MUSIC LYF: Glee Are The Top 10 Selling Digital Artists in the US

The music from Fox’s smash hit Glee has reached another amazing milestone this week as they are #8 in the top 10 selling digital US artists of all time, according to SoundScan.  With over 32 million Glee songs digitally downloaded in the US, they are in the company of pop icons Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Black Eyed Peas.

Most recently the Glee cast’s versions of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” (45,292 tracks sold to date), Michael Jackson’s “Bad” (48,766 tracks sold to date)  and “Smooth Criminal” (161,495 tracks sold to date) have been added to Glee’s ground breaking record for most charted songs by a single act in the Billboard Hot 100 chart history.  These standout tracks bring the Glee cast’s grand total of Hot 100 entries to 193, surpassing Elvis Presley, The Beatles and James Brown.  

ART IS A BANG: Ballet Philippines Holds Search For The Next Rama and Sita on March 22


Ballet Philippines’ (BP) hit pop opera ballet, Rama Hari, slated for November 30, 2012 at the CCP Main Theater, will rock the world of musical theater aficionados once again, as the country’s premiere dance company begins the search for the next Rama and Sita.

Rama Hari, a dance-musical based on the Indian epic, The Ramayana, was created by BP’s founding Artistic Director Alice Reyes, featuring the music of Maestro Ryan Cayabyab with libretto by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera and costume design by National Artist for Theater Design Salvador Bernal. Premiered in 1980, the extravagant and luxurious production boasted the decade’s top singers including Basil Valdez as Rama, Kuh Ledesma as Sita, Leo Valdez as the villain Ravana, Gigi Escalante and others.

MUSIC LYF: Kelly Clarkson - Stronger

KELLY CLARKSON’S “STRONGER (WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU)” RETURNS TO #1 ON BILLBOARD’S HOT 100 CHART

Global superstar Kelly Clarkson’s current single, “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” returns to #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 Chart for a third week.  The single was previously #1 on the Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks in February.  This is Kelly’s 3rd Billboard Hot 100 #1 after 2002’s “A Moment Like This” and 2009’s “My Life Would Suck Without You.”  

Kelly is currently on her 2012 Stronger World Tour and receiving rave reviews.  After her sold out Radio City show, The New York Times stated, “..the idea delivered by the show was that Ms. Clarkson was a star,” while Spin claimed, “Vocally, Clarkson was impeccable, nailing every big note and wistful whisper as she worked her way back and forth across the broad Radio City stage.”  The Hollywood Reporter said,“Clarkson's personable nature and powerhouse vocals prove that she is growing stronger with each album and tour.” 

Kelly will also be appearing on NBC’s The Voice, this March as a mentor alongside country star Miranda Lambert for Team Blake.  Last month, Kelly released Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You) [The Remixes], an EP consisting of 8 different remixes of “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”.  The EP is available for sale at iTunes now.  

MUSIC LYF: UPCC concerts on March 3 & March 31 begin 50th anniversary

CALLING ALL UP MIXED CHORUS & UPCC ALUMNI UP CONCERT CHORUS TURNS 50. 

UPCC members and alumni strike a signature group pose at the February 17 general assembly at the UP Bahay ng Alumni in UP Diliman, Quezon City. Two concerts this March herald the celebration and kick off the 20th International Tour of the University of the Philippines Concert Chorus. 

The University of the Philippines Concert Chorus (UPCC) celebrates its 50th anniversary titled “SingKwenta SingKwela” this year with a series of a year and a half activities highlighted by a six-month international tour this March to key cities in the United States and Europe. UPCC alumna Nanette Inventor is special guest. 

Alumni can receive invitations and updates and get involved in anniversary activities by emailing UPCC50@gmail.com or visiting Facebook page UP Concert Chorus Members and Alumni.  

Marriott Manila Appoints New General Manager

From Marriott USA , Canada , UAE, South Korea , to the Philippines , Marriott Manila is proud to announce the appointment of a seasoned general manager to take over Manila , Mr. Scott Sibley.

With his almost six years of stay at Marriott Guam Resort and Spa , American native Scott is now ready to assume leadership to one of the most progressive Marriott properties in the world, “I am deeply honored and excited to be working with Filipinos where the best of the industry can be found. Marriott Manila has taken leadership in the market by storm and we aim to be at the same spot for the many years to come”, announces Scott.

An industry veteran, Scott takes pride that he started his career in the kitchen.  Boasting a strong background in food & beverage, Scott won an executive chef of the year award in 1990. He also published a cooking tour book with his stellar recipes, entitled “Tour Southeast Asia with Scott”.

Born and raised in the USA , Scott graduated Hotel Apprenticeship at The Culinary Garden & Inn and took up a special course in accounting in 2009 at Universal Class Accounting 101. His passion in the kitchen and unique culinary talent gave Scott a passport to Marriott and paved way in jumpstarting a dynamic hospitality career.  For fourteen years, he was the hotel operations manager and executive chef before the opportunity came in to become a general manager at the Renaissance Dubai Hotel, his first property to hold the highest position. After more than two years, he was assigned at Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Center where he received his first most coveted Mustang award. Came 2004, he was transferred to Renaissance Seoul Hotel Korea where it houses fourteen famous F&B outlets.  During his term, the hotel amazingly garnered $51 million total of sales, commended as the 4th highest rated guest satisfaction for the Renaissance brand.

REEL DEAL: Corazon Ang Unang Aswang SPOTLIGHT

This March Star Cinema  and Skylight Productions goes beyond with a love story that transcends into the dark and mystical realm. Corazon Ang Unang Asawang starring Erich Gonzales and Derek Ramsay  will definitely make the viewers feel  passionate couple love that will turn into a a violent and destructive monster, the first Aswang.

This will be Erich's first starring role as an aswang but the director was amazed on how she played a challenging role of a soon to be mother and into a frightening monster. Direk Richard Somes also mentioned that the movie does not rely on CGI and prostetics giving it that scary feel but with great make up and with the set that gives that strong scary feel.

Also in the movie are great veteran actors and actresses like Mark Gil, Techie Agbayani, Epy Quizon, Maria Isabel Lopez, Sharlene San Pedro, Mon Confiado, Mosang, Dan Alvaro, Hermie Concepcion, Sue Prado and Laiza Comia.

PHIFBEX and HORECA Opens at PICC Forum!

PIFBEX (Philippine International Food and Bevarage Expo) and HORECA (Hotel Restaurant and Caterer Expo) officially opened yesterday with Pinoy Junior Masterchef Kyle Imao doing the ribbon cutting for the PIFBEX AND HORECA along with the tradecon president Mildred Cabalyero and the distinguished  exhibitors. PIFBEX runs from March 1 to 4 at the Picc forum 1-3 Roxas blvd. Pasay city 

First Philippines Scales

With over hundreds of exhibitors from different places in the Philippines (and there was also a booth from Indonesia), the PICC forum becomes a haven for finds not usually found in malls or food events.

We also met with some of the exhibitors that we met at the presscon of PIFBEX like Fesal Hotel, First Philippine Scales (Maker of Fuji Scales), Bem Chow (Famous for their Sisig and Tereyaki), Chicken Deli and Yamanko Sea Salts and Farm (Gourmet Sea salts and Organic Foods) 

Mrs. Myra David for Bem Chow