proudlypinoy

Gian Karlo Dapul - Int'l Public Speaking winner

2008-06-02T03:52:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Gian Karlo Dapul
Age: 16
School : Philippine Science High School
Fame: triumphed over other contestants from 30 other countries in the English Speaking Union’s International Public Speaking Competition held in London last May 9,2008.

It was great that after four years since Patricia Evangelista won in the same competition with her speech on Filipino Diaspora another filipino was able to bring the award again.

Here is his winning piece.

Fish mucus and foot fungus

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When I was in 6th grade, I hated Mathematics. You would have, too, if you had my teacher. He would drop huge workbooks on our tables and croak, "Thirty problems, fifty minutes." A lot of these problems seemed unsolvable, so we complained: "Sir, there are no answers to these!" But then he’d reply, "To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution."

Although I’m only sixteen years old and an incoming 4th year high school student, I know that my country has more problems than any Mathematics book. Strangely enough, the answers to some of our problems are fish mucus and foot fungus. These seemingly improbable items are products of what we call scientific research.

Research turns our guesses into real knowledge, serving as the sifting pan of our hypotheses. It challenges what we assume, because, as they say, if you only learn from what you ASS-UME, you make an "ass" out of "u" and "me".

In the early 1800s, someone warned that the streets of London would be filled with horse manure due to the uncontrolled use of horse-drawn carriages. Of course, that never happened. Combustion engines, products of research and invention, replaced horses, and the manure piled up in Parliament instead.

Coffee and droppings

While on the subject, few people know that the most expensive coffee in the world is taken from the droppings of the Asian Palm Civet found in the Philippines and Indonesia. The small mammal excretes the coffee berries it eats, and forest trackers recycle the fruity feces to create what is known as Kopi Luwak in Indonesia or Kape Alamid in our country. Research has led to a synthetic process that simulates the droppings' exotic flavor and quality.

So, who’s had coffee with their breakfast? Well, soon nobody will have had coffee and breakfast if the looming global food crisis worsens. Are you all feeling fine? Well, nobody might be fine for long if some new disease creeps up on us.

Health can be enhanced and life can be extended. The nudibranch, a beautiful, soft-bodied creature unfairly called a "sea slug" — a favorite among underwater photographers for its marvelous colors and shapes — has actually been used in tumor research. Samples of fish mucus have also displayed certain antibacterial properties.

And as the Home Shopping Network would say, "Wait! There’s more."

Science fair like Idol?

Certain types of infectious fungi that coat some of your toes here form beneficial relationships that support plant growth. The International Rice Research Institute based in the Philippines continues to develop ways to improve rice growth and help alleviate the current food crisis.

New challenges are coming, and they will always confront us. What we need is an army of scientific researchers that will help find the solutions in advance. I want to be part of that army that would cross the new frontiers first.

If only we could make science fairs and contests as popular as the thriving "Idol" franchise. Although I’m not sure if Simon Cowell’s sardonic comments will sit well with my peers. But we need the same hard-hitting passion in research and invention.

To conduct research is to be innovative; avant-garde. Researchers are like artists with test tubes and lab gowns instead of paintbrushes and smocks. When I graduate from the Philippine Science High School next year, I want to begin my "masterpiece" and apply for a university degree in Biochemistry.

New frontier

But sometimes, I am discouraged by those who say that a researcher from a Third-World nation is like a Jesuit adhering to a vow of poverty, or worse, like a Benedictine monk observing the vow of chastity. It is indeed a challenge, but it’s also another frontier to cross, for me and many young people like me.

We Filipinos are well known for their dedication to service, in foreign homes, hospitals and hotels. In our hotel, I found three Filipinos working at the front desk. I want to be one of the pioneers that will make the Philippines known for its excellence in scientific research, as part of the driving force that will expand our horizons towards tomorrow. And I intend to have a lot of fun while doing it.

Going back to my math teacher, I eventually realized that, well, he was right. As he said, "To every question there is an answer, to every problem there is a solution." We just have to go looking for the right ones. Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll be answering the questions that haven’t been asked yet.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=118279

Arnel Pineda

2008-05-31T09:13:00.001-07:00

Real Name: Arnel Pineda
born: September 5, 1967 in Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
Fame:currently the lead singer of the American rock band Journey

In 2006, encouraged by well-respected Filipino talent manager and TV director, Bert de Leon, Pineda moved back to the Philippines with Monet Cajipe, the guitarist who had been in all of Pineda’s previous bands. They formed The Zoo with Emil Bondoc on bass, Edgar Mendoza on keyboards, and Makoy Alcantara on drums. They signed on with de Leon's company, Sundance Entertainment Corporation. Zoo performed several nights a week at clubs in Manila and Olongapo during 2006 and 2007. Shows regularly spanned 3-5 hours. The Zoo’s first album “Zoology” was released by MCA Universal in September 2007 featuring 13 original tracks, five of which were penned by Pineda, and another was co-written by Pineda and Mark Valliente.

