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Wed n e s day, January 2, 2013
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The Asian Jour nal MD W K M A G A Z I NE - J a n u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 3
Janine Tugonon:
by Mico Letargo / AJPress
The Philippines and its bevy of beautiful ladies is now on a 3-year streak of making it to the Top
Five of the most prestigious beauty pageant in the universe.
On Dec. 19, 2012, Miss Philippines (and Binibining PilipinasUniverse) Janine Mari Tugonon, a 23-year old Pharmacy graduate
of the University of Santo Tomas (UST), finished 1st runner-up in
the 2012 iteration of the Miss Universe Pageant.
Held at the Planet Hollywood hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in
Nevada, the competition this year was so close, that Filipinos all
over the world held their breath up to the very last moment.
Suspense eventually gave way to shock, as Miss USA Olivia
Culpo was crowned as the new Miss Universe, leaving Janine as
first runner-up. Culpo succeeded the 2011 Miss Universe Leila
Lopes of Angola.
Gracious in defeat
Despite the heartbreaking loss, Janine was very gracious
about her defeat.
Though she was a crowd favorite, Janine also acknowledged
in a press conference that Miss USA had also made a strong bid
for the crown in the pre-pageant activities.
“Alam ko talaga si USA, malakas siya nung [pre-pageant]
process pa lang. Kasi kung ako, lagi niyo nakikita sa shoots and
interviews, mas parati siya, siya ‘yung mas busy sa ‘kin,” Janine
said in an ABS-CBN News report.
She revealed that in the climactic moment of the pageant,
when she was holding hands with Culpo waiting for the results,
the Filipina knew that it could go either way. She felt that there
was a “50-50” chance that she would be able to bring home the
crown to Manila.
“Pero inisip ko rin na pwede ring hindi talaga,” Janine told
ABS-CBNNews.com when asked about what went through her
head during those moments.
“Hindi naman pangit ‘yung sagot ni USA, and very spontaneous,” Janine said of Culpo’s response in the Question and Answer
(Q&A) portion.
“Maganda pa siya,” the Filipina said of the American.
The long road
Following the strong finishes of Venus Raj (4th runner-up,
2010) and Shamcey Supsup (3rd runner-up, 2011) in previous
Miss Universe competitions, Janine knew that she had big shoes
to fill.
This didn’t seem to faze her though as the Bataan native
clearly fared well in the competition. After all, Janine is no
stranger to beauty pagents. Before she headed off to Las Vegas
to compete against the most
beautiful women in the universe,
Janine was on a blazing trail of
pageantry success.
In 2009, Janine was hailed as
UST’s Ms. Pharmacy, which was
followed by the Ms. Ideal Thomasian Personality (TSITP) crown
in 2010. The TSITP, a universitywide competition in UST, proved
to be her launch pad, as it was
there that she was recommended
to test her mettle in Binibining
Pilipinas.
In 2011, Janine finished as
runner-up to Shamcey Supsup.
In 2012, on her second try, she
finally won it all.
“Sobrang saya ko kasi joining
again the Binibining Pilipinas is
a big discussion in our family.
Maraming may ayaw, pero meron ding may gusto. Talagang dito
napatunayan ko na when God really plans something for you, it
really happens,” She said in an interview with ABS-CBN.
Her journey to the Miss Universe pageant was a long one.
Admittedly pressured, Janine pushed on and soldiered through
rigorous preparations that included extensive weight training,
personality development, catwalk training, and make-up application techniques among others.
Many saw this as Janine’s response to detractors who said that
she didn’t have what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Shamcey and Venus.
No matter how hard how the training got, Janine was thankful
for her the guidance of fellow beauty queens Shamcey and Venus,
filling her in on what to expect during the actual competition.
In an interview with former beauty queen Charlene Gonzales
– Muhlach on ABS-CBN, Janine admitted that she valued the tips
and advice that she got from her two Binibining Pilipinas predecessors.
“Sa akin kasi, sila ‘yung mga tao na may pinakatamang payong
masasabi kasi sila galing na dun. Si Shamcey inisa-isa niya from
day one kung ano ang gagawin niyo dun,” Janine said of Shamcey and Venus on The Buzz.
Although her two colleagues Shamcey and Venus, as well as
her family cheered her on in Las Vegas, Janine however missed
the presence of her boyfriend at competition, after he was denied
of a US visa.
That relationship though, proves to be a testament to her
determination in pursuing her craft. In an interview on The Buzz,
Janine revealed that she would choose the crown over love, if
it came to that. She said that she did not want to look back in
regret.
“Alam naman niya ‘to eh. [Sabi ko sa kanya] ‘This is my mission in life. I’m doing this because this is what I am called to do
and I want to do it. So for now, if I win and you are not gonna
agree with it or you’re not gonna go with it, sorry I’d choose the
crown,’” the Filipina explained.
‘It’s you, it’s you’
In a report on Rappler.com, Janine revealed that her fellow
contestants had said that that it should have been her on the
pedestal.
“It’s you, we know it’s you.”
