2013 05/17-05/23
The Premier Filipino-American Newspaper in the U.S. since 1961. It was founded in 1961 in the San Francisco home of expatriate Alex Esclamado. It has become one of the oldest and biggest Asian American newspapers with a weekly circulation of 120,000.
Northern California's fast-growing Filipino American newspaper in circulation since 2007, the Philippines Today is well-known to provide fair news and fearless views. The leading mid-week Fil-Am local newspaper is being distributed free in the major cities of Northern California.
Your No. 1 Source of Filipino Entertainment News in North America.
Fil-Am Insider is a bi-weekly entertainment publication for the Filipino community circulated in Northern and Southern California, Nevada and New York.
Bradford Adkins, 'SCENES In The City' is a widely read Filipino-American community column in San Francisco since 2008. Online, it is being globally read by more than 1.7 M viewers in 160 countries. The column features include: the issues and events, the individuals and organizations moving the community.
Sir Chief (Richard Yap) sings to Maya (Jodi Sta Maria), from "Be Careful With My Heart" during their most watched teleserye US Tour's last number together before the group finale at the LA Shrine Auditorium last Friday night.
The cast (led by Richard 'Sir Chief' Yap, Jodi Sta Maria & Mutya Orquia) of ABS-CBN's top rating teleserye, "BE CAREFUL WITH MY HEART" set box office records at the The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA when they performed last Friday, May, 10, 2013 to a full capacity wildly screaming crowd. The team then flew next to Kissimmee, Florida for another very successful Mother's Day show.
Congrats TV5 Actor/Host Aga Muhlach (Congressman) & @Miguel Villafuerte (Governor) for their respective electoral leads in Camarines Sur! Fresh blood, fresh starts! Photo from Facebook
TFC's Adobo Nation Host Lee Robin Salazar, center, heads the cast of a new independent movie to be filmed in the Bay Area, tentatively titled "Waldo, Lutang sa Kawalan" shown here with other cast members, Mirriam Pantig and TV5 actress, Princess Ryan, right. The production team is still looking for an actress (no experience required) to portray the fourth pivotal role of "Lolita."
Movie Producer John Valdez, 2nd left, is looking for his 'Lolita' in "Waldo, Lutang sa Kawalan" during the indie movie's pre-production meeting held last Sunday afternoon at the Patio Filipino Restaurant in San Bruno, CA with cast members Lee Robin Salazar, left, Princess Ryan and the film's director Kim Tumibay, rightmost.
LOOKING FOR LOLITA
TO-BE SEEN IN THE CITY
(SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA) –The cast and crew of ‘WALDO, LUTANG SA KAWALAN’ an independent movie to be shot around the Bay Area held a pre-production meeting last Sunday afternoon at the Patio Filipino Restaurant in San Bruno, CA. Among the attendees are the movie’s lead cast – Lee Robin Salazar (he used to act in TV and films in the Philippines before migrating here in the States; currently, he is co-hosting TFC’s Sunday’s Adobo Nation), Mirriam Pantig, actress/singer, vocal coach, and currently, a regular performer at Ichiban Library in South San Francisco, CA, Princess Ryan, a TV5 actress before moving here in the US, Kim Tumibay, the movie’s director (he used to direct a lot of teleseryes and movies in the Philippines before almost succumbing to stage 4 colon cancer – he credits faith and the excellent US medical system and technologies for his survival) with wife Lalaine, Casting Director Maybelle Sayson and Production Coordinator Beth Roldan. Also in the cast (but not pictured) are James Gilbert Saludez and Jason Roldan.
The suspense thriller is a maiden presentation of Sacramento-based Twisted Minds Production International. Sunday’s meeting also involved story conference, and detailed discussion on each of the character’s motivation and character development until it dawned on everyone that a major role is still left uncast – that of ‘Lolita.’ The title role of Waldo, an Embalmer, is to be played by Lee Robin Salazar. Without divulging much of the plot and sub-plots, the Lolita character will be that of a not-so-innocent girl (18-29 looking) who is obsessed with Waldo. It will be a major role, a pivotal one. Imagine getting entangled in a story set in a mortuary, with rape and gang rape scenes – among the dead and the living.
