2009 04/22-04/28

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

The Producers. All's well that ends well, and all smiles after the Reno 'Hearthrobs' concert are Nanette Labrador (representing Archie Mendiorro, one of the producers, of the Lighthouse Productions, not in photo), and co-producers, Dr. & Mrs. Espejo, Joanne and Joel de Leon. They were repeatedly called upon after the show by the event security to help handle the unruly fans who just won't leave hours after the show concluded, demanding autographs and photo ops with the Hearthrobs.

Got Milk? Not to be outdone, garbed in uniform black 'Got Milby' printed shirts, avid supporters of The Acoustic Hearthrob, Sam Milby traveled from New York, Seatlle, Florida and other faraway places to witness their idol square it off with Piolo Pascual and John Lloyd Cruz on Reno stage. Sam left for a flight to Texas at 4:00 am same morning. Whew!

THE AMAZONS IN RENO

(Or How The 'Heartthrobs' Rocked Reno)

I first spotted them lingering along the frontlines of the Stockton’s Bob Hope Theater, about a couple of years ago, when the Ultimate Heartthrob, Piolo Pascual and the Acoustic Heartthrob, Sam Milby were singing ‘Wherever You Will Go’ together on stage, during their very first US Tour. With hands raised seemingly like want to be rescued from hell, these women admirers of the two desperately try repeatedly to reach for the two and when they did successfully, groped, hugged and kissed them like it’s Beatlemania all over again.

Last Saturday, April 18^th, during the two Heartthrobs’ sold-out encore concert (this time with John Lloyd Cruz) in Reno, the event attracted again the wildest women admirers I have ever seen in my whole concert going life – I now call them The Amazons.

From the parking lot, they were running, racing to the Reno Events Center as if their whole life depended on this event. Gasping for breath, they shrieked to the top of their lungs upon a mere sight of the heartthrobs checking in at the Silver Legacy Hotel Lobby. The unison 8^th octave, decibel-record screaming startled other hotel guests and casino patrons initially thought there was some sort of fire-related commotion going on.

Needless to say, they were screaming to the top of their lungs during the entire numbers of all 3 heartthrobs. But the amazons made their biggest mark after the show, during the photo op and autograph signing, an hour or two after the show officially ended. They pulled Lerma De La Cruz’s hair because she was ‘on their way’ (oh my God!). After the security pulled out immediately the artists due to escalating barbaric acts, the amazons demanded loudly for their photos and autographs. They were not leaving the venue, as they say, until they get it. The artists were brought back again, in the signing venue, this time on top of the elevated stage for additional protection. It was reported that the lines were so long the lights had to be turned off forcibly in the venue just to end it.

The 3 heartthrobs are scheduled to be seen again at the Cow Palace on Sunday, June 28^th as part of the 44 or so other artists to be brought here by The Filipino Channel (TFC) for the Star Magic US Tour.

Incidentally, TFC celebrates its 15th anniversary as they unveil their “Dahil Tayo’y Filipino” new station ID which was launched last Sunday, April 19th in the Philippines ’ premier noontime musical variety ASAP ‘09.

ABS-CBN Global dedicates TFC’s new station ID to the Global Pinoys as part of its mission to empower and rekindle national pride in them. It underscores its commitment of providing the most innovative products and services to bring Pinoys overseas closer to home, making every kababayan also a kapamilya. “Dahil Tayo’y Filipino” is a reminder that ABS-CBN Global remains in the service of Filipinos wherever they may be.

A talented team brought this vision to life in TFC’s 15th anniversary station I.D. Joel Barquez, TFC’s head of on-air and broadcast design, was joined by Ariel Escasa and Fred Ferraz to capture in song ABS-CBN Global’s message of hope and encouragement. Awarded and experienced director Cholo Laurel led the team to make “Dahil Tayo’y Filipino” a testament to the strength of the Global Pinoys. The creative team headed by Beth Siojo and production team headed by Aileen Paredes joined forces in producing this inspired effort.

