The Champions have taken over

As I’ve been saying, Pinoys in the US (and other foreign countries) have grown tired of the "usual" (read: older) Pinoy entertainers/artists, especially those who have been doing shows there over and over again, and have been looking (nay, demanding!) for the newer breed. Yes, there’s a big takeover and the young(er) ones are (maybe without their meaning nor intending to) edging their older counterparts out of the market.

There are The Champions, for instance, as new blood like Sarah Geronimo, Mark Bautista, Rachelle Ann Go, Christian Bautista, Frenchie Dy, Sheryn Regis and Raymond Manalo (all winners and runners-up in reality-TV talent searches) are now popularly referred to. Funfare witnessed how they (Sarah, Mark, Christian and Rachelle) drew an SRO crowd in September last year to their New York concert. It was an auspicious US debut, a rousing success duplicated in other US cities (Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco).

Along with Frenchie, Sheryn and Raymond, the foursome are restaging its US concert tour due to insistent clamor, with one show scheduled middle of May in New York (and again produced by Alice and Red Martinez). Front act is Roxie Barcelo.

Here’s a letter from Tito Al (Alfonso Chu), datelined Anaheim, California, who produced the Champions’ L.A. concert also last year (October):

Hello, Ricky! I’m happy to tell you that tickets to The Return of the Champions concert are selling fast. The orchestra seats to the L.A. (June 11) and San Diego (June 17) shows are sold out. As you very well know, I’m producing the two shows, as I did The Night of the Champions last year.

I was told that the show of Sharon Cuneta and Ogie Alcasid is also set for June 11 in L.A. at the huge (6,000 seating capacity) Shrine Auditorium where the Oscars used to be mounted. It is pitted against Return of the Champions which will be staged at The Grand Olympic Auditorium which can accommodate 4,000 people. It would have been better if the two shows were held weeks apart. The Sharon-Ogie tandem is formidable. I hope that both shows will turn out to be successful. The edge of Champions is that it has an early promo/sales campaign. Tickets have been out early and the publicity is in full gear. Our prices are very reasonable.

One newspaper carried this headline: Sharon vs Sarah.

On April 23, I am producing another show in L.A.’s Wilshire Ebell Theater, featuring the Leyte Dance Theater which is touring the US from April to June. I’m very proud and glad to be of service to the LDT as I am from Leyte, a Waray. This is a labor of love, Ricky.

The show is billed Danhani, coined from dida han hani (Waray for "in our past"). The LDT repertoire consists of dances from all over the country, incorporating ballet and modern steps. Artistic director and choreographer is Jess de Paz who started the Leyte Dance Theater in 1978, initially composed of students from Leyte Normal University. Since then, the LDT and Danhani (A Glimpse of the Past) have performed all over the country and the US, winning countless accolades.

On June 11 to 13, the LDT will join dance groups from all over the world at the International Festival for the Arts and Ideas Committee in New Haven, Connecticut.

Ricky, I hope you and other friends will get the chance to watch Danhani one of these days, here in the US or there at home. I’m sure you will enjoy it.

Thank you and warm regards.

(P.S. I’ll be in the Philippines in late June with my family. Of course, I will see you and other friends like Ronald Constantino and fellow Waray Aster Amoyo.)

Fil-Brit is RP bet to Miss Hawaiian Tropic International contest

Meanwhile, here’s another report by Funfare’s "beauty experts" Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib:

Filipino-British beauty Jocelyn Rose Matias Oxlade, 21, will represent the country in the 2005 Miss Hawaiian Tropic International to be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 2. She won over 25 stunning ladies from all walks of life in the pageant held at the NBC Tent last March 10.

Jocelyn is the daughter of Nigel Oxlade and Zenaida Matias of Nueva Ecija. "J", as she is fondly called, was born and raised in Brighton, East Sussex. She finished her A levels in Psychology at the Cardinal Newman College. She has been staying here in Manila for the past two years and is taking further studies in Psychology on-line at the Open University. She is now busy preparing herself for the international pageant by going to the gym regularly.

Aside from winning the title, she also romped off with the most number of special awards, including Miss Gold’s Gym, Best in Swimsuit and the Salon D’ Orient Style Icon award. An aspiring singer, Jocelyn plans to pursue a singing career after her reign in the Philippines. Her stage stint in school since age five has made her more confident and ready to face the challenges ahead. She has done four recordings in the UK and wants to be known as an R&B and acoustic singer. She has done several tv commercials and guestings.

First runner-up to Jocelyn was Faith Amigo Lavarro (married with one child), 32, who was Mutya ng Pilipinas first runner-up in 1995 and our country’s bet to the Miss Intercontinental pageant where she won as Miss Congeniality. Jamine Gunn, Jessica Vasquez and Joyce Mae Dionzon (a single mother) rounded up the top five. The semi-finalists were Rose Ann Aguilar, Karla Paula Guinteroy, Giebeth Marie Alcoriza and Maria Cristina Tan (2000 Bb. Pilipinas first runner-up).

The mission of the pageant is to find a woman who epitomizes the cosmopolitan woman of the 21st century. She should be the embodiment of health, poise and beauty; and active in the search for happiness in an increasingly busy world. The competition does not discriminate against age, marital status or skin color. It is interesting to note that five mothers competed in the pageant; two of whom landed in the top five.

The pageant is working hand in hand with the Philippine National Haemophilia Centre Foundation to educate people about this debilitating condition genetically carried by women.

It is interesting to note that the first Miss Hawaiian Tropic Philippines search was held in 1992. Alma Carvajal Concepcion won the title (two years later she was crowned Bb Pilipinas-International). Her first runner-up was Amelia Joy dela Cruz. In 1997, another Filipina, Vanessa Benitez, was handpicked to compete in the pageant.

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