A Repost From Charley Bautista-Braga of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

Musical ‘friends’ gather to honor the ‘Hit Man’

By Charley Braga – October 22nd, 2010

Email Facebook Twitter Print

By Charley Bautista-Braga,
Yahoo! Southeast Asia

What do a “Glee” club member, an “Idol,” a former man from Chicago, the daughter of a King, and four tenors have in common?

They’ve all worked with and befriended a Hit Man named David Foster.

On Saturday night, Charice, Ruben Studdard, Peter Cetera, Natalie Cole, and the Canadian Tenors will perform in the Manila leg of their concert, Hit Man: David Foster and Friends, a take-off from the popular Mandalay Bay concert in Las Vegas that celebrates the songs the Grammy award-winning producer’s written and performed, and the artists he’s worked with.

In front of Philippine media Foster spoke fondly of the Filipinos he’s met. “Every single day of my life in Los Angeles, every sing day – somebody Filipino, comes up to me and says, ‘Thank you for Charice.’ And the people are so warm, and so now instead of one person a day, there are a million Filipinos who [I can meet], so thank you for having us here,” Foster said.

Despite all their Grammys, American Music Awards, Image Awards, and Billboard chart-topping hits, Foster and his artist-friends are also profuse in their admiration for one another.

Peter Cetera, best known as a vocalist and bassist for the band Chicago, and later as a successful solo artist said, “David Foster has more than one trait, and he brings out the best in whoever he works with. When you see the show, it’s fun being onstage with him again. I was here [in Manila] a while back and was amazed that the audience knew my songs by heart. On Saturday, you’ll see all the love we have for each other, and for David. It’ll be a wonderful show.”

The up-and-coming vocalists Canadian Tenors spoke about working with the Hit Man. “It’s David’s sense of humor. The first time we came on, David said, ‘Hey guys, learn how to sing,’ and he made us feel very at home with him. So we’d say it’s his sense of humor [that stands out for us].”

Charice also gave her two cents, “The first time I met you [David], I was so scared. But for three years, I’ve felt that you’re really a part of my family. And I know that like every person in the world, you’re a real person. And I want to thank you for recognizing my talent.”

Foster also had some words of wisdom for his godchild and the rest of the singers. “I’d say it’s the same with everybody on this panel; I’m attracted to great talent and if you look here, I’m attracted to great singers period.” He explained, “There’s people who make music and have hit records and aren’t great singers but still have great records – I don’t know how to do that. I only know how to work with great singers, that’s what I love to do, and they find me rather than me finding them. Charice is in that category, and she’s amongst so many professionals [who she can learn from]. A couple of days ago in rehearsal, Natalie came up to me and said, “No. I have some advice for Charice,” and she walked over to her and gave her great advice about how to take care of her voice. Charice is growing up fast, she’s becoming a young woman, and she’s got a lot of help around her now; that’s something I wouldn’t be able to help her with because I wouldn’t know how to take care of her voice, but Natalie does.”

Natalie Cole, famously known for her “Unforgettable” duet with deceased father Nat King Cole, weighed in on her decades-long experience of being in the business: “You can’t get ahead of yourself, you’ve got to have focus. But I’m grateful for the struggles I’ve gone through, because it makes you grateful for what you’ve got.”

Charice is aware that she has great shoes to fill, and when asked about being compared to Celine Dion, she replied, “It’s such a big responsibility for me. Everywhere I go, everyone I see, I have to show them that I deserve to be compared to Ms. Celine Dion and it’s really hard but at the same time it’s a big compliment for me. And I want to thank all the people for saying that.”

“American Idol” Season 2 winner Ruben Studdard affectionately said, “I think she’ll have a great career to come, and just with the lives she’s touched here, she’s done so much with the people she’s impacted. I look forward to seeing what Charice has in store, and I love her, she’s like my little sister in my life.”

He added, “As for David, if he was an AI judge who would he be? I think David Foster would take the Simon Cowell role and it’s not because people call Simon mean; he’s just very honest and about the talent, if you don’t have what it takes, he’ll tell you.”

The Tenors chimed in, “This is surreal to be on this panel with these four performers and David. He’s constantly looking for new opportunities for artists, and he’s done that for us, so we’re forever grateful for giving us this opportunity. We can’t wait, it’s going to be an amazing night.”

Natalie chimed in, “I can’t believe guys this good-looking can sing as well as they do!”

With this kind of affectionate rapport, Filipinos can expect an incredible night of music, sincerity, and great hits, all to honor music world’s greatest Hit Man.

Reposted From Charley Bautista-Braga of Yahoo! Southeast Asia

A Repost From Abac Cordero of Philstar.com

Roach: No worry, Manny will be ready

Philstar.com - Wednesday, October 20

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines – You’ve got to take his word when Freddie Roach says there’s no need to worry.

