2013 01/18-01/24

American Idol Top 2 Finalist Jessica Sanchez lines up 2013 solo concerts in Manila, Philippines, Los Angeles, CA and Reno, NV (shown here with this Columnist during her last year's group concert at HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA).

JESSICA SANCHEZ

IN SOLO CONCERTS

TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY

(SAN FRANCISCO) – American Idol Season 11 almost-winner, Filipina-Mexican American Jessica Sanchez is performing at the 16,500 seating capacity Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila, her first solo concert, on Thursday, February 14, 2013 as confirmed by Ovation Productions Producer Renen De Guia’s postings on his Facebook page. Yes, it’s a Valentine’s Day mega event and Jessica will be singing beautiful love songs together with her fellow American Idol Finalist, Colton Dixon.

Jessica is currently signed under Interscope Records. According to MTV, Jessica had just finished her to-be-titled 16-track album and is preparing to drop her debut single (a duet with Ne-Yo, one of the producers and collaborators) next month.

Furthermore, she is scheduled to appear regularly on the forthcoming summer episodes of ‘Glee’ on Fox channel where she will play a recurring role. The 17-year old from Chula Vista, CA has not acted in TV before. In preparation for her acting debut, she had watched past episodes of ‘Glee’ and has begun taking formal acting lessons.

After her initial solo concert in Manila, Jessica is slated to perform next at the 6,300 capacity landmark - The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Saturday March 2, 2013.

Jessica is then scheduled to entertain her Northwest fans at the 7,500 capacity The Events Center in Reno, NV on Saturday, March 30th, 2013.

This article also appears online at www.BradfordAdkins.com, www.ScenesInTheCity.com, www.PinoyEntertainment.us and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 160 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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Marx Canoy, a Filipino Australian from Sydney is the author of a well packaged cookbook titled "FOOD FEAST," featuring fusion Filipino cuisine inspired by the colors and beauty of the Philippines. Marx is the Sous Chef at Vibe Rushcutters Bay (winner, Midscale Hotel, 2011 HM Awards). He was previously Senior Chef de Partie at Sofitel Hotel and IHG Holiday Inn. He was formerly Head Chef in a number of Sydney Restaurants. Curently, he is the Events Chef at ANZ Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park.

Marx also worked as a Fresh Produce Manager for three (3) years at Coles Myer while studying Retail Management at Coles Myer University.

Having cooked for Australia’s local celebrities and politicians, Marx’s dishes have also been served in front of world-famous actors, artists and even royalty.

Despite all his culinary achievements, he considers among his career highlights the time he prepared food for approximately 2,000 people in the Philippines during his Thanksgiving and Homecoming Party in 2011.

Respected Bay Area-based Journalist Charito C. Benipayo, left, of ISLANDERS TV, with husband Romy.

Stand Up Comedian Rey Kilay performs with Vivorah La Vivorah (not in photo) @ Tokyo ShabuSushi Restaurant, Karaoke & Comedy Bar (located at 3044 Hilltop Mall Road, Richmond, CA 94806) this Friday and Saturday, January 18 and 19, respectively. Please make your reservation now @ (510) 222-3686.

Congratulations Fil-American Kristina Bryant of Miami, Florida for being in the Top 20 Miss California-USA (pageant was held last Sunday at the Pasadena Civic Center). Miss Bryant is the reigning 2012 Miss Philippines-USA (pageant she competed and won in Los Angeles previously).

Jun Aguilar of Vintage Plus Dance Band (regularly performs at Newark Hilton & Zens Filipino Cuisine in Hayward) is opening "EASTWOOD LOUNGE" on Friday, February 1, 2013. The new club and restaurant is located at 10 Hegenberger Road in Oakland, CA (towards the Oakland International Airport). Mr. Aguilar was a performer, movie & tv personality (a regular at the late Ike Lozadas TV show) of the 70's with Geraldine & Rhodora Silva as his love team partners.

Belated Happy Birthday, Malou Hipolito of San Rafael, CA who celebrated with family and friends last Sunday, January 12th at Union City and the following day at the movies and Karilagan Filipino Cuisine.

Belated Happy Birthday, Scharvette Mendones, left, who turned 18 last Saturday, January 12, 2013 and was feted with a lavish Black and White-themed Debutant Party in Union City, CA (shown here with good friendTateetz Palomo of San Rafael).

Belated Happy Birthday, Micah Saepahn, 9 (leftmost), Zeke Saephan, 2 (2nd right; shown here with friend Arielle, 2nd left), and Justeis Saephan, 11 (rightmost) who had a joint party celebration last Saturday in Fairfield, CA tendered by parents San Pablo-based Valerie Ventura-Saephan and Kao Saephan.

Congratulations, Alexandra Drechsler of San Jose, CA for being recently officially named as EDITOR-IN-CHIEF of her High School Yearbook! Knowing early in life that there is no shortcut to success but hardwork is the surest thing to get there, this Junior High full-time student, aside from being the reigning 2013 Miss Teen San Jose and runway model, also writes for 3 websites (www.TheAlexReviews.com; www.thirdworldindiefilmfest.blogspot.com and her own school's online mag www.prep2prep.com). Alexandra is making her parents - Ralph and Elizabeth Drechsler very proud.

