The Daily Tribune <<< Without Fear or Favor >>>

»HEADLINES

»NATION

Sitti can do without ‘Wowowee’

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

11/15/2008

Sitti, the “First Lady of Philippine Bossa Nova,” as director Calvin Neria put it, has retired from her hosting duties in Wowowee. This in lieu of her upcoming birthday concert at the Captain’s Bar, Mandarin Oriental, Manila, on Nov. 29. She said Wowowee was too strenuous for her, especially to her voice. The first day she was just talking, but two days after that, she was already shouting as loudly as Valerie Concepcion. She says she prefers hosting to acting. Hosting takes five hours at the most, but taping requires her to be on the set for a whopping 24 hours. She loves singing the most, since she is usally done after two hours. The three-part concert will trace Sitti’s lounge bar roots, walk through her bossa nova present, and look into her pop jazz future. Watch out for her rendition of J.Lo’s “Baila,” complete with a well-choreographed dance sequence.

First is produced by May Arenas of Echo Jham Entertainment and One World Music Production, Inc. in cooperation with Music Museum and Mandarin Oriental, Manila. Tickets are available at all SM Ticketworld outlets (891-999), Mandarin Oriental (750-8888, local 2446) and the Music Museum (721-0635 and 721-6726).

Gretchen claims her turf

The dress rehearsal of You and Me Against the World, the new TV 5 game show hosted by no less than the love of owner Tony Boy Conjuangco, the controversial Gretchen Barretto, took a total of three hours! Wow! Since he acquired the network, Tony Boy had stayed away from giving Gretchen her own show. The most that she was able to do was appear in plug-ins and on-cam appearances such as when Philippine Idol aired. You and Me Against the World is similar to the defunct 1 Vs. 100 hosted by Edu Manzano. Two celebrity contestants play against the “World” (the equivalent of the “Mob”). The World gets P250 for every correct answer. Winning contestants get anywhere from P10,000 to the jackpot prize of P1 million. Pilot episode contestants are Lucy Torres and John Estrada (with whom Gretchen had a smooching controversy). The “World” will consist of more TV 5 actors, the first batch including Arianna, Alex Gonzaga and other unknown talents. Yesterday was the pilot taping at the TV 5 Novaliches studio, which was crawling with people. Gretchen’s five close-in security personnel came in two Expeditions, and two yayas (she had four the previous day) were all over the Novaliches studio. She came in a bus-like Roadtrek. For sure, Gretchen was feeling very important. Her turf is set! Target air date is Nov. 23.

Breaking buzz: A TV 5 insider questions the tab buzz that Gretchen squanders the You and Me Against the World budget. This source asks: “How can she? She’s just a talent!”

Dances from the heart

Douglas Nierras and Powerdance did the non-stop dance exhibition “Powerdance, Sayaw ng Puso,” an evening of meaningful dance interpretations of classic and contemporary music and songs at CICM in New Manila last Saturday night. It’s an offering coming from the heart of world-class dance master Douglas to help the Catholic Missions in the Philippines and the congregations of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Members are priest and brothers of different nationalities. German Moreno, who donated P20,000, and Iza Calzado graced the event.

All were fascinated by the Powerdance show. Douglas interpreted the music and songs with distinct Filipino steps. There were peculiar dance interpretation from music of 1970s, 1980s and 1990s like the Eraserheads’s “Huling El Bimbo,” “Miss na Miss Kita,” April Boy Regino’s “Sana ay Mahalin Mo Rin Ako” and Imelda Papin’s “Isang Linggong Pag-ibig,” Filipino ballads like Basil Valdez’s “Kastilyong Buhangin,” “Ngayon at Kailanman,” “Gaano Kadalas ang Minsan,” and kundiman “Ang Tangi Kong Pag-ibig,” “Bituing Marikit” and “Hindi Kita Malimot.”

Dose to preem at UP Film Center on Nov. 20

During the premiere of Walang Kawala at the UP Film Center, the screening of the full trailer of Dose, was well-applauded by the jampacked house. Dose is director Senedy Que’s debut movie under the 2008 Cinema One Originals Film Festival. This made the first-time megman jump with joy! Dose, a SineQuest Production starring Yul Servo, Emilio Garcia and Fritz Arvhie Chavez, will have its premiere on Nov. 20, Thursday, at 7 p.m. at UP Diliman Sine Adarna Film Center. Tickets are at P120 each. Going by the tagline “Love knows no age or gender,” Dose is about the unlikely friendship that develops between a curious 12-year-old boy (Edy, an unloved child played by Fritz Arvhie Chavez) and a lonely gardener (Danny, played by Yul Servo), and the line that defines love and abuse blurs, resulting in a touching, yet disturbing, relationship that defies age and gender. Playing the grown-up Edy is Emilio Garcia, who is 40, a filmmaker. Ray An Dulay is Bobby, Edy’s current boyfriend. Irma Adlawan is Helen, the aunt that takes care of Edy. Arlene Tolibas is Pilay, the maid. Alessandra de Rossi has a special participation.

