Re-imagings

Author: Edgar Cruz
Column: BuzzStation

Many entertainers — from Elvis Presley to the Beatles, from Michael Jackson to Madonna — are showing that they have learned the art of reinventing their cultural ancestors and benefit from them tremendously.

Shaina Magdayao, eye-candy to eye-grabber

Shaina Magdayao heads Buzzstation’s shortlist of re-imagings. Now that she is turning 18, she has decided to give up the preppy look for a more current image oozing with youthful sex appeal. For the solo birthday bash hosted by Star Magic publicity manager Rikka Dylim, she came wearing a printed black-and-white dress that exposed her back and beautiful arms and wearing high heels. This heel issue has turned into a sticky problem. ASAP 07 had reprimanded her for wearing low heels as she felt clumsy wearing multi-inch risers. She has to project an adult image now. As an ex-child star like Angelica Panganiban, she’s not ready to pose sexy for men’s magazine. She interjects, “Maybe for fashion magazines like Metro or Preview.”

From now on, the eye candy image has to go. With this fresh look, she has been appearing in ABS-CBN shows including co-hosting Wowowee with Ara Mina, Nikki Gil and regular co-host Valerie Concepcion. As the third wheel in Lobo, Angel Locsin’s much-awaited debut teleserye with the Kapamilya network with Piolo Pascual as lead actor is calculated to be the vehicle for this switch. She’s made to tackle an older role than her biological age – a 23-year-old military undercover agent.

This new look comes with a fresh attitude. Shaina has decided not to have a formal coming-out party because it’s “expensive.” She adds, “You only spend the money for one day. That’s why I opted to travel. I wanted to see the churches of Europe, but since Star Magic only allowed me 10 days instead of the 21 days I asked for, I decided to go to Japan with dad, mom if she can make it and Francesca, my 13-year-old niece. I want to see Mt. Fuji and the temples of Tokyo. As soon as I come back, I return to the set of Lobo.”

Kyla, classy and sassy

Kyla announced her re-imaging when she came to the launch of her Heartfelt CD, released by EMI Philippines. Hairstyle trendsetter Pin Antonio nipped her formless hair into her trademark Eskimo cut with the catfish whiskers. This is clearly a 720-degree turn from the unimpressive prairie look she had in her previous CD launch. With the fresh ‘do comes a daring dressing code. She’s now into pure colors (like red, which becomes her), and is fearless about showing more skin and doing provocative poses. She takes the Madonna style of launching new projects — presenting herself with a bold look so she metamorphoses as a fresh, new thing, grabbing tab headlines and the pre-primetime news. Does Kyla succeed with her reinvention? No doubt!

Kyla matches this hot image with cool songs. The long list of 400 songs considered for the Heartfelt album was narrowed down to 16 powerful cover ballads, mainly through informal audience surveys taken in her gigs. “Love Will Lead You Back,” the carrier single, is Taylor Danes’s ‘80s hit song. The rest are remakes of great love hits spanning decades of old-school standards and contemporary R&B (“I Don’t Want To Go Back,” “I Don’t Have The Heart,” “Broken Hearted,” “Home,” “I Miss You So Much,” “Always and Forever,” “Wait For You,”“Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” “One Day In Your Life,” “Someone,” Last Chance,” “With This Tear,” “If I Were You,” “It’s Over Now” and “For You”). “Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Alternate Version)” is a bonus track.

My favorites are “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” for Kyla’s powerful rendition and “One Day In Your Life” for the nostalgia.

Sam Milby, as rough as he could get

There’s a clear attempt on the part of the makers of Sam Milby’s new A Little Too Perfect CD under Star Records to give him the scruffy look, and they succeeded in giving him a multi-dimensional personality. They removed the Mickey Mouse smile, shaped his six o’clock beard and made him wear a streetsmart style, even displaying his six-pack abs in one picture. And his photographer shot him in unambiguous places like on top of a red truck and in front of sand-and-gravel dune, his guitar case having seen many nights of gigs and concerts. Voila! Sam sheds his clean-cut image for a more manly look, which I’m sure will dirty a bit his androgynous look cooked up by his original imagemakers. Unequivocably, his new image projects Sam the man.

With acclaimed producer Jonathan Manalo, Sam boosts the possibilities of the original acoustic rock style, which he introduced in his freshman CD, also under Star Records. He packs the new album with original tracks and cover songs with acoustic cuts (“Where Did You Go,” “Buong Bunay Ko” and “Mahal Pa Rin”) and instrumental versions (“A Little Too Perfect,” “Right Here Waiting” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love”) to come with a song collection that makes the heart and tympanums jump with joy. I’m particularly tickled with “Love of My Life” and “Shining Star” for its Wall of Sound treatment, which gives them a classy inflection. He sings two songs in Pilipino (“Buong Buhay Ko” & “Mahal Pa Rin”) with an unmistakable American twang, which is cute for it honestly shows a Global Pinoy trying grasp his own native language.

