IT was a night for independent films at the 37th Gawad Urian last June 17 at ABS-CBN’s Dolphy Theatre.  The indies won most of the categories, including the major ones. Lav Diaz’s Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan took home four awards—Best Picture, Best Actress (Angeli Bayani) Best Screenplay (Lav Diaz and Rody Vera) and Best Cinematography…

HE has proven that age is not a factor in being a star.  Last May 18, actor Richard Yap turned 47 and still remained humble as ever. The star of the hit teleserye Be Careful With My Heart, shared that he wished for nothing more for himself, apart from to continue to receive more blessings…

JOHN Lloyd Cruz, one of the most successful movie actors in the Philippines today, will celebrate his 30th birthday on Friday, June 24, which is also the Feast of St. John the Baptist.  John Lloyd is a three-time Box Office King in the years 2008, 2009 and 2012. Other June birthday celebrants are: June 2 …

Talking about a new start, I wrote about the recent wedding of actor Jericho “Echo” Gonzales to model Kim Jones.  The two lovebirds tied the knot at a beach wedding in the beautiful island of Boracay over Labor Day weekend.   Echo is now the lead star of ABS-CBN’s teleserye The Legal Wife, and is…

BEFORE starting on the latest buzz about the continuing feud amongst the Barretto sisters Claudine, Marjorie and Gretchen; I would like to inform all my friends and colleagues that my planned birthday celebration on May 31, Saturday, has been canceled due to unavoidable circumstances.  My apologies for the cancellation, but I will keep all of…

CONGRATULATIONS to the newly married award-winning actor Jericho Rosales and Filipino-British TV host/model Kim Jones!  The couple tied the knot in an intimate garden wedding at the Shangri-La Resort in the beautiful island of Boracay last May 1. There were actually three venues for Echo and Kim’s special day.  First was the garden for the…

Superstar Nora Aunor, now a resident of Los Angeles, will celebrate her 61st birthday on May 21.  La Aunor, known as the one and only Superstar of the Philippines, was born in Iriga, Camarines Sur. She was the grand champion of the Darigold Jamboree Singing Contest and represented her province at the Tawag ng Tanghalan,…

ALTHOUGH the Queen of All Media Kris Aquino recently admitted that she and former actor and now Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista are dating, just last April 22 she further described their relationship as “best of friends.” Kris posted this information on her Instagram account (krisaquino214) saying that, they are not a ‘couple’ but ‘are…

THIRD time’s a charm they say, and it came true for Mary Jean Lastimosa.  MJ, as her friends and family fondly call her, was crowned Miss Philippines Universe 2014 during the Binibining Pilipinas pageant at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City last March 30. The other winners are Bb. Pilipinas-International Mary Anne Bianca Guidotti;…

Edmund Gerald “Jerry” Brown Jr., born on April 7, 1938; heads the list of prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays for the month of April.   Brown is currently the 39th Governor of the Golden State of California since 2011, and was also Governor from 1975 to 1983. Before being Governor, he served in numerous State…

Fil-Am and American Idol Season 11 runner-up Jessica Sanchez has been chosen again to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley rematch on April 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Jessica confirmed this when she recently arrived in the Philippines. She also shared that…

FORTY lovely Binibining Pilipinas 2014 candidates were presented to the media recently at the Luzon Ballroom of the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Hotel in Manila recently, and among the standouts is the pride of the Fil-Am community of Stockton, CA—Joy Antonette Diaz.  “Jonette” to her family and friends, is candidate #9 in the final and official…

DAN Duggan, president of Duggan’s Serra Mortuary located in Daly City, heads the list of birthday celebrants this March.  Dan will celebrate another year on Thursday, March 27. Other prominent personalities celebrating their birthdays in March are: March 1  –  Royal Dynasty Foundation founder Nellie Cojuangco Tuazon, and Premiere Appliances owner Tony Premiere; March 3 …

IT’S still the love month, and although Valentine’s Day has passed, we want to feel love not just during February but also throughout the year.  We also welcome new beginnings – the start of a new chapter in one’s life. One couple that is celebrating a milestone is band member Mark Escueta and actress Jolina…

