Irish and Lilwyn

Ms. Lilwyn Pascua, right (shown here with ABS-CBN’s Irish Fullerton when they met up at the highly-recommended Archipelago Restaurant in Burlingame) of San Jose will be one of the refreshing models who will don Crisanta Malig’s latest creations this coming Friday, March 27th at 8pm in South San Francisco.

Issue 13: March 25, 2009

Manny, Willie & Sarah
are Recession-Proof Superstars

By Bradford Adkins, Manila Mail Community Editor

During a recent business trip, I can’t help but notice, there displayed prominently at a major international airport newsstand, Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao’s cover photo of the March/2009 Year-End Award issue of ‘The Ring’ magazine with the prideful words splashed all over it - ‘Fighter Of The Year’.

It’s interesting to note that Manny already won that magazine’s prestigious award in 2006. The Ring magazine was founded in 1922 with a mission: “to bring our readers a slice of the entire boxing world with each issue. And for over eight decades, we’ve made good on that promise. Every issue of The Ring is packed with spectacular award-winning photos, provocative interviews with the leading pros, and journeys to the coolest undiscovered boxing matches”.

According to one of the magazine’s numerous Pacquiao articles on the same issue, the choice for 2008’s Fighter of the Year Award is one of their history’s easiest. This year’s winner, Pacquiao, was chosen by a distinguished set of panel judges namely, Showtime’s ShoBox ringside analyst Steve Farhood, ESPN.com boxing writer Dan Rafael, HBO’s Championship Boxing blow-by-blow announcer Jim Lampley, WBC Junior Welterweight Titlist Timothy Bradley, rising super middleweight prospect Daniel Jacobs, Showtime Championship Boxing ringside analyst Al Bernstein, Fox Sports ringside analyst Rich Marotta, ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights studio host Brian Kenny and Telefutura’s Solo Boxeo blow-by-blow announcer Bernie Osuna. And they all voted Pacquiao as their # 1 fighter for 2008. All judges have differing opinion on # 2 placer.

For its current issue, Manny is on its cover, solo. He is also on the issue’s page 3 Editor-in-Chief Nigel Collins full-page article, there being compared with the ‘other’ Filipino great fighter, Pancho Villa, eighty-five years later (Pancho knocked out Welshman, Jimmy Wilde in 1923 at the Polo Grounds; yes, you can see the classic fight on YouTube.com). Again, Manny’s photos and name appear repeatedly on pages 7, page 12 and a lot more. And flipping through the boxing world’s bible magazine, Manny’s name appears countless of times it almost appeared as though Manny owned the magazine.

The magazine’s superlatives on Manny is endless. They listed his fight with De La Hoya as ‘The Richest Fight of the Year’ grossing 1.25 million pay per view buys (or roughly $70 million in gross revenues, considered 2008’s top sports pay per view earner and the same fight easily entered HBO’s Top 10 All-Time Moneymakers), a staggering record considering the deep recession we are experiencing for the very first time in 30 years.

If you still can secure a copy, get one for your grandchildren and their children’s posterity. This overwhelming international sports acclaim on a Filipino may not happen again ever– not in a very long time.
On a relative note, pundits can’t help but speculate that Willie Revillame’s May 3rd Wowowee show/rendezvous in Las Vegas was Pacquiao-inspired.

Apparently, there are a lot of politicians, businessmen and celebrities flying in from Manila to Vegas to personally feel the electricity of the Pacquiao vs. Hatton fight on May 2nd. Enterprising show producers have decided to capitalize on that and presto – Wowowee at the Thomas and Mack Coliseum in Las Vegas was born. Notwithstanding the recession, show insiders had estimated Willie’s talent fee to be in the six digits, a price tag many are still biting for his shows all over the world are proven to be moneymakers as well. Overflow celebrities weaning from the Pacquiao fight are expected to show up at the Wowoee show after.

Another considered recession-proof superstar is the very young Sarah Geronimo, who sold-out all tickets priced as high as $200 per seat at her recent concert held in Hawaii.

In addition, last Sunday, I got a report from a Las Vegas resident, who personally witnessed how Sarah, for the very first time in history of all shows delivered in Las Vegas, ,packed The Plaza Hotel and had made its Line Producer, Ms. Tess Jones cry uncontrollably in happiness when thousands of walk-ins filled the venue at the last minute.

