Philippine National Artists and National Heroes

[kiretoce]

Originally Posted by lili

Ha..ha..ha! We are thinking the same thing! I posted the song lyrics for "Don't Cha" by the Pussycat Dolls at the Musikahan thread. The Pussycat Dolls are HOT! I want to see their show in Las Vegas!

[Lili]

My cousin MiG

First posted 06:51pm (Mla time) Aug 18, 2005
By Suzette Legarda Montinola
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on Page A2-1 of the August 19, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

WHEN Mark Burnett’s new reality show “Rockstar INXS” premiered on Star World, I sat riveted in front of the TV set—awed and terrified in equal parts. I had never been a reality show fan. It was fantastically surreal for me now to be watching a career that I had followed my entire life reach yet another all-time high.

I held my breath as the airplane landed at the LA airport, and then as the 15 finalists vying to be the next front man for the rock band INXS disembarked.

When Brooke Burke welcomed them to the Hollywood Hills mansion where they would spend the next three months, the one at the head of the pack was my first cousin Miguel.

Miguel Alfonso Ramon Legarda Ayesa, now known around the world as MiG (yes, that’s with a capital G at the end, like the MiG Jet Fighter) literally followed me into the world. The joke in our family goes that, just as my mom was being wheeled out of the hospital with me in her arms, his mother Tita Uko had gone into labor and was being wheeled in. He has always referred to me as “Older Cousin Suzie.”

MiG, his brother Andrew and their parents migrated to Australia when we were 4 years old. When I look back, however, it is almost as if they never left. My lolo, Alejandro Roces Legarda and GG (for Glamorous Grandmother as she liked to be called) Ramona Hernandez Legarda, were staunch believers in keeping family and family ties together. Every school break found Andrew and Miguel on a Qantas plane bound for Manila.

This happened every Christmas and Easter. We played war games and card games. We took trips together, built playgrounds in the backyard and threw dirty socks at each other. We sang Christmas carols in the car, exploded firecrackers on New Year’s Eve and prepared lavish programs for our elders.

MiG and I were 8 years old during our very first group performance with other cousins on our grandparents’ 40th wedding anniversary. We danced to Gloria Gaynor’s current hit at the time, “I Will Survive.”

As we got older, the programs got more sophisticated. Favorites included “Greased Lightning,” “You’re The One That I Want,” and “Summer Nights.” MiG always played the lead role of Danny Zuko.

The rest of us never made it beyond my grandparents’ patio, but MiG -- it was always his passion to sing and dance. MiG always had a band. He continued to participate in school plays and musicals. For him, what started out as simple piano lessons we were all forced to take, blossomed into a life of writing, composing, recording and performing.

In 1990, he co-wrote the song “Looks Like Love,” for Martin Nievera’s album, “Time.” It was this song, in the original MiG recording (scratches and all) that we used as musical background for my brother Manolet’s wedding video 13 years later in 2003.

MiG was already famous then. He was in the Ray Ban commercial. He had a part in the Australian TV movie “Top Secret: Mission Impossible.” He constantly impressed us. We were just waiting for the rest of the world to discover him, too.

In 1991, we were 21 years old. MiG landed the role of Richie Valens in the Australian production and tour of “The Buddy Holly Story.” He quit school to take the job but he said it was worth it. The part led to an offer to play the same role in the London West End Production. There, he first performed for Queen Elizabeth. I was studying in Switzerland, and MiG and I got to spend some time together in London.

“The Buddy Holly Story” is an adrenaline-filled, lively and fun show with great music, but it wasn’t until MiG strutted on stage, singing his heart out, that the audience actually clambered up their chairs to dance and sing along. The energy was unbelievable. I was sure he would be a big star.

MiG’s career also included many parts in Broadway productions all over the world, including Angel in “Rent,” Joe Vegas in “Fame” and, of course, Danny Zuko in “Grease.” Mig was also a Brooklyn Vampire in “Queen of the Damned,” Joe King in “The Ferals,” and was beside Elle Mcpherson at the Sydney 2000 Olympics opening.

MiG last came home for a family reunion in 2001, with then girlfriend Simone de la Rue. They were married a year later and moved to London, where Mig landed the lead role of Galileo in “We Will Rock You,” a West End Production featuring the music of Queen. His performance was so powerful, that Queen’s original guitarist Brian May took an active interest in MiG’s work. The two are now collaborating on a project using MiG’s original music.

I last saw Mig and Simone in New York last October. It was a bit of a juggle with our schedules, but our grandparents always taught us there was a way to keep family together, and we had found it.

Little did we know that, six months later, he would be in the show biz capital of the world, Hollywood.

“Younger Cousin Miguel” is now one on the last eight finalists. The entire family is thrown into agony with every elimination episode. But no matter how the competition ends, trust that whenever and wherever MiG comes out to sing, his family would be dancing and rocking and cheering him on.

[kiretoce]

I was just doing a search of Filipino-Americans on Wikipedia and here's what I got....some of them are not artist though.

Arts and Letters
Lynda Barry, mestiza cartoonist, most known for Ernie Pook's Comeek and Marlys, published in salon.com and other independent papers.
Jessica Hagedorn, playwright of Mango Tango and Dogeaters.
Jose Garcia Villa, poet/writer/generationalist. Pre-Beat Generation influencer.
Lea Salonga, Broadway Tony Award Winner, performer, singer, actress.
Alex Tizon, journalist, 1997 Pulitzer Prize Winner, Investigative Reporting.
Byron Acohido, journalist, 1997 Pulitzer Prize Winner, Beat Reporting.
George Estrada, author, "I Have Tasted the Sweet Mangoes of Cebu," Pulitzer prize nominee and journalism professor at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA.
Cecile Licad, classical pianist.

