants to a Voyage to Rockville. A place where you don’t just experience the music, you live it!
“Rockville was an idea I’ve had for a long time,” Arnel said during an interview at the Marriott Resorts World Manila, where he will be performing a streaming concert to an anticipated full house on April 5th. “Rockville is where music isn’t just a part of your life or something that you listen to. It is life.”

The concert titled Voyage to Rockville is the creation of Arnel Pineda, lead singer of the iconic rock band Journey, and  Rene Walter of Sanre Entertainment who has represented Arnel for more than 5 years.
“Arnel mentioned Rockville practically the first time we met,” Rene said. “At first, it seemed hard to define, but when you’re dedicated to music and to making music a powerful tool for good, we finally got it.”
“Rockville, isn’t yet on any map. It’s located in our heart, our mind, our soul. It’s where music takes us and lifts our spirits. It’s a place that “exists everywhere that there’s music,” says Pineda. “If you love music, you already live in Rockville.” In fact, this dynamic duo hopes soon to create a place where all can go to find Peace, Hope and Love thru Music.”  
Arnel will be headlining the concert at  the Newport Performing Arts Theater at Resorts World Manila, along with the new American sensation, Namesake. Namesake will soon be touring Asia in conjunction with the release of their hit songs Borders and Fences and Worlds Away.
Outlets of MTV in Asia have had top 10 chartings of their controversial video Worlds Away. Also very special guest, 2016 Grammy Award nominee for best live performance, drummer Morgan Rose will be performing. This is the first of many streaming events for Sanre Streaming, a new division of Sanre Entertainment Worldwide.
“Voyage to Rockville” is the perfect launch of our new streaming concert division,” said Rene.  “Sanre Streaming will take millions of people on voyages to places to locations and events they may never have gotten to see.”
Sanre Entertainment in affiliation with Sanre Streaming plan more than 30 streaming concerts or events per year featuring shows from Resorts World Manila, Studio City Macau as well as from unique and exotic locations from around the world.  
“We want everyone to take this Voyage with us to everywhere and beyond,” “Once they get there, I’m pretty sure they’ll stay!” Says Arnel and Rene. For more information go to www.sanrestreaming.com.

RICHARD GUTIERREZ AS ANG PANDAY. TV5’s new action series, Ang Panday, with Richard Gutierrez taking the iconic title role with the unheard programming move to broadcast three times on weekdays and to replay them weekday afternoons, moves are definitely high risks.
It cannot broadcast regularly at night because of the network’s airing of the Philippine Basketball Association games. This greatly diminishes the suspense aspect of nightly series as it does not encourage regular viewing.
Afternoon replays are also not ratings-friendly as it actually divides viewership. They decrease ratings. Regardless of Ang Panday’s production values, it cannot be expected to rate high especially TV5 stays as the third viewing option of viewers. Did you notice how it is overscored to the point of irritation?
This is unfair to Richard as Ang Panday marks his television comeback most especially to viewers forced to follow it under a confusing timeslot. Given the choice whether to watch the original play or replay, I project many will opt not to watch at all.