In the Vegas show, most applauded numbers are when Sarah sang Lobo’s theme song ‘Ikaw Ang Pangarap’, her recent movie’s theme song ‘You Changed My Life’ and for the finale, her winning song, her ‘Search for the Star’ entry song performance that changed her life forever – ‘To Love You More’.

Furthermore, as early as last month, tickets were already sold out on her Los Angeles Heritage Forum show.

Locally, witness Sarah pack another venue and make history again when she performs this Saturday, March 28th at the Fox Theater in Redwood City at 7:30pm. Call Joey or Maite for available tickets at (650)290-0542 / (650)290-4457.
For tickets in the Stockton vernue, contact Molly Corpuz at (916) 479-3263 or (626) 388-7718. Log on to www.pinoyparinkami.com for The Next One promo stop schedule.

Other West Coast venues of Sarah’s shows include the following contact infos:
For Reno , NV show on SATURDAY, APRIL 4, 2009 at the Grand Sierra Hotel ( Reno ’s best hotel these days, based on recent collective feedback from avid casinogoers; the resort even has a huge bowling alley at the basement!) please call Eric Calayan at (408) 712-3743 or George Fuentes at (415) 260-1394.

For San Diego, CA show on FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2009 at San Diego Convention Center, located at 111 West Harbor Drive (Ticket Prices VIP $108, $78, $58, $38 and limited VIP Seats with Meet & Greet), please FILIPINAS PRODUCTIONS toll-free 877-277-4629 or cell# 510-552-6915 | www.filipinasproductions.com.

SEEN IN THE CITY

TFC HOSTS “PROJECT: BIGAY PAG-ASA” FOR SUBSCRIBERS
Foreclosure prevention seminar educates homeowners on available help
ABS-CBN International’s The Filipino Channel (TFC) conducted recently its first foreclosure prevention seminar at its office in Redwood City.

Part of the audience of homeowners that attended Project Bigay Pag-asa seminar at the ABS-CBN.

At the Project: Bigay Pag-asa seminar are, from left, speakers Milky Lagandaon, veteran real estate mortgage broker; GDE Holdings Inc. CEO Chito Desuasido; Pera Ko, Pera Mo hosts Maricel and Jojo Quiroz; and John Lazatin, head of ABS-CBN International’s Media Events & Production Group.

The seminar, called Project: Bigay Pag-asa (Give Hope), was the first activity under ABS-CBN International’s corporate initiative that responds to the rise of foreclosures and job loss affecting many Filipinos in the U.S.

Volunteering their services for the seminar were seasoned financial and real estate experts: Jojo and Maricel Quiroz, hosts of the show, Pera Ko, Pera Mo on TFC and founders of Keyrose Corporation, a financial wellness center focusing on debt reduction strategies; Chito Desuasido, CEO of GDE Holdings, Inc. and project manager of Bay Area Mabuhay Alliance; and Milky Lagandaon, real estate mortgage broker and branch manager of America One Finance in Burlingame, California.

Lagandaon talked from the perspective of a real estate broker, relating experiences and tips on how to go about the loan modification process. Desuasido explained the banker’s point of view and what banks are looking for when negotiating with them regarding house loans. The Quiroz couple, on the other hand, dwelt on how to achieve financial balance and wellness in the midst of the economic crisis. Everyone provided several resources that the homeowners can avail of and also answered questions from the audience.

John Lazatin, ABS-CBN International’s head of Media Events & Production Group, facilitated the seminar. Attendees also enjoyed the raffle prizes that were given away during the event.

“This project was triggered by a letter from a TFC subscriber who asked help from us regarding his foreclosure problem,” narrates Chinky De Jesus, ABS-CBN International Managing Director. “What touched us most about this is the overwhelming trust our subscribers have placed on TFC to help them with their financial problems even if we’re not a financial establishment. It is both an honor and responsibility to be regarded as such.”

