Charice

Just recently, we saw Charice (on “ASAP 09” and “The Buzz”) sporting a new “tan” look. The artist responsible for it is one named Jake Galvez, who was trained under his uncle, the popular and established professional hairdresser Toni Galvez. Jake, we gathered, holds a two-year course diploma in Cosmetology. He also studied make-up in beauty schools in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, but is also a graduate of Business Management, major in Information Technology, from THAMES.

Anyway, Charice’s new look has incited debates, and pros and cons from fans here and abroad. Jake has said people will be seeing more of Charice looking glam and that he’ll soon go to the US with the singer to do her album cover. To which a Chaster (ChariceManiac) retorted: “We don’t mind glam, it’s just your overdoing it… like it better with the first shoot in Face2Face.”

When Jake answered “so should we adjust just for your tasteless desires?” he received this. “You’re the artist, she’s your canvass. Treat her like your Masterpiece.” Jake’s answer to this, which was “Exactly, so don’t complain. If you don’t like her anymore, then follow Miley Cyrus instead.” To this, Jake received a barrage of criticisms. He was asked: “Can you honestly say that her look right now is your Masterpiece? I think you’re very good and you can do better.” Jake said “if it wasn’t a Masterpiece, then I should have not posted it… and just kept it in my files.”

A comment generated by this exchange said “Charice needs to stick with his WB team here in the US. This guy can’t even take a constructive criticism. He’s gonna make Charice the joke of Hollywood. Her look isn’t even age appropriate. She looks 25-30, not 17!”

Jake has also been called an “amateur unknown artist trying to make a name for himself and is jumping on Charice’s rising fame to help him… it’s very obvious that he knows very little about Charice and is more concerned with his own ambitions than for the benefit of Charice… one of the biggest reasons for Charice’s popularity is her innocence, her purity, her excellent character, her clean and friendly look…this look that Jake is trying to promote on Charice speaks of the total opposite and makes Charice look too ‘Hollywood’ – fake, trashy, wild and undisciplined…”

Someone also said that Jake needs to learn what constructive criticism is. But someone said in defense of Jake: “I think Jake did a good job. She looks totally different but what we’ll all like about Charice is her fantastic vocals, so whatever look she sports, she will still be well-loved.”

Another said “I hope Jake knows that the sentiments above are not a representation of what ALL fans of Charice think. Some like her new look, some don’t. You can’t please everybody, right? But did you guys just called Jake an amateur, a joke, an unknown? How much do you know about the industry in the Philippines for you to say those things? I personally have been hearing about Jake Galvez long before Face 2 Face, long before he did Charice’s make-up – and I’m not even into the local fashion/beauty industry!” He apologized to Jake “for the negative things some fans said to you. I hope you know they’re not a representation of the entire Chaster community.”

A certain jezzz wrote: “I don’t think it’s appropriate to tell Jake Galvez that ‘he’s overdoing it.’ It’s his job and he knows better. I like his style… love those make-ups. But he was kinda rude to charicemaniacs. He could have answered in a polite way…”

Robee wrote he likes her eyes “but I don’t like the pink lipsticks… she looks so matured in the pictures…”

Well, there are all kinds of Charice fans, and the conservative seems to be against her new “tan” look. Jake understands that we cannot please everybody, but he believes that someone’s look should always be new.

Anyway, we were told that David Foster, the popular Canadian songwriter-singer and producer with whom Charice will be concertizing in the US and Canada, likes Charice’s new look and has decided to change her album cover and it’s possible that Jake Galvez will do the concept and Charice’s make-up for the shoot.

Jake, by the way, is the Vice President of the Tony Galvez School of Cosmetology along 9th Ave. in Cubao (in front of SM Supermarket). He also did the make-up of Mandy Moore when she came over for a show. He has a team of make-up artists and photographers who accepts pictorials for TV and print commercials.

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‘Pamaskong Handog’

It was an early Christmas gift for the residents of Dasmariñas, Cavite, the launching recently of “Pamaskong Handog ng Wowoowie,” with Senator Manny Villar as guest. Around 100,000 people attended the concert which began at about 7 p.m. at the Dasmariñas National High School.

The same show will also be held in other parts of the country. We understand that Sen. Villar has donated a house and lot which will be raffled among those who will be attending the series of concerts.

The concert lasted up to past nine in the evening, and as characteristic of any Willie Revillame concert, the popular TV host also distributed cash prizes and dozens of jackets.

Among the special guest performers were Galina, Blakdyak, Jessa Zaragoza and Rico J. Puno.

