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Jumping Jacks : soothing music from a rock band

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Vannessa Minnillo - MTV reporter

Vanessa Joy Minnillo (born November 9, 1980) is an American television personality. A former Miss Teen USA, she is mostly known for hosting Total Request Live on MTV from 2003–2007 as well her past reporting as a New York-based correspondent for Entertainment Tonight.

Her father, Vince, is an American of Italian and Irish descent. Her mother, Helen Berecero, is a Filipina from the province of Pampanga and Leyte, that Vince met while based in the Philippines, though Minnillo referred to her mother as Polynesian on at least one occasion. Vanessa has a two years older, adopted brother, Vincent.

As a child, Minnillo's family moved numerous times due to her father's work in the United States Air Force, including living in Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, Germany and Japan and placing Minnillo in eight different schools within nine years.[4] Minnillo's parents separated in 1983, divorced in 1986.[5]

Subsequent to Helen's remarriage to a United States Air Force serviceman, Minnillo and her brother moved to Turkey with their mother and stepfather. By 1990, as a result of Desert Shield, Minnillo and her brother returned to their father's home, eventually settling in Charleston, South Carolina where she attended Bishop England High School and was a cheerleader.[6]

Minnillo is fluent in English and has passing knowledge of two languages spoken in the Philippines: Kapampangan and Tagalog. She has a close relationship with her stepmother Donna Minnillo and brother Vincent, but is estranged from her mother.

Minnillo entered the public eye as Miss South Carolina Teen USA 1998, and went on to be crowned as the winner of the 1998 Miss Teen USA pageant. She was the first delegate from South Carolina to capture the title and the first winner of the pageant to be chosen as Miss Congeniality.

She later co-hosted the Miss Teen USA 2004 pageant with Tony Potts and Miss Universe 2007 with Mario López.

Hosting
She is best known for hosting MTV's Total Request Live (TRL), 2003–2007.

Minnillo was a finalist in E!'s competition to find a replacement for Brooke Burke as host for the show Wild On[citation needed], though the job went to Cindy Taylor.

Advertising
Since exiting MTV and Entertainment Tonight, she has been featured in a print and web-based advertising campaign for BONGO Jeans' Spring/Summer 2007 collection[8] as well as becoming the spokesperson of Flirt! Cosmetics, a line she helped create that debuted in August 2007 in Kohl's department stores.

In May 2006, Maxim magazine listed Minnillo as #15 in its Hot 100 issue.[10] She has also graced both covers for Maxim's October issues in 2006 and 2007.

Minnillo was also featured on covers for Shape in March 2007 and Lucky magazine in July 2007.

Website:
Official MYSPACE
http://www.blogger.com/www.vanessaminnillo.com
News and Photos

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Dorothy Delasin

Dorothy Delasin, a daughter of a Filipino couple living in Daly City, is a two-time Filipino Athlete of the Year awardee, for winning three world championships (as this was being written). Delasin won the LPGA Giant Eagle Classic for two consecutive years, first in 2000 when she was only 19 and then in 2001, becoming the youngest LPGA winner in 25 years. She was the Rookie of the Year in 2000.

In October 2001, she clinched her third international title by beating the world's top 20 women players in the Samsung World Championship in Vallejo, California.

In 1999, the California Golf Writers Association named her as the Amateur Golfer of the Year for her string of victories. As an amateur, she captured the US Women's Amateur Championship, California Women's Championship and US Girls Championship. In 1993, she won the Junior World Cup held in Japan.

In 1996, she won a gold medal for the Philippines in the 1996 Southeast Asian Games and a bronze in the 1998 Bangkok Asiad. She also represented the country in the 1996 World Amateurs.

Delasin was born in Lubbock, Texas and lives with her family in Daly City, otherwise known as the "Adobo City" because of its huge Filipino population.


Joined LPGA: 2000 Birthday: August 26, 1980
College: N/A Height: 5'6"
Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas Residence: Daly City, Calif.
Exempt Status: Exempt


At 19 years old, Delasin won her first-ever LPGA tournament at the 2000 Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, making her the youngest winner in 25 years on the LPGA Tour.

Delasin tied for fourth at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn exempt status for the 2000 season, qualiifying for the Tour on her first attempt. As an amateur, she captured the California Women's Championship and the U.S. Junior Girls Championship.

