Charice concert with Arjohn set

By JECELYN V. MACAHINDOG

August 23, 2011, 8:00am

Arjohn Gilbert

MANILA, Philippines -- The date is set.

Charice’s concert featuring the teen aeta YouTube sensation Arjohn Gilbert will happen on Oct. 25 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

The news was relayed by Arjohn himself, the singing flute vendor from Clark, Pampanga, during his guest appearance on “Happy Yipee Yehey” Aug. 20.

As previously reported, the Pinay international sensation sought the help of her fans to locate Arjohn and ask him to be part of her upcoming Manila concert this year.

“Arjohn, next time I do my own show in the Philippines, I would love for you to come and perform with me!,” Charice said via Twitter Aug. 6, after watching Arjohn’s videos.

Dubbed as the “Next apl.de.ap” and “Justin Bieber of the Philippines,” 14-year-old Arjohn became a top trending topic on Twitter recently.

Apart from Charice, Black Eyed Peas member Apl.de.ap (a.k.a. Allan Pineda) has also expressed his desire to work with Arjohn.

The Fil-American singer said in a “TV Patrol” interview recently, “I want to be the guy to first work with him. I’ll be jealous if somebody else first does, but ayos lang. I’ll give him the best. If he needs help, I’m here.”

Arjohn expressed his desire to work with Apl. “Sabi po niya, gusto niya po ako makatrabaho, kaya hinihintay ko po at saka nagpapasalamat po ako sa Diyos po. Sana po mabigyan po ako ng break,” he said in a report posted on ABS-CBN News online.

Before his upcoming concert with Charice, Arjohn is set to join “Pilipinas Got Talent” grand winner Marcelito Pomoy in his Aug. 31 show in Zirkoh Morato.

 

Songs about everything under the sun in engaging 3-CD set

Philippine Daily Inquirer

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GARY GRANADA

“The Essential Gary Granada Collection”/PolyEast Records

A few months ago, Gary Granada gave friends copies of his entire body of work, bundled in a 22-CD collection. “Nobody buys them anyway,” he joked.

A major label has since acquired the publishing rights to 60 of Granada’s songs, resulting in this 3-CD compilation. Listening to it gives us the pleasure of understanding the heart and mind of one of the country’s most prolific and brilliant singer-songwriters.

The tracks are not arranged in any discernible order, though some appear to be grouped according to themes. But there seems to be an attempt to give each disc its own character.

On disc 1, the first six songs capture emotions that everyone can relate to: fulfillment in a modest existence in “Ang Aking Kubo”; mourning lost love in “Dagat”; gratitude in “Buti Na Lang”; fears and anxieties in “Hanggang Kailan, Hanggang Saan”; playing a gay character in “Babadap-Badap”; and cheering for a favorite basketball team in “‘Pag Nananalo ang Ginebra.”

Granada could write just about anything. There are songs on the environment (“Earthkeeper”), tourism (“Lakbayin ang Pilipinas”) and worship (“Maykapal”); there are two samples of his winning entries to the Metro Pop contest—“Kahit Konti” and “Salamat Musika.”

Also on disc 1 are cuts from his latest album, “Basurero ng Luneta”: “San Simon,” “Buti Na Lang” and the title track. We glimpse a refreshing side of Granada as a folk musician—his flirtation with the blues.

Vivid lyrics, hallmark of classic, poetry-driven songwriting, are in abundance and Granada has mastered the craft. A sample, from “Dagat,” can be enjoyed anywhere, but sounds best with eyes closed and with headphones: “Sa dagat ng pangako/Sa laot ng pangarap/Sa alon ng iyong mga halik…”

Surprises abound on disc 2: country music that spices up “Asin”; a waltz-like arrangement in “Mana-mana Lang Yan”; a couple more blues pieces from “Basurero ng Luneta”—“Natutunan sa Buhay” and “Tulad ng Dati,” in which cynicism is described in an engaging light.

It’s difficult to pick standouts; nothing sounds bad here, but two cuts are worth repeated playbacks: the life-affirming “Saranggola sa Ulan” and the hilarious “Mabuti Pa Sila”—both describing romantic grief.

On disc 3, social consciousness is highlighted. Familiar to devoted fans are a sense of irony in “Bahay,” conflicting interests in “Dam,” and the decline of imperialism in “Kanluran.”

The activist bent almost reaches saturation point in “UP Naming Mahal” and “Makibaka, Huwag Matakot” (both from the musical “Leán”) but ends on amusing note: “We will rock you!”

The sense of maternal love in “Uunahin Ko Kayo” (lovely vocals by Susan Fernandez-Magno) is touching, and the satire in “O Kaysarap” and “Made for Japan” are quite delectable—it doesn’t stop until “Holdap,” which precedes the optimism in “Itatawid, Ihahatid Kita.”

The absence of lyric sheets and liner notes aside, this collection deserves a resounding applause.Pocholo Concepcion

Cebu dancers bag 34 gold medals in NY competition

By Edison A. delos Angeles
Inquirer Visayas

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CEBU City, Philippines—Another Filipino team made its country proud.

Cebu City’s Dancesport team bagged 34 gold medals at the recent Empire State Dancesport competition at the Crowne Plaza, Manhattan Hotel in New York.

The team also got 33 gold medals during the Nevada Star Ball Dancesport championship at the Green Valley Ranch Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada.

