Pinoy Fries

Pinoy Dream Academy Little Dreamers 11th and Last Gala Performance and Expulsion Night

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 13:06:00 +0000

Theme: Songs about Music

Jurors: Jimmy Antiporda and Aiza Seguerra

Amy was rushed to the hospital a few days ago because of throat inflammations. She was diagnosed with mumps.

Amy, Philip are automatically in Top 6 before this performance night.

Philip - Thank You for the Music (Abba)

Very high star quality, heartfelt rendition

Jimmy - I thought you would have a hard time because of the live band, but I was wrong. You are very versatile and would surely go far.

Aubrey - You are My Song (Regine Velasquez)

I really think she has the age advantage, being 10, while the others have an average age of 8. This performance was exceptionally pitchy. Is it because she's already in the top 6 and is feeling complacent?

Aiza - Your passion shows in your performance. Just guard your notes.

Cristina - Dadaanin ko na Lang sa Musika (14K)

Very good animated performance, she carried the song very well with her showmanship. She's also good pitch-wise.

Jimmy - This is your performance. Very outstanding, your notes were very clear and your timing was perfect.

Jerome and Angelo need improvement

Risie - A Song for You (The Carpenters)

The song is too old for her. The performance thus becomes lackluster and boring.

Aiza - That song was hard to sing but you sang it well. Just don't let your nervousness show.

Angelo - Your Song (Elton John)

He's only 6, but he can sing well. But in the past few weeks, he seemed to get the wrong song for him. He got sick last week so be gentle to him.

Jimmy - Tonight your singing was good. On pitch and on time.

Jerome - I Write the Songs (Barry Manilow)

His voice quality in this song is very good. His showmanship is lacking, though.

Aiza - I am speechless. This is what I've been waiting from you. Clear words, good notes, good ending.

Amy was advised to rest for the week. Her practice performance (I've Got the Music in Me by Kiki Dee) was shown, though.

Voting Results:

Angelo - 88.30%
Jerome - 11.70% - expelled

Top 6 Little Dreamers:

Amy
Angelo
Aubrey
Cristina
Philip
Risie

To vote for the Little Grand Star Dreamer:

Text LD and send to 2331 for Globe and TM subscribers and to 231 for Smart Talk n' Text and Sun subscribers

Grand Little Dream Night is on Sunday, October 5, at the Dolphy Theater in ABS-CBN.

Laarni Lozada (Laarni Losala) is Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Grand Star Dreamer

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 13:47:00 +0000

Who would have thought? Laarni Lozada (real name Laarni Losala), a working student from Sultan Kudarat wins the title of Grand Star Dreamer of Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2, garnering 35+ % (roughly 650,000) of the total votes cast by the Filipino voting public in a span of two weeks.

Bugoy Drilon (real name Jay "Bugoy" Bogayan), the farmer's son from Camarines Sur, who was also expected to win the title of Grand Star Dreamer, came in second place with around 450,000 votes. He said that even though he didn't become Grand Star Dreamer, in his heart, he is the winner.

Miguel Mendoza, the controversial contender in the top 6 because of his well-off family and alleged plans to win the title via powervoting, came in third, with 13.67% of the total votes.

Liezel Garcia, the girl with the unique voice ala-Beyonce Knowles from Puerto Galera, came in fourth with 13.36%. She was expected to be in the top 3 because of her being a consistent Star Scholar in the gala nights along with Laarni and Bugoy.

Van Roxas (real name Van Pojas), the heartthrob rocker from Cebu came in fifth place with 6.06% of the total text votes, while Cristina "Cris" Pastor from Parañaque came in 6th with 1.97% of the text votes.

The awards were presented after two nights of performances from the scholars and other celebrities, including the Academy Mentors.

Laarni gets 1 Million Pesos, a house and lot, and several showcases. Bugoy gets 500,000 Pesos, an appliance and an entertainment showcase, while Miguel gets 300,000 Pesos and an entertainment showcase.

This season is certainly better than the last season, for there was an abundance of talent, and there was no clear cut winner until the end. The Little Dreamers are still going to perform next week, so there will be more PDA for the fans.

Congratulations to the Winners of the Top Droppers Contest!

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:16:00 +0000

Thank you to my consistent droppers. Even though I haven't been blogging much lately, you kept on dropping. The winners of the Top Droppers Contest for each of my sites are as follows:

Congratulations to the winners! Keep on dropping everyone!