If you are interested in the ‘Lolita’ role, please send your headshots and information via email to rainbowms@yahoo.com or call Marybelle Sayson
(916) 730-6963.
This article also appears online at www.BradfordAdkins.com,www.ScenesInTheCity.com, www.PinoyEntertainment.us,www.PhilippineNews.com, www.FilAmInsider.com 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
Add me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/jb.adkins
Follow me on Twitter (www.twitter.com/bradford_adkins)
“Be Careful With My Heart” concerts draw thousands in Los Angeles and Kissimmee
TFC Presents scores back-to-back event winners with Sir Chief, Maya and the gang in U.S. tour
REDWOOD CITY, CA, May 15, 2013 – Social media was crawling with photos and comments the past weekend following the back-to-back concerts of the Philippines’ number one daytime show, “Be Careful With My Heart”, at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California last Friday and at Silver Spurs Arena in Kissimmee, Florida on Mothers’ Day.
“Super saya talaga! 3 hours akong tumatawa (It was super fun! I was laughing for three hours),” posted Nelly Sugabo on Facebook.
“It was one of the best Filipino concerts I’ve been to. It was really ka-familia,” echoes Lorna G. Torres.
Event-filled May 10 had the defending Stanley Cup champions Los Angeles Kings going up against St. Louis Blues for Game 6 of their nail-biting Western Conference Quarterfinals series at the famed Staples Center. Award-winning film director Baz Luhrmann’s much publicized, lavish Jazz Age drama “The Great Gatsby” starring superstar Leonardo DiCaprio also opened on the same day. But the City of Los Angeles declared May 10 as “ABS-CBN TFC Be Careful With My Heart Kapit Bisig Day” via a Proclamation signed by no less than Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the entire City Council.
The Proclamation was presented by Mayor Pro-Tem of Walnut, California Antonio Cartagena, Filipino-American Service Group, Inc. Executive Director Susan Dilkes, and Philippine Consul General Maria Hellen Barber De La Vega of Los Angeles to Be Careful With My Heart Business Unit Head Ginny Ocampo, ABS-CBN Head of Ad Sales, Trade Marketing & Events Ricky Resurreccion and ABS-CBN North America Managing Director Olivia De Jesus. It honored the commitment of ABS-CBN, TFC and the show to promote Filipino participation in the recently held Philippine elections and the May 21 municipal election in Los Angeles County. Consul General Barber De La Vega praised the Philippine government partnership with TFC by saying that voter registration for overseas absentee voting increased five-fold as a result of TFC support.
The fans trooped to the landmark Shrine Auditorium and filled it to the rafters, making the concert among the most attended events in the venue. On Mothers’ Day, May 12, Florida fans of the show also came in full force to the Silver Spurs Arena to profess their love for Sir Chief, Maya, Abby, Tart, Sabel – beloved characters of the popular TFC teleserye – with world-class singing champions Yeng Constantino and Jovit Baldivino.
Feel Good, Family-friendly Fun
Both concerts – the U.S. leg of an ongoing world tour of the show that already took them to the Middle East and will take them to Canada next – played on the strengths of the top-rating teleserye: it highlighted segments that were light, breezy, feel-good, wholesome (with an acceptable dose of impish humor) and generally upbeat. Stage Director John-D Lazatin and Musical Director Lorrie Ilustre mixed high-energy musical dance numbers with light romantic songs, acting contests, laugh-a-minute dating games that involved the audience, and showstoppers from Constantino and Baldivino.
Rosario “Tart” Carlos (Doris) and Vivieka Vivieka (Sabel) displayed their comic genius and onstage chemistry with their Madonna-Lady Gaga song-and-dance-off layered with a trade of witty barbs and retorts delivered with perfect comic timing. The two comediennes also backed up Jodi Sta Maria (Maya) in the “Be Careful With Your Acting” portion that brought the house down with three gentlemen participants from the audience reenacting a favorite scene between Sir Chief and Maya.
