Megan immortalized on stamps

A new feather has just been added to Megan Young’s already well-decorated cap.

The country’s first Miss World is immortalized on stamps. Last Monday, Feb. 24, the Philippine Postal Corporation (or PhilPost) released limited edition of the Megan stamps and souvenir sheets featuring her during her coronation in Bali, Indonesia, Sept. 28 last year. The stamps cost P30 (headshot) and P40 (seated on throne), and the embossed and foiled souvenir sheet P100 each. The photos used were taken by Bong Tan.

Megan is the third Filipina beauty queen to be so honored, after 1969 Miss Universe Gloria Diaz and 1973 Miss Universe Margie Moran.  

In his special report, Funfare’s “other beauty expert” Celso de Guzman Caparas mentioned  other Miss World immortalized the same way in their respective countries: Carole Joan Crawford, 1963, Jamaica; Jennifer Josephine Hosten, 1970, Grenada; Gina Ann Casandra Swainson, 1979, Bermuda; Kimberly Santos, 1980, Guam (she replaced Germany’s Gabriella Brum who resigned 18 hours after her coronation); Giselle Jeanne-Marie Laronde, 1986, Trinidad and Tobago; Ibiagbanidokibubo “Agbani” Asenite Darego, 2001, Nigeria; and Kaiane Aldorino, 2009, Gibraltar. (Crawford, Hosten, Swainson and Laronde were featured in Celso’s personal collection of Misses World on stamps published in Funfare on Nov. 28, 2003.)

Last week, Megan was in Indonesia to assist reigning Miss Indonesia Vania Larissa in crowning the new Miss Indonesia, Maria Rahajeng. Megan also did photo shoots and fulfilled some of her Miss World duties. On March 1, she and 2013 Miss Universe Gabriela Isler will jointly crown the 2014 Miss Russia winner.

Anne is at it again!

After her 2012 hit concert Annebisyosa at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, Anne will be back in the same venue on May 16 with an even more “ambisyosa” concert titled AnneKapal (The Forbidden Concert).

Anne herself admitted that she’s not a singer (well, not in the same league as…don’t look now!...Regine Velasquez or Lea Salonga) and she can laugh at herself when she sings off-key or catches her breath while struggling to hit a high note. But who cares? If you can fill up the Big Dome (tickets sold out), one of the very few local artists who can achieve that feat, that’s what counts. People go to Anne’s concert not really to “judge” her vocal prowess but to be entertained. See, it’s the singer not the singing that draws ‘em in.

And they’re willing to shell out good money for it. Prices for AnneKapal (produced by Viva Live and Annebisyosa Productions, Inc.): Patron A P5,500; Patron B P4,500; Patron C P4,500; Upper Box A P3,000; and Upper Box B P1,000. (Or call Ticketnet at 911-5555 or Viva Concerts at 687-7236.)

Rep. Lito files a bill for the movie industry

Buhay Party-List Rep. Jose “Lito” Atienza (photo) has just filed a bill calculated to give a big boost to the entertainment industry.

House Bill No. 3840 provides a five-year tax holiday for the film industry, including the purchase of equipment, production of films, and exhibition of said films starting on the year of its approval, in order for the whole movie industry of the Philippines to recover and improve, especially with the entry of new players.

Stated Rep. Atienza in the Explanatory Note: “Our film industry used to be one of the fastest growing industries in the Philippines and in the world as well. We used to be recognized in the world in terms of creativity, originality, and talent in our movies. From an average of 300 films a year, we have dropped to making less than 50 films a year. Our film industry is moribund. At present, only a few films make a profit in the Philippine movie industry. Many Filipinos are more aware of foreign films than the local ones especially now in the Internet age where people can just download the newest foreign films in their computers and let the local movies run dry in the local movie houses.

“These realities, plus the rising cost of movie production, have made it harder for start-up film companies to enter the industry, and thereby has watered down competition and improvement in the whole film industry. The industry needs subsidies and a tax break to be able to bounce back and be competitive once more…”

Rep. Atienza is also proposing for the scheduling of imported soaps (telenovelas and Koreanovelas) to early mornings or very late at night to allow local soaps primetime airing. A little problem, though. It’s the network’s prerogative what shows to schedule at what time depending on its marketing strategy.

Time to be ‘Wicked’ tonight

Nope, I’m not referring to the hit musical still showing at the CCP until early next month, but a bar opening tonight which is called, yes, Wicked.

“Why Wicked?” asked Ihman Esturco, one of the owners (with Tokyo-trained fashion designer Kim Gan) who came home from Arizona, USA, purposely for tonight’s opening. “Yes, we derived the bar’s name from the musical. Except for that, there is no connection between our bar and the musical.”

Ihman migrated to the USA in 2009 where he works as a photographer and stylist. He’s credited for pushing the careers of Coco Martin, Dante Balboa, Aleck Bovick, and models Lauren Novero and Ram Sagad.

Wicked Bar is located along Ninoy Aquino Avenue in Parañaque City, right where Air Force One Complex used to be. For tonight’s opening, Kim Gan will mount a fashion show.

“There are more attractions,” promised Ihman, adding that the bar was designed as “an accessible venue for full production performances, intimate shows, fashion events, private parties, themed social mixes and plain just-letting-your-hair-down weekend bashes.”

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.