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Last Expulsion Night

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:04:00 +0000

I wasn't able to catch the entirety of the Little Dreamers' Back-to-School performances. But as an update, Little Dreamers Shane, who sang It Can Only Get Better by Charice, and Jerome, who sang Stand Up for Love by Destiny's Child, are coming back to the Academy to compete.

On to the Scholars' last expulsion night.

Theme: Scholar's Choice

Opening: You Can't Stop The Beat from Hairspray

One of the girls seemed to be out of sync at one point. Otherwise, an okay performance. They really need to practice on group dynamics.

Surprise: No more grades will be given.

Jurors: Louie Ocampo, Girlie Rodis

Sen - His Eye on the Sparrow (Lauryn Hill)

Nice voice control, probably his most heartfelt performance ever. Too bad not too many people know the song.

Louie - One of the most emotional songs you did. The message came through. You were very sincere.

Van - Who Am I (Casting Crowns)

Very honest performance. He even seemed humble.

Girlie - You have gone through many things. Your performance was good, it did not reflect the heaviness of your heart.

Laarni - I Am Blessed (Eternal)

It lacks the sparkle of a very good performance. Is she too serious about the song? The diction problem is prominent in this performance.

Louie - The performance is beautiful, except for the part where it changes key. You are a pro tonight. I think you're in the top 3, no doubt.

Miguel - Sandra (Barry Manilow)

He was his usual serious self, but this performance is heartfelt.

Girlie - It's a hard song to sing. Work on your "storytelling".

Liezel - Goodbye's (The Saddest Word) (Celine Dion)

Same old good vocal performance with a lack of stage presence. I'm really bothered by the "th" sounding like a "d".

Louie - I really liked your runs. You are best when you don't shout. You have the presence. You have to "be there".

Cris - Inseparable (Natalie Cole)

No, not the "th"-"d" again! The camera contact she makes is good, though. She controlled the high notes really well.

Girlie - You have really improved a lot. You have a good vocal quality now. Continue in that path and I'm sure you'll go places.

Bugoy - Can't Stop a River (Guy Sebastian)

His eyes still look the same, kinda lacking emotion. His low notes seem rumbly. But the rest of the song is okay. Is Guy Sebastian his biggest influence? I think so. His audition piece was "Angels Brought Me Here".

Louie - No doubt, you really sing good. You've got to find that tool to charm the audience.

Special Number: Launch of "Scholars Sing Cayabyab" album

Voting Results:
Van: 54.58
Sen: 45.42 - Last Expelled Scholar

The Top 6 Scholars:

Bugoy
Liezel
Laarni
Van
Miguel
Cris

Voting is on for the Grand Dream Night on September 14. Text PDA to 2331 for Globe, TM, Sun and Bayan Wireless subscribers and to 231 for Smart and Talk n' Text subscribers.

My Sassy Girl (2008)

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:01:00 +0000

I love Yeopgijeogin Geunyeo aka My Sassy Girl. Nuff said. Or go to this link to read what I thought of the movie about 3 years ago. Because of this movie, I got used to watching melodramas, etc. and became a fan of Jeon Ji Hyun. I even watched the Tagalized version of this movie.

Okay, so I was excited about the Hollywood remake when the news came out. Although most people hated the thought of a Hollywood remake, I was interested to see what they would do with the story. When the news came out that Yann Samuell, the director of French classic Jeux d'enfants aka Love Me if You Dare, was directing it, I was even more excited. However, I got frustrated when the film's premiere got pushed and pushed back, and I was even frustrated when it was released direct to video in the US.. oh wait, I was ecstatic, coz I can watch it earlier in the Philippines via video. *sigh* I missed its theatrical release here.

So I got to watch the movie yesterday, and I'll be informal in my review.Okay, the opening seconds of the film, well, minutes, is a clear sign of the Yann Samuell direction. Just look at the colors! And the atmosphere! Lots more "Samuell-isms" can be found in the movie, such as playing with the speed of the scene and breaking the 4th wall (both of which, coincidentally, are also employed in the original). However, the colors of the movie definitely separate it from the original.

Okay, the characters. Charlie Bellow, the male protagonist, is Midwestern. He came to New York to pursue his parents' dreams for him, to become a topshot in a business company of sorts. He is shy, kind, romantic and idealistic. Jordan Roark, the girl he meets, is not good at holding her alcohol, rude, minds other people's businesses, and bossy. The main characteristics of the two protagonists do not differ much from the original, but Jesse Bradford and Elisha Cuthbert portrayed these characteristics differently. Their chemistry? Unfortunately, I only first noticed it in the face-slapping-subway-game scene. It quite builds up towards the end of the movie.

