Arnel Pineda International Filipino singer-songwriter (Journey)

Arnel Pineda (born September 5, 1967) is an international Filipino singer-songwriter and is currently the lead singer of the American rock band Journey.^[1] Pineda has enjoyed a successful musical career in Asia for the last 25 years.

Biography

Arnel Pineda was born in Sampaloc, Manila, in the Philippines. His mother instilled his love for singing at an early age, encouraging him to sing along to songs from her favorite singers like Karen Carpenter and Barbra Streisand. Growing up, his parents entered him in many singing contests.

His mother, who had been suffering from rheumatic heart disease, died when he was thirteen. Her illness had left their family deep in debt. Being a year behind on their rented apartment and unable to sufficiently provide for the family, his father decided to move out and ask relatives to take in Pineda’s siblings. To ease his father’s burden, Pineda quit school and volunteered to strike out on his own.

For about two years his life was spent out on the streets, sleeping wherever he could: in public parks, or on a narrow bench outside a friend’s crowded house. He earned meager money by collecting glass bottles, newspapers, and scrap metal and selling them to recyclers. He would also go to the pier with his friends and take on odd jobs like cleaning scrap metal and docked ships. He didn’t have much to eat, sometimes rationing a small package of biscuit as his meal for two days. Despite all these hardships he tried to remain optimistic about his future.

The Journey

Videos of The Zoo performing cover songs by Journey, Survivor, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Air Supply, The Eagles, Kenny Loggins and other popular acts from the 70s, 80s and 90s, began appearing on YouTube.com in February 2007. On June 28, 2007,^[5] Neal Schon of Journey contacted Noel Gomez, a longtime fan and friend of Pineda who uploaded many of these videos, to ask for Pineda’s contact information. Schon sent an e-mail to Pineda inviting the latter to audition for Journey. Pineda initially dismissed the e-mail as a hoax, but after being persuaded by Gomez, he finally replied to Schon’s e-mail. Ten minutes later, Pineda received a phone call from Schon.^[6] On August 12,^[7] Pineda, along with his manager Bert de Leon, flew to Marin County, just north of San Francisco, for a two-day audition.^[8][9] The star-struck Pineda was welcomed warmly but he described the audition as “nerve-wracking, tense”.^[10] OnDecember 5, 2007, Pineda was announced as the lead singer of Journey. CNN Headline News ran the story as part of their “News to Me” segment.^[11]

Pineda debuted as the lead singer of Journey on February 21, 2008 at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival held at the Quinta Vergara Amphitheater in Viña del Mar, Chile. ^[12][13] Videos of the Vina del Mar performance are available at the Festival’s home page and on YouTube.

Chilean media acclaimed Pineda’s performance (translated to English): “The new vocalist fit very well with the band, his vocal aptitudes shining through, which are very similar to the legendary musician of the band, Steve Perry.”^[14] Journey keyboardist Jonathan Cain described Pineda’s performance in a radio interview: “We went to Chile just recently, where we had never played and they went crazy, they absolutely went nuts…Arnel’s first show — talk about a stressful thing — we had a televised concert for 25 million people…Is the guy a winner? Yeah, he’s a winner. He’s a clutch player.” ^[15]

Journey returned to the US for a private Remax Convention event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on March 6, 2008, then performed at Las Vegas’ Planet Hollywood on March 8, 2008 (this concert was recorded and used, in part, for the Revelation DVD).

On February 1, 2009 he performed with Journey at the Super Bowl XLIII Pregame Show.

source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnel_Pineda

Tata Villaruel – Ilonggo’s Singing Nurse Pride

By Wein P. Gadian

One could have been content as a registered nurse which by far is the easiest way to leave the country. But not for 22-year old Christi Praise “Tata” Fernando Villaruel. She resigned from her job as a nurse and pursued her passion in singing. With her determination, everything she did paid off, landing her in the ‘Star in a Million Contest’ (SIAM). SIAM is a search of the country’s best young artists.

And compared to her contenders everything for Tata was a first. She is the first grand finalist from Iloilo and NAMCYA (National Music Competition for Young Artist) national finalist to join the contest. With her versatility in singing she has not only become the Illongos’ pride but also an inspiration to most.