Business
Diosdado Banatao, Silicon Valley engineer and businessman.
Loida Nicolas Lewis, chairman and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holdings and founder of AALDEF (Asian-American Legal Defense and Education Fund).
Cora Tellez, CEO, Health Net.
Josie Natori, CEO, Natori Company, high-end fashionwear.
Dean Devlin, Producer, "Independence Day," "The Patriot," "Godzilla."

Entertainment
Amapola, singer [Sang the original movie theme "Kapantay Ay Langit", Awit Awardee, Hall of Fame Award from the Philippines National Press Club], author [Coming Home, Promising Skies], actress [starred in 4 films], musician [plays 8 instruments], Hosted her own syndicated weekly TV program "Amapola Presents Show" on KemoTV San Francisco for eight years.
Tia Carrere, actress.
Wil Castillo, actor Running Springs.
Phoebe Cates, actress.
Emy Coligado, actress, famous for her role as Piama, Francis' wife, in Malcolm in the Middle.
Ryan Conferido, So You Think You Can Dance contestant.
Francine Dee, model.
Jocelyn Enriquez, singer.
Jerome Fontamillas, guitarist for the Christian rock band Switchfoot.
Jeff Francisco, actor Tweek City.
Kat Gutierrez, model.
Kirk Hammett, lead guitarist for Metallica.
Chad Hugo, music producer and musician; one-half of The Neptunes.
Enrique Iglesias, singer/international pop star.
Cris Judd, actor Dance Like We Do, ex-husband of Jennifer Lopez.
Honey Labrador, host of Queer Eye For The Straight Girl.
Melody Lacayanga, So You Think You Can Dance contestant.
Lalaine, child star, one of the main stars of Lizzie McGuire.
Rachael Lampa, Christian singer.
Allan Pineda Lindo aka Apl.de.Ap, musician; member of the Black Eyed Peas.
Vanessa Minnillo, Miss Teen USA 1998 and MTV personality.
Paolo Montalban, actor.
KC Montero, MTV-Asia VJ. Real name Casey Miller. Born in Washington.
Troy Montero, actor. Real name Troy Miller. Born in Washington.
Rex Navarrete, comedian.
Van Partible, creator/director/writer of cartoon series Johnny Bravo.
Lou Diamond Phillips, actor.
Ernie Reyes Jr., actor.
Sabrine Maui, adult film star.
Neal McCoy, country music singer.
Joey Santiago, guitarist for the Pixies.
Rob Schneider, Saturday Night Live performer, actor, comedian.
Shannyn Sossamon. actress, 40 Days and 40 Nights, A Knight's Tale.
Charmane Star, adult film star.
Tamlyn Tomita, actress, The Joy Luck Club (half-Japanese and half-Filipino).
Jasmine Trias, American Idol contestant.
Camile Velasco, American Idol contestant.

Military
Rudolph Davila, Medal of Honor Recipent, WWII.
Edward Soriano, Lieutenant General (3*) of U.S. Army.
Antonio Taguba, Major General (2*) of U.S. Army, author of the Taguba Report which uncovered major prisoner abuses in Iraq.

Politics
Peter Aduja, first Filipino American elected to political office.
Carlos Bulosan, Filipino American author and labor activist.
Robert Bunda, first Filipino American legislative president.
Benjamin J. Cayetano, first Filipino American governor in U.S.
Gene Canque Liddell, first Filipina American mayor in U.S.
Eduardo E. Malapit, first Filipino American mayor in U.S.
Judge Alfred Laureta, first Filipino American state cabinet member in U.S., first Filipino Federal District Court Judge.
Michelle Malkin, syndicated columnist.
Bobby Scott, U.S. Representative from Virginia (D).
Velma Veloria, first Filipina American legislator of Washington in the 11th district for the House of Representatives (D). Served from 1993 to 2005.

Sports
Benny Agbayani, New York Mets, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals baseball player.
Eugene Amano, NFL offensive guard/center, Tennessee Titans.
Bobby Balcena, Cincinnati Reds baseball player.
David Bautista aka "Batista", WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Teddy Lacap Bruschi, NFL All-Pro linebacker, New England Patriots.
Bobby Chouinard, Baltimore Orioles baseball player.
Natalie Coughlin, Olympic swimmer, gold medalist.
Dorothy Delasin, LPGA Golfer.
Victoria Manalo Draves, diver who was first woman to win two gold medals in springboard diving at the 1948 Olympics in London.
Roman Gabriel, NFL quarterback,Los Angeles Rams.
Sunny Garcia, Surfing World champion, surfing legend.
Malia Jones, Surfing model/People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People.
Liz Masakayan, Consensus All-American UCLA, US Olympian, beach volleyball legend.
Luis Reyes, U.S. Taekwondo Gold medalist.
Jennifer Rosales, LPGA Golfer, NCAA Individual Women's Champion.
Raymond Townsend, NBA point guard, first Asian to be drafted in the first round of the NBA Draft Golden State Warriors.
Brian Viloria, US Olympian boxer.
Mike Ventura, Weightlifter.

