WOW Pinoy

Angelace - 3 sisters

Written by Ms. Confuse on Wednesday, March 05, 2008

3 sisters, Christine (18), Ella (17), and Angel-Lee (15) Matutis, come together to form a group, now known as Angelace. With their charm, beauty, talent, harmonies, poise, and intelligence, these girls stand out amongst all others.

Starting from the young age of 7 (Christine), 6 (Ella), and 4 (Angel-Lee), these girls performed throughout the cities of California and parts of Nevada. A few of their performances includes singing at the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs games, opening for Filipino artists Gary Valenciano, The Ultimate Loveteams; Rayver & Shaina; John LLoyd & Bea; Gerald & Kim, Jolina Magdangal, performing on stage with American Idol's Camille Velasco, and singing for politicians Arnold Schwarzenegger and Deborah Ortiz.

With their natural ways to stand out they paved their own way. Each one has their own unique look, style, and sound, but they come together to form one group. As artists under Megaverse Records, Angelace hopes to set a new role model for young ones, pre-teens, and other aspiring artists.

Set for a release in Mid Fall, Christine, Ella & Angel-Lee will debut their first album. With pure originality, and their unique sound, all three artists have written and arranged their first album with producer, composer and cousin, Rodge Mamauag.


Website:
Myspace profile

Legaci - Proud FilAms Group Singers

Written by Ms. Confuse on Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Legaci is a 4-part R&B vocal group from the Bay Area, California. Jaymill, Micah, Chris, and Del have been singing together as a group for 1 year.



Official Websites:
Myspace.com/legaci
cdbaby.com/legaci
legacionline.com

Jasmine Trias on Ramiele Malubay

Written by Ms. Confuse on Monday, March 03, 2008

LOS ANGELES - When Ramiele Malubay landed on the top 24 contestants in American Idol season 7, she admitted that one of her idols is former "AI" finalist Jasmine Trias.

In an exclusive interview with Philippines News (Janet Susan R. Nepales), Trias gives advice and pointers to Malubay to help the latter realize her dream of becoming the first Filipino American Idol.

Here is the interview.

Do you still watch 'American Idol ever since you left and went on your own?
Yes, I still watch the show every occasionally whenever I get the chance to. I like to keep up with the new talent that appears on the show.

How different or similiar are the contestants during your time and the latest seasons?
Every show is going to be different. There are different contestants, with different personalities and style of singing. However, I think that the Show has not changed in that their goal is to find the next American Idol.

A Filipina American, Ramiele Malubay, made it to the top 24 and from the very first time she auditioned, she already told the judges that you were her idol. Did you see that audition? Ehat can you say about that comment? Do you get a lot of similar reactions from young aspiring singers?
Yes, I saw that audition and I was very happy to hear that I had inspired her in some way. To hear that and to know that I have inspired people with what I love to do, really makes my "job" worth it.

Do you feel pressure that these young aspiring singers looking up to you and that you should always set a good example to them?
Absolutely, setting a good example and being a role model is what being an American Idol is all about. There is an amount of pressure to make sure that I am making good decisions, representing myself in a positive light, to make sure that I am being a good role model because nobody's perfect, people make mistakes, I make mistakes, and it's what makes us human.

What would you advice Ramiele Malubay in order to stay long in the competition?
My advice to Ramiele would be to stay true to who she is, to never give up, to always be strong and positive, to remember to have a great time through this one in a life time experience, and to choose the right song, the song that best represent who you are.

What would you tell her to make it in the industry? What would be the do's and dont's?
In addition to the advice above, I would tell her that there are a lot of snakes in the music industry. So, she needs to surround herself with people that sincerely look out for her best interests; family is very important to have because they will always look out for what is best for you. Finding a good manager is also very important to making it in the industry.


If you were given another chance to join 'American Idol', what would you have done diferently and why?
I would not have done anything differently. I believe that everything that happened, good and bad, on the show happened for a reasin and I would not change anything about my experience.

Do you still get in touch with your former 'American Idol' colleagues? If so, with whom?
I keep occasionally with few American Idol colleagues from my season: Latoya, Camile Velasco, John Stevens, Fantasia, and Jennifer Hudson.

What have you been busy lately?
I have been preparing for my movie that will be shooting with GMA, for my album that will launch in the Philippines and the U.S., and I am getting ready for a promo tour that will promote the movie and my new albums.

Have you been in touch with the judges? With whom?
No. While I was on American Idol, the contestants were not able to create a rapport with the judges outside of the show. Most of the communications with the judges were only on the show, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

What would you tell Ramiele about handling critics and dectators? And Simon Cowell who was not impressed with her at the audition?
She should take the criticism constructively and used it toher advantage to improve for overall talent and performance. Simon will always be Simon, but I would telll him to just lighten up and smile more often.

