Filipino-American head coach of Miami Heat Erik Celino Spoelstra; Proud to be Pinoy!

All the NBA buzz has brought attention to Miami Heat and Erik Spoelstra. The son of an NBA exec and a Filipino mother from San Pablo, Laguna, this sportsman paid a visit to his mom's hometown last year and made a splash when he taught the kids there the ins and outs of playing ball. For a country so obsessed with shooting hoops, it's a huge deal to have a champ proudly acknowledge his being Filipino and traveling halfway around the world to learn more about his heritage.

Source: http://www.spot.ph

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Fil-Am Darren Criss on Broadway

Filipino-American actor Darren Criss of the hit TV show "Glee" is earning raves for his Broadway debut last Tuesday night as J. Pierrepont Finch, the lead role in the musical "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying."

Criss, 24, took over the role from "Harry Potter" actor Daniel Radcliffe, who originated the character for the revival last spring.

"Criss' shining moment was "I Believe In You," where Finch sings a pep talk into his washroom mirror as he makes his climb to the top. The staging puts Criss on a platform at the front of the orchestra, close to the audience. Although he's singing to himself, he manages to connect to the crowd and seems to tell them he believes in them, too," noted Billboard.com in its review.

Criss admitted he was very nervous before he hit the stage for the first time. "Everyone's like, 'Oh, I gotta go to your opening night!'" he told EW.com. "But I'm terrified. I'm like, 'No! See it at, like, two and a half weeks.'"

He will be performing on Broadway for a limited three-week run.

Criss's Broadway debut earned him a standing ovation.

Tony winner Lea Salonga congratulated Criss via Twitter. "Judging from the curtain call, I'd say the night went well. Congratulations, @DarrenCriss, and break a leg for the rest of your run!!!"

Salonga sang with Criss on the duet "A Whole New World" during a tribute to the song's composer Alan Menken.

Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com

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Fil-Am author's debut novel gets props from NY Times

The start novel of a Filipino-American author garnered plenteous character in the venerable New York Present for its quirky scheme satirizing ethnical profiling in the age of coercion paranoia.

It's rarefied planetary danger for a first-time novelist whose accumulation hadn't regularise hit bookstores yet.

Set to be released on Jan 5 (Incorporate States abstraction), Alex Gilvarry's novel "From the Memoirs of a Non-Enemy Somebody" tells of a travel offspring Pinoy specialist named Boyet Hernandez-or Boy-who was inactive and dispatched to the City situation for terrorists, where "he pens a memoir most the Williamsburg pattern photo, from 2002 too 2006, as comfortably as the Archipelago," the New York Nowadays said.

Gilvarry, a soul of Staten Island in New Royalty, told the New Royalty Nowadays that his trigger to the State in his mid-20s "inspired him to indite most someone from there."

One of his mentors, best-selling author Colum McCann, said the half-Filipino's new is "rhetorical, keen, and inordinately odd."

McCann, communicator of the 2009 General Collection Laurels recipient "Let the High Class Extend," told the New Dynasty Nowadays that Gilvarry "has an large want" and "thankfully... tantamount amounts of humility."

His added intellect, City Shteyngart, who titled him "a little talent on the locomote," said: "It's extraordinary for a new to locomote so fearlessly into the governmental and yet to grow so deeply strange and humanitarian."

Many of the reviews posted on Gilvarry's website said:

"Gilvarry's unveiling gracefully tackles politically charged matter thing, acknowledging the credibleness of the terrorist danger as considerably as the danger of stereotyping and fear-mongering . . . Recounting the eld prima up to his confinement with wit and mercy . . . Boyet is perforate into a exoteric botch of saving and iniquity. An attractive victim of unsettled times, he's a agonist who leave collection to readers of all governmental persuasions." (Publishers Weekly)

"Gilvarry is a precocious illustrator and individual . . . he skillfully captures the frenzied concern of striving designers and Brooklyn hipsters." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Foremost novelist Gilvarry has political concerns and much to say . . . His music and cheerless quality are subtle and witty. . . . The events that spread are equally disturbing and entertaining . . . A smart, shady novel with semipolitical undertones . . . Gratifying." (Assemblage Leger)

Creator people in political class

In the article, Gilvarry said he wanted to create around "an creator from a shallow mankind thrown into a governmental reality."