“Si Nova (Villa) talaga ang inspirasyon ko. May sarili akong style (as a comedienne). ‘Yun ang sibusubukan kong gawin,” Karla Estrada said when Buzzstation asked the cast of Funny Ka, Pare Ko, the first locally produced content exclusively on Cine Mo! channel, to name their favorite comedians.
You see, Diego of Crazy Duo said the cast will try to bring back to life the comedians of the past who had passed away. Both he and Bayani Agbayani chose Dolphy; Jayson Gainza picked Babalu; Ryan Rems named Sammy Lagmay; Beverly Salviejo liked Chichay; and it was Chiquito for Mar Lopez.
Funny Ka, Pare Ko is a TV series with mixed situational and stand-up comedy formats aired on Cine Mo!, an exclusive channel of ABS-CBN TV Plus. It is the first local television program to be produced and aired on a digital TV-exclusive channel in the Philippines. The program airs every Sunday from 7 to 8 p.m. (PST) starting April 3 as directed by Jon Red.
Funny Ka, Pare Ko is set entirely in a small barangay where Bigboy Delyon (Bayani) and wife Carlita (Karla) manage a karinderia given to them by Lolo-Boy (Mar), who forgot he pawned it for P200,000. To save it, husband and wife decide to convert it into an entertainment hub at night. Family and community issues get resolved frequently with fun and the unavoidable mishaps.
As revealed by head of ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Media Relations Aaron Domingo, who hosted the special launch-cum-screening last week, it was ABS-CBN chief operating officer Cory Vidanes who hand-picked the cast of Funny Ka, Pare Ko.
Top-billed by Bayani, Karla and Jayson, the series features It’s Showtime’s segment “Funny One” grand champion Ryan Rems, popularly known with his catch phrase “Rakenrol to the world,” and finalists Nonong Ballinan, No Direction (Steven, Sadam and Bangkay) and Crazy Duo (Diego and Gedent). 
Karla, who recently signed a two-year exclusive contract with ABS-CBN, is largely known as an actress and singer. Films and television shows in which she has starred in include Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita? and Maricris Sioson: Japayuki. She starred as supporting role in the series Kailangan Ko’y Ikaw.
Being the mother of popular celebrity Daniel Padilla gave her the title of “Queen Mother.” When she was 19, she gave birth to Daniel, her son by Rommel Padilla, who was not present at his birth. She brought Daniel to see his father in prison three years later. She had three more children, Jose Carlito, Margaret and Carmella from different fathers. 
Being part of the Kapamilya network has expanded Karla’s entertainment range to include hosting and its most important expansion — comedy — which is a natural talent brought about her approach to laugh off real life’s hardships through jokes.
As such, her immediate audience was her young children that allowed her to hone her skills for comedy and let them grow up normally in their dysfunctional circumstances.
This genius showed up naturally during the launch where she threw unscripted one-liners and situationers that made her co-stars and the audience including this hard-to-please writer guffaw quite liberally. She is a one-woman comedy machine, an outstanding discovery, I must opine.
Bayani returns to ABS-CBN after a seven-year absence. But Funny Ka, Pare Ko is not his return show as he has appeared in Kapamilya shows including It’s Showtime’s segment Funny One. But this must not be a non-issue as Cine Mo! is an ABS-CBN format.
Its first episode was previewed during the launch that easily showed that it is an ABS-CBN-quality show and no quickie. The opening sequence, an entertaining spoof of the “misteryosong black box” TVC featuring the cast and revolving around the subject of the adobo impressed that it has the ambition to be a viewer-pleaser.
Cine Mo! was introduced exclusively on ABS-CBN TVplus “mahiwagang black box.” Its newest sitcom will be shown alongside all the other movie offers of wide range of action, comedy and horror movies, both local and foreign.
To enjoy more of Cine Mo! (Sky Cable, Destiny Cable), ABS-CBN TVplus) and other ABS-CBN TVplus’ exclusive channels, avail the “mahiwagang black box” on different selling branches like SM Appliance Center, 2Go Express, Abenson, Puregold branches, PC Express, Silicon Valley Outlets and other stores around Metro Manila and Luzon. 
You may also order ABS-CBN TVplus at the ease of your own home! You may order online through the website www.abs-cbnstore.com and you may also text through 23661 or call 488-8888.

WHAT TO DO WHEN FLIGHT IS DELAYED IN ILOILO. Frequent flyer and multimedia artist/educator Elvert Banares posted this photo on his Facebook account with the caption: “I applied as maintenance and got hired. Wrote a letter, prepared my biodata, submitted it, called for interview, passed my interview... and now officially cleaning the airport. Better be useful during flight delays. Thank you PAL for hiring me.” This is no prank. Elvert really took the initiative to sweep the littered terminal of his home province.

EASY AND EFFORTLESS WAY TO BEAUTIFUL SKIN. Every day, our cells take on a battle against free radicals, which are created by different stressors around us. If we l just let these free radicals take over our healthy cells, the tendency is we get to have undernourished skin and we get more vulnerable to different kinds of diseases like colds, flu, other immunity-threatening diseases and even fatal ones like cancer, diabetes and heart problems.
Vita-E contains 400 IU (international units) of vitamin E, a known antioxidant that effectively protects the cells against free radicals and gives our skin a beautiful, youthful and effortless glow. Vita-E works from the inside, making you feel and look great. Not only it is essential in maintaining the functions of our heart, blood vessels and nervous system, Vita-E also gives all around protection for a healthy immune system.
Achieve beautiful skin you always wanted while you protect yourself from the harmful effects of free radicals with the help of Vita-E, recommended to be taken one capsule per day.

BUZZSTOPS! Boy George and Culture Club launches its comeback tour with a show at Araneta Coliseum on June 17 and 18!... Industry insiders think that marginal ticket sales was the cause of the cancellation of Tom Jones’ show at Araneta Coliseum and not the “serious family illness” as stated by the official explanation!... Pokwang admitted that she and American boyfriend Ryan Navarro have called it quits as caused by a third party!... Carol Banawa’s classic song “Bakit Di Totohanin” was used in one of the scenes of episode 716 of the hit US supernatural series Vampire Diaries featuring Elizabeth Blackmoore (Valerie) and Paul Wesley (Stefan)!... Filipino filmmakers Christian Lat’s Séjour, Emil Ray Alviz’s Maria, Allison Barretto’s Re-, Rod-Michael Tumbaga’s Neon, Khalil Joseph Bañares’ Hail The Queen, and Thop Nazareno’s Lope have been qualified in the Short Film Corner category of the Cannes International Film Festival on May 11 to 22.