It has been 38 long years since Philippines gained the honor of being the home the most beautiful lady in the universe. Since the triumph of Miss Margarita Moran in the 1973 Miss Universe, Philippines has never able to obtain the Miss Universe crown again. In 1999, Miss Miriam Quiambao almost got the honor of being crowned as Miss Universe but she was a title short when she hailed the 1st Runner Up.
This year’s Miss Universe pageant, Philippines is again hoping to get a shot at the crown in the person of Miss Pamela Bianca Manalo. Pamela Bianca was born from a family of beauty queens. Pam is the sister of Katherine Anne Manalo, Miss World 2002 Top 10 finalist and the niece of Nini Ramos, Miss International 1968 Top 15 semi-finalist. Pamela Bianca Manalo is a flight stewardess, graduated from Assumption College with the degree in BA Advertising.
After winning the prestigious title of Binibining Pilipinas Universe for 2009, Pamela Bianca Manalo prepares herself for the upcoming Miss Universe Pageant that will be held in Nassau, Bahamas on the 30th of August 2009. The entire Filipino community is rooting for Pamela to bring home the elusive Miss Universe crown which is now held by Dayana Mendoza, the reining 2008 Miss Universe from Venezuela.
Here are more facts about Pamela Bianca Manalo:
• Age: 22 years old
• Place of birth: Manila
• Province: Metro Manila
• Education: BA Advertising
• Height: 5′10″
• Weight: 149 lbs
• Vital Statistics: 36 1/2-26-36
America’s Got Talent Season 4 got a new favorite that is in the person of the Thia Megia. 14-year-old Thia was born in Redwood City, California. She is of Filipino descent. The Fil-Am talent had impressed the judges of America’s Got Talent during the show’s audition episode in Chicago. On her rendition of Jennifer Holliday’s “I Am Changing”, Thia had impressed the both the crowds and the judges. During her performance Piers Morgan mouthed a “wow” several times.
The 8th grader Thia Megia received 3 yeses from the judges and a standing ovation from the crowd. While listening to positive comments from the judges, Thia’s Pinay mother is beaming with pride at the sidelight. The 3 yes she received from the 3 judges means Thia advanced to the Las Vegas round, where she would be competing with all other acts that made it through the audition round.
With Thia’s talent and stage appeal, she got a good chance in taking a shot at the finals. Here’s the comment from the three judges during Thia’s audition performance.
David Hasselhoff said: “You just sang ‘I Am Changing’ and nothing’s going to stop me now, you know what, nothing’s going to stop you now. You’ve got a beautiful God-given talent. Terrific, terrific, terrific job. Congratulations,”
Sharon Osbourne said: “You sing, I mean, not only are you a great singer but you sing with emotion and that’s very hard to do. And great little package here with a huge voice. Well done.”
Morgan Piers said: “Right now you are the best I’ve seen in the competition…I tell you what’s coming your way – Las Vegas!”
Way to go Thia!
Click here to view full video of Thia Megia performance.
If the sports have Olympics, the Performing Arts have its World Championship. It is called the World Championships of Performing Arts or the WCOPA. On the recently concluded 13th World Championships of Performing Arts, Filipino talents have once again proven our supremacy in terms of Performing Arts. The Little Big Star (the same competition Charice won 3rd place in Big Division) Little Division Grand Winner Rhap Salazar garnered the coveted titles Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist of the World, and the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World.
Rhap Salazar won all the 5 GOLD medals from five categories he competed in at this year’s WCOPA. Rhap topped in Male Vocal Broadway (11-12 category), Male Vocal Gospel (11-12 category), Male Vocal Open (11-12 category), Male Vocal Pop (11-12 category) and Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz (11-12 category). Rhap had blown away the audience in his rendition of Celine Dion’s “All By Myself” during the Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist of the World grand finals.
On the other hand, the vocal quartet The Young Voices of Negros won the title Junior Grand Champion Group Vocalists of the World. They won Gold in Group Vocal Original Works and Group Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz and Silver in Group Vocal Gospel, Group Vocal Open and Group Vocal Pop all in 11-12 categories.
