Breaking barriers

Viva Entertainment and SM Lifestyle Entertainment kicked off SineAsia Theatre with the premiere of the “Tagalized” version of the Lee Min Ho-starrer “Gangnam Blues,” which touches on brotherhood and betrayal.

The premiere was held at Cinema 11 of SM Megamall on March 3, a day before it opened in theatres. Several Viva stars attended the event including Meg Imperial, Patricia Javier and Yumi.

The advantage of hearing the characters “say” their lines in Tagalog versus reading subtitles is that the local audience can fully take in the story, including the little details such as the nuance of the characters’ facial expression. While using subtitles in movies or on TV is nothing new here, SineAsia Theatre aims to present movies from our own region. Presumably, fewer Pinoys know Thai or Vietnamese or Korean than English so this “Tagalized” thrust is key to breaking barriers.

Compared to Hollywood films or ones coming from other part of the West like Europe, Asian movies often strike closer to home. In “Gangnam Blues,” for example, we see that underneath the sheen of the production is a story right up the alley of Pinoy teleseryes and action movies (save that violence in Korean movies tend to be more graphic). Family, loyalty, revenge –yes, Pinoys know about these things only too well.

And if before, Asian films are considered by many as art films or “pang-festival” due to the exoticism of language, Filipinos can now have a deeper understanding of the way of life of our “immediate” neighbors including South Korea, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Thailand and India.

SineAsia Theatre has venues at SM Megamall, SM Sta. Mesa, SM Fairview, SM Iloilo, SM Bacoor, SM Cebu, SM Manila and SM North EDSA. They will release a fresh title every two weeks.

Kitchie in RTW: Ready to wed!

Singer Kitchie Nadal is a simple girl with simple taste and she proved herself unique when she tied the knot with her non-showbiz Spanish boyfriend in a private ceremony held at Hacienda Isabella in Tagaytay last week.

Unlike other brides who opt to spend for couture gowns, Nadal settled for a P799 ready-to-wear gown for her big day. She wed NGO worker Carlos Lopez in a floor-length white bustier gown with flowers in her hair, perfect for an autumn themed ceremony.

This was confirmed by Nina Sandejas, photographer and close friend of Kitchie, in a blog entry published on March 2.

Nina quoted Kitchie to have said, “It was my first try and it fit me perfectly.”

Nina added that wearing the inexpensive dress was Kitchie’s way of saying, “It’s about the woman and not the dress.”

Apparently, Kitchie also did her makeup for the important event, confirmed by wedding coordinator Chinkie Uy-Agregado in a Facebook post.

Chinkie recalled, “(She) arrived in the venue just a few hours before her ceremony, wore her wedding dress then got married.” She also described Kitchie as the “pinaka rock & roll yet chill bride na kilala ko!”

On Feb. 27, a day after Kitchie’s wedding, the singer took to Facebook to express gratitude to those who attended the event, saying, “Thank you so much for your generous surprises!!”

Kitchie also shared several wedding photos showing her and her husband on Instagram.

Just hangin’ with Darren

Young singer Darren Espanto has grown popular. This became clear to me when I commented about his performance during Pope Francis’ UST Mass on my radio show. I got long thank you messages from a number of fans (buti na lang maganda comments ko!) and, later, I also witnessed how mothers and young girls cheered wildly for him during a concert (lakas maka-artista!).

The teenage “The Voice Kids Philippines” Season 1 runner-up, of course, is elated with all the attention. “Masayang-masaya ako kasi I never imagined that this would happen and ang bilis po ng pangyayari. I feel like sobrang blessed po ako.”

When it comes to performing, Darren shares, “I pray before I sing po, always.”

DARREN ESPANTO

He adds, “I also vocalize para ma-warm up po ang boses ko. Bawal po sa akin ang malamig, and sweets at ’yung mga nakakagasgas po sa throat like chips and nuts” (gusto ko pa naman ng mani minsan!).

Darren is busy promoting his very first album under MCA Music. It has eight original tracks and one cover, “Domino” by Jessie J.

“First in the Philippines po mismo ’yung cover  ng album kasi para siyang magazine, may games po, may lyrics and many photos of me,” Darren says.

The 13-year-old dreams of performing in musicals here and abroad. He also considers doing movies in the future (sige ako ang gaganap na nanay mo!).

“Gusto ko ma-establish sarili ko bilang singer then after that I can do movies and acting. Siguro sa comedy. Siguro din po mga rom-com in the future ’pag older na po ako,” Darren says.

Being in the business, Darren has not been spared from intrigues. He is now being linked to Carmina Villaroel’s daughter, Cassy, having supposedly sent the lovely teenager some chocolates.

Asked about it, Darren smiles and says, “’Di po pa kami nagmi-meet. ’Yun lang po.”

At this point, he says he just want to cherish and enjoy everything that is happening to him. He is mature enough to realize how unpredictable show business can be.