The addition of several characters, such as Charlie's player bestfriend Leo and the butler who picks up Jordan after Charlie brings her to her home, seemed unnecessary and bordering on annoying. They are totally one-sided and hog your unwanted attention at several points in the film.

I'll compare the original actors' "attacks" on their roles with those of the two Hollywood actors: Jesse Bradford was a smarter version of Cha Tae Hyun's original character, who was quite happy-go-lucky and refuses to study well. In the original, Jeon Ji Hyun's portrayal of The Unnamed Girl was subtle but randomly violent. The Girl was demure at most times, with random crazy moments. The Girl did not like flirting, and was kinda the traditional conservative Asian girl. Elisha Cuthbert's Jordan Roark is the classy, flirty rich girl who gets what she wants and gets away with it.

The story. Ah, the most important part. The remade story seemed kind of rush. It was unique in itself, but comparing it to the original, it's lamer by a mile. The remake tries hard to recreate or at least reference the scenes in the original, but it fails in many parts. For example, the exchanging shoes part seemed too short, considering its importance in the story. Also, the "can you hear me from there" part, which was originally set in the mountains, was re-set into a long alleyway, WITH PEOPLE AROUND! This lessened the scene's emotional impact for me. The "remade scenes" should be seen as themselves. Otherwise, you'll end up comparing it to the original.

Other additions to the story, such as the extended "announcement" of The Girl on the subway and the bad job interview, seemed unnecessary. Sometimes the shorter dialogues are more effective.

Am I writing too much here? Let's cut to the chase.

Despite the many flaws of the remake (most of which may take too long to write), the essence of the excellent based-on-real-life story still shone through. The love and longing and the jitters of a starting relationship are all there. I'll admit it, I teared up because of one scene. Okay, you'll have to watch it for yourself.

The movie is an inferior remake of the original but it can surely stand on its own as a good romantic comedy film.

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: Iñaki Ting Expelled, Poy Palma Leaves Academy, Van and Sen on Probation

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 03:45:00 +0000

Sorry I haven't been paying much attention to this blog lately, I've been busy adjusting to my non-studying life hehe.

Last week, Dean got expelled and Aubrey was the Outstanding Little Dreamer. This week (although I didn't watch the episode), Little Dreamers Kelly and Risie went up for voting, and Kelly (finally) got expelled. However, next week, the five expelled Little Dreamers will perform again and two of them who gets the highest grades will come back to the Academy.

Okay, on with the previous Gala Night.

Jurors: Louie Ignacio, Dulce (guest), Gerard Salonga

Theme: Performing with the Stars

Iñaki with Bituin Escalante - Proud Mary (Ike and Tina Turner)

Equal energy, good chemistry, although Iñaki's high energy sometimes affects his voice.

Louie - I loved it-- good energy and notes. Iñaki, you were not intimidated. You are both pros on the stage.

Miguel with Sheryn Regis - Never Say Goodbye (Nonoy Zuñiga)

Miguel was upstaged by Sheryn in terms of volume. Their chemistry was okay. The ending was good.

Gerard - Miguel, your intonation imrpoved, but power is still an issue. Good thing is, she didn't eat you alive on stage.

Laarni with Jed Madela - The Prayer (Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion)

They have matching voice qualities. The musicality was high.

Dulce - I can really feel you. You can keep up, except the ending. I am excited for you.

Van with Kitchie Nadal - Bulong (Kitchie Nadal)

Van is too energetic. Nuff said.

Louie - The notes were okay, but the middle part seemed uncomfortable. The ending was flat. It could have been better.

Cris with Richard Poon - Kissing a Fool (George Michael)

The performance lacked power at the middle part. Good chemistry, but kinda boring overall.

Gerard - There were two flat notes towards the end, but I've never heard you sound this good. The style fits you.

Zel with Joey Generoso - Tell Me (Side A)

Liezel was sharp all the way, and they lacked chemistry. But then, this was a last-minute-change-of-plans-song.

Dulce - You weren't intimidated. Be careful of your entry notes, they might go sharp. Overall, it was beautiful.