Journey

Videos of The Zoo performing cover songs by Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Air Supply, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins and other popular acts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, began appearing on YouTube.com in February 2007. On June 28, 2007,[11] Neal Schon of Journey contacted Noel Gomez, a longtime fan and friend of Pineda who uploaded many of these videos, to ask for Pineda's contact information. Schon sent an e-mail to Pineda inviting the latter to audition for Journey. Pineda initially dismissed the e-mail as a hoax, but after being persuaded by Gomez, he finally replied to Schon's e-mail. Ten minutes later, Pineda received a phone call from Schon.[12] On August 12,[13] Pineda, along with his manager Bert de Leon, flew to Marin County, just north of San Francisco, for a two-day audition.[14][15] The star-struck Pineda was welcomed warmly but he described the audition as "nerve-wracking, tense". [16]

On December 5, 2007, Pineda was announced as the lead singer of Journey. CNN Headline News ran the story as part of their "News to Me" segment.[17]

Pineda debuted as the lead singer of Journey on February 21, 2008 at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival held at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in Viña del Mar, Chile. [18][19] Videos of the Vina del Mar performance are available at the Festival's home page and on YouTube.

The band also performed at the Estadio San Carlos de Apoquindo in Santiago on February 23rd (with Peter Frampton and Earth, Wind and Fire).

There was supposed to be a third concert at Viña del Mar Casino in Valparaíso on February 24th[18][19] but this was cancelled due to electrical problems at the venue. [20]

Chilean media acclaimed Pineda's performance (translated to English): "The new vocalist fit very well with the band, his vocal aptitudes shining through, which are very similar to the legendary musician of the band, Steve Perry."[21] Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain described Pineda's performance in a radio interview: "We went to Chile just recently, where we had never played and they went crazy, they absolutely went nuts...Arnel's first show - talk about a stressful thing - we had a televised concert for 25 million people...Is the guy a winner? Yeah, he's a winner. He's a clutch player." [22]

Journey returned to the US for a private Remax Convention event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 6, 2008, then performed at Las Vegas' Planet Hollywood on March 8, 2008.

Upcoming Album and Tour

Journey recently completed a new studio album called "Revelation" which is slated for release on June 3, 2008, in the US. The first disc consists of 11 re-recorded classics, the second is filled with 11 new songs, and the third is a live, in-concert DVD filmed during the March 8, 2008 concert in Las Vegas.

All of the music on "Revelation" was produced by Kevin Shirley (who previously worked with Journey on their Platinum-certified "Trial by Fire" album).[23]

Jonathan Cain described the upcoming album in an interview: "We recorded our greatest hits with our brand new singer from the Philippines, Arnel Pineda, and it's unbelievable when you listen to it. We paid a lot of attention to the details because everybody loves those hits and we weren't about to step all over it. We've got that and a brand new CD as well, and then there's a bonus DVD of what the band looks like now, about an hour of songs... It's a 3-disc package... We're excited because we think Arnel is the future for our franchise... We knew that if we were ever gonna move on, we had to get somebody that was really gonna be our future and sound like Journey is supposed to sound...I think Journey fans are in for a real treat." [22]

In an interview soon after Pineda joined the band, Neal Schon said, "We feel reborn. I think there’s a lot of chemistry between the five of us. At first we were going to go into the studio and just write 4 songs, but now it’s escalated to a lot of great new and diverse material. The stuff sounds tremendous. Everyone’s so stoked about it. We feel very fortunate to have found Arnel."[24]

In his online diary, Shirley described the recording sessions as "wonderful, successful, stupidly creative" and said that "Sometimes you just know when there's history in the making."[25] In a statement on December 5, 2007, Shirley said "I was stunned at Arnel, who is a monster vocalist. He is the real deal. Just phenomenal."[26] When speaking about the upcoming album in a later entry in his diary, he said: "Just got back from Vegas last night, after mixing seven new Journey songs. They are outstanding... For the record, I think Arnel is 'the business!' - the guy can really sing! He handles the ballads with SO much heart, and belts the rockers as hard, and melodically, as anyone I have heard. The songs are sensational - wonderfully crafted and deep, and so focused, you may wonder where they all came from. And I'm being serious...."[27]

Shirley saw videos of Pineda's debut performance at Viña del Mar and remarked that he was "so proud of him. He's a real genuine guy." [28]

Charice Pempengco

2008-05-31T08:39:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco
born: May 10, 1992 in Cabuyao, Laguna, Philippines
Fame:a 16-year old Filipina singer who performs locally and internationally.

