Despite difficulty, Jasmine Trias sings in tagalog

Fil-American singing idol Jasmine Trias admitted she had a hard time recording the

Tagalog songs in her new self-titled album released recently by Universal Records here in Manila. Jasmine told the press she didn't quite understand the message of the song so it had to be explained to her so she could get its meaning and give the song the right emotion needed. She even had difficulty pronouncing a particular Tagalog word that it had to be replaced with another Tagalog so Jasmine could pronounce it well.

Jasmine flew in town last week to promote her album which contains 14 cuts and has the song "Lose Control," an edgy, R&B flavored song composed, arranged and produced by DJ MOD (a.k.a. Noel Macanaya). The album also includes the second Tagalog single titled "Sana Lagi," a Korean ballad translated into Tagalog by John Barnard Borja and Ito Rapadas.

Music videos were made for "Lose Control" and "Sana Lagi." The MTV for "Lose Control" was produced in Hawaii, while the MTV for "Sana Lagi" was directed by Jeffrey Tan. Also included in the album is the song "Excuses," the number one song in Wave 89.1 FM, the first local radio station to broadcast the songs from Jasmine's album.

"I found it a little bit hard to record in Tagalog, especially my first song which is Sana Lagi. I didn't have much difficulty in my second song titled 'Kung Paano.' I can't get the accent in my tongue. My accent is not Tagalog, but American so I really had to work on that," Jasmine told the press who attended the launch of her album at Crowne Plaza in Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

Jasmine is very happy with the way her career is going. She released her international album in the US last July 12 and nine songs from this album were taken by Universal Records and incorporated to her Manila album. Five new songs were added to the compilation, including two Tagalog cuts, to give her Manila album the needed Pinoy flavor. As an added bonus, Jasmine gets to sing a cut with South Border who was her guest when she launched her album at Megamall last Saturday.

"It was a pleasure working with them," gushed Jasmine about South Border. "They are very talented and I love their music."

So focused is Jasmine in her career that the Fil-American singing idol admitted she has no time for matters of the heart. "I've been so busy focusing on my career. It is something I really want to pursue and I am so committed to it so that's the reason I can't be committed to anybody else," she said. She was flattered by the comment of the press that it's hard to believe that she's still unattached. She's so beautiful to be not committed with anyone, she was told.

"Oh that is very flattering but then thank you. There is always time for that. This is a big opportunity for me and I really want to pursue it while the iron is hot. There are so many guys there, you know."

How do you react to guys who tell you that they like you?

"We can be friends. I have a lot of guy friends. I am just making a lot of friends," said Jasmine. She admitted having a lot of admirers and she has own share of crushes but she declined to name anyone of them, adding that it is her secret.

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Young actor Geoff Eigenmann is the newest addition to the cast of the ABS-CBN teleserye "Ikaw Ang Lahat Sa Akin" where he plays the role of Bea Alonzo's childhood friend. Geoff's character was introduced last Monday and he will be the rival of John Lloyd Cruz for Bea's heart in the story.

Geoff and Bea are childhood friends but fate intervened so they had to part ways even if they vowed to stay together and be committed to each other. But fate has its way of making lost friends meet again (as it usually happens in teleseryes), paving the way for Geoff and Bea to see each other again, renew old ties, thus igniting the spark of a love that had been longing to blossom, setting the conflict between them and John Lloyd.

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Talented singer Jed Madela made the country proud by winning in the World Championship of the Performing Arts in Hollywood where he competed with more than 3000 contestants. Jed won six gold medals. He also won two plaques, one as Overall Champion of the World in the Male Vocals and Duet Divisions. He also won a trophy for the Champion of the World Prize, as he was declared Grand Champion of the World.

His amazing victory was enough for ABS-CBN to take notice of Jed. Last Sunday he was formally welcomed as the newest member of ASAP 05's League of Champions, joining Erik Santos, Sarah Geronimo, Sheryn Regis, Christian Bautista, and Mark Bautista. He signed up for two seasons with "ASAP 05."

"I feel I've finally found a home," said Jed of his joining the Sunday noontime show of ABS-CBN. "Dati I can't say I have a home but now I am so happy because I have found a home. Kapamilya na ako."

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Regine Velasquez is preparing for the movie that she will do with Piolo Pascual, a co-production venture between Star Cinema and Viva Films. The songbird is very excited with the project since she hasn't done a movie for quite a long time. If we're not mistaken, her last movie was "Captain Barbell," the filmfest entry of Viva Films in 2003. One source of excitement for Regine is the fact that Piolo is one of our most talented actors. They've done an episode of "Maalaala Mo Kaya" and Regine had a pleasant experience working with Piolo.

The Songbird is also looking forward to her concert series at the Aliw Theater on November and December titled "Reflections," another special concert that Regine will direct herself. According to Regine, the repertoire will include songs that speak of her dreams, aspiration and heartaches. Among the songs to be featured in the concert include hits by Angela Bofill, Barbra Streisand, Sheena Easton, Sharon Cuneta, Kuh Ledesma, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and lots more.

At the press launch of 2nd SOP Music Awards, Regine corrected the rumors that her father, Mang Gerry, is banned at GMA 7. "Paano naman siya magiging banned sa GMA eh hindi naman siya sumasama sa akin kasi napapagod na raw siya. At saka bakit naman siya maba-ban sa GMA 7? Wala naman dahilan para ma-ban siya," said Regine.

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There were hundreds who came but only 27 made it to the final cut. They are mothers, girlfriends, daughters and wives - different women from all over the Philippines who have come together to show their culinary prowess in the Knorr kitchen and bring home the title of The Ultimate Cooking Diva.

Armed with their exceptional kitchen skills and a common passion for cooking, these ladies will be seen on Knorr and ABS-CBN's "Makuha Ka Sa Tikim," a weekly program that will showcase the cooking prowess of the finalists. Hosted by Ms. Jean Garcia and Ms. Eula Valdez, the show will focus on the contestants' creativity and culinary talents through a cooking showdown every Saturday at 10:30am.

The famed telenovela stars will join the finalists every week as they cook up delightful recipes and dish out interesting stories that surely touch a chord or two.

Eula has a cast on her leg when she attended the presscon of "Makuha Ka Sa Tikim" held at the Unilever office in UN Avenue Manila. She suffered a torn ligament in her right leg and her doctor advised her to go under the knife. The actress said she has had the ailment since high school and it must have been aggravated because of too much strenuous activity. Eula is active in sports. She used to play volleyball in several editions of Star Olympics.

But she's excited to do "Makuha Ka Sa Tikim" with good friend Jean. "Ibang level naman ito kasi hindi kami nagdradrama rito kundi pagkain at buhay ng mga misis at mga babae ang topic habang nagluluto," said Eula.