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Martin and Pops' 2003 U.S. Concert Tour kicks off in Los Angeles with a big bang!

Maximedia USA's second tour offering, the unbeatable "Martin-Pops" tandem!

Gina Alajar and Charles R. Uy Receive Recognition at 2nd Cinema Indio Festival

From Ruffa with Love

A Sad Thing Happened On My Way Out from the FPAC!

Ruffa leaves Los Angeles for a home in Turkey!

L.A. Blind Items!

Vina on top!

Ramon "Bong" Revilla honored by Motion Picture Association

L.A. Concerts and what's new with TF?

Ruffa's L.A. birthday celebration!

Carol-Ogie and Lani with Basil, deja vu?

A Baby Shower for Ruffa!

An open letter from Ruffa's husband: Yilmaz Bektas

Rediscovering Aiza Seguerra

Conversations with Ruffa Gutierrez: the wedding invitation

Judy Ann, Robin, and Rustom show at Orpheum Theater a big success!

A Close-Up Look: Conversations with Judy Ann Santos

Jocelyn Enriquez releases new album, "All My Life"

Carlos Morales in town

Judy Ann Santos to storm L.A.!

Celebrity L.A. Scene

By Oliver Carnay
carnay25@yahoo.com

Dra. Vicki Belo at a Hollywood charitable event

Beauty Ambassadress Cosmetologist Dra. Vicki Belo showed support at the recent hurricane KATRINA tragedy by attending the recently star-studded 2005 Celebrity Poker Tournament hosted by BosPoker.com. The event held at an exclusive Beverly Hills mansion was a by-invitation-only gathering of stars, athletes, musicians and Hollywood's elite which pitted against some of the top professional poker players in the world. Top eight finishers competed for $100,000 which was given to THE RED CROSS FOR HURRICANE KATRINA RELIEF, among other eight different charities. Shown here is Dra. Vicki Belo with actors Hank Azaria (who will next star in THE SIMPSONS movie) and Ron Livingston (Sex in the City). Other stars who attended were Michael Vartan, Shannon Elizabeth, Oliver Hudson, Kelly Hu, Emile Hirsch, Nicholas Gonzales, Shawn Pyfrom, David Sutcliff, and a hundred more. The event is an effort from Fil-Am Fusion PR Publicist Rembrandt Flores. More pics from this event at www.picturetrail.com/olivercarnayphotos.

It's OK, MiG!

Three weeks before the Season Finale for the reality-based tv Rockstar: INXS, I had a feeling that Fil-Aussie MiG Ayesa might not get the coveted title (J.D. Fortune was voted to tour with the INXS). On the second hand, I thought that, that might be good for him. He had shown what he has and it opened eyes for everybody that there is this talented guy who can do what he does best. If he had won, the title "new lead vocalist" might put him in the history of the INXS --- but I think MiG is BIGGER than that!

He was already a STAR before he entered the contest and I believe he will continue to shine - with or without the INXS inclination. In my opinion, MiG was the best vocalist among the last three (versus J.D. Fortune and Marty Casey) but the band needed a better-looking rock-star so they had to choose J.D., whose talent is passable but could bring girls swooning at the box-office.

Somehow, I see things all for the better. To MiG, who has made a record of not being in the last three until almost at the end of the competition -- Good Luck to your upcoming endeavors! Rest assured, all your fans (including all the Filipinos) will always be there for you! E-mail at carnay25@yahoo.com

Viva Hot Babes, May Mga Gustong Ipakita at Patunayan sa Publiko!

Mayroon daw gustong ipakita at patunayan ang mga tinaguriang Viva Hot Babes na sina Maui Taylor, Gwen Garci, Myles Hernandez, Ella V., Jennifer Lee, at Katya Santos ngayong narito na sila at kasalukuyang magkakaroon ng tour sa U.S. Hindi lamang daw pa-sexy ang mga alam ng mga ito at patutunayan nila ito sa darating na mga inihandang shows nito na magsisimula ngayong Setyembre 24 sa Chicago, Setyembre 30 sa New York, Oktubre 1 sa Washington, D.C., at Oktubre 7 sa San Francisco.

