Sugababes member is a Pinay

You didn’t know that one of the members of the popular female trio Sugababes is a Pinay, did you? I first heard about it last year when I was in London to interview Robby Rosa (formerly of the Menudo) who was launching his first all-English album.My cousin Denise So asked me if I knew the Sugababes, very popular (daw) in England (and, I’m sure, in other parts of the world) and I told him in all honesty, "No, I don’t." I got curious and interested when Denise said that one of the Sugababes members is a Pinay, so I asked him to ask his friend to arrange for me a possible interview with that Sugababe Pinay. The interview never came.

Anyway, the Pinay Sugababe is none other than Mutya Buena, who is pure Boholana. Funfare stringer Leo Udtohan sent me a nice story about Mutya and her parents, Roberto and Rose Buena, who were recently in Bohol (where Leo hails from) for a vacation. Here’s Leo’s report:

Sikat ang Pinay abroad! We all know that Sugababes star Mutya Buena is a Filipina but many wonder which province she came from. Yes, Mutya is a pure Boholana. She comes from the land known for its Chocolate Hills, the tarsiers and calamay. Her parents, Roberto and Rose Buena, are from Sikatuna Street, Tagbilaran City.

Very recently, Mutya’s parents were here for a short visit before they left for London last April 29. Roberto was a student of the University of Bohol, high school department. According to Mutya’s relatives in Mansasa District (her parents own the house), they are very proud of their unica hija, who was born in London and is lead singer of the most popular UK band Sugababes.

Sugababes created a stir in the UK music scene by co-writing and performing one of the 2000’s finest singles, the urban pop classic Overload.

Sugababes are Keisha Buchanan (born Sept. 30, 1984), Mutya Buena (born May 21, 1984) and Heidi Range (born May 23, 1983) who replaced former member Siobhan Donaghy.

Buchanan, who is of Jamaican descent and Mutya are childhood friends. They grew up in London and are exposed to Filipino culture. They met Donaghy at a party when they were 13.

Mutya began her showbiz career at the age of seven when she appeared in the Michael Barrymore Show. At age eight, she was asked to perform in school activities and before Filipino communities in Europe.

Sugababes has been described as a multi-cultural group that represents a mass section of the community. Kids their age and young adults will be able to look up to the Sugababes members as role models. Their songs have power and universal appeal, crisscrossing barriers of age, gender and race. They represent all that is best about UK music but will also create much impact on overseas audiences.

In one of their interviews in London, the Sugababes members said they didn’t want to become TV presenters, game show hosts or actresses. They are content and happy making intelligent, soulful and inspiring pop music.

The latest update on Mutya is that she recently had her own little Sugababe. Mutya gave birth to Tahalia Maya last March 24 at Worthing Hospital in Sussex. The baby is the first for Mutya and her boyfriend Jay.

Relatives say Mutya plans to have a vacation in Bohol to enjoy motherhood and relax from the stresses of city life. But next month, Mutya and the Sugababes will go back to work to crossover America.

More Pinays making waves abroad

As you must have noticed in Funfare’s broken "Pinoy Sightings" (in foreign movies/TV shows) series, more and more Pinoys and Pinays are making waves on foreign shores and we could only wish them all "good luck, keep up the good work." Here are more of them:

* From Rosita Joaquin: I am from Davao City and a follower of Funfare in the Entertainment section of Philippine STAR and The Buzz before you transferred to the other channel.

Do you know Helen Thompson? Contemporary niya noon sila Divina Valencia, Stella Suarez, Marissa Delgado etc. Do you still remember her? I could see your name and that of Franklin Cabaluna in her telephone directory before she went to America and stayed there for good. She is now Mrs. Helen Edwards. Her husband, Paul Edwards, is an American script writer. She now resides in a three-storey house with 15 rooms in Helena, Montana. Alam mo ba na pinupuntahan ng mga turista ang kanilang bahay at nagbabayad ang mga turista sa kanilang local government? They’re doing it for free to help their government. Siguro, curious lang ang mga tao how they were able to preserve a house built in the ’20s.

* The name Vanessa Minnillo should ring a little bell. Yes, she’s the Filipina who was Miss Teen USA (representing South Carolina) in 1998. Vanessa is now a correspondent of the widely-followed US TV show ET (Entertainment Tonight).

"It’s a dream come true for me," said the bubbly Vanessa. "I’m so excited. This is an amazing opportunity. I’m so glad it has become a reality for me. I can’t wait to see the wonderful things we’re going to do and the different aspects and angles that I could possibly bring (to the show)."

As ET’s New York correspondent, Vanessa interviews celebrities she once only dreamed about. "Everyday, I get something different. It’s fresh, it’s new!" she adds.

* Meanwhile, as Funfare reported several issues back, the new album of Josephine "Banig" Roberto continues to hog the US hit chart. Titled Boogie On The Dance Floor, the album has been a certified chart-buster for four weeks now – and moving up! Banig (so-called because, according to the late Bert "Tawa" Marcelo, she would wet the mat where she slept on as a kid) has remained in the US after winning on Star Search, hosted by Arsenio Hall.

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