On November 14, 2007, American cable television network E!’s The Daily Ten featured her Star King performance with the headline, "A Star Is Born", following with crowning her "Queen" on the Hollywood Royalty segment, this time with the headline, "A Queen Is Born".

On November 28, Charice's performance on Star King was featured on a The Ellen DeGeneres Show segment in which DeGeneres showed web videos of different people she wished would guest on the show. She later personally invited the young singer to perform. On December 19, Charice appeared on the show, performing "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" and "I Will Always Love You". She received a standing ovation.

On April 8, 2008, Charice's first European appearance was in London's The Paul O'Grady Show where she performed the same two songs. She earned two standing ovations, the first guest to receive in the show according to O'Grady.[citation needed]

On May 10, Charice performed for the first time in Hawaii on a Filipino hit noontime show of ABS-CBN, Wowowee. She again received a standing ovation for her performances.

On May 12, Charice appeared on Oprah and was featured on the episode entitled World's Smartest Kids. She performed Whitney Houston's I Have Nothing and received a standing ovation. After her performance, an emotional Charice told Oprah, "I'm always dreaming that someday I can be a part of your show. I can’t believe I'm here standing with you. This is my dream come true.

On May 17, Charice performed on the grand opening of MGM Grand at Foxwoods in Connecticut with David Foster, Alicia Keys, Jamia Simone Nash, Nick Cannon, John Mayer, and Josh Groban among others. Charice received a standing ovation, the only performer to receive one that night, and therefore the first performer at the MGM Foxwoods to receive a standing ovation.

On May 23, she again performed this time on David Foster's One Night Tribute Concert at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her performances of "I Have Nothing", "I Will Always Love You", and "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" earned her again two standing ovations. The performers also included Josh Groban, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Buble, and former American Idol finalists Katharine McPhee and Michael Johns. During the concert, David Foster praised Charice by saying, "A star is born tonight!". Josh Groban also stated that Charice has one of the most beautiful voices he has heard in a long time.[citation needed]

Currently, Charice is in negotiations with Clive Davis for a contract and record deal

Fritz Friedman

2008-05-31T08:04:00.000-07:00

Name: Fritz Friedman
Born :in manila
Fame: Despite the name, Fritz Friedman is 100% Filipino who has been active within the Filipino American community. He also happens to be the senior vice president of worldwide publicity for Columbia TriStar Home Video, the video distribution arm of Sony Corp., owner of Columbia Pictures, TriStar Pictures, Sony Picture Classics and Sony Music.

Fritz Friedman joined Columbia Pictures Home Entertainment in 1980 and has been instrumental to the growth of the Home Video division through its current incarnation today as Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment (CTHE). He currently oversees all worldwide publicity activities and product publicity activities for CTHE theatrical releases as well as the publicity for the Sony Pictures Digital Studios and Sony Pictures Releasing.

Born in Manila, he was raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and received his BA in Asian Studies at Vassar College and an MA in Communications from the University of Pennsylvania. From his start as an usher at Carnegie Hall, he rose to become associate manager at Columbia Artists Management in NYC, handling artists such as Lord Yehudi Menuhin and The Royal Ballet. He held several key marketing positions before creating the Publicity Division at Columbia Pictures Home Video.

Mr. Friedman's philanthropy and support for community organizations extends to the AIDS Project Los Angeles and his service as a member of the board of advisors for several organizations, including the San Diego Asian American Film Festival. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Filipino American Heritage Institute, the Association of Asian Pacific American Artists, and the LA Independent Film Festival, Executive Director of The Assembly For Justice, and chair emeritus of the Asian American Alumni Association of Vassar College. His advocacy work on behalf of Filipino American World War II veterans has brought him before the U.S. Congressional Committee on Veterans Affairs and earned him a National Citation from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. He is the recipient of Filipinas Magazine Corporate Leadership Award, the 1999 Role Model Award from the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans, the 1997 Outstanding Corporate Executive Award from the Asian Business League, the 2003 Asian Entrepreneur Award Community Advocate of the Year, the 2003 Role Model Award from Diaryo Pilipino, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from Cinemanila International Film Festival in The Philippines. He is president emeritus and a co-founder of CAPE.

