Celebrity L.A. Scene

Although Aga Muhlach and Carlos Agassi helped Vina Morales' L.A. concert fill the Orpheum Theatre last Saturday, for her fourth stop (which started in Chicago, Virginia Beach, San Francisco, and three more: Jacksonville, Portland, and finally in San Diego before the end of this month), credits should be given alone to this energetic and hard-working under-rated total performer.

Vina was on top, in all forms, considering her entourage was all tired from a successful leg (Friday night in San Francisco) and had to travel the same day before the L.A. evening performance.

Opening Vina's concert was Vice Ganda, whose scatological gay humor punned only to sing-a-long bars became "larger than life" thus reached a bigger venue, unapologetic to young kids watching that night. But for those who could catch up with his antics, it was a "blow by blow" well-versed tactics of laughter.

Vina Morales' fiery performance onstage, complimented by her two dancers, which had a fine order selections of repertoire, made one hell of a well-staged concert, underlined by her musical director, Manila's veteran, Butch Miraflor, not to mention the back-up singers.

Vina proved her audience that she's "that" good, which should give more confusion from fans if she's a better actress (where she's gaining respect via her "Darating Sa Umaga" soap) than a better singer. As one of her dancers, L.A.-based Japanese-American "Devon" commented backstage, "It's very rare that I meet an artist who is a complete package. She's charismatic, beautiful, and has an unparalleled singing voice. She is strong and talented in such a wide variety of areas."

Filipino-Canadian Gregory Guinto, who was picked as one of Vina's two dancers for the seven city "Revealed" tour couldn't agree more with Devon, "although I'm not cultured in the Filipino mainstream industry, I was really impressed by her talent and beauty. I believe she's the best person who should break through to the US market in a big way. All she needs is a really "dope English cross-over album" (paging Joji Dingcong!-ed). But one thing I like most about her is, even though she's this triple-treat huge star, she's a very down-to-earth person. I really admire her for that!"

To the producers of this show, Congratulations! Vina just proved that she's more than just a talented Filipina who could aim for international success. The long-overdue recognition has arrived.

E-mail carnay25@hotmail.com for comments)

OLIVER CARNAY regularly writes for BALITA MEDIA, INC. ("Balita USA", "Weekend Balita" and "Go4Women Magazine", available online at http://www.balita.com/ and www.Go4Women.com), ASIAN-AMERICAN PEOPLE'S JOURNAL (circulated in northern and southern part of California), Philippine and other Asian Headline newspaper – circulated in Sacramento, San Francisco and its vicinities) also published in northern and southern parts of California. In San Diego, he writes for FAME Magazine and PHILIPPINES TODAY. In New York, he writes for PLANET PHILIPPINES, with an online version at http://www.carouselpinoy.com/. He is a also contributor for BUZZINE Magazine (www.buzzine.com), AUDREY Magazine (www.audreymagazine.com), an occasional correspondent for www.siklab.com, PARA TODOS Magazine, and other L.A. based publications. He is the Los Angeles correspondent of Global Pinoy Entertainment Corporation (GPEC) which publishes S Magazine (circulated in Manila, all over the United States and other parts of the world) and PINOY GAZETTE (published in Hong Kong, Japan, and its vicinities). He is an active member of the National Press Photography Association (N.P.P.A.), Press Photography Association of Greater Los Angeles (P.P.A.G.L.A.-see www.ppagla.org for member listings), and is under the directory list of the Motion Picture Association of America (M.P.A.A.) covering movie Premieres and other Hollywood events. More recent news and Photo Galleries of Hollywood and local Fil-Am events recently covered can be seen at his new web site http://www.hollywoodflip.com/. Besides being busy maintaining his web site and writing for domestic and international publications, Oliver Carnay manages Talents, is also a Publicist and an event organizer. Email him at carnay25@yahoo.com or at webmaster@HOLLYWOODFLIP.com

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