SEEN IN THE CITY

THE NUTSHACK FIRST SEASON DVD RELEASED NATIONWIDE

Featuring Never-Before-Seen Footages, Animatics, Creator Commentary,

“The Making of” Feature and Character Profiles

The Nutshack – the first ever animated TV series on Filipino Americans – is raising the comedy alert to red this April with the national release of its entire first season DVD through RNLG/E1 Entertainment, the leading and fastest-growing music and video distributor in the U.S.

Shown since 2007 on MYX®, the only Asian-American music and lifestyle channel available on Comcast ON DEMAND, Cox Digital Basic Cable, DIRECTV 2067, and RCN, The Nutshack has drawn a core audience to its adult-oriented themes that revolve around the irreverent adventures of two young Filipinos: Phil, a hip hop-loving San Francisco native, and his cousin, Jack, who just came straight from the Philippines. Living in the midst of poverty, homelessness, prostitution, drugs and alcohol in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, the two learn about life, love and diversity with the help of their extended family that includes their womanizing Uncle Dick, a porn-peddling Indian immigrant, a perennially stoned mechanic, and a transvestite Vietnamese who runs a beauty salon. There is also Chita, Phil’s best friend and surrogate conscience, and the object of Jack’s affection. And yes, the cousins have a sidekick: a robotic tarsier that was raised on MTV culture.

The result of this crazy combination of characters is a wickedly satirical series that is also wonderfully funny and full of heart.

Co-creators Ramon Lopez, also the Head of MYX® Program Development, and artist-animator Jesse Hernandez based the series’ concept on their past experiences with family and friends in the Tenderloin, at school and at work. “As funny and crazy as it appears, The Nutshack is solidly grounded on real experiences and stories,” said Hernandez. “At the heart of this cartoon series is genuine care and affection for the characters and what they represent.”

“While The Nutshack may be perceived as just a raunchy and vulgar cartoon - which it is - I think it still speaks to a huge segment of youth which is largely ignored,” said Lopez. “As a Filipino American growing up in the Bay Area, this is something that's been a long time coming as far as addressing cultural issues is concerned. RNLG/E1 and the MYX® channel have been great in supporting this project. It shows they have a keen eye and sense to see the underlying creative and business value in what initially appears as something just racy.”

Style-wise, the look of The Nutshack is a fusion of urban graffiti and anime, showing richly detailed and skewed backgrounds that are true to the urban settings the series depicts.

“RNLG and E1 Entertainment (formally KOCH Entertainment) were looking for cutting edge, daring, outside-of-the-box content to spearhead our urban DVD initiative,” said Bryan Robinson, Director of Business Affairs for RNLG Entertainment and Distribution. “The opportunity to distribute The Nutshack, which is a unique blend of the Boondocks, South Park, Beavis & Butthead, the Family Guy, with Ren & Stimpy Sprinkles on steroids, was one that we [RNLG/E1 Entertainment] could not pass up,” he said. “We are excited about the dynamic content that MYX® TV and the MYX Music Label are providing to RNLG/E1 Entertainment and we look forward to working with them for a long time.”

The Nutshack First Season DVD features minutes of never-before-seen material, animatics, commentaries, behind-the-scenes feature, interviews and character profiles. It is available in all major retail video outlets for the suggested real price of $19.98.

For more info, visit www.thenutshack.net and www.myx.tv.

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. Urges Residents of Northwestern USA to Join the Annual Homecoming for VIP’s

The Philippines ’ Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and the Department of Trade and Industry once again join hands for the organization of the annual Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors Tour (ACGTDT) of the Philippines .

Now on its 5th year, the ACGTDT is a promotional program that highlights the Philippines as a wholesome and attractive holiday destination which encourages North Americans to experience and enjoy the rich Philippine culture and the world-renowned Filipino hospitality.