http://www.capeusa.org/advisors.html
http://asianconnections.tv/2006/12/18/putting-on-the-cape-15th-anniversary-gala-this-is/

Dean Devlin

2008-05-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Dean Devlin
born: August 27, 1962
Parents: father was Jewish and his mother Filipino
Fame: an American former actor and current screenwriter and producer of Hollywood blockbuster movies like "The Patriot," "Independence Day" and "Godzilla,".
: One of those Filipino Americans who are active on pushing for passage of equity bill for Filipino war veterans along with Philipps, carrere and schneider

Little Manila: Filipinos in California's Heartland

The 30-minute documentary covers the infamous neighborhood in Stockton, California. Filled with chopsuey houses, gambling dens, and dance halls, Little Manila was once a bustling area in downtown Stockton and home to the largest number of Filipino immigrants outside of the Philippines. As farm laborers, Filipinos faced backbreaking work, low wages, and at times extreme racism, yet they still referred to Stockton as the "City of Gold," and looked to the United States to fulfill their dreams.

Produced by Filipino-American filmmaker, Marissa Aroy, the documentary is narrated by famed Filipino-American film producer, Dean Devlin (Independence Day, The Patriot). "Little Manila: Filipinos in California's Heartland" tells the immigrant story as Filipinos experienced it and the efforts of the new generation to preserve that history. In its premiere broadcast on Sacramento's PBS station, KVIE, the program garnered high viewer ratings. Aroy, who is currently working on another documentary about Filipino Americans hopes for a successful nationwide broadcast.

"We've got such a large Filipino population in the US, and we're hoping that we have an audience that represents that population," says Aroy. "It was a pleasure to make the documentary and to work with Dean Devlin, who has been an inspiration to me since I saw him in L.A. Law."
source: http://www.filipinasmag.com/littlemanila.htm

Rob Schneider

2008-05-31T00:00:00.000-07:00

Rob Schneider AKA Robert Michael Schneider

Born: 31-Oct-1963
Birthplace: San Francisco, CA
Fame: Hollywood Actor
Father: Marvin (real estate broker)
Mother: Pilar (teacher, school board member, Filipino)
Sister: April Schneider (b. 1959)

Lou Diamond Philips

2008-05-30T23:15:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Lou Diamond Upchurch
born: February 17, 1962 at Subic Bay Naval Station in the Philippines
Fame:An American film, television, and stage actor.

Lou was named after World War II hero Leland "Lou" Diamond. He adopted his stepfather's last name after his father died. An only child, he lived with his parents all over the United States before finally settling in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Concert of Excellence honoree

The star first burst upon the cultural scene as 1950s teenage rock singer Ritchie Valens in La Bamba. He then drew an arc over dozens of Hollywood movies to rule Broadway in The King and I, and continues, both on and behind camera, to blaze a path where no Asian American actor has gone before.

In almost three decades Lou Diamond Philips has shown that an "ethnic" actor can make it big, cutting across type to become a household name. Yet many are still surprised to discover the background of this almond-eyed trailblazer.

"People often mistake me for a Latino or even Indian, so I always mention in interviews that I am Filipino and I'm proud to be one," says Lou, who will be honored at Second Generation's (2g) third annual benefit, the Concert of Excellence, at the New York State Theater on December 1.

In a career that exemplifies 2g's mission, Lou has made his mark as an actor, writer, director and producer while diversifying the cultural landscape of America. Lou has also embraced social causes such as Read Across America, Artists Against Racism, and the Boys Town Organization for troubled children.

As the nephew of five Filipino American U.S. navy officers (two of whom became White House staff members under President Nixon), Lou has used his celebrity to highlight the achievements of Filipino American soldiers during World War II, and even promote tourism to the Philippines.

Tia Carrere

2008-05-30T22:25:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Althea Janairo
Height: 5' 8"
Born: January 2, 1967 in Honolulu, HI
Parents: Both Filipino
Fame: American Grammy nominee, actress, model, and singer, perhaps most widely known for her role as Cassandra in the feature films Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2 and in the TV series Relic Hunter.( I love her in the movie True Lies)

Tia Carrere was born on January 2, 1967 in Honolulu, Hawaii. Of Filipino descent, she comes from a relatively small family, consisting of her two parents (now divorced, both Filipino) and one younger sister Alesaundra. She assumed the name "Tia" when her younger sister could not pronounce "Althea" at a young age. The name "Carrere" came as a tribute to former James Bond Girl Barbara Carrera
American Grammy nominee, actress, model, and singer, perhaps most widely known for her role as Cassandra in the feature films Wayne's World and Wayne's World 2 and in the TV series Relic Hunter.

