The long wait is over for Robin Nievera

Pops Fernandez is rejoicing that son Robin Nievera is not copying hers and his dad Martin Nievera’s singing style.

“That’s good. That way, he can establish his own identity,” says Pops the fan who just watched quietly at the sidelines while Robin performed tracks from his all-original debut album,”Overwait,” under PolyEast Records.

Pops has no reason to fear. Robin’s edgy vocals not only shows that he marches to the beat of his own drummer. It also shows that he has what it takes to be known as himself, not the son of the Concert King and Queen.

At the launch of his album in Rockville, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, Robin (a lookalike of his late paternal grandfather Eddie Fernandez) strummed his guitar and sang the way neither Martin or Pops does.

The music is far from Martin and Pops’s mellow sound and vocals. Depends on which side of the musical fence you’re in. But the sound is generally loud and in-your-face. Robin is far from coy about his dream girl in “Beautiful” (“I will start to watch and stare and you will/Smile candidly at me”) and his love for his then unborn niece in
“Delight” (“I could burn down/With my face to the ground/But I will delight in your song”).

Robin thinks his parents’ musical tastes--Kenny Loggins, Chicago, Toto, Michael Jackson and Frank Sinatra (especially in Martin’s case)--are cool.

Product of his time

But Robin just can’t help being a product of his time.

“It’s just that I listen to a lot of different kinds of music,” he admits. “That’s why my music came out like this. It’s more rock-oriented and loud. That’s what I grew up with and that’s how I learned to write (songs).”

Writing songs is as natural to Robin as strumming his guitar. He didn’t learn it from a music school, simply because Robin thinks the best learning takes place “from watching and just asking.”

So he just starts a song, lets it be for 24 hours. Then he asks himself, “Do I remember the melody and the words?”

If he does, Robin thinks “the song is written.”

The guy has enough self-confidence in his work. But it’s not the know-it-all kind of confidence. True, PolyEast allowed Robin to include all 10 songs he himself wrote in “Overwait.” But he knows “I’m not the most talented person here, I’m not the best singer and I’m not the best-looking musician.”

He thinks he’s just one lucky guy who got this far with his record company and friends who helped him along the way (e.g. his band and fellow songwriters).

The credit, Robin says, goes not only to him, but to these friends of his. “I want to show people outside the country who buy this album that we have great singers, great musicians, great songs.”

With Robin Nievera and his kind around, OPM will not die. It will flourish, and inspire PInoys to create the kind of songs that mirror what lies deep in their heart and soul.

By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

Erich admits dating non-showbiz guy

Erich Gonzales may not yet be ready for a relationship. But the “Corazon, Ang Unang Aswang” lead actress admits she is dating a non-showbiz guy.

“I’m dating a non-showbiz guy. Merong nanliligaw. Basta, we’re getting to know each other muna. Friends-friends lang muna,” she told the press at the meet and greet for her new endorsement, Olympus Camera, in SM Mall of Asia on Saturday, March 17.

Although she doesn’t want to divulge the guy’s identity, Erich said the two of them are still getting to know each other. The Kapamilya actress explained that she wants to be “physically, mentally and emotionally ready” once she enters a relationship, especially now that she is busy.

“I don’t want to be unfair naman sa taong iyon. Right now, I’m very busy. It’s important kasi yung time. Ngayon kasi wala pang masyadong time so ayaw ko muna na magpaasa or magpahintay ng tao, so enjoy lang,” she added.

Does the first Filipino ambassador of Olympus Camera prefer to date someone outside showbiz?

“Yes. Kasi it’s more tahimik, peaceful, so walang gulo. Ako na lang ang nasa showbiz, huwag na siya,” Erich replies.

Good feedback

She’s happy at the good feedback her movie with Derek Ramsay is getting.

“Talagang ibang-iba, this is something na nakaka-proud and we all worked hard for this movie. No regrets sa lahat ng hirap na pinagdaanan ko,” she said.

Despite the positive feedback about her performance, Erich is not expecting an award, saying that she is already happy with the support their movie gets.

“I’m not expecting (an award). Yung support lang nila ngayon sa movie namin, sobrang pasasalamat na ako na inacknowledge nila yung acting naming lahat. I always see to it na ibigay yung 100% ko at ibang Erich yung makita nila in every project,” she said.

Erich has long wanted to shed her teeny-bopper image and jump to mature roles which she finds challenging and helpful in her growth as an actress.

“Basta sa mga projects ko, gusto ko i-try na different roles naman. Kapag nagawa ko na, tapos na. Ayaw ko ng pa-sweet or pa-cute roles, syempre gusto mo na mag-grow naman,” Erich said.

Erich will soon start filming the movie “Suddenly It’s Magic” with Thai actor Mario Maurer.