During the 2001 season Delasin recorded two victories -- she successfully defended her title at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic and won the Samsung World Championship.

She also recorded a total of six top-10 finishes, including a tie for fifth at the Standard Register PING, a tie for sixth at both the Evian Masters and Kathy Ireland Championship, and a tie for 10th at The Office Depot Hosted.

Major Victories
None

LPGA Tour Victories
2001: Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, Samsung World Championship of Women's Golf
2000: Giant Eagle LPGA Classic


Official Website:
http://dorothydelasin.com/

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Jennifer Rosales

Birth September 17, 1978 (1978-09-17) (age 29)
Manila, Philippines
Height 5 ft 5 in (1.74 m)
Nationality Filipino
Residence Manila, Philippines
College University of Southern California

Career
Turned Pro 2000
Current tour LPGA Tour (joined 2000)
Professional wins 2 (LPGA 2) 1 (2008 Women's World Cup of Golf)

Major Championship results
Kraft Nabisco T9: 2003
LPGA Championship T11: 2003
U.S. Women's Open 4: 2004
Du Maurier Classic MC: 2000
Women's British Open T4: 2002


Amateur career
Rosales won the Philippine Ladies Amateur Golf Championship five times in a row from 1994 to 1998. She played her collegiate golf at the University of Southern California winning the 1998 NCAA Championship as a freshman. as well as the Golf World/Palmetto Dunes Collegiate Invitational. She was named First-Team All-American for 1998-1999.

Professional career
Rosales gained exempt status for the 2000 LPGA Tour Season by finishing tied for seventh at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. She became the first golfer from the Philippines to win on the LPGA Tour when she won the 2004 Chick-Fil-A Charity Championship. She gained her second win at the first official tournament of the 2005 season, the SBS Open in Turtle Bay, Hawaii.

In 2005 she teamed up with Dorothy Delasin to represent the Philippines in the inaugural Women's World Cup of Golf where they finished second. She played with Ana Larraneta in the 2006 Women's World Cup of Golf. She also was part of Team Asia at the 2005 and 2006 Lexus Cup. Rosales and Delasin were teamed representing the Philippines again in the 2008 Women's World Cup of Golf, winning the tournament by two strokes over the team from Korea. On January 20, 2008, Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin of Team Philippines won the 4th Women's World Cup of golf in Sun City, South Africa, with 4 birdies in the last 4 holes. The duo had a final round of 7-under-par 65 in the best ball, for a 54-hole aggregate of 18-under-par 198. Korea's Ji-Yai Shin and Eun Hee Ji were second on 200 after a final round 67, while Taiwan (Amy Hung and Yun Jye Wei) and Japan (Shinobu Moromizato and Miki Saiki) tied for third on 203. France's Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement, were fifth on 205 following 67

Official Website :
http://jennyrosales.com/

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James Younghusband

Full name James Joseph Younghusband
Date of birth September 4, 1986 (1986-09-04) (age 21)
Place of birth Ashford, London, England
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Centre midfield
Current club Unattached

James Joseph Younghusband (born September 4, 1986 in Ashford, London, England) is an English-Filipino football player who plays for the Philippine National Team.

Younghusband's career began when he signed for Chelsea in 1996 and signed a scholarship with them at the age of 10. While with Chelsea he made a number of appearances for the youth and reserve team. During his scholarship he attended the Salesian School in southwest London where he passed all his GCSEs and one A-Level.

James was born in Ashford, Middlesex, England, the son of Philip Younghusband, a chartered accountant and Susan Younghusband, a Filipina.

He was with Chelsea before he turned 12. He usually operates on the right side of the field either as a right back or a right winger.

Early in 2005, the Philippine Football Federation was alerted to Younghusband's eligibility by a mysterious gamer who allegedly found out about their lineage via the Football Manager series. He and his younger brother Phil were eventually called up to the Southeast Asian nation's football squad, amidst much fanfare. Younghusband participated in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games, which was held in the Philippines, scoring three goals at the tournament.

Incidentally, his younger brother Phil is also a professional footballer attached to Chelsea F.C. and is now a highly-rated reserve team regular. The pair play together for the Philippine national team.