Ryan Cayabyab teaches arranging starting Nov. 22

Professor Ryan Cayabyab has been chosen by the Aliw Awards Foundation to be its Lifetime Achievement Awardee this year. Mr. C is very happy with the award. He is in Los Angeles for the 12-city concert tour that the Ryan Cayabyab Singers as fundraising for Gawad Kalinga. When Mr. C comes back on second week of November, he will teach at his very own Music School in Robinson’s Galleria, Ortigas Center. “I’m very excited to go back to teaching a course on Arranging at our school starting Nov. 22 until Nov. 28,” he said. The one-week course on basic arranging and techniques in the style of Mr. C is open to music students, professional musicians and enthusiasts. Classes meet from 5-8 p.m. and will start on Nov. 22. To qualify for the course, one must be proficient in basic music theory. After the course, the student will understand arranging basics; apply tonal harmony and discover what works and what doesn’t in composing. For more information, call 914-5055 or 637-9840.

Pokwang joins Jon, Candy and Sweet

The first two nights of “Da Spooftacular Showdown” held at the Music Museum were both a grand success, proving that veteran comedians Jon Santos, Candy Pangilinan and John Lapus are certified comedy royalties. The next two nights (Friday and Saturday) of this ultimately funny show will give you one of the stars of “Poohkwang,” Pokwang. Surely, the audience will be blown away by the funny antics of the show’s performers. Presented by VIP Access Media Production, don’t miss the third (Nov. 14) and fourth night (Nov. 15) of “Da Spooftacular Showdown’ at the Music Museum brought to you by ASAP Live. Be ready as Jon, Candy, John and Pokwang tickle you with their frolics! For ticket inquiries and good seat reservation, you may call Aileen (0927-859-2907) or call Ticketworld (891-9999) or Music Museum (721-6726).

Pop Viewers Choice

Apart from the awarding of the Pop Viewers Choice Awards this Sunday, grand production numbers will blow you off your seat when you watch ASAP ‘08. Two Kapamilya stars will be celebrating their birthdays on the ultimate Sunday afternoon party, Shaina Magdayao and Nina Dolino. What will be John Prats message to his special someone? In “ASAP Music Room,” the “007 Fever” will fill the air of the ASAP studio as Martin Nievera, Gary Valenciano, Sheryn Regis, Jay-R Siaboc, Ronnie Liang, Jed Madela, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista, Yeng Constantino, Erik Santos and Sarah Geronimo sing the music of James Bond.

Shorties

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, who tagged himself as “BF ng Bayan,” is the grand winner of the second Celebrity Duets!... Jerico “Nico” Antonio is singing at Metro Bar (along West Avenue, Quezon City) tonight with Katrina Halili, Eric Santos, Ronnie Liang and Joross Gamboa. He will sing “Gold,” “Knock Me Off My Feet” and “Sana Kahit Minsan.” Ticket price is P500... Claudine Barretto said she’s ready to work with ex-squeeze Mark Anthony Fernandez on the right project... Jillmer Dy will direct the Cinema One Originals 2008 Awards to be hosted by Bianca Gonzales and Atom Araullo to be held at the Dolphy Theater on Nov. 28... ABS-CBN Corporate Communications as headed by Bong Osorio won five trophies at the recent Quill Awards! Kudos to Bong, Kathy Solis, Lorie Paralasavamy, Kane Choa and the rest of ABS-CBN corpcom guys!... Kahit Isang Saglit lead female actress Carmen Soo will arrive next week to shoot a Petit Monde endorsement, do a round of guestings and shoot a project that will be announced soon...Megastar Sharon Cuneta endorses Kahit Isang Saglit to air this weekend. This after Kris Aquino and Lorna Tolentino gave their glowing reviews of the show... Rachelle Ann Go admitted she is exclusively dating Gabby Valenciano, but they are not yet boyfriend-girlfriend. Nikki Gil was in Boy and Kris also. Did the two talk of Gabby?... Willie Revillame will bang the drums in two Toto songs at Bobby Kimballs show at Aliw Theater on Nov. 21... Dawn Zulueta says she hasn’t met with Gretchen Barretto since the shampoo commercial flak... Director and Cinemanila managing director Tikoy Aguiluz apologized to entertainment writer Danny Vibas in front of National Press Club president Benny Antiporda and chairman of the board Jerry Yap. The NPC was determined to sue Tikoy if he did not apologize to Danny for the physical injury he caused him during an event of the last Cinemanila.