Showbiz Talk by Jackie Regala

Los Angeles waits with bated breath as the one and only Megastar, Sharon Cuneta performs on June 11, Saturday, 8 p.m. at the prestigious Shrine Auditorium. Special guests are songwriter-OPM hitmaker, Ogie Alcasid and powerful male vocalist, Robert Seña. Adding spice to the concert is comedienne Fe delos Reyes.

What makes the MegaTour 2005 eventful, as opposed to the usual concerts, is it is not only about music and performance, it is also about the celebration of the enduring love and passion between the Megstar and her audience.

Sharon as always brings in a part of herself – her music, her movies, her love and her life. There is so much to tell and share after 7 years, and there is so much to reminisce as well. Sharon will capture the times in between, recapture the past and look forward to what is to come in a story-like manner in her spiels and music . She will sing her immortal hits (“Maging Sino ka Man,” “Ikaw,” and “Sana’y Wala Nang Wakas” among other hits) in spot numbers or production numbers.

Songs of love, songs that inspire, song for country are just a few of what is included the Megastar’s repertoire. Likewise, Sharon will have a video interactive original number . She will even have something old (nostalgia) and something new as well as an Inspirational duet with Robert Seña, a medley of hit songs of Ogie Alcasid which will be her newest album release under SonyBMG.

Ogie & Robert will do their signature spot numbers . Fe will provide the spice in the LA show as well as in Reno (she will only join in LA & Reno).

Another highlight during Sharon’s MegaTour concert will be a tribute to great Filipino composers especially associated with her such as George Canseco, Willy Cruz and Rey Valera.

In essence, Sharon will be bringing a ready show including excerpts from the highlights of Mega Event (25th anniversary concert at the Araneta Coliseum), great arrangements and supported by great video materials. Musical Arrangements by Ryan Cayabyab, Mel Villena, Louie Ocampo and Homer Flores.

She is performing with The Mega Band – her band in all her concert tours.

Mel Villena is the musical director.

Concept and direction by Sandra Chavez of Artist House International. The MegaTour Concert is produced by Artist House International led by Sandra Chavez, Helen Chavez and Nancy Yang. Line produced by Jackie Regala and Gerry Katigbak of KATZ Entertainment.

The concert in Los Angeles is presented by SuperTawagNa/Seafood City. Major sponsor is Angie Gradney of First Nations Funding.

Also brought to you by Kalesa Grill, Radisson Hotel West Los Angeles, 301/Burbank Bar and Grill.

Ticket prices: $100-78-68-48 and 28. For more info in the concert, please call 1-800-484-2654 (enter code 1311) or 562-529-8680. Tickets are also available at all Seafood City stores and Goldilocks Bakeshops. Also available through All Access 909-223-2409 and 818-395-9941, Arnel Dulay/Vic Perez at 323-447-9786 and Ticketmaster at 213-480-3232.

Meanwhile, don't fail to catch Lani Misalucha and The Society of Seven when you are in Las Vegas. Bally's Casino has just renewed their contract and these artists continue to enthrall music audiences all over the globe. Their gig will be for nine months, daily at 3 p.m. except Mondays and Tuesdays. Friday shows are at 8 p.m.

Watch our for further announcement as Lani and The SOS are set to perform on July both in Atlantic City and Washington DC.

(For comments, please write to JackieRegala@comcast.net. Thank you.)

Cher Calvin, the Latest Fil-Am Addition to Morning News

The mood that evening was jovial; contradictory to what I thought would be serious and formal. Mendrei and Cecile Leelin hosted a get-together to formally introduce news commentator, Cher Calvin to a select and prominent Fil-Am community leaders and members in Los Angeles. The guest list led by Consul General Jun Paynor also included Yey Coronel from the office of City Mayor of Los Angeles, Gina Tabuena-Godinez, Benito Miranda of SIPA; Carmela Leelin, Executive Editor, Momar Visaya of Asian Journal Publications; Gerry Katigbak, concert producer of KATZ Entertainment; the Leelin family, owners of Goldilocks – Manuel and Teresa Leelin and Menard among many others.

For those who have the Filipino Channel in their homes, you might be familiar with Cher who once co-hosted the lifestyle show, “F.” She also became a hot item among movie reporters when she became the lady Venus of Troy Montero, the Adonis of Philippine showbiz.

But more than the svelte figure, charming and witty ways and a pretty face, Cher is not your regular run-of-the mill beauty. There’s more to her than meets the eyes. She graduated with honors from New York University where she majored in Broadcast Journalism. Prior to her Manila stint, Cher sat as the news desk editor of Time Magazine in New York.

When she went home to Manila, she was not able to resist a news anchor job over GMA – 7 with Paolo Bediones. It was after her 10-month stint in GMA 7 where she was hired by ABS-CBN 2 to lead a hosting job in “F.”

Cher, while in vacation in the West Coast, did a “test audition” for a news anchoring job in Las Vegas. Her task was to interview world famous, Robin Leech, the main host of the hit TV series “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Cher although a bit nervous and anxious at that time came out spontaneous and pleasantly that the latter got the job on the spot.

It did not take long, and Cher was offered an even more enviable job -- as one of the newscasters in KTLA 5 morning news which airs daily from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. I did catch her one time doing her bit and Cher proved to be a real pro. She was often cheerful yet authoritative and very pleasant. It makes you feel very proud that another Fil-Am hit the position. Another news anchor we commend is Denise Dador of ABC 7.

When asked how she started her day, Cher obliged: “I am at the studio as early as 3 a.m. In fact, even an hour earlier if I may. I wanted to make sure that I read all my stories first and check out the facts. The journalist in me makes me want to do a job that is clean, factual and truthful. That is my responsibility; I cannot report something I believe is only based in what others wrote and said.” Leading the list of Cher’s favorite anchorwoman is Korina Sanchez. “Ask her anything and she will give you a straight answer and won’t even falter. Korina reads and knows her facts,” Cher quipped and ended this interview with “Badminton, anyone!” And we all asked, “When and where?”

(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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