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Celine releases English CD after four years

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

11/17/2007

Celine Dion bursts with heartfelt emotion in her much-awaited brand new English CD entitled Taking Chances under the Sony/BMG Music Entertainment. It was issued Nov. 12 in the local market in time with the European release. Her last studio album in English (she also records in French) was One Heart released in 2003. For the Taking Chances collection, she worked with different award-winning producers during her last summer holiday. Select music videos from the album were screened during the special viewing party held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. She takes the bold move of going away from her well-loved songbird style to do pop, R&B and rock.

The carrier single “Taking Chances” was written by Kara DioGuardi and David Stewart and produced by Grammy Award-winner John Shanks. It comes with a sci-fi-oriented music video in which Celine goes sexy and active. Other tracks are “Alone,” “Eye on Me,” “My Love,” “Shadow of Love,” “Surprise Surprise,” “This Time,” “New Dawn,” “A World to Believe In,” “Can’t Fight the Feelin’,” “I Got Nothin’ Left,” “Right Next to the Right One,” “Fade Away,” “That’s Just the Woman in Me” and “Skies of L.A.” My favorite cut is the Middle-Eastern-flavored “Eye on Me,” which puts Celine in the rank of Beyonce Knowles and does a great job.

Lolit in real trouble

If Lolit Solis loses the libel case that Piolo Pascual and Sam Milby will file against her, she will go directly to jail. She’s no longer entitled to probation having been convicted in the Manila Film Festival scam. This was the opinion of a court judge that Buzzstation sought to ask his reading about the issue. He read the Pilipino Star Ngayon column in which she reported seeing them engaged in homosexual behavior at the Hotel Sofitel poolside. He stated, “Dapat matakot siya.” He suggested for Lolit to settle out of court. He added, “Delikado siya dyan. Kahit saang anggulo mo tignan ang article, libelous.” It appears they have a good case against her. The judge also expressed that she will have a hard time defending herself. Piolo and Sam filed the libel case yesterday, Nov. 16, in Manila.

Mau to join ‘Asian Idol’

ABC will send Philippine Idol champ Mau Marcelo to the Asian Idol, which will be held in Jakarta, Indonesia this December. The primer will be held on Dec. 8, while the main competition is on Dec. 15 and 16. Fremantle is producing the show in which Mau will compete with five or six Idols from other Asian countries. She will be flown to Jakarta by Fremantle. ABC is doing this as part of its commitment as the first Philippine Idol franchisee. “A fitting end!” ABC Corporate Communications vice president Terra Daffon adds. There will be only two major talent searches in Philippine television early next year, both likely to launch a head-on collision in February. ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 will have Maestro Ryan Cayabyab as dean and Ryan Agoncillo as host. GMA will most likely call its version of I as Pinoy Idol, but this is unconfirmed as of deadline.

MBC ditches MMFF event

Manila Broadcasting Corporation president Ruperto Nicdao Jr. hinted to Buzzstation that the reason his company dropped the operation and marketing of the parade and awards night of this year’s Metro Manila Film Festival was the higher fee that Metro Manila Development Authority chair Bayani Fernando wanted to charge. But this issue was never discussed as MBC pre-empted MMDA by announcing that it was no longer interested in running the events. This was decided by the MBC Executive Committee last June because of projected lower income from sponsors. He held on to the decision despite pleadings from Chair Bayani and the MMFF Executive Committee’s Ric Camaligan. He also clarified that MBC, Aliw Theater and Star City did not benefit from the expensive co-branding project. In cooperation with the Cultural Center of the Philippines, MBC will conduct its counterpart Christmas festival called Paskong Pinoy from Nov. 18 to 22 at the CCP Complex.

Solar takes over MBC

Wilson Tieng’s Solar Entertainment will take over the operation and marketing of MMFF’s annual parade and awards night. Before 2004, Solar used to handle the function. As highlights, it will organize the parades in Lucena, Batangas, Baguio, Pampanga and Metro Manila on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 24, respectively. The awards night will be held at the PICC Plenary Hall on Jan. 4, 2008. The Metro Manila parade has been clipped. Instead of going around the Metro like last year, it will organize at the SM Mall of Asia grounds, pass through Macapagal Ave., turn right to Roxas Blvd. and end up at Rizal Park’s Quirino Grandstand. The Jan. 4 awarding ceremony corrects the problem of the Best Picture Award based on gross ticket sales. Enteng Kabisote 3 had the highest gross sales by awards night, but Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo eventually overtook it by festival’s end.

‘Princess Sarah,’ a winner

My acid test if the nine-week Princess Sarah’s live action television remake was if my mom and dad would stay glued to the small screen without channel-surfing. My parents, both retired, are Princess Sarah’s diehard fans. They view the animated series everytime ABS-CBN screens it. For five nights already, they have been regularly following it. I know they agree since they stay put even during commercials. Princess Sarah is proving to be a fast-paced, colorful and thoughtful remake. Narrated in a linear manner, it’s easy to understand while maintaining the story’s twists and tensions. Sharlene San Pedro as Princess Sarah shows her prodigious talent, one time delivering long lines in French. Albert Martinez as Princess Sarah’s father acts out a sympathetic role, while Sheryl Cruz is effectively mean as Miss Minchin.

