Christian Bautista: Outbound

He may not have brought home the grand prize but he sure is treated like a superstar by fans, not only in the Philippines, but in the Asian region as well. Dubbed as the Asiansation, Christian Bautista has gone far from the days since he started singing professionally. As a performer, he has improved his vocal prowess and has slowly transformed from being a mere balladeer to a well-rounded performer -- a singer, actor and now a dancer (he is getting there).

Smile! Christian Bautista lit up the room when he arrived.

I met Christian Bautista recently at the bloggers conference for his newest album Christian Bautista Outbound and was I floored by his candidness, wit and charm. No wonder he gained popularity among fans quite easily. When asked about the magnitude of his success in the region, he has quite a number of achievements to boot: multi-platinum record award in the Philippines and in Indonesia; his songs translated into different Asian languages; TV guesting and endorsements in the Asian region; acting in local movies and theater shows; TV roles here and in Indonesia and Singapore, the latest being the hip and happening "The Kitchen Musical" where Christian was tasked to do some dancing (and danced he did!).

Sharing his plaque of recognition from the National Youth Commission:

Exemplary Asean Youth in the Field of Entertainment and the Arts

Having done all those things, what more can we look forward to? His Outbound is something to watch out for as the album drew Christian out of his comfort zone. The album boasts of a great selection of 8 tracks -- a good mix of slow and upbeat ballads -- born out of collaborations with music producers and artists he met and worked with from the United States, Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Indonesia. Christian met Tat Tong, the composer of "All That's Left" while taping for "The Kitchen Musical, through Kewei Tay with whom he recorded "Please Be Careful With My Heart" in Singapore. The collaboration with tat Tong also produced "Unphotographable" and "What Can I Do." In the "All That's Left" music video, Christian pairs up with CosPlay Queen Alodia Gosiengfiao.

My signed copy of Christian Bautista Outbound

Aside from Christian's collaborations with Tat, "Outbound" also features noteworthy works with Grammy-nominated multi-platinum instrumentalist Jim Brickman for "Never Far Away," the K-Pop R&B Trio One Way for "Wrong Number," Indonesian songwriter Satrio for the hit song "I'm Already King," and with Avex Japan's Baby M for the duet "Sakura." Other songs in the album are "Faith" and "Never Far Away."

He also has an upcoming concert here in Manila, I coaxed that out of him in the Q&A but he won't reveal details any further. See the short Q&A video here:

My Q&A with Asiansation Christian Bautista

Christian shared that he has matured as a person and improved as a performer, having gained a new-found confidence to do things he has not tried before. "Honestly, I do feel that I'm at my best so far. This is the right time to pursue new paths and direction and with your support and a personal sense of renewed energy and devotion, I am ready to face the challenges of the future," referring to his aspirations of working in Europe and in the United States of America. Indeed, the album title "Outbound" could very well be prophetic of the future of Christian Bautista's career.

Christian Bautista sings "I'm Already King" Live

Thanks to Universal Records, Pinoy Magazine and Orange Magazine TV

Please visit my YouTube Channel for video uploads: http://www.youtube.com/user/denzcalnea?feature=mhee

Filed under EVENTS

Apl.de.ap: We Can Be Anything

In a progressing country such as ours, education is the one thing that parents can give their children to ensure a bright future because unlike material things, the knowledge and values we derive from school can't be taken from us. "With education, we can be anything!" is the echoing message that Apl.de.ap, the Filipino-American member of the world-famous Black Eyed Peas, wants to impart to the Filipino youth through his education advocacy campaign.

The "We Can Be Anything" education advocacy had a soft launch yesterday at the Grand Sunset Pavilion of Sofitel Philippine Plaza and provided selected media and guests a glimpse of the joint advocacy project of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF) and the Apl.de.ap Foundation. The grand launch will be done at the Black Eyed Peas' Manila concert at the SM Mall of Asia concert grounds on October 25.

We have seen how apl.de.ap has always been proud of being a Filipino as heard in his music and interviews. This education advocacy gives him a greater chance to help the Filipino youth and he uses his music and influence to enjoin others support the project. "I was born here and I'd like to give back to the Philippines by making it possible for more kids to go to school," Apl.de.ap said. "I would not have gotten this far were it not for education, and I'd like to be able to help the youth to achieve their dreams."

Black Eyed Peas' Apl.de.ap

The press conference was opened by Rafael Lopa, president of the Ninoy and Cory Aquino Foundation (NCAF), by giving an overview of what the education advocacy campaign is all about and how it came to be.

NCAF president Rafael Lopa

"We Can Be Anything" will support private sector efforts to build public school classrooms and other learning centers nationwide. As the NCAF's iamninoy-iamcory movement special ambassador for education, Apl.de.ap is lending his magic to boost programs like the Bayanihang Pampaaralan program of the 57-75 Education Reform Alliance which seeks to build 10,000 new classrooms within two years.

Mario Deriquito, one of the convenors of the 57-75 alliance

To get more people involved in raising the funds, the Ten Moves campaign was born. Spearheaded by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) and the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Ten Moves espouses the "10 pesos per day for 10 months" donation -- or P3,000 donation from each Filipino -- that would help finance the construction of the classrooms. According to Mr. Lopa, "It costs about P600,000 to P650,000 to build one classroom. So far, out of the 726 classrooms pledged, 428 have been constructed."

DepEd Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera

Department of Education Undersecretary Rizalino Rivera shared," DepEd's Key Mandates are: ensuring that all school-age children are in school; keeping the children in school; and providing the children quality education." The shortage in classrooms makes it difficult for DepEd to meet their key mandates since it reduces government's ability to accommodate all school-age children. The lack of education infrastructure also affects the children's interest in staying in school, thus affecting learning.