‘Ataul (For Rent),’ black comedy without trying

Ataul (For Rent) showed its strength as a black comedy during the movie’s full-house premiere at SM Cinema 8 and 9. The third time I watched the movie, I was able to observe the movie’s power with a real audience, the first two screenings being a special showing at the last Cinemalaya and the second one a private screening for the entertainment media. And I’m glad I did. I did not grow tired of it and the audience genuinely appreciated this movie with a serious story and treatment. The mixed audience from the hoi polloi to the educated class was gripped by the narrative’s freshness and in-your-face attitude, laughing at scenes with unintended humor and screaming to the shocking ending.

Wilson pulls out of Skycable

Wilson Tieng is moving his RPN shows like NBA, Smackdown, UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and World Class Boxing to ABC and his narrowcast channels E, 2nd Avenue and C&S to RPN 9! This move is in connection with the deal he closed with ABC owner Tony Boy Cojuangco as a blocktimer. Wilson sells his own block. Wilson clinched the deal after to several UHF channels. For its part, ABC is not producing new in-house shows. The sure income that the blocktime deal will bring comes as a reprieve to ABC. Regarding the PBA, ABC still has the final conference this year. The buzz is that Wilson won the bid for PBA next year. PBA will most likely stay in ABC with this blocktime deal. But industry insiders downplayed the importance of this deal as free TV rights are more expensive. Multiple replays is not allowed in free TV. They opine that he’s out to lose a lot of money.

Breaking buzz: The search of a suitable partner to infuse fresh equity to ABC continues. If Tony Boy would have his way, he keeps the broadcast station, but it seems he would rather not put his own money.

Willie wants to talk to Big Brother

During the launch of his double CD entitled Willie Sings...Camo and Saturno, Wowowee host Willie Revillame announced calmly with heaviness in his voice, “Gusto kong makausap si Big Brother. Sabi nila two weeks maximum lang si Mariel Rodriquez sa Big Brother house pero hanggang ngayon ‘di pa siya lumalabas. Gusto kong malaman kung sa kanya na si Mariel.”

To keep Mariel’s participation as housemate in Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition Season 2 for greater impact, the plan was kept secret to Mariel and Wowowee management including Willie. He knew about it when he was called “upstairs” the morning after the night Mariel entered. As he could no longer do anything, he took the move like a good soldier. Ara Mina, Nikki Gil, or Roxanne Guinoo has been subbing for her. Only Valerie Concepcion is a regular co-host now as Pokwang is frequently a no-show due to other special shows. Is Willie getting tired of the situation?

Some of Lito Camo’s songs in Willie’s album are “Iyugyog Mo,” “Sayaw Darling,” “46” and “Hep, Hep Hurray! Happy B-day).” Vehnee Saturno’s songs are “Munting Hiling” and “Kung Para Sa ‘Yo!” Willie Sings...Camo and Saturno hits the music stores by next week.

Romeo Vasquez is sexy and well in the US

The introduction in the fourth season of Abt Ur Luv (Ur Lyf 2) (Channel 2, Saturday, 10 a.m., directed by Erick Salud) of showbiz royal blood Alfonso Martinez — grandson of Amalia Fuentes and Romeo Vasquez, son of Albert Martinez and Liezel Sumilang and nephew of Aga Muhlach and William Martinez — gave Buzzstation the chance to get updated about Romeo. According to Alfonso, he’s now living in the US and at age 70 is as hunky as he could get. He hits the gym regularly so he has firm muscles and has not lost his matinee idol look. When he used to live in the US, his lolo picked him up for bonding. This influenced him to want to be an actor again—seriously this time around—by joining Star Magic. He is Daniel in Abt Ur Luv (Ur Lyf 2), the musician who saves the life of Fiona (Isabelle Abiera). As Fiona gets over her feelings for Bill (Dino Imperial), Daniel picks her attention.

Be Bench grand winner Carlo Guevarra also joins Abt Ur Luv (Ur Lyf 2) as Julio, the older brother of Mao (Mikee Lee), Bill and Ahmad (Aaron Agassi).

‘Lagablaban Fireworks’: An explosive boxing event

Boxing has clearly turned into a television menu. Catch the big-ticket fight live between Juan Manuel Marquez and Ricardo Juarez in a test of strength, willpower and determination in ABS-CBN Sports and Golden Boy Promotions present Lagablaban Fireworks: Marquez vs. Juarez, this Sunday, Nov, 4 at 9 a.m. via satellite from the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona. Watch it at 8:30 a.m. at SM Megamall, SM North Edsa, SM Mall of Asia, SM South Mall, SM Pampanga, Powerplant Cinema and Gateway Cineplex. In the same event, Robert Guererro puts his IBF Featherweight title on the line against Martin Honorio.

E-mail your comments to imagineph@yahoo.com.

Source: The Daily Tribune

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