A Community Prayer was held recently at the site of the Mount of Divine Mercy in Sunol, CA by supporters: (sitting down from L-R) Norma Acaba, Clara de Leon, Thelma Orias; (standing L-R) Tom, Anito Acaba, Brigida Natividad, Faye Magpayo, Tessie Miyamoto, Edith, Debbie Leoncio and Richard Lao.

A GLIMPSE OF THE ISLANDERS TV THROUGH THE YEARS

SEEN IN THE CITY

(Alameda, CA) Charito C. Benipayo who is a native of the big island, the Philippines ,settled in toney City of Alameda when she and her husband Romy and their children migrated in America in 1969. Since then she has adopted Alameda as a second island in her life so when she created her own television production, she called it, “THE ISLANDERS TV“.

As a retired veteran educator, a writer and a poet , Charito has dreamed of getting into broadcasting for so many years even while teaching before her retirement, so that when the opportunity to produce a talk show appeared in the city of Alameda, she immediately signed up, gathered her own television volunteer crew and created “THE ISLANDERS TV” without hesitation. She has dreamed of becoming the next Filipino American “Oprah Winfrey”. Her forte was in connective interviews with guests who brought clout and solutions to issues affecting the citizenry and advocates and community leaders who often privy to exposure. And that’s the beginning of 18 years love affair with this community access programming. Production crew dipped and swayed in varying sizes, though maintaining a crew of 6-8 as permanent. At one point Benipayo managed first second strings of crew to contact. As executive producer/host as well as a script writer for the program, Benipayo continued to maintain THE ISLANDERS excellence in programming despite some crew changes and studio restructuring, thusly for the past three year after the Alameda studio has closed down, the show was transferred to Hayward Chabot College Television studio.

THE ISLANDERS TV sells itself significantly , after all it’s been a household name in the community for almost 2 decades now. And with a labor of love from everyone who volunteers , this production continued to enjoy community relations throughout the Bay Area.

As a community access production, THE ISLANDERS TV relies mainly on local volunteers from high school and college students to retired professionals. Since its inception, a total of more than 200 volunteers have made their way to THE ISLANDERS TV with energy and excitement.

THE ISLANDERS has enjoyed various interviews with local and mainstream public officials, senators, mayors, councilmembers, congressmen, chief of police and many other luminary visits from VIPs from the Philippines, including past presidents, Fidel Ramos, Joseph Estrada, Gloria M. Arroyo and the current president Benigno Aquino III , not excluding some Philippine actors and actresses, as well as with local community leaders and talents like visits of ABS-CBN Blockbuster Soap Opera” Walang Hanggan” with Dawn Zulueta , Richard Gomez, Coco Martin,Paulo Avelino and many others. In its early years of prominent local actors, it had also enjoyed its early year’s interview with actor Robin Williams, a press visit with Tom Hanks at the Ohlone Performing Arts grand opening. THE also go on locations to important events covering community organizations’ events and functions.

What is in store for the year 2013? Top and foremost, premiering the beginning of this January, Sansu Ramsey of SANSU Show, of GMA 7 is co hosting under the “The Talks and Facts” segment which will have its premiere on January 22, 2013.

2013 will bring a closer look at Pinoys and Pinays around the world; entertainment locals and foreign; US and Philippine Economy, Immigration, Health , Women and Children issues ; and a quick look at local and foreign entertainers and what they would bring to the entertainment world. Under its religious coverage, a history of the Divine Mercy and its Devotion, an interview with its champion, Thelma Orias and its development in the establishment of Divine Mercy Shrine in Sunol; an interview with the newly elected and first Filipino State Assembly, Rob Bonta and what he can bring to his Filipino constituents , and others. In midsummer, an interview with Ms. Mely Nicolas, commissioner of OFW and her staff on how OFWs are benefited; a prospective tour at the Philippines home studio of ABS-CBN with its CEO Ms. Charo Santos Concio, Ging Reyes , one of theAside from its mainstay as a moment with Philippine history, a local community billboard, social, religious, and cultural segments will be permanently on community billboard.

THE ISLANDERS will need a tremendous amount of assistance to make 2013 lineup a reality--- we need volunteers to help the continuing success of this long-running award winning community access program. Anyone with talents are encouraged to volunteer as: studio cameraperson, location cameraperson, technical director, graphic and set designers, lighting technician, floor director, assistant to floor director, assistant to producer(correspondence, guests invites , etc.) Please contact Charito Benipayo at 510/301-4693 or email : cbenipayo01@yahoo.com; visit our website at http://islanders-tv.webs.com

Chabot College Television through THE ISLANDERS TV will set a Saturday (all day) for an abbreviated production class to start you off-free and at no cost to you.

This article also appears online at www.BradfordAdkins.com, www.ScenesInTheCity.com, www.PinoyEntertainment.us and http://sites.google.com/site/adkinsmmcevents/Home/ with readership in 160 countries now (& still counting!) according to the latest Google Analytics report.