Sen with Rachel Alejandro - Can We Just Stop and Talk a While (Gary V and Kyla)

Very pitchy performance by Sen, it's a good thing they have chemistry.

Louie - The message of the song came across, but the intonation was shaky and there was a slight diction issue.

Bugoy with Vina Morales - Muli (Gary V and Regine Velasquez)

The musicality is high, and there was good chemistry.

Gerard - Overall, it was good. Bugoy, your entrance was quite hard, though, but there is no questioning your singing talent.

Poy with Ryan Cayabyab Singers - Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)

Good blending, high energy, fitting style.

Dulce - Afinado all the way, you've got fire, perfect.

Voting Results: Miguel got about 75% of the votes while Iñaki only got about 25%, making him the latest expelled scholar.

Star Scholar: Bugoy (9.81)

On Probation: Sen (7.29) and Van (7.30)

The surprise: There will be no more bottom 4 and no "saving", so Van and Sen are automatically the probationary scholars for this week.

To vote, text PDA VAN or PDA SEN to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun subscribers and to 231 for Smart, Talk n' Text and Addict Mobile subscribers.

There will be two Grand Dream Nights featuring the Top 6 Scholars, which currently includes Bugoy, Cris, Miguel, Liezel, and Laarni. The first one will be on September 13. On September 14, the voting for the Grand Star Dreamer will end on ASAP and the winners will be announced in the evening.

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2 Gala, Expulsion and Probation Night - Bunny Malunda is Expelled from the Academy

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 06:30:00 +0000

At last, after a very very long hiatus, I'm finally back to reviewing talent shows. So Pinoy Idol is ending tonight, and I want Ram Chaves to win. Oh well, maybe I'll be wrong again, as expected.

Anyways, on to Pinoy Dream Academy's gala and expulsion and probation night.

Theme: Counterpointing Songs {Two Same-Sounding Songs Sang Side by Side (Nice alliteration, ain't it?)}

Jurors: Louie Ignacio, Lani Misalucha, Gerard Salonga (he's back!)

Sen and Bunny - Say That You Love Me (Martin Nievera) + Huwag Ka Lang Mawawala (Ogie Alcasid)

Bunny: I've never seen someone enter the stage in a worse condition, but herr effort brought up her performance. She looks very good.
Sen: Started out very competitive, his voice was very good-sounding.

Sen kinda brought down the chemistry between the two of them.

Louie - Bunny: I felt you weren't at your best. Sen: the beginning was shaky. Individually so so but the performance was ok.
Lanie - They did a good job. Some uncertainty in the beginning, but you pulled it through.
Gerard - Sen, you are good in group situations, but you need to make singing your strongest suit. Bunny, I know your physical conditions hinder your talent

Miguel and Liezel - Stay Awake (Ronnie Laws) + Sometimes a Love Goes Wrong (Carrie Lucas)

Miguel seemed to enjoy his performance. The counterpoint was vocally competitive.

Louie - Liezel, consistent singing. Miguel, I enjoyed you more this time.
Lanie - I felt you enjoyed your performance. Liezel, you need to loosen up a bit.
Gerard - Individually, you both did very well. Miguel, this is the best I've seen you. The interaction bothered me a bit.

Van and Poi - Forever's Not Enough (Sarah G) + Maybe (Peabo Bryson)

Poi is pitch perfect and full-toned as always, Van is quite tense but he is showing improvement. The counterpoint was brought up by Poi, except for a bad note at the near end.

Louie - Poi you did a good job except for a few sharp notes. Van, good but nothing really fantastic. The counterpoint was a nice mixture.
Lanie - There are parts which are not clear, but the performance was good.
Gerard - Van, you have to become the singer, the singing has to come first. This was a normal performance for you. Poi you sounded really good. The last part, you didn't quite come together.

Iñaki and Chris - Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita (Roselle Nava) + Kunin Mo Na Lang Lahat Sa Akin (Jeremiah)

Cris, I was surprised at the good tone of her voice and at the good start to the song. She seemed more "pro". Iñaki, the falsetto was kinda sharp. His serious side showed well in this song. The counterpoint sounded okay. The chemistry was there, considering Iñaki's interest in Chris.

Louie - Inaki, work harder on the ballads, but you are improving. Cris, okay, but the
Lani - (gibberish, same same. I didn't understand. But I know it was a positive comment.)