The Dream
As a young lady, Tata’s love for her craft was influenced by her mom Verenice Fernando, who then was a professional singer. And with her mom as mentor, she joined various singing engagements where she garnered awards: (NAMCYA) National Music Competition for Young Artist (1999), Iloilo PRISAA Vocal Solo (Pop) Champion,   SLSA & Integrated Meet Classical Champion, Super Ferry Regional Champion and also a champion in Kampeon Sa Kantahan.

She’s also into classical voice training and has years of experience as a choir member. All these gave her enough guts to join SIAM “It was my dream to join the competition but I prioritized my studies. I decided to finish my course and pass the board. Then when they opened SIAM for 16-19, I was depressed. In the end, I applied for work. And when ABS-CBN started advertising SIAM’s season 2 for 18-24…I resigned and auditioned.”

Now as the consistent number one in the contests Tata reveals her edge compared with the others: “I’m blessed that I belong in a family of artists in different fields: My professional singer mom, my aunt, and uncles who are all visual artists. My uncles Rey and Joy Fernando are known portraitist. They have a gallery in SM City Iloilo.” Other than the talent, what’s interesting about her voice is her adaptability to any musical genres. She belts out R&B tunes and can easily shift to classic or pop.

Her discipline has taken her all the way up but for Tata, perseverance still matters knowing that her contenders are also great performers. Her focus is on uplifting the Ilonggo talents. She says, “Let us unite and show the world we are one. And support Ilonggo artists like me and make Iloilo bigger on the map!” And with this rare opportunity of seeing our fellow Ilonggo on the lead and giving her best. Let’s give our support thru text: Just type SIAM<space>TATA send to 2331 Globe/Touch Mobile/Sun, 231 Smart/TalknText/Addictmobile, 23661 for TFC subscribers in the US.

Tata is a resident of Block 29, Lot 10, Bakhaw, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. She is a graduate of Bachelor in Nursing from University of San Agustin. Her musical prowess is sustained by her loving parents: Verenice Fernandoand Louie Villaruel, brother and sisters; Hearly Lee V. Canonizado, Louie, Mary Love and Louise Villaruel and the inspiration of all Ilonggos.

source:
http://www.thenewstoday.info/2005/09/28/iloilofeatures.html

http://tatavillaruel.blogspot.com/

Manny Pacquiao – World #1 Filipino Boxer

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao (pronounced /ˈpækjaʊ/, /pa’kjaw/ in Cebuano and Tagalog; born December 17, 1978) is a Filipino professional boxer. He is the former WBC Lightweight world champion, WBC Super Featherweight world champion, IBF Super Bantamweight world champion, and WBC Flyweight world champion. He has also held the Ring Magazine titles for Featherweight,Super Featherweight, and Light Welterweight divisions. For his achievements, he became the first Filipino and Asian boxer to win five world titles in five different weight divisions. He is currently theIBO and Ring Magazine Light Welterweight champion and is rated by the Ring Magazine as the #1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world. He is also the first boxer to win the lineal championship in four different weight classes.^[3] Aside from being a boxer, he has also participated in politics, acting andmusic recording.

source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manny_Pacquiao

http://www.kababayan.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=426

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H08w-sF4omg&feature=player_embedded

Cristeta Comerford Named White House Executive Chef

Mrs. Laura Bush announced today that Cristeta “Cris” Comerford has been named the White House Executive Chef. Ms. Comerford, the first woman to serve in the position, will be responsible for designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holiday functions, receptions and official luncheons hosted by President and Mrs. Bush.

“I am delighted that Cris Comerford has accepted the position of White House Executive Chef,” Mrs. Bush said. “Her passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations.”

Trained in French classical techniques and specializing in ethnic and American cuisine, Ms. Comerford has worked as an Assistant Chef in the White House kitchen since 1995. She has helped develop inventive menus that showcased American foods and wines for special White House events including the State Dinner in honor of Her Excellency, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, President of the Philippines; the Official Dinner in honor of His Excellency, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of the Republic of India; and a social dinner in celebration of William Shakespeare’s birthday.