Here’s the complete medal list of Team Philippines in the 2009 WCOP “Talent Olympics”:
J2 Power Duet
o SILVER – Group Vocal Pop – 30&Over
o SILVER – Group Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 30&Over
The Young Voices Of Negros Philippines
o GOLD – Group Vocal Original Works – 11-12
o GOLD – Group Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 11-12
o SILVER – Group Vocal Gospel – 11-12
o SILVER – Group Vocal Open – 11-12
o SILVER – Group Vocal Pop – 11-12
Christian Matthew Andeza
o GOLD – Male Vocal Contemporary – 18-24
o GOLD – Male Vocal Original Works – 18-24
o SILVER – Male Vocal Broadway – 18-24
o BRONZE – Male Vocal Pop – 18-24
o BRONZE – Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 18-24
Evette Pabalan
o GOLD – Female Vocal Broadway – 25-29
o GOLD – Female Vocal Rock – 25-29
o SILVER – Female Vocal Gospel – 25-29
o BRONZE – Female Vocal Pop – 25-29
Guy Lockwood
o GOLD – Male Acting Contemporary – 30&Over
o GOLD – Male Vocal Gospel – 30&Over
o SILVER – Male Acting Dramatic – 30&Over
o SILVER – Male Variety-3 And Under Props – 30&Over
o BRONZE – Male Vocal Country&Western – 30&Over
Izarzuri Vidal
o SILVER – Female Vocal Opera – 18-24
Maila Mitra
o GOLD – Female Vocal Gospel – 25-29
o SILVER – Female Vocal Broadway – 25-29
o SILVER – Female Vocal Open – 25-29
o SILVER – Female Vocal Pop – 25-29
o SILVER – Female Vocal Rock – 25-29
Martha Joy Lim-Fiuza
o GOLD – Female Vocal Open – 18-24
o GOLD – Female Vocal Pop – 18-24
o BRONZE – Female Vocal Gospel – 18-24
o BRONZE – Female Vocal Country&Western – 18-24
Mayumi Morales
o GOLD – Female Vocal Broadway – 13-15
o GOLD – Female Vocal Open – 13-15
o GOLD – Female Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 13-15
o SILVER – Female Vocal Gospel – 13-15
Melchizedek Bicua
o SILVER – Male Vocal Open – 11-12
o SILVER – Male Vocal Pop – 11-12
o SILVER – Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 11-12
o SILVER – Male Vocal Rock – 11-12
Nicole Joy Espolong
o SILVER – Female Vocal Pop – 18-24
Orie Jun Vamenta
o GOLD – Male Vocal Rock – 25-29
o SILVER – Male Vocal Gospel – 25-29
o SILVER – Male Vocal Open – 25-29
o BRONZE – Male Vocal Pop – 25-29
Reynaldo Concepcion
o GOLD – Male Vocal Gospel – 25-29
o GOLD – Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 25-29
o SILVER – Male Vocal Broadway – 25-29
o SILVER – Male Vocal Pop – 25-29
o BRONZE – Male Vocal Open – 25-29
Rhap Salazar
o GOLD – Male Vocal Broadway – 11-12
o GOLD – Male Vocal Gospel – 11-12
o GOLD – Male Vocal Open – 11-12
o GOLD – Male Vocal Pop – 11-12
o GOLD – Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 11-12
Ronald Diana
o GOLD – Male Vocal Contemporary – 30&Over
o GOLD – Male Vocal Open – 30&Over
o GOLD – Male Vocal Original Works – 30&Over
o SILVER – Male Vocal R&B/Soul/Jazz – 30&Over
o BRONZE – Male Vocal Pop – 30&Over
Watch Rhap as he rocks the house with his powerful rendition of Celine Dion’s “All By Myself”
Seven talented Filipino singers was designated to open the 2009 “Hollywood Olympics” at the Westin Bonaventure last July 12, 2009. Seven singers composed of the grand winners of World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) namely the The Cercado Sisters, Catherine Loria and Jed Madela. The Filipino singers were joined by a select group of performers from Malaysia, Haiti, Jamaica and Ireland.
