Thursday, March 12, 2009

American Ido Season 8 Top 13




















..Rap In Peace..

Until the very moment when the urn containing the ashes of Francis Magalona was buried at the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City yesterday, his widow, Pia Arroyo-Magalona, the Pillar of Strength, kept her widely-admired composure because that was how Francis wanted things to be: That is, no excessive show of grieving, no copious tears (even if many of the sympathizers couldn’t help it), no Good Friday faces but perhaps Easter Sunday smiles.


Even the priest, Rev. Fr. Bert Ampil, who said the Mass Tuesday night at the Christ The King Chapels in Green Meadows, Quezon City, where Francis’ remains lay since Friday night, was in a buoyant mood, reminding Francis not to really “Rest In Peace” but, yes, to “Rap In Peace.”

The 9 p.m. Mass preceded the eulogy in which Pia, along with her and Francis’ eight children, recalled their happy moments with Francis and thanked those who sympathized with them. Regine Velasquez did a heart-rending rendition of Pangako; her boyfriend Ogie Alcasid also sang, holding back tears. But Michael V., one of Francis’ bosom buddies, broke down, assuring Francis how much he love(s) him. “I love you, Francis. You know that,” sobbed Michael V. Gary sang a touching song about friendship.

Malou Choa-Fagar, an executive of Tape, Inc. which produces the GMA noontime show Eat, Bulaga! which Francis co-hosted until he was taken ill in August last year, bade “my Peter Pan” a tearful goodbye. The sober but emotional eulogy was capped by a video prepared by the Bulaga! guys (led by Joey de Leon, Vic Sotto and former Sen. Tito Sotto).

A member of the Camera Club said in his tribute that Francis, an avid camera bug, qualified for membership after only six months instead of the required one-year probation, and won a prize in the club’s Sensual Photo contest by submitting a close-up shot of Pia’s sensuous lips.

After the Mass that ended after midnight, Francis’ remains were brought to the Funeraria Paz on Araneta Ave., Quezon City, for the cremation that lasted for more than four hours. The ashes, collected in a bronze urn, were brought back to the Christ The King Chapels where a necrological Mass was held before Francis was brought to his final resting place, sent off by family members, friends, colleagues and fans, many of whom lined the route from Green Meadows to Marikina City — and by a dozen balloons and butterflies of varied colors that lit up the summer sky.

The urn was buried beside the tombs of Pia’s relatives and not, as earlier reported, beside those of Francis’ parents, Tita Duran and Pancho Magalona, which are at the Manila Memorial Park in ParaƱaque City.

Up there where angels sing, Francis must be rapping to his heart’s content. Down here, his fans continue to play and replay his nationalistic songs (Mga Kababayan Ko, Kaleidoscope World, etc.).

MalacaƱang has posthumously honored Francis with a Presidential Medal of Merit for promoting patriotism through music.

There’s a move to make Francis a National Artist, an honor he more than deserves.

Go ahead, Francis, Rap In Peace!

(An excerpt from Philippine Star March 12, 2009 issue)
Funfare Section by Ricky Lo

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Francis Magalona, passed away..

MANILA, Philippines - Master rapper Francis Magalona, 44, passed away Friday, March 6, 2009.

Vic Sotto confirmed the news over GMA's noontime show Eat Bulaga and asked for a minute of prayer for the eternal repose of the singer-composer's soul.


Magalona's battle with leukemia was made public last year. In a public statement last April 14, he admitted he was battling with the malady.


(an excerpt from gmanews.tv)

American Idol selects 3 more finalists

Jorge Nunez
Lil Rounds
Scott MacIntyre

LOS ANGELES — The drama is over for Nathaniel Marshall and Kristen McNamara on American Idol.
The pair of singers who sparred with their group during Hollywood Week were two of nine semifinalists sent packing Wednesday on the popular Fox singing competition — and they weren’t selected to return for the special wild card round either.
The third group of three finalists headed to the top 12: Lil Rounds, the smooth 23-year-old mother of three from Memphis; Scott MacIntyre, the soulful 23-year-old piano player from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Jorge Nunez, the charming 20-year-old college student from Carolina, Puerto Rico. The trio received the most viewer votes Tuesday.

