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Jam, Fe and Jessa in June 20 comedy concert
“AwiTawanan sa NYC” will feature 1980s singer Jam Morales, comedienne Fe de los Reyes, and singer-actress Jessa Zaragoza in a comedy concert to be held June 20 at the NYC Arena of Amazura Lounge located in Jamaica, New York. The visiting artists will be joined by local artists NU7 Band, Angel Ram, and Anna Templo. […]
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First-timers wait 4 hours for their Independence Day parade march!
By Cristina DC Pastor A dead man’s body ushered me to my first-ever Independence Day parade…as a marcher. The body, sprawled at the corner of 36th and Broadway streets, had a wound at the forehead from which a trail of blood had dried up. It was still early, not even 10 a.m. so I thought […]
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How Diana Lee Inosanto trained ‘Spy’ actress in the Filipino martial arts Kali
“Spy” actress Melissa McCarthy’s skills juggling knives and frying pans is the latest handiwork of stunt performer Diana Lee Inosanto, a martial arts instructor named after her godfather, the great legend, Bruce Lee. Diana is the daughter of California-born Dan Inosanto, a stuntman-actor and a well-known instructor of Jeet Kune Do and Filipino martial arts. […]
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PIDCI addresses controversial issues, including Independence Day parade cost of $280K
By Cristina DC Pastor The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) laid bare the logistics of organizing the annual Madison Avenue parade, billed as biggest annual gathering in June of Filipinos outside of the Philippines. Last year’s parade had a budget of $280,000, disclosed PIDCI President Fe Martinez during the “ConGen Hour,” a collaborative forum […]
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Broadway’s J. Elaine Marcos makes her stage debut on the West Coast
After making her mark in New York City appearing in many Tony-nominated Broadway musicals, actress/comedienne J. Elaine Marcos has relocated to the west and is making her Los Angeles theatre debut starring in the upcoming Pasadena Playhouse production of “Waterfall.” J. Elaine plays the memorable role of Nuan in this musical based on a contemporary […]
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Sylvia La Torre stars as Independence Day Parade goes for nostalgia
On its 25th year of organizing the Filipino Independence Day celebration in Manhattan, the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) takes a trip down memory lane by inviting Queen of Kundiman Sylvia La Torre to headline this year’s lineup of musical performers. The “Waray-Waray” and “Sa Kabukiran” singer, who is also a TV, radio and […]
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HBO series on Asian American actors features Veronica Reyes-How
HBO has unveiled the fifth installment of its documentary series “East of Main Street: Taking the Lead,” showcasing a select group of Asian Americans in various stages of their movie and television careers. The series is being aired in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. It features interviews with performers such as […]
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Gail Banawis to sing PHL anthem at May 2 Pacquiao-Mayweather match: ‘Great blessing!’
By Cristina DC Pastor The multi-talented, well-liked teen from the Bronx, Gail Banawis, has been handpicked to sing the Philippine National Anthem at the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in Las Vegas on May 2nd. “With God, all things are possible, right?” writes Gail, as she announced the news on Facebook. Gail, 19, will perform the Philippine anthem, […]
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How theater musicals helped me overcome shyness
By John Sapida I started performing in musicals in the 7th grade. As a shy immigrant boy of about 12 or 13 years old, it was hard for me to make friends and talk to people. I was having a serious case of culture shock! Over the years, I stepped out of my shell when […]