A big scoop of Mocha

Mocha comes closest to the American girl groups for being real talents with a classy appeal. (Shoo, Baywalk Bodies with your faked sob stories!) Frontwoman Mocha, the solo singer after whom the band was named, and bandmates Bambie, Dez, Grace and Hershey are Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Shakira and Pussycat Dolls combined. Mocha is fresh from her long-term stint in Dubai. Bambie is a product of Stardance: The Search for the Dance Idol while Dez, Grace and Hershey were Adamson University Pepe Squad members. They come together with booty-bouncing songs and the hip-shaking moves. “Patcha,” the multi-dialect carrier single of the debut CD The Dance Craze Patcha threw Mocha to the high end of the song and music video charts. Other tracks in this collection of high-energy dance songs are the retro-flavored “Twirl It N Shake it,” the sensual “Hawak Mo ang Aking Kamay,” the uptempo “Giling Mo,” the pumping and bumping “Ladidadi,” and the send-off song “Sige (Paalam Na).” This CD has ambition and delivers in one big scoop.

Star Magic welcomes Chokoleit and Empoy

Chokoleit is not talking about the reason he left Arnold Vegafria as manager. There must have been a code of silence between talent and manager to maintain industrial peace. He decided to return to Star Magic after being away for more than a year. Empoy, on the other hand, has always been associated with Star Magic, but he was not a formal member. When the 2008 Star Magic Catalogue was launched, he asked why he was not in it. That’s when his not being a formal member cropped up. Johnny “Mr. M” Manahan quickly decided to make him one so he was given a press conference with Chokoleit. Chokoleit continues his regular rounds of the comedy bar and occasional shows abroad. He’s in the afternoon teleserye Princesa ng Banyera. Empoy has joined Abt Ur Luv (Ur Lyf 2) at the same time as Be Bench winner Carlo Guevarra. He also competed in the Shall We Dance championship. He is now busy shooting a comedy movie with Vhong Navarro and child wonder Makisig Morales.

Willie stays away from Star Awards For Television

Don’t count on Willie Revillame and Joey de Leon to meet at the 21st Star Awards for Television! Although their shows are contenders for the Best Variety Show and they are nominees for the Best TV Host, Willie is not attending. Joey is expected to be there as Eat...Bulaga! is a sure winner. Why? Even before members could deliberate and vote, the buzz was that EB will win regardless of Wowowee and Willie’s breakthrough accomplishments. So Wowowee management decided to stay away. Want a reality check? When asked if Luningning can have a showdown with some Sexbomb members for a production number, Wowowee management and ASF Dancers’ Anna Feliciano did not approve, saying she has a show. The 21st Star Awards for Television will be held at the Henry Lee Theater of Ateneo University on Nov. 18. It will be replayed by RPN on Nov. 24.

Cinema One to buy Cinemalaya movies

Once the option of ABC over the rights of Cinemalaya indie movies expires, Cinema One intends to buy their rights so it can screen them in Channel 56. Cinema One is the producer of the counterpart Cinema One Digitals by ABS-CBN, while Cinemalaya is subsidized by Tony Boy Cojuangco’s ABC. Cinema One plans to have a stronger digital movie content in connection with its revved up programming strategy. It provides P1 million to five directors with pre-qualified digital movie projects. The 3rd Cinema One Digitals will feature Rico Ilarde’s Altar, Jerrold Tarog’s Confessional, Adolf Alix Jr.’s Tambolista, Veronica Velasco and Pablo Biglang-awa’s Maling Akala and Lawrence Fajardo’s Princesa. It will run in Trinoma’s Cinema 1 and Glorietta 4’s Cinema 1 from Nov. 20 to Dec. 2. This year’s judges include Cesar Montano, Olive Lamasan, Gigi Alfonso-Javier, Manet Dayrit and Lav Diaz.

Breaking buzz:Besides the acting and technical awards, Cinema One Digitals will give out the Star Cinema Award with a cash prize of P100,000 and the privilege of being distributed by Star Cinema.

Highly recommended

A Love Story, the Aga Muhlach, Maricel Soriano and Angelica Panganiban blockbuster as directed by Maryo delos Reyes for Star Cinema, is now available in DVD as released by Star Home Video...Wowowee will have a remote telecast from the Lingayen, Pangsinan beachfront on Nov. 24, Saturday, at 12 noon...Jim Libiran’s Tribu will screen at Alliance France Makati City on Nov. 21 at 8:30 p.m...Videoflicks has released the uncut DVD of Jowee Morel’s Mga Paru-parong Rosas, which was X-rated by MTRCB for its wild sex scenes...

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