Boholana diva shines on 'X Factor' pilot

Wake-uppers:

Scene: Pres. Aquino has declared July 2 (Monday), as a special (non-working) day in Tagbilaran City in celebration of its 46th Charter Day as per Proclamation No. 417. The city marks the commemoration of its Charter Day on July 1, which falls on a Sunday. Tagbilaran became a chartered city on July 1, 1966 by virtue of Republic Act No. 4660. 

 

Scene: Fer Mary Baliquig didn’t make it in the Miss World Philippines (MWP) 2012. MWP was Fer’s second attempt joining a national pageant.

 

Scene: No less than Gov. Edgar Chatto and Rep. Rene Relampagos attended the charter recognition and first induction ceremony of Rotary Club of Panglao last June 26 at Alona Kew Beach Resort Grand Ballroom. The Club meets every Tuesday, 7 pm at Alona tropical Beach Resort with Pres. Irena Heberer, Vice President Thomas Boetsch, Sec. Lani Pasko, treasurer Karin Wesemael and the other members.  According to Rotarians Nila Montero andHoward Hoffman, the club’s flagship project is a women’s crisis center.

 

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“Welcome to the X-Factor!” said KC Concepcion in Cebu.

 

ABS-CBN's latest talent search "The X-Factor Philippines" with judge-mentors Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Pilita Corrales and Charice Pempengco aired its pilot episodes last July 23 and 24.  

 

For Sunday's episode, Boholana diva Eva Gulle- De los Santos, 50, who doesn't look her age, proved that she can compete with the younger singers.

 

“Never stop dreaming,” said Eva who joined the show to inspire people her age to keep on dreaming.

 

Everyone was floored as they watched her performing Tina Turner's Let's Stay Together that even the International Singing Sensation Charice declared her the “Tina Turner of the Philippines.”

 

Of course, all the judges said “yes” and Eva’s family joined her on stage.

 

It’s not “A star is born” (ehem, an apology to Martin Nievera’s spiel) because Eva is already a star as she has already carved a name in the music industry. The biggest highlight of her career was in 1992 when she represented the Philippines to the Midnight Sun Song Festival in Lahti, Finland. She won second runner-up when she sang her own composition of Just Like You and Me. She holds the distinction of being the only composer in the Philippines to sing her own composition in an international song festival.

 

A Jagnaanon, she also received the Perlas Award as “Valuable Filipino in the Field of Singing” in 1998. Aside from being an extraordinarily talented singer she also excelled in academics. She finished her college degree as magna cum laude.

 

Recalled Ruben Gulle (who’s residing in USA), “I remember so well in the year 2000 I invited her to perform at the Gulle Clan Reunion which she gladly accepted. I coursed my invite thru her Papa, Nong Along, who is also a world-class saxophonist. The clan was blown away by her rendition of Babara Streisand's classic entitled, Somewhere."   

 

Eva’s daughter, Monique, made it to the Hollywood rounds of American Idol  2011.  One of the Palmolive girls in the Philippines, Monique used to record under the label Polyeast Records with one album to her credit titled “Monique Rae, All up to me.” 

 

Let us watch for the next episodes of X-Factor to see more of Eva and another Boholano singer, Sherwin “Paeng” Rosco, who was qualified in X-Factor Philippines.

 

X Factor Philippines will give away P4 million in prizes- the biggest prize for a talent search in the history of Philippine TV. 

 

"The X Factor Philippines" airs Saturdays after "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and Sundays after "Sarah G Live."

 

 

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Feedback

 

Our dear Leo,

 

Thank you for sharing your favorite old classic songs. Reading your column, I am transported back to 1960s and I remember the love of my life. From 1960s to 1970s the quality and variety of popular music was stunning. The Beatles, The Association, The Vogues, The Yardbirds, Hendrix, Blood Sweat and Tears, The Mamas and the Papas, Jethro Tull, The Beach Boys, The Four Seasons, Simon and Garfunkel, Cream, the list goes on and on.

 

I am just disappointed because you’ve failed to include “Bus Stop” by Hollies, a spectacular group in the 1960s. The group was wholesome, clean young romance, not like all the filth we witness these days. And Mr. Udtohan, I have to correct you that it was not Donna Cruz who popularized the song “Rain” because Boy Mondragon was best known for his hit “Rain” in 1970s. Please include Ryan Cayabyab orginal composition “Tuwing Umuulan” which was originally sung by Basil Valdez.

 

More power darling! Mwuah!

 

–Mrs. Alicia M.J. (Germany)

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter or email at Facebook.

Music is life ask Malou

FLASH REPORT: Shamcey Supsup chosen as graduation speaker

Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Gurrea Supsup will share her thoughts on life and success with this year’s graduating class at the 142nd commencement ceremony on March 27, 4 p.m. at the UB quadrangle, the Office of the University Registrar announced last week.

Shamcey Supsup graduated magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines and topnotcher in the June 2010 Architect Licensure Exam.

“When we choose a speaker, we think of who is right for the time,” UB Registrar Leah Tirol-Magno said. “We choose Miss Shamcey Supsup because aside from her outstanding academic achievements and Miss Universe beauty, she is proud to be a Christian.”

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You and me against the world
Sometimes it seems like you and me against the world
And for all the times we've cried I always felt that
God was on our side.

And when one of us is gone
And one of us is left to carry on
Then remembering will have to do
Our memories alone will get us through
Think about the days of me and you
Of you and me against the world

Those lines from the song You and Me against the World by Helen Reddy take on a deeper meaning vis-a-vis Maria Lourdes “Malou” Brunidor Cempron's life.  “This song is dedicated to my unica hija. It tells about strength. My daughter and I both held on together at the time her father left us for somebody.”