Ms. Comerford received her bachelor’s degree in Food Technology from the University of the Philippines and gained culinary experience serving as Chef Tournant at Le Ciel in Vienna, Austria; Chef at Le Grande Bistro at The Westin Hotel in Washington, D.C.; and Chef at The Colonnade at the ANA Hotel in Washington, D.C., where she implemented the “Culinary Arts Gallery” which showcased the best of American fine cuisine.

In addition, she collaborated with Chef John Ash to promote American game cooking and assisted and coordinated on the “East Meets West” promotion featuring the late Barbara Tropp. Ms. Comerford melds training received from institutions such as The Education Institute, American Hotel and Motel Association with experiences with some of the nation’s most innovative chefs in the California wine country and San Francisco restaurants to produce original dishes with American flavor.

source:
http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050814-1.html

CAPT. IRENE MORA: FIRST FILIPINO ASTRONAUT FACT or FAKE

By: sikatuna registered: 8/25/2003 member Ilocos Sur, Philippines

It’s about time to have a Filipino space explorer.
There’s no limit in space. Who’s next?

First Filipina astronaut now training in Russia

By Alma Anonas-Carpio
The Philippine Star 05/29/2004
The first Filipina space cadet is now in Russia and she is preparing to rocket to the International Space Station orbiting Earth in July.

Capt. Irene Mora, a commercial pilot by profession, arrived in Russia last week for the rigorous training she must undergo to be part of the crew that will spend a week on the International Space Station and journey to Mars.
The very-humorous satire of Poet-pundit Fred Burce Bunao about the First Gentleman becoming the first Filipino cosmonaut immediately brought to mind the case of Irene Mora, whom I called a Filipino cosmoNUT or an astroNUT in 2004.

Remember when Ms. Irene Mora became the toast of the Filipino cyber world in the first quarter of 2004? Many Manila-based newspapers printed her story as the first Filipino ever to fly in outer space. And Filipino-American newspapers published the reports from Manila as if they were the gospel truth. To my limited knowledge, I was the first journalist to write that she was a “Hoaxbalahap.” I said that she was lying and Filipinos worldwide were falling – hook, line and sinker – for her claim that, among others, she flew on a U.S. space shuttle in 2000.

The reactions by many Filipino Internet users were swift. People, especially my long-time critics in the NaFFAA, the FANHS, the Books for the Barrios and their allies in the Fil-Am press, vilified my person and they said that I was anti-Filipino. Some of them even said that I was making fun of a legitimate achievement of a Filipino and a woman at that. Some e-forum participants started hitting me as the messenger of the bad news that the Mora claim was a hoax but they did not address the message at all.

This writer was telling people that he was not a politician who likes only to say what people want to hear. A journalist should write the truth.

To end the online dispute and silence my critics, I told the e-forums that I would engage the services of a third party, Joseph Lariosa, a veteran journalist, to find out the truth. Mr. Lariosa is the Chicago-based representative of the National Press Club of the Philippines. He is also the correspondent of the Manila Bulletin and Tempo newspapers of the Philippines. So, Mr. Lariosa did investigate the issue and came up with a report that confirmed my original statement that the Irene-Mora story was a hoax. Ms. Mora’s statement that she was the first Filipino astronaut or cosmonaut was false.

To read Joseph Lariosa’s investigative report about the Irene Mora hoax, please go to your browser and type this link: http://www.pinoyonboard.com/2004/0620_mora.html

We are also reprinting Mr. Lariosa’s report at the end of this article, as some of our readers may not be able to access it online.

I said then that my exposé, as confirmed by Mr. Lariosa, should serve as a lesson to Filipino newspapers in Manila that they should investigate allegations first before they print them as news. And the Filipino-American publications that copied verbatim from Manila newspapers the Irene-Mora story should make sure that they are not copying a hoax. Filipino-American wannabe journalists should use their common sense in copying articles from Philippine publications.

Indeed the Media Breakfast Club (MBC) was right in giving Mr. Lariosa the First MBC-Dean Reyes Award for Journalistic Excellence and Literary Distinction on Nov. 21, 2001. It was a validation of his stature as a real journalist.