ASEAN Championships 2007
Younghusband played in all of the Philippines' matches at the ASEAN Championships 2007, but had a hamstring injury just before the tournament started and was never fully fit. He however started all 3 matches of the group.

He signed with Woking F.C. on Transfer Deadline Day,but has already left 31 August 2007.

Official Website:
http://www.jamesyounghusband.com/

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Arnel Pineda

Birth name Arnel Pineda
Born September 5, 1967 (1967-09-05) (age 40)Manila, Philippines
Genre(s) Rock, Hard rock, Soft rock, Pop
Occupation(s) Singer-Songwriter
Instrument(s) Singing, Guitar
Years active 1982-Present
Label(s) Warner Bros. / MCA Universal
Associated
acts Ijos Band, Amo, New Age, Most W@nted, The Zoo, Journey


Arnel Pineda (singer-songwriter) is the newest member and lead singer of the popular American rock band Journey . Pineda has enjoyed a successful musical career in Asia for the last 25 years. His singing style has been influenced by Steve Perry (Journey), John Farnham (Little River Band), Freddie Mercury (Queen), Sting (The Police), Survivor, Heart, The Beatles, Van Halen, Aerosmith, U2, Warrant, Deep Purple, and other bands from that genre.

BIOGRAPHY
Pineda began singing at age 5. His parents, who were both tailors, encouraged him to enter amateur singing contests. His mother died from a lengthy illness when he was 12, leaving his family in serious debt. Pineda and his three siblings were left to fend for themselves. The family was homeless, resulting in Pineda sleeping in Luneta Park or the houses of friends. Pineda collected scrap metal at the pier to earn money and according to one report, he dreamed of becoming an engineer.

Singing career
In 1982, when Pineda was 15 years old, he became the lead singer of the Filipino musical group called Ijos Band (later renamed "Hijos".) In 1987 and 1988, he won the Best Vocalist award at the World Band Explosion, with the finals held in Budokan Hall, Tokyo.

Pineda then joined a pop/rock Filipino band called Amo as their lead singer. Amo played in clubs in Quezon City, Olongapo and Makati, which are located on the biggest island of the Philippines. Amo was very popular in the renowned Chinese owned Cal Jam club in Olongapo City, which was frequented by United States Military personnel. During his tenure in Amo, Pineda made regular TV appearances in the Philippines, and toured the country performing before audiences of 10,000-15,000.

In late 1990, five of Amo's original members split from the band leader, Ulysis Ablang (Uly) and formed another band behind Pineda, "New Age". This occurred prior to the release of Amo's one-and-only album released in 1990 titled "Ang Tunay na Amo" ("The Real Master") on BMG records which spawned one popular radio hit called "Running Away". (The song was popularized again in 2006 by another Filipino artist Erik Santos, who won an American Idol type Filipino TV show, Star In A Million.) The remaining members of Amo went on to become "The Boss Band", while Pineda's band, New Age played regularly at Fire and Rain in Makati, a city on the outskirts of Manila.

During those performances, a talent agent spotted Pineda and asked him to move to Hong Kong to perform at a very popular entertainment restaurant called Igor’s (now defunct). With New Age, Pineda performed six nights a week, Tuesday through Sunday, at Igor’s for nine years thereafter. New Age also performed at Grammy’s in Hong Kong.

In 1999, Pineda caught the attention of Warner Bros. record label and flew back to the Philippines on his days off to record a solo album, the self-titled “Arnel Pineda” which he wrote and arranged. Most of the album’s ten original songs are slow ballads, with only two upbeat numbers, one of which carries a Latin style. One of the songs, “Iiyak Ka Rin” became very popular and is now a karaoke favorite in Asia, while another song "Sayang" became a radio favorite. Pineda continued to perform with New Age while making his album and for several years thereafter.

In 2001, Pineda sang one song with Filipino band, South Border’s album “The Way We Do”. The song is called “Looking Glass”.

In 2002, Pineda's band changed their name to 9MM and played at “The Edge” in Lai Kwai Fong, in Hongkong.

In 2004, three members of the New Age band reformed with a female singer sharing lead vocals with Pineda and called themselves “Most W@nted”. This band played 3-4 hour sets Monday through Saturday at The Cavern Club in Hong Kong. On their only day off, Sundays, the band often performed at Filipino community events.

During this time, Pineda recorded the theme song of the short-lived Filipino radio show, “Dayo."

