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.