“We need a little more focus, but I think overall we’re doing okay,” said the trainer of all trainers after Bob Arum sounded the alarm the other day while watching Manny Pacquiao train.

Arum said he didn’t see the speed in Pacquiao, that blinding speed he would need to stun, overwhelm and get rid of Antonio Margarito on Nov. 13 in Texas, after a couple of workouts here.

“If the fight happened on Saturday Margarito would win the fight,” was the quote of the day from Arum.

Roach yesterday admitted that Pacquiao is far from his best but that things can be worked out in the next couple of weeks.

“He’s a hundred percent with the mitts but fifty percent in sparring,” he said.

Pacquiao seemed to have taken the first four weeks of training lightly, skipping roadwork and gym workouts like he’d never done before. Twice on weekends, he left this City of Pines for Manila.

Pacquiao also had too much of basketball early in the camp that it was hard to tell if he was training for a world title fight or a basketball tournament. Or too much of Congress.

Roach, however, said it was all right for Pacquiao to play basketball because the deal was that the 31-year-old champion, would quit it four weeks before the fight.

Saturday evening Pacquiao spent a couple of hours rehearsing his songs for the after-fight concert on Nov. 13, and the other night he was at a late dinner with Arum and friends.

The stormy weather up here, with howling winds and non-stop rains since Monday, forced Pacquiao to once again skip his roadwork yesterday, but went to the gym early to spar.

Somehow, Roach looks satisfied.

“We’ve had good and bad days, but more good than bad lately, so it’s getting better and better. But we need get more focus. Started a little bit late than the usual,” said Roach.

The four-time Trainer of the Year thinks the only way to do this is to get Pacquiao to his Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, and on Saturday evening they’d be boarding the plane to LA.

According to plans, Pacquiao should head down to Manila after tomorrow’s workout, spar at the Elorde Gym on Thursday, train on Friday and spar one last time on Saturday.

“I’m still pushing for sparring on Thursday and then go to L.A. on Thursday. But we haven’t work that out yet,” said Roach who may need to beg before the fighting congressman for that.

Roach said the toughest weeks of this camp are coming.

“This would be a big week for sparring. This week and next week. It would be the toughest two weeks coming up,” said Roach, who has plenty of reasons pushing for an earlier flight to LA.

“With the weather and so forth, yes. And I have more sparring there, better sparring. No, not better, but more of the style I’ve been looking for,” he said.

Mexicans Michael Medina and Glen Tapia have done a good job as sparring partners, but Roach is looking for some fresh meat because Pacquiao has this habit of getting too friendly with his sparring partners as the days go by.

“There’s Abdullah, Kid Chocolate, who’s 21-and-0, Amir Khan, Vanes (Martirosyan). That’s plenty. We’ve sparred 36 rounds now. We’ll get about 30 rounds this week and 30 next week, and then we start tapering off,” Roach added.

Roach was asked if he’s sticking to his prediction that Pacquiao would knock Margarito out early or late.

“Yeah,” he said. - By Abac Cordero (Philstar News Service, www.philstar.com)

A Repost From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

Sam Pinto denies rumor linking her to Dingdong Dantes, assures Marian Rivera "has nothing to worry about"

PEP - Friday, October 22

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

Sam Pinto denies rumor linking her to Dingdong Dantes; assures Marian Rivera, "nothing to worry about"

Slideshow: Showbiz Photos

Ex-Pinoy Big Brother Double Up housemate Sam Pinto is proud and happy to be part of the country's longest-running gag show, Bubble Gang.

Sam's inclusion to the GMA-7 comedy program coincides with its 15th year anniversary, which will be celebrated with a horror-comedy musical extravaganza to be shown on October 29.

The upcoming anniversary and Halloween special will also introduce the Bubblets—Bubble Gang's new gang composed of Sam, Jackie Rice, Gwen Zamora, and Ellen Adarna.

Like most of today's young stars, Sam grew up watching the wacky antics and stunts of the enduring gag show, particularly the tandem of Ogie Alcasid and Michael V.

Being asked to join the cast of Bubble Gang, according to Sam, was totally surprising and that being part of the program made her understand why it lasted for more than a decade despite the competition and changing television trends.

"Masaya and talagang very light, as in 'yong acting and everything. It's fun sa rehearsal. And sina Kuya Ogie and Kuya Bitoy [Michael V's nickname], as in sila pa 'yong nagha-hi and good morning sa amin," Sam told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) in an interview earlier today, October 21, at GMA Network Center in Quezon City.

LOADED WITH WORK. Sam's transfer to the Kapuso network last September was facilitated by the actress-model's management team.

