omg! Philippines News Blog

  • Creed's concert Sunday night (Nov. 11) at the Smart Araneta Coliseum almost ended without Filipino fans hearing the band's most popular songs—no thanks to a mid-concert leg injury that overtook lead singer Scott Stapp.

    Stapp's leg cramped up in the middle of Creed's performance which forced him to make an unplanned exit. Members of Creed's entourage escorted Stapp off the stage after the tenth song. The rest of the band segued into an impromptu instrumental ad lib as the crowd awaited Stapp's return.

    Before leaving the stage, the singer told the crowd, "Nothing can stop us. Have faith. For those of you who pray, pray for me."

    Sources said Stapp's leg joint popped as a result of his physically draining stage moves. It took just about 10 minutes for the frontman to stride back onstage to loud applause from the audience.

    Anxious minutes

    The injury that halted the night's continuous flow of heavy distorted guitars and Stapp's distinctive vocals were anxious moments for fans who, up to that

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  • Hallyu star Lee Min Ho, popularly known for his role as Goo Jun Pyo in the Koreanovela "Boys over Flowers," will make the rounds in Manila as the newest endorser of retail brand Bench.

    Min Ho joins the roster of Bench's high-profile foreign endorsers, such as Adam Levine, Liam Hemsworth and Super Junior members Choi Siwon and Lee Donghae.

    Filipino fans will get the chance to meet Min Ho in the Benchsetter Fun Meet at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Friday, November 16. Minho also holds an autograph session on Sunday, November 18, at SM North EDSA The Block Atrium in Quezon City (3 p.m.), Glorietta 5 in Makati (5 p.m.) and SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City (7 p.m.).

    Min Ho's breakthrough role as F4 leader Goo Jun Pyo in "Boys Over Flowers (BOF)" happened in 2009. Following his phenomenal success, Min Ho kept his star burning in succeeding TV dramas, two of which were also shown locally:  "Personal Preference" and "City Hunter." His excellent acting and swoon-worthy looks landed him more

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  • International superstar Jennifer Lopez is set to make her Filipino fans dance the night away on her first ever Manila concert "Dance Again World Tour" at the Mall of Asia Arena on November 26.

    After thirteen years as a singer, selling over 70 millions of albums worldwide, Jennifer makes "Dance Again" as her first ever headlining tour, which kicked-off in Panama City on June 14. Among her stops are Europe, Asia, Australia, Central America and North America.

    Jennifer, popularly known as JLo, will take her fans back from her "Jenny from the Block" days to her now glitzier and fiercer "LOVE?" phase at the concert.

    As we count down the days to see JLo rock the Manila stage, here's what we can look forward to "Dance Again World Tour."

    1.       Four-part concert
    Known for being a total performer, JLo will surely not disappoint fans with her highly-pumped up concert, amazing dance choreography and glamorous production design. Concert reviews and setlist suggest that the concert is split into

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  • Senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III (NPPA Images)

    Will he apologize this time?

    Kerry Kennedy, daughter of the late US senator Robert F. Kennedy, has released a letter condemning Sen. Tito Sotto for plagiarizing her father's 1966 Day of Affirmation Speech in remarks against the RH Bill on the Senate floor last September 5, 2012.

    Kennedy said, "Neither Senator Sotto nor anyone associated with him contacted us (Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights) for permission, and he failed to cite the remarks as those of Robert Kennedy, presenting them instead as his own words."

    Sotto, who is also a noontime TV show host and comedian, had denied plagiarizing Kennedy's speech, recalling that the passage he mentioned in his speech came "from a friend." Sotto delivered the passages in Tagalog, apparently to conceal the plagiarism. But Kennedy said that such a translation was still unauthorized copying.

    "The Day of Affirmation speech is an internationally well-known and frequently referenced piece of American rhetoric," Kennedy further

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  • The reformed—and renewed—rock group Creed, known for their anthemic, Christian-themed songs, is set to land in Manila on Friday, Nov. 9. The band is flying in a gig in Jakarta, Indonesia.

    The arrival date gives Creed two nights to chill before the band's scheduled show on Sunday, Nov. 11, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

    >>>Read: Creed tickets to Manila show 'running out fast'

    "A great evening of music is what we hope to provide! We'll be playing songs from all four albums and are excited to connect with our fans in the Philippines," promised Creed drummer Scott Phillips in a special interview.

    The band is led by vocalist Scott Stapp and guitarist Mark Tremonti whose high-recall riffs gave the act its distinct arena sound. Philips and bassist Brian Marshall form Creed's rhythm section.