Aside from the newspapers in Chicago and San Diego and online publication in New York that carried my original story about the Irene-Mora hoax, all the Filipino-American publications reprinted the false news from Manila newspapers. After Mr. Lariosa verified my stand, only two Filipino-American media practitioners acknowledged my exposé. Here are their notes, as posted in the www.pinoyonboard.com:

“Dear Bobby:

“After the warning, there was another e-mail that did confirm the veracity of the story. The other newspaper based in New York ran the same headline that week. But again, with your and Joseph Lariosa’s (who is a reporter for our newspaper) investigation, we will run another Mora story; this time as a cosmoNUT. Thank you for the information you have given me. Everything is highly appreciated.

“Warmest regards,
Anthony Advincula
Editor
The Filipino Express
2711 JFK Blvd. Jersey City
NJ 07305
201-434-1114″

Larry Pelayo posted also in the www.pinoyonboard.com these notes: “Thanks a million. It is an honor to be a reader and receiver of reliable news and factual exposes from your end.

“I know Joseph Lariosa by heart and I am a friend of Bobby Reyes.

“Currently, I am the Chairman of the Board of the United Philippine National Press Club USA, Inc. and write on various Fil-am newspapers and magazines here in Los Angeles. I am also the current secretary of the Press Photographers Philippines USA.”

A Ms. Ana posted also her comments in the www.pinoyonboard.com: “Your expose on this hoax, to my mind, has left the mainstream media in the Philippines not only-cross-eyed but almost half blind!!!”

Dr. Eddie AAA Calderon of Minneapolis, Minnesota, posted his comments, to wit: “Just to let you know that I sent the article of Bobby Reyes to both the Philippine Inquirer and Philippine Star when he sent us the first e-mail about Ms. Mora’s claim that she was training to be an astronaut or she was an astronaut.

“Have not received anything from the Philippine newspapers.

“Also the previous article of Ms. Mora stated that she was a polyglot or multilingual and speaking at least 8 or 9 languages. If her contention that she was training to be an astronaut is false then her multilingual claim can also be a suspect.”

The Filipino newspapers in the Philippines and in the United States, with the exceptions of the Filipino Express and the ang Panahon, never bothered to issue any retraction after they published the false claims of Ms. Mora.

Here is Joseph G. Lariosa’s investigative report, as originally published in the www.pinoyonboard.com on June 21, 2004: QUOTE.

After an Investigation: Filipina’s Claims to Be a Cosmonaut Do Not Check Out

Chicago, ILLINOIS — When your mother says, “I love you,” check it out. This rule of thumb that guides hard-nosed journalists to double check their sources for stories that are too good to be true appears have slipped by some Philippine newspapers, which are the chief source of most of their stories of Overseas-Filipino newspapers.

Bobby M. Reyes, an online community journalist from Los Angeles, California, pointed the breach of this journalists’ cardinal rule when he alerted this reporter, who is also working with an upstart Chicago-based news agency, Journal List Press Exchange (JLPX), on June 5, 2004, to check the veracity of reports from some leading newspapers from Manila that a Filipina is in line to become the next astronaut or cosmonaut.

According to the Philippine Star article written by Joanne Rae Ramirez, which came out on February 28, 2004, it said: “Irene Mora, the first Filipino likely to conquer outer space, has been to “the edge of the earth” and loves it there. This year, she aims to go beyond it.

Irene, 31, flew on a space shuttle to the “edge of the earth” in 2000 as part of a research mission sponsored by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and in the darkness beheld “a sparkling diamond.”

On Dec. 14, 2003, the Philippine Daily Inquirer came out with an article written by Volt Contreras, which alleged that: “Mora is now studying Russian as she will be heading for the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City next year under a training program offered by Space Adventures of Arlington, Virginia.

“Space Adventures is the company that launched in 2000 the world’s first “space tourist,” Dennis Tito, an American.”

A check by JLPX with the NASA’s public affairs office yielded an email response on June 14 from Bobbie Ferguson, who said that “I do not have any information that Irene Mora was or is a NASA astronaut. She has not flown on the Space Shuttle in 2000.”

An email message sent on June 6 to the Russian Cultural Centre and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., on how to get in touch with the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City resulted with a phone call from Russian Cultural Centre Director Natalie Batova, directing JLPX to get in touch with Space Adventures in Arlington, Virginia.