Viva Management is handling Sam's showbiz career, and it was decided that transferring from ABS-CBN to another station might help boost the 20-year-old's burgeoning career after appearing in the hit reality show Pinoy Big Brother Double Up.

Sam is currently seen every Sunday in Party Pilipinas and she's also slated to grace the big screen this December via the 36th Metro Manila Film Festival entry Ang Agimat ni Enteng, starring action star-turned-politician Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. and ace comedian Vic Sotto.

The film, mentioned Sam, is already "halfway done" and she described Bong as "sobrang down to earth."

Considering the box-office success of Bong and Vic in the annual film festival, Sam acknowledged that there's undeniable pressure on her part to help continue the tradition set by the two veteran actors.

"Pero what I've heard is lahat ng leading lady nila, they really made it, like Kristine Hermosa... I'm so happy that they chose and that I'm now part of this project," said Sam.

NOT SCARED OF MARIAN. We also asked Sam to clarify the rumor currently linking her to actor Dingdong Dantes.

Sam said she has no idea on how the entire issue started. Rumor has it that the model-actress caught the eye of the hunky actor while they were doing the Sunday concert variety show Party Pilipinas.

"Sa dressing room, for some reason, isang Party Pilipinas, ako lang 'yong babae sa dressing room and lahat ng kasama ko, guys. Tapos may nagtatanong daw na sinabi ni Dingdong na palitan ko daw 'yong suot ko, ganyan-ganyan. Hindi naman niya sinabi sa akin 'yon. He didn't even talk to me. I said 'hi' for courtesy, pero that's it," explained Sam.

Is she wary that the rumor might earn the ire of Dingdong's girlfriend, Marian Rivera?

"Actually, I'm not really scared of Marian," replied Sam.

We reminded Sam of actress Bela Padilla's claim that Marian "harassed" her allegedly out of jealousy because the showbiz newcomer was being cozy with Dingdong during the time they were still doing the series, Endless Love.

"For me naman, I won't stoop down that low. Hindi naman kailangan dahil it's super not true. Dingdong and I don't event talk. Seryoso, hindi kami nagte-text or anything talaga. She [Marian] has nothing to worry about talaga," emphasized Sam.

During the interview, Sam revealed that she auditioned yesterday, October 20, for the planned television comeback of local superhero Captain Barbell.

Interestingly, Sam cited one role that she would love to portray in the future—the same character that was assumed last by no less than Marian Rivera herself.

"Darna!" she laughed. "Seryoso, Darna, di ba, parang same as my [Ang] Agimat [ni Enteng] role, as in very kick-ass...puwede bang sabihin 'yon? Basta, very strong, she can fight guys. Sobrang I had fun doing fight scenes ko sa Agimat, so game ako dun."

Reposted From PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal)

A Repost From AFP

One dead as Typhoon Megi whips northern Philippines

AFP - 1 hour 12 minutes ago

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

BAGUIO, Philippines (AFP) - – Super Typhoon Megi smashed into the northern Philippines on Monday, causing landslides in mountainous areas, whipping up huge waves along the coast and killing at least one person.

Forecasters said Megi was probably the most powerful storm in the world this year and the strongest to hit the Philippines since Typhoon Durian unleashed mudslides that buried entire towns and killed more than 1,000 people in 2006.

With the storm forecast to sweep into the South China Sea, Chinese authorities on Tuesday issued a disaster warning across southern coastal areas.

Megi pummelled remote coastal areas of the northern Philippines with gusts of up to 260 kilometres (160 miles) an hour on Monday morning as it made landfall, tearing roofs off houses and bringing down power lines.

"We are marooned inside our home. We cannot go out. The winds and rain are very strong. Many trees are being uprooted or snapped in half," Ernesto Macadangdang, a resident of Burgos town in Isabela province, told DZBB radio.

Megi's force slowed after making landfall with maximum wind gusts of 215 kilometres an hour, but it continued to dump rain across the northern half of the main island of Luzon throughout the afternoon.

The northeastern provinces of Isabela and Cagayan were the first to feel the typhoon's fury on Monday morning.

"There are landslides in the mountains, we have swells, storm surges and big waves along the coastline, and now we have flood alerts," chief weatherman Graciano Yumol said in an interview with GMA 7 television.

Isabela and other provinces in Megi's direct path are mostly agricultural and fishing areas, with a few million residents who are well-drilled in preparing for the many storms that hit each year.

More than 3,000 people had already been moved from their homes in the northern provinces as part of a "pre-emptive evacuation" of threatened areas, the civil defence office said.

Local television showed footage of debris, including fallen trees and electrical posts, littering the highway leading to Isabela's provincial capital Ilagan just hours after Megi hit land.

Flights to and from northern Luzon were also suspended and ships there were told not to leave port.