Laarni and Bugoy - On the Wings of Love (Jeffrey Osborne) + Back at One (Brian McKnight)

Laarni was shaky at the beginning, but Bugoy was consistent. The counterpoint, Laarni's voice was louder.

Gerard - At the start Laarni, your alignment was low, but you are a good singer. Bugoy, I remind you to fix your diction, but you are great.
Lani - Bugoy, only your pronunciation needed improvement. Laarni, only the beginning was shaky.

Liezel and Poi - I forgot the title of the song. Dammit. I was running errands that time.

Top Three - Poi, Laarni & Bugoy

Star Scholar - Laarni - she will be performing on ASAP next Sunday

Voting Results for the Probationary Scholars:

Sen - 60.05%
Bunny - 39.55% (expelled)

Too bad, I wanted Bunny to stay. But then she can now take care of the cyst in her throat.

Bottom four - Sen (saved by the mentors afterwards), Miguel, Cris, Inaki

Back in the Blogosphere: Contest Extended, Need Sponsors for My First Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 10:36:00 +0000

This is a post on my three blogs: Pinoy Fries, Unplug and Play and Musikalye

I'm back from my hiatus, and I passed the board exams! Although I did not make it to the top 10, I'm glad I passed, 'coz I found the test too hard, and I didn't review too much (okay, I was quite TOO confident going into the exam, but we'll talk about that later). Thanks to everyone who wished me luck, it really did me well!

Also, this is my one-hundredth post on this site!

About my Top Droppers win an ad spot mini-contest:

I figured out that it's too ridiculous to check my top droppers now when I can use Entrecard's "Top Droppers in the Last 30 Days Feature" 30 days after I announced the contest.

I just want to ask the ones who read, visit, and/or drop on this blog. Should I count the droppers on July 28, the day I announced the contest, or should I start counting from July 29?

Okay, so the ad spot is still up for grabs. Keep on dropping!

Also, I'm in need of sponsors for my first contest on Pinoy Fries. So please please do consider being a sponsor for my first contest. You get lots of link juice and you get to help a fellow blogger. Sponsorship could be in form of ECs, cash, or ad spots or text links. Just head on over and comment on this post to announce your sponsorship.
Alright? Alright!

Will be Gone for a While, Win an Ad Spot for a Month!

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 06:02:00 +0000

In the blogosphere, not blogging for about three days could be considered a "hiatus" already (ain't it?).

Okay let's cut to the chase. I won't be posting for a long while-- that is, until August 14.

Why? I'm preparing for the Geology Board Exam, which is on August 12, 13 and 14.

So I could coax you to continue visiting this site and/or dropping your Entrecards, I will give a FREE AD SPOT FOR A MONTH on this site to the one who visits this site the most during the hiatus. If you check out this site on Entrecard, it has an average price of 64-128 EC per day of advertising. I'm giving away an AD SPOT FOR A MONTH.

I will be checking out my drops inbox at the end of this hiatus.

If you're not Entrecard (why aren't you?), you could just leave a comment on this post with your name and site/email so I could contact you later.

The one with the most visits and/or drops wins.

BTW, if you're on EC, just drop, and if you leave a comment, just state that you've dropped your EC today, so double-counts may be avoided.

Also, in case of ties, I'll give the ad spots to those who are tied.

Thanks!

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: 5th Gala Performance, Expulsion Night and Probation Night

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 02:00:00 +0000

Why should I care if Toffer Rei got voted off Pinoy Idol? I don't even get to watch it in its entirety.

Jurors: Louie Ocampo, Gerard Salonga, Vina Morales

Theme: Sensual Songs

Miguel - You've Lost that Loving Feeling (The Righteous Brothers)

Louie: You were off tonight.
Me: Technicallly good, inappropriate antics. Why does he always seem angry when singing?

Bea - Yakap sa Dilim (APO Hiking Society)

Gerard: Hard performance to judge; I can see the effort, but I'm not sure if there's enough ability to be a singer.
Me: Sharp, some moments of disconnection, uncomfortable.

Sen - My Cherie Amour (Stevie Wonder)

Vina: You did a good job, sexy performance.
Me: Surprisingly confident, less mistakes, only diction needs improvement.

Cris - Bleeding Love (Leona Lewis)

Louie: I saw some sensuality. I was bothered by the notes and your diction.
Me: Big mistake at the start, effortless projection, too many wrong notes.

Iñaki - Kiss (Prince)

Vina: The sexiness showed at the end. It's good to see you're losing weight. Your voice needs more "coolness"
Me: Bad singing, good performance.