Music career

Carrere has continued to nurture her singing career. In 1993, her first solo album, Dream, was released, and went platinum in the Philippines. That same year, she was featured on the soundtrack of Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, performing the ending theme, "I Never Even Told You". In August of 2003, Carrere was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by Philippine president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lalaine Vergara-Paras

2008-05-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Lalaine Vergara-Paras
born : June 3, 1987 in Burbank, California), also known as Lalaine, is an American actress, singer and spokesperson.
Fame:She is commonly known for playing the best friend, Miranda Sanchez on Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire, alongside Hilary Duff.

Lalaine has recently finished acting as the lead in the new movie Royal Kill, also starring Academy Award nominees Eric Roberts and Pat Morita.

Lalaine is normally credited by her first name only. She is commonly known for playing the best friend, Miranda Sanchez on Disney Channel's Lizzie McGuire, alongside Hilary Duff. She reprised this role on the pilot of a spin-off series What's Stevie Thinking? about Miranda's younger sister, but this did not air in 2005 as originally expected and was scrapped because Disney Channel made Wizards of Waverly Place.[citation needed]

Lalaine's acting career began when she was cast in the Broadway production of Les Miserables in the roles of Young Cosette and Eponine.

When Lalaine returned to California, she acted in several television commercials, including some for Microsoft and Burger King. She also worked in the play Brundibar.

Lalaine's voice has been used for many movies, including Inspector Gadget and Lolita. She also played orphan "Kate" in the Wonderful World of Disney ABC-TV version of the movie Annie. She starred alongside AJ Trauth in the Disney Channel movie You Wish! as "Abby." Lalaine portrayed "Chloe," a young Slayer-In-Training who commits suicide, on the TV-Series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. When the First Evil assumes her form, Lalaine plays the malevolent force.

In 2004, Lalaine went to Philippines and made guest appearances on the GMA Network including the SOP Gigsters. She began hosting her own Filipino travel show Flipside, where she travels around the islands. She also promoted GMA Pinoy TV in San Francisco, California in 2005.

Josie Natori

2008-05-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Josefina Almeda Cruz
Fame:A Filipina fashion designer and founder of the Natori Company. Natori served as a commissioner on the White House Conference on Small Business. In March of 2007 she was awarded the Order of Lakandula, one of the highest civilian award in the Philippines.

Check her profile at:
http://www.natori.com/Default.aspx?ISC_PageName=Natori%20Story

Kathleen de Leon

2008-05-30T21:15:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Kathleen de Leon
born:September 1, 1977 in Manila, Philippines
Fame:An Australian actress, dancer, and singer of Filipino descent. She is perhaps best known as one of the cast members of the ARIA Award winning Australian children's television program, Hi-5.

Patricia Evangelista

2008-05-30T21:05:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Patricia Evangelista
Fame: Have won in the 2004 International Public Speaking competition by the English
Speaking Union (ESU) in London. She bested 59 other student contestants from 37 countries including the US, UK and Australia. She was a 19-year-old Mass Communications sophomore at UP Diliman when she won. Her piece is a very balanced holistic view of the "problem" we all experience that she calls the Filipino diaspora.

Here is the copy of her piece.

BLONDE AND BLUE EYES
by Patricia Evangelista

When I was little, I wanted what many Filipino children all over the
country wanted. I wanted to be blond, blue-eyed, and white.

I thought -- if I just wished hard enough and was good enough, I'd
wake up on Christmas morning with snow outside my window and
freckles across my nose!

More than four centuries under western domination does that to you.
I have sixteen cousins. In a couple of years, there will just be
five of us left in the Philippines, the rest will have gone abroad
in search of "greener pastures." It's not just an anomaly; it's a
trend; the Filipino diaspora. Today, about eight million Filipinos
are scattered around the world.

There are those who disapprove of Filipinos who choose to leave. I
used to. Maybe this is a natural reaction of someone who was left
behind, smiling for family pictures that get emptier with each
succeeding year. Desertion, I called it. My country is a land that
has perpetually fought for the freedom to be itself. Our heroes
offered their lives in the struggle against the Spanish, the
Japanese, the Americans. To pack up and deny that identity is
tantamount to spitting on that sacrifice.

