Nickie Wang, Issue Editor nickie.standard@gmail.com
C4
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2018
Today’s rising star prototype 'The Clash' host Regine Velasquez-Alcasid
YUGEL LOSORATA WHILE in a press conference featuring singer-songwriter TJ Monterde, I found out he’s 27 and by instinct asked him about his take on the “27 club” subject — that still-growing list of legendary musicians who died or killed themselves at age 27. I wasn’t really sure if he was into that intriguing detail in mainstream rock history. Yet, I liked his answer as he contemplated about his age being a “mid-life crisis in your 20s,” emotionally struggling if one has achieved enough in life or not. He somehow thought that such transition could have made it difficult for some 27-year-old celebrities to survive beyond it. By his reply alone TJ came across as a guy who knows how to make something out of one seemingly senseless. Small wonder his star is rising steadily; he does things with a lot of sense. “I’m so thrilled for this new chapter and continue making music for all,” he said after renewing his recording deal with Polyeast Records which has been his home label for six years. If you watch him play live, you will notice that someone is backing him up vocally and the blending sounds good. He’s actually using a gadget that allows his own voice to sing with him in a different pitch. It meant there’s no way the second voice will hit a wrong note. TJ also makes use of an attractivelooking guitar. In another presscon, he let me borrow and play it myself in front of bloggers . He doesn’t settle to just appearing handsome himself; his equipment should go with the appeal. Prior to his first major concert last June, he expressed with gratitude, “Not everyone is given a chance to express himself though music.” By now it is known that A-lister KZ Tandingan is his girlfriend. Some will say merely the heart decides on the issue of romance, but falling for a co-artist is a decision that can affect one’s career to some extent. Not all fall for the right person. Many fans of Kurt Cobain, a 27 Club casualty, are likely to agree. TJ just did a Valentine concert with KZ in Cagayan De Oro, his hometown. Last month his single “Mahika” won “Pop Song of the Year” at the Wish Music Awards. Moments before winning he humbly told me, “A nomination is more than enough acknowledgment for me.” The song’s music video has amassed more than a million views on YouTube. His latest single “Kahit Kunwari” stayed in the top ten of MYX Weekly Countdown for six consecutive weeks. TJ has since released three albums. His hit songs include “Ikaw At Ako”, “Dating Tayo”, “Tulad Mo”, and “Imahinasyon.”
Singersongwriter TJ Monterde
‘THE CLASH’
draws hundreds of singing aspirants
'La Luna Sangre,' the last installment in the popular "Moonstone" trilogy about warring vampires and werewolves, has started counting down to its finale.
‘LA LUNA SANGRE’
finale branded apocalyptic A S THE dreaded apocalypse nears, can Tristan (Daniel Padilla) and Malia (Kathryn Berbardo) use love as their ultimate weapon to defeat Sandrino (Richard Gutierrez) in the upcoming finale of ABS-CBN’s hit fantasy action series La Luna Sangre?
Tension continues to rise in the show’s last two weeks especially after Sandrino discovered that Tristan had betrayed him and sided with Malia once more. Now, the Supremo must do everything he can to stop his brother from putting all his efforts in vain. Tristan, meanwhile, remains confident that he will emerge victorious in the end together with his love, Malia. Since the beginning, Malia has always had the heart to love and serve as the ‘bagong itinakda.’ She did her best for her family and for her kind and continued to fight in the name of justice and for peace. Malia defied fate when she still chose to love and be with Tristan, even if the prophecy said that he will become her arch enemy.
NAR CABICO wins at 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies
'La Luna Sangre' lead stars Richard Gutierrez, Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla arrive at the ABS-CBN building for the series' thanksgiving presscon.
Meanwhile, Tristan may have succumbed to bitterness and hate once, but his heart remains pure and loving. Love has always motivated him to work hard and provide for his family. It was also because of his love for his father that he joined the Moonchasers and completely entered the world of werewolves and vampires. La Luna Sangre is the third installment of the hit Imortal trilogy. The show is one of the most watched programs in the country on weeknights and one of the most talked about on social media. It even extended viewers experience online by creating a spin off
web series on iWant TV titled Youtopia, the Moonchasers.ph website, and the La Luna Sangre filter and game apps. The show may be ending soon but fans can still keep the La Luna Sangre fever by buying exclusive merchandise at the ABS-CBN store. Don’t miss the last two weeks La Luna Sangre, weeknights after FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano on ABS-CBN and on ABS-CBN HD (SkyCable ch 167). Catch up on the show’s past episodes via iWant TV or skyondemand.com.ph for Sky subscribers. For more updates, follow @starcreatives on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
PAGEANT STAGE
Inaugural Turismo Filipina beauty tilt launched
Some of the candidates vying at the first edition of Turismo Filipina, which aims to train the spotlight on rural tourism, tourism sports, sustainable eco-tourism, religion tourism as well as women empowerment.