The show’s four judges seemed in agreement with the viewer votes this week. They apparently didn’t want to be without Rounds, who received the biggest endorsement after singing Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You.”The panel also lauded MacIntyre and Nunez, who broke into tears Tuesday after his rendition of Elton John’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.”
“You’re born to sing,” said Kara DioGuardi. “What you have comes from the heart.”At the end of the show, the judges also announced the semifinalists who will get a second shot at the top 12.Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Braddy, Megan Corkrey, Tatiana Del Toro, Matt Giraud, Jesse Langseth and Anoop Desai will return to the stage for the wild card round Thursday. The judges will pick the final three finalists from that group.
“Thank you so much. Thank you so much,” said a weeping Del Toro. “I want this so much. This means so much to me.”
Nunez, MacIntyre, and Rounds join previously picked finalists Kris Allen, Adam Lambert, Allison Iraheta, Danny Gokey, Alexis Grace, and Michael Sarver. The show’s dozen finalists will be known Thursday after the wild card round.

Beginning next week, the finalists start competing — with one singer sent packing each Wednesday.

(excerpt from www.toledoblade.com)

Last group of American Idol Season 8 Semi-Finalists

Following the announcement of Rounds, MacIntyre and DioGuardi to the Top 12, the results show concluded with the judges revealing that they had selected Von Smith, Jasmine Murray, Ricky Braddy, Megan Corkrey, Tatiana Nicole Del Toro, Matt Giraud, Jesse Langseth, and Anoop Desai to compete in Thursday night's special "Wild Card Round" show.






Von Smith is a 22-year-old from Kansas City, MO who currently resides in Greenwood, MO. Smith plays piano and is fluent in Spanish. His other hobbies include dancing, acting and songwriting.
































Jasmine Murray is a 17-year-old from Columbus, MS who currently resides in Starkville, MS. Murray lives in Starkville, MS, and attends The Mississippi School of the Arts. She loves being on stage and has been singing since she was 3 years old.





































Ricky Braddy is a 25-year-old from Nashville, TN who currently resides in Elizabeth City, NC. Braddy graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN, with a degree in Commercial Vocal Performance. He began singing when he was 4 years old at his church.






































Megan Corkrey is a 23-year-old from Taylorsville, UT who currently resides in Sandy, UT. Corkrey lives in Sandy, UT, with her 2-year-old son, Ryder. She has been singing since age 3, and is a self-professed "foodie."



























Tatiana Nicole Del Toro is a 24-y-old from San Juan, PR who currently resides in Los Angeles, CA. Del Toro studied at the Manhattan School of Music and attended the New York Film Academy. Her hobbies include theater, acting, writing dancing.




























Matt Giraud is a 23-year-old from Ypsilanti, MI who currently resides in Kalamazoo, MI. Giraud is a life-long resident of Michigan who graduated from Western Michigan University in 2007. He sings and plays piano in local clubs and hotels.

























Jesse Langseth is a 26-year-old from Minneapolis, MN. Langseth lives in Minneapolis, MN, with her 8-year-old daughter. In addition to singing, she also plays the piano and guitar.





























Anoop Desai is a 22-year-old from Chapel Hill, NC. Desai is working on his master's degree at the University of North Carolina. During his undergraduate years, he was a member of the UNC Clef Hangers, an a cappella group.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Daily Text Message:

From George Estabillo:

Just read this and understand:

They LOVE you but they are not your lover..

They CARE for you but they are not from your family..

They are READY to SHARE your PAIN but they are not in your blood relation..

They are..

F R I E N D S ! ! ! ! !

True friend...

...scolds you like a Dad!

...cares like a Mom!

...teases like a Sister!

...irrirates like a Brother!

..and finally loves you more than a lover..

Monday, March 2, 2009

Daily Text Message:

May mag-asawang nag-away. Hindi sila nag-uusap dahil nagpapataasan ng pride. Ang unang magsalita, talo!

Yung lalaki, kailangang gumising ng maaga kasi may flight sya papuntang US. Ayaw nya kausapin ang asawa niya dahil matatlo sya kaya nagsulat siya sa isang kapirasong papel: "pakigising ako ng ala-singko ng umaga."

Kinabukasan, nagising ang lalaki ng alas-otso ng umaga. Galit na galit siya na kakausapin na sana niya ang asawa nang may napansin siyang isang sulat sa tabi ng kama, "GISING NA, ALA-SINGKO NA, BAKA MA-LATE KA SA FLIGHT MO!"

A very nice thought:

CONTENTMENT is NOT always the fulfillment of what you WANT.

It's the REALIZATION of how blessed you are for what you already have.