EDWIN MCCAIN & TAYLOR DAYNE in BACK2BACK Ultimate Concert at the SM Arena

it was such a rare privilege to see and interview Edwin McCain and Taylor Dayne face to face to promote their concert tour in the Philippines which kicked off last night at Waterfront Hotel in Cebu and on June 1 at the new SM Arena. i was really starstruck because i've been singing their songs I'll Be and Love Will Lead You Back.

we will hear their greatest hits at the Back2Back concert. and i got to ask some personal questions to them. it was Edwin McCain's first time here in the Philippines and really thankful of the warm welcome and hospitality of the people. haven't tried any dishes yet but hesitant to try our own "balot" (duck embryo). he is enjoying his fatherhood with 2 kids whom unfortunately cannot come with him here because of sickness. but they will try to come here on vacation and experience the islands. his "I'll Be" is such a special gift. he just tried to air it on video and the rest is history. but who was Edwin McCain before the stardom? when he was about 8, he was singing in the church choir as a soprano. then, building a band in highschool started his singing career. he transferred singing in cruise ships where he met other Filipino travelers telling and insisting him to come in the Philippines. and now, here he is. watch him sing I'll Be in this excerpt:


Taylor Dayne remembers her first visit here in Manila where she had struggled about 2 hours of traffic. but now, she was amazed how she got quicker to her hotel after arriving at the airport. her single Love Will Lead You Back is a staple in our videoke line ups and one of her Billboard hits. she will bring us on our feet again with her dance singles and fall in love with her ballads. her 25 years in the industry featured the songs which young parents grew up on. they were regarded as the songs of their lives.

the collaboration of Edwin and Taylor is not new to their followers. they have been singing together 5 or 6 shows in the United States and entertaining fans all over. Taylor is even more excited performing in the brand new Mall of Asia Arena and serenade more than it's capacity. a front act by our RnB prince, JayR starts the concert.

ticket prices:
VIP - Php 4499
PATRON - Php 3960
LOWER BOX - Php 2970
UPPER BOX - Php 1700
GENERAL ADMISSION - Php 530

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SNOW WHITE & THE HUNTSMAN movie review

the new retelling of the story of Snow White & the Huntsman is darkest adaptation i've seen so far. with the enchantment by its evil queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) and the new character approach with Snow White (Kristen Stewart) as a braver princess, you will get more interested.

Charlize Theron plays effectively as the evil queen and she is the most enchanting i've ever seen. the make up and visual effects on her aging and magic is more interesting than Julia Roberts' Mirror Mirror. in contrast to it, the attack is more threatening while Julia's inclines in the humorous queen. you can sense her powerful aura in her very regal and luring beauty which she makes perfect in the role.

given Kristen Stewart, the movie really has its Twilight taste. you can actually remember different movies in the production. sets for one is like Lord of the Rings. but there more magical twists happened different as told by Walt Disney and how we grew up on it.

Chris Hemsworth (The Huntsman), i realized was unnamed at this movie. and his role was upgraded but the script insisted that he will fall in love with Snow White. good thing that Kristen Stewart gave justice to her role unlike what was perceived from the promotions that this was Charlize Theron's movie. this was another character that story tellers might want to do with Snow White aside from being a damsel in distress. i just don't know why fairy tale stories these days get darker. what do they want the new kids to think about imaginations?

Snow White & the Huntsman will take over Philippine theaters starting June 1. distributed by Solar Entertainment. directed by Rupert Sanders under Universal Pictures.

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GONE movie review

Amanda Seyfried (Jill) is off to rescue her missing sister from the violence of the same person who kidnapped her two years ago. and no one is trying to believe her stories and deriving her mental illness from the trauma. the movie GONE by Lakeshore Entertainment tells us more of the story in this triller-drama.

after being abducted by an unknown person without any reason, Jill investigates the patterns of similar killings in her hometown. since, she arms herself and protected not just her but everyone around her especially sister, Molly (Emily Wickersham). unknowingly, while she was out for her, Molly has been abducted and suspected that it was the same person. Jill proceeds to the police and as they didn't believe her, she initiated her own actions tracing the whereabouts of the guy. as much as somebody would like to help her, still she trusts nobody as the initial reaction of the police to the situation.

excitement rises as she figures out the tracks of the killer and it was very intelligent of her to make up stories to hide her intention to the people who almost got hitched in the crime. i almost predicted that what if Molly was a product of her illusion since she was diagnosed of mental illness; what if that her kidnapping was also a heightened imagination. no one believes her until she solved it herself, complete with evidence. she has been also chased by the people she was asking for help, waiting to bring her in jail.

it really got me to focus on the development of the story but her investigative skills were really simple for an insistent individual. i don't remember if i had seen a movie of similar treatment but it was just ok.

GONE starring Amanda Seyfried will be in SM Cinemas starting May 30, 2012. distributed by Pioneer Films in the Philippines.

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keeping it cool on #iBlog8

the 8th Philippine Blogging Summit, also known as iBlog 8, refreshed me with knowledge in blogging. technical points and even insights on why we blog had struck newbies and iBlog loyal participants alike. i did enjoy the talks in the two days of the summit and it got even more relevant when 2 people talked about the how blogging is another window to your soul; moreso of how you make yourself in the community.

i was the timer during the two days, May 25 and 26, which happened at the UP College of Law in Quezon City. that's even why i got more focused on the talks unlike the previous years that i attended when i was just there to show up. i must say that i got more informed and that blogging techniques was just simple. i just had to devote my time more if i want to get more. but what more interest everybody is those talks that talk about attitude and character. please, let's all admit that we were committing the same mistakes and that we also bully other people. no body is clean enough unless you realize your own fault.