Hundreds of hopefuls from the Queen City of the South invaded the Cebu-leg auditions of GMA Network’s The Clash last Saturday. Aspiring Cebuano singers flocked to the Gaisano Island Mall Mactan to take their chance in the first leg of auditions for the country’s much awaited superstar search. Asia’s Songbird Regine VelasquezAlcasid travelled to the province to personally lead the auditions. She expressed her admiration to all the Cebuano aspirants. “Magagaling talaga ang mga tagaCebu pagdating sa pagkanta. A lot of the singers I know came here kaya excited ako to welcome them,” she said. The multitalented Kapuso star said she’s excited for the commencement of the singing competition because it is different from the previous contests the Network has produced. “Kakaiba siya sa mga singing contests na ginawa ng GMA before. Hindi siya parang through elimination lang or idedefend mo yung title mo. Dito kasi may one-on-one and pipili ka ng makakalaban mo. And I am excited kasi bumabalik na kami ulit to find a new breed of singers kasi may ibang generation na eh. Although meron na dati na mas gumaling pa through experience and time,” Regine added. Directors Bert de Leon and Louie Ignacio joined Regine in screening the Cebuano hopefuls.
TURISMO Filipina 2018, the newest addition to the ever growing beauty pageants, was launched recently introducing 25 official candidates representing the various regions in the country. Turismo Filipina 2018, a tourismoriented national pageant, organized by Rex Rubio, aims to help promote the different local festivals held annually throughout the country. The winner of Turismo Filipina 2018 will earn the right to represent the Philippines at the first edition of the Turismo Filipina International 2018, with candidates from various Filipino communities abroad coming over in Manila to compete in December 2018. Turismo Filipina 2018 will have her court of honor which will include Turismo Filipina Luzon, Turismo Filipina Visayas and Turismo Filipina Mindanao. Turismo Filipina Agri-Eco special award will also
be at stake. “Let us help bring back a vibrant domestic tourism through this pageant,” said Rubio, also the national pageant director, at the launching of the pageant. “We would give equal opportunity to all levels of local festivals, not just the major tourist festivals in the country. We want to help local government expose and promote to the international community other festivals as potential tourism attraction, to boost their products as well,” Rubio said. Aiming to establish a name in the roster of national beauty pageants, Turismo Filipina 2018 hopes to play an important role in the country’s domestic campaign for rural tourism, tourism sports, environmental conservation, sustainable eco-tourism, religion tourism as well as women empowerment. The grant coronation of Turismo Filipinas 2018 will be held on June 9. Eton Concepcion
Kapuso talent Nar Cabico shares a snap of him during the 34th PMPC Star Awards for Movies.
GMA Artist Center star Nar Cabico is grateful to have his work recognized at the 34th Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC) Star Awards as the Movie Original Theme Song of the Year. Following his chart-topping debut single and The One That Got Away theme song “Gaga,” Nar wrote “Natapos Tayo” as the official theme song for the film All Of You. Its message of longing and regret were gratified through his strong vocals, serving the finishing touch to the bittersweet narrative. For his writing process, Nar shares that he likes getting inspiration from friends who have gone through different heartbreaks. “Maraming available na kwento kahit saan, at masayang gawan ng kanta ‘yon kasi masayang makarelate sa iba’t ibang tao,” Nar shares. He also resigns to his love for music as the reason for creating relatable and heart-piercing songs. “When you finally find something na yun talaga yung calling mo, it’s easy to put your heart in it. And when it comes to music, I find it a passion na kailangan ko talagang pagsilbihan,” Nar justifies. Nar admits to being a slave to his craft, and with his penchant for detail, completing an album requires him to focus on songs that build a story which people can relate to. Meanwhile, his singles “Gaga” and “Natapos Tayo” can be streamed and downloaded on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and various digital stores nationwide.