Other
Angela Perez Baraquio, Miss America 2001.
Cristeta Comerford, first woman executive chef at the White House. She worked as an assistant chef for 10 years. After a ten-month search, she was appointed by First Lady Laura Bush on August 14, 2005.
Andrew Cunanan, serial killer, murdered Gianni Versace in 1997 before killing himself.
Josie Cruz-Natori, fashion magnate.
Pedro Flores, father of the yo-yo (Donald Duncan purchased the company and renamed it Duncan Yo-Yo Co.).
Andrea Jumapao, first Filipino American to participate (on a national level in the United States) in the Miss USA-World 1976 competition held in Boston, MA. as Miss Oregon.
Benjamin Menor, first Filipino American state Supreme Court justice.

[sandrin]

A proud Pinoy moment



First posted 10:49pm (Mla time) Aug 30, 2005
By Ernie Pecho
Inquirer News Service

Editor's Note: Published on page A2-1 of the August 31, 2005 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer

IT WAS a proud Pinoy moment.

For the first time in the 11-year history of the World Championship of Performing Arts (WCOPA)-dubbed "Talent Olympics"-recently held in Hollywood, a single country swept all but a few major awards.

The Philippines' Jed Madela and Rizza Navales bagged a total of 11 gold medals, one silver medal, three Champion of the World plaques and the Grand Champion trophy.

Madela and Navales were the country's only representatives. The United States fielded 150 talents and South Africa sent 250.

The WCOPA is staged annually in Hollywood. This year's competition was participated in by 51 countries, from Armenia to Zimbabwe.

Madela won the gold in all six events that he joined. Navales won five golds and a silver.

Jed was declared Champion of the World in the Male Singing Division and Rizza won parallel honors in the Female Division. They also won Champion of the World in the Duet category.

Overall winner was Jed, who was declared
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Grand Champion. He bested hundreds of contenders in the Dance, Acting, Instrumental and Modeling divisions.

The duo's recording company, Universal Records, said that, on the first day of the competition, the heads of delegations introduced their participants. It was then that the leader of the South African group proudly announced that he had brought a "planeload" of contestants. South Africa and the US were enthusiastically applauded, Universal executives said.

Ida Henares of GMA Artist Center, head of the Philippine group, next took the podium. She proudly announced that her country sent two contestants, one male and one female. This was reportedly greeted with snickers-even laughter. But after a few days, many of those who laughed were shouting, "Bravo!" after every Pinoy performance.

The Philippine delegation celebrated their triumph in Las Vegas, where they watched a performance by now US-based Lani Misalucha. There, Jed and Rizza also performed for international bookers and talent agents. That same evening, they both received several tempting offers-for example, a permanent slot in a Vegas nightspot for Rizza.

But the winners are taking things slowly. First in their immediate plans is a Manila homecoming, of course.

[Mango]

Congrats! Yang ang galing Pinoy!

[amras]

in your face!!!! ha!

galing galing!

[sandrin]

Has anybody here watched this film? Mabuhay!

RP film bags gold in Montreal fest

The Philippine Star 09/07/2005

"Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros," the Philippines’ entry to the First Films World Competition at the 29th Montreal World Film Festival in Canada, bagged first place and was awarded the Golden Zenith award.

"Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros" bested 15 entries in the First Films World Competition. The Silver Zenith award went to "Truth or Dare" (Germany) by Jan Martin Scharf and Arne Nolting. The Bronze Zenith went to "London" (USA) by Hunter Richards and starring Jessica Biel and Leelee Sobieski.

The First Films World Competition of the 29th Montreal World Film Festival gives an opportunity for selected first feature films to be recognized.

Written by Michiko Yamamoto (who also wrote "Magnifico"), directed by Aureaus Solito and produced by Raymond Lee, "Ang Pagdadalaga..." won three awards in the Cinemalaya Independent Film Festival and Competition held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines last July. It won awards for Best Production Design, a special citation for best performance of an actor by Nathan Lopez who played the lead role, and a special jury prize.

"Ang Pagdadalaga..." tells the coming-of-age story of young Maxi whose unquestioning devotion to his family of small-time criminals in a Manila slum is undermined when he strikes up a friendship with a principled young policeman.

There were strong performances from the cast that included Soliman Cruz and Bodjie Pacua, former mainstays of the defunct children’s show "Batibot."

The film’s soundtrack was written by rock legend Pepe Smith, who also appears in a bit role as an eccentric neighborhood piano player. Photography was by Nap Jamir.

The 29th Montreal World Film Festival was held Aug. 26 to Sept. 5, 2005 in Montreal, Canada. The program of the festival offered a broad selection of films from five continents. Over 300 films from 70 countries were screened in the festival.

The goal of the Montreal World Film Festival (or Montreal International Film Festival) is to encourage cultural diversity and understanding between nations, to foster the cinema of all continents by stimulating the development of quality cinema, to promote filmmakers and innovative works, to discover and encourage new talent and to promote meetings between cinema professionals from around the world.

The Montreal World Film Festival is divided into the following sections: World Competition, First Films World Competition, Hors Concours (World Greats, Out of Competition), Focus on World Cinema, Documentaries of the World, Tributes, Cinema Under the Stars and the Canadian Student Film Festival.

[bagel]

I put together the following info from http://www.viloria.com/secondthought.../00000765.html and from http://www.geocities.com/palanca_awards/2005.html

I apologize for the fact that I couldn't find on-line examples of the Tagalog and regional language works.

