I was elated. I couldn't believe it.

As I watched him play with Mr. Bones and the Boneyard Circus, I wondered what I’d ask him.

Several guitar licks later, I gathered my courage and called out, "Jun!"

He looked briefly at me and my friends. Then, I introduced myself.

But first, I had to ask my friends to take my photo with him. Couldn’t help it. I’m such a fanboy.

Teen prodigy

For those who don't know, Jun Lopito is a guitar god, just like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Keith Richards, all of whom he emulated.

Wolfgang’s Basti Artadi said as much to music writer Eric Cauncho in 1996. Manuel Legarda also sang his praises then, saying, “He’s not the best technically, but as a musician…he has the feel, and he knows how to use it.”

The son of the television host Lopito, Jun was a teenage wunderkind, playing

When boy bands and acoustic acts dominated the local music scene not too long ago, an anthemic rock piece called "Noypi" came out out of nowhere and opened a new chapter for Pinoy Rock.

That was in 2004.

Nine years later, vocalist Bamboo Mañalac feels something as momentous  is due to kick Pinoy rock to higher gear.

A new flourishing of local bands

"Something is bubbling and I can feel may mangyayaring malaki. We're on the cusp of that, whatever that is," he told Yahoo! Philippines OMG!

Bamboo famously split with Rivermaya in 1998 and then roared back to the moribund band scene with a new group also called Bamboo and the song “Noypi.”

Now a solo artist himself, Bamboo sees a new flourishing phase for local bands and not necessarily with him at the helm.

A good time to be an artist

He feels the return of a renewed atmosphere, regardless of whoever will serve as its flagship act. "I like

After Maricel Soriano was removed from the ABS-CBN teleserye, “Bukas Na Lang Kita Mamahalin,” the status of the Diamond Star in the Kapamilya network has been put under question and scrutiny.

Dawn Zulueta, who replaced Maricel in the series following Maricel’s “unfortunate incident” involving lead actor Gerald Anderson, said it right: “Sayang.”

Maricel has been in the business for decades, winning countless awards and hundreds of movies and TV dramas. And with her well-known reputation as being the “Taray Queen,” whatever transpired between her and Gerald may simply have been Maricel Soriano being, well, Maricel Soriano.

Maricel forgot her ‘place’?

But doesn’t age and experience mellow people out? What’s one or two artistic “stumbles” by a fellow actor? I’m sure she has encountered far worse co-stars in the past and has had to deal with “delays” in the tapings because actors didn’t arrive on time.

ALSO READ: Judy Ann irked by rumors of Ryan’s alleged infidelity

And couldn’t she have held her

Who will be the better judge: Mariah Carey or Nicki Minaj?

Clearly, this was the question viewers want answered during the season 12 premiere of “American Idol,” which aired in the Philippines on Thursday, January 17.

If we’re to base it on the buzz surrounding the show (after all, the episode where the reported confrontation between the two is yet to air), it may be the show’s biggest hook this season.

Proof: Team Mariah versusTeam Nicki was the theme of the “American Idol” season 12 premiere special screening of Star World at the URBN Bar and Kitchen in Taguig Bar, where the entertainment media were asked to choose between the “Super Bass” star and the “We Belong Together” diva (Mariah was the clear favorite).

But watching the premiere, it turns out the diva-off isn’t the season’s biggest draw; the show’s best bet to proving it is indeed the reality singing show to beat is the chemistry of the “American Idol” judging panel.

For years, “Idol” has suffered due to its judges. During his

“Les Miserables” hits theaters in Manila buoyed by (or saddled with) sky-high expectations.

(UPDATE) Who would think someone like Ricky Lo would get into this predicament?

In what appeared to be his routine interview in just another Hollywood trip, Lo never saw it coming.

Lo is now picking up the pieces in what appears to be a controversial situation he is most familiar with, being the entertainment industry veteran who almost always beat colleagues to the draw in gathering the juiciest scoops in the biz.

Any difference between local and Hollywood interviews?

But as the dust cleared, Lo might have learned what he should have known for a long time.

That is, to draw the line between interviewing local celebrities and A-list Hollywood actors.

His controversial interview with “Les Miserables” lead actress Anne Hathaway drew mixed reactions from netizens and fellow entertainment personalities after the Hollywood star refused to answer his questions, and other queries with a mere one- to two-word response, seething with obvious sarcasm and irritation.