Or is it? I don't think so, not anymore. True, there is no denying
this phenomenon, aided by the fact that what was once the other side
of the world is now a twelve-hour plane ride away. But this is a
borderless world, where no individual can claim to be purely from
where he is now. My mother is of Chinese descent, my father is a
quarter Spanish, and I call myself a pure Filipino-a hybrid of sorts
resulting from a combination of cultures.

Each square mile anywhere in the world is made up of people of
different ethnicities, with national identities and individual
personalities. Because of this, each square mile is already a
microcosm of the world. In as much as this blessed spot that is
England is the world, so is my neighbourhood back home.

Seen this way, the Filipino Diaspora, or any sort of dispersal of
populations, is not as ominous as so many claim. It must be
understood. I come from a Third World country, one that is still
trying mightily to get back on its feet after many years of
dictatorship. But we shall make it, given more time. Especially now,
when we have thousands of eager young minds who graduate from
college every year. They have skills. They need jobs. We cannot
absorb them all.

A borderless world presents a bigger opportunity, yet one that is
not so much abandonment but an extension of identity. Even as we
take, we give back. We are the 40,000 skilled nurses who support the
UK's National Health Service. We are the quarter-of-a-million
seafarers manning most of the world's commercial ships. We are your
software engineers in Ireland, your construction workers in the
Middle East, your doctors and caregivers in North America, and, your
musical artists in London's West End.

Nationalism isn't bound by time or place. People from other nations
migrate to create new nations, yet still remain essentially who they
are. British society is itself an example of a multi-cultural
nation, a melting pot of races, religions, arts and cultures. We
are, indeed, in a borderless world!

Leaving sometimes isn't a matter of choice. It's coming back that
is. The Hobbits of the shire travelled all over Middle-Earth, but
they chose to come home, richer in every sense of the word. We call
people like these balikbayans or the 'returnees' -- those who
followed their dream, yet choose to return and share their mature
talents and good fortune.

In a few years, I may take advantage of whatever opportunities come
my way. But I will come home. A borderless world doesn't preclude
the idea of a home. I'm a Filipino, and I'll always be one. It isn't
about just geography; it isn't about boundaries. It's about giving
back to the country that shaped me.

And that's going to be more important to me than seeing snow outside
my windows on a bright Christmas morning.

Mabuhay and Thank you.

Billy Crawford

2008-05-30T20:48:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Billy Joe Crawford
born : Joe Crawford on May 16, 1982
Fame: A Filipino American musician and actor with musical influences from R&B, Pop, and Soul. Billy Crawford became known around Europe and Asia with song titles such as "When You Think About Me", "Never My Love", "Steamy Nights" and "Bright Lights". Billy is also multilingual, being fluent in two Philippine languages, his native Tagalog as well as Cebuano. His second language is American English and he is conversational in European French. Billy has been living in New York City since 1998. Although he has resided in Paris, France for five years and for one year in London, England, he currently resides in Los Angeles, California as of 2007.

To date, he is said to be as one of the hosts in a long-running Filipino Musical TV show ASAP.

Vanessa Hudgens

2008-05-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Vanessa Anne Hudgens
Born:December 14, 1988), also known simply as Vanessa Hudgens
Parents: Mother, Filipina(Gina Guangco )
Fame: played Gabriella in the tv/film High School Musical along with Troy (Zac Efron)

Below is the excerpt from the article in Philiipine inquirer
By Ruben V. Nepales
08/09/2007

Can you share your thoughts about your Filipino heritage?

I am so proud of my heritage. I love being a Filipina. There aren’t very many Filipino girls in the industry. So being able to stand up and be that girl makes me proud. My mother is so proud. She grew up in Manila. I don’t even think she knows it’s doing that well over there. I’d love to make it over there sometime. Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to visit.

Do you speak Tagalog?
Oh, not really. My mom tried to teach me when I was younger. I am not that great at languages. I really want to learn, though.

When do you think you will visit the Philippines?
I think whenever I have a good second to do nothing and just go where I want. I have been talking about it forever and it never materializes. Hopefully, soon. I can’t wait to see the Philippines.

What did your mom tell you about the Philippines? And in what ways are you Filipino?
She told me several stories about where she used to live. She has 11 brothers and sisters so she had a big family. I love Filipino food. I love halo-halo, pancit and adobo. I am such a Filipino—I eat rice every day (laughter).