"We Can Be Anything" Video

The upbeat song "We Can Be Anything" was composed by Apl to make the youth relate to the advocacy campaign. An accompanying music video that Apl.de.ap co-produced with his best friend and B.E.P. colleague Will.i.am is currently being shown on TV and online. Share the video to spread the word.

Apl.de.ap telling his life story and why he is campaining for education

As the NCAF's iamninoy-iamcory movement special ambassador for education, Apl.de.ap was asked how he was as a student and he quipped, "I did pretty well!" Although he had trouble back then as a student because of his eyesight problem which gave him a hard time seeing the blackboard, he told us that , "I just copy notes from my classmates or I move my seat closer to the blackboard to see better. My adoptive father was very proud of my grades."

When asked about his favorite subject in school, he answered, "English," and shared this anecdote, "I knew I was going to be adopted so I asked my mom how I can improve my English and she advised me to read the dictionary."

As a student Apl "did pretty well."

It was no secret that Apl.de.ap was given good education (and a better eyesight via an operation) by the family who adopted him and brought him to the United States of America. "I still cherish my Pinoy roots and I would like to give back whatever I can to the Philippines. The best way to do that, I feel, is by creating opportunities for young Filipinos, " thus, the birth of the Apl Foundation in 2008 to help various communities and children within the Philippines and through out Asia.

(l-r) Mario Deriquito, Rafael Lopa, Apl.de.ap, Lino Rivera and Audie Vergara

Noticing how the education campaign seems to focus on resources for public school school classrooms, I asked them, "Do you have plans to come up with a campaign to help the Filipino teachers as well? Mr. Lopa said that plans to help teachers get proper incentives and proper training as definitely in the pipeline.

Advocacy materials: t-shirt, button pin and celphone charm

To know more about the campaign or to support it, visit www.wecanbeanything.com or www.facebook.com/WeCanBe AnythingHeroes.

Filed under EVENTS

Shamcey's Tsunami Walk

I don't monitor every beauty pageant, whether local or international, except for the Miss Universe pageant due to a habit, or shall I say tradition, that was formed back in high school. For those who don't remember, the Miss Universe pageant happens every summer (here in the Philippines at least) on the merry month of May. Back in those days, my best friend and I would go to the CCP complex to do some running and biking from 6 to 8 am. We girls then hurry back to either my house or her house to watch the live telecast of Miss Universe together. Sometimes the pageant happens exactly on my bff's birthday so it was doubly fun. Now that she lives in another country, I still monitor the live telecast wherever I am and try to watch the replay in the evening.

2011 Miss Universe 3rd Runner-up Shamcey Supsup

On the day of the 2011 Ms. Universe pageant, I was attending a business conference. While listening to the top calibre speakers in the event, I was monitoring the Miss Universe pageant as it progress to various levels. Thank goodness for Twitter where almost everybody was twitting updates from the pageant happening in Brazil. Things started to get exciting as Shamcey was called the Top 16, then Top 10, then Top 5.

Everyone was so focused on Miss Philippines especially during the Q&A portion where Shamcey was asked this question by Vivica Fox, "Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person that you love? Why or why not?" Shamcey answered, "If I had to change my religious beliefs, I will not marry the person that I love because the first person that I love is God, who created me. And I have my faith, my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. And if that person loves me, he should love my God too." without even batting an eyelash and without the need for an interpreter. Hello! English is a universal language and it has been the universal language for ages now -- so why can't the other contestants learn it before they start representing their countries in an international pageant? Please don't get me wrong, I'm just asking.

2011 Miss Universe winners (l-r) Miss Ukraine, 1st Runner-up;

Miss Philippines, 3rd Runner-up; Miss China, 4th Runner-up;

Miss Brazel, 2nd Runner-up; and Miss Angola, Miss Universe 2011.

Anyway, the point of this blog entry is the now famous "tsunami walk" of Shamcey Supsup. It was said that Miss Universe 2011 third runner-up was told by her Columbian trainer “O, Ms. Philippines you walk like a tsunami” as her hips sway when she does a catwalk. Bb. Pilipinas Universe and personality development instructor Abbygale Arenas de Leon affirmed that Shamcey's Tsunami Walk is a “unique catwalk skill,” a talent that, according to her, enables Shamcey to “detach” her hips from her body, creating a sort of wavy sway. Below is a video I borrowed from YouTube, showing Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup's Tsunami Walk.

Video of Shamcey Supsup's Tsunami Walk

Congratulations to Shamcey for placing in the prestigious Miss Universe 2011 pageant. You made Philippines proud and you have inspired us Filipinas with your beauty, brains, wit and grace.

Photo from http://www.philippinenewsdaily.com

Video from http://www.youtube.com/user/ohmrey

Filed under SIGHTS

HeartSpeak featured on TV :)

Yes! My first public appearance on cam was realized via the GMA-7 program "Kay Susan Tayo" which was aired this morning, Dec. 2 at 10 am. They featured the Cubao Holiday Bazaar Expo and my booth had the longest exposure, next to Ms. Sandy's The Reading Room. So happy! Thanks again, Sandy. :)

It was weird and exciting to see myself and my mom on TV. The interview portion was edited really short but the booth and product shots were long and gave my accessories biz quite a good exposure. The shoot took place last November 17 and we've been anticipating the feature since last week.

Thanks to the production staff of the show and to Ms. Tuesday Vargas for the interview.

Click here to view:

http://heartspeak.multiply.com/video/item/1/Cubao_Expo_Bazaar_Kay_Susan_Tayo_Video_Clip