The Philippines will send its biggest delegation ever to the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) which will be held on July 11, 2009 at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles, California.   

The delegation, composed of 28 artists, is led by Philippine National Director Carlo Orosa, Philippine Associate Director Oliver Oliveros, and KB Entertainment’s Kitchie Benedicto.    

Some of the delegates performed for the media when the composition of Team Philippines was announced. Director Orosa said that “we are hoping for the best… our delegates being among the young and top performing artists of the Philippines.”

The singers vying for the “Grand Champion Vocalist of the World” titles are Martha Joy (Viva recording artist and “Canadian Idol” finalist); Evette Pabalan (“Sexbomb” dancer and TV actress); Mayumi Motrales (sister of young singer-actor Makisig, and a protégé of Isay Alvarez and Tricia Jimenez’s Spotlight Artists Center); Rhap Salazar (ABS-CBN “Brightest Star”); Divo Bayer (recording artist based in Los Angeles, California); Keane Andeza and Oreo Vamenta (new recording artists), and Maila Mitra, Nicole Espolong, Melchi Bicua, CJ Concepcion and Mia Sinaguinan, up-and-coming young performers.

Solo vocalists Guy Lockwood and Izarzuri Vidal, and group vocalists Kulay Pitaka and Young Voices of the Philippines Quartet are also part of the Philippine Team. For modeling, the sole delegate is Bryan Foronda, DepEd’s Mr. Philippines Youth.   

The WCOPA is the only official “Talent Olympics” for aspiring performing artists. It was designed to create a system of competitions that will provide invaluable experience and exposure for aspiring, achieving artists around the world.

Griff O’Neil, WCOPA president, said: “Sports has its Olympics, and now the performing arts has its world championship. This is the only official entertainment competition program for seasoned and up-and-coming performers and entertainers annually held in Hollywood, entertainment capital of the world. Countries are represented by delegations similar to the Olympics. It is a rare opportunity for a privileged few.”

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Young JV, Ready or Not

“I first started writing poetry, then I wrote my songs,” Young JV said during the launching recently of his debut album entitled “Ready Or Not.”

The title of the album already speaks much about himself. He is ready now to meet head-on the challenges that he may face in the showbiz industry. His courage can be attributed to the fact that he is the youngest son of a former military officer, Col. Eduardo “Red” Kapunan (PAF).

The album features 15 songs, all of them his compositions. The songs are: “Ready Or Not,” “That Girl,” “Doin’ It Big,” “I Bet They Can’t Do It Like That,” “Can’t Get Enough,” “Do The Snap,” “The Way I Feel,” “Kapayapaan (Give Peace A Chance),” “Can I Kick It,” “Don’t Know You,” “Lipad Noypi,” “Kaibigan Lang,” “Olachica,” “Shake Shake,” and “Outro.”   

Young JV or Eduardo JV Kapunan III is in his second year college taking up BS Entrepreneurship. He is a rapper, and that Michael Jackson greatly influenced his style of singing. Locally, Billy Crawford is his idol.

“I am amazed at Michael Jackson’s energy on stage,” Young JV said. Young JV also does hip-hop songs. “I also took some piano lessons,” Young JV added. “My parents are very supportive of the singing career I am pursuing.” He revealed that his father was somehow hesitant at first that his son would be pursuing an entertainment career.

Young JV also said: “I was born and raised as a soldier’s son, moved by my father’s war stories when he was a combat pilot in Mindanao and when he took part in the EDSA I people power revolution that brought back our democratic institutions after years of martial rule. These stories of conflict not only made my father stand tall but brought me closer to the sad situation of our Muslim brothers in Mindanao and countless women and children war victims. The learning’s about the pains of war stirred in me a real yearning and true calling to be an artist-soldier fighting for peace and love in our troubled world of today.”

No wonder his songs call for peace. He stressed: “My songs of peace and love are also inspired by stories of people who work hard and succeed even if they have nothing to start with. Really, nothing is impossible if you put your heart into it. To the youth of today, let us all work for peace, love and unity in our country.”   

“Ready Or Not” is distributed by PolyEast Records.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Monday, July 6, go to Vice President Noli de Castro, Liberty Ilagan, Lilibeth Lagman, Wally Trinidad, Jose Agaton R. Sibal, Dr. Ofelia “Baby” Manlapit, Rene Ragunton, Shirley Jimenez, Obeth Cervañez, Desiree Danielle Layos, Freddie Cuneta, Sonny Ibañez, JB Magsaysay and Arron Villaflor of Star Magic, Charles Edsel Chua and MB’s Vice President for Public Relations Ms. Ching Suva…Belated b-day greetings to Lolit Navasero Magpantay (July 4)..