MUSIC LYF: Rebecca Ferguson


Rebecca Ferguson featuring the debut single “Nothing’s Real But Love”, debut album “Heaven” out soon

If pop music is infinitely surprising then the often circuitous route that brings a major star to our attention is surely exemplified in the wonderful Rebecca Ferguson.

Just over a year ago, this painfully shy, woefully under confident single mother of two was shown auditioning for The X Factor. In what is surely one of the best audition sequences ever shown on the programme, her story of dignified resignation – pregnant at 17, then again at 19, with no money and little hope – struck a chord with the nation. It seemed that this was a voice destined never to be heard. Then she opened her mouth and her stunningly raw rendition of Sam Cooke’s classic “A Change Is Gonna Come” set the bar on the show, oh, just a million miles higher….

It’s immaterial that she came second on the show – perhaps even preferable, as it has meant that the last year has allowed this Liverpudlian world-class singer/songwriter to hone her writing skills and to channel that remarkable soul voice into a selection of songs that will establish this 25 year old as the voice of her generation, and a global superstar.

MUSIC LYF: Smash TV Series Soundtrack


SOUNDTRACK OF NBC HIT “SMASH” SET FOR RELEASE IN MAY
Fan-Favorite Original Tunes and Covers to Be Included

NBC and Columbia Records announced that the soundtrack from the first season of NBC’s musical hit “Smash” will be released in May 2012. The soundtrack will be released in the Philippines by Ivory Music & Video, the exclusive licensee of Sony Music. 

The highly anticipated album will feature stars Katharine McPhee (Karen), Megan Hilty (Ivy Lynn) and other cast members performing the original music created for the show’s narrative and for the musical-within-a-musical.  The freshman series already has been renewed for a second season.

Highlighted on the album will be the Broadway-caliber songs written for the series by Tony and Grammy winners Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The “Smash” album will also include some of the pop tunes that have been adapted for the show, such as Christina Aguilera’s “Beautiful,” the show-stopping song that Karen sings so effectively for her audition that she is plucked, literally, from obscurity to audition for the musical’s starring role.  

VISITA INGLESIA DIARIES: The Journey Starts

This year I have gone on another Visita Iglesia tour on my own and this time I actually started at 4PM. Now the journey begins.



Visita Iglesia Diaries

As we are in the Holy Week, malls are closed, a very long weekend and also a tricky weather I would pressume but this is also an opportunity for us to reflect, rest and also to temporarily  disconnect from our hectic lives. After Misa de Gallo Diaries, and Traslacion 2012, here I go again with my personal devotion and shared here in the blog. Today I start my Visita Iglesia Diaries. 
The journey starts today, I hope I would be able to share things and places of worship that others can also find inspiration in which I also did. So stay tuned and I hope to also bump into several friends along the way. For now, here are the videos I made last year for the Visita Iglesia back in 2011.
May you have a meaningful and blessed holy week!


REEL DEAL: Foreign media talk about GMA Films’ “The Road”

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 

Nothing stands in the way of GMA Film's horror movie The Road as it paves the way for Filipino stars to walk the red carpets of Hollywood. This May, the Yam Laranas thriller will make a debut in cinemas across theUnited States after GMA Films reached a commercial distribution agreement with international film distribution outfit Freestyle Releasing. 
The US screening of The Road is also already making waves among the foreign media. The Hollywood Reporter, Fangoria.com, AllHorror.net, Bloody-Disgusting.com, FlickDaily.com, Variety.com and other print and online media outfits report that The Road will also be released in digital platforms on the same day of its theatrical debut. 

Meanwhile, HollywoodWireTap.com, reported that The Road is the first all-Filipino film to be released commercially in the mainstream market in the US, adding the movie is described by the international horror press as "one of the best horror films of the year."

HOLY WEEK Schedules at TV Maria

Today is Mandy Thursday and TV Maria has prepared programming that will be your companion this Holy Week. Watch the live streaming of the Mass of the Last Supper later today at 5:00 p.m. a www.tvmaria.net

REEL DEAL: TITANIC 3D REVIEW

I can't deny that I have seen this movie numerous times, and so did we. And the loved love story in the ill fated steam ship has captivated the world and will now be relived in the re release of TITANIC in 3D. This brings the unlikely worlds of Jack and Rose. They will come across a lot of obstacles in their love affair as they will also fight to stay alive from the tragedy that looms with the ship thought to be unsinkable.


TITANIC 3D is also in line with its 100th anniversary of its maiden voyage on April 10th and its sinking on April 15th. I remember when this movie was released I was still in elementary but there is permanence that keeps one to watch it over and over again. As the luxury ship has been celebrated as one of the biggest moving object in the world at that time, the story was also the most successful movie of the 20th century grossing  $1.3 Billion Dollars.