SPARKLE Signed These Artists for Stardom!

This was sucha  feel good blog conference as we got to talk to Zonia Mejia, Radson Flores, Lexi Gonzales, Rabiya Mateo, Katrina Chavez, Kirst Viray, Anthony Rosaldo, Nikki Co and Jeric Gonzales a few days ago. This was after they signed up with SPARKLE on a ceremony they called Signed for Stardom, a fitting title for people who are planning to do even more this year.

Anthony Rosaldo expressed how happy he was that he got renewed for a few more years with the network. It's his dream to always be in front of the stage, to act, as it has been his passion even at an early age. Aside from his Weekend All Out Sundays show, he's doing several TV shows, singing engagements and a coffee business he's very proud of. We're excited to what he's planning to do in the next few months with Sparkle management.

Rabiya Mateo is wishing for a project together with Jeric Gonzales. She is now going to be doing hosting stints in new shows on the network that people should watch out for. She will still be doing acting jobs but may have to concentrate more on hosting since she wanted to do that since she got in Sparkle.

Jeric Gonzales felt the same, he wants to work with Rabiya and he's happy that he got to sign contracts with her, to perhaps grow together career wise. He felt blessed he got international awards for the films he did recently, excited to share a Philippine adaptation of a Korean drama which he will be doing next.

Zonia is doing workshops in between projects so she can hone her skills even more. She's thankful that Sparkle is guiding her of what she needs to better do her work in the network.

Lexi Gonzales praises the GMA bosses and the Starstruck management for training them, to eventually land these opportunities given to them via Sparkle.

Radson Flores is overwhelmed about the projects he landed, even if he was sort of an accidental actor. He was just approached by a talent scout in a mall. He's also included in the big Voltes V project which will be out soon. In two years, he feels he still has a lot to learn and he knows whatevery Sparkle has in plan for him, he's going to do his best in every project.

 

Nikki Co is no ordinary guy, He graduated Business and Finance, also invested in real estate while he was working in GMA. He is ready to take on bigger roles, hopefully land a lead role soon as he is being groomed as one. He's got the body and face for it, and he's ready!

Katrina Chavez feels this management deal with Sparkle is such a blessing. She's currently working in the IT industry but when projects arrive, she's planning to do them head on as one of the prettiest faces in the network today. She already has pageant experience and now wants to concentrate in her acting career. Although if the opportunity arise, she can go back to pageants because she enjoyed doing that the last time.

Kirst Viray is now a restaurateur but is also appearing in severa TV projects and doing guestings. He's a model, so whatever opportunities that GMA and Sparkle give him, he's always game for it. As for his hair, GMA prefers it to be long but if the role fits, he's okay to lose it. He's single now, and plans to use that time to work seriously.

Here's our interview with them a few days ago, enjoy!

Jeric Gonzales Releases New Single HIHINTAYIN KITA

That good looking tall guy with boy next door looks and fit physique just isn't stopping in his game. Jeric Gonzales just recently released his new single "Hihintayin Kita" (I'll wait for you), a sad ballad written by Direk Louie Ignacio for the movie he's also in (which will come out soon). It was written specifically for it and was inspired by the story, it was only while they were working on set that Direk said he'll be singing the theme song for it, so he was quite surprised.

Here's our interview with Jeric this afternoon, enjoy!

While I was talking to him, he distinctly remembers the time when he did the front act for legendary David Pomeranz when he did a concert in Quezon a few years back. He also mentioned how he always make it a point to connect with the women being paired with him so when they do intimate scenes, he wouldn't cause them to be uncomfortable when they're with him. He also affirms that he doesn't fall in love with the beautiful women being paired with him as he's very professional. I'm so glad hearing that.

Anyway, if you're a fan or just want to hear new music, check out Jeric Gonzales' music on streaming platforms available worldwide. He's a very nice chap.

Jeric Gonzales, Abel Estanislao and Jak Roberto Now Sings as 3logy

There's this boy group, not necessarily a boy band, which I find so unfair because just look at them! It's Jeric Gonzales, Abel Estanislao and Jak Roberto, three guys who have really good individual careers, are joining together to form a group called 3logy. I did say unfair right?