For more information about the Carlos Palanca Awards, here's some information from Wikipedia. They're pretty much the Philippine's most prestigious awards for literature, akin to the Pulitzer Prize.

Please take the time to read some of the works published on-line. We really do have some great writers in the Philippines. Click the links.

Carlos Palanca Award Winners for the Year 2005

The 55th Don Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature writing contest organizers announced last Sept 1, 2005 this year's winners.

ENGLISH DIVISION

Novel
Grand Prize: Dean Francis Alfar, "Salamanca" (excerpt)

Futuristic Fiction
First Prize: Karen Manalastas, "Treasure island"
Second Prize: Pia Roxas, "Last Bus Ride"
Third Prize: Pearlsha Abubakar, "Espiritu Santos"

Short Story
First Prize: Alexis Abola, "The Shakespeare Guy"
Second Prize: Lakambini Sitoy, "Shut Up and Live"
Third Prize: Maryanne Moll, "At Merienda"

Short Story for Children
First Prize: Grace Dacanay-Chong, "No Lipstick for Mother"
Second Prize: Raissa Claire Rivera, "The Dancers of Malumbay"
Third Prize: Nikki Alfar, "Menggay’s Magical Chicken"

Essay
First Prize: Lakambini Sitoy, "From the Outlands with Love"
Second Prize: Aurelio Agcaoili, "Metaphor Man and Migrant, I"
Third Prize: Maria Angela Perreras, "Thorn"

Poetry
First Prize: Joel Toledo, "What Little I Know of Luminosity"
Second Prize: Naya Valdellon, "Evasions"
Third Prize: Ana Maria Katigbak, "The Proxy Eros"

One-Act Play
First Prize: Alfonso Dacanay, "First Snow of November"
Second Prize: Glenn Mas, "Children of the Sea"
Third Prize: Christopher Martinez, "Welcome to Intelstar"

Full-Length Play
First Prize: Glenn Sevilla Mas, "In the Land of the Giants"
Second Prize: Ma. Clarissa Estuar, "Jyan Ken Pon"
Third Prize: Allan Lopez, "Something Happened"

FILIPINO DIVISION

Nobela
Grand Prize: Ellen Sicat, "Unang Ulan ng Mayo"

Futuristic Fiction
First Prize: No winner
Second Prize: No winner
Third Prize: Dick Garcia Enoya, "Vic"

Maikiling Kuwento
First Prize: Agustin Pagusara Jr., "Mga Landas Ng Pangarap"
Second Prize: Domingo G. Landicho, "Anay Sa Dagat Na Asul"
Third Prize: John Iremil E. Teodoro, "Ang Santo Niño Na Walang Ulo"

Maikling Kuwentong Pambata
First Prize: Eugene Y. Evasco, "Tag-araw ng mga Ibong Hilaga"
Second Prize: Edgardo B. Maranan, "Ang Batang Nanaginip Na Siya'y Nakalilipad"
Third Prize: Perry C. Mangilaya, "Ang Kahon Ni Lolo Yoyong"

Sanaysay
First Prize: Luis P. Gatmaitan, "Tapok at Banlik"
Second Third Prize: Ferdinand Pisigan Jarin, "Anim Na Sabado Ng Beyblade"
Third Prize: Eugene Y. Evasco, "Segunda Mano"

Tula
First Prize: Joseph Rosmon M. Tuazon, "Sa Pagitan ng Emerhensiya"
Second Prize: Rebecca T. Anonuevo, "Buong Buo"
Third Prize: Mesandel Virtusio Arguelles, "Una Prosa"

Dulang May Isang Yugto
First Prize: No winner
Second Prize: Joseph Patrick V. Arevalo, "Sa Loob ng Kawayan"
Third Prize: Vincent A. De Jesus, "Ateng..."

Dulang Ganap ang Haba
First Prize: Reuel M. Aguila, "Baligho"
Second Prize: Edward P. Perez Jr., "Si Marya at Si Kiling"
Third Prize: Rodolfo Carlos Vera, "Masa"

Dulang Pantelebisyon
First Prize: Manuel R. Buising, "Niños Inocentes"
Second Prize: Elmer L. Gatchalian, "Pasalubong"
Third Prize: Ma. Clarissa N. Estuar, "Bayad Utang"

Dulang Pampelikula
First Prize: Erlito G. Reyes, "Hubog Ng Langit"
Second Prize: Veronica B. Velasco, "Boy"
Third Prize: Allan Tijamo, "Blue Moon"

REGIONAL LANGUAGE DIVISION

Short Story-Cebuano
First Prize: Macario D. Tiu, "Balyan"
Second Prize: Agustin Pagusara Jr., "Bangka sa Kinabuhi"
Third Prize: Josua S. Cabrera, "Sesyon"

Short Story in Hiligaynon
First Prize: Genevieve L. Asenjo, "Turagsoy"

Short Story-Iluko
First Prize: Danilo B. Antalan, "Goyo: Ti Dangadang iti Rabaw ti Ulep"
Second Prize: Joel B. Manuel, "Ti Galienera, Ti Ili, ken Tallo A Kronika"
Third Prize: Daniel L. Nesperos, "Dagiti Dir-i ken Tagay iti Daradara a Bangabanga"

KABATAAN ESSAY DIVISION

Essay
First Prize: Patricia Marie I. Ranada, "Stories"
Second Prize: Joan Paula A. Deveraturda, "As Silly As It Gets"
Third Prize: Katrina G. Gomez, "Learning To Be Filipino"

Sanaysay
First Prize: Kristina D.C. Javier, "Wahahahahahahahaha"
Second Prize: Jamaica Jane J. Pascual, "Alaala ng Quiapo"
Third Prize: Arnold Pantaleon Pascua II, "K"

[Lili]

ZALDY, the designer of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. line is of Filipino descent. Here is a feature article in the New York Post.