After separating from his live-in partner, Pineda suffered from health problems, which almost destroyed his voice. After six months of recuperation, he was able to sing again.


The Zoo
In 2006, encouraged by legendary Filipino talent manager and TV director, Bert de Leon, Pineda moved back to the Philippines with Monet Cajipe, the guitarist who has been in all Pineda’s bands during the last 24 years. They formed the The Zoo. They signed on with de Leon's company, Sundance Entertainment. The Zoo Band performed several nights a week at clubs in Manila and Olongapo during 2006 and 2007. Shows regularly spanned 3-5 hours. The Zoo’s first album “Zoology” was released by MCA Universal in September 2007 featuring 13 original tracks, several of which were penned by Pineda.

Journey
Videos of The Zoo performing cover songs by Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Air Supply, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins and other popular acts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, began appearing on YouTube.com in February 2007 and now number more than 200 in total. In August 2007, Neal Schon of Journey contacted the YouTube member who uploaded many of these videos asking for contact information for Pineda. Pineda, along with his manager, Bert de Leon, flew to San Francisco to audition for Journey later in August, 2007.

On December 5, 2007, Pineda was announced as the lead singer of Journey. CNN Headline News ran the story as part of their "News to Me" segment.


Upcoming Tour and Album
While an official 2008 tour schedule has not yet been released to the public, "El Mercurio Online" notes that Journey will perform at the Festival de Viña del Mar at Quinta Vergara Arena in Chile on February 21, 2008. Journey will also perform on February 23 at Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago, at Grand Hotel and Casino of Viña del Mar on February 24, both in Chile. They return to the US for a private Remax Convention event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 6, 2008. Another event in Las Vegas is scheduled shortly thereafter and will be recorded and released to the public on DVD. Journey will tour Europe from May 24 (starting in Sweden) through June 15, 2008. The official US tour begins on July 4 and continues through the end of September, 2008. In the closing months of 2008, Journey plans to tour Japan, Australia, and the Philippines.

Journey and renowned producer Kevin Shirley are currently in the studio creating a new album which is slated for release in July, 2008, to coincide with the beginning of the US tour. In his online diary, Shirley described the recording sessions as "wonderful, successful, stupidly creative" and said that "Sometimes you just know when there's history in the making." In a statement on December 5, 2007, Shirley said "I was stunned at Arnel, who is a monster vocalist. He is the real deal. Just phenomenal." When speaking about the upcoming album in a later entry in his diary, he said: "Just got back from Vegas last night, after mixing seven new Journey songs. They are outstanding... For the record, I think Arnel is 'the business!' - the guy can really sing! He handles the ballads with SO much heart, and belts the rockers as hard, and melodically, as anyone I have heard. The songs are sensational - wonderfully crafted and deep, and so focused, you may wonder where they all came from. And I'm being serious...."

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FilAms Join Annual Rose Parade

by Joseph Pimentel
AsianJournal.com

Pasadena, CA - At 4 am.,New Years, FilAMs Jack Pimentel, 19, and Laarni Cordero, 16, woke up for a new experience.

While some kids thier age were still in bed or barely getting home from New Year's festivities, Pimentel and Cordero were preparing to be part of the 119th Anniversay of the Rose Parade.

They were part of the Lions Club International Tournament of Roses that celebrated the New Year commemorating the United Nations.

Pimentela nd Cordero are two of the 30 young Leos statewide carrying the of the countries that make up the United Nations.

"This is the first time that we've invited the young Leos to be part of the float," said Mahedta Amarasuriya, the President of the International Association of Lions Club, one of the world's largest service organizations.

The 2008 Tournament of Roses Parade featured 46 floats, 22 marching bands, and 19 Rose equestrians.

As the Lions group converged at the Double Tree Hotel in Montebello, excitement filled the chilly morning air.

"Oh yeah, I'm excited," said Pimentel. "This is definitely an honor."

Pimentel and Cordero sat in front of the bus resting for what would be a seven mile walk in front of millions of people in Pasadena and televised worldwide.

"I just hope I don't trip," said Cordero.