Paano kita mapasasalamatan
Sa puso mong sa 'kin ibinigay
Ngayon lamang ako nagmahal nang tunay
Sa tanang aking buhay
Sapat na ba na ako ay mangako
Mananatili ka dito sa 'king puso
Paano kita mapasasalamatan
Sapat na bang mahalin lang kita
Magpakailanpaman…

Malou’s winning piece, “Paano Kita Mapapasalamatan” by Kuh Ledesma, won her first place in Ang Bagong Kampeon (The New Champion) in 1984. It was a national amateur singing contest aired on RPN (now Solar TV) hosted by the late Bert “Tawa” Marcelo and Pilita Corrales.

Her inclusion in the national singing tilt was a blessing in disguise. Malou went to Manila to sing in the wedding of Balilihan Vice Mayor Efren and Nikki Chatto. Just when Malou was ready to go back to Bohol, the late assemblyman Eladio "Kiking" Chatto, convinced her to try out for Bagong Kampeon. Bohol’s First Lady Pureza Veloso-Chatto accompanied her to Broadcast City Channel 9.  Aspiring singers from the country filled the place, all hoping for a guaranteed audition in the televised Bagong Kampeon tryout.  Out of 75 auditioneers only 5 passed and she was one of the lucky 5.

Music lovers said that Malou’s entry to the contest was unfavorable. It was a nice performance but the timing’s wrong because the defending champion had only one week to qualify for the grand finals. Ryan Cayabyab, one of the judges, called her after the contest and gave her an open date to join again without audition anymore. She claimed the first place Bagong Kampeon in 1984.

“Big deal di ba? Not anybody could be given that chance. I was lucky then to be offered. I won first place that week I joined the contest,” Malou recalled.

Malou

Malou really hasn't slowed down since taking home the Bagong Kampeon. On May 16, 1983, Malou’s rendition of “Dito Ba” won her 3^rd place in the 1st Bohol Minus One Singing tilt. She was the only female contestant to make it to the magic three among the 48 contestants around Bohol.  It was sponsored by the Silliman University Kadugong Bol-anon (headed by Niza Reselosa Bagares) and dyRD. It was hosted by Bohol’s Queen of All Media Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Kiss FM dj Nelson Jabonite. The jurors were topnotch musician Atty. Elpidio Biliran and Victoria Modequillo Chatto.

In 1984, Malou was declared champion in Bohol PRISAA Literary Musical Contest singing “Ako Ang Nagwagi, Ako Ang Nasawi” by Dulce.

In 1987 to 1989, she was hired to sing backup vocals for noted musician Tex Cimafranca in the many songs he composed for Manila artists.

Malou is also a sough-after judge in singing contests. Before Luke Mejares conquered Manila, Malou used to be one of the judges in the many contests he joined. It was also Malou who advised Star in a Million grand champion Jerome Sala to sing One in a Million when he was joining amateur contests in Bohol.

Music is life. Ask Malou.

“Music is like second skin to me,” said Malou. “My life would be empty without it.”

Malou with Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes

As a child, Malou aspired to be a singer. She possesses a soprano vocal range and has been referred to as "the little girl with a sparkling voice" and a blue eyed soul singer. After winning in a national contest, Malou received offers but she didn’t let herself be affected by the klieg lights and cameras rolling and she remained as humble as ever.

Malou is busy working as election assistant II at the Provincial COMELEC for 20 years, and yet she still finds time to sing. 

Find out more about Malou as she completes the following sentences:

I hate people who are… insincere and discourteous.

I avoid people who are not…respectful especially to elders or 
persons in authority.

My greatest pleasure is…when I won first place in the Bagong Kampeon singing competition in Manila which was hosted 
by no less than Ms. Pilita Corrales and with Mr. Ryan Cayabyab as chairman of the board of judges.

My worst moment…was the time I got real sick in 2009.

My biggest fear… my biggest fear is to lose my singing voice.

The most important person in my life is… my daughter is the most impt person in my whole life.

If I were to be reincarnated as an animal I would be… a bird because birds fly freely.

My most traumatic experience was… when my daughter was diagnosed of idiopathic seizure disorder while in high school.

I deal with gossip by… dedma na lng. Gossips don’t bother me at all.

The one thing I can’t live without is… my mobile phone. It’s my only way to get in touch with anybody anytime of the day.

Am I afraid of growing old?... I am definitely not afraid of growing old in fact I’m excited to grow old with my loved ones.

The type of guys that turns me on… I go for the musically inclined, smart and God-fearing dudes.

The type of guys that turn me off… .. intimidating ones are a no-no to me absolutely.

My philosophy in life is… no guts no glory!

I lose my temper when… I lose my temper in people who can’t follow instructions very well.

If I were somebody else I’d be… Mother Teresa, a very gentle woman who has a big heart that bleeds for the poor.

I am happiest when… I when all of my loved ones are in the pink of health especially my unica hija.

I’m saddest when… I’ve hurt anybody .

My ultimate goal in life is… to witness the graduation of my daughter.

Last thing that I do before I go to sleep?. . To say my prayers is always the last thing I do before I sleep.

First thing I do after  I wake up? I pray to thank the Lord for giving me another day in my life.

How do you cope with stress? stress? I lift it up to HIM up above who gives me strength .

My favorite hideaway is… my bedroom at home is my paradise it’s where I listen to music .

My love life is… Secret hmmm.

Do I prefer a younger man, somebody my age or somebody older? Well, my answer is a big BOTH.

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Thanks for your letters, all will be answered. Comments welcome at leoudtohan@yahoo.com, follow leoudtohan at Twitter/ Facebook.