Queenmaker launches sing & rap duo

From mentoring and managing beauty queens, Jonas Gaffud of Aces and Queens (the group where Miss World Megan Young, Miss Universe Pia Wurtzbach and Miss International Kylie Verzosa come from) has set his sights on managing singers as well.

Recently launched was the digital album of a sing and rap duo named Yheen and Yuki, which can now be downloaded on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. The carrier single is titled “You’re Beautiful” and is dedicated by Yheen and Yuki to the three beauty queens from Aces and Queens.

Yheen and Yuki will be joining the beauty queens in a tour of the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. The tour will be a combination of a glamorous fashion show and a rap-and-song act.

When the Miss Universe pageant was held in the Philippines, Jonas was trying to find a singer to serenade the girls but the one they got had an attitude so Jonas looked for a replacement. Yuki was referred to him.

“He is very good and I told him to look for another singer to form a duo and Yuki referred Yheen to me,” said Jonas. The two immediately worked on an album which also includes the songs “Lucia” and the inspirational ditty “Laban nang Laban.”

Yheen’s real name is Brian Leonardo Valero while Yuki’s is Takayuki Sakamoto. Yuki was born and raised in Manila and he never got to meet his dad who abandoned him when he was still a baby. He says he got his good looks from his mom.

They both come from different boy bands. Yheen is from Down to Mars, which disbanded after their contract with GMA-7 ended. Yuki is from 143 which had also disbanded. Both of them are interested to try acting if given the chance.

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The action movie “Double Barrel” is the follow-up movie of Phoebe Walker to her award-winning performance in “Seklusyon” for which she won the 2016 MMFF Best Supporting Actress award.

“I am happy to be given this break by Viva to do an action film. It is a different kind of experience,” says Phoebe who plays the wife of AJ Muhlach in this film directed by ace action maker Toto Natividad.

Aside from doing action stints and motorcycle stunts, Phoebe also does a love scene with AJ. She said that AJ was very protective of her when the scene was shot.

“It helped that we had a sensuality workshop before we did that scene. It made us feel at ease. We were relaxed during the shoot,” said Phoebe. She is kind of worried though that her non-showbiz boyfriend might get mad at her when he sees the intimate scene she did with AJ.

“My boyfriend is somewhat conservative. I don’t know how he would react. I am also conservative but I am willing to go sexy if it is needed for the role,” said Phoebe, who was also daring in “Seklusyon.”

Phoebe is dreaming to be part of the teleserye “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano” topbilled by Coco Martin.

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We were among the select members of the press invited to the special screening of “What Home Feels Like,” an entry to the ongoing 2nd ToFarm Festival which runs from July 12 to 18 in select cinemas.

The touching movie, directed by Joseph Abello, stars Bembol Roco and Irma Adlawan. It tells the story of a man (Bembol) who comes back to his family after working as a seafarer for 33 years.

He was not around when his children were growing, so there is no emotional connection between them. Even if he tries to reach out, his youngest children (played by Rex Lantano and Bianca Labinting) could not warm up to him. Being an absentee father has taken its toll.

The story was told simply yet it touches the heart. “What Home Feels

Like” is touching in its simplicity. Children who did not grow up with their fathers can relate to the story.

Bembol and Irma are very good in their roles and we won’t be surprised if they win top acting honors during the ToFarm Awards Night. The movie also has a strong chance of winning the Best Picture and Best Director awards.