According to Griff O’ Neil, WCOPA founder and president, “The Philippines is a great source of talent. These young performing artists are so talented; we ended up casting them in three production numbers at this year’s opening ceremonies.”
Amateur and professional performing artists all over the worlds, from nearly 40 countries, compete for the “Grand Champion of the World” titles in dance, vocal, modeling, acting, comedy, instrumental and variety at WCOPA. Grand finals for this competition will be held on Friday night, July 17, at the Grand Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure.
Filipino singers vying for the “Grand Champion Vocalist of the World” titles this year are Martha Joy (Viva recording artist and “Canadian Idol” finalist); Evette Pabalan, (“Sexbomb” dancer and television actress); Mayumi Morales (sister of young singer actor Makisig Morales, and a protégé of Isay Alvarez and Tricia Jimenez’s Spotlight Artists Centre); Rhap Salazar, (ABS CBN “Little Big Star” Season 1 Grand Winner); Divo Bayer, (a recording artist based in Los Angeles, California); Keane Andeza and Oreo Vamenta, new recording artists and Maila Mitra, Nicole Espolong, Melchi Bicua and CJ Concepcion, up-and-coming young performers.
Solo vocalists Guy Lockwood and Izarzuri Vidal and group vocalists Young Voices of the Philippines Quartet are also part of the Philippine team.
Bryann Foronda, 2009 Department of Education (DepEd) Mr. Philippines Youth, is the country’s sole entry at WCOPA’s modeling competitions. He is competing in the photo and spokesmodeling events.
This year’s Team Philippines will also be featured in a Swedish television special about WCOPA.
The former First Lady Imelda Marcos was known as the Steel Butterfly of Asia, and was and still famous of her thousands collection of shoes. Even at her ripe age of 80, Madame Meldy is still a box-office and media hot item. She is indeed a newsmaker, anywhere she go and whatever she do, the former first lady is a hot news. A Steel Butterfly whose wings continue to flutter that even the New York can’t seem to have enough.
This coming September 22 to October 18, 2008 the Pan Asia Repertory Theatre will presents a musical entitled Imelda: A New Musical. It is an adaptation of a book written by Sachi Oyama. According to the words of Vivian Velasco, a noted Fil-Am community leader, “Imelda: A New Musical will give Filipino tourist another reason to see Big Apple.”
The following is an excerpt of the report written by Edmund Silvestre, the Philippine Star Funfare’s New York correspondent:
An off-Broadway production about the “ambitious” and “controversial” former Philippine First Lady will be staged this fall at The Julia Miles Theater on 55th Street in Manhattan on a limited engagement, from Sept. 22 to Oct. 18.
Pan Asian Repertory Theatre will present Imelda A New Musical that has a book by Sachi Oyama, music by Nathan Wang and lyrics by Aaron Coleman. East West Players producing artistic director Tim Dang, who staged the 2005 Los Angeles world premiere of the musical, will direct, with choreography by Reggie Lee.
Broadway actress Jaygee Macapugay will play the title role, with Liz Casasola as Corazon Aquino, Mel Sagrado Maghuyop as Ferdinand Marcos, and Brian Jose as Ninoy Aquino.
The cast also includes Alan Ariano, Angelica-Lee Aspiras, Billy Bustamante, Leanne Cabrera, Sacha Iskra, Loresa Lanceta, Jonelle Margallo, and Romney Piamonte.
The creative team is headed by Kaori Akazawa (set), Victor En Yu Tan (lighting), Ivy Chou (costumes), and Leslie Espinosa (hair and make-up).
Tisa Chang, artistic producing director of Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, said Imelda, which will be New York theater’s first Filipino-themed musical, spans the 1940s to 1980s, the pivotal years after the Philippines gained its independence. “Imelda Marcos wanted to set her country as an equal player on the world stage and gain the respect of the world,” Chang said.
Tickets are priced at $55, $35 for seniors and $20 for students. For more informations about the musical you may visit their official website www.panasianrep.org.