Apple - Fever (Madonna)

Gerard: You were overqualified for the song. It was a good performance.
Me: Needs a little bit more focus, but is sexy nonetheless. Cool voice.

Bunny - Emotions (Destiny's Child)

Louie: You were not in good shape tonight.
Me: Nice effort, but still kinda lacking.

Van - Bed of Roses (Bon Jovi)

Vina: Maybe this is not the right song for you.
Me: Off-rhythm and awkward

Christian - The Way You Make Me Feel (Michael Jackson)

Louie: Okay. I saw the sensuality, but you were kinda "running" in places.
Me: Cute, confident. Off-tempo near the chorus.

Laarni - Natural Woman (Celine Dion)

Gerard: Off-tempo in some parts, but I was yours the whole performance.
Me: Confident. Some eye movements were distracting, though.

Bugoy - I'll Make Love to You (Boyz II Men)

Vina: You have a great voice, but your performance needs more sensuality
Me: Nice tone, distinct style.

Liezel - Sa Aking Pag-iisa (Regine Velasquez)

Gerard: Great performance, but you have some problems with the low notes. Be careful not to move the microphone too far from your mouth.
Me: Kinda awkward. It was on pitch, but the low notes were unclear.

Voting Results:

Miguel - 74.85%
Bea - 25.15% - Expelled

Lowest Grades:

Bunny - 6.03
Miguel - 6.27
Christian - 6.33
Iñaki - 6.33

The teachers saved Miguel from probation

The scholars voted Bunny (4 votes) to be saved from probation. (Christian got 3 votes and Iñaki got 1).

To vote:

Text PDA INAKI or PDA XTIAN to 231 for Smart and Talk n' Text and to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun.

Who will be voted off:

I think it will be Christian. Who the heck will remember to text XTIAN?!?!

Pinoy Fries now has a DOMAIN NAME!

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 09:30:00 +0000

If you pay close attention to your browser address bar, the-then rakerzzz.blogspot.com is now Pinoyfries.com! Thanks a lot to Philhosting.net and Zoneedit.com.

Spread the word! Pinoyfries.com. Update your link lists, etc.

Why I Will Not Be Going to the Eraserheads Reunion Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I loved The Eraserheads back then. I remember playing their Circus album over and over again in our school service's stereo. I borrowed Cutterpillow and almost didn't return it. I bought Sticker Happy and I played it over and over, I followed them until their Carbonstereoxide days. I told all my friends about Ely Buendia leaving the band, and got so pissed when Marcus Adoro eventually left. Right now, Ely is with Pupil, Raimund Marasigan is in Sandwich, Pedicab and Cambio (along with Buddy Zabala), Marcus Adoro is with Markus Highway, and Buddy is in Cambio (with Raimund) and The Dawn. Here's an article from Philmusic.com about the reunion concert, so I won't have to give the God-awful-not-yet-final details. Okay, taking into account all the rumors, here are the reasons I won't be going to the concert:

It's a one-night only event. Not everyone can be acommodated. They should have made it a bar tour or a province tour at least.
45 minutes?!? The fans will surely want more than that. (It is rumored, though, that they will be performing 33 songs, making the concert last around two hours)
This is for the sake of what? Money? Have they really come to terms with each other?
The concert is free (with tickets to be downloaded off the sponsor's site). Think SECURITY! There will surely be an angry mob and lots of gatecrashers.
The concert is sponsored by Marlboro, and I'm not a smoker.
The concert is free and CLOSED to MINORS. WTF?!?! Because it's a Marlboro-sponsored event, I presume. SEE?
They are not reuniting for good.

Even though how much I love the Eheads, I won't be going to their reunion concert. What about you?

Aiza Seguerra wins 2 Million Pesos on The Singing Bee

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:36:00 +0000

Aiza Seguerra wins 2 Million Pesos on The Singing Bee
Video sent by spife1

Aiza Seguerra wins a million pesos for the second time on ABS-CBN's The Singing Bee. She continued the lyrics to Layla Kaylif's "Shakespeare in Love". After winning 2 million pesos, she bowed out of the competition to make way for other contestants.

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: Little Dreamers' Second Gala Night and First Expulsion Night

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 12:05:00 +0000

Judges: Jimmy Antiporda, Nina, Jeffrey Hidalgo (Pisay pride!)

