Pop-rock icon Lou Bonnevie marks three important events this April. The first happened last April 4 when her latest album “Only Human” was launched on “SOP” and the second will happen on April 17 when she will do a live show at SM Mall of Asia to promote the album. Of course, she will perform all the songs in the album. She will continue her mall tour in May, she said.

The third big event for Lou is “Earth Day Jam,” which she has been mounting under her and Toto Gentica’s own Dimitri Production for the past nine years. As usual, “Earth Day Jam,” slated on April 24, will be held along Morato Ave. in Quezon City. Joining them in this momentous event are some of the country’s famous bands like Rivermaya, Callalilly, Hale, and many others.

Going back to her recording, the last time Lou did an album was in 1999. “Imagine, 10 years na pala since I last recorded an album,” she recalled. During those 10 years, Lou said she became an environmentalist, “I got involved in environmental concerns like climate change and other projects and one of them is my own production of Earth Day Jam.”

“I didn’t had the time to do an album, until a friend reminded me na I should do something for myself also, na it’s now or never na gumawa ako ulit ng album. So I did. And if anything, emotional ang album na ito. Any citizen of the world could relate to my songs. It is a blend of acoustic, pop alternative, gospel blues and a splatter of rock and roll of course.”

Lou wrote all the songs, and they reflect her many influences and shows a great deal of maturity on her part. She sang them with the support of some of the country’s top session musicians: Sammy Asuncion of Pinikpikan, Kakoy Legaspi, Peryodiko, Cesar Aguas, Ardi and Lou herself (guitars); Rommel dela Crus, Freestyle, Barbie’s Cradle; Bobby Rasco and Bobby Taylo (bass); Wendell Garcia, Pupil, Michael Alba and Jun Jun Regalado (drums).

All piano and synthesizer tracks are from co-producer and creative musicman Toto Gentica. Special musicians include a violinist, a banjo and accordion player and soul-inspired back-up vocalists.

“Only Human” consists of 13 all-original songs, including the opening number “Wanna Rock With U.” The others are “Driftin,’” “People Don’t Care,” “LAF (Love at First Sight”), “Hurting,” which is a song about Mother Earth, a touching refresher from the artist who’s also now a committed environmentalist; “Courage,” “Say No,” and “Only Human.”

Summer flicks on the Hallmark Channel

Hallmark Channel helps you beat the summer heat with chill-out premieres and TV specials guaranteed to keep your eyes and ears glued to the screen.

Relax at home today, Good Friday, with Hallmark Channel’s Holiday Movie Marathon, starting with “Angel in the Family” at 10 a.m. It is a heartwarming movie about two sisters, Sarah and Beth (played by Tracey Needham and Natasha Wagner), who reunite after their father suffers a mild stroke and experience a miracle after Sarah wishes for their already-deceased mother to be there for them.

“Love’s Enduring Promise,” the Janette Oke sequel to “Love Comes Softly,” follows at 12 p.m. Missie Davis (January Jones), a lovely, intelligent schoolteacher meets handsome Grant (Mackenzie Astin), and instantly knows that he is so much like the hero she has encountered in one of her books. She is torn when a newcomer enters the scene – a mysterious young man named Nate who helps her family out when they need it the most.

Also part of the special is “The Maldonado Miracle,” at 2 p.m. A film for all ages, the movie is set in a small, dying town, where a Jesus statue that appears to shed tears of blood brings back a fresh wave of hope to its residents. Suddenly, the town is a hustle-bustle of economic activity, and there is a more positive air to the place as people are confronted with choices to make and realities to accept.

Finally, capping off the marathon is “Though None Go with Me” at 4 p.m. Set in 1951 during the American-Korean war, the story focuses on Elizabeth LeRoy, a fresh college graduate who falls in love with the town’s handsome minister. But her faith is tested when her love leaves for Korea to continue God’s work, and she goes through a journey of heartbreak, courage, and resilience that will change her life forever.

Hallmark Channel is seen on SkyCable Channel 37 and other leading cable providers.

On Good Friday, 5 p.m., GMA-7 airs “Tanikala: Bihag ng Kadiliman,” a drama-suspense-thriller trilogy featuring true stories of demonic visitations, attacks, and possessions, and how victims escaped from it.

The first story “Desepsyon: The story of Tseka Rafols,” the true account of Tseka, a teenage girl whose obsession with horror movies, Ouijaboard and books on witchcrafts brought her into the company of the manananggal, aswang, and other evil spirits.

“Boses: Udyok ng mga Dwende” is the ordeal of Liezel Ilagan who was befriended by dwarves who eventually lived in her and forced her to do their will.

The third story, entitled “Takot: Ang Lihim ng Lumang Bahay” features Joy Marasigan and her family who were terrorized by a “white lady” and “black ghost” who haunt the house where they lived.

This trilogy of real-life battles between good and evil is a special Holy Week production of The 700 Club Asia, hosted by Peter Kairuz and written and directed by Jose Paolo T. Tesico.

Hyperbeat rocks the Manor

After Holy Week’s stupor, revellers and the party people can groove at The Manor Garden at Camp John Hay. On Black Saturday, Hyperbeat dishes out its heart-stopping, adrenalin-pumping brand of music.

Since it broke into the music scene, the band has been mesmerizing audiences with its captivating brand of live entertainment, combining wit with music. Hyperbeat will lend The Manor at Camp John Hay with energy—through a lively repertoire of music, culling hits from the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, and rock & roll, swing, pop and club music.

Hyperbeat will rock Little Camp John Hay @ The Manor on Black Saturday, April 11, starting at 8:30 p.m. Admission is at R300. This is made possible by Ely’s Journey, Architect Puzon & Associates, EBDI, Narda’s, East World, Asia Cotton, Classic Scheme and Simplicio.

For details and reservations, visit www.cjhhotels.com.

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 10, go to PCSO Chairman Serge O. Valencia, Ryan Agoncillo, Champagne Morales, Margarita Penson Juico, Agnes Hilario, Mickey Moreno, Richard Bonifacio, Prescilla T. Aquino, Divine Banaria Duran, Aldrich Lorenz Po-Lim and Hubert Ligon Tabora…