At least 6,000 dancers from all over the world participated in the two events.

Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman Edward Hayco and Dancesport Team Cebu co-founder said what the team has achieved was far beyond expectation.

He said the dance team was asked by the organizers to perform at the professional level.

“Because of the sterling performance our team, they wanted us to perform before the professional level [so they can] see how we do it,” Hayco said.

“It feels like an amateur boxer being asked to fight in a Mike Tyson boxing main event. It’s truly an honor,” he added.

The CCSC sent the 10-couple team to the United States early this month to compete in the two events and was expected to come home in first week of September.

“We never asked the city to bring us there but because they trusted us, they sent us there and as our way of reciprocating that trust, we kept on bagging … some gold medals for Cebu’s pride and legacy,” Hayco said.

Since it was formed in 1999, Dancesport Team Cebu has brought home some 750 gold medals.

“And as our way of saying thank you to the city’s unwavering support to the team, we continue to train at least 30,000 young dancers around the Cebu City barangays (villages) keeping them away from other ill-activities and opened their doors to a wide opportunity in the field of dancing,” Hayco said.

YouTube star Maria Aragon stars in her own music video

By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ

August 19, 2011, 4:00pm

Maria Aragon hopes to be a good influence to others (Photo from her official website)

MANILA, Philippines – Filipina-Canadian YouTube sensation Maria Aragon has achieved another milestone at a tender age: Starring in her own music video.

Maria has already filmed the official music video for her version of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” which is part of her debut album, reported abs-cbnNEWS.com.

She related how the shoot went, saying during her interview, "I feel really grateful to be here thank you. We had to do a lot of takes and there's a lot of concept to it.”

The 11-year-old singer’s homemade video of the Lady Gaga hit which the former's sister uploaded on YouTube last February was Maria's ticket to fame, generating over 40 million hits. More, she impressed none other than Lady Gaga herself who hailed Maria as “the future.”

The Winnipeg-based Maria is currently in the country together with her family for a vacation as well as for some showbiz commitments.

In spite of her accomplishments, Maria apparently keeps a good head on her shoulders. In her interview with “The Buzz” last month, the young singer noted being humble as the best advice she would give to others.

“You should always stay grounded. I’ve been through a lot but the thing is you should always stay grounded. I would never be like big-headed and I always stay with God. I always pray with my family every night.

“Just be always grateful for what you have because there are some kids or a lot of people that don’t have what we have. We’re very privileged to have what we have,” said Maria.

She may have a long way to go but Maria is determined to make a difference in her own way.

“Obviously I wanna make a change. Hopefully I influence other people to make a change too,” she said.

Pacquiao to build villa in high-end enclave in Albay

By Mar S. Arguelles
Inquirer Southern Luzon

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CAGRARAY ISLAND, Philippines—Manny Pacquaio is set to buy a 1,000-square-meter lot worth P12 million and build a vacation villa at the luxurious Misibis Bay Resort here.

Pacquiao, awed by the luxury and privacy of the resort that is a 25-minute ride by fastcraft from Legazpi City, said he intends to build a villa in the exclusive enclave where he and his family can take a break in between his gruelling boxing commitments and work as a member of the House of Representative representing his province of Sarangani.

“Nagustuhan ko itong lugar, tahimik at maganda (I like this place. It’s beautiful and very private). Upon my arrival here on Thursday I was able to sleep for a straight 16 hours,” he said on Saturday. “I’d like to build a small vacation villa here so that I can frequently visit Albay.”

Pacquiao said he and his and wife Jinky have toured the five-hectare resort, located within the 5,000-hectare Cagraray Island, and were impressed by the resort’s facilities.

Elizaldy Co, president and chief executive officer of Sunwest Group that operates Misibis Bay Resort, Embarcadero Mall and a string of  hotels here and in Manila, offered Pacquiao the 1,000-sq. m.  lot at the resorts’  retirement and vacation village.

Pacquiao, Jinky and some  members of the Team Pacquiao led by Boboy Fernandez, his boxing trainer who is a resident of Polangui, Albay, flew in from Manila on Thursday on a private plane.

His presence in Legazpi was on the invitation of his colleagues in Congress—AKB party list Representative Alfredo Garbin and Albay 2nd district Representative Al Francis Bichara—and Co.

On arrival in Legazpi, Pacquiao paid a courtesy call on Mayor Geraldine Rosal and obliged her request to hold a motorcade and tour the city’s main thoroughfares, which brought out thousands of residents who gave the boxing idol a rousing welcome.

Pacquiao said the province had a lot to offer, with the beautiful scenery providing a lush backdrop to tourist establishments.

“Despite being a typhoon prone area, the area remains impressively scenic, and attractive,” said Pacquiao, adding that he would promote Albay in future trips abroad.

Pacquiao on Thursday also rode an all-terrain vehicle and visited  Mount Mayon’s lava dome at Barangay Mabinit in Legazpi City and was stunned by the sight of a four-story-tall lava front spewed by the volcano during its 2004 eruption.

At the Misibis Resort, he and his team engaged in jet skiing and scuba diving in the waters of Albay Gulf facing the Pacific Ocean. They also  rode the zipline at the resort’s EcoPark.

Pacquiao and his entourage ended their three-day visit here Saturday and boarded his chartered plane at noon for General Santos City, his hometown.