Sta Maria was a beautiful vision on stage, elegant, poised and charming, drawing admiring stares and public declarations of “I love you, Maya” from the audience as she serenaded the crowd with songs like Kaba and Torete from the show’s gold-selling soundtrack.
Mutya Orquia (Abby) had a cute exchange with TFC Barangay USA’s Gelo before doing an even cuter Call Me Maybe number with Carlos, Vivieka and the dancers.
The decision to intersperse musical segments with video clips from the show that took the audience to a journey of love of Sir Chief and Maya was wise, eliciting swoons and excited screams and shouts from the crowd.
The ear-shattering shrieks, as expected, were reserved for the touring cast’s central male figure, Richard Yap (Sir Chief). As soon as he sang the opening lines of This Thing Called Love, camera flashes flooded both venues as fans tried to capture frame-by-frame the Philippines’ phenomenally popular 40-something matinee idol.
The dating games with Yap concluded with passionate hugs and kisses for him from the chosen candidates to the delight (and perhaps a tinge of envy) from fans in the audience.
Shrieks reached record decibels anew when Yap and Sta Maria performed their much awaited duets, showcasing their indubitable chemistry as one of the country’s top love teams.
The party atmosphere in the house was at its peak when the entire cast did an OPM disco medley for its finale. By this time, the entire audience was on its feet, applauding, cheering, singing along and snapping photo mementos to capture historic moments of the U.S. visit of their most beloved family teleserye from TFC.
“We wanted to deliver the quality entertainment experience that people have come to expect from TFC and we are overjoyed by the positive comments that validated our intention,” said Resurreccion. “We want to thank everyone who supported the event – the cast and crew, our partners and sponsors, the media, the fans, our government officials, and the entire Filipino community for making all these happen.”
“These successful back-to-back concerts mark the beginning of a TFC events season in 2013 that promises only the best for our valued customers all over North America,” said De Jesus.
For more information on the “Be Careful with My Heart” U.S. concerts, please visit tfc-usa.com/events or visit and like TFCUSOfficial fan page on Facebook.
MARTIN NIEVERA REVEALS THE 'DARK SIDE' OF LEA SALONGA IN "MARTIN LATE @ NIGHT." Philippine TV’s 'Big Mouth' Martin Nievera is set to give TV viewers world-class entertainment this Friday (May 17) as he reveals the 'dark side' of Broadway Diva and “The Voice of The Philippines” coach Lea Salonga in "Martin Late @ Night." What are the things about Lea’s personality that most people don’t know about her? Behind her beautiful and soothing voice, is it true that she likes things associated with violence? Meanwhile, Martin will make the night even more thrilling as he and Lea hold a 'blind auditions' in "Martin Late @ Night" featuring world singing champion Jed Madela and the 'Kalokalikes' of her “The Voice” co-coaches Apl de Ap and Sarah Geronimo. Don’t miss “Martin Late @ Night,” every Friday night, after “Bandila” on ABS-CBN. For more updates, log on to www.abs-cbn.com or follow @abscbndotcom on Twitter.
GMA Life TV, the first international Filipino lifestyle channel by GMA International, is commemorating five years of celebrating the best in Pinoy lifestyle this May through a colorful and vibrant television campaign representing all the wonderful things that the channel is known for.
For five years already, GMA Life TV – one of GMA’s overseas channels alongside its flagship channel GMA Pinoy TV and international news channel GMA News TV International – has been a leading source of not only informative and entertaining, but also inspiring and meaningful Filipino lifestyle shows among Filipinos outside of the country.
To celebrate this important milestone, GMA Life TV has tapped six of the Network’s most sought after stars -Alden Richards, Mikael Daez, Rocco Nacino, Maxene Magalona, Bela Padilla and Louise Delos Reyes - to be the faces of the channel for its GMA Life TV: Fly High @ Five anniversary campaign. As the GMA Life TV VJs, they will take turns in introducing each program lending the channel their unique and colorful personalities.