These were reportedly some of the words that they had for
Jessica Sanchez, Anne Curtis and Puerto Princesa top 2012 Yahoo! searches
MANILA—Yahoo! Philippines announced its annual
edition of “Year in Review” that
reflects the daily search habits
of users and highlights the
top stories and trends based
on what millions of people
searched for on the Yahoo!
network. The top searches on Yahoo!
in 2012 were American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez followed
by NBA, Filipina music star Sarah Geronimo, Anne Curtis and
American Idol. The latter five
celebrity searches on the 2012
list stood out for their scandals
that sent users to find out the
latest reports on local stars such
Angelica Panganiban’s break-up
with her long time boyfriend
Derek Ramsey, Marian Rivera’s
cover photo on the April issue
of Cosmopolitan Magazine,
Grace Lee dating the President
P-Noy, and KC Concepcion and
Bianca Gonzales’ cover page
photo shoots on leading men’s
magazines.
Topping this year’s searches
on Yahoo! was the 16-year-old
Filipino-Mexican-American
music idol Jessica Sanchez. The
music sensation lost to Phillip
Phillips in the final round but
went on to win the hearts of
her countrymen, making them
proud of her triumphs by becoming prominent in the global
setting. Jessica also ignited the
interest of Pinoys who logged
on to Yahoo! to search for
American Idol and stay updated
on her progress on the weekly
charts. Keyword searches for
“American idol 2012 winner,”
“American idol top 2,” “American Idol 2012 Jessica Sanchez”
and “who won the American
Idol 2012” spiked this year to
an all-time high making the
reality TV singing competition
the fifth most searched query
on Yahoo!
Extending the country’s music legacy was the 24-year-old
Pop Princess Sarah Geronimo,
who has enraptured her fans
through her soulful voice and
become a role model for the
youth. Sarah was the third
most searched person this year.
Searches peaked ahead of her
24SG concert on July 7 at the
Araneta Coliseum when she
celebrated her 24th birthday
amid screaming fans. The
concert was a complete sell-out
and Sarah did a repeat concert
on July 21.
The only exception to the
2012 list that caught the attention of Filipinos online was
sports. The National Basketball Association (NBA) ranked
number two in the 2012 top
searches on Yahoo!, at the same
time retaining its top three position in the annual search results
for the past three years.
Anne Curtis, who clinched
“OMG! Celeb of the Year
Award” in July this year, was the
fourth most searched person
on YIR’s 2012 list. News about
Anne making a debut in a
Hollywood film Blood Ransom
set to be released in 2013
and modeling Pinoy designer
Francis Libiran’s creations in
America’s Next Top Model sent
Filipinos searching for keywords
AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal
Janine after she finished as runner up to Olivia Culpo. Miss Indonesia, according to Janine, even cried when the Filipina didn’t win
the title.
Despite the loss, Janine is obviously the Miss Universe in our
hearts.
Personalities in UST, where she earned her degree in Pharmacy, expressed their support for the Filipina, regardless of the
result. UST student publication The Varsitarian quoted UST
officials calling Janine as the “real Miss Universe in the hearts of
Thomasians.”
“She makes us proud as Thomasians and as Filipinos” said
secretary general Fr. Winston Cabading, O.P. in an interview with
The Varsitarian.
“She showed to the world how a Thomasian is truly elegant.
She is my Miss Universe,” said UST Public Affairs chief Giovanna
Fontanilla in the school paper.
Homecoming
When the Asian Journal caught up with Janine at the McCarran International Airport before her flight to the Philippines, she
said that she was happy with the kind of support she received
from the Fil-Am community in Las Vegas. With Filipino fans attending even the preliminary events, Janine said that it felt like
she never left home.
Janine eagerly looks forward to taking a vacation in Palawan.
However, the beauty queen said that she wasn’t sure if she can
make the trip because of the engagements that are already lined
up for her. She also expressed her openness to entering the
showbiz industry, indicating that she intends to sign with ABSCBN.
Though Janine may not have won the crown – what would
have been the third for the Philippines after Gloria Diaz (1969)
and Margie Moran (1973) – she came home to a warm and supportive welcome from the Filipinos in Manila.
Because of her stellar performance at the global pageant,
many little girls and young teens are sure to aspire becoming the
next Janine Tugonon.
“You have to believe in yourself,” she said to these young
dreamers at a press conference at the Araneta Center. She also
said that she would happily teach her signature Cobra Walk to
anyone who asked (With reports from Rappler.com, The Varsitarian, and ABS-CBNNews.com)
FUNFARE
by Ricardo
F. Lo
Philstar.com
MiG Ayesa packs a wallop
in farewell US concert
Fil-Aussie rocker MiG Ayesa staged
his last North America performance on
Dec. 15 in Queens, New York, before
leaving for Europe to reprise the lead
role of Galileo Figaro for the first-ever
world arena tour of the 10th anniversary of the smash-hit We Will Rock You
beginning early 2013. Based on 24 of the
biggest hit songs of Queen, the Laurence
Olivier-winning musical is still on a record-breaking run at London’s Dominion
The top searches on Yahoo! in 2012 were American Idol runner-up Jessica Sanchez followed by NBA,
Theater.
Filipina music star Sarah Geronimo, Anne Curtis and American Idol.