AS this is Valentine’s Day weekend, I took the opportunity to write about the real-life sweethearts in Philippine showbiz today.  In the entertainment business, relationships need more than love because of the gossips and intrigues that may hound couples.  Still, the following are some of the real-life love teams that seem to have endured the…

MANY were shocked when the news broke out that dancer/actor and TV host Vhong Navarro was beaten up by a group of men in a condo in Fort Bonifacio, Makati.  It became more real when Vhong’s black and blue image splashed all over the papers and online. Through initial reports and the rumor mill, it…

INTERNATIONALLY known Filipina stage actress and singer Lea Salonga heads the lists of prominent personalities celebrating their birthday this February.  Lea will celebrate her 42nd birthday on Saturday, February 22. Lea is most known for her role of Kim in the highly successful musical, Miss Saigon, for which she won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk,…

THEY say love is lovelier for the second time around and this holds true for actress Angel Locsin and actor/TV host Luis Manzano.  It can be remembered they were a couple a few years back. When they ended their relationship, Luis became involved with Kapuso actress Jennylyn Mercado while Angel dated footballer Fil-Brit Phil Younghusband. …

THERE is no shortage of talents in the Philippines that is why it is not surprising that our local artists are recognized not only in their own backyard, but also internationally. Just recently, teleserye star and GMA 7 Kapuso talent Marian Rivera was named Best Foreign Artist of the Year by Face of the Year…

AFTER all the speculations and rumors these past few weeks, Kris Aquino—known as the Queen of All Media in the Philippines—has finally confirmed that she has renewed her contract with ABS-CBN 2. She announced this last January 6, via an Instagram post: “My manager Deo Edrinal continued talks w/ our ABS bosses during the Christmas…

MICHELLE Robinson Obama, the First Lady of the United States, heads the list of January birthday celebrants.  She will be celebrating her lucky 50th birthday on Friday, January 17, with her husband, President Barack Obama and their daughters Malia and Natasha. Mrs. Obama is the First Lady of the United States after former First Lady…

CALIFORNIA Commissioner for the Board of Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors and Geologists Rey Satorre and his wife, the former Rachel Forneas, both devotees of the Nuestro Senior Padre Jesus Nazareno de Quiapo, will head the list of Hermana mayors for the fiesta. The 18th century replica of the Black Nazarene was formally owned by the…

RUMORS have been floating the past week about the alleged suicide attempt of international singing star Charice Pempengco, and finally she came out to clear all assumptions. The news about Charice’s attempt on her life started when her maternal grandmother, Teresita Relucio, came out on TV5’s talk show, Showbiz News Police two weeks ago.  In…

FOR the merry month of December, world boxing champion and Sarangani Congressman Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays.  Pacman will be turning 35 years old on Tuesday, December 17. Other personalities celebrating their special day this month are: December 4  –  Former Miss RP-USA winner Sara…

FILIPINOS in the United States celebrate Thanksgiving Day (or Araw ng Pasasalamat) in their own special way, reflecting on the blessings they have received from the Lord as the year 2013 is about to end.  The day also serves as the kick off and preparation for the holiday season. Those who recently arrived in the…

THE onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda has united our kababayans back home.  Using their popularity to gain the public’s attention to help the typhoon victims, numerous Filipino artists have not only just donated money and relief goods, but also their time. One of these artists is Kapamilya actress Angel Locsin.  Aside from her financial donation to…

WITH any kind of tragedy that comes to the Philippines, artists will always find ways to help—either by donating cash and in kind, volunteering or both—their fellow Filipinos. Just last week, Leyte and other provinces was devastated by the wrath of Typhoon Yolanda.  At present, the government, international aid and other non-profit agencies are trying…

HANDSOME actor Dingdong Dantes has never been without a project.  Acknowledged by his home network, GMA 7 as their Primetime King, his shows on the primetime block have always been certified hits. Aside from managing his own film studio, AgostoDos Pictures, he is now focused on his new primetime series, Genesis.  With its pilot episode…

PHILIPPINE Senate President Franklin Drilon will celebrate his 68th birthday on Thursday, November 28.  Drilon is currently serving his third term in the Senate.  He is also the Chairman of the Liberal Party and Senior Counsel of the ACCRA Law Offices. Drilon was born in 1945 in Iloilo City, and is the eldest son of…