Issue 28: July 7, 2010

Arnel Rocks Reno!
(Palm Springs, New Jersey and Canada are next)

By Bradford Adkins, Manila Mail Community Editor

Journey's Arnel Pineda showed Reno audiences how much he loves to rock, by delivering a high-powered version of "Eye of the Tiger," his opening song number.

Arnel Pineda really showed 'em how he "loves to rock" in Reno last Saturday, with (L-R) Line Producer, Nanette Labrador, Las Vegas-based Road Manager, Yul Session and Executive Producer, Archie Mendiorro. The show was a huge success, in all aspects. Congratulations, Lighthouse Entertainment!

All the stars and other heavenly bodies seemed to be aligned perfectly last Saturday night when “Arnel Pineda Loves To Rock” concert took place in Reno .

The venue ( Reno ’s Best Kept Secret these days) is the newly-expanded (at a cost of $400 Million; they added 600 more all-suite rooms, among others!) Peppermill Casino Resort – The Tuscany Events Center located on the 2nd floor (just above the casino area) with 6 giant HD screens and an in-house sound system that is every world-class singer’s dream. The iPhone generation concert-goers (their LED phone displays replaced the lit cigarettes seen during the concert of yesteryears) poured in from all places and filled the 4,000-seater venue to capacity, shortly before the show started at around 8:00 P.M.

Lighthouse Entertainment's Chief of Security San Jose's Rolan Sagmit ensured The Ultimate Champion, Rachelle Ann Go's safety last Saturday's "Arnel Pineda Loves To Rock" concert in Reno.

Journey’s Arnel Pineda opened the show with Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” that set the tone of the evening – rocking wild! And then suddenly, the place transformed into a giant ‘4th of July’ party celebration. He followed with Ewan Ko Ba, Jailhouse Rock and Hocus Pocus.

Arnel took under his wings (a promise he finally fulfilled), his original band from the Philippines - The Ammo Band, before he goes on another world tour with his mainstream band, The Journey. He sang an OPM Medley of songs that night with The Ammo Band.

Rachelle Ann Go followed with Honestly, her impersonation of Philippine Divas (Jessa Zaragoza, Jaya, etc) and Cryin’.

And then, Arnel and Rachelle performed a couple of duet numbers - Almost Paradise and I Love Rock & Roll, a vocal display of both performers’ calisthenics.

Arnel was definitely in his elements when he did the Bon Jovi Medley – Bad Name, It’s My Life, Living In A Prayer. My Sharona, Sometimes A Fantasy, Sweet Child O’Mine.

The show is for the benefit of the street school project of the APF USA, APF Inc., and the Arnel Pineda Foundation so Arnel performed a fitting tribute song next - “Imagine” by John Lennon.
Arnel’s version of Queen Medleys – Love of Mine, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites The Dust, Radio Ga Ga, Crazy Little Thing, We Will Rock You, We Are The Champions, sent the auditorium on a bigger fire with audiences now surging towards the stage, dancing, clapping and screaming.

Since Arnel can’t contractually perform Journey music on his own tours, he sang “Faithfully” A Capella, to the huge delight of the audience where time seemed to have banished altogether (it was almost midnight, folks!) with their voices (it’s good there was no work the next day).
To summarize it all, this is The Concert we are all waiting for. If you can only afford one concert (due to recession) to go to this summer, make it this one. Do not miss (there is a double-dip recession coming up) the rest of the tour’s high-octane performances at the following cities:
* Rancho Mirage Casino Resort in Palm Springs , Southern CA on Saturday, July 10 at 8:00 PM (by RONGI Enterprises, Inc. & TEN The Entertainment Network)
* Edmonton, Alberta on Saturday, July 17 at Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
* Vancouver, BC • Sunday, July 18 at the Center for Performing Arts
* Calgary, Alberta • Friday, July 23 at Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
* Atlantic City, NJ Sunday, July 25, 2:00 PM at Boardwalk Hall's Adrian Phillips Ballroom (produced by MPG Global Productions, LLC in cooperation with Topnotch Electronics)
* Toronto • Friday, July 30, 7:30PM at Roy Thomson Hall
Again, congratulations to Lighthouse Entertainment (Archie Mendiorro and Nanette Labrador) and Bercee Enterprises (Lerma Cailles) for another successful partnership! Kachiiiing!!!

The De La Salle Alumni Association (DLSAA) reunion committee members: Seated (L - R): Irvin Sevilla (Co-Secretary), Portia Santos, Emma Magbitang, Peachie Herman, Yo Aquino (Treasurer). Standing (L - R): Willie Salgado, Caloy Narciso (Co-Secretary), Nani Ramirez, Art Dancel, Matt Hizon, Jojo Flores and Arnold Mercado.

