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Vina Morales: Hot in her Second Major USA Tour
To be a multi-media star is no walk in the
park for anyone
in How does one cope then? Singer-actress Vina Morales offers this basic yet sensible solution: Love yourself -- mind, body and soul. For the local pop princess, the best way to achieve this is to find ways to feel good about oneself by engaging in regular body and mind exercises and various physical and sport activities. “When I turned 18 I became aware of the excess baby fat that stored in my body. And I thought that to achieve staying power in this business, I have to look good and be fit. I dance and sing all the time and I need to build stamina and lung power,” Morales says. She used to like walking. While doing round after round at the ULTRA oval, Vina would sing to herself until she was able to master control of her diaphragm, thus regulating her breathing the proper way. But she soon got bored with her regular walks. Vina shifted direction. Taking her cue from superstar Madonna, she found herself heading to the gym for more walking -- on the treadmill this time - aerobics, cardio workouts and serious weight training. “People here in the Philippines don’t appreciate toned muscles in women. That’s a shame. Unlike other countries where people consider you a bombshell if you’re toned, here they think a woman should look soft and frail and always svelte,” says the power puff girl. Despite the initial frowns, Vina was persistent, going as far as complementing her retinue with tae bo and a host of other sports such as American football and softball. “I try different sports because a routine can get tiring after some time,” she says. Eventually people started appreciating Vina’s new form. And Morales felt good. “I feel great about myself now, and that’s more important than the good things I hear from other people. I feel good about being disciplined and focused. I’ve been determined to look the best and healthiest that I can, and I see the fruits of my hard work when I look at myself in the mirror. Now I fully understand what they mean when they say if you have it then flaunt it.” But the biggest rewards are the valuable lessons she learned in the art of stress management. As part of an industry that constantly drives its players crazy with overlapping schedules, Vina says she learned not only how to cope but to take control as well. “Don’t get me wrong. I am not a workout freak. Being fit is not even my topmost priority. I know when to stop and take it easy and just enjoy. Like after I reached my goals, I set for my abs, I simmered down and move on to other things. In fact, there were months that I did not even go to the gym at all. Vina has learned the art of moderation. Whenever she feels she is putting on weight, she cuts down on carbs and sugar. Protein, she maintains, is your best bet. A regular day for this Concert Princess goes like this: up by 11 am and takes a brunch. Off to the gym for a three-hour workout and aerobics. When time permits, she goes to spa, which to her is “one of my greatest pleasures -- I wish I had more time to do it.” And to this day, Vina has not given up on Yoga which she discovered early last year. “It all started when the yoga masters of Madonna and Demi Moore came to Manila. Some friends convinced me to attend the special sessions and I got stuck somehow.” With all the fitness regimen and anti-stress and yoga technique -- Vina emerges as an entertainer to reckon with. She has been elevated to be one of the main headliners in the weekly variety show on TFC called “ASAP” along with pop stars, Gary Valenciano, Kuh Ledesma, ZsaZsa Padilla and Piolo Pascual. She is also set to take the USA by storm once more with a second major concert outing billed “Vina’s Hot.”
Vina and her guests have prepared the best mix of repertoire -- from pop, to love ditties to dance and groove cuts to Tagalog OPM songs. There will be dancers performing on stage as well as a live band led by Butch Miraflor and Three of a Kind backing her up.