“Hindi po ito forever. That’s why you have to stay humble always. You have to really work for it kasi hindi porket nandito ka na and nakukuha na ang lahat ay pang habang buhay yan,” Darren shares (ke-bata-bata alam na ang #walangforever! Push!)

Jack Salud: When a classical singer goes pop

Singer Jack Salud left quite an impression when he performed with Pop Diva Kuh Ledesma at her reunion Valentine concert with the iconic Music & Magic at the Solaire Theater. A classically-trained singer but one who feels equally at home doing pop, Jack easily crosses genres, as he has proven in that successful concert where he and Kuh performed a duet of the mesmerizing “The Prayer,” “Ikaw” and “Endless Love.”

JACK SALUD with Kuh Ledesma

Jack is both a musical and visual artist. He is a classical baritone who trained under the world-renowned soprano Evelyn Mandac, but he also specializes in a form of painting known as pointillism, which utilizes small, distinct dots of different colors to form an image.

Jack also performed with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra in a solo concert titled “Feel Harmonic” at the Rockwell Center under the musical direction of Maestro Rodel Colmenar; and with the FilHarmonika Orchestra under the baton of acclaimed conductor Gerard Salonga in “Feel Harmonic 11 Christmas A Concert,” also at Rockwell Center.

Jack had so much fun doing the Valentine show with Kuh that on March 7, he will rejoin her and her bandmates for the third time via “The Music of the Heart, The Magic of Love.” This will again be held at the Solaire Resorts & Casino, but this time at the Ballroom. The show will feature the same cast, namely Kuh and her Music and Magic bandmates (Jet Montelibano, Fe de Los Reyes, Eva Caparas, Toto Gentica, Hector Pedero, Butch Elizalde and Nonoy Mendoza and the second generation members Bobby Taylo, Vicky Sevilla-Pangilinan and Jeanette Casuga-Trevias). It will surely be another memorable trip down memory lane.

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RICKY LEE PRAISES ABS-CBN’S ADAPTATION OF ‘NKNKK’

RICKY LEE

Multi-awarded screenwriter Ricky Lee is amazed with ABS-CBN’s TV version of his masterpiece “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita” which was first adapted into a movie starring the Queen of Philippine Movies Susan Roces.

“ABS-CBN did a good job in adapting the movie into a daily drama series. It complements the film version as it narrates each character’s journey in a deeper level,” Ricky said about the series starring Denise Laurel, Jane Oineza, Loisa Andalio and Vina Morales.

Meanwhile, tension is now mounting on the show with Corinne (Jane) facing a lot of changes after breaking the trust of her mom Cecilia (Vina). Will Corinne be strong enough to stand by her decision? Will she be able to patch things up with her mother as she gets closer to the new family of her father Leandro (Christian Vasquez)?

Don’t miss “Nasaan Ka Nang Kailangan Kita,” airing daily at 3:15 p.m. after “Flordeliza” on ABS-CBN’s Kapamilya Gold.

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TIDBITS: Happy b-day greetings today, March 5, go to Councilor Darius Razon, Olivia Alvarez, and Maxine Anne R. McAninch… March 6: Gretchen Barretto, Vicky Amalibgan-Sales, Roberto Reyes, Rudy Tee, Mark Ablaza, Anacleta Rubang-Velasco and Archie Alemania…

‘Kopino’ education center with CPUs opens at UDM

Mothers of Korean-Filipino children or “Kopinos” can now learn Korean language for free after an international civil society group opened six-month night classes in a university in Manila under a three-year Program.

Two classrooms were officially opened for this endeavor at the Universidad De Manila (UDM) through the Grand Korean Leisure Company Limited (GKL) Foundation and its Help Kopino Care Philippines Inc. (HKCPI), here, with Mayor Joseph Estrada as the guest of honor.

Each classroom is impressively equipped with 32 latest laptops to be used for the language classes that will also include modules on conducting tour guide sessions to develop the skills of the mothers for livelihood opportunities.

FREE ‘KOPINO’ EDUCATION — Retired former Manila Archbishop Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (right) leads the blessing rites for the computer rooms of the ‘UDM-GKL Kopino Educational Center’ donated by the Grand Korean Leisure Company Limited of Korea (GKL) to the Universidad de Manila (UDM), yesterday. Also in photo are (from left) GKL President and CEO Byeong Soo Lim, Lions District 301-A1 Past Governor John Siy, DSWD Assistant Regional Director Jacel Paguio, UDM President Benjamin Tayabas, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, former Supreme Court Justice Manuel Pamaran, Dr. Primitivo D. Chua of the UDM Board of Regents, Manila 5th District Barangay Chairman Francis Villegas, and Rev. Fr. Dave Clay also of the UDM Board of Regents. Estrada said the computers will be used by UDM students at day time and then classes will be offered at the center for the free education of children known as ‘Kopinos’ and their Filipino mothers abandoned by their Korean fathers. (Linus G. Escandor, II)

Dr. Primitivo Chua, a member of the UDM Board of Regents and HKCPI president, believes the program would rectify the wrongs of the Korean fathers who fail to support their children in the Philippines. He said the program could somehow quell the despair of the mothers who are missing out on the financial provision of their previous Korean partners.