Who got a "Needs Improvement" grade: Kelly and Shane

Why is the voting period so short? To avoid powervoting? I don't think it will.

Theme: Smokey Mountain Songs

Angelo - Da Coconut Nut

Jimmy: The singing was on pitch, you were confident.
Me: Once again, cute! His moves are really fit for a child performer. He really gets into it.

Wow, he was given a Superman toy for his outstanding performance last week. :)

Shane - Bestfriend

Nina: It was beautiful and on pitch.
Me: Just okay.

Kelly - Kahit Habang Buhay

Jeffrey: Take care of your notes and your movements. Just enjoy your youth.
Me: Very shaky and nervous.

Risie - Kailan

Jimmy: You are great for a young age. You hit the high note.
Me: I seem bothered by her low notes, but her high notes are okay. Quite uninspired at times.

Cristina - Mama

Nina: You seem to understand the song you're singing.
Me: Eeek, a very long off-pitch part! Her diction still needds improvement. Her high notes were good, however.

Jerome - Nahan

Jeffrey: I got the chills.
Me: Stage presence seems to be lacking, making the performance seem uninspired.

Amy - Sabi Mo

Jimmy: The singing was great, but sometimes you sing faster than the music.
Me: The song seems too grown-up for her. Why is the arrangement too short?!?! Anyways, her stae presence is great.

Dean - Street People (?)

Nina: You're a total performer. Your voice quality is great.
Me: Okay.

Leon - Better World

Jimmy: Just take care of your pitch.
Me: Nasal tone bothers me. Quite shaky. Lots of sharps.

Aubrey - Can this Be Love

Jeffrey: Just take care of your breathing. You have a great voice quality.
Me: Reminds me of Sarah Geronimo's version. Nice and on pitch. Some vowels seem too "rounded", though.

Nikki - Ligaw Tingin

Nina: The song fit you because of your stage movements.
Me: Air control needed.

Philip - Sama na Kayo

Jeffrey: I'm lost for words because of the greatness of your performance.
Me: Wow, talk about saving the best for last. Great performance and energy and charisma.

Outstanding Little Dreamers: Angelo and Philip

Voting Results:

Kelly (53.96%)
Shane (46.04%) - Voted Off

Music Video of the Day: Ako si Chris - Sayang (Parokya ni Edgar Cover)

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:56:00 +0000

Ako si Chris needs to make more videos like this and the Sugarfree cover I recently posted. He's a natural. And he does it well in a very humble way. See? More reasons to love OPM. More, more more. I hope he becomes viral with the Pinoy Youtubers.

Here's his cover of Parokya ni Edgar's Sayang:

Here's the original:

Rock on!

Music Video of the Day: Ako si Chris - Dear Kuya (Sugarfree Cover)

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:18:00 +0000

Are you Filipino? Are you Filipino but don't like OPM? Well, this video might change your mind. Ako si Chris is from New Jersey, but he loves OPM! He describes his music as "White Boy OPM ROCK ...armed with an acoustic guitar and inspiration!"

In this video he covers Sugarfree's Dear Kuya. Gotta love the accent and the heart. He sings as if it was his own language.

Here's the original by Sugarfree for your reference:

If you don't love your local music, well someone else who has a different nationality than you does!

Pinoy Pride: Boston Celtics celebrate with Manny Pacquaio

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 04:33:00 +0000

Manny Pacquiao rooted for the Boston Celtics during the 2008 NBA Finals. And now, the Celtics supported Pacquiao in his latest fight against David Diaz. In this video, the Celtics celebrate with Pacman backstage. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Sam Cassell, Rajon Rondo can be seen in this video. It was reported that Pacman asked for the Celtics' autographs, and the Celtics asked for his. Congrats Manny!

Music Video of the Day: Mute Math - Typical

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Okay, I first encountered this band years ago after searching for "Math Rock" and wow, what a listening experience. But what's better is the music video for their single Typical, which was filmed backwards. I know, Coldplay's The Scientist have done this before. But this is live performance, baby. Not impressed? Check out the live version on Jimmy Kimmel!

Here's the music vid:

Live videos after the cut:

Okay, the video was recorded backwards and then showed in reverse. Here's the original video.

Amazing? You bet!

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: Bea Muñoz and Miguel Mendoza are this Week's Probationary Scholars

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:07:00 +0000

The well-off couple in the Academy is bound to be split this weekend as one of them will be voted off this Saturday.