Rose Bowl
At 5:30am, cars lined the entrance of the once empty parking lot beside the Rose Bowl. Parking was an adventure. Those who didnt want to pay the $30 parking rate, tried their luck by circling the local neighborhoods walkeed in pitch-black streets a good two to three miles away from the parade route. People were seen carrying blankets, seat warmers, and wore thick jackets to weather the chilly morning air.

ROse Parade Officials said people started camping on the parade route as early as New Year's Eve afternoon.

"But this really start getting crazy until 6:30 or 7 am." said Tom Fuelling, a Rose Parade Volunteer.

Tom O'Hara, Bob Spears, and a group of 20 friends were part off the Foothill Flyers Funning Club. Every New Year's morning, the group meets at the entrance of the Arroyo Seco Bridge known as the gateway into central Pasadena. The group runs three miles to preview the floats on the parade route on orange Grove and heads back to the bridge to watch the fighter jets fly over.

"It's become annual tradition. We've been doing this probably for the past sis to eight years," said O'Hara. "But the club itself has done this for 20 years,"

"There is nothing like this in the world," said Spears."We run to the parade route, look at the floats, take pictures and run back just in time. We have the best view."

"Afterwards, we all eat breakfast. We're an eating club with a running problem," O'Hara added.

International Audince
Groups of weary-eyed people wearing hooded sweaters inside their sleeping bags, or covered in warm thick blankets littered the sidewalks of Orange Grove Blvd. Some slept perched up on their lawn chairs.

Ben Silva arrived at 11pm the night before.He came to the event, along with a small number of El Salvadoreans, to show their national pride. This year tthe Rose Parade featured a 230-member youth marching band, the Nuestros Angeles de El Salvador.

"We're all her for them," he said, flanked by the few compatriots waving the blue-white-blue flag of El Salvador. "This is our chance to see them live."

Filipino Daryl Famirasan, the field director for the Socio-economic Uplift Legacy Anthropological and Development Service (SULADS), traveled from Mindanao, Philippines, Famarisanm the National Awardee for Bayaning Pilipino Award, said he specificaly wanted to see the bands and hear the music.

Famirasan arrived at 5am with friends Jocelyn Sonsonam and Dolly and Mike Sarsoza. Thier small group perched up four lawn chairs just at the start of the parade route on Del Mar and Orange Grove.

"The last time I came here was 17years ago with my kids", said Dolly Sarsoza. "This is worth waking up early for."

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Gina Lopez Alexander - known bag designer at Hollywood

by Midweek
Gina Lopez Alexander’s handbag designs and her cause, HOPE for Children, have caught the attention of countless Hollywood celebrities.

She shares about her meeting with Elizabeth Taylor, where they sat in the actress’s home as they browsed through personal family photos.

“She’s just nostalgic, an icon,” says Alexander of Taylor, who instead of picking a photo herself for her bag, instructed Alexander to just surprise her. There’s the recent creation of a diaper bag for new parents, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

“They chose to use a picture of them kissing, taken when they found out she (Jennifer) was pregnant.”


And then there’s the phone calls from hip-hop and R&B artist Ashanti, Usher’s mom and others. “I get in shock every time my phone rings and it’s someone like Kobe (Bryant),” she says.

She also had an order from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who purchased a photo bag for all the women in his family.

“Can you imagine,” says Alexander, “Maria Shriver’s mom (Eunice Kennedy Shriver) carrying around one of my bags?”

When asked what types of pictures are submitted the most for bags, she answers, “Kids and pets. People just love their families.”

With more than 60 kids in her family from siblings and cousins, Alexander always assumed she would have at least four children of her own. For years Alexander and husband Richard tried to conceive. When they finally did, it wasn’t what they expected.



The family reunion photo on the bag at right led
to Gina Alexander’s adopting a child
“I had an ectopic pregnancy,” she explains, “I almost died.”

The pregnancy loss and learning that she may never be able to carry a baby to full term made the grieving process long and difficult.

At about the same time, the Alexanders actively participated with the non-profit child placement agency HOPE for Children. “Richard and I were volunteers with no plans to adopt.” Three years after their disappointing loss, the couple decided to look into adoption. According to Alexander, the cost of adoption can be a financial strain, and explains that it costs anywhere from $15,000 to $20,000 to adopt a child.

In an effort to help alleviate some of that, the fashion-conscious Alexander decided to make handbags. The sales of her designs would help her and Richard earn enough money to complete the process. Alexander used her love of the fashion world and background in trend forecasting, merchandising and marketing to create Gina Alexander Inc.

