Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
RANDY Santiago, OPM’s one and only EyeCon dubbed as Mr. Private Eyes, had an engaging performance on August 3 at Bar 360 in Newport World Resorts (NWR), with the Serenity band.
Recently, his son Raiko, or Rainier Nikolo Lorenzo Coronel Santiago, graduated with Honorable Mention and Loyalty Award from De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde.
He said, “So proud of this hardworking son of ours who works for me as production and tour manager of Private Eyes and still managed to study online especially during the pandemic… He managed his time between working and studying online while we were doing the Eye Labyu U.S. Tour… He did very well as we flew back and forth from East Coast to West Coast. So much pressure including time difference,” said Randy, who was my classmate at De La Salle University-Manila.
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I was a guest recently in The Voice of Senior Citizens at DZME TV Cable Link Channel 5 and DZME 1530 AM Band from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., with Congressman Godofredo Arquiza, Sure Manuel and director Raymard Gutierrez, assessing the situation of senior citizens in the Philippines.
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Singer Louie Heredia, known for his phenomenal song “Nag-iisang Ikaw,” reminisced to me that: “My bosses at Vicor Music Corp. wanted me to sing Tagalog songs because they felt that I would be able to reach to the masses, or ordinary people, more if I sang Tagalog songs. So they gave me Nag-iisang Ikaw, composed and tailor-made by one of the country’s top composers Vehnee Saturno. At first I did not want to sing this song since I found it so ‘baduy’ (in poor taste). It was then not my style but an insider in Vicor told me that if I did not record the song, they would release me from my contract with them. So, I had no choice but to record the song.” Louie took up business management at Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California and graduated cum laude in 1987.
“Vehnee Saturno, aside from being the composer of the song, was also assigned to be the producer of the song. He guided me every inch of the way during the recording of Nag-iisang Ikaw, and I guess we did everything right since the song gave me a Double Platinum Record Award and this is the same song that made Louie Heredia,” he added.
To this date, many other top performers have revived Nag- iisang Ikaw.
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Congrats to the winners of the PSF (Philippine Stagers Foundation) Theater Festival 2024 Thumbs Up Awards as well as to the PSF Workshop and Masterclass Batch 2024 graduates.
The PSF, or Philstagers, the national mobile theater company in the Philippines, announces the biggest, grandest and most spectacular All-Original Filipino Musical based on the life story of the misunderstood and highly questionable character of a national hero, Juan Luna. Written and directed by Atty. Vince Tañada, the musical brings us to late 1800s Manila and Europe up to the death of Luna in Hong Kong. The avant-garde, neo-cinematic musical is billed as “Juan Luna, Isang Sarsuela” – a lavish, most expensive and highly technical stage piece but maintaining its classical and elegant literary masterpiece and musicality.
The musical will run from August 2024 to April 2025 in various theaters all over the Philippines, true to the vision and mission of the theater company in bringing quality theater to the masses and in turn educating its audience on Philippine history, culture, tradition, patriotism and national identity.
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Congrats to Mabalacat City College (MCC) of Mabalacat City, Pampanga for being praised by Pres. Bongbong Marcos in SONA 2024. MCC was bestowed a prestigious award as Technological or Digital Innovation of the Year by Times Higher Education in United Kingdom.
It is headed by MCC president Dr. Michelle Aguilar-Ong, also a former producer of films directed by multi-awarded Kapampangan director Carlo Enciso Catu. She is the former TV host of a weekly public affairs program on GNNTV 44 in Pampanga.
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Zumba instructors joined together in Quezon City Memorial Circle to show their concern for the environment. Among them were Maricris Wee, Mike, Winston, James, Aris and Jason of Live Love Party (LLP) Crew; Jenito, Camper and Gilbert of South Vibes Est. 2020; Charly Esquejo and Jayz Blanco of TML; Mark and Che of MNL Crew Est. 2018; Lhou and Ace of Lou & Ace Fitness Group; and Erwin Mendana of AE5.
It is spearheaded by One Movement Inc. headed by chairman Marlon Mendoza, with the support of former Eat Bulaga and Solid Gold dancer Emily Samson. Singer Imelda Papin, with her daughter Maffi and her sister Aileen, attended this worthy cause.
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First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos attended recently the GMA Gala 2024, and she was seen with GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Valdes and actor Shintaro Valdes, a fellow La Sallite. Meanwhile, on August 10, some young talents from Sparkle GMA Artist Center will be recognized as Philippine Empowered Youth 2024 at Teatrino Promenade in Greenhills, San Juan City.
Among the young Sparkle GMA Artists to be recognized are as follows: James Graham, Charlie Fleming, Zyren dela Cruz, Waynona Collings, Travis Clarino, Shane Sava, Selina Griffin, Princess Aliyah, Patricia Coma, Mark Oliveros, Liezel Lopez, Liana Mae, Lee Victor, Kimson Tan, Keisha Serna, Kaloy Tingcungco, Josh Ford, Jade Tecson, Hannah Arguelles, Gaea Mischa, Brent Valdez, and Aya Domingo.
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Dr. Fernando dela Pena, a California-based dentist, is the eldest son of the late actor Paquito Diaz and 1969 FAMAS Best Supporting Actress Eva Darren.
Dr. De la Pena finished college at Centro Escolar University-College of Dentistry in Manila in 1992. Afterwards, he went to the U.S. His younger brother actor Joko Diaz and sister actress Cheska Diaz and other siblings often visit him there.
“My best memories of my dad was when he came to see me on my birthday. No matter how busy he was, he always found time to see me,” he said.
Dr. de la Pena’s practice’s website (De La Pena Dental Group) is www.losangelesdentist.la, while the school website of Los Angeles School of Dental Assisting is www.losangelesdentalassistant.com and is located along Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.
Dr. Fernando is named after Fernando Poe Jr., his dad’s bosom friend. He also writes articles about the Philippine Dental Association.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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