Jeric's been doing a lot of Magpakailanman and Karelasyon episodes. Aside from that, he's in the Dingdong Dantes starrer called Pari 'Koy where he plays Eli Marasigan's character. Aside from a very successful acting career, he's a very spirited singer and they've managed to work out this group when people from GMA Artist Center noticed that they actually look good together when they had workshops a couple of months ago. Abel Estanislao on the other hand has two shows on his helm. He's in the Kristoffer Martin -  Joyce Ching show Healing Hearts and plays Earl while he also is in the Ruru Madrid - Gabbi Garcia prime time show Let the Love Begin (of which I happily saw him again yesterday!). Jak Roberto on the other hand is still in Half Sisters and and the same show as Abel in Pari 'Koy. Evidently, they're all successful in their own right, but why form 3logy?

 

Jak Roberto says "GMA Artist Center saw us first and decided that we sing most of the theme songs of the recent Koreanovelas shown on our station. The first one we ever did was the revived version of "Maybe It's You" that was used for Kim Sam Soon. We all enjoy singing, Jeric can play instruments, so does Abel, and I on the other hand already had a group before so it wasn't really hard to do this. We know our voices. Their initial plan was more of be like the APO Hiking Society where we'd do mostly revival songs, and do it in a more acoustic way. We all played the guitar initially, but we transitioned doing the Koreanovela's theme later on. It's a bit hard to convince people because there are a lot of other artists who probably are better than us but we prepare very hard before a performance just so people would like our music. We're not here to impress, our intention is so that people would enjoy, get entertained when we sing.We have small problems in scheduling because we work in different times. It's a challenge because it's difficult to form a song when one of the members isn't there, including syncing, rehearsals too. We also had to beg off with some of our mall shows because of that, but it's all good. Zeb Zuniga helps us in vocals and Mikoy too, even in blending. I get inspired with singers like Duncan Ramos, I do falsetto's and it's difficult. Maybe we can do a few originals and a few Koreanovela songs as well."

Abel adds "It's in the workshop, that's where they started it all. Mikoy Morales made us our very first original song and that's what we've been singing lately which is called "Pwede Ba!". We sang this first single in Sunday All Stars. Hopefully there will be plans to have an album too, but we prioritized to release something digital first and that's what we have now in OPM2GO.com. Mikoy is currently making more music for us as he says. We're really excited for that. We're also trying to compose, but it hasn't materialized yet. Mikoy is a genius, he mastered that part. He makes good songs, I like it as our voices are not into those dance tracks. I think we'll fit love songs better. That's where you'll hear more blending, as what we're gunning for. As for relationships, mine's a bit complicated. We're not a boyband, I started as a musician before I did showbiz. I was doing jazz and playing in Stonehouse, I did sessions there, music is in my heart, it's my passion. Right now, we're doing this together with our individual shows. We don't have a lead singer, it just depends on the song so we usually alternate. In Pwede Ba, I suggested a few things so when we recorded it he liked it and that landed in the song, we do have small creative inputs. We have covers, we have originals, (then they sang Gusto Kita by Gino Padilla during this bit). I like Rannie Raymundo's music, he sings differently when live. We do work hard in Artist Center, in the next few months I hope the group gets more well known and perhaps get more following too."

Jeric also says "There was one workshop where we were spotted and they knew right then and there that we looked very good together, we have chemistry, so they thought of bringing us together. Then we said "why not?!, why don't we try that!". We're all single, so the song "Pwede Ba" was really perfect for us. We like love songs because we're sweet guys really! LOL. We've been working hard as a group, we bond, we rehearse a lot. We practice our song over and over again so we'd sound good when we perform, and also improve even more. We have challenges because my schedule is different working in Pari 'Koy but we're doing good. We've rehearsed a few songs now so we can do something more if needed be, but we're also concentrating on the Koreanovela songs we can do in our repertoire. I personally like artists that are more in the RnB side, so I get inspired with JayR and Gary V. I do high notes but it depends on the song. Hopefully, we can get an album, that's our goal."