May kanya-kanyang mga intriga ang kinakaharap ng mga ito. Naroong si Katya daw ay namayat dahil sa ipinagbabawal na gamot. Si Maui Taylor naman na palaban din ay hindi pa nagbibigay ng paliwanag tungkol sa away nila ni Joyce Jimenez (intriga na nagsimula sa pag-gue-guesting sa Xtra Challenge kung saan nagkasama ang dalawa) at na-li-link din siya kay Bryan Revilla, ang anak ni Bong Revilla. Nag-papa-kontrobersyal din daw si Myles Hernandez dahil sikat naman daw siya talaga dahil sa marami na rin itong ginawang pelikula. Hindi man nag-papa-kontrobersyal si Jennifer Lee ay pinag-uusapan din ito dahil sa bago nitong digital film na "Ilusyon". Ang medyo komedyanteng si Ella V. naman ay parang ikinahihiya nang masama siya sa "Erotica" video.

Maaaring iba ang pagtingin ng mga tao sa mga sexy stars na ito, pero patutunayan ng mga ito na hindi lamang daw pa-sexy ang alam ng mga ito. Habe nga, tingnan natin!

GMA Pinoy TV sa Los Angeles, Available na rin sa Comcast Cable Company!

Pagkatapos mag-launch sa San Francisco ng GMA Pinoy TV through Comcast cable company (www.comcast.com), simula sa Setyembre 15, ay available na rin ang service sa Los Angeles. Naunang naging available sa DirecTV ang GMA Pinoy TV kamakailan, pero wala kang choice kundi kunin ang kumbinasyong serbisyo ng The Filipino Channel (TFC) at GMA Pinoy TV.

Sa Comcast, puwede kang mamili kung GMA Pinoy TV lamang ang gusto mong ipakabit, sa halagang $12.99 kada buwan. Puwede mo ring makuha ang kumbinasyong TFC, GMA Pinoy TV, at ang mga kasama nitong iba pang channels (ANC, Cinema One Global, Pinoy Central, DWRR, at DZMM) sa halagang $19.99 kada buwan. Maaring tumawag sa 1-888-266-2278 para sa iba pang detalye.

Mark Mejia, Nag-Release ng bagong CD album!

Nag-release ng bagong album ang two-time Junior Grand Champ ng Star Search na si Mark Mejia. Sa nakaraang ika-20 Fil-Am Expo na ginanap sa L.A. Convention Center, kung saan isa ito sa headliner, kasama ni Jasmine Trias, ay abala itong nag-pro-promote ng bago nitong album. Lumabas ang album ng Agosto 27, 2005.

Personal na pinili ni Mark Mejia ang nilalaman ng kanyang bagong self-titled CD. Ang mga kanta rito'y ang mga sumusunod: Crush, This is My World, A Heart to Share, Part of My Life, Do The Boogie, My Inspiration, Feelin' Fine, Unchained Melody, Fly, I'll Keep Your Voice, God Bless America, at ang medley ng MacArthur's Park/ Let's Dance. Naghahanap ito ng distributor sa Pilipinas dahil gusto uli'ng umuwi ni Mark Mejia sa Pilipinas para mag-promote nito. Kasalukuyang nag-aaral si Mark Mejia sa St. Rita's Catholic School sa San Diego. Sumasali rin ito sa mga Spelling Bee competition dahil mahilig ito sa subject na Spelling. Ang bagong web site ni Mark Mejia ay www.markmejia.tz4.net at maari ninyo siyang makontak sa musiclover482@yahoo.com

Panawagan ng producers at stars ng "Comedy Riot Sa Amerika"!

Nakalulungkot malaman na hindi nabayaran ang grupo ng "Comedy Riot Sa Amerika" na kinabibilangan ng direktor na si Wen Deramas, at ang mga komedyanteng sina John Lapuz, Candy Pangilinan, Chokoleit, Malou de Guzman, Eugene Domingo, Deejay Durano, at Dessa, pagkatapos ng matagumpay nitong pagtatanghal sa Los Angeles. Naki-pag-deal ang executive producer nito na si Ariane Manalo ng ARVI Productions sa booker na si Dulce Santos ng Artist Link Entertainment at Efren Galang ng Osaka Sushi Restaurant para kunin ang pangkat nina Wen Deramas para magtanghal sa San Francisco, Las Vegas, at sana dalawa pang shows sa Hawaii. Nguni't tumalbog ang tseke na i-nisyu ni Efren Galang. Narito ang hinaing ni Ariane Manalo ng ARVI Productions:

We at ARVI Productions, Inc., as executive producers of "Comedy Riot sa Amerika" (the show) in Long Beach, CA are extremely disgusted and troubled by the malicious financial fraud by Efren Galang of Osaka Sushi Restaurant and Dulce Santos of Artist Link Entertainment, both from San Francisco, CA. These are the people who agreed to executive produce and line produce, respectively, "Comedy Riot sa Amerika" (the show) in San Francisco Aug 5, Las Vegas Aug 7, Honolulu Aug 14 and Maui Aug 13. In good faith, along with our signed contracts, we delivered the show to Efren Galang and Dulce Santos on the agreement that payment will be made prior to the shows in cash or cashier's check prior to the show.