Following a one-year intensive application process, and with her photo handbag business moving forward, the Alexanders flew to Atlanta for the birth of their newly adopted baby. Again, they would find themselves in an unexpected situation. The baby’s birth mother changed her mind and the adoption came to an abrupt halt.

Emotionally devastated and drained, the Alexanders were uncertain that they would ever become parents. Fortunately for them, someone else knew they would.

“About two months after our first attempt at adoption, we got a call from HOPE for Children,” recalls Alexander. “They said a birth mother wanted Richard and I after she saw our family reunion picture in Maui.”

The family picture was part of an album that the Alexanders put together for the child placement agency during their first adoption. Hopeful, the couple courageously began the process one more time. Their perseverance, strength and creativity would pay off. On Aug. 16, 2003, the couple became the proud parents of Katelyn Regina-Kealani Alexander.





Alexander’s love of family and people are apparent in her trademark bags and are traits she learned while growing up in Honolulu. She recalls her grandparents, “Mama and Papa,” who legally adopted her. She remembers their home on Nihi Street in Kalihi where she lived as a child. After their passing, Alexander went to live with her mom in Waimanalo. Although the 38-year-old business owner is now based in California, she maintains a very close relationship with her mom.

What started in the back room of a house six years ago has grown to become a hugely successful business with an ever-expanding warehouse, 25 employees, and generating more than $2 million in sales over the past 24 months. Alexander is the family-run company’s founder and chief executive officer. Richard is co-founder and chief financial officer, and cousin Alexander Aquino, also a co-founder, is president of the company.

“My sister Angie Nakamoto is head of our customer services department and all my family members are reps,” gushes Alexander.

In addition to her success in business, Alexander has launched a very lucrative phil-anthropic effort - she uses her handbags as a way to give back and help other couples that want to adopt a child.

“A portion of the sale of every handbag goes to HOPE for Children,” says Alexander. She and her handbags have already helped to complete the successful adoption of children from Ethiopia and Russia.

Alexander’s line of bags includes designs for women and men. Folks can choose from wallets, pocketbooks, journals, totes, wristlets and more.

Adoration for Alexander’s bags and humanitarian efforts are many, but it is the stories of everyday people that get Alexander teary-eyed.

There’s an order she filled for a soldier in Iraq who surprised his wife with a photo bag of himself dressed in his Army uniform.

Alexander talks about the grandmother in the Middle East whose grandson sent her a bag with a photo of the grandchildren on it.

“He says his grandmother doesn’t use the bag. Instead, she displays it on the mantle.”

And then there’s the bag with one of Gina’s own photos, the one of the family reunion on Maui that sealed the deal for her daughter Katelyn’s adoption.

“Katelyn has created the heart behind the product,” says Alexander.

To learn how you can create your own designer Gina Alexander handbag, visit http://www.ginaalexander.com/

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Laura Sanders

Teenage FilAm Topbills 'Secret Garden' musical.

San Francisco -- Laura Sanders, a 13 year old Filipino American singer and actress star in the lead role of Mary Lennox in the upcoming revival production of the Broadway musical The Secret Garden with San Francisco's internationally renowned Lamplighter's Music Theatre.

The Secret Garden, based in the beloved 1909 children novel of the same by Frances Hodgson Burnett, was adapted as a musical for Broadway by lyricist Marsha Norman, and composer Lucy Simon. It tells the story of a young English girl, Mary, who is opened in an epidemic in colonial Indian and is sent to Yorkshire,England to live with her emotionally wounded widower uncle, Archibald Craven, and his invalid son, Colin. Led by the ghost of her deceased Aunt Lily; a chorus of ghost and spirits from her own past; and assisted by her maid Martha, and Martha's brother Dickon, a mysterious gardener and conjurer; Mary overcomes adversity to restore emotional and physical health to her uncle, cousin. and herself.

The Secret Garden premiered on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in 1991, and closed in 1993 after 709 performances. It won three Tony Awards in 1991, including the award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for 11-years-old Daisy Eagan, the youngest Tony Award winner in history, for her performance in the role of Mary Lennox.