DD Pena, owner of Coffee Adventure in Milpitas presents to the world his Pandesal Adobo ala Panini. His coffee shop's reviews posted on Yelp are all raving - "There's free Wi-Fi and very comfortable seating - like walking into the lobby of a 5-star hotel (great ambiance)...Not your ordinary coffee shop, this is one place to visit. The coffee latte is fantastic and menu selection is awesome. Great ambiance! " Coffee Adventure is located at 1535 Landess Ave Ste 141. Milpitas, CA 95035 Phone (408) 956-1706.

TO-BE-SEEN IN THE CITY
Free Workshop on Importing & Exporting Business
The Filipino Business Assistance program of the Bayanihan Community Center, together with the Southeast Asian Community Center, is offering an appropriate workshop for entrepreneurs and business-oriented individuals on Basics of Importing and Exporting, scheduled on Thursday, July 15, 2010, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Southeast Asian Community Center at 875 O’Farrell Street , between Polk and Larkin, in San Francisco .

Pinoy Dream Academy Grand Champion, Yeng Constantino, right, poses with noted Peninsula Photographer, Von Cruz during her recent stint at Edna's Ichiban Library in South San Francisco.

The line between politics and entertainment blur as celebrities from rival stations ABS-CBN and GMA 7 joined forces and attended Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino, III's presidential proclamation at the Quirino Grandstand last week. Photo by Ms. Juna Dalisay Sorrosa.

The workshop will cover basic information on importing and exporting products for small business entrepreneurs in California . It will also cover import/export financing and obtaining small business loans.

Invited speakers and resource persons include Don Farwell of US Customs and Border Protection and international trade specialist Daniel Giavina of US Commercial Service who will present rules and regulations for importing and exporting products. Henri Borius of Clover edition will share his experience on how to import goods from China . The letter of credit financing and other small business loans will be handled by Hector Gandhi and Mark Cyrus of Wells Fargo and Victor Hsi of SEACC’s SBA Microloan program.

The Peppermill Casino Resort's Entertainment Director, Mr. Paul (2nd left) was very happy with the Saturday "Arnel Pineda Loves To Rock" Concert's outcome and personally thanked (L-R) the Lighthouse Entertainment producers, Archie Mendiorro, Nanette Labrador and this columnist during the cast party at the hotel's The Cafe.

San Jose's Life Agent, Anthony Cabanero receives his recognition award from New York Life Managing Partner, Grace T. Dirige, for excellent production for the month of June under "New Class" category.

For those who are thinking about starting an export or import business and want to find out how to start, this is for them. The workshop is free but pre-registration is preferred. Light refreshment will be provided.

The workshop is sponsored by Southeast Asian Community Center , the Filipino American Development Foundation, the APIBIS, a city funded business assistance program which focuses on the specific language, cultural and technical needs of Asian Pacific Islander ethnic-owned small businesses, and supported by Wells Fargo and US Bank. For more information and for those who are interested to attend please contact MC Canlas at 415-574-8718 or email at mccanlast@aol.com.

San Jose's Life Agent, Anthony Cabanero receives his recognition award from New York Life Managing Partner, Grace T. Dirige, for excellent production for the month of June under "New Class" category.

PERSONAL NOTES

Congratulations & Best Wishes to Mr. Melvin Hing Lim and Ms. Grace Cruz Dirige, both of Danville, CA who flew to Kona, Hawaii Tuesday afternoon to tie the knot on July 8th and start enjoying their journey together as a couple. The wedding reception is set upon their return, at the Dynasty Seafood Restaurant in Cupertino , CA on July 24th. Oh, by the way, the couple is registered at CrateAndBarrel.com.

De La Salle Alumni Association Northern California (DLSAANC) President, Art Dancel and the Board of Directors welcome Portia Santos, VP - Chapters and Clubs of DLSAA Manila to the DLSAANC Board meeting held recently in Hayward, CA. Portia discussed the UMAEL (Lasallian Former Students) V World Renunion to be held in conjunction with the DLS 8th World Congress on October 24-28, 2011 in Manila. The Board meeting focused on their upcoming projects, such as the DLSAANC Annual Picnic on July 25, 2010, the Fi-AM Golf Tournament on September 18, 2010, and the traditional Christmas celebration with a special concert of Ms. Joey Albert scheduled on December 11, 2010.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting."- Buddha

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