It is ARVI Production's goal to have the talents from the Philippines accessible to our hardworking kababayans here, and bring only the best entertainment available, but people like Efren and Dulce make it difficult for us to achieve this goal.

We have been very flexible with this deal. When we were led to believe that there was only a minor setback with the payment due to funds not reaching their account, ARVI Productions, Inc. made sure that the show did not suffer. After the San Francisco and Las Vegas shows, still with no payment in hand, we were promised on a daily basis that we were going to be paid. Instead of a cashier's check, a business check from Osaka Sushi Restaurant was issued, but their checks bounced. The replacement checks did not arrive as promised and we were fooled on a daily basis that the payments were coming. Several meetings were set up, elaborate payment plans were discussed but to this day, none of their promises were fulfilled. From Aug 16, 2005 when all the Artists left the country, neither Efren Galang nor Dulce Santos answered their respective phones, nor did they make any efforts to contact ARVI Productions, Inc.

We are saddened that people like Efren and Dulce have the guts to "shake hands" on a venture like this, signed the contract and let the show go on, knowing that they are about to ruin the expectations of a lot of people. We all worked very hard to bring this show over here in the US, and we do not deserve this. Dulce is also claiming that it's not her responsibility or fault that the payments were not made. We beg to disagree. She is the line producer for this deal, she is responsible. She also closed this deal with Efren. She makes money on a deal like this, so where should her responsibility stop?

Dulce Santos was the line producer linking Efren Galang and ARVI Productions, Inc. and guaranteed that Efren Galang is able to meet the financial obligations of producing 4 shows. She served as a witness on the contract signed July 1, 2005.

We have heard stories like this happening in the Filipino community, which somehow seem like acceptable behavior… well, it is not. We will work with our legal team, to exhaust all possible avenues, establish fraud, ensure that justice is served and get our fair compensation. We will talk to the media and make our case known. The artists had begun with their personal TV appearances to inform the public of this little known dilemma that frequently happens but is seldom discussed.

Bukas ang kolum na ito para ilahad ang panig nina Dulce Santos at Efren Galang. Mag-e-mail sa carnay25@yahoo.com!

(Click here to read Oliver Carnay's review of "Comedy Riot sa Amerika!")

Sean Collado, Nanalo ng Walong Karangalan sa 2005 World Champtionship of Performing Arts (WCOPA)

Hindi lamang sina Jed Madela at Rizza Navales ang Pilipino na nagtamo ng mga award sa 9th Annual World Championships of Performing Arts o WCOPA, isang prestigious international competition ng mga performers na nilahukan ng mahigit limampung bansa sa buong mundo. Ang kompetisyon ay ginanap sa Burbank, California simula Agosto 6 hanggang Agosto 14, 2005.

Si Sean Collado, 19-taong gulang, nag-iisang anak nina Evelyn at Sers Collado na tubong Pangasinan, ay nagkamit ng walong medalya sa 2005 WCOPA.

Nanalo si Sean Collado ng apat na Gold, isang Silver, dalawang Bronze, at isang Distinguished Award na tinawag na Industry Medal of Honor (acknowledgement mula sa mga sumu-suporta ng WCOPA sa Hollywood industry).

Sa apat na Gold Medal ay narito ang mga kategorya ng kanyang mga napanalunan at mga kantang ipinanlaban: Pop (Love's Divine, kanta ni Seal), R&B (Dance with My Father ni Luther Vandross), World Music (Ngayon at Kailanman ni Basil Valdez), at Opera (O Sole Mio). Nanalo siya ng Silver Medal sa Contemporary singing category sa kanyang bersyon ng You Raise Me Up ni Josh Groban. Nakamit naman nito ang Bronze Medal sa Broadway competition sa kantang This Is The Moment. Sumali din siya sa Acting category at nanalo ito ng Bronze Medal.

Bagama't Fil-Am si Sean Collado ay representative siya ng United States dahil sa citizenship nito. Nakaiintindi ito ng tagalog at kasalukuyang hinahasa ang kanyang kaalaman sa wikang tagalog sapagka't madalas naiimbitahan sa mga Filipino functions.