    The break-up

    The band, which was formed in 1997, broke up in 2004 due to tensions among members and Stapp's supposed addiction to alcohol and painkillers.  The group re-formed in 2009 and released a fourth

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  • Given up for dead after jumping off an unsinkable ship called The ComnpanY, singer Reuben Laurente proved he has survived the deep plunge as he surfaces, well, out at sea.

    Seven years since pursuing a solo career, he has found steady work as an entertainer in cruise ships managed by Royal Caribbean International, considered to be the biggest and most innovative when it comes to onboard entertainment. He has made a reputation for himself, being cast as the featured singer in some of the productions.

    His key ports of call include an Oceania itinerary covering Australia, New Zealand and the nearby South Pacific islands.

    Reuben, who from time to time docks in Manila for a break, said, "I have done six contracts in a span of four years. Every contract is a new ship assignment under the Royal Caribbean International. Thus, I get to do new shows each contract. Our production shows consist of a dance/ballroom show, a live pop concert type, and a Broadway/West End revue."

    He showed to friends

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  • Roberto Seña, son of international performers Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez, wants to move away from his parents' shadow. For starters, the She's Only Sixteen lead vocalist chose indie-rock, a music genre different from that of his parents'.

    "They are very supportive. They are just happy for me. They give me advice on how to take care of my voice and stuff," Robert told Yahoo! Philippines OMG! and other members of the press during the album launch at Centerstage recently.

    Roberto, a.k.a. Seña to friends and fans, is understandably proud of his parents, who played important roles in  the hit musical "Miss Saigon." But he doesn't want to bank on their popularity.

    No comparison

    "It would be cheap of me to do that as a clutch, to make myself famous. I don't think there should be any comparison because it's different. They're stage performers, they act. I can't dance, I can't act. I don't think I sound like my parents," he said.

    Roberto joined the She's Only Sixteen band on a whim.

    "It

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  • Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay during the "Secret Affair" press conference. (Voltaire Domingo, NPPA Images)

    What's in a name?

    A lot apparently, as it became a big issue in the promotion of the movie "A Secret Affair," starring Anne Curtis and Derek Ramsay—a reunion of sorts after their immensely successful first project together, "No Other Woman."

    The issue lies in the network allegedly prohibiting the mention of Derek's name in any of the ABS-CBN shows where the movie is being promoted.

    Anne confirmed as much in a press conference of the film on Monday, Oct. 15.

    Anne frustrated

    "Anong magagawa ko?" Anne told reporters. She said she was frustrated at first with the directive, but in the end accepted "that it's the way it's supposed to be."

    She said, "They have their own reason so I have to respect that."

    Anne has been told not to mention Derek's name when she promotes their movie on her daily ABS-CBN variety show, "It's Showtime."

    Derek's parts have also been edited out of the movie trailer that airs on ABS-CBN, a real feat considering he is Anne's leading man.

    Derek himself was
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  • It's probably no big news that the trio of Pepe Smith, Mike Hanopol and Wally Gonzales will be performing together under their legendary moniker, Juan Dela Cruz Band. After all, they've re-formed as a group and resumed playing live.

    What's interesting is how they have conceptualized their upcoming show this Saturday, Oct. 20, at the Hard Rock Café in Makati.

    The concert is dubbed "Super Sessions" for a cool reason: they're attempting to recreate on stage their live album of the same name which was released in 1974—yep, some 38 years ago.

    Original line-up

    The addition of drummer Nides Aranzamendez for the Hard Rock show is equally  significant. The veteran percussionist was the very same drummer who played in the concert that eventually became the live album.

    "This promises to be a memorable night. We get to hear and enjoy their classic hits in this once-in-a—lifetime gathering," shares Bryan Garcia who is currently acting as the band's manager.

    This recreation of "Super Session" will

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  • The stage was filled with young children. Most of them were barely four-and-a-half feet tall.

    Yet, holding instruments that amplified their diminutive statures, they played like accomplished adult musicians. And they trumped their college-level competitors who just looked too self-conscious to play their best.

    In fact, the band Kombo ni Vjosh squealed in delight when they were named champions of the 2012 Greenhills Sessionistas, an annual band competition now on its sixth year. On their Facebook page, the band described themselves as: "Kid musicians. Just started April 2012. All happy-go-lucky kids down d stage,,,but serious and dedicated with their assigned instruments up d stage!!" I couldn't help but wonder what they'd sound like once they mature as people and as musicians.

    I'm with the band

    The Greenhills Sessionistas competition was held at the G-Strip parking area four Sundays of September. The grand finals were held on Friday, Oct. 5. It has become a yearly fixture in the

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