Backroom artists are Awit winners

Truth to tell, I have always wanted to be a singer. I love it when in one song, a singer is tearfully bidding goodbye to a paramour, and then in the next song, he’s promising the moon and the sky to another man. A couple of songs later, he’s singing a paean to a mistress. A singer travels the gamut of emotions other people experience in a lifetime. Plus, they get paid for doing what they love to do – although fees do not necessarily correspond to the enormity or the lack of talent. But that’s an entirely different song.

Anyway, vocal insanity aside, I am happy musical artists were given recognition recently at the Awit Awards.

The CompanY secured their title as the country’s premiere vocal group with their victory. They won Best Performance by a Duo or Group Recording for their song Gusto Ko Ng A Capella. The song is from their critically and commercially successful album Story Book from Pop Art Music of Viva Records.

Meanwhile, Dessa went home with an award for Best Performance by a Duet (with Rannie Raymundo) for Noon at Ngayon culled from her album Respect under Star Records.

Finally, popular singing-comedy group Gladys and the Boxers with K proves they’re more than just laughs and gags. Their song Ako’y Napapa-uh from their album GBWK under Star Records won the Best Novelty Recording award.

Says Moy Ortiz of The CompanY, "It’s such an honor that the public has warmly received our songs, but to be recognized by our colleagues in the music business through the Awit Awards just gives us a different kind of satisfaction."

Dessa continues, "Receiving an award certainly validates your work as an artist. Maraming salamat po talaga." Gladys Guevarra of GBWK concludes, "Ay! Napa-uh talaga kami sa award!"

Congratulations to the rest of the Awit Awards winners and mabuhay ang industriya ng musikang Pilipino!

October on Disney Channel

Disney Channel is gearing for October.

First up is the airing of Cadet Kelly, a fun movie starring Hilary Duff, Christy Carlson Romano and Sawn Asmore. It follows the adventures of 14-year-old Kelly Collins, a creative, non-conformist teener. She is reluctantly enrolled in a co-ed military academy where her new stepfather is the commandant! Although she feels crushed into conformity, she takes the challenge of becoming a true blue cadet despite her hard-nosed captain Jennifer Stone. The movie, which premiered last weekend, will air again on Oct. 20.

Meanwhile, the sequel to the classic cartoon Lady and the Tramp, Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp’s Adventure will be shown on the Disney Channel. Disney’s favorite canine couple, Lady and Tramp now has several well-behaved female puppies and one mischievous boy pup named Scamp who wants to follow in the foot steps of his fun father.

To do this, Scamp decides to run away from home to embark on an adventurous journey. He ends up living with a pack of stray dogs known as the Junkyard Dogs but Buster, the pack’s leader, takes an instant dislike on Scamp and challenges him to a fight! This animated adventure movie features the voice-talents of young Hollywood heavyweights Scott Wolf, Alyssa Milano and Roger Bart. Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp’s Adventures will air on Oct. 26 and 27.

Lastly, have some scares and laughs with Halloween II: Kalabar’s Revenge on Oct. 31. On the eve of Halloween, a party is held by the Pipers who aren’t your average next-door American family – they are a brood of powerful witches! The teenage witch, Marnie is mulling over her ever-increasing magical skills but her mom and grandma constantly argue over her future.

Meanwhile, at the party, Marnie meets the mysterious, handsome Kal who steals the family’s powerful book of spells! Will they retrieve the book? Will Marnie be a fabulous witch? You’ve got to watch the movie to find out!

Disney Channel Asia is a multi-territory feed that covers several ASEAN and South Asian countries. At present, the Disney Channel Asia is seen in Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Brunei. The Channel brings quality programming designed to provide positive and entertaining environment for the whole family. The Disney Channel has three distinct zones: Playhouse for pre-schoolers, Kid’s Zone for older kids and the Family Zone all of which are specifically designed to reach out and interact with all sorts of audiences. Broadcasting 24 hours, seven days a week, the Disney Channel also features a wide array of animation series, sitcoms, dramas, and animation/live action features as well as locally produced programming.

Walt Disney Television International (Asia Pacific) is responsible for the consolidated international free and pay television activities of the Walt Disney Company and ABC, Inc. in the region. These activities include program sales (Buena Vista International Television), production and the development management of Disney Channels and other international broadcasting investments in the Asia Pacific.