HOLLABACK GUY

By MAUREEN CALLAHAN
________________________________________
Gwen Stefani modeling one of her L.A.M.B. dresses, co-designed by one-name wonder Zaldy.

September 8, 2005 -- HE'S Fashion Week's hottest designer - but he can't even sell his own clothes. Meet Zaldy (one name, "like Cher"), one of the highest-ranking members of Gwen Stefani's burgeoning fashioning empire, L.A.M.B.

"I guess we really clicked," he says of his boss and fashion muse. "She has such confidence, such a strong point of view, and she doesn't follow trends. She'll be like, 'Oh, I'm thinking about England, pirates,' whatever. So we went and found all these costumes from 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' and we go from there. Her direction is right on."

Zaldy's fluent in such fashion-world free-association. An avant-garde designer, New York night-life fixture and friend to the famous, Zaldy also runs his own clothing line - beloved by fashion editors, bought by no one - showing this Saturday, the second day of Fashion Week. "I didn't even sell my last collection," says the designer, sitting amid piles of books, DVDs and party flyers in his living room/bedroom at the Chelsea Hotel. His space here - half studio, half apartment - is fabulously, fashionably shabby, with swatches of pale blue paint peeling from the walls and the faint smell of stale cigarette smoke wafting through the cramped space. "But," he adds, "I feel like it's going at a good pace for me."

Though Zaldy wants, very much, for his own line to be as high-profile and successful as L.A.M.B., he knows that, in many ways, he's his own worst enemy: His stuff is too unconventional. (And expensive. L.A.M.B is priced from $75-$950, while Zaldy goes for $245-$3,500). Fashion editors love him, but retailers won't carry his line, and he's more Visionaire than Vogue. He hates math and has no interest in commerce (hardly unusual for a designer, but still a hindrance). Part of the reason he decided to even show his collections was so that "people would know how to get in touch with me."

"We cover him every time; he's an editor's favorite," says Rose Apodaca, West Coast bureau chief for Women's Wear Daily. "But despite the positive reviews, he is unable to generate business."

So far, Zaldy - who is gearing up for his own Fashion Week show this Saturday, then L.A.M.B.'s runway debut on Sept. 16 - has done six collections on his own, though he unexpectedly skipped a year when he realized, a bit too late, that one key component was missing. "I was like, 'OHMYGOD I don't have any money!'" he exclaims, speaking, as he does, quickly and breathlessly. "No one's giving me money! I have no money! I think I need to start bringing money into my life." There was also the season he found himself without the shoes he designed for runway: "They were so stunning, and I was so sad that I didn't know that ... Italy closed!" he says, laughing at his overly dramatic spin. "In August! The factory closed! And I couldn't make my shoes!" He pauses. "I don't have major retail relevancy at the moment," he admits.

Zaldy's own collections are highly dramatic, filled with unusual, angular pieces that, however stunning, are difficult for the average civilian to wear. They're more suited to his celebrity clientele: Mick Jagger, Rufus Wainwright, Parker Posey, Christina Aguilera. He says he had offers from London shops Harvey Nichols and Browns for his last collection, but they wanted his pieces at a discount. "I was like, 'You know what? I just can't do it.' I'm not going to put myself through the rigors and the emotional drama and get back $20,000. It's like, no way. I can make that doing a custom wedding gown." Yet in the three years that he's been working for Stefani at L.A.M.B. - first as a consultant, now as head designer - he has somehow edited and streamlined his own eccentric sensibility into wearable, just-this-side-of-downtown pieces that mesh with Stefani's own studiously random personal style.
The result: a projected gross of $20 million in sales for Stefani's three-year-old company.

Zaldy - who says he doesn't keep up with trends, never reads magazines, and occasionally goes on style.com to see what other designers are doing - thinks that his customer and the L.A.M.B. customer are "connected." But he admits that "mine is even more arty, or something." His success at L.A.M.B. has made him less fearful of the mainstream: "I want to make clothes for the stores, clothes all my friends can wear - not just extreme pieces," he says.
"What he desperately needs is someone with business sense, and I'm actually surprised no one has approached him," says WWD's Apodaca. "Anything that even mildly rubs elbows with celebrities is attractive to retailers right now. You would think the Gwen factor would be enough to get retailers interested."

Zaldy, who says he's 39, grew up in Connecticut. "I was very preppy," he says. Both his parents are doctors, and he went to prep school and boarding school. He attended the now-defunct L.A. branch of Parsons, but was kicked out for refusing to make his models smile. "I was like, 'Whatever. Don't tell me someone has to be smiling.'" He spent the next six months becoming "part of the scene," and making clothes for his fabulous friends. Disillusioned with the business of fashion design, he became a model: "I was modeling as a male and a female," he says. "It's uncommon, but the androgyny thing was big in the '90s." He became part of the scene in New York too, moving into the Chelsea Hotel, where he's been for "12 or 14 years - I don't even know."
As a model, he was shot by Karl Lagerfeld and Ellen von Unwerth, and did runway for Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier. He befriended then-nightclub queen Suzanne Bartsch. He counts Rufus Wainwright as one of his best friends, and networked with other professionally fabulous people, including Stefani, who'd worn some of his pieces. And, most crucially, he kept making clothes for his high-profile night-life compatriots. "I was just sort of known in the club and underground scene, which is the way it's always been," he says nonchalantly.