Military, police and relief agencies had positioned supplies and rescue units to provide swift assistance to any affected areas, the civil defence office reported.

The government said the US military had also offered six heavy lift helicopters to help if needed.

Authorities reported one death by late Monday afternoon, but with many areas remained cut off from communications, officials fear the death toll could rise.

Cagayan province governor Alvaro Antonio said rising waters had made many bridges impassable, adding that strong winds made it dangerous to venture out.

"You cannot travel. It is very dangerous even if you use a vehicle. The wind is very strong and the rains are getting stronger," he said.

"We cannot as of yet give you a complete picture or assessment of the extent of the damage."

The sole reported fatality was of a man who drowned in a river while fishing, the nation's civil defence chief, Benito Ramos, told reporters.

The state weather bureau said Megi was expected to exit the Philippines' western coast for the South China Sea later Monday, but said storm alert signals remained hoisted over much of Luzon island.

Megi did not directly hit the nation's capital, Manila, although its 12 million residents were told to remain on alert for possible heavy rains.

The Chinese provinces of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian were on alert for powerful winds, heavy rains, floods and landslides over coming days, state media reported.

In Hainan, an island province which has already been battered by torrential rains since the start of October, the relief effort has been allocated 40 yuan (six million dollars) life jackets, rafts and equipment to counter flooding.

More than 1,100 people were killed when Tropical Storm Ketsana and Typhoon Parma struck Manila and other parts of Luzon within a week of each other last year, triggering the worst flooding in recent history.

The Philippines is battered by an average of 20 typhoons a year, but Megi looked set to make records as one of the fiercest in recent memory.

Rosalinda de Guzman, head of the government's climatology data division, told AFP that Megi was the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines since Durian in 2006.

Forecasting website Accuweather reported Megi was the strongest cyclone anywhere in the world this year, but de Guzman said local authorities were not able to make a global comparison.

Reposted From AFP

A Repost From AFP

Time, like all good things, may come to an end: study

AFP - Saturday, October 16

• Send
• IM Story
• Print

The end of the world as we know it cannot be avoided, but it can be predicted, according to a group of astrophysicists who see a 50 percent chance of the final countdown ending in 3.7 billion years.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The end of the world as we know it cannot be avoided, but it can be predicted, according to a group of astrophysicists who see a 50 percent chance of the final countdown ending in 3.7 billion years.

"Time is unlikely to end in our lifetime, but there is a 50 percent chance that time will end within the next 3.7 billion years," according to the team of US and Japanese scientists, who are challenging a long-standing theory of the universe.

While scientists have long concluded that the universe is expanding, and will do so for an infinite period of time, the researchers say the very rules of physics suggest that "an eternally inflating universe" is far from given.

"The point of this paper is to show that certain methods and assumptions that have been widely used by physicists for years -- most prominently, the use of a time cutoff in order to compute probabilities in an eternally inflating universe -- lead to the conclusion that time will end," Raphael Bousso of the University of California, Berkeley told AFP.

"In other words, the time cutoff, which we may have thought was just a calculational tool, actually behaves like a physical event, whether we like it or not," said Bousso, lead author of the study published on arXiv.org

Current theories of the universe begin with the "Big Bang," which cast our living space into being some 13.7 billion years ago in a massive explosion.

Since then, theorists have assumed the universe will simply continue to expand forever, but have also used a theoretical expiration date to help calculate the laws and rules of physics.

But Bousso and his colleagues says the discipline simply cannot have it both ways.

He cautioned however that the complex thought experiment and calculations proposed by the research could not be used to draw definitive conclusions.

"It's very important to understand that we are not saying that we are certain of the conclusion that time will end (though we cannot rule out that it may be correct)," he wrote.

But he said even if the theory was false, discovering why that was the case would help scientists better understand the universe.

"In science, this kind of reasoning is often valuable: you realize that your reasonable-seeming theory predicts something that sounds crazy, so you have to come to grips with that," he told AFP.

"Either you have to abandon the theory, or you have to understand why the crazy-sounding thing may not actually be so crazy."

For astrophysicist Charles Lineweaver, of Australian National University's Mount Stromlo Observatory, Bousso's conclusions are simply incorrect.

"Bousso's average life of a universe is a set time, only because that's what happens when you introduce a cutoff point to get a reasonable probability," he told ABC Television.

"It's a statistical technique being taken probably too seriously," he added.

But Bousso said he and his team had not invented or introduced anything.

"These cutoffs have been used by many leading physicists for years," he told AFP. "We merely pointed out that it's not such an innocent thing to do.

"The cutoff on time is inevitably physical and hence requires a physical justification. It cannot be considered a mere mathematical trick."

Reposted From AFP