In his “breaking-news” report,
Funfare’s Big Apple-correspondent
including “Anne Curtis blood
issue of Cosmopolitan MagaEdmund Silvestre said that We Will Rock
ransom,” “Anne Curtis in Hollyzine made her a top trending
You, touted as one of the most specwood” and “Anne Curtis antm.” search topic for 2012. Users
tacular musicals to travel the world, will
Among other searches included
also searched for Marian’s ver
Philstar.com photo
kick off its eight-month tour on Feb. 15
Anne Curtis concert at Araneta
bal spat with Bela Padilla from
in Finland, before heading to Denmark, England, Ireland, Nethahead of her AnneBisyosa: No
last year as well as her photos
erlands, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia,
Other Concert — The World
on FHM where Marian ranked
Tour and Anne Curtis pictures
fifth in the “100 Sexiest Women back to England and Northern Ireland. It will also travel to Japan,
South Africa, New Zealand and Australia (where MiG grew up after
in Boracay where Anne was
in the World” list. Korean born
caught on camera during her
TV presenter and DJ Grace Lee he was born in Manila).
The multi-million pound production will be mounted before
swimsuit malfunction.
became the talk of the town for
thousands of rock fans every night with MiG leading the company
Television actress and
dating President Noynoy Aquiof performers.
comedian, Angelica Panganiban no. Their dating saga reached
“MiG’s two-hour intimate show at Perlas International Cuisine
became the sixth mostits climax when Aquino himself
and produced by Castellvi Productions served as a despedida
searched celeb following her
admitted to the media that he
attended by a number of friends and supporters, as well as nonbreak-up with Filipino-British
is indeed seeing the Korean
Filipino fans who flew all the way from Canada and Ohio,” added
model and actor Derek Ramsey.
beauty. However news of their
Edmund.
Users searched for Angelica
supposed romance fizzled out
GMA International’s marketing consultant Grace Hufano-LaPanganiban and Derek Ramsey
eventually as Aquino focused
baguis and her staff, and BroadwayWorld.com’s Oliver Oliveros
break-up, Angelica Panganiban
on running the country. The
also showed support. According to Edmund, they enjoyed not just
and Derek latest issue and
celebs were 7th and 8th most
the show but also the scrumptious food at the spruced-up Perlas,
Angelica Panganiban and Derek searched on Yahoo!. Actress
still home of the best Crispy Pata, based on Roosevelt Avenue in
Ramsey cool-off.
and singer, KC Concepcion’s
Woodside, Queens.
Adding to the scandals
smoldering Rogue Magazine
New York-based Fil-Am talents Grace Hernandez and Kei
and creating ripples on Yahoo!
cover shoot put her in the 9th
Search was Marian Rivera. Her
position on the search list while Uchida served as front acts, setting the mood for a night of pure
bold cover photo in the April
Continued on Page 3
Continued on Page 6
directline
by Boy
Abunda
Philstar.com
The return of the native
New York-based stage, film and TV actor Joshua
Spafford is set to return to Manila to star in Atlantis
Productions’ first offering for 2013, PIAF by acclaimed
playwright Pam Gems.
In the new version of PIAF, which originated at
London’s prestigious Donmar Warehouse, Gems has reworked her classic 1978 play, vividly capturing the glamour and squalor, the rise and fall of the complex, fragile
and enigmatic performer Edith Piaf, who continues to be
remembered for her exceptional voice and extraordinary,
troubled life. Playing Piaf is acclaimed actress Pinky Amador, who celebrates 30 years in the industry next year.
Joshua can be remembered for his numerous stage
performances in the Philippines including Angels In
America, Les Miserables and My Fair Lady starring Lea
Salonga. In New York, he has played title roles in Richard
III and Othello, among many others.
In PIAF, he will play numerous roles including Marcel
Cerdan, France’s greatest boxer and love of Piaf’s life.
PIAF will be directed by Bobby Garcia and will run from
March 8 to 23, 2013 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium,
RCBC Plaza, Makati.
We caught up with Joshua in New York via e-mail as
he prepares to return to Manila.
When was the last time you were in Manila?
“I was last in Manila briefly in 2008. It was really en
route to our family home in Bacolod where I was headed
to see my grandmother, the late Rep. Hortensia Starke.”
What made you leave the Philippines?
“I’m not sure if I ever truly ‘left’ in that I’ve always
known that I would come home to eventually live in both
the US and the Philippines, or possibly come home altogether. That said, there was no incident that triggered
my moving to New York City. It was just a young man’s
impulse to leave his home to learn, grow, see the world
and soak in different perspectives. I wanted to work with
theater creators from all over the world and have been
lucky enough to have done that now.”
What are your fondest memories of Manila?
“Ha! That’s so hard to answer. I really miss the camaraderie of my friends and colleagues making theater of
all sorts for years and years under various conditions. I
was just a teenage kid when the late Bibot Amador took
me in and as with so many others, gave me training and
tutelage. It could be a hard love but when you did well
there was a feeling of great pride. A great memory for
me is curtain call on opening night for Angels in America, which Bobby Garcia directed. You had this sense that
we had just achieved something really special.”