His hiring and ascension through the ranks at L.A.M.B is equally one part fairy tale and one part ode to knowing the right people. "I was at the Coachella Music Festival [in California] with Danilo, who does Gwen's hair," he begins. "And then Danilo's like, 'Oh, Gwen's having a party at her house tonight. Let's go!' And I'm like, 'OK, let's go!' And, uh, somehow it wound up just her and me, sitting on the couch, and she was like, 'OHMYGOD!' She had just seen my fall 2003 show and she loved it and had worn a dress or something, and she was like, 'OHMYGOD! I don't know if I'm even supposed to do this or if I even have to clear this with anyone to talk to you about it, I don't know, but I'm doing this line,' and blah blah blah, 'and I know you do your own line and I don't know if you'd ever be interested in consulting' - and I was like, 'Are you crazy? Of course I would work with you, be creative with you. How genius.' So that's how it was." And that's how it is, with Zaldy calmly at the helm at one of the biggest, most commercially successful fashion ventures of the past decade, while struggling to find a backer for his own stuff, build a viable name in retail, and become the star he knows he's meant to be.

He believes that this next collection, showing on Saturday, will be "the one," though all he will say is that it's inspired by the number 7. "It's my seventh show, so there's seven-pointed stars in one of the prints, but that made me think of Siouxsie Sioux, which made me think of [Russian designer] Leon Baskt, which made me think of Klimt, which made me think of geometry and alchemy," he says, taking a breath. That said, "they are clothes that are relevant to next year." The L.A.M.B. collection, meanwhile, has four points of inspiration: Gatsby Rasta, Yardie Rasta, black and white, and Pirate Trouper. "It's a beautiful collection, and an absolutely salable collection," he says. As for the salability of his own collection, he remains philosophical.
"When the moment's right, the moment's gonna be right," he says. "It's totally the right time for L.A.M.B to be skyrocketing. But with that, my profile is moving up too. My time is coming."

[Lili]

Here is another article featuring Zaldy in Time Out New York (TONY) magazine.

www.timeoutny.com/checkout/384/384.checkout.html

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS
TONY visits four on-the-brink designers as they prep for this week's Fall 2003 fashion shows
By Zoë Wolff
Photographs by Willy Somma

ZALDY

Mise-en-scène: Simmering on the stove at Zaldy Goco's ramshackle Chelsea Hotel apartment/atelier is a pot of what looks like ramen but is actually clumps of yarn soaking in yellow dye—the ingredients for a knit sweater-dress. The 36-year-old designer is feeling buoyant. His fourth collection, he says, was hanging by a thread but has just been rescued by a motley crew of sponsors that includes Swarovski, Saga furs, Ultrasuede and Doc Martens.
Back story: Of Filipino descent and raised in Connecticut, Goco, a graduate of both Parsons and FIT, got his fashion-world legs as a stylist and steady presence on the NYC nightclub circuit, traveling with party maven Susanne Bartsch, his "original, forever muse." His eccentric eye also owes to his grandmother, who ran a fashion school in the Philippines and introduced him to The Cher Show.

The audience: Goco's ethereal dresses, all made by hand, have shapes as logic-defying as Gaudi buildings; their price tags tend to be equally outrageous. Goco was instrumental in creating the images of Gwen Stefani and RuPaul, and his look-at-me masterpieces have found favor with many A-list celebrities—recently, he was summoned to customize a pair of pants for tenacious rock god Mick Jagger.

Inspirations: Pinned on a wall alongside several pictures of Siouxsie (sans Banshees) are an image of a man in full motorcycle regalia and one of a child swaddled in a hooded parka, the forms of which resurface in the designer's sketches. Beck and former Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons provide the sound track.

Show time: This collection, to be shown on February 14, is focused on sleek, tailored coats—"not punk and not mod but with that kind of masculine energy," Goco says. A custom-designed, abstract stealth-bomber print will appear on several garments, including a head-to-toe ensemble composed of a peacoat, knickers and knee-high Doc Martens revamped with leather straps. Accessories maestro Desi Santiago, Goco's longtime collaborator, is contributing hard-edged accents such as resin bracelets and sandblasted metal studs that will be affixed to various garb.

Where to buy: Eva in Nolita is currently the sole stockist; to order a customized piece, e-mail the designer at zaldynyc@aol.com.

[Lili]

Look at this thread

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=252242

Some European guy featured our very own Weng Weng in his "stream of consciousness" collage. Weng Weng had become a legend and worldwide phenom. Sad to say, he only had a short life.

[kiretoce]

RP stage talents migrate to Hong Kong Disneyland
By Bayani San Diego Jr. Inquirer News Service 9/13/2005

Lea Salonga was not the only Filipino talent at yesterday's opening of Hong Kong Disneyland. Singer Jinky Llamanzares performed onstage, while local theater stalwart Bobby Garcia worked backstage as "director for shows" at the theme park.

Salonga, best known for her performance in the Broadway show "Miss Saigon," is the singing voice behind Disney animated characters Mulan and Princess Jasmine in "Aladdin."

Llamanzares played Gigi in the Toronto production of "Miss Saigon," while the Fordham-trained Garcia directed "Rent" in Manila and Singapore.