From the USA, Vina is set to be launched as
the
next “Vina’s Hot, USA Tour ” is produced by KATZ Entertainment and Jared de Luna in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. It is also presented by Suave Productions, The Law Offices of Roman Mosqueda and Philippine Airlines. Sponsors in Los Angeles include Bistro Kalesa, Gandi Skin Care and Clinic, Cyrus Callos, DDS, Jo-C’s Beauty Salon, Estela Cottle, Al Chu and Family. Hair and make-up by Peterson. Presented in San Diego by Badua International Balikbayan Box and Sponsors are Camacho Medical Clinic and Old Recipe Restaurant. For ticket reservations please contact KATZ Entertainment at 562-529-8680; 562-787-9030 and 562-787-9031; Jared at 626-487-5144; 949-458-2340. Dingdong-Jessa: The Music and Romance Lives On
Hailed as the hottest singing duo in the
Philippine
The concert tour kicks off at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco on Feb. 6; Pala Casino Resort and Spa, San Diego on Feb. 13; and Stardust Hotel's Wayne Newton Theater in Las Vegas on Feb. 27. For information on the following shows, you may contact KATZ Entertainment, who is the line producer of this concert at 562-529-8680. You can also check out the ad in this publication. This is one concert not to be missed! For starters, both Dingdong and Jessa are OPM hitmakers -- their record albums and Cds are well patronized by the record consumers not only in Manila but also here in the US. Jessa, best known for her soothing, full voice and a very curvaceous figure hit the platinum mark with her single "Bakit Pa" in 1997. A few years later, Jessa created another stir in the music industry as her ditty, "Ibigay Mo Na" which became the highest selling record album in the industry. Starting off as a sexy actress in the biz, Jessa transformed into a mature, more sophisticated artist in due time. Easily considered as a total performer, she can deliver a two hour show with varied love songs to high energy , infectious pop and dance numbers. Her repertoire runs a gamut of songs popularized by Toni Braxton, Donna Summer, Shirley Bassey and of course, her own hit songs. Last year, Jessa recorded another platinum hit album titled "Jessa-Kahit Na Ilang Umaga" under Star Records. It has duplicated the success of her earlier album. Enrico Santos, managing director of Star Records says that the carrier single of this album "Hindi Na Bale" topped the charts of Top 20 countdown of radio stations all over the Philippines. Also in this album is a song composed for her by her husband, Dingdong and the title of which is "Kung Maibabalik." On a more personal note, motherhood seems so becoming for Jessa. There is the extra glow , a more radiant aura after her daughter, Janelle Amanda Avanzado (Jayda for short) was born. Jessa said: "I am enjoying the best of both worlds -- family and career. I am more than inspired to sing and work harder because of Jayda. And Dingdong has been very loving husband and father who is also supportive of my career. I do hope my fans will stay with me and welcome me back." Jessa, tagged as the "Phenomenal Diva" because of her record breaking performances in recording (she is a multi-platinum artist with a string of successful album) and on TV -- received a rousing, warm welcome in her comeback. After a nine month hiatus, she bounced back with a series billed "Jessa Reborn" at Ratsky. The crowd adored her and she felt great about it! Part of her preparation for her comeback in showbiz in general was losing as much weight as possible after giving birth. The showbiz couple has hired a personal trainer that supervised their exercise regimen and diet. And the result so far has been a slimmed down and sexier Jessa Zaragoza. This was evident in her music video of "Sana Magbuhat Pa ng Una" by Tito Cayamanda from her "Kahit Na Ilang Umaga" album. Jessa was totally alluring and sensual on this MTV directed by Connie Macatuno. "I was afraid to do the video," Jessa quipped, "because I just gave birth. But then nakapanganak na ako so there were no more inhibitions. My director told me to look desirable and emote like I was making love." Of course, our phenomenal diva will not be too happy if Dingdong Avanzado is far away from her. Thus, in their first concert together -- Dingdong and Jessa have prepared the best duets, show stopping production numbers for everyone in the audience to enjoy.