Sa edad na anim na taong gulang, hasa na si Sean sa pagkanta. Naging lead group singer siya ng Karen's Kid, isang grupo ng kabataan na nagtatanghal sa Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, at iba pang mga amusement parks.

Taong 1997, isang malaking hamon sa kanya ang mapabilang sa Broadway touring production ng "The King & I" kung saan gumanap siya ng malaking papel, ang role ni Prince Chulangkorn. Nag-tour sila sa 220 siyudad, 38 estado, kasama na ang Canada.

Nag-aral si Sean Collado ng Classical Voice Training sa Orange County High School of the Arts for Voice and Musical Theatre, at kasalukuyan itong nagtatapos at nag-do-double major sa University of California - Irvine ng kursong Sociology at Vocal Training.

Naglabas ng unang CD si Sean Collado nang trese-anyos pa lamang ito. Ang unang CD album nito ay may anim na orihinal na awitin (tatlo'ng pop at tatlong R&B) at sinamahan ng mga retro songs. Ang pangalawang CD nito ay naglalaman ng mga cover songs.

Pagkatapos manalo nito ay marami ang gustong ipirma ng kontrata si Sean, nguni't ito'y kanyang pinag-iisipan pa. Kabilang sa naging interesado ay ang GMA Talent Center executive na si Yda Henares. Nakatakdang mag-ikot at magkaroon ng mga special appearance si Sean sa House of Blues, sa KBIG radio network, at sa ibang events sa mainstream, sa tulong ng isang Hollywood promoter. Gustong-gusto ni Sean ang mag-perform sa kanyang mga kababayang Pilipino dahil naaliw siya kapag pinagkakaguluhan at nagpapa-pirma ang mga ito pagkatapos siyang mapanood. Katunayan, saksi ako sa mainit na pagtanggap ng mga tao sa nakaraang ika-20 Fil-Am Expo na ginanap sa L.A. Convention Center, kung saan ko siya nakapanayam ng husto.

Ikatlong Patimpalak ng Ginoong Pilipinas-USA

Isa sa mga nagnanais na makuha ang trono bilang Ginoong Pilipinas-USA 2005, na itatanghal sa Palace of Fine Arts sa San Francisco, California sa darating na Nobyembre 27, 2005, ay ang 22-anyos na Filipino-Japanese-Irish na si Chris Friel. Filipina-Japanese ang kanyang nanay at Irish-German naman ang kanyang tatay. Napanood kamakailan si Chris sa telebisyon ng MTV na "Date My Mom". Martial Arts expert si Chris at lumaban ito nuon sa mga Ultimate Fighting competitions. Nasa www.ginooUSA.com ang ilang mga detalye tungkol sa pinaka-aabangan na male pageant na ito.

With more than a decade of experience in the entertainment industry OLIVER CARNAY is an accomplished international Fil-Am writer, Publicist, Talent Manager, Project Consultant, Booking Agent, Event Organzer, Photographer, Concert Line-Producer, movie associate producer, and Concert Booking Agent.

Oliver has written for major publications, domestic and international, including Asian Journal Publications (www.asianjournal.com), BALITA MEDIA, INC. ("Balita USA", "Weekend Balita" and "Go4Women Magazine," available online at 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: FAME Magazine and PHILIPPINES TODAY. In New York / New Jersey he writes an entertainment column for CAROUSEL PINOY ENTERTAINMENT (www.carouselpinoy.com). He is a contributor for BUZZINE Magazine (www.buzzine.com), AUDREY Magazine (www.audreymagazine.com), 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 Europe) and PINOY GAZETTE (published in Hong Kong and Japan.

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, junkets, and other major Hollywood events.

Oliver is the Publisher of www.HollywoodFLIP.com, an online entertainment newswire magazine. Always a pioneer in bringing first rate news about Fil-Am talents in Hollywood as well as introducing them to the Filipinos and Fil-Am communities in the U.S. and in the Philippines.

Oliver Carnay is the proprietor of International Artists Production Company established in 1995 where he had produced, directed concerts and stage plays.

Oliver Carnay is in full blast as a Talent Manager and Publicist. He is the proprietor of International Artists PR & Talent Management (www.iatalent.com), a full-service publicity and talent marketing company, which represents a roster of multi-ethnic actors, musicians, directors, writers, and other celebrated artists in Hollywood. Oliver Carnay takes pride in being a member of the Talent Managers Association (www.talentmanagers.org). Email at Oliver@iatalent.com

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