There are other Filipinos helping Mickey and the gang create magic for Hong Kong Disneyland guests. They work as character performers, playing Disney icons Cinderella and Snow White. They're also singers, dancers and musicians.

The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) pegged the number of Filipino artists recruited by Hong Kong Disneyland at 116.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Doug Miller, executive vice president and managing director of Walt Disney International (Asia Pacific) said: "We've hired about 5,000 to 6,000 people from Asia. Among [the new recruits], quite a few are from the Philippines. Visitors will see a lot of Asian faces at the park."

Hong Kong Disneyland is the 11th in its global empire and the smallest at 40 hectares. Aside from the theme park, there are two hotels offering a thousand rooms each.

Disney auditions in Manila

Ever since Cameron Mackintosh stumbled on a treasure trove of talent in Manila for his original West End staging of "Miss Saigon" in 1987, the Philippines has built a solid reputation among international casting agents.

The US Disney team realized this soon enough when many of those who passed the Hong Kong auditions were Filipinos.

Disney approached composer Ryan Cayabyab because he had previously worked on various projects with the global entertainment giant.

Cayabyab, as the executive and artistic director of the San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts, "produced" the Manila auditions for Disney.

From November 2004 to June this year, representatives from Disney International Casting visited Manila to search for talents. "They held auditions in Manila at least five times seeing some 400 to 500 Filipinos," Cayabyab said.

Those who passed the auditions are now in Hong Kong, working as character performers, singers, dancers and even musicians (brass, trumpet and saxophone players).

Bring rubber shoes

"In June, they were here looking for hand drummers," Cayabyab said. "African percussionists. Meaning, they play drums not with sticks but with their bare hands. The musicians and singers will work not only in the park, but also at the two hotels."

"They shot all the participants with a video camera," Cayabyab described the process. "They didn't decide on the spot. Instead the audition tapes were sent to the main office in Florida. It's a very stringent and professional process."

According to the theme park's official website, there was another round of auditions in Hong Kong last July 10. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

"Anyone who's interested can go there," Cayabyab said. "It's open to everyone, for as long as they meet the requirements. All they need to bring are their rubber shoes!"
And lots of chutzpah.

Brain drain

"Being a character performer is not just [about] bringing a character to life," the Disney website said. "It is [about] having the belief that you [can] truly create magic."

And while Hong Kong Disneyland is giving these Filipino artists gainful employment, the country is experiencing another "brain drain" -- this time in the performing arts.

"Local musical theater lost a number of seasoned actors," said Audie Gemora, president and artistic director of Trumpets. He said Ampy Sietereales, Sheila Valderrama, Anna Liza Zialcita, Ralion Alonso, Roy Rolloda and Noel Rayos had joined Hong Kong Disneyland.

Among the Filipino dancers who had signed up with Hong Kong Disneyland were nine company members of Ballet Philippines, according to artistic director Augustus Damian.

"We lost four female and five male dancers," he said, "That's nine out of 17 company members."

On average, these dancers, who were of different ages, had logged two to five years of dancing experience, said Damian, who himself worked as principal dancer in various ballet companies in Germany for two decades.

These artists could hardly be blamed. A Ballet Philippines company member is entitled to a basic salary and shoe allotment which, he said, is "a pittance" compared to international standards.

Window of opportunity

"From what I gather, a ballet dancer in the Philippines earns slightly higher than a public school teacher," Damian said. "Which is slightly above minimum wage."

In contrast, the Filipino talents in Hong Kong Disneyland are paid in Hong Kong dollars and given partial payment upon contract signing, according to Angie Magbanua, Llamanzares' manager.

Cayabyab noted that the Disney exodus "is still a positive development," in spite of the perceived "brain drain."

"Since the more experienced performers are leaving for abroad, a window of opportunity has been opened for younger talents who are just waiting in the wings," he said.

"New artists will be discovered and trained," Cayabyab added. "Moreover, when the artists who've gone abroad return home, they can share and pass on skills and knowledge to their peers here. I am certain their stints abroad will make them better artists and mentors. It will teach them discipline and independence. It will broaden their horizons."

[Lili]

Kiretoce Kimber: Talo ang mga manok natin sa Reality TV shows. First, Ryan Confreido of So You Think You Can Dance is out. There's only Melody left among the Fil-ams.

Then last night in Rockstar INXs, Mig Ayesa only lasted until the final 3. My bet Marty didn't win, but JD did. It's all good since the music of INXs does not really fit them. They're better as solo stars. I felt elated that Mig Ayesa thanked not only Australia but also the Philippines in his speech. Gotta luv that guy!

Then in Big Brother 6, those 2 unpopular b*atch*s that we did not like got to vie for the half million with Maggie winning. I was rooting for Janelle. But my favorite was Kayser.

Tonight, I'm gonna watch The Apprentice of Martha Stewart.

[kyle@1008]

I forgot to mention...

Madam Conchita Gaston the first and only filipina to perform at the new york metropolitan opera house

and the ballerina cecile sicangco-licad ( she was the one in the caltrate commercial)

and there's peque gallaga who has one numerous citations here and abroad

and of course I won't forget direk rene hofilena,.. who founded and directed batibot which won as the world's best children's show during the 90's ... he also directed the opening rites for the sea games in the phils at 1992...

[Lili]

Cecille Licad is not a ballerina but an acclaimed concert piano player. If I'm not mistaken, she won the Rachmaninoff and Tschaikowsky contests way back.

