2012 05/16-05/22

MANILA MAIL COMMUNITY

Boxing Champ Manny Pacquiao, photographed holding his souvenir copy of Manila Mail with him as headline, inside the Arclight Cinema minutes before the VIP screening of GMA Films' "The Road" last Wednesday, May 9, 2012. Photo by Richard C. Lao

Inching closer to the American Idol crown, Jessica Sanchez had an emotional homecoming last Saturday in San Diego, CA - her prize for being in the AI Top 3. The visit, filmed for TV, will be shown this Wednesday night at 8PM on FOX. Vote for Jessica Sanchez for 2 hours non-stop (this Wednesday 10pm-12mn & Tuesday's Grand Finale on May 22 after the show)! Photo by Benny Uy

TV5's Derek Ramsay, now single, will be showing support (together with Aga Muhlach & Ruffa Gutierrez) when the country's most exciting network launches in the US via Wil Time Big Time shows in Los Angeles (5/26) & San Francisco (6/2).

"The Road" leadstars (L-R) Rhian Ramos, Marvin Agustin, Derrick Monasterio, Alden Richards with The Champ Manny Pacquiao, center, posed for red carpet photographers before the Hollywood screening.

"The Road" leadstar Alden Richards walked the Hollywood red carpet premiere of the movie, with San Jose's 16-year old High School student/model/blogger, Alexandra Drechsler.

Team Pacquiao's Doctor Dario Sunga, left, (as a call of duty, he asked The Boxing Champ, Manny Pacquiao, 2nd left, to leave the Hollywood Arclight theater in the middle of "The Road" screening last Tuesday night, when he heard someone coughing from behind him) at the blessing & inauguration last Sunday of BECKFORD MANOR Home Care Facility (located at 7045 Beckford Avenue, Reseda, CA 91335 ) with partners - Manuel Manglicmot, President of Starlight Medical Management (2nd right) & COO Jensley Fernandez (right). The Honorable Congressman Manny Pacquiao attended the event. Good luck, Beckford Manor!

Dioscoro Sarmenta of San Jose, CA celebrated her 100th birthday last May 6, 2012 held at Rudy & Zeny Segura's residence, food catering by Domi & Andy Custodio & blessing officiated by Father Michael Gazzingan. (L-R standing) Nellie Tagunan, Father Michael Gazzingan, Lily Erfe, Angelita Sarmenta & Romy Sarmenta. (L to R sitting) Conchita Ferrer, Dioscoro Sarmenta (celebrant), Zeny Segura & Puri Mendoza.

Maritess Tamondong Mendaros celebrated her recent birthday at their BlackHawk residence with a Hawaiian Luau-themed party, attended by family & close friends. Belated Happy Birthday, Tess!

Justin Smaby, left, celebrated his 17th birthday with a Justin Bieber-themed bowling party at the Strikes in Elk Grove, CA shown here with his Great Grandma Racquel Crisostomo & Aunt Vivian Foz (right). Belated Happy Birthday, Justin! Photo by Richard C. Lao

Another Pinoy Pride - Filipino-Swiss Marlon Stockinger won 2nd place (the First Filipino in the winners' Podium) at the Formula 1 First Round of the 2012 Catalunya GP3 Series last Saturday in Montmelo, Spain. An avid motor sports enthusiast, he has been racing since age 10. Congratulations, Marlon!

Pacquaio @ “The Road”

(Philippine history-making film gets a Hollywood red carpet VIP treatment)

SEEN IN THE CITY

(Los Angeles, CA) Manila Mail was again at the front/center of another milestone in Philippine movie history as GMA Films’ “The Road” becomes the very first Filipino movie to be treated with a Hollywood Red Carpet premiere & VIP screening at the Arclight Cinema in Los Angeles, CA last Wednesday, May 9, 2012. No less than the 8-Title World Boxing Champion Manny Pacquiao graced the event, in addition to the major stars of GMA Films horror film – Rhian Ramos, Marvin Agustin, Alden Richards & Derrick Monasterio. Seen also walking the red carpet are Director Yam Laranas, GMA Films President Anna Teresa “Annette” Gozon-Abrogar, Freestyle President Susan Jackson and Co-President Mark Borde, GMA Films Project Director Joey Abacan, TV Host Tim Yap, GMA Entertainment TV Asst. Vice President Redgie Magno, MTRCB Chair Grace Poe-Llamanzares, GMA Entertainment TV Vice President Marivin Arayata, Beauty Doctor Vicky Belo & her team composed of Elize Estrada, Dorothy Espiritu & Marife Mordido.

Manila Mail also attended “The Road” press conference a day before the red carpet premiere held at the Barrio Fiesta Restaurant in Glendale, Los Angeles, as coordinated by US-based Jush Andowitt & Philippine-based Angel Javier-Cruz. Present in the press con are lead stars Rhian Ramos & Derrick Monasterio with Director Yam Laranas, President Annette Gozon-Abrogar & Mark Boder.

“The Road” is wide-released in the US through the efforts of Mark Borde, Co-President of the Los Angeles-based film distribution company Freestyle Releasing. The film’s US publicity & promotions was handled by Santa Monica-based Prodigy Public Relations.

In addition to the U.S., reports have it that “The Road” will be shown also in Singapore starting May 15.

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY

Derek Ramsay, Aga Muhlach & Ruffa Gutierrez @ WTBT/TV5 Launch

There are 3 more reasons to watch Wil Time Big Time / TV5 Launch at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA on May 26 – Derek Ramsay, Aga Muhlach & Ruffa Gutierrez are scheduled to grace the event to show their full support to the network’s campaign to secure massive amount of subscribers in the US. The whole group will also proceed to the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium in downtown San Francisco for a second show on Saturday, June 02, 2012. An insider whispered to this Columnist that the Philippine’s most famous TV Noontime Show host, Willie Revillame has prepared very lavish production numbers for both the LA & SF shows. In addition, it was confirmed that the TV host with the most, will be giving away houses & lots in the Philippines to lucky show attendees who will be chosen to participate (and win, of course!) in the show’s games in both LA & SF. So, grab your tickets now! Call 1-855-KAPATID or buy online at www.TicketMaster.com

Briefs & Shorts

The annual “Kaisahan” Santacruzan is happening this Saturday, 12 noon starting at The Hoover Theater in San Jose, CA. Sagalas & escorts scheduled to grace the event are TFC’s Keesa Ocampo, Alexandra Drechsler, Hannah Muntoya, Kerlyn Horn, Ronamae Panganiban, Elizarica Anderson, Richard Lao, Justin Smaby, Jesse Perkins, Christian Perkins, Leo Reyes, Julius Calvin Santos, among others. The Santacruzan will be followed by eating, singing, cultural dancing and a lot more, so be there!

Jessica Sanchez of San Diego, CA is only a couple of steps closer to being the very first Filipina to win American Idol as she entered the competition’s coveted Top 3 spot last week. She arrived via a chartered helicopter to a heavily-attended homecoming celebration last Saturday as she visited her school and hometown, singing songs that landed her the coveted spot on AI’s Top 3.

Belated Happy Birthdays to BlackHawk’s Maritess Mendaros (May 3), Brentwood’s Ricky Masiddo, DDS (May 4) & Sacramento’s Justin Smaby (May 11)!

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Guys we truly appreciate all your concerns. Even though Angel (Angelica Panganiban – his now ex-girlfriend) and I are no longer together we still have the utmost respect for one another. There was no wasted time. I loved every minute we had together. ” – twitted TV5’s Newest Contract Star Derek Ramsay. Yup, girls – he is available!

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