Priscilla says 'yes' to John's marriage offer

You must have heard the good news that John Estrada has proposed marriage to his Brazilian girlfriend Priscilla Meirelles who readily said, “Yes!” Well and good since John has been an honest-to-goodness eligible bachelor since his marriage to Janice de Belen was annulled. The ex-couple have four children (excluding Iggy Boy, Janice’s son by Aga Muhlach, whom John treats like his own).

Funfare Update gathered that John “surprised” Priscilla with the proposal at Elbert’s Steak House (which he reserved days in advance) in Makati City last week.

This twist in the couple’s romance came on the heels of Priscilla’s announcement in her Facebook that she was “no longer in a relationship.” That must have prompted John to iron out whatever kinks there were. What better way to win back Priscilla than to spring that kind of proposal on her?

The wedding date hasn’t been set yet.

Rhap Salazar a winner in WCOPA

For three consecutive years, Filipinos have been winning in the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA), the latest having been a few days ago when 12-year-old Rhap Salazar emerged Junior Grand Champion Solo Vocalist and Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World in the grand finals held last July 17 also in L.A.

“The judges were blown away by Rhap’s soaring voice and superb performance,” said Carlo Orosa who is the WCOPA Philippines head.

“Rhap was a shoo-in for the title from the very start.”

A discovery of the ABS-CBN talent search Little Big Star, Rhap belongs to the Star Magic family.

GMAAC head is model tilt judge

GMA Artist Center (GMAAC) Head Ida Ramos Henares will be the first ever Filipino judge in the prestigious Asian Supermodel Competition slated for July 25 to 26 in Nanning, China.

The competition boasts of participants fielded by premier and respectable talent management companies from the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Korea, Japan, and very recently, Vietnam and India.

The 2009 Asian Supermodel tilt is being organized by the Chinese Fashion Association and the China Bentley Development Company, two credible corporations which are considered the biggest and most respectable modeling and management companies in Asia having produced prestigious modeling contests, beauty pageants, and the likes for years now.

For the 2009 Asian Supermodel competition, GMAAC talents Rich Asuncion, Anthea Murfet and Lou Muñoz, will be vying for the title on July 25 to 26 at the Guangxi TV Station in Nanning, China, the same venue used in last year’s competition.

Last words on the Freddie A. ‘issue’

As I said, I’m letting Funfare readers say their pieces on the Freddie Aguilar “issue.” Freddie criticized some Filipino artists (Gary Valenciano, Charice and Arnel Pineda among them for not being “nationalistic” because they “copy” foreign artists and sing in English). Here are the last words on the matter, in reaction to a letter from reader Ed Valenciano:

• From Liza Sarmiento-Juego: I agree with both Freddie Aguilar and Ed Valenciano’s point of view but what they failed to mention is that no Filipino artist would make it big in Hollywood if they only copied another talent. One has to be an original just like Lea Salonga. There must be something unique in an artist to be recognized. There are far too many artists with a good voice but very few that stands out and hold their own.

• From Ramon Avedillo Co, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation,

Saudi Arabia: Just a pahabol. Freddie Aguilar’s Anak gained popularity mainly because it was translated into different languages. This he must remember. Being nationalistic is not in speaking our language but by being proud to be a Filipino especially abroad. These guys (Gary Valenciano, Charice and Arnel Pineda) being “attacked” were not denying at all that they are Filipino and in fact are shouting about being Filipino.

I do agree that music has no boundaries and that it is an international language. The saving grace of our economy are OFWs speaking in languages not Filipino but who remain Filipino and brag about it.

• From Jocelyn Kinanahan: I agree with Ed Valenciano. When I read Freddie Aguilar’s comment, I said to myself, “Why can’t some Filipinos just be happy for someone who has done something good for his country?” Aguilar had his time, he made his choice. Let Charice, Arnel, et. al find their way and bring honor to our country their own way.

• From Rem Maclang, Marikina City: On the international fame or acceptance achieved by our local artists, I think there is no quarrel as to the means employed, either via song/composition or interpretation/performance of the artists. Mr. Freddie Aguilar and Ed Valenciano are both correct. For Mr. Aguilar, it is his composition Anak, and for Mr. Valenciano, it is the interpretation by Charice and performance by Ms. Salonga. Suffice it to say, music is universal because it is the language of the soul.

• From John Hart: I beg to disagree with my favorite entertainment columnist!

The way I see it, the reason Anak made it famous world-wide is because of its originality and unique style. I had the chance to travel to the different parts of the world and at that time not a few foreigners loved that song. They told me then it touched their hearts.

The reason why some singers like Pilita Corrales, et. al, made it well abroad is because they sing the English songs in a different version. The American Idol judges always emphasize it. When a black contestant tried to mimic Tina Turner, she was reprimanded by Simon Cowell on the spot.

We are not expecting Gary to sing songs by Ruben Tagalog. What I want to see is him singing a different version that is uniquely his that touches people’s soul.

More power to you and your colorful column.

• From Alec Pei: Anak has become so popular all over Asia particularly because it was translated into various languages.

I was watching a documentary on the Korean international cable television channel Arirang about the Philippines last year. In one segment, there was a man in a videoke singing the song Anak, and I was surprised when the documentary’s narrator said that Filipinos still sing a Korean melody from the ‘80s.

The song has become so popular that it is no longer identified as Filipino with Tagalog (not Filipino) lyrics.

In a small way, it has become like Comme d’habitude, the composition of Claude Francois and Jacques Revaux. Its publishing rights was acquired at no cost by Paul Anka, given English lyrics for Frank Sinatra to sing, and became the hit My Way.

Did Aguilar, or the Pop Music Foundation, ever receive anything for the rights to the song that became so popular in many parts of the world? Did they make sure that it would be identified as a composition of Freddie Aguilar, a Filipino? If not, it would only be in the Philippines that the song would be remembered as a very popular one by a once very popular singer-composer now making noise for himself.

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