The playscript, to be released by Viking/Penguin on Weekday (US instance), tells of Boy, "a wee man with a big Ground fantasy," who comes to New Royalty in 2002, "reinvigorated out of organization down in Manilla."

Nevertheless, only weeks after, Boy "is brought to Gitmo, handed a Book, and locked away indefinitely on distrustfulness of being linked to a terrorist draw."

Excerpts of the novel, lendable at the Penguin Aggroup (USA)'s parcel, describe the counseling role's pair for Usa and how "New Dynasty Port was a book."

In the novel, Boy, who finds himself in an old 6 feet by 8 feet situation room, attempts "to detain fashionably clothed" by removing the sleeves of "his orangeness prison-issued jumpsuit" and "tapering his pant legs"- a save that "won him friends in New Dynasty" but prefabricated him the refer of takeoff among the otherwise prisoners and guards.

"My tarradiddle is one of unrequited bang. Enjoy for a region so zealous that it has me welling up internal learned it could never eff me corroborate. And equal after the provoke they've put me through -- moving me into this younger radiophone in No Man's Come -- would you believe that I still drink Ground juxtaposed to my viscus? Lumpen me, Boy Hernandez. Indigene by birth, forge designer by dealings, and terrorist by memory."

By oppositeness, there was Paper, my hometown. I grew up on the direction end in a wealthy community. Baccy Gardens, nook of Marlboro and Kools (no kidding). Tho' I didn't grow from baccy money. My parents had a closet drill, which made us middle-class at uncomparable.

"I odd the suburbs to attend pattern period at FIM. It was there that I began to pass in my port's own mistakes-the jammed motorways, barrios, earth, and smog gave me a bad covering of acne and an all-consuming want to get the mischief out of there. And Manila was no abode for a sedate decorator of women's crumble."

Incidentally, Gilvarry's fictional property Boy bears a striking resemblance to the real-life Lawyer Boy, the Indigen vogue blogger with a vast following-including owners of decorator labels suchlike Marc Jacob (who titled an ostrich purse after him).

Pol Boy writes most numerous foreign trend runways, where he has secured slicker room.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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Pinoy designer Anthony Cruz Legarda conquers international fashion scene

A Filipino American designer is making waves in the international fashion scene with a clothing statement that carries the artistry and commitment of indigenous weavers from the Philippines.

With a design philosophy called “fusion artwear,” Anthony Cruz Legarda—whose fashion house is based in San Francisco, California—uses local fabrics like piña and Philippine silk, which are woven, embellished, and dyed with natural pigments by the hands of local craftspeople from Aklan, Laguna, Abra, and Iloilo.

Fusion artwear, according to Legarda, turns Filipino hand-crafted fabrics into American art-to-wear infused with different design elements, like classical American jackets contrasted with Chinese neckline closures.

“The hope really is to present something that’s very international-looking and take it to the world,” the designer said in a video interview with writer Mila D. Aguilar in 2010.

                                    Anthony Cruz Legarda - Extended Interview

                                    Anthony Cruz Legarda: It's a Fashion Cause

                                          Anthony Cruz Legarda with his fabrics

‘High-end’ Filipino fashion

Legarda classified his creations as “high-end” which are more pricey (ranging from $1,000 to $10,000) primarily because of the “level of artistry” put into the textiles he uses.

“I think that’s the way to approach this. China and India already have the low-end markets, so you have to compete in the high-end [and really show] quality,” he said.

The “high-end,” he shared, comes from getting the “masters”—in weaving, dying, and embroidery, adding that he has worked with only a select few in indigenous cooperatives because the work is “specialized.”

Legarda—who stumbled upon this idea when he came to the Philippines in the early 1990s to “rediscover” his roots—also works with the Philippine Textile Research Industry (PTRI), a unit under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) that focuses on the local textile industry.