What have you been doing since then?
“Well, I spent a long time developing both classical
and neo-classical theater in NYC. In addition to playing
the title roles of Richard III, Othello, Judas, Tamburlaine
as well as Mercutio, Orsino and others, I founded a
theater company developing modern verse plays. We
worked with many wonderful talents including Bobby
Lopez (Avenue Q), Greg Kotis (Urintetown) and others.
We won a Best Downtown Theater Company Award for
this. I also debuted new verse plays by Glyn Maxwell as
well as Gilgamesh by Pulitzer prize- winning poet Yusef
Komunyakaa. I’ve been directing plenty and producing
original material including a play about a relationship I
had with my grandfather who came to be a suspect in
entertainment
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK M AGA ZI NE - January 2, 2013
Jessica Sanchez, Anne Curtis and Puerto...
From Page 2
New York-based actor Joshua Spafford returns to Manila to play Marcel Cerdan,
France’s greatest boxer and love of Edith Piaf’s life, in the upcoming Atlantis production
Philstar.com photo
the Black Dahlia Murder case. Somewhere along the
way, I ventured into photography, too, photographing
hundreds of actors and some of my work appearing in
the NY Times, Washington Post, GQ and more. I’ve been
busy!”
What made you decide to come back to Manila? How
long do you plan to stay?
“I’ve been trying to come home for years now to
do a project and there have been a few close calls but
somehow the timing was never right. I’m not sure how
long I’ll stay. I’d like to do this fantastic play and reconnect with my friends and family. If things are harmonious,
I’d love to come every year to work.”
What is the first thing you plan to do when you
return?
“Eat. A lot. My God, I miss good adobo. I need to
find time to go to Bacolod to visit my lola’s grave, too.
What attracted you to PIAF?
“I’d always known about the play. There had been
legendary performances of it (including in Manila) by
great actresses, but the recent Marion Cotillard film
reminded me (and everyone, I’m sure) just about how
relevant a person she was. And how recognizable her
path is. Put her next to an Amy Winehouse or other searingly talented but destructive creative force and you’ll
see little difference. Great creative talent is often paired
with darkness, sad to say.
Are you excited to work with Pinky Amador? Have
you worked with her before?
“Of course! Hugely. I’m a big fan. And yes, I believe
Pinky and I may have done a movie together way, way
back in the day.”
What are some roles you hope to play in the future?
“Well, I always love working in the classics. I’d love to
play Iago (after having played Othello in three productions), Richard II, John Proctor in The Crucible, any of the
roles in Copenhagen, Art or anything by David Mamet
and Arthur Miller. Bobby in Company would be pretty
sweet. I’m always interested in helping develop new
works. I’m a team player, I’d like to think.”
We’d like to see more of you in Manila theater!
sierra auto
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ivy
Bianca Gonzalez finished No. 10 after going topless for Esquire Magazine.
Tailored around various topics, here
is a deep dive into the Top 10 across
some interesting categories:
Viral/trending topics
1. #Amalayer: Paula Jamie Salvosa, a
23-year-old student, was caught on video
berating a guard on light railway transit.
The video as well as the student’s Twitter
handle went viral online.
2. Carabuena: Robert Carabuena, an
employee of Philip Morris International,
physically assaulting a Metro Manila Development Authority officer was caught
on video and subsequently went viral.
3. #Sinotto: Following the plagiarism accusations involving Reproductive
Health bill critic Senator Vicente Sotto,
netizens coined the term “Sinotto”;
the hashtag posts became immediately
popular with those poking fun translating
famous English quotes to Tagalog or vice
versa.
4. Claudine vs. Tulfo brothers: A
brawl involving showbiz couple Raymart
Santiago and Claudine Barreto and columnist Ramon Tulfo at the Ninoy Aquino
International Airport’s Terminal 3 became
an Internet sensation.
5. Noemi Lagman: Missing girl was
reunited with her family thanks to social
media’s help.
6. Noynoying: Antigovernment
protesters in the Philippines found a new
way to poke fun at President Benigno
“Noynoy” Aquino III. “Noynoying” which
means doing nothing, was a protest
against the President.
7. Anti-epal: Social media site that
became a venue for the public to share
photos of public servants who’ve displayed their names or images in public
places to advance their political careers.
8. “Hero dog” Kabang: Philippine
hero dog Kabang saved two young girls
from being run over by a motorbike but
lost her snout and upper jaw after being
hit by the front wheel of the motorbike
9. Batangas: A Hollywood-style sign
in Taal Volcano of Batangas became the
butt of online jokes.
10. Zendee Rose Tenerefe: The “random girl” on YouTube landed a recording contract and was invited to the Ellen
DeGeneres show
Newsmakers: (People)
1. Ronald Llamas: The prominent
Filipino activist and the current political
adviser of President Benigno “Noynoy”
Aquino III, was caught buying a pirated
DVD in January this year.
2. Iggy Arroyo: Late Negros Occidental
Representative Ignacio Arroyo died due to
an liver ailment in London in February.
3. Renato Corona: Former Supreme
Court Chief Justice was the first official to
be impeached in May.
4. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo: Former
President and the current Pampanga
Representative’s arrest, hospitalization
and failed attempts to seek medication
abroad made her one of the top newsmakers of the year.
5. Jessie Robredo: The Interior Minister in President Aquino’s Cabinet died in
a plane crash in August.
6. Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto III was
accused of plagiarism during Reproductive Health Bill Debates in September.
7. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV was
accused of working for Beijing in the dispute between the Philippines and China
over Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine
Sea.
8. Supreme Court chief justice Maria
Lourdes Sereno became one of the Top
10 newsmakers on Yahoo! for being the
youngest appointed SC chief justice in
September.
9. Peace panel chair Marvic Leonen:
The chief negotiator signed the framework agreement with the Moro Islamic
Liberation Front in October.
10. Juan Ponce Enrile: Senate President who led the impeachment trial of
the former Supreme Court Chief Justice
Renato Corona. Travel
1. Puerto Princesa Underground River
was declared as one of the new world’s
seven wonders.
2. Manila became the new favorite
travel destination on Trip Advisor.
3. Cebu — new things to experience.
4. Baguio — favorite summer destination
5. Tagaytay —Taal Lake view
6. Potipot Island — the small island in
Zambales was the most searched
7. Calaguas — virgin island
8. Camarines Sur — water sports
destination
9. Boracay — party place
10. Siquijor — unlikely destination.
(Philstar.com)
diamond honda
of glendale
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entertainment
The Asian Jour nal MD W K M A G A Z I NE - J a n u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 3
directline
by Boy
Abunda
Philstar.com
It seems like Star In A Million finalist Jimmy Marquez has
found his home on the professional stage. He has appeared
in Aida and In The Heights,
and recently, the scene-stealing
Iago in Atlantis Productions’ hit
10 questions for Jimmy Marquez
staging of Disney’s Aladdin. The
family musical which also starred
Aiza Seguera and Calvin Millado
(who alternated) as the Genie,
Tom Rodriguez as Aladdin and
K-La Rivera as Princess Jasmine,
played to packed houses at the
Meralco Theatre. We caught
up with Jimmy to ask him a few
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questions during his downtime.
1. How did you get started
singing?
“Music is one thing I can’t
live without. Singing, to me, has
always been innate. I didn’t have
to learn to like it, I’ve loved it
ever since I did my first public
performance at the tender age
of five. I knew exactly what I
wanted to become — a singer/
performer — to be on stage.”
2. Describe your Star In A
Million stint?
“One of my dreams was
to sing on TV and it came true
when I joined Star In A Million
in 2006. That experience was
nerve-wracking and exciting
altogether. I got along really
well with the other contestants
but at the same time, I had to
put my game face on during
performances. Honestly, I never
thought I’d be part of the Top
50 but fortunately, I made it to
final three.”
3. Are you still close to other
finalists and winners?
“I made real friends in SIAM
(Star In A Million). In fact, we get
together once in a while. We
keep in touch.”
4. How did you get started
in theater?
four seasons
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house
“I used to just watch Atlantis
shows in the past and I was so
envious every time because I
wanted to be part of it. Sounds
cliché but it’s a dream come true
as well. I didn’t know how to get
started until my manager told
me about auditions for In The
Heights at the eleventh hour. I
remember singing somewhere
in front of our directors and I
was so nervous that I forgot
some of the lines. But I think I
did good because they gave me
the role of the Piraguero — a
character that I dearly loved
portraying.”
5. Tell us about your theater
experiences?
“My theater experiences
have been wonderful. I love the
people I’ve worked with, the
discipline, how much time is
valued. Everyone is so supportive and genuine. I feel a sense of
belonging!”
6. What has it been like
working on Aladdin?
“Working on Aladdin has
been pleasurable and fun. I saw
the movie when I was a kid and
I believed it. And to actually
be part of the live storytelling
was such a thrill! Our directors
Bobby Garcia and Chari Arespa-
four seasons
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cochaga brought out the best in
us as actors. Hence, we became better at what we do. My
castmates are all very talented
and we treated each other like
a family. Like in In The Heights,
I looked forward to the rehearsals. And I will miss everybody.”
7. How was it like working
with Tom and K-La?
“K-La and I worked together
in In the Heights and we have
kept in touch since. She isn’t just
pretty and talented, but also
a beautiful person inside. We
know a lot about each other. It
was my first time to work with
Tom and already I have so much
respect for the guy. He has so
much dedication and passion
for the craft. It was a delight to
work with them both.”
8. What is your favorite moment in the musical?
“My favorite part of the
show is A Whole New World.
Philstar.com photo
It’s truly indescribable how I feel
seeing them on the magic carpet. It brings back a lot of childhood memories. I am in awe
watching Aladdin and Jasmine
come to life!”
9. Why do you love the
theater?
“I love theater because it
gives me a different kind of
fulfillment I love (the idea) that
you get to be someone else and
be convincing and good at it.
You breathe life into a character
which is challenging and I love
challenges. We have so much
respect for each other and we’re
treated as equals — no diva, no
star!”
10. What are your dream
shows?
“My dream role would be
Princess Jasmine. Ha, ha, ha!