De Jesus continued: “We decided to respond by providing a venue in which our TFC subscribers could receive reliable information from experts to prevent unnecessary home foreclosures. We want to be able to say we helped people keep a large part of their American dream – their own homes. The success of Project Bigay Pag-asa propels us at TFC to do more proactive corporate initiatives in the service of the Filipino community during these trying times. ”

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY

Bayaning Pilipino Awards 2009 on April 18th!
“A man without roots is a man without a face. For one’s roots to one’s motherland are a precious source of nourishment for one’s existence, identity and purpose.”

ABS-CBN’s Gawad Genny Lopez, Jr. Bayaning Pilipino Awards 2009 ceremonies will be held on Saturday, April 18th starting with a reception at 5:30pm (show begins at 7:30pm) at the giant network’s studios in Redwood City . Due to space limitations, an exclusive select set of audience were sent invites to the event.

A Project of ABS CBN Broadcasting Corporation in Consortium with UGAT Foundation, Inc, the Bayaning Pilipino Award was organized to give patriotism – and the spirit of bayanihan - a face. To honor Filipinos residing in the United States – or American citizens with Filipino ancestry – who continue to remember their roots through selfless public service for their less-fortunate Filipino brothers and sisters.

A friendship between Don Geny Lopez and Fr. Tanalega, S.J. became the bridge where the ideas of seeking out and honoring the unsung Filipino patriots crossed. Finally, in 1995, the award-giving organization was formed; and is now sustained by the UGAT Foundation – an apostolate of volunteers working for the welfare of the poor.

This year, the criterion for the award will be much broader in scope. It will focus on corporations, institutions and organizations that have contributed significantly to the well-being of the Filipino-American community in the United States or in the Philippines .
Given annually, the prestigious award carries with it a message of deep gratitude from the Filipino people: “We will always remember, as you have remembered.”

The Bayaning Pilipino Awards 2009 shall be conferred on a project or service that has been completed through communal effort in the bayanihan spirit. This project or service should have a measurable impact on a sector or community in the Philippines or in overseas Filipino communities.

CRITERIA:
1. Measurable impact: scope and number of beneficiaries with known effective results.
2. Highlight the value of unity / PAGKAKAISA (effective elimination of selosan, inggitan, siraan, etc. or has effectively dealt with these either through interventions or through innovative methods).
3. Focused on service and/or an issue (poverty, health, education, etc) as felt either in the US or in the Philippines .
4. Transcend regionalism / parochialism.
5. Participatory / people-oriented leadership (as shown in the manner of how they choose their leaders and their acceptance thereof)
6. Promotes Filipino values and culture: Filipino heritage

The Bayaning Pilipino 2009 nomination period ran from October 1, 2008 to December 15, 2008.
Future inquiries regarding this award may be sent to the following:

ABS CBN International
150 Shoreline Dr.
Redwood City, CA 94065-1400 USA
Toll Free: 1-800-FIL-CHNL
Tel: 650.508.6000
Fax: 650.551.1061
E-mail: bayaningpilipinoawards@yahoo.com

Bayaning Pilipino Awards
UGAT Foundation, Inc.
2F ISO Annex Bldg., Social Development Complex, Ateneo de Manila University
Loyola Heights , Quezon City , Philippines 1108
Tel: (063-2) 426.6496; 426.6001 x4873
Fax: (063-2) 426.6497
OR
E-mail: bayaningpilipinoawards@yahoo.com

PERSONAL NOTES

Fashionistas Alert. Award-winning Bay-area based Designer, Crisanta Malig will present a new set of creation and models at a restaurant in South San Francisco (call the Designer for $35 ticket reservation at 415/ 341-6371) already this Friday, starting with a dinner at 7pm (show will follow promptly at 8pm).

Daly City’s Marlok K. Navarro, center, celebrated his 27th birthday at The Matrix SF, located at 3138 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94123 with friends Mark Keenan, left and Tim Gedeon.

Happiest Birthday Alert. Due to a pressing commitment, I have to miss a good friend from Daly City Marlon K. Navarro’s birthday bash held last Friday, March 20th at San Francisco’s The Matrix. In his own words, ‘I was surrounded with love and people that mattered in my life, I can’t ask for more’ was his response to my cliché ‘what’s your birthday wish?”. I wish you longer, happier and peaceful life, Marlon! And may you have many more birthdays to come!

This column appears online also at www.FilamNation.com

Do you have any personal or community events you want announced? Just email them to bradford_adkins@yahoo.com