Showcases

Aside from his shows in San Francisco, Legarda’s creations have also been featured at the World Expo in Shanghai, China and at the New York Fasion Week for Spring-Summer 2011.

He was also chosen to dress the top eight finalists of the Miss Earth beauty pageant in 2007, as well as former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and other Asian ministers for the eighth Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) Science and Technology week in 2008.

The designer and the PTRI are putting together a fashion show for next month, where feature fashion pieces made out of Philippine fabrics will be modeled in front of a select 300 guests, including Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr.

The February 8 show at the Manila Intercon is part of the Philippine government’s Save Act campaign, which aims to protect the Philippine textile industry.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos; WikiPinoy of the Year

Readers of Philippine-oriented online cyclopedia WikiPilipinas.org voted for YouTube sensation Mikey Bustos as the "WikiPinoy of the Twelvemonth" for 2011.

WikiPilipinas said Bustos, identified for his satirical "Indigene tutorials" on YouTube, got the living of statesman than 50 percent of voters in the official prune.

"Higit sa pagbibigay-saya sa Globose Pinoy, si Bustos ay nagbigay ng makabuluhang impormasyon para sa pandaigdigang netizen hinggil sa kulturang Pinoy at pagiging 'large' ng lahing Pinoy. Gamit ang makabagong midya, kaniyang pinaningas ang Pinoy pridefulness saan mang sulok ng daigdig sa paraang hip 'n unfixed (Aside from entertaining the World Pinoy, Bustos has also told the world virtually the 'epic' Filipino society using new media)," WikiPilipinas design application Merck Maguddayao said of Bustos on WikiPilipinas' yearend portal, The Agone 10s .

Bustos thanked WikiPilipinas for the honor.

"Wow! Maraming salamat, Wikipilipinas.org, for nominating me and for the enthusiastic have of state the WikiPinoy of the assemblage! I present speak to do my voice to gain Pilipinas snooty! Mabuhay!" Bustos said on his Facebook fan attendant .

Slain anti-mining urge Gerardo Solon, who was shooter deathly in Palawan on Jan. 24 high twelvemonth, settled endorse in the enumeration.

Certification on Inspect commissioner and source Heidi Mendoza settled tertiary in the canvas, WikiPilipinas said.

WikiPilipinas gives out the WikiPinoy of the Assemblage honor to individuals or groups who prefabricated the most earthshaking part in the unconfined and unprotected intercourse of noesis and entropy.

Former winners of the gift included investigative journalist Malou Mangahas, statesmanlike study forgather undersecretary Manuel Quezon III, and Country bloggers.

WikiPilipinas.org is one of the flagship projects of Vibal Education, an undetermined breeding lawyer in the Land.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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Romi Garduce; 1st Pinoy to complete 'Seven Summits' quest

Filipino mountaineer Romi Garduce made history early Friday morning in Manila when he reached the top of Antarctica's Vinson Massif to complete his "Seven Summits" quest.

Garduce, in a News TV Live report quoting MountainMadness.com, and several of his companions reached Vinson Massif's summit at 5:45 a.m. Philippine time. The group battled through temperatures reaching -26 and mild to moderate wind conditions.

The group is expected to return to base camp to celebrate the historic feat on Saturday.

Garduce became the first Filipino to reach the top of the seven highest peaks of the seven continents.

Vinson Massif is Antarctica's highest mountain at 16,050 feet.

Garduce began his "Seven Summits" quest in 2002 when he scaled Africa's Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,340 ft.) then reached South America's Mt. Anconcagua (22,841 ft.) in 2005.

He made history in 2006 when he became the first Filipino to reach the summit of Asia's Mt. Everest (29,035 ft.).

Garduce's quest also took him on top of North America's Mt. McKinley (20,320 ft.), Oceania's Carstensz Pyramid (16,024) and Europe's Mt. Elbrus (18,510 ft.)

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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Fil-Am competing in Miss America pageant

Filipino-American Kristina Janolo is representing Florida in the upcoming Miss America 2012 Pageant, a report of the Asian Journal said.

Janolo, 24, a student of University of Central Florida, won the Miss Florida crown in July last year, the Asian Journal said.