These good looking guys, their songs, all but have nowhere to go but up. Aside from their very promising songs, you can look forward to see them promote not just their shows... but their group as well. You should definitely watch out for 3logy as they come out with more songs, be in more shows in malls, and TV very soon. I can't wait to see their first album, hopefully they could release one before the year ends. They hold a lot of promise, it's just a matter of time when you'll love them all over again when they sing their way into your hearts very soon. Congratulations Jeric, Abel and Jak! This is just the beginning!

Here's a preview of their latest single Pwede Ba

For more information about their artists:

Official GMA Artist Center

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

http://gmanetwork.com/artistcenter

Chynna Ortaleza for Dementia

Just like you, I've been watching her on TV for the longest time. She's now doing serious acting both on TV and movies. Speaking of which, she's also starring on an independently produced film called DIMENSIA with no less than the one and only Superstar Ms. Nora Aunor. It's a tall order for everyone to say the least to be working with Nora, let alone be in scene with her. Chynna would have been very nervous, we got that vibe from her but she feels very blessed to have been able to do it.

Chynna tells us about the Director Perci Intalan's style and says "If we are on a take or if he's explaining something, it's like you were talking to your brother and he doesn't stop himself from telling you what needs to be done. He also tells it nicely and he never got angry on the set. He kept it happy so all of us felt that way all throughout the filming. We also felt like he was a friend and not just a Director. His system on how he get things done was unbelievable. We did if fast and I guess that's where his experience in production goes as we get the job done without getting tired at all. That's why Ms. Nora also loves him, you would not get the same intensity if he didn't care about his actors and he knows that. He didn't even show us the film and I was so surprised when I saw the final product because I couldn't even recognize myself. For a director who had just done his film debut, this is really excellent. It's even better than some of the films done by masters of Philippine cinema. He's also going to get better at this so just imagine. We also got this to be an entry in Portugal for this genre. I hope I find time to go there too and experience that to get feedback from other nationalities."

"Dimensia as accorded by Director Perci Intalan's vision is to really try to reshape horror in the Philippines. The progression for that genre in Japan and Thailand is really good and we're kinda stuck with our own monsters and there's really nothing new. It's not super original but it's well made. It's not a sell out horror flick and we want to show them the workings of the mind. Sometimes fear comes from you. That's why it's called Dimentia. At first you might get scared but there's drama, there's a story. That's going to be your takeaway, you think about what happens in your life after the movie. That's the great thing about Perci Intalan's film. The cinematography and sound is clean and I'm so proud of it. That's why I always ask people to watch it. Batanes is so amazing. It's so sad sometimes that we make really good movies but we don't see people watching it that much. Then people from other countries notice it faster than we do. So if you like the film, please see it and tell other people about it. I hope they get to make more films because they've done a great job, hopefully to revamp Philippine cinema."

"It is horror but it's not really to scare people, we don't want this to bother you but rather think. That's the intention. We want you to enjoy the film but take away what happens when a person has Dimensia. We want you to think about your own reality. I really like the first few reactions we got from the people watching the film. They have really mixed opinions. Working with Nora was in my bucketlist, I had this audition last February 14. Even if I didn't have a date, I was glad because the gift was mind boggling that it was Nora Aunor that I was going to work with. I couldn't really believe it. It took me two weeks to finally realize I was really going to work with her. Perci was always telling jokes about it. I hope every actor gets to work with her. They will really learn a lot. We were in Batanes for two weeks, I was still star struck. Even if she didn't treat me like I was, after a scene, she told her manager to pull me and said to me "You were great in that scene!"...after she said that, I just broke down. I just said, because that complement came from you. I was really overwhelmed. She was laughing at me, but I felt like I won an Oscar."