“This school is for free…Our donors are Koreans. Those who committed the mistakes are also Koreans so they (donors) are trying to help,” Chua said adding that the tour guiding skills component of the program would enhance the skills of the mothers because it gives them an advantage over other tour guides who do not speak Korean.

At present 10 Kopino mothers have enrolled in the program and will make up the first batch of the trainees, but with yesterday’s official launch, Chua expects more from the 4,000 estimated Kopinos in the country to avail themselves of the program.

“We had a little difficulty in finding Kopino mothers for the program because of past experiences with their Kopino groups. But we are hoping we could get more enrollees as the program goes on,” Arzi Marie Atienza, HKCPI program development officer revealed.

Atienza said at the end of six months, the brightest graduates of the certificate course will receive assistance from the HKCPI on acquiring their license to conduct tour guide sessions.

In the duration of the course, HKCPI will provide the school supplies and transportation allowances of the Kopino mothers.

Federalism can help Mindanao achieve peace, order – Duterte

Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte yesterday emphasized that only a federal form of government can help Mindanao achieve peace.

Speaking before a packed JPL Hall of Freedom at the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) in Intramuros, Manila, Duterte noted a disadvantage of the current unitary system where Manila lords over all.

“All of the money must be forwarded to the national treasury, in the hands of the national treasurer.  Every centavo…all of the [funds] are there. Everything. It’s only the government that can handle the money for all of us,” he said.

He said the unitary form of government was introduced by the United States after the war but which system was not similar to theirs where all the 50 states are independent.

“The reason is because the US cannot easily use our resources if we have a federal form of government similar to them since they will have to deal separately with every head of state here. Under the present  set-up, all the US  has to do is to talk to our President and all their deals here are approved,” Duterte explained.

He is vouching for federalism believing that the country can do so much better.

“Once we have a totally Federal system, we can maximize our own budget  for the benefit of our constituents,” he assured.

Duterte was the guest speaker at the 63rd founding anniversary and 124th birth anniversary of Jose P. Laurel, the founder of Lyceum Tuesday where he was conferred the Most Outstanding Alumnus. Duterte   got his political science degree from Lyceum.

The straight-talking Duterte continues to dodge his plans for 2016 but gave broad hints yesterday.

“Nandito ang lahat ng magagandang lalaki at babae sa Manila, dito na lang muna kayo tumingin. Si (Sen. Grace) Poe, good; si (Interior and Local Government Secretary) Mar (Roxas), good; si (Sen. Alan Peter) Cayetano, good; si (Sen.) Chiz Escudero, good. Pero kapag wala kayong makita rito, lumingon lang kayo sa South kasi nandoon ang very good,” Duterte said, drawing applause from the crowd.

“Marami kami doon, so do not forget us,” Duterte said.

BIR wants Pacquiao to pay P3.2B outright

The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) asked again the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) to stop the public hearings on the R3.2-billion deficiency tax assessment imposed against world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, and instead order him to pay the indebtedness outright, it was learned yesterday.

Pacquiao

The BIR reiterated its request in a motion for reconsideration (MR) filed last week after the CTA rejected on January 27 its petition for the immediate collection of the delinquent accounts.

BIR lawyers insisted that the tax court should terminate the deliberation because it has lost jurisdiction over the case as the final assessment or the final decision on disputed assessment (FDDA) has already been served against the Sarangani congressman.

They argued that the serving of the FDDA makes the collection of the tax demandable and executory as provided for in existing revenue rules and regulations, considering that taxes are the lifeblood of the government and should be collected without delay.

BIR lawyers added that the FDDA was received by Pacquiao’s chief-of-staff and brother-in-law Erwin Jamora when tax fraud investigators went to Pacquiao’s congressional office at the Batasan Pambansa on May 20, 2013 to serve it.

They said Pacquiao was aware of the FDDA because one of Jamora’s functions was to inform the solon of communication received by him.

The tax court stated in its January resolution that the FDDA was not yet final and executory because the BIR was not able to establish that Jamora was the duly authorized representative of Pacquiao.

Tax exemption pointless

Meanwhile, Pacquiao’s camp yesterday declared that he will pay the tax due from his purse in his biggest and richest fight with American champion Floyd Mayweather slated in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 2.

“He needs no exemption. Tax in the US is about 39 percent, thus, higher than in the Philippines which is 32 percent,” one of Pacquiao’s closest advisers who is with him in Los Angeles, California, told the Manila Bulletin yesterday.

The member of Team Pacquiao, who requested anonymity, was reacting to arguments among House members for or against tax exemption for the Sarangani congressman in his upcoming fight.

House Deputy Speaker Giorgidi Aggabao supported the Pacquiao team’s position on the issue as being pointless, saying any tax exemption has no effect on Pacquiao’s tax payments because of existing tax rules and arrangements between the Philippines and US. (With a report from Ben R. Rosario)