Kidding! It’d be great to play
the role of Priscilla in Priscilla
Queen of the Desert!”
four seasons
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salo salo
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features
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The Asian Jour nal MDWK M AGA ZI NE - January 2, 2013
Castle opens new branch at
Wilshire and Kingsley in Koreatown
It has been four years since the famed Castle I restaurant
opened on Western and Beverly. It has since become one of the
most sought-after and widely popular Korean barbecue restaurant
in Los Angeles. Because of the sheer number of people wanting
to savor and taste the unique Castle cuisine, the long lines force
some customers to wait for up to an entire hour just to be seated
at the hold Castle I branch.
Because of this tremendous success, there has been a great
clamor for the opening of another branch to accommodate the
high demand for the restaurant. As a fitting holiday season treat
to loyal customers, Castle II, the new branch at Wilshire and Kingsley in Koreatown, has just recently opened its doors to Angelenos.
Conveniently located at the heart of a bustling cosmopolitan
along Wilshire Boulevard, Castle II can easily accommodate 250
guests, and has many private banquet rooms for special events
such as memorable family occasions, celebrations, and important
business meetings. Castle II also has more than enough parking
space – as many as 300 slots – and offers free parking up to 2
hours for lunch and 4 hours for dinner.
In Koreatown, where there is fierce competition in the Korean barbecue market, Castle has found its niche as one of the
leading brands in the business. Upon entering Castle II, you will
be greeted by a casual atmosphere that makes you feel right at
home. The wafting aromas of fresh grilling BBQ will make your
mouth water for the wide array of food and delicacies that the
restaurant has to offer. An ambience that is complemented by
the edgy music of today’s top hits makes for a perfect reason to
relax and enjoy a great dinner with friends and family.
and are eager to experience ‘table top cooking.’ And with the
Filipino community’s inherent love for food, Castle II is a definite
must-try for all Filipino families in Los Angeles.
As a Grand Opening special promo, Castle II is offering free
soda with every meal purchase. A wide variety of alcoholic beverages are also available, such as draft beer, bottled beer, sake, soju
and other Korean Wine.
Castle II is located at 3600 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA.
For your reservation inquiries, private room and banquet services,
you may inquire at (213) 388-1988.
We look forward to seeing you at Castle II!*
Castle II ensures that customers will enjoy a unique dining
experience with its unparalleled delectable taste, great value-formoney, and superb customer service. For only $9.99 per person,
anyone can enjoy a sumptuous meal ALL DAY at Castle II. You can choose from a wide array of popular and delicious meat items,
served with a whole range of side dishes, salad, soup, rice cake,
and steamed rice. Meat selections include Bulgogi, Marinated
Chicken, Marinated Pork Chop, Beef Brisket, Pork Neck Meat,
Sliced Beef Belly, and Sliced Pork Belly.
Castle II takes pride in its house specialty sauce, which is handed down from one generation to another. The unique concoction is used to marinate the high quality meats of the restaurant
to infuse all the flavors and aromas into the cutlets and slices of
tender meat. Through Mr. Park’s passionate development of the
restaurant product, and through his grandmother’s efforts in dedicating her life to provide the best quality Korean cuisine, today’s
customers can now enjoy a superb Korean dining experience.
These are the key secrets that keeps Castle II’s meals uniquely
flavorful and mouthwatering, keeping its loyal customers coming
back for more.
The key to enjoying the perfect Korean barbecue meal is to
grill the food at the right temperature, to allow for a perfect and
evenly cooked tender meat. For this reason, Castle II’s friendly
and courteous staff members are ready to serve and assist new
guests who have not yet tried Korean barbecue dining before, to
ensure that the food can be cooked the right way each and every
time.
Castle II’s ideal customers are the young and the young-atheart; the multi-ethnic people who are adventurous in their tastes
universal
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*Advertising Supplement
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features
Moonlighting
The A sian Jour nal M D W K MA G A Z I NE - J a n u a r y 2 , 2 0 1 3
Mango mix
by Juan P Francisco III and
Roy Cagalingan
As the holidays progress,
the cities seem to be more and
more crowded and nauseating
to those who are not used to
this much mass of humanity. It
can be enervating—the stress
and distress brought about by
traffic, urban centers brimming with people, and there
is urgency everywhere to buy
this and that for loved ones and
friends. But, if you were given
an option to escape from the
madding crowd, would you go
for it? What if there is a place,
or there are places, that you
could go to, where you can find
the all-elusive peace during the
holidays? Then it is a journey
deep in the north of the country as you take a long ride to a
land of inner calm.
It will not be your typical
joy-ride-out-of-town-be-backin-a-while type of journey.
Getting there will take a huge
chunk of your time. Sleeping your way throughout the
trip’s duration is a good way to
conserve energy for the calo-
by Mylah
Northern holidays
rie-burning activities ahead.
Stopovers, usually taken in
1.5-2 hour intervals, are also
ideal breaks for revolutions
taking place in bladders and
stomachs. Hour after hour
you’ll feel that you are getting
nearer. The cold rushes into
your nostrils. You begin to differentiate the kind of cold you
have in Manila with the drop in
temperature in here. Better get
your layers right.
