Maniolas

What an excellent year for Christmas music 2013 has turned out to be. A month ago, we got the superb Johnny Mathis singing Holiday tunes again in Sending You A Little Christmas but with a refreshing country spin. What more could you ask for after something like that? We didn’t ask but doubtless in keeping with the giving spirit of the season we still got more. And what wonderful sounds those extra presents turned out to be, A Mary Christmas by Mary J. Blige and Wrapped In Red by Kelly Clarkson. I knew that the soulful Mary was ripe for a Christmas album after listening to her sing What Child Is This with Andrea Bocelli in the Italian tenor’s My Christmas album two years ago that was produced by David Foster. It was a showstopper. I thought then that she would be magnificent doing Christmas songs. Then last year, Mary was back with another duet, We Three Kings Of Orient Are with Rod Stewart, in Merry Christmas Baby, which, was also produced by Foster. And I thought Foster has plans for Mary. Again she was great and I knew that it would not be long before we get Mary’s own and her very first Christmas album. And it did happen this year. And her A Mary Christmas was indeed produced and arranged by Foster and it is all that I expected it would be. It reminds me of a conversation I had with my mother a long time ago. I Read More …

That’s Eileen (left) and Jocas at the Catedral de Valencia in Spain. Minsan pa nga my daughter Jocas did the collection in a Mass at the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York… kaya lang nabuking! Ngek! Joke lang. Nagsimba ‘ko exactly two Saturdays ago, Pari pa sa misa ay si Cardinal Chito! Korek! His Eminence Cardinal Tagle ito At sa homily ay humirit ang Pare ko! Malimit daw na pinagyayabang ng tao Entertainment ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1 Na sila kuno ay talagang maka-Kristo, Kung kaya nung minsan tinanong n’ya mga ito, “Kay Kristo, sino mga sasama sa inyo?” At taasan daw ng kamay ang mga tao, Inulit n’yang muli at may dinagdag ito, “Sino sasama kay Kristo… NGAYONG GABI?!” O? At biglang natahimik… nawala ang gulo! O, bakit ganon at tao’y pabago-bago? Abay isa lang ang ibig sabihin nito — Na sa mundo pag may nangyaring pagbabago, Tiyak kagagawan ng mga tao ito! Ngunit ganyan nga yata talaga ang tao, Pag may magandang balita, “Ayos Ka D’yos ko!” Pero pag may dagok at batok na tinamo, “Where are You God? Why did You?” na ang tanong nito! Tulad na lang nitong huling nangyaring bagyo, Naapektuhan man o hindi nang diretso, Tiyak may mga bumulalas nang ganito, “O-M-G! God, why did You do to me such a do?!” Ngek! “YOYOY?!” And that’s the short for “Why Oh Why Oh Why?!” Angal at tanong agad ang winawagayway! Bakit nga ba tao ganyan? Why, why, why, why, why? Pag sarap, OKS! Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – The most amazing dinosaur experience of all time will happen only on the big screen as we see “Patchi” take center stage during the Late Cretaceous era in “Walking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie.” In the last 15 years since the movie was being made, dinosaur remains have been discovered from every continent, proving that these giant creatures thrived on every continent in the Mesozoic era. The remains of old and young alike suggests that the massive death were believed to be caused by catastrophic occurrences such as volcanic eruptions, diseases, climate change or heavenly bodies that struck the earth millions of years ago.   Dinosaur remains have been found on all continents and in all environments across the prehistoric globe. The Troodons found in Alaska, which will be seen in the movie had large eyes and were much bigger than other troodon species elsewhere in the world. Their large eyes gave them an advantage in the polar dark winter, which allowed them to become the most successful predator there, and so they gradually got bigger. Informed of these recent paleontological findings, “Walking with Dinosaurs: The 3D Movie” brings to life newly discovered dinosaurs in a unique and highly authentic way. Directors Neil Nightingale and Barry Cook have re-created one of the last great dinosaur eras in stunning detail, bringing to life on screen a world filled with fascinating creatures such as Pterosaurs, gigantic flying reptiles that once soared through Earth’s skies and Edmontosaurus, huge duck billed Read More …

MANILA, Philippines – GMA shows Marimar and Dyesebel have a lot in common. Among them are Marian Rivera (photo), phenomenal ratings, and a huge following not only in the Philippines but also in other Southeast Asian countries like Vietnam. Tomorrow, Nov. 4, and on Nov. 5, Marian will visit her fans in Vietnam. She has been invited to appear on several shows on Today TV, one of the first Vietnamese TV networks to broadcast Filipino dramas with Marimar and Dyesebel as among the first programs to ignite the popularity of Filipino dramas there. Marian will also have a presscon with the members of the local press. Earlier this year, Dennis Trillo, Carla Abellana and Michelle Madrigal experienced the warmth and affection of Vietnamese supporters when they attended Vietnam Today’s fifth anniversary celebration. “I’m excited to meet my fans and perform before them. It’s one way of saying thankful for their support to Kapuso programs, Marimar and Dyesebel. I’m thankful for the invitation of Today TV,” she says.   2014 will see more GMA dramas on Today TV with deals for titles like My Husband’s Lover, Deception (Mundo Mo’y Akin), One True Love, It Might Be You (Sana Ay Ikaw Na Nga), To Love You (Ikaw Sana), Secret Affairs (Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak), Second Chances (Dapat Ka Bang Mahalin), La Vendetta, Dangerous Love (Ang Babaeng Hinugot Sa Aking Tadyang), Beauty Within (Blusang Itim), Love and Lies and Chasing Moments (Pahiram ng Sandali) already in the offing.

If one were to ask for the secret of Ilocos Norte’s newest resort hotel, we would quickly answer Rolando Lawas, its resident manager who everyone calls LanLan. Small wonder his boss Danny Jacinto quickly left us in his care to spend four days at his hotel. Upon landing at Laoag’s airport, an hour’s flight on Airphil from Manila, we were whisked off to the Plaza del Norte Hotel & Convention Center in the midst of desert and hills, and after breakfast we were given a service vehicle to take in everything we could on the first day and to be able to relax on the other days. Our companion and friend Adolfo Timuat was only interested in the Juan Luna Museum. Aside from being a renowned Flamenco guitarist and Luthier (builders of guitars) in Spain, Adolfo was also a collector of Luna drawings. Juan Luna is decidedly the country’s greatest painter, instrumental for placing Philippine arts and culture on the world map. His most famous works were the Spoliarium, La Batalla de Lepanto, The Blood Compact, People and Kings and Ecce Homo among many others. We found students lined up for a visit at his Shrine in Badoc, Ilocos Norte, a reconstruction of the original house that burned down in 1861. Juan Luna was a co-worker of Jose Rizal, Graciano Lopez-Jaena, Marcelo H. Del Pilar and other Filipino reformers in Europe. All over the city are popular eateries purportedly put up by current Gov. Imee Marcos. Called the Johnny Moon Read More …