The LAmplighters Music Theatre revival of The Secret Garden, accompanied by a 21-piece professional orchestra, will be the first fully staged North American Production to use the full original Broadway orchestration, siince the show closed its run on Broadway.

The Secret Garden plays at the Yerba Buena Theater in San Francisco from Friday, January 18th through Sunday, January 29th for four performances; and at the Lesher Center for Arts, in Walnut Creek, from Thursday, January 31st through Sunday, February 3rd, for five additional performances.

Laura Sanders is a 7th grade student at The Nueva School, in Hillsborough. She has performed in many previous productions with the Lamplighters and other Bay Area theater companies. Laura is double cast in the Mary Lennox role with Katy Corbus, another accomplished young Bay Area peroformer. Laura will be performing the role of Mary Lennox at the following performances of The Secret Garden:

Yerba Buena Theater, San Francisco
Friday, January 18th, 8pm (opening niight)
Saturday, January 19th, 2pm
Lesher Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek
Friday, Feebruary 1st, 8pm
Saturday, February 2nd, 8pm

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Carissa Villacorta - author of a book known at New York

by Manila TImes
Filipina’s big harvest of
international writing awards


CARISSA VILLACORTA, the 27-year-old author of the book Surreality, garnered four Communicator Awards, including an Award of Excellence for the copy/writing of Surreality. “The Communicator’s prestigious Award of Excellence is presented to those entrants whose ability to communicate makes them the best in their field.” The other three were Awards of Distinction for her column of the same title in Philippine News, a US circulated newspaper; for the cover article “From Far Away to Broadway” for Filipinas Magazine, February 2007, also circulated in the US, and the Surreality book. “The Award of Distinction is given to projects that exceed industry standards in production or communication skills.” The Communicator Awards is an international awards competition that recognizes outstanding work in the communication field according to their official letter of announcement. The book was published by the UST Publishing House in celebration of the school’s 400th anniversary.

The New-York based Villacorta, together with her creative director John Paul Su of JPSU Multimedia Productions, also received two Platinum Hermes Creative Awards as author of the book and as writer and executive producer of its promotional video. “The Hermes Creative Awards is an international competition for creative professionals involved in the concept, writing and design of traditional materials and programs, and emerging technologies, administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals, consisting of several thousand members. Hermes award makers are the same makers of the Golden Globes.

Earlier, Villacorta received 3-bronze Telly Awards for her Surreality video in three categories—Excellence in Low-Budget Productions, Promotional Pieces and Promotional Music Video. “The Telly is an international award-giving body which honors the best in film and video productions.” Telly award makers are the same makers of the Oscars and Emmys.

Carissa was most recently a featured speaker at the Mensa Society of Greater New York, to discuss some themes of Surreality. With over 50,000 members, American Mensa is the largest national Mensa operating under the auspices of Mensa International Ltd. To qualify for Mensa, members must have scored in the top 2 percent of the general population on an accepted standardized intelligence test.

She became the youngest Distinguished Service Honoree for Excellence in Community Service in the 43-year history of Philippine New York Junior Chamber of Commerce’s Distinguished Service Awards. She was also honored for Outstanding Achievement in Contemporary Literature at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, New York.

Villacorta also holds the distinction of being the first Filipino author to launch at a Borders bookstore in the United States. Carissa works at the community and cultural section of the Philippine Consulate General in New York and writes as a hobby on personalities, events and places in New York.

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Ryan Conferido - "Do you think you can Dance?"

Ryan Conferido (Born June 13, 1983 (age 24)Downey, Ca) is a Filipino American bboy, best known for being a contestant on the first season of the United States dance competition television series, So You Think You Can Dance (2005).

Conferido was raised in a strict religious household where dance was discouraged. He picked up bboying on his own in high school. In 2005, though he had no formal training, he decided to audition for the first season of the Fox dance competition So You Think You Can Dance. His impressive self-taught breakdancing style earned him rave comments from the judges and was eventually picked as one of the top 20 finalists for the show. On the premiere episode, his ability to pick up what seems to be a technically difficult Latin dance routine brought him a standing ovation. He proceeded through multiple rounds of eliminations, and was one of the last 16 dancers eliminated.