Sen. Villar, when called to the stage by Willie, said that the “Pamaskong Handog” is being undertaken in order to give the people an opportunity to attend and enjoy big musical concerts which are most often very expensive. With the “Pamaskong Handog” series of concerts, Sen. Villar stressed that “we have to bring music or musical concerts right where the people reside so that they do not worry about their expenses.”

Indeed, the people outside Metro Manila have also the rights to watch and listen to first-class entertainers.

Though he is known already as a presidential candidate, Sen. Villar did not say a word about his candidacy. He simply waved to the audience while he was on stage when he made a one-sentence statement about the “Pamaskong Handog.”

With the Pamaskong Handog being brought around the country and hosted by Willie, Willie and Sen. Villar will be sharing to a vast gathering of people or audiences the richness of our music and as interpreted by our world-class Filipino talents.

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Maria Carpena, the Nightingale of Zarzuela and first Pinay recording artist

Long before any Filipina singer earned their monickers, there was Maria Carpena who was born Oct. 22 in 1886. Known as the country’s “Nightingale of Zarzuela,” Carpena, who was Maria Evangelista Carpena in real life, was the Philippines’ first recording artist even ahead of Atang dela Rama’s time.

According to Wikipilipinas, the soprano and dramatic singer of the Tagalog Zarzuela was a native of Sta. Rosa in Laguna. She was born to Camilo Carpena (one of the leaseholders of friar lands in the town and was a rice grower, leasing parcels to tenants) and Maria Evangelista (a native of Biñan and was the daughter of Santiago Evangelista who hailed from Polo or Meycauwayan, Bulakan province). Carpena recognized her gift at a very early age singing as part of the church choir of Biñan as a tiple (soprano).

Even in the late 1800s and early 1900s, artists who were starting out the business had the same classic story. Maria was amongst the first ones to dream she could transform her life away from poverty. Without any formal education, Maria relied on talent, determination and sheer heart while she took risky steps en route to victory and stardom.

After she gained fame performing on stage, there was no turning back for Maria. Her nephew, the late Amado C. Aristorenas said, “She can break a glass with her powerful voice. She would also sing at the town plaza at certain occasions and her voice could very well be heard at their house in Ilaya which is several meters away.”

Maria however was not contented with her gift. “In her great desire to sing in spite of her inability to read notes, she learned the score by ear, a practice commonly known as oido. She had her first stage appearance sometime in 1901, singing a piece in a benefit concert at the Zorilla Theater when she was but 15 years old, the audience applauded her maiden appearance.”

Like an early telenovela, Maria’s father did not approve of her calling. The strict disciplinarian in him vehemently forbade Maria to join the stage. Maria’s father eventually disowned the would-be superstar.

Maria eventually fell in love with a sales agent and calesa parts shop owner Jose “Pepe” Alcantara. Even her love life was tried when Pepe met an untimely death. Maria learned of the tragedy when it was announced while Maria was in the middle of a performance. With tears streaming down her face, the performer in Maria finished the show moving the audience to feel with her.

In 1902, Maria became the featured soloist at the Zorilla Theater marking the start of her career in Manila. She eventually starred in “Walang Sugat” (June 14, 1902).

In Wikipilipinas, American anthropologist H. Otley Beyer remembered Maria as, “A real nightingale. She would sing at the Luneta to about 20,000 people and her voice would be heard clear through the Manila Hotel.”

At a crucial point in her phenomenal stage life, Maria developed a habit of drinking cold beverages immediately after her singing act. The malpractice led to the gradual deterioration of her health in her later years.

Maria Carpena died on the night of March 8, 1915 due to health complications but her legacy remained a breathing inspiration.

Part of her legacy was the surviving recording “Ang Maya” obtained by Antonia Tiongco from the Filipinas Heritage Library of the Ayala Foundation in Makati. The City of Manila named one of the streets in the district of Quiapo after Maria Carpena. She was also awarded Pinakamaningning na Alagad ng Sining 2008 sa larangan ng Teatro (Posthumous).

Maria Carpena is the great, great grandmother of Irma C. Yu, owner of the very popular Celebration Cakes. The write-up in Wikipilipinas was written by another proud apo, Dr. Rosauro Sta. Maria.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Oct. 22 go to Virnie Varga, Baby Detoito, Fely Ignat, Maria Belinda, Malou Matias, Juanita V. Palma, Joel David Flores-Wenceslao, Carol Jao, Lheng Estanislao, Babes Tirona, Marlyn Bermudez, Dondon Moral, Teody Buenaflor, Deth Paras, Mrs. Marissa Rosario Fernandez, Lirio Covey, Boy Romero of Police Files and MB’s online editor Jojo P. Panaligan. Happy wedding anniversary to Steve and Wilma Sarino.