“Highlighting the distinct and exceptional traits of the Pinoy lifestyle has ever been the primary goal of GMA Life TV,” said GMA Vice President and Head of International Operations Joseph T. Francia. “This year, we want to make things even more exciting as we present the GMA Life TV VJs, who equally embody the best traits of the channel – being fun, hip, original and inspirational.”
GMA Life TV prides itself in being the first and only Filipino lifestyle channel abroad to air English-dubbed Filipino drama series and the only Filipino channel offering classic black and white Pinoy films. In the coming months, viewers must especially await new movie titles (both mainstream and independent) as well as the premiere of GMA Life TV’s first documentary series “Home is Where the Heart Is,” which will take a peek into the homes of Filipinos living abroad.
The channel is set to even further diversify and enrich its content through the launch of new programs created bythe country’s pioneer publisher of glossy magazines, One Mega Group. Such programs include a new fashion/reality program, a cooking show and also a home design show that fit right into the channel’s diverse mix of program genres focusing on home, fashion, food, travel, drama and reality.
GMA Life TV is available in the U.S, Canada, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Hong Kong, Guam, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar with an estimated one million viewers from all over the world. It will also be launched in additional pay-TV systems in North Africa and the Asia Pacific Region this year.
GMA Life TV celebrates five years of being the first international Filipino lifestyle channel
WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2013 STUDENT ACADEMY AWARDS®
BOB SAGET TO HOST AWARDS CEREMONY
BEVERLY HILLS, CA –Thirteen students from nine U.S. colleges and universities as well as three students from foreign universities have been selected as winners in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Student Academy Awards competition. They will be brought to Los Angeles for a week of industry activities that will culminate in the awards ceremony, hosted by 1978 Student Academy Award winner and comedian Bob Saget, on Saturday, June 8, at 7:30 p.m. at the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills.
This year saw first-time honors go to Elon University, Occidental College and the University of Michigan in the U.S. competition, as well as to Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland, and RITS School of Arts, Belgium, in the foreign competition. The medal placements – gold, silver and bronze – in each of the award categories will be announced at the June 8 ceremony.
The winners are (listed alphabetically by film title):
Alternative
“Bottled Up,” Rafael Cortina, Occidental College
“The Compositor,” John Mattiuzzi, School of Visual Arts
“Zug,” Perry Janes, University of Michigan
Animation
“Dia de los Muertos,” Lindsey St. Pierre and Ashley Graham, Ringling College of Art and Design
“Peck Pocketed,” Kevin Herron, Ringling College of Art and Design
“Will,” Eusong Lee, California Institute of the Arts
Documentary
“Every Tuesday: A Portrait of The New Yorker Cartoonists,” Rachel Loube, School of Visual Arts
“A Second Chance,” David Aristizabal, University of Southern California
“Win or Lose,” Daniel Koehler, Elon University
Narrative
“Josephine and the Roach,” Jonathan Langager, University of Southern California
“Ol’ Daddy,” Brian Schwarz, University of Texas at Austin
“Un Mundo para Raúl (A World for Raúl),” Mauro Mueller, Columbia University
Foreign Film
“Miss Todd,” Kristina Yee, National Film and Television School, United Kingdom
“Parvaneh,” Talkhon Hamzavi, Zurich University of the Arts, Switzerland
“Tweesprong (Crossroads),” Wouter Bouvijn, RITS School of Arts, Erasmus College Brussels, Belgium
To reach this stage, U.S. students competed in one of three regional competitions. Each region is permitted to send up to three finalists in each of the four categories. The Student Academy Awards Executive Committee screened and voted on the finalists in the Foreign Film category.
The Student Academy Awards were established in 1972 to support and encourage excellence in filmmaking at the collegiate level. Past Student Academy Award® winners have gone on to receive 46 Oscar® nominations and have won or shared eight awards. The roster includes such distinguished filmmakers as John Lasseter, Pete Docter, Robert Zemeckis, Trey Parker and Spike Lee.
The 40th Student Academy Awards ceremony on June 8 is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required. Tickets are available online at www.oscars.org, in person at the Academy box office, or by mail. The Samuel Goldwyn Theater is located at 8949 Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills. For more information, call
(310) 247-3600.