Prior to his fame in the Fox show, Conferido has also appeared in numerous movies as an extra, and had a prominent role as a breakdancer in You Got Served where he displayed his signature head-hopping and elbow-utilizing moves.
Conferido was also seen in some of the audition episodes during the 2006 season accompanying some of his dancing associates who were trying out during the new auditions in Los Angeles. He and his "Sickstep" dance troupe were invited to be featured performers on the June 21, 2006 episode.
Following news that he and other members have officially left the dance crew Sickstep, Conferido started his own crew Quest together with Hokuto Konishi, Steve Terada, Victor Kim, Nick Teti, Brian Hirano & Aris Paracuelles. Conferido is also a core member of the b-boy crew "The City Drifters". He has been in music videos for Papa Roach, the live action adaptation of Fat Albert, the Bboy DVD Unsigned Undadog, and "Based on a True Story, volume 2". He also appeared for both an interview and performance on Live with Regis and Kelly.

website:
Myspace of Ryan C.
Youtube of Ryan C.

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Daniel Dingel

Know Daniel Dingel here:
http://danieldingel.org
http://inventors.about.com/od/filipinoscientists/p/Daniel_Dingel.htm

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Gabi Wilson

Now 10 yrs. old, Gabriella "Gabi" Wilson has been singing since she was seven. Her father Kenny Wilson is a member of the Urban Bushmen, a local band that we refer to as "The Soul of Vallejo" here at Listen & Be Heard Poetry Café. "They used to practice in the house. I listened a lot. I would learn a song. and then start singing it with the band. The first song I learned was 'If I Ain't Got You'." She learned the song by ear, listening to Alicia Keys sing it. "I used to like to hum to Chaka Khan, Alicia Keys and Mariah Carey. Her mother Agnes Wilson a native Filipina I started taking voice lessons two weeks ago. My vocal teacher's name is Summer at the American Canyon School of Music. It's fun because she teaches me different exercises and to sing from the stomach. I'm taking piano lessons from Mary Ann at the same school. I started to learn to read music. It's really different because I have to look at it. It helps me because if I can read music then I can learn a song without even hearing it."



In the last year her parents have been taking her around to participate in some competitions. At the Sacramento State Fair she took first place in a talent competition. In Las Vegas she won a first place trophy in the singing category for her age group, and has placed in most of the other competitions she has participated in. While making appearances she has also made connections that have landed her some gigs. Opening for Tony Toni Tone at the Oakland Museum gave her an opportunity to meet Duane Wiggins who asked her to play at a birthday party for Keysha Cole.


But for children with starry eyes about singing and playing for the stars, it's not all glamour and VIP treatment. "Every day after school I do my homework, then practice scales on the piano. I practice new songs, listen to songs and see if I can learn them. If I have trouble sometimes my dad helps me. I play guitar too, because my Dad plays. I've been learning basic Blues on guitar, like James Brown. My dad taught me the James Brown chord from "I Feel Good."



We were first introduced to Gabriella at Listen & Be Heard Poetry Café by Alvon, when he invited her to play a few songs during his unplugged concert at the café on December 14. She held the audience entranced with her soulful singing. Her feet just barely reached the pedals of her keyboard, but she gave a rendition of Donny Hathaway's "A Song for You" that was anything but juvenile. It is fitting that she will be giving a concert at Listen & Be Heard Poetry Café not only because we are a family friendly place where parents can feel comfortable bringing their children, but also because she is a poet. “I've been writing poetry since I was six. I love to write a lot, so I decided to write something that rhymes, also fairy tales and mysteries. I wrote a book of poetry. Every day after school I could just go to my desk and start writing." The book is called "Anything on Earth Poems," Published by Life Vest Publishing Inc. she sells the books when she performs, and is currently working on another book with different categories. Agnes Williams, a secretary at Kaiser Vallejo ICU, is a very proud mom. "I'm thankful for who she is now, and how she is with her special talent. She's a very down-to-earth person. She hasn't changed a bit. We try to make sure she still enjoys her childhood even though she's a busy girl. It's time-consuming for me taking her here and there, but it pays off when she is up there performing. My advice to parents who have kids: they have to make sure that they support their kids regardless of what kind of talent they have or whatever they want to do. Just make sure that they help their kids to encourage them to do positive things. If they keep their kids busy doing positive things that will keep them from getting sidetracked."



Gabi's concert will be half solo and half with the Urban Bushmen backing her up, making for a very special night indeed.

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