A check with the Space Adventures directed JLPX to Stacey Tearne, vice president of Crosby-Volmer International Communications, which handles the publicity of Space Adventures. Ms. Tearne wrote an email response on June 13 that said: “I do not know of a Capt. Irene Mora nor is she a Space Adventures’ orbital client.”

A news story published by the Manila Times on April 14, 2003, under the headline, “Filipina is world’s best skydiver,” said! Lt. Commander Irene Mora, a lady pilot from the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary Air Operation Wing, made the Philippines proud by winning the gold in the Friendship Airborne 2003 Skydiving Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.

In winning the skydiving crown, Mora became the first-ever Filipina to win the prestigious crown in this death-defying event which drew participants from the best skydivers in the United States, Europe and Asia.
This story, however, appeared to have been confirmed by Dr. Frank Osanka, president of Friendship Airborne organization based at Racine, Wisconsin. Mr. Osanka wrote an email response as follows: “Thank you for your thoughtfulness in forwarding the piece on Ms. Irene Moro (sic). She is outstanding. Friendship Airborne hopes to be invited to jump again in the Philippines as we were in l998. Best wishes, Doc.

The JLPX initially contacted on June 5 retired Admiral Reuben Lista of the Philippine Coast Guard, who was vacationing in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the time on a tip by Mr. Lista’s tour guide and friend, Mr. Fernando “Ronnie” M. Estrada of San Jose, California. Mr. Lista directed JLPX to contact Admiral Joselito Aseniero of the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary. An email reply from Capt. Harold Wolf of PCGA on June 7 said, “Your message has been forwarded to Adm. Aseniero.” As of press time, Admiral Aseniero has not yet responded to verify the veracity of news reports about Ms. Mora’s “astronaut or cosmonaut” aspirations.

Last Thursday, June 17, a Ms. Mora called up JLPX, saying she was informed by Dr. Osanka that a media representative wanted to talk to her. The voice from the other line identified herself as Ms. Mora. As the voice was breaking, she said she was in Beijing and that she said “I could hardly hear you.” She gave away her email address so she could understand what the media outlet wanted from her.

An email was sent to Ms. Mora on June 18, seeking comments that both US NASA and Space Adventures are dismissing press reports that she flew on NASA’s Space Shuttle in 2000 and that the Space Adventures said she is not an orbital client. As of press time, Ms. Mora has not responded to the email inquiry.

In its June 3-9 issue, the weekly Ang Panahon (Time) based in Daly City, California, published and edited by Greg Macabenta, ran a banner headline: “Doubts cast on First Filipina Cosmonaut.” The paper also contacted Space Adventures and quoted Emeline Paat, a Filipina working with the company, informing Ang Panahon that Mora never actually trained with them or even visited.

Ang Panahon said Mora had called up the company (Space Adventures) several times, from early this year, to inquire about the company’s space tourism program.

Bobby Reyes said that if Ms. Mora could not prove that she flew NASA’s Space Shuttle in 2000 so she cannot be an astronaut nor is she heading to Russia so she can be a cosmonaut, she might as well call herself either “astronut” or “cosmonut.”

Meanwhile, the numerous stories posted on the Internet about Ms. Mora’s going to outer space are likely to be entered into the “hoax of fame” or become a famous bum steer (koryente), according to a JLPX staff.

As to reports that Ms. Mora renounced her US citizenship to become a Filipino, it is still a subject of investigation. # # # UNQUOTE.

http://www.mabuhayradio.com/content/view/669/51/

Update: 11/29/08

pinoy scientist of the year

Dr. Baldomero Olivera
is most famous for discovery of many cone snail toxins important for neuroscience.

Dr. Olivera graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1960. He got a PhD from the California Institute of Technology (1966) in Chemistry, followed by postdoctoral work at Stanford University from 1966-1968.

There are limited opportunities here in the Philippines if one should excel in his field.

He is one of the new reasons to give another pinoy inspiration or to inspire them why one should pursue want they wanted the most. One have to study and work hard for it to maximize their potentials. They have to. Even if it takes time.

ref: inq7.net