Monique Lhuillier

2008-05-30T19:53:00.000-07:00

Real Name:Diane Monique Lhuillier
Born: 1971 in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines
Fame: A Filipino fashion designer based in the United States. She was born and raised in the Philippine province of Cebu and is of French and Cebuano descent

Lhuillier's family is one of the more prominent names in Philippine high society. The family owns a chain of pawnshops currently operating in more than a hundred cities in the nation.
Having had a difficult time finding her own gown, Lhuillier, a 23-year-old newlywed at the time, decided to begin sketching her own line of dresses. Her husband figured it was little more than a hobby, one that she would tire of soon enough. "He thought I had the wedding blues and eventually I'd get over it," she told USA WEEKEND Magazine.

She made the news with two high-profile celebrity weddings in a row. She designed Christine Baumgartner's wedding dress for the fall 2004 wedding to Kevin Costner shortly after designing both of Britney Spears's wedding dresses in her wedding to Kevin Federline. She's also designed the wedding gown of US former Vice President and former Second Lady Al and Tipper Gore's youngest daughter, Sarah G. Lee, during her marriage to Bill Lee[2], Giuliana DePandi's wedding gown to The Apprentice winner Bill Rancic[3], and Allison Munn's wedding gown to actor Scott Holroyd.[4]
Subsequently Lhuillier added evening wear to her line, and several of her efforts showed up on red carpets before awards shows. For the Fall 2007 season she branched off into more typical oddball runway collections.

The pictures below are the ones which i took personally when i was once watching my favorite show "The Runway". Monique was invited as special critic/judge in the said show.

Cheryl Burke

2008-05-30T19:22:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Cheryl Bautista Burke
Born: May 3, 1984
Distinction: a two time Emmy nominated professional dancer. As the professional dancer partner, she won competition in the second and third seasons of ABC's American version of Dancing with the Stars. Her celebrity dance partners for those competitions were Drew Lachey (February 2006) and Emmitt Smith (November 2006).

Check video where shes interviewed with philippine news bureau in the USA

Batista

2008-05-25T06:53:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Dave Bautista
Born: January 18, 1969
Birthplace: Arlington, Virginia
Parents: Filipino Father and Greek Mother
Fame to Claim: a three-time World Heavyweight Champion and the winner of the 2005 Royal Rumble match
Other facts: His grandparents were also from the Philippines as his grandfather served in the military, worked as a taxi driver, barber, and other odd jobs to feed the family. Batista says he is not ashamed to admit he came from a poor family.[90] He has publicly admitted to having a hard life where, as before he was age nine, three murders occurred at his front lawn.[89] As young as age 13, he was stealing automobiles.[91] By age 17, Batista was considered estranged from his parents and on his own,[92] despite admitting later that "I am proud of my parents. They are good, honest, hard-working folks. They taught me the values of working hard."[91]

Bautista is everywhere in the Philippines. He just took out the 'u' in his surname to arrive in his famous name Batista. His philippine flag tattoo in his arms makes the filipinos wonder why he has that. To his pride, he is a filipino.

Nicole Scherzinger of the group Pussycat Dolls

2008-05-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Nicole Prescovia Elikolani Valiente Scherzinger
Birthplace: Honolulu, Hawaii
Parents : Filipino father and a Russian mother
Claim to Fame: Lead Singer of the group Pussycat Dolls

Nicole cant deny she is a filipina. She looks very filipina.

This is the video when the group had their concert in manila. Nicole cried coz of how the filipinos embraced her.

Nicole shouting how proud she is for being a filipino.

Apl. De. Ap of the group Black Eyed Peas

2008-05-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

Real Name: Allan Pineda Lindo
Birthday: November 28, 1974
Birthplace: Barangay Sapang Bato, Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
Parents: Filipina mother and African American Father
Claim to fame: a hip hop musician, record producer, song writer and member of the well known group The Black Eyes Peas.

Check out the video "THe Apl Song" where he put the story of his life (in the Philippines and US) into a song.

Enrique Iglesias

2007-12-30T07:37:00.000-08:00

Enrique Iglesias
Real Name: Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler
Born: May 8,1975
Birthplace: Madrid, Spain
Parents: Filipina mother and son of singer Julio Iglesias
Occupation: Spanish Pop singer/ writer

Quote: "Though I was born in Madrid, my being a Filipino is very strong in me," says Enrique. "When I was growing up, my mom (Isabel Preysler) would always talk about the Philippines. She taught us the things that are very important to Filipino culture such as family, being hospitable to guests, and fear of God. I even remember the Filipino dishes she used to whip up!" - Manila Standard, March 18, 2004

Enrique Iglesias talks about being Filipino

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Capital RadioInterview with Rachael Hooper

Listen to SoundByte

R: We dragged him into our studio, which is rather cold, he had to put his jacket on, grilled him with your questions, that you guys sent in last night after hours. So without further ado let me hand you over to myself and Enrique Iglesias.

