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E ntertainment
Weekend
BALITA
Lea Salonga's concert makes it to Billboard’s Classical Crossover Album chart
LEA SALONGA
MAniLA (Mabuhay) — Lea Salonga could not hide her excitement as she made it to Billboard’s Classical Crossover Album chart. Salonga’s 2019 concert at the Sydney Opera House in Australia ranked seventh following "10" by Piano Guys, "Picture This" and "Merry Little Christmas" both by Mat & Savanna Shaw, "S&M2" by Metallica and San Francisco Symphony, "Classic Diamonds" by Neil Diamond and the London Symphone Orhestra at the 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and 2nd spots, respectively. Topping the list is "Believe" by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. “OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m on a Billboard chart,” exclaimed Salonga on Twitter after posting a screenshot of the list. The same concert of Salonga was shown in the United States last month as part of the "Broadway's Best" lineup of PBS. The Tony Award winner performed her signature songs from "Miss Saigon," "Les Misérables," "Aladdin," and "Mulan" in the Sydney concert. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Salonga has rescheduled her North American tour to 2021. Nonetheless, the "Voice of the Philippines" coach has been busy with virtual gigs during the quarantine, such as her Facebook live concert that raised P1 million in just one hour for vulnerable sectors amid the COVID-19 crisis. She also joined the likes of Meryl Streep, Neil Patrick Harris, and Lin-Manuel Miranda in an online concert and fundraiser last April. The show honored Stephen Sondheim, considered one of the most important figures of 20th-century musical theater. His works as a composer and lyricist include "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "Into the Woods," and "West Side Story." (MNS)
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Joshua Garcia buffing up for role in ‘Keys to the Heart’
J
o s hua Garcia is looking forward for shooting to start on the Filipino adaptation of the South Korean drama film “Keys to the Heart” this coming year.
Garcia said he has been busy training for the movie so he may play his role effectively. “S obr a ng e xc ite d akong gawin itong film. Ang tagal na, hindi pa rin namin nagagawa. Naghahanda lang kami. Ngayon nagte-training ako kasi 'yung character ko dito, medyo ma-muscle na. Ibang level na
'yung gagawin ko next year,” he said. In an announcement last October, ABS-CBN Films managing director Olivia Lamasan said the local version will star Garcia, Zaijan Jaranilla, and Charo Santos-Concio. Also part of the cast is showbiz newcomer Daniela Stranner, with Dan Villegas as director. “Siyempre challenging dahil bagong character ito. Excited akong makatrabaho si Zaijan, Ma’am Charo and si Daniella,” Garcia said. According to Garcia, he wants to be at his best when they begin filming because he does not want to disappoint anyone, especially San-
tos-Concio. “Hindi ko pa siya nakakatrabaho pero excited akong makatrabaho siya. Gusto ko makita 'yung kalalabasan ng mga eksena. Nai-imagine ko na. Sana hindi ako maging sakit ng ulo sa set namin kasi nakakahiya naman kay Ma’am Charo. Sobrang excited lang ako. Pati si Zaijan, grabe. Dalawa silang magaling,” he said. Released in 2018, South Korea’s “Keys to the Heart” centers on a former boxing titlist who reconnects with his estranged brother, a piano prodigy with savant syndrome. In ABS-CBN Films’ remake, Garcia w ill
JOSHUA GARCIA
portray the boxer, while Jaranilla will play the younger brother with autism, according to Lamasan. A target release for “Keys to the Heart” has yet to be announced. (MNS)
Arjo Atayde hopes to work with girlfriend Maine Mendoza MAniLA (Mabuhay) — Arjo Atayde said he hopes to get the chance to work with his girlfriend, Maine Mendoza, in the future. The Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor made the statement during a virtual briefing with the media on Tuesday, when asked about the male and female personalities he hopes to have a showbiz project with. "Anything, just something different," he said when prodded about his preferred genre should ARJO & MAINE he get the chance to work with Mendoza. "Kahit ano po, basta makatrabaho ko siya and something that we would both enjoy and present something new," he added. Mendoza recently took to social media to congratulate Atayde for his big win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards, saying she is her boyfriend's "biggest fan."
Pressed for comment, Atayde said he dedicates his award not just to her, but also to his family and everyone who believed in him and his craft. "I'm very happy, of course. I'm very happy and blessed, and she knows naman what I have to say. And I just dedicate this to her. She's an inspiration to me. She's my core," he said.
"Basta we celebrated na lang on our own and, of course, I'm very happy that she messaged me. With or without the post, she congratulated me na so it's more than enough," he added. "I don't need to be posted but I really appreciate it when she does." "I'm very happy, I appreciate her in every single way." A side f rom Mendoz a, Atayde said he wishes to have the opportunity to work with John Lloyd Cruz. His wish list for Hollywood personalities include Denzel Washington, Robert de Niro, Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Eddie Redmayne, Miles Teller, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Kevin Hart, Will Ferrell, Meryl Streep, and Halle Berry. "Mostly also a lot of senior actors that we have in the Philippines, not only Hollywood. Ang dami ko pa pong pangarap na makatrabaho na senior actors natin dito sa Pilipinas," he said. (MNS)
Paolo Contis teases new film 'A Faroe Way Land' with Yen Santos
YEN & PAOLO
MAniLA (Mabuhay) — A f ter the success of " Through Night and Day," Paolo Contis has a new movie set in the far north! On Instagram, the actor posted a photo with his co-star Yen Santos, sharing the names of their characters and the title of the film. "Meet Mahjoy and Nico... This is their story
from #AFaroeWayLand," he said. The film is set in the Danish territory Faroe Islands, located somewhere southeast of Iceland—the setting of "Through Night and Day." Yen also posted photos of her and Paolo looking cozy in winter clothes. Of course, both actors couldn't resist sharing some snaps of the ma-
jestic views in the Faroe Islands. "Ayoko na umuwi," Yen said in another IG post. Meanwhile, Mavx Productions posted a teaser and behind-the-scenes video on YouTube showing various sights on the film location. Mavx Productions is also the team behind "Through Night and Day." (MNS)