i would just like to let out this story that i had experienced yesterday. it was just about the end of the summit and without all the fuzz, i volunteered myself to do some easy stuff to help the organizers. in order to organize things especially during the raffle of a race event, i did my job to collect all the raffled participants. i collected the contact details and all, the sponsor was also beside me to assist. until this one winner requesting me that instead of the race kit, this person wants to have a t-shirt instead. i hope i was cheerful enough to accommodate her request that i consulted the hosts and even the head of the project if the request is possible. but they didn't allow it. i said sorry that we won't be able to give it, however, i suggested to register and give the race category and size of the person whom he/she wants to run in his/her behalf. but this person bursted out "BUT YOU DIDN'T TELL THEM THAT I WAS INCAPABLE OF RUNNING!" i got moved away, still smiling, transferring this person to the heads of the event, and continued to accommodate the other raffle winners of the race.

many saw the incident, and comforted me instead. it was very unfortunate, yes, but i hope that there should be a lesson to this. i also hope that this person realizes that there are people who are just doing their job, not to abuse their power as guest and maximizing all your priviledges. i don't know who you are and i am doing my best to do my job. i hope you listened to the talks and not like me in the previous years whose only reason of attending the event is to show up. you could have said it in the nice way that maybe you are in a condition why you can't run; not assuming me that i know everything about you. you don't just step into a door, getting yourself with all the priviledges you can have. a raffle is a raffle, i've made my suggestions. and i hope you listened to the talks earlier. if you demand that i should be more sensitive about you, i am not asking you to be sensitive of what i am. i just need you to understand the people around you.

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AMERICAN IDOL 11 is Phillip Phillips!

and finally the long wait is over with the most exciting American Idol season for me. with a whopping 132 million votes across America and even online, Phillip Phillips is crowned as the new American Idol. i personally didn't like the results but it was easy to accept. though i rooted for Jessica Sanchez to get the title, there are some factors that sank in me to accept Phillip's winning moment. last night was full of substantial and very entertaining moments at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles.

Biggest Highlights:

1. Ace Young proposes to Diana DeGarmo - season 4 finalists profess their love onstage. Ryan Seacrest made a special accomplice on this. congratulations to the couple.
2. the finalists give special numbers in memoriam of music icons Whitney Houston and Robin Gibb.
3. Jennifer Holliday and Jessica Sanchez duet of And I am Telling You I'm Not Going where they received a full standing ovation inside the Nokia Theater. the most powerful rendition yet but the awkwardness became Twitter's #1 trend worldwide.
4. sweet rendition of Up Where We Belong by the top 2 finalists.

Analyses:

1. Phillip Phillips is a true-blood American. trends among the past seasons where the trend is that there is a better talent from other races, the white guy wins.
2. Jessica may have been the trending topic worldwide but we should also consider the demographics of the voters. Steve Tyler and Jimmy Iovine admitted that Phillip may have captured the votes on the third round.
3. Phillip holds the majority of Americans where Jessica's votes might only come from the West Coast.
4. this is another season where the WGWG (white guy with guitar) wins. who knows, the voters maybe tired of the diva spectacle that Jessica had shown throughout the show and a better way to relax is to listen to the calming voice of Phillip especially when he sang Home on the third round.
5. Phillip may have also got the sympathy votes since news came out that he is suffering from a kidney problem. the first thing that he should do, have his operation. we should let him have it for better health.
6. many have noted that Jessica will be defying odds if she wins the title. the first saved finalists to become in the final two for one. this might somehow relieved her supporters but the votes weren't enough.
7. the finale is Jessica's show. the overwhelming duet with Jennifer Holliday is a fulfillment for her. she can get in the league of the veteran singers already! after she sang it, she can leave and even let Phillip just accept the award whole-heartedly. besides, she's got a great career coming at her feet already.

still, some people won't accept this win. and still a talk of the world. we can't say who wins but we can control by contributing votes to the one we're rooting for, as Ryan Seacrest would always say.

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JESSICA and PHILLIP on AI 11 Finale!

one step away to the next American Idol and Joshua Ledet will be going home. that's a shocking news that i got over the internet and i was very excited to know that my root Jessica Sanchez will be in the finals! she is joined by Phillip Phillips in the final battle for the next American Idol!

who gets the title, who is the greatest shocker, who were the worst auditions with big performances. i can't wait for the songs they will be performing. i just hope Jessica will win all the rounds of the competition. thank God for the judges for not letting her go when she was almost eliminated! advantage for Phillip, he never gets in the bottom three and those ladies who like him for his charisma. if you want real talent to be the next American Idol, VOTE FOR JESSICA!

so mark the date, May 23 and 24 for the live telecast of the season finale. await big surprises from guests during the show only on FOX. 

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DINIG SANA KITA movie review

the Asian Film Festival not only aims to create understanding about different regional cultures, but to educate as well on how we can accept something that is not normal for us. in the first film offered during the festival, i was moved by the affection of Dinig Sana Kita, a film featuring the love story of a rocker girl and a deaf boy making us realize that we may and we should be very thankful of what comes our way.

Kiko (Romalito Mallari) meets Niña (Zoe Sandejas) in a camp in Baguio where Niña was asked to live with those who can't hear. despite their opposites, they learned to live normally in the presence of each other. they eventually knew each other deeper through a common interest which is music and that they turn out helping with each other's personal problems.

communication has also been addressed to be the very essential in each relationship. both had to make way in order to understand what they want to say. and an actor like Romalito Mallari, which is an actual deaf, gave the expressive feelings and actions that you may feel for yourself if you're in the position. subtitles are helpful and also you will be taught of some simple sign language that you can use everyday.

i was wiping my tears literally as i've been moved by the story and felt pity for the disabled. some of them may not want to be treated as they were imbeciles and would like to live a normal life. the messages of this movie are strong, projected in sign language and music.

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