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Lea Salonga sings Lady Gaga, Cee Lo
By Elton Lugay I must have followed Lea Salonga’s every concert in New York, and nothing sends me to Dreamland faster than her bluesy opening number, “How About You.” I listen with my eyes closed, knowing the best is yet to come. On May 4 at the packed Town Hall theater on Broadway, Lea did […]
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Droll humor, special effects make ‘Avengers’ Marvel-ously enjoyable
By Daniel de la Rosa Menlo Park Mall in Edison, New Jersey is a bandbox of a shopping center with a refurbished moviehouse where the seats swallow you and the arm rest is as big enough to plant your corn shrimp, fries and humongous Diet soda. Drove there on a warm Friday evening that had […]
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Philippine film paves ‘Road’ to Hollywood via horror thriller
A horror thriller will be screened in the U.S. and Canada this May, paving the way for a Philippine-made film to enjoy a commercial release in North America. GMA Films, through a distribution agreement with Hollywood-based Freestyle Releasing, will screen “The Road” in mainstream American and Canadian markets beginning May 11. “The Road” revisits a […]
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Great entertainment at Martin-Pops concert, but why did Ai-Ai walk out?
By Elton Lugay Ludi de Asis Hughes, possibly the most prominent Filipina political fundraiser in New Jersey, was at front row clapping to the rhythm, tapping her feet and laughing at every campy joke dished out by Ai-Ai de las Alas. She and thousands others turned out for the April 29 Martin Nievera-Pops Fernandez concert […]
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It’s all about the Lin
By Elton Lugay New York Knicks’ point guard Jeremy Lin may be Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential, but to the Chinese media covering the gala, he’s nothing but a “snob.” “I felt discriminated,” a Taiwanese journalist was steaming at the red carpet arrivals for the press. “I cannot believe he went straight to the center […]
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Toasting the Tribeca Three
Filmmakers, actors, moviegoers and writers packed the Kalayaan Hall’s cocktail reception for three Filipino filmmakers exhibiting at the Tribeca Film Festival. “This is the first time we’ve seen the Kalayaan Hall this full,” noted Deputy Consul General Tess Dizon de Vega. “This is almost a fire hazard.” It was clear as day who the star […]
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Arnel Pineda will be with Journey ‘for as long as they want me’
By Elton Lugay “It’s such a raw film. They were able to show my emotions.” Arnel Pineda was talking to The FilAm about his biopic, “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey,” directed by Ramona Diaz. The movie, which screens April 19 at the Tribeca Film Festival, chronicles his rise from a hard-luck pizza joint singer to […]
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It’s magic: Apollo Riego to have his own TV show
By Maricar CP Hampton At age 4, Apollo Riego’s parents hired a magician to entertain at his birthday party. A year later, he was doing tricks with cups and balls. Today at 25, this popular Coney Island dancing magician is about to host his own TV show aimed at mesmerizing American audiences with his own […]
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Conspiracy theories surround ‘American Idol’ voting
By Elton Lugay Filipinos around the globe are up in arms: Jessica Sanchez was nearly ousted from “American Idol.” And whoever said we Filipinos are not a united people? This obsession with Jessica on Idol is fueling a united front never before seen since the Edsa Revolt of 1986. The outcry ranges from vote manipulation […]