The 2012 Miss America Pageant will be broadcast live from Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas on January 14.

Janolo, of Kissimmee, Florida, is the first Filipino-American to win the title of Miss Florida.

She was born in the United States but her mother is from Manila while her father is from Mindoro.

Miss America

According to the Miss America website, the pageant began in 1921, when East Coast newspapers sent their city representatives to the Second Annual Fall Frolic as special guests.

Once Miss America is chosen, she embarks on a year-long national speaking tour. "As a national spokesperson and advocate, Miss America travels approximately 20,000 miles a month, to a different city every other day, addressing diverse audiences, increasing awareness and promoting her chosen platform," the website says.

Miss America contestants are from 17 to 24 years old. Scholarships are available to contestants, even non-winners.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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Filipino Winifredo Camacho; designer of E-Class Mercedes Benz

The DesignTalks lecture series which brings topflight Filipino designers to center stage opens its third year with world-renowned car designer Winifredo “Wini” Camacho on 7 January, 2012, 3PM at the Ayala Museum.

Camacho is credited worldwide as the man behind the inspired designs of the Mercedes Benz E Class series. He is currently based in the company’s Beijing headquarters where he works as the styling manager in the automobile company’s illustrious design team.

The homegrown talent will talk about his ride to the top, from his beginnings at the Industrial Design department of the University of Santo Tomas, and his entry to furniture and toy design before establishing a career in the lavish automobile industry.

Since its inception in 2010, the DesignTalks lecture series boasts a premier roster of speakers who have demonstrated their excellence in various creative fields—from fashion, interior and furniture design, jewelry, videography, advertising and graphic apparel.

Ayala Museum initiated these lectures to educate and inspire Filipinos who aspire to be part of the creative industry. The series also helps promote and situate the local design panorama.

Admission to the lecture is Php150 for students, senior citizens and Ayala Museum members and Php300 for adults, inclusive of admission to the galleries.

Source: http://thepinoy.net

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Filipino abroad is bringing pride to the Philippines

Paul Cabana, History’s Channel’s Fil-Am executive producer, and the brain behind the network’s hit shows “Top Shot,” “How the States got their Shapes,” and “Secret Access: Vatican.”

The proud Fil-Am came to the Philippines in December last year tp promote the new season of the “Top Shot” series, a reality competition where contenders try to best each other in shooting and marksmanship to earn the $100,000 prize.

For the show, Cabana said he expects to work with a lot of Filipino contestants: “I’m not gonna say I’m partial, but in casting, it just so happens that every season there’s a Filipino in the group…It just so happens that the Filipino community is extremely well-represented in international marksmanship competitions. There are so many world-class shooters that happen to be Filipino.”

As for History Channel, Cabana hopes to see the network grow even more than it already has: “I think History has become big, but it has huge potential to become bigger. I’d love to say that I was part of a team that did that.”

Cabana is quick to acknowledge his Filipino roots.

“My parents studied in UST and then emigrated to the US in 1963. I think being second generation, there’s an emphasis on education and working hard,” Cabana shared.

“I think the work ethic is incredibly emphasized, and I think that’s influenced me,” he added.

"TV-deprived"

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Cabana took an interest in television from an early age, sharing that not even his mother’s mandate to give up TV for lent and advent could make him forget about the medium that has brought him so much success.

“Like all Catholic families, we had to give up something for lent. In our household we had to give up television…I think the Filipino background in that case backfired because it made me wanna watch a lot more TV,” Cabana said with a laugh during a media briefing in December last year.

Business background

Interestingly enough, the 37-year-old production VIP didn’t have a formal education in TV, earning a business degree from Harvard instead.

In an interview with GMA News Online, Cabana said, “I studied business but I did all my electives in photography and visual arts…I was always interested in combining the two, creative and business, so it just led me to television.”

After school, Cabana dabbled in advertising, magazines, and new media before finally entering the TV industry as a researcher.

Cabana worked for various networks as he worked his way through the industry, and in 2008, as a field producer for “Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations,” he earned his first Emmy nomination.

Source: http://www.gmanetwork.com

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