Noteworthy of Dingdong's career highs include a platinum and gold record award for "Ikaw Lamang (1987);" a self-titled album "Dingdong Avanzado in 1989;" "Reaching High (OctoArts, 1997) and "Decade After (Infinity Music, 1997); "Paalam Na" voted as Best Song of the Year in 1995 by Aliw Awards and his current blockbuster hit, the remake of "Walang Kapalit." Simultaneously, Dingdong shuffles time between fatherhood and being a concert artist. Not to forget he has decided to join Politics again -- which is nothing new really because he has been a public servant for some time now. It must have been a loud call for Dingdong to join Politics. His father was once the Mayor of Siquijor (nearby Cebu) and mom was also a Mayor of Oton (in Iloilo). Thus, he served twice as a Representative of Quezon City. Now he has decided to run as Vice Mayor of Quezon City under Mathay's party against fellow showbiz peer, Herbert Bautista who is in Belmonte's party. The Dingdong - Jessa love affair is whirlwind in nature and international in flavor. They met in the Philippines, courted each other in the USA, got engaged in Hawaii and got married in Manila on March 2002. Now that everything is going great, Dingdong like Jessa is doubly inspired by Jayda and making a strong comeback in his music career. He just released his album "Here to Stay" under Star Records with 12 cuts to boot and a carrier single, "Walang Kapalit" which is an easy favorite and a chart topper. His family tops the list -- and of course making music and doing concerts. Together with Jessa, they have hit the road so many times and the response have been overwhelming -- a thing they say they expect of while in the USA doing their first road together here. Dingdong and Jessa have very successful concerts in Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Australia and Guam. And for their first USA tour, they are doubly excited as they will be joined by the Comic Lab Talents. The Comic Lab Talents are great comedians to reckon with. They are the new breed of Pinoy comedians who trained under Andrew Real or "Mamu" as fondly called. They trained at The Library along Adriatico, Malate which is considered the original sing along, stand up comedy bar in Manila. It has since after the EDSA Revolution on June 21, 1986 been the training ground for fresh comedy talents, honing them through small shows mounted by the same until they blend with mainstream entertainment. Thanks to the unrelenting efforts of theater artist, Andrew de Real who himself scripts and directs all shows at The Library. Joining Dingdong and Jessa in their USA tour are comedians are out to show you who best they can impersonate and sing (live and not lip synch) act and dress a la Kris Aquino (courtesy of Martin); Lani Misallocate (Poca); Kuh Ledesma (Vivorah); KC Concepcion (Hans); Nanette Inventor (Eva); Vilma Santos (Arnel); Vanessa del Bianco (Sheryl); Joyce Jimenez (Wabi), Jaya(Rey Kilay) and even Nora Aunor (Paula). So for a night of great music and a humongous whip of laughter -- come and see the "First Time…2-Gether, USA Tour" led by Dingdong Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza with special guests, The Library/Comic Lab Talents and top showband A-Petite. (Ed’s note: Jackie Regala-Katigbak has been writing and doing promotions in the entertainment business since the 1980s. The past two decades saw her columns and articles published in the Philippines via the Manila Bulletin, Panorama, Manila Standard and Philippine Times Journal. Currently her articles are published by www.CarouselPinoy.com, the Asian Journal publications and in various newspapers in Southern California. For correspondence, you may send her an email at JackieRegala@verizon.net. Thank you.)
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the biz. Aside from juggling shows, concerts, films,
recordings, photo shoots, junkets, ribbon-cuttings and more shows, one has
to deal with the stress of maintaining a public image often misunderstood,
scrutinized and maligned.
The concert will
take place on March 27, Saturday at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. So successful
was Vina’s concert at Orpheum Theater in downtown Los Angeles last year,
that it prompted Gerry and Jackie Katigbak of KATZ Entertainment to bring
the concert princess back. Special guest this time are Paolo Montalban, the
Filipino-American actor and singer once voted by People Magazine as one of
the 50 Most Beautiful People in America. And not to forget the super hunk,
Carlos Agassi who never fails to send the girls shrieking for more.
hottest concert star of the Philippines when Maxi-Media
and ABS-CBN present her in her next major outing at the Araneta Coliseum.
entertainment scene, reel-to-real lovers, Dingdong
Avanzado and Jessa Zaragoza will be performing live on March 6, 2004, Saturday
at the Orpheum Theater. They are the headliners in the concert billed "First
Time…2-Gether, USA Tour" along with the very popular comedians from
The Library collectively known as The Comic Lab.
Dingdong is best
known in Manila as "Prince of Pop" because he has created quite a list of
unforgettable hits such as "Tatlong Beinte Singko," "Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal,"
"Basta't Kasama Kita," "Maghihintay sa Yo," "I Wish I Could" and the current
hit "Walang Kapalit." Dingdong is ever grateful that his 16-year career in
showbiz has continue to be recognized and patronized by an ever growing number
of fans. Some have stayed loyal to this day and has matured along with their
singing idol. While others have just discovered what a great crooner Dingdong
is.