By Karen Valeza | Yahoo! Southeast Asia Newsroom

‘Politics divides families’

It is a family war that has now turned into a spectacle.

And a family member on one side, Sharon Cuneta, says it has been painful. On the other hand, her aunt Helen Gamboa says she was surprised at how her niece has changed.

In a recent newspaper interview, Sharon, brought up her "grudge" against her Tita Helen's husband, Sen. Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, for not supporting her spouse, fellow Sen. Francis Pangilinan in his bid for the Senate presidency years ago.

"Politics divides families," Sharon said in an interview with the Philippine Star. "(Just) like when my uncle says something bad against Kiko."

Helen then took issue against her niece for bringing out something t she had thought was settled years ago. Worse, she had hinted Sharon was lying.

"I know Tito never said anything bad about Kiko or against Kiko, and God is our witness," Helen said in a separate interview also with the Philippine Star. She further said, "Nagulat ako kay Sharon, bakit siya nagka-ganoon?"

She further insisted that she thought all was settled because they had explained to Sharon why Tito did not vote for Kiko since they were voting within party lines. "Nag-request sina Sharon at Kiko na bumoto si Tito kay Kiko. But Tito couldn't do that because of his commitment to those who helped him during the campaign. He explained that to Sharon. I thought Sharon understood the whole thing; I thought there was closure already," Helen further told the Star.

But when Sharon expressed hurt over how the vote went in an interview with GMA-7 in 2010, saying, "Masakit lang sa 'kin kasi kung sino pa yung malapit na malapit, magkakamag-anak…" Helen said, "Tito was only one vote; Tito's vote was not the decisive factor para manalo si Kiko. Ang importante ay yung boto kay Kiko ng mga kapartido niya."

Helen also said in the interview that Sharon has become "unreachable" due to their rift.

Reacting to Helen's comments, Sharon said in an exclusive interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer that it was "painful."

"The reason we stopped talking was that they never let up on hurting my family," Sharon told the Inquirer. "How can they say they love me, and yet not give my husband a chance? Tita Helen said my Uncle Tito's vote (in the Senate) did not matter. But that one vote would have meant the world to us."

As for her claim that Tito said bad things about Kiko, Sharon also belied her aunt's claim: "It is not like it did not happen," she said. "It was reported on television and in newspapers."

Sharon further said: "She is my aunt. She is among the people who taught me… not to wash dirty linen in public. This feud is old news. Now, I have to talk about it again because it has been turned into a spectacle. I am shocked and confused."

By Gerry Plaza | omg! Philippines News Blog

Postscript to Arnold Clavio and his Azkals comments

Sure, we see some members of the Philippine Azkals as drawing the line in terms of behavior. And yes, former president Fidel Ramos's daughter Cristy Ramos filed a harassment case against Lexton Moy and Angel Guirado. That will surely teach them, mostly half-Filipinos, not to cross the line in terms of decorum, uprightness, and even morality just because they are foreigners or we owe them the heavens since they are playing for the national team.

But, in my book, broadcaster Arnold Clavio, despite his good intentions to advance the cause against sexual harassment, has also crossed the line. He may have stated the facts right, such as the ongoing case and the arrogance and moral recklessness of some, but must he castigate them in his highly-rated morning show?

Of course, it is his duty to state the facts of anything he reports on, whether it be politics or showbiz. But baring his own feelings or bias on the issue is beyond the norm of TV news reportage. Bashing political figures no end for their alleged crimes against the nation may have been a staple in his radio commentaries. But even then, radio commentators still find a way to try to get the side of both parties, and even the listeners.

Here, in his controversial televised comments, you will see that his choice of words was personal ('Ang yayabang n'yo' is quite striking). The tone of his voice was clearly pointed and sharp, as if he was berating a neighborhood bum for misdeeds. His facial expression was dagger-like, as if he's already judging the alleged perpetrators as guilty. Clearly, he was on the offensive. He turned from news presenter to mere spectator who wants to have his comments known.

A television host moderates the discussion. He does not lord over it with his own bias. I remember one poignant moment in history when Ronnie Nathanielsz was interviewing the late senator Benigno Aquino, Jr. Ronnie, a staunch supporter of the late president Ferdinand Marcos, clearly showed his bias in his facial expression, his reactions to Ninoy's comments, and the tone of his voice. That "Face the Nation" episode even turned a good number of viewers into instant Ninoy followers that night, despite the iron fist rule over media during that period in history.

Instead of just editorializing, a good alternative was to have more people join the discussion, and have Cristy and a representative from Gabriela talk on one end and have at least team captain Aly Borromeo or manager Dan Palami on the other to share their views. That will give a deep and wide perspective on the issue and let viewers decide on who to believe or where to stand.

By Gerry Plaza | omg! Philippines News Blog