• Charice: Go orange • Ocean City’s Philippine fair now on its 2nd year

Pop star Charice was in town June 14 to campaign for the color orange.

Seriously. She teamed up with Life Savers Gummies to help America choose the next flavor of the ring-shaped gummy candy. The candidates? Orange, blue, raspberry and lemonade.

Charice’s bet, orange, is the “social” color, according to feng shui experts. The color of lively conversations and good times. Charice said she is campaigning for the “underdog.”

“I wanted to support the Orange Life Savers Gummies because I’m all for the underdog, and in the world of candy, I think orange doesn’t get enough attention,” she said in a press statement.

She said further. “Some great people helped me out early in my career by sharing my music with their friends and I want to be that person for orange – I want to share his story. He’s clever, smart and tasty!”

The official campaign party hosted was held at Bowlmor in Times Square where about 100 pre-selected fans attended posed for photos with the pop idol, received souvenir t-shirts and stuffed toys, and danced to Charice’s latest single “Louder.”

Tiffany Viray, a 14-year-old aspiring singer from New Jersey, was among the lucky fans who made the meet-and-greet with Charice.

“I was in total awe. I can’t believe I’m in her presence,” Tiffany gushed. “She was real nice and accommodating, and she’s just so down-to-earth! We took pictures and had our souvenirs signed.”

“The time has come to choose a new flavor of Life Savers Gummies and we want our fans to tell us which flavor candidate is their favorite,” said Michael Watt, Wrigley’s VP and General Manager, U.S. Confections. “We are thrilled to have Charice as a fan, and while she’s campaigning for orange, it’s going to be a great race. We look forward to our loyal fans coming out to vote for their favorite flavors.” — Elton Lugay

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Following last year’s success, Ocean City in New Jersey will once again host Tribute for the Philippines on July 23-24 at the city’s famous Music Pier.

Consul General Mario De Leon, Jr. and Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian will meet on July 5 to finalize preparations for the event.

This year’s tribute will feature a trade fair and tourism exhibit and a cultural event on the evening of July 23 to showcase Filipino and American performers.

In addition, the Consulate General will conduct for the first time an outreach service on July 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Music Pier, to process passport and dual citizenship applications, legalization and authentication of documents, and civil registration (e.g. reports of birth, marriage and death of Filipino nationals).

Consular General De Leon said of the event, “This is a good opportunity to promote Philippine products, tourist destinations and even Filipino talents to the residents and tourists in Ocean City,” said ConGen de Leon. “Hopefully, we can encourage them to visit the Philippines as well and do business there.”

Ocean City is a family-oriented resort island, which is recognized as one of New Jersey’s best beaches. Coastal Living magazine, in its May 2010 issue, selected Ocean City as one of the top “31 Beach Vacations” in the U.S.

Last year’s inaugural tribute drew the participation of 15 exhibitors that sold handicrafts, products and foods, and featured Philippine tourist destinations. Internationally-known Filipino singer Imelda Papin performed in a one-night concert to the delight of her Filipino and American audience. The American teenager staff of Air Circus also gave a yo-yo demonstration during the fair. Air Circus is a store in the Ocean City Boardwalk that sells various types of yo-yo, a toy which originated in the Philippines.

The Tribute for the Philippines is a joint project of the City Council and the Regional Chamber of Commerce of Ocean City and the Philippine Consulate General, Philippine Trade and Investment Center, and Philippine Department of Tourism in New York. Ocean City has a sister-city relationship with San Jose City, Occidental Mindoro.

For additional information, contact the following: Mark Soifer, Ocean City’s public relations director at 609-525-9300, 609-364-4010 or msoifer@hotmail.com; Rene Sese, Ocean City’s ambassador for tourism at 609-398-3342 or RSamermanila@yahoo.com; and Consul Zaldy Patron at 212-764-1330 ext. 602 or newyork@pcgny.net.