Miguel and Bea, along with Cris and Sen, were put on probation after the gala night featuring duet performances. Miguel and Bea sang Araw-Gabi (Regine Velasquez) while Sen and Cris performed Burn (Tina Arena)

Cris was then saved by the jurors, and Sen was saved by the scholars.

Bugoy and Liezel got the highest marks for the night by singing If I Ain't Got You by Alicia Keys.

To save either Bea or Miguel, text PDA BEA or PDA MIGUEL and send to 231 for Smart and Talk n' Text and to 2331 for Globe, TM and Sun subscribers.

Video: PBA Brawl involving Terence Leather, James Yap, Jondan Salvador and the Talk n' Text and Purefoods Team

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:00:00 +0000

I don't usually do basketball posts but here I go anyway.

This is not up to par to the Pistons-Pacers brawl years ago, but it's quite exciting in its own right.

It all starts when Terence Leather, the Talk n' Text import, is called for a foul while guarding Jondan Salvador. Salvador shoves the ball into Leather, then Leather suddenly throws the ball at Salvador. Ooops! Temper temper. Then James Yap (the husband of a former Philippine president's celebrity daughter), kicks Leather at the back of his knee (perhaps). A chase! Suddenly. Then all pandemonium breaks loose. Just watch.

BTW, James Yap already apologized to the masses for his child-like(?) behavior.

Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2: Little Dreamers' First Gala Night

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:03:00 +0000

The Little Dreamers, new additions to Pinoy Dream Academy Season 2, held their first gala night at the PDA Concert Hall. It was quite amusing and interesting to see these kids do their best. I don't think they assigned a theme for the night, for it might be too pressuring for the kids to stick to a theme.

Sorry I didn't catch the duets of the grown-up scholars last time.

Philip: Michael Jackson - Music and Me

He was on pitch, although his vocals lacked some dynamics.

Aubrey: Christina Aguilera - The Voice Within

The song was too grown up for her. Maybe because of her vocal tone, she lacked air in some parts.

Leon: Lea Salonga - Tomorrow

He has a nice range, though he goes sharp on the high notes sometimes.

Shane: Irene Cara - Fame

She was confident, although I don't personally approve of changing the "fame" in the song to "Shane". Kinda amateurish in parts, and her diction needs improvement.

Dean: Avril Lavigne - Complicated

This was the wrong song for him. He was shaky throughout the song.

Amy: Whitney Houston - The Greatest Love of All

She was cute and had a very nice range. Her diction is the only thing to be improved.

Cristina: Diana Ross - If We Hold On Together

She also has a wide range. But she needs improvement in singing the low notes.

Risie: Regine Velasquez - Tuwing Umuulan

She is pitchy, and she needs some more confidence.

Jerome: Smokey Mountain - Paraiso

He was charismatic, though there is nothing more to say about his performance.

Nikki: Lea Salonga - I Am But a Small Voice

Good. Nothing special, though.

Kelly: Mariah Carey - Hero

She needs more stage presence.

Angelo: Queen - I Want to Break Free

He was charismatic and cute. His stage presence is perfect for a kid. The audience totally loves him, that's why he was also awarded Outstanding Little Dreamer for the night.

Lame Pick of the Day: Hackley School - Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 03:00:00 +0000

I don't even wanna talk about it. Just watch. I know, they're a bunch of young kids, but why video them like that?!?!?! Well, I've been in a couple of awful covers myself, but I don't get publicized like this. Haven't heard the original? You must be young! I'll also include it here.

The original:

The cover!!!

The Untalkative Bunny - Pilot

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Damn it! Why did youtube erase those Bunny videos? Now to lament the loss, I'm sharing the pilot episode of Untalkative Bunny, which was first shown on MTV. In this episode, Bunny talks to the telemarketer.

What do we do now?

Music Video of the Day: Crowjane - Traveler

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0000

They were one of the finalists in the 2007 Red Horse Muziklaban Rock Challenge, and they are now making waves in several gigs around the metro. Can you say "chills"? Oh yeah. If this girl's voice doesn't amaze you, I don't know what else will. And did I mention she's only 21? Just watch their carrier single and music video.

The Untalkative Bunny - Smile-a-matic 3000

noreply@blogger.com (Spife) — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 04:00:00 +0000

"What a difference a smile makes," they say. But what if you had to smile all day even if you don't want to? In this episode, Bunny tries out a brace that forces him to smile. Hilarious results.