R: Enrique thank you very much for coming in first of all.E: Thank you.R: You did great tonight! Most people come in our living room they do three songs, you did eight?

E: No we were just screwing around see to get the sound right, but the audience was great they were very cute.

R: They were very excited.

E: Yeah they were very nice.

R: We've been giving the tickets away all week and they've been going mental for you. So it was so nice that you did that first of all.

E: And it was very laid back, so it's cool, you know. There was no pressure whatsoever.

R: Have you done that sort of thing before?

E: Yeah a few times but not a lot. Not a lot, I mean not for radio.

R: We just imagine that you'd play just huge screaming gigs, you know, as opposed 15 people sat in a living room.

E: No. I know but it was cool, that's what I said, it was laid back so there was no pressure. It's good to do gigs like that.

R: That's cool. Well we have a whole host of questions, which I can't ask everyone's, lots of people wanted to come to the gig tonight, but they couldn't come because we didn't have that many tickets, so I have some questions. If they're a little close to the knuckle they're not my fault, ok it's the ladies fault.

E: That's OK.

R: Here we go. First of all Brandy Mancini, she e-mailed in last night to Capital and said she would like to know the profile please of your ideal woman. The women in London are mad for you, can you tell them, please.

E: I don't have an ideal woman. The day I get married, that'll be my ideal woman.

R: They're all going to be ringing up now.

E: But I don't really have, I can't tell you that she's gotta be like this, or, I'll probably marry the opposite.

R: So do you find that you find someone and the person at that time is the person?

E: I think it's all about chemistry, if you like someone, you like someone and that you can't really control.

R: Absolutely.

E: And I'm like, I'm not very picky.

R: I can't believe that somehow.

E: Should I say that?

R: You have! So basically Brandy could be in with a chance there if she managed to meet you at one of your gigs in London. You never know, you never know! Melanie Brown also e-mailed into us last night, and she says she was lucky enough to meet you in London last January, when you were here. She's obviously one of your dedicated fans. And you told her that you speak, is this right, Tagalog? Tegalog?

E: Ah Tagalog.

R: Tagalog? So completely wrong then!

E: I was like, Tagalog?

R: What is it? And were you telling her the truth?

E: Oh Tagalog, no because I am part Filipino.R: Yeah.E: And in the Philippines they speak Tagalog, but I don't really speak Tagalog. Did I say I spoke Tagalog?

R: So she says.

E: No I don't think I, no oh maybe, oh I'm sorry if I did. I'm a stup~d li@r sometimes.

R: She was probably so overawed at meeting you, she just imagined that maybe happened.

E:Oh.

R: But I wanted to know what it was, because I never heard the word.

E: No that's why because I'm part Filipino.

R: Fantastic.

E: I don't look Filipino, but I am.

ref:http://filipinocultured.blogspot.com/2007/09/enrique-iglesias-talks-about-being.html

Lea Salonga

2007-12-30T06:00:00.001-08:00

Real Name: Maria Ligaya Carmen Imutan Salonga
Birthday: February 22, 1971
Birthplace: Philippines
Parents: Both Filipino

A multi-awarded Filipino singer and actress who is best known for her highly-acclaimed portrayal of Kim in the musical Miss Saigon. In the field of musical theater, she is recognized for having won the Olivier, Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, and Theatre World Awards, the first to win various international awards for a single role. She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the musical Les Misérables on Broadway. (ref: wikipedia)

Quote:

US ASIANS: As an extension of your commitment to Pinoy/Pinay Pride in the entertainment industry, which people have provided you with the greatest joy as the result of their success? (i.e. Van Partible of Johnny Bravo, Fritz Friedman of Sony, Lalaine of Lizzie McGuire fame, Tia Carrere, Roddy Chiong/bass player for Shania Twain, Enrique Iglesis, Gary V., etc.)
LEA SALONGA: All of them. I'm always thrilled to see any Pinoy doing something in this business that puts us in a positive light.( http://usasians-articles.tripod.com/lea-salonga-diversity.html)

Video: Lea in her audition for Miss Saigon

Video: Lea in Doha Asian Games Closing Ceremony 2006 singing Triumph of the One