The Basic Tour will run from July 11-14 and the Optional Post Tours will be on July 14-17, 2009. The delegation from San Francisco which is led by Consul General Marciano A. Paynor, Jr. will leave for the Philippines on July 9 via Philippine Airlines. The 3N/4D basic tour package covers programs and activities in Metro Manila and nearby Luzon destinations.

The cost of Basic Tour is only $1,595 which includes the roundtrip international ticket (SF-Mla-SF) via Philippine Airlines, 3-night accommodations, based on twin-sharing, at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati, daily buffet breakfast, daily lunch, a city tour of Metro Manila, and a welcome dinner with cultural show. This year’s welcome dinner will feature the world-renown Bayanihan Dance Troupe and the Banda Kawayan.

The highlight of the tour is an audience and a photo-opportunity with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, and a tour of Malacañang Palace and its museum. Also included in the tour are wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal monument, a farewell dinner with entertainment, airport amenities with transfers to and from the hotel and a choice of any of the following day tours to nearby tourist destinations, like Corregidor (history), Villa Escudero (countryside), Laguna Loop (artistry), or Taal/Tagaytay (nature).

After completing the Basic Tour in Metro Manila, participants may opt to avail of the post-basic tours for an additional fee. The destination choices include Cebu/Bohol (beach, culture, chocolate hills, tarsier), Aklan/Boracay (eco-tourism, beach, water sports), Puerto Princesa, Palawan (underground river, beach, eco-tourism, country-side), Baguio/La Union (mountainscape, arts and culture, beach, culinary), Banaue/Sagada, (mountainscape, tribal villages, culture), Laoag/Vigan (history, heritage, arts and culture, pilgrimage).

Like in the previous years, hundreds of participants are expected to join this year’s tour, and they will be introduced to the country’s leading tourist destinations, to niche products and activities like adventure, health and wellness, and entertainment. Interested participants will also have the option to learn more about potential areas for investments, livelihood, business and retirement.

The ACGTDT aims to promote the Philippines as a top-notch tourist destination to second and third generation Filipino-Americans not just as the homeland of their parents/grandparents, but as a tropical paradise where they may always feel at home; making them speak positively and promote vigorously the archipelagic wonder that they may call their own.

For registration and other information, please contact the Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in San Francisco at (415) 433-6666 ext. 314, Email sanfranciscopcg2004@yahoo.com or the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) in San Francisco at (415) 9564060, Email pdotsf@aol.com. Interested participants may log on to www.experiencephilippines.ph for more information.

PERSONAL NOTES

Happy n^th Birthday to George Ventura, the proud father of Bay-Area’s fast rising singer, Angel Georecha Ventura. We celebrated his milestone with his wife, Vivian, in advance at Max’s Fried Chicken Restaurant over the weekend and talked about his future shows featuring Angel.

All my hats are off to Mikki Libunao of Salon 775 Hair Salon of Reno, NV who got my full respect for his utmost professionalism and reliability in jumping in at a moment’s notice to be the personal and only Hair and Make Up person to Piolo Pascual, Sam Milby, John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo and Pokwang. When called upon last minute, Mikki asked, what can I do for you (and not what can I get out of this event). Mikki was very well appreciated by all the 5 artists during the Reno Heartthrobs show. For your hair and make-up needs, in Reno and the Bay-Area (Mikki travels to your location) please call Salon 775 Hair Salon at (775) 544-8348.

Lastly, belated happy birthday also to a very special someone who continues to stand by me through thick and thin, taking all the blows sometimes meant for me, without any qualms nor complaints. During these hard times, I may have lost it all - my material wealth and my fair-weather friends but the only one that matters, is right here beside me, day in and day out, for the last 20 years. You’re all I need. You are my motivation to go on living, to reach greater heights and aspirations. I am the luckiest person for having found you at an early age while other people take a lifetime to find theirs. I can’t anymore imagine my life waking up every morning without you by my side. Cheers to our longer life of togetherness!

This column appears online also at www.ManilaMailCommunityNews.blogspot.com

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com