The Miracle of Fatima The Musical in PH, Pilipinas Dream Team at PSBL grand opening at Araneta Coliseum

The cast of “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical”

RINA Ortiz, an animal welfare advocate and co-founder of Biyaya Animal Care, is a Filipina who never tires of rescuing stray animals.

Together with over 100 staff members and 15 doctors at three locations and five shelters, Ortiz is making a difference in local communities through rescuing and protecting “abused, neglected, lost, and mistreated animals while serving the veterinary needs of pet owners and individuals.”

Rina Ortiz of Biyaya Animal Care
Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina

She has also a regular podcast, The Rina Ortiz Podcast Season 2, that began with former Senator Leila de Lima. This was followed by Laila “Chikadora” Pangilinan (TV5’s cat mama). She also appeared in Dinah Ventura’s Pairfect of Daily Tribune. Recently, she had an outreach activity held in FPJ Studios in Quezon City for neutering, anti-rabies vaccination and micro-chipping of cats and dogs, courtesy of the Quezon City Veterinary Department, FPJ Panday Bayanihan, and Office of Sen. Grace Poe.

On July 27, 2024 at 1 p.m. at Ayala Malls Trinoma Cinema 1, her Biyaya Animal Care will have Marvel Studios’ Deadpool and Wolverine’s block screening for the benefit of rescued cats and dogs of Biyaya Animal Sanctuary in Alfonso, Cavite.

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Barbara Oleynick (standing, behind) with the young cast of “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical”

American producer and writer Barbara Oleynick, a multi-faceted creative professional with a passion for evangelizing the Fatima message through live performances, will bring “The Miracle of Fatima The Musical” to the Philippines. She is a known playwright, composer, lyricist and executive director of Fatima Foundation Inc. Helping her is Dominican director Luis Marcell Ricart, founder of THEAMUS Teatro Musical and musical director of Iglesia Regina Angelorum.

Elia Ilano, who plays Lucia, with American writer-lyricist Barbara Oleynick.

The main characters are the three young visionaries: Lucia (to be enacted by Fatima Marie Mislang and 72nd FAMAS best child actress Elia Ilano who appreared in Vince M. Tanada’s “Maria Goretti The Musical”), Jacinta (to be played by Sophia Marie Banaag and Ramjean Entera who appeared in the recent film “A Thousand Forests”), and Francisco (to be played by Prince Espana who also appeared in “A Thousand Forests” and Kian Co who appeared in the “Mallari” film).

Others in the cast include Terrence Guillermo, Bem Sabanal, Radhni Tiplan, Bryant Aunor, Jerome Fugoso, Elinor Acorda, Jassy Calupitan, Malou Canzana, Sherryl Ilano, Karl Tiuseco, Joselito Reyes, Mary Grace Sy, Alex Payan, Amikah Brigette Aunor, Maria Krischellei Robles, John Nicolas Gamboa, Randy dela Cruz, Cielo Marie dela Cruz, Crystal Fae Manalac, and Matthew Joseph Escalante.

It will be premiered on October 13, 2024 (107 years ago, the “Miracle of the Sun” phenomenon happened in Fatima, Portugal on the same day) in Manila, running every Wednesday to Sunday until December 22, 2024.

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From left: Beverly Salviejo, Randy Santiago and Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Medina

UNKNOWN to many, actress-singer Beverly Salviejo was once a teacher. She first became known in the sitcom “Urbana at Feliza” as the maid of comedian Lou Veloso, which starred Mitch Valdez and Nanette Inventor. Since then she has appeared in some TV shows and movies.

Beverly has also appeared in ABS-CBN TV series “Forevermore,” with Liza Soberano and Enrique Gil and under the helm of  director Cathy Garica-Molina. Likewise, she was seen in TV series “Imortal,” “Toda Max,” “Pintada,” “Princess and I,” “My Little Juan,” “Got to Believe,” “FPJ’s Ang Probinsiyano,” “Pusong Ligaw” and “Daig Kayo ng Lola Ko.”

Recently, she won in the 2nd Gawad Dangal Filipino Award as best supporting TV actress for her role in “Wish Ko Lang.” (Singer-actor Randy Santiago was also recognized by the same award-giving entity.)

Salviejo also appeared in Daryll Yap’s “Maid in Malacanang.”

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Lae Manego with director Nirro Marcelo during rehearsals.

Nirro Marcelo of SIRBISU Channel, chairman of the Philippine Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers, recently directed Lae Manego, hailed as Asia’s Queen of Fire, in her first solo concert this year at Pier 1 in Quezon City. It was a huge success with Lae’s guests Ivy Violan, Jos Garcia and the Toshka Band.

Lae Manego in a New York City billboard.

I first met Lae, now Mrs. Querino Franzani (being married to a Dutch citizen), in September 2023 during PFBA. We were both awardees (thanks to La Visual Corporation).

Recently, she appeared in New York City Billboard, courtesy of Janice Israel Delima Tentler. Soon, she will have her concert in Paris, France and The Netherlands.

Lae’s talent became known when she sang Aegis’ “Luha” on December 20, 2019 in GMA7’s Wowowin as part of the studio audience and which reached 16 million views on YouTube.

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Composer Louie Ocampo (middle) with Bro. Vince Fernandez, FSC (left) and Nawaf Teody Castro (right), a graduate of LSGH-ALS.

Ilonggo Bro. Vincent H. Fernandez, FSC of De La Salle Greenhills (LSGH) Alternative Education loves music and songwriting. He had able to compose 11 songs despite his hectic schedule, and I was fortunate to listen to two of his songs when I visited him at LSGH one Saturday morning. He said Louie Ocampo, a Filipino composer and arranger best known for his association with Martin Nievera, is his friend. Louie is regarded as one of the pillars and icons of Original Pilipino Music and he is best known for “Tell Me,” “Kahit Isang Saglit” and “You Are My Song.”

“Louie helped me in doing the original arrangement of my compositions,” says Bro. Vince who is the former director of University of St. La Salle’s Bahay Pag-asa for Youth Center in Bacolod City from 2006 to 2009, leading him to be acquainted and engaged in the Philippine Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System.

I was mesmerized by Bro. Vincent’s “Just Believe” and other musical compositions. “The songs were songs in the musical I also wrote entitled “Animo: One Man and a Dream,” a musical on the life of St. John Baptist De La Salle,” he said.

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The Pilipinas Dream Team

Rudy Aquino, or simply Jun, of the entertaining basketball team (Pilipinas Dream Team) said that the grand opening of the Perlas ng Silangan Basketball League will be on Sunday, July 28, at the Araneta Coliseum with the PDT vs PeekUp All Star Legends. In attendance will be El Gamma Penumbra, Jiji Plays, Cool Kids Crew, Lockdown Band, and Star Magic ABS-CBN Talents.

The Pilipinas Dream Team with NobleLife CEO Lila Macapinlac (seated, 3rd from left) and other doctors.

Jun, the son of the late veteran actress Naty Santiago and favorite visual artist of boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, related during the presscon for Noble Life’s 18th year in the Philippines on the topic of lifestyle solutions for diabetes how his family “is thankful to NobleLife for extending for one year and a half her life. We made a good decision to trust Dr. Orteza and NobleLife product. We did not return to the hospital and she underwent no surgery procedures. Thanks too to Lila Macapinlac.”

However, his mom Naty passed on peacefully at age 90.

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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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