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

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Popstar: "Sarah G Live!" made me more mature as a performer

SARAH GERONIMO IS STILL A CERTIFIED KAPAMILYA!

Popstar Sarah Geronimo recently revealed that she is happy to remain as a Kapamilya star after signing a one-year exclusive contract under ABS-CBN.

“I am very blessed and grateful to ABS-CBN because I remain to be a Kapamilya. There’s nothing I would want more than to stay where I am now,” Sarah said.

According to the Popstar, aside from her hit Sunday musical variety show “Sarah G. Live,” also included in her new contract is a drama series or a sitcom. “Hopefully, my new projects will be able to give excitement to the public and will showcase the new and more mature Sarah,” she shared.

Sarah was particularly thankful to her show “SGL” as it taught her how to be independent and mature as a performer. “I really learned a lot from the show. I’ve learned to stand up for myself and be confident in saying what I want to happen in the show. I became more involved in the song choices and ideas for the segments,” said Sarah.

To thank the TV viewers for their undying support, Sarah is all set to bring total entertainment and world-class production numbers this Sunday (January 20) in “Sarah G. Live!”

Watch out for the return of Kapamilya leading man Jericho Rosales in the “SGL” centerstage; and the ultimate OPM production number of Lolita Carbon of the band Asin. Witness another set of show-stopping performances on the concert stage including the singing extravaganza of “Walang Hanggan” villains Eula Valdes and Nonie Buencamino; smash-up dance number of Kapamilya young stars Nash Aguas, Sharlene San Pedro, Kobe Vidanes, Angel Sy, and Aaron Junatas; and the must-watch swag production number of ASAP Sessionistas member Juris.

Meanwhile, Echo and Sam Concepcion will add more fun this Sunday as the Popstar’s guest co-hosts. Still with Sarah in the upcoming episode are Gab Valenciano, Gollayan Sisters and Luis Manzano.

Don’t miss the trending and top Sunday primetime show of ABS-CBN, “Sarah G. Live!” 8:15pm, after “Rated K.” For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.comor follow @SGLiveOFFICIAL on Twitter and like SarahGLiveOFFICIAL on Facebook.

"BE CAREFUL WITH MY HEART" REIGNS NOONTIME SLOT!

ABS-CBN’s hit kilig-serye "Be Careful With My Heart" has recently proven its strong fan base nationwide as it conquered the noontime slot with its astonishing ratings win by scoring a national TV rating of 26.5% last Monday (January 14), beating rival GMA’s "Chef Boy Logro: Kusina Master" and “Eat Bulaga” with only 6.4% and 15.2% national TV ratings, respectively based on the data from Kantar Media. Continue to spread the good vibes and fall in love with the exciting new-age fairytale of Maya (Jodi Sta. Maria) and Sir Chief (Richard Yap) in "Be Careful With My Heart," weekdays, 11:45am, after “Minute To Win It” on ABS-CBN Primetanghali. For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.com, follow @becarefulheart on Twitter; and 'like' the show's official Facebook fanpage at www.facebook.com/becarefulwithmyheartofficial .

Clash of Champions at the PBA Philippine Cup Finals on Aksyon TV International

The Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters defends its Philippine Cup title as they take on the Rain or Shine Elasto PaintersThe excitement begins today, January 9 (MNL time) from the SMART Araneta Coliseum and live on Aksyon TV International.

Talk ‘N Text coach Norman Black returns to the Finals in hopes of adding another trophy to his already prestigious coaching career. His team returns to defend the Philippine Cup Finals for a third straight time.

Rain or Shine is, aiming to win back-to-back titles. It is optimistic in giving coach Yeng Guiao's first Philippine Cup title after capturing the franchise's first title with the Governor’s Cup championship last season.

Defending champions Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters finished at the top of the standings after the elimination round. They ousted Air 21 Express easily in the quarterfinals and took on a recharged Alaska Aces. The Tropang Texters were tested severely by the Aces with every game tightly-contested but managed to pull out a grueling series win in six games.

The team has become even more dangerous this year as coach Norman Black has instilled a defensive-minded philosophy. However, they are also loaded with players contributing double-figure scoring led by Jimmy Alapag, Kelly Williams, Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier and Best Player of the Conference candidate Jayson Castro.

The rampaging Rain or Shine Elasto Painters is on their second straight Finals appearance in franchise history. The E-Painters was able to dispose of crowd-favorite, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, in their best-of-three quarterfinals series. In their semis series, the E-Painters knocked the wind out of the San Mig Coffee Mixers to book their first Philippine Cup Finals appearance.

The team is composed of scoring stalwarts like Jeff Chan, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Araña, and Paul Lee with defensive bruisers that includes Jervy Cruz, JR Quiñahan and Beua Belga. Coach Yeng Guiao believes that his team’s depth has been the key to their winning and hopes it will be the one that will enable him to capture this championship.

The PBA Philippine Cup Finals is aired live and exclusive on Aksyon TV International.