The reknowned Filipina ballerinas then were Lisa Macuja and Ana Villadolid. Lisa was in the Bolshoi Ballet while Ana was in American Ballet.

Is there still Batibot on TV?

[kiretoce]

Originally Posted by Lili

Kimber, Talo ang mga manok natin sa Reality TV shows. First, Ryan Confreido of So You Think You Can Dance is out. There's only Melody left among the Fil-ams.

I know, but at least hope's still alive with Melody, I want her to be in the Final Four. Her last two routines with her partner (it was Nick, right?) was amazing on last night's episode. About Ryan, I had a feeling that he would exit the show soon, at least he got into the Top-10, pretty impressive for a kid that has no formal dance training.

Originally Posted by Lili

Then last night in Rockstar INXs, Mig Ayesa only lasted until the final 3. My bet Marty didn't win, but JD did. It's all good since the music of INXs does not really fit them. They're better as solo stars. I felt elated that Mig Ayesa thanked not only Australia but also the Philippines in his speech. Gotta luv that guy!

I knew JD would win the competition, he was very much into INXS and he did sound like the late front man Michael Hutchence. Marty to me just wasn't the right fit, he's screams his lyrics a lot. I also knew that MiG will come in third, he did give the other two guys a run for their money with his flawless performances each week.

Originally Posted by Lili

Then in Big Brother 6, those 2 unpopular b*atch*s that we did not like got to vie for the half million with Maggie winning. I was rooting for Janelle. But my favorite was Kayser.

I also was rooting for Janelle, but I was happy that the prize money was awarded to Maggie instead of loud-mouth Ivette. One thing Janelle said to Ivette when it was down to three housemates, to take Janelle with her to the final two and evict Maggie, that way her chances to win the $500,000 will greatly increase with Janelle sitting beside her on finale night. But Ivette chose Maggie and evicted Janelle, and when it was all said and done, Janelle was correct. Boohoo for Ivette, she must kicking herself silly for not taking Janelle's sound advice.

[Lili]

I doubt Ivette would have won even against Janelle, because the judges in the panel, April and that other girl will definitely not vote for her while Kayser, Michael, James, I forgot the names of the others will vote for Janelle. So, the votes will overwhelmingly go to Janelle. Ivette was right when she said she would have thrown the game if she brought Janelle with her to the final two. At least with Maggie she has an even chance. But, she lost just the same. Boohoo for her. Maggie will remain smug. One thing good for her was she maintained focus and not get too emotional.

Yeah, last night's "So You Think You Can Dance" was stupendous. Melody was in her elements. She'll definitely be in the final four. I can't wait for the showdown between Nick and Blake. This other girl, who although is good, lacks charisma.

Martha's The Apprentice was so blah so I switched back to "So You Think You Can Dance".

[kiretoce]

Originally Posted by Lili

Martha's The Apprentice was so blah so I switched back to "So You Think You Can Dance".

Just as I suspected. Sequels, spin-offs or clones of the original rarely, if ever, make it big like their predecessor.

[Lili]

Ballet Philippines presents:

DA CAPO #1*:

Playing Maestro Ryan Atbp.

Nothing comes close to evoking the Filipino soul than through the music of the Maestro himself, Mr. Ryan Cayabyab. Mr. C, as he is affectionately called has been celebrated, awarded, revered and loved. His genius has encompassed a staggering vision of works that includes opulent musicals such as Rama Hari and full-length ballets such as La Revolucion Filipina. Ryan Cayabyab’s music is blessed with a golden touch and has long proven to withstand the test of time.

On the 14th, 15th and 16th of October 2005 the spectacle “Playing Maestro Ryan” Shall reawaken as “Playing Maestro Ryan Atbp.” It will feature Ballet Philippines’ choreographies to Ryan Cayabyab’s bestseller “Great Filipino Love Songs” as well as various other pieces. This unique production showcases choreographers such as Tony Fabella, Alden Lugnasin, Bam Damian, Irish Abejero, Novy Bereber, Christine Crame to name a few.

The evening is an exploration of choreographic works as a fuller theatrical experience and draws inspiration from one of the dance world’s true geniuses, Mr. Maurice Béjart. Experimental. Uninhibited. Bold.

It is all about “Playing Maestro Ryan…and more.” It is a statement, a question and a challenge in itself.

Tickets available at the CCP and Ticketworld outlets.
For information, call 832-6011 or 551-1003.

*Da Capo is an Italian Phrase which, loosely translated, means “to repeat.” It is a command given by conductors to signal the orchestra to repeat the previously played music from the beginning. It is also used by choreographers to tell dancers to repeat the piece being rehearsed. Da Capo or the People’s Choice Performances will be a repeat presentation made up of BP masterpieces or crowd favorites from a particular season.

You may also reply to: ballet_philippines@yahoogroups.com or visit our website: www.ballet.com.ph
Ballet Philippines ... Beyond Ballet, Beyond Perspective

[kyle@1008]

Originally Posted by Lili

Cecille Licad is not a ballerina but an acclaimed concert piano player. If I'm not mistaken, she won the Rachmaninoff and Tschaikowsky contests way back.

The reknowned Filipina ballerinas then were Lisa Macuja and Ana Villadolid. Lisa was in the Bolshoi Ballet while Ana was in American Ballet.

Is there still Batibot on TV?

no that's not her I'm talking about cecil sicangco-licad not cecille licad their two different people