There will be trips that will
take you out of the bus and
into the proverbial rugged
jeep. Prepare for rough spots
and the occasional out-ofbody-experience. But as the
wind streaks through the
windows and glides on your
face, there is a reassurance that
you’ll get there and that safety
is no foreigner in these lands.
Upon arrival, it doesn’t hurt
to go freestyle walking first
instead of heading straight
to the luxury of an inn. But if
your luggage is becoming a
burden, then leave it behind
first. With what is left of the
sunlight being provided to you,
the markets and streets bask in
animation of what remains of
the day. You’ll see locals stop-
de
Leon
ping by their trusted haunts for
food and beverage. Markers of
industry like roving trucks with
goods and people carrying
stuff are still around. Tourists
are also arriving and you can
tell by the look in their eyes
that there is awe with what
they are seeing.
And as you head to your
room, the fatigue factor is
there. The journey that has
logged in its miles and it is still
keeping count. You look out
the window, into the fog that is
a canvas of lights, mountains,
and foliage. You remember the
season, and the reason why
you are here.
BEVERLY HILLS – I had
a marvelous dinner with an
excruciatingly charming and
renowned heart surgeon.
Nothing spectacular about
that. I was invited, not because
I knew anything about disease
or medicine or physiology, but
precisely because I knew nothing at all!
This writer sitting across
him, in dull good health, with
not so much as a toothache, a
common cold or mild rash…
with no visible malady, other
than word besotedness. Doctors are not much concerned
about tales or their tellers,
unless that writer came with an
***
interesting complaint.
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To the lives of doctors given
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over as they are to the hard,
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ity what salve or balm or use
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Could an evening’s converto the Filipino-American community in the US
sation, shared by a fabulist and
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a number of travel options at affordable rates
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Perhaps this writer (an
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imaginer by trade), would sug
*Advertising Supplement gest a course of connecting
-- entering the tremulous spirit
of the helpless, fearful and
installing the contagion of pas-
One New Year’s Eve
sion and compassion (known
in medicine as “empathy,” but
among artists, “insight.”)
Doctors are absorbed by
blood and bone -- each one,
alone in his judgment, walks
the fragile bridge between
the salvation into life and the
morbid slide toward death.
While this writer is a sybarite of
libraries, a voluptuary of print.
Doctors by contrast, are
soaked in disinfectant fetor of
hospitals, where the broken
and moribund swarm in their
cold white beds.
It would be audacious. And
what gall to suppose that this
dreamer of tales, can bring
news of the human predicament to a doctor on his dread
round?
What more, we know that
the general perception of
these white-coated captious
tribe are not abundantly given
to metaphorical speech and
thoughts -- they are appalled
by it.
But my escort of the evening seemed to be an unbelievable exception. He had a
cast of mind more surrendered
to the figurative -- one who
spoke in soothing metaphors,
even during “grin and bear
it” hardcore meetings, on
assessment of efforts with his
colleagues at the hospital.
A doctor (oh, why are these
men and women so serious?)
who can disengage himself
from the capacity.
He puts humanity first, before pleasure. Clear judgment,
before the allure of words.
He cuts himself off from
the heat of human pity (for the
sake of a figure of speech), to
make him more humane.
New year will be paddled
across America in the traditional sounds of noisemakers
and fireworks that will mingle
with the ringing of the bells
-- signifying merriment, joy and
new hopes.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan
young soldiers stand in a frozen vigil at some lonely shore
this Christmas and New Year.
They wish that they, too, could
be home and join the Holiday
revelers.
It is also during the holidays
I feel the deepest moments
of gratitude for these young
men and women dripping with
weapons -- wishing they, too,
could be home sipping cider
by the fire.
I shall look on the brighter
side, celebrating the fact that
the lengthening of each day
from this point promises the
vital return of springs.
If there is something very
clear about the New Year, the
Heart Companion and the
Moonlighter will ride off into
the sunset together.
Have a blissful New Year,
gentle readers.
***
E-mail Mylah at moonlightingmdl@
aol.com
Review, refresh and restart your life in 2013
Be transformed
It will be good to carefully
review and list all the details of
your life in the past year.
First review your physical,
by Pastor
mental, spiritual, intellectual,
Chito
financial and work progress.
Cordero
Secondly, make a list of
all the decisions and choices
you made and opportunities
I found some helpful
that you used and missed. The
scriptures concerning the need more exhaustive the report,
to review our lives. Let me
the more you gain in the comshare them with you.
ing year.
Proverbs 10:17
According to Venkateswarlu
New King James Version
Kadiveti, reviewing life over a
(NKJV)
year gives you the power to
17
recapture the moments that
He who keeps instruction is were lost due to your emotionImage by Alvin Sabornido
in the way of life,
al condition as well as other
But he who refuses correcreasons.
tion goes astray.
Since hindsight is always
Proverbs 15:24
20/20, you can analyze things
New Century Version (NCV) more clearly now that you are
24
emotionally free of them, and
Wise people’s lives get bet- you will be able to approach
ter and better.
them more rationally in a simiThey avoid whatever
lar situation in the future.
would cause their death.