"Initially, they were having a hard time finding the young Olivia to play the younger me on the film because they couldn't find one that would be able to look like my eyes on the film. The stares I do, they had a hard time. Christine Joy arrived, and they casted her. She's believable like me so it was like perfect for the casting. Dimentia is a little chaotic for Mara Fabre. Things will unravel in the middle of the film, everything is inserted and you wouldn't be bored like putting the pieces of the puzzle they had to put together. Like the Monet painting she was trying to solve. The doll was Olivia's by the way, it's not Maria Leonora Teresa."

We then watched the film the day after. I must say they did do it differently. I don't want to spoil the story for you but in a nutshell, the performance highlights were when Chynna was in shackles. You should watch out also for Nora Aunor's tight facial shots because you will be moved by her eyes much like her other films have always shown. It's in the eyes.

The magnificent landscape views in Batanes is like a dream, you'll see it as a perfect backdraft for the story and make the people see a part of the Philippines that's less traveled. You'll really be creeped out on parts of the film wherein they did intend to scare you. I didn't find Jasmine Curtis' performance too good on some scenes but we can laud her on those where she got possessed which comes a little later on the film. Overall, it would come to a point where it'll make you think. This is exactly the reason why Perci Intalan made this film, he has achieved his story telling even on a very limited budget. That's massively important, to just get your point across. I can imagine this would have been better with more computer graphics especially on perceiving a more contemporary ghost like appearance on the ghost that's in the film. It's already being shown on theaters (since the 24th!) so I suggest you take the trip to the mall and watch it especially because these are probably one of the few films that Nora Aunor will make in this decade.

Good job Chynna! You did good.

For more information about their movie:

Dimentia

Like them on Facebook


Visit their official website

https://www.facebook.com/Dementia2014Movie

Thea Tolentino @ 18

We went all the way to Calamba, Laguna to visit the hometown of the once little girl who dreamed of someday, making it big in the showbiz industry. Through the reality show Protegè, one of GMA's prized actresses was born... and clearly, she has blossomed into a colorful butterfly... a lady. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Thea Tolentino as she celebrates her 18th birthday. Oh yes, the Half Sister star is celebrating her debut intimately with family, friends and some celebrities. I find her very nice contrary to the role she's playing in that series which I regularly watch. Let me give you a rundown on what happened that evening.

Rita De Guzman performed a doxology to start the program. She's pretty dope. I have seen her perform quite a number of times and she's a pro. She also opened for the concert of Aiai and Rico J a few weeks back and this, she did with justice. Some even couldn't help but clap after her song. It's a prayer though. Then the debutante entered the venue.

All eyes were on her as she came out with a full gown created by world renowned designer Francis Libiran. It looked so good on her and obviously she's ready to show some serious skin. The back and the gown's detail up close was definitely a show stopper and it accentuates her without being too vulgar in the right places. She is indeed claiming it, like a gorgeous butterfly opening her wings.

Kim Rodriguez, Jeric Gonzales, K-La Rivera, Anikka Camaya Gives Back To Heroes of Marikina

Kim Rodriguez, Jeric Gonzales, Anikka Camaya and K-La Rivera

It was a nice afternoon and a couple of stars from GMA Artist Center celebrated their birthdays. What better way to spend it but by making sure our heroes from Marikina City gets covered. Kim Rodriguez, Jeric Gonzales, K-La Rivera and Anikka Camaya went all the way here to give needed supplies for the security and rescue personnel of one of the cleanest and greenest places in Metro Manila. We've seen that first hand yesterday.

To tell you honestly I haven't met them before, and this was somewhat an introduction. With a few questions, I was surprised that they are doing projects in GMA primetime, some of them even have crossed over and plan to make shows and an album later this year. It's pretty good they get exposed to charity work early on as I've seen what goodness comes out of it. I've seen the people so happy to meet artists from the Kapuso network too.

Introductions had to be done first, to get a little familiar with them and the rescuers and security teams of Marikina

Barangay Captain Bernard Bernardo says thank you to everyone who attended the event. He also thanked GMA Artist Center who facilitated and chose their community among others in the metro.

They also thanked them for choosing their organization.

The volunteers, the rescuers and security personnel of Sta. Elena Marikina also joined the part where they had to sing with the artists during the event.