Philippine Showbiz Today 17
June 8 - 21 , 2017
Philippine Showbiz Today 17
Sylvia La Torre leads first Awardees in LA
LOS ANGELES — The Philippines ’ national treasure , Sylvia La Torre , leads the first Filipino American Symphony Orchestra ( FASO ) Excellence in Music and Service Awards recipients who will be honored in a special gala on June 17 at the former Mary Pickford estate in Los Angeles .
La Torre and internationally acclaimed soprano Maria Christina Navarro will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments in music by FASO , the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines , in “ A Night of Symphony – Excellence Awards Dinner and Gala .”
Excellence in Service awardees – musician and teacher Cecilia A . Coo-Cruz and accountant and former FASO board member Titus Verzosa – will be recognized for their valuable contributions to the orchestra , whose members come from various professions of the Filipino American community with a variety of musical background experiences .
FASO ’ s first ever gala
Sylvia La Torre promises to be an exciting evening on the beautiful estate of Mary Pickford , the original America ’ s Sweetheart and a pioneering woman in Hollywood . She cofounded United Artists studio , was one of the original founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and was one of the first women producers in Hollywood . Pickford ’ s majestic home is now owned by Edwin Raquel , a FASO board member ,
Maria Christina Navarro and his family .
“ A Night of Symphony ” will raise much-needed funds to sustain FASO , a non-profit organization , and its music education and outreach programs . Throughout the year , FASO conducts workshops , classes and recitals , especially for aspiring young talents in voice and music instruments .
The orchestra , under the baton of conductor and musical director Robert “ Bob ” Shroder , has been giving acclaimed concerts that highlight Filipino musical works and showcase Filipino American musicians and artists .
To keep the orchestra as a vital nonprofit entity dedicated to presenting the Filipino musical heritage and nurturing young talents , FASO needs to raise funds on a constant basis
The night ’ s tribute to the four awardees will spotlight their achievements and generous volunteer service that inspire current and future generations of Filipino Americans .
La Torre , having begun performing at the age of five in 1938 in Manila , will celebrate her 80th year in show business in 2018 . She is the first soprano to successfully break through pop culture in the Philippines . In fact , she is the first Filipino artist to enjoy a hugely successful career in all major entertainment fields in the Philippines : radio , television , record , stage and film .
Navarro has given recitals , opera performances and performed with orchestras around the world which were met with thunderous applause and cheers and earned glowing reviews . She has performed with top opera companies and orchestras . She is a former member-soloist of the Philippine Madrigal Singers , UP Filipiniana Dance Group and the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music . ● - Inquirer USA
Sarah to be paired with James Reid in Viva film
Sarah Geronimo is currently doing a movie with John Lloyd Cruz . Originally , the movie ’ s title was “ Dear Future Husband ,” but we heard it has been replaced after the movie directed by Ted Boborol ( of “ Vince Kath & James ”) had to have several scenes reshot , allegedly for improvement . The new title , according to the grapevine , will be “ Finally Found Someone .”
Aside from this , Sarah will be doing another movie for her home studio , Viva Films . This will be a remake of a Korean film which is a worldwide hit . This is about a grandmother in her 70s who magically gets young again and fulfills her earlier dream of being a singer . The scuttlebutt is that she might be paired with James Reid , who ’ s about four years younger than her in real life , just like her boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli , who ’ s also younger than her .
The material about an old woman regaining her youth is not new in local films . We had a movie like this before in the ‘ 50s , “ Lola Cinderella ,” made by Sampaguita Pictures and starring the late Lolita Rodriguez as a grandma who , by some magical twist of fate , becomes young again . She was then paired with her husband , the late Eddie Arenas .
This was such a big hit , so it was remade by Amalia Fuentes under her own company , AM Productions in the mid- ‘ 60s , as “ Ang Mahiwagang Pag-ibig ni Lola
Cinderella ,” with the late Nestor de Villa of LVN Pictures as the leading man in his first team up with Amalia , who was originally from Sampaguita Pictures . Here ’ s hoping Sarah ’ s millennial version will be similarly successful for today ’ s audiences . ●
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