Kadiveti said, and I quote:
Proverbs 15:31
“It’s a little bit like making a
Contemporary English Vermistake in an exam and then
sion (CEV)
realizing the right answer. If
31
you come across the same
Healthy correction is good,
question in another test, your
and if you accept it, you will be likelihood of making the same
wise.
mistake again is reduced.” I
Many businesses are taktotally agree with him.
ing inventory around this time
“Refreshing allows you to
of year. Similarly, it would be
let go of all that you do not
good to do an inventory of
need and move on with what
what your life has been for the
matters to you. Once you
past year. Along with doing an
review everything — just as
inventory, plans must be made
you do with your computer
for the New Year.
— trash the unwanted files,
While you cannot change
treasure those memories that
the events of the past, nor pre- are worth cherishing and redict the events of the future,
format yourself for the whole
you can in the present look
New Year.
at the past and plan for the
Laugh at the silly mistakes
future.
you made in the past and
This is a time to Review,
commit to not repeating them.
Refresh and Restart your life.
Pat yourself on the back for
This should be our aim as we
all your accomplishments. This
conclude this beautiful year and will boost your confidence to
welcome the New Year with
launch yourself into the new
new aspirations and dreams.
challenges that await you.
Believe that every challenge
will reward you, as it did in the
past.
We often misunderstand
the definition of “restarting.”
We think that we have to start
everything afresh. This is the
reason for our disappointment
when we don’t fulfill our resolutions. Some of us even tire of
making resolutions and resolve
not to make any more!
But the fact is that when
you make a resolution and fulfill it, even for a short time, you
have accomplished something.
So restarting, in its real sense,
means starting from where
you stopped, sometimes many
times. Sooner or later, you will
accomplish your goals.
Let me recap: Firstly, it is
important to review our lives.
Take a long, hard look at the
past year. Congratulate yourself on the right moves that
you took by God’s grace. Forgive yourself also for the many
mistakes that you have made
and move on. We are not perfect after all as you might have
noticed. This is why our Lord
promised us that “His grace is
sufficient for us. When we are
weak, He is strong.” The whole
idea behind this is God knows
how imperfect we are so He
supplied Grace. Lots of it!
Secondly, there are important questions that we need
to ask ourselves: What are
the undone things that have
been staring at us but we have
completely ignored it? Unpaid
debts, weeds in the yard, accumulated trash building up
in your home. So what are you
waiting for? Review, refresh
and restart your life. NOW!
***
Pastor Chito Cordero is Senior Pastor
of Word International Ministries in Los
Angeles located or WIN LA at 530 Benton
Way in L.A. Ca 90057. For comments, please
email him at [email protected]. or
wordinternational.com.
MiG Ayesa packs a wallop...
From Page 2
fun and entertainment.
As always, MiG delivered a stellar show.
The mega-talented Broadway and West End
star dished one rousing number after another
— mostly from his sophomore album More Than
Ever — accompanied by international guitarist
Jon Skibic, a bassist on Broadway’s Rock of Ages,
the musical that previously featured MiG as
Stacee Jaxx, both on Broadway and US national
tour, to spectacular reviews. It was also staged
in Manila recently, with MiG reprising the role of
the narcissistic rocker.
Said Edmund, “The night at Perlas was made
more memorable by the spectacular Kayumanggi
Band, one of the best Fil-Am bands today, which
took the stage midway into the show and played
a medley of Queen songs as a tribute to MiG’s
upcoming world tour.”
“You guys killed it!” an impressed MiG told
the seasoned band that’s been playing all over
the US. “Awesome! Awesome!”
Kayumanggi, likewise, stunned the crowd
with its spirited rock versions of Kahit Maputi Na
Ang Buhok Ko, Wonderful Tonight and Bulag Pipi
At Bingi before MiG joined them on stage and
pumped up the crowd even more. They belted
Come Together, Your Really Got It, Open Arms,
With Or Without You, Hey Soul Sister and the
Filipino rock song Salamat by The Dawn, which
MiG nailed with perfect Pinoy accent. Together
they also sang Crazy Little Thing Called Love,
Play That Funky Music and Last Christmas.
MiG gave it all like there’s no more tomorrow
until his distinct voice showed signs of strain past
midnight with the crowd still begging for more.
MiG’s New York-based uncle and aunt, Drs.
Ramon and Ching Legarda, along with their son
Aldo (who’s now a dad to his first child Arianna
Isabelle) appeared amused as the crowd refused
to let MiG and the Kayumanggi Band leave the
stage.
“MiG is a true artist who gives his best
whether in a small venue or a giant arena,”
shared his avid supporter and promoter Tita
Ching. “He’ll give a first-rate show either with a
crowd of 50 or 50,000. He’s always on fire whenever he’s on stage. He simply loves to entertain
people.”
Already tired but still bouncy and loving the
crowd’s adoration, MiG and the Kayumanggi
band rendered one last rousing number before
saying goodbye. He promised to mount another
New York show before the end of 2013 when the
world tour of We Will Rock You is completed.
The Asian Jour nal MDWK M AGA ZIN E - January 2, 2013
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