Official Websites:
http://www.jasminetrias.net
Wikipedia
Myspace Site
Fans Site 1
Fans Site 2
Fans Site 3

Angie Pepa - Defiance and Dedication

Written by Ms. Confuse on Sunday, March 02, 2008

Something - The Beatles

Baltimore - It was the tailend of fall 2005 and the first day of Swebohemian Festival, the biggest people's arts and crafts convergence in the city. Angie Pepa was performer #4 Arlington Stage, fronting two Budweiser booths and besides a row of four portapotty units.

Her time was set 2:15pm, amidst a tough early afternoon crowd of mostly snooty self-minding Appalachian bikers surveying post-puberty girls breaking in newly-dyed velvet hairdos and fela market urchins exploring collectible junks for eBay purposes.

Not a friendly gig, indeed. Yet amidst a mix of confident swagger and contemplative longing. Angie Pepa rehashed a Lisa Loeb song from being a tired morning-after apology to sweetly languorous tribute to a young woman's life on the fingers of defiance and dedication, vengeance and vulnerbility.

Angie Pepa is a 19-year-old Filipino American singer/songwriter based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. She has been performing at various open mic venues and Pinoy rock concerts in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC in the last four years.

In November 2004 - just year or so of visibility - she was given the rare opportunity to open for Side A, a premier Filipino rock and soul band, at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University in DC.

"My music is very personal, like words from a diary," she writes in her Myspace blog. In cuts "Confused" and Lovesong" - from his debut CD. "All of the Above" - we hear an eager kid reinventing unconventional pop that works despite, or because of, her overstuffed brain. And although she tries to channel Avril Lavigne's angstaddled verbosity in most of her songs, she harks back to pained detachment and self-examining defiance that is closer to Jill Sobule or Chan Marshall.

Other choise cuts in the album include, "Lost" and "No Matter What" -- both defining parameters between sodden and serious. Brassy, intensely personal sorrow that is true blues, not nouveau soul or pop whine.

Not suprisingly, Pepa envisions herself crossing the cultural divide to mainstream audiences -- proof of the aforementioned courageous foray at Sowebohemian Fest.

Her father Eric and northeast-based organizer and Infamas founder Jimmy Almario work together in pushing her star beyong the Filipino musicians in the U.S.

"Angie excels in her own right, she;s not just a great cover act," says Almario. Pepa, he adds, mirrors the kind of multi-talented Filipino artist tat Infamas wants to support.

Watch out for the impending transformation of Angie Pepa from an exuberant adolescent mulling over a new pair of fancy red shoes to defiant, fire-breathing muse crooning about broken valentines and feisty amazons.

Official Websites:
http://angiepepa.com

Cristeta Comerford - Highest Chef in White House

Written by Ms. Confuse on Saturday, March 01, 2008

Cristeta Comerford (born 1962) is the White House Executive Chef as of 2007. She is the first woman to be selected for the post, and also the first of Filipino descent.

Mrs. Laura Bush announced today that Cristeta "Cris" Comerford has been named the White House Executive Chef. Ms. Comerford, the first woman to serve in the position, will be responsible for designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holiday functions, receptions and official luncheons hosted by President and Mrs. Bush.

"I am delighted that Cris Comerford has accepted the position of White House Executive Chef," Mrs. Bush said. "Her passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations."

Trained in French classical techniques and specializing in ethnic and American cuisine, Ms. Comerford has worked as an Assistant Chef in the White House kitchen since 1995. She has helped develop inventive menus that showcased American foods and wines for special White House events including the State Dinner in honor of Her Excellency, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines; the Official Dinner in honor of His Excellency, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India; and a social dinner in celebration of William Shakespeare's birthday.

Ms. Comerford received her bachelor's degree in Food Technology from the University of the Philippines and gained culinary experience serving as Chef Tournant at Le Ciel in Vienna, Austria; Chef at Le Grande Bistro at The Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C.; and Chef at The Colonnade at the ANA Hotel in Washington, D.C., where she implemented the "Culinary Arts Gallery" which showcased the best of American fine cuisine.

In addition, she collaborated with Chef John Ash to promote American game cooking and assisted and coordinated on the "East Meets West" promotion featuring the late Barbara Tropp. Ms. Comerford melds training received from institutions such as The Education Institute, American Hotel and Motel Association with experiences with some of the nation's most innovative chefs in the California wine country and San Francisco restaurants to produce original dishes with American flavor.