Young JV handing out Christmas goodies to the Lahing Bayani Foundation grantees.

Young JV is the newest hip-hop R&B/rap sensation in the country who has taken Pinoy audiences to new musical heights with his 15-track debut album titled “Ready or Not.” His first single “That Girl” is currently enjoying great airplay on radio. “Ready or Not” is now available in all record stores nationwide. It is distributed by PolyEast Records and produced by Doin’ It Big Production.

Young JV is not only a rapper but also an artist with a mission. Being the son of retired PAF Col. Eduardo “Red” Kapunan, he was inspired by his father’s war stories when he was a combat pilot in Mindanao and when he took part in the EDSA 1 People Power Revolution. “The learnings about the pains of war stirred in me a real yearning and a true calling to be an artist-soldier fighting for peace and love in our troubled world of today,” Young JV enthuses. Although he did not follow his father’s footsteps because his heart belongs elsewhere, Young JV is now making a name for himself with his talents in singing and songwriting. He sings and raps about a cause close to his dad’s heart: Peace.

Despite his young age, Young JV continues the legacy of heroism and noble service of his parents through his Lahing Bayani Foundation, Inc. whose beneficiaries are the soldiers’ orphans.

Young JV recently had a special event for his Lahing Bayani Foundation grantees. There were several activities like the celebrity basketball showdown participated in by Jericho Rosales, Diether Ocampo and Gab Valenciano; a boodle fight; a magic show and the gift-giving for the Lahing Bayani Foundation grantees by Young JV.

Through the Lahing Bayani Foundation, Young JV hopes to reach out and offer whatever he can to provide and support the education of soldiers’ orphans and other charities.

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‘Melrose Place’ premieres on Velvet

On Jan. 19, catch the exclusive Asian Premiere of the new hit series, “Melrose Place,” only on Velvet (Sky Cable channel 53). At the stroke of 9:30 p.m., catch the sexy and beautiful characters as they try to use their wily ways and sex appeal to get ahead.

Set in elegant Melrose neighborhood in the heart of West Hollywood, “Melrose Place” is television’s trendiest apartment-complex and home to the hottest cast of characters this side of tinseltown. Catch the storied lives of the young ambitious people who live there as they pursue their dreams of fortune and fame. It may be a long way from the ‘90s, but their desire for the crazy sexy life, as seen in this redux of the popular show, has not waned.

“Melrose Place” focuses on the comings and goings of a group of twenty-somethings, each with their own dreams, who live in the complex and find themselves forming a close-knit surrogate family. The main storyline revolves around the lives of the handsome and rebellious David Breck (Shaun Sipos, “Shark”), medical student in desperate need of money Lauren Yung (Stephanie Jacobsen, “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”), Jonah Miller (Michael Rady, “Sisterhood of The Travelling Pants”) an aspiring filmmaker who has just proposed to his live-in girlfriend – teacher Riley Richmond (Jessica Lucas, “Cloverfield”), Ella Simms, (Katie Cassidy, “Harper’s Island”) the ambitious celebrity publicist, Auggie KirkPatrick (Colin Egglesfield, “All My Children”)and, last but not the least, is newest tenant, 21- year-old Violet Foster (Ashlee Simpson-Wentz, “7th Heaven”) whose introduction into her new abode is a bloody body floating in the courtyard pool. Returning characters from the series’ original incarnation, creating controversy at every turn, are Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton, “Eyes”), still beautiful at 40, is now Melrose Place’s landlady and a central figure in the lives of her tenants, and Dr. Michael Mancini (Thomas Calabro, “Greek”), who has to play father to his rebellious son. Melrose Place’s original resident seductress Amanda Woodward, played by the ageless Heather Locklear, also drops in to stir things up during the season.

“Melrose Place” first aired in the United States in the early 90s and was an instant hit. The show was the brainchild of “Sex & the City’s” Darren Star and produced by TV bigwig Aaron Spelling.

Catch the newest and hottest spot in town, “Melrose Place” in its Exclusive Asian Premiere on Jan. 19, 9:30 p.m., only on Velvet (SkyCable Channel 53). The show airs every Tuesday at 9:30 p.m. with an encore telecast on Saturdays at 9 p.m. Velvet is now available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver. Log on to www.velvetchannel.multiply.com for more details.

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Armor all ‘Spot that car’ promo winners bared

From the pigeonhole:

Car fanatics had a blast recently when Armor All hosted a fun-filled event at the SMX Convention for the winners of its month-long Armor All “Spot That Car” promo. Clorox International Philippines, Inc. (CIPI) is the company behind Armor All, the preferred brand of car care products that cleans, protects and adds extra shine to any automobile.

The awarding ceremony was hosted by popular DJs Mo Twister and King Logan, and took place during the Manila Auto Salon 2009. Armor All’s surprise guest, Paloma – FHM April 2009 cover girl and an Indie film actress – also graced the occasion a sexy yellow and black outfit to hand out prizes (plus a kiss!) to the lucky promo winners!

Lucky winners have spotted the eye catching Armor All car, a fully loaded car show finish ‘90s model Toyota Starlet. The Armor All car showcased its outstanding shine and new look pampered with Armor All cleaning products that roamed key cities in the metro for three weeks. The pictures they’ve taken using their cam phones were eventually deemed the best MMS entries by CIPI.

For the night’s opening number, an up-beat dance performance helped up the ante even more, while surprise performances from mime artists provided extra zest to the show with their funny antics. Towards the end of the show, Armor All trivia questions were also asked the audience, and lucky participants who gave the correct answers got to bring home exciting gift packs from Armor All.

What was perhaps the most eagerly-awaited part of the show was a brief demonstration of the many uses of CIPI’s various care care products such as the Armor All Original Protectant, which brings out a beautiful, deep shine with non-greasy finish. Its newly-improved “No Drip” formula also helps prevent cracking, discoloration, and premature aging while defending cars from harmful UV rays and oxidation.

But unlike other product demonstrations, said portion actually had no less than Paloma herself performing an impromptu demonstration of the car cleaning tasks. Aiding her in this endeavor was Dan Santiago, CIPI product manager for automotive products, who taught her how to apply each product variant of Armor All.

 Other Armor All products showcased during the demo were the Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, which penetrates deep into fabric and carpet fibers to restore the plush look and feel of fabric upholstery in your car; Tire Foam Protectant, which is quick and easy to use, just spray onto surface and it cleans dirt away without scrubbing while helping restore the tires’ deep black look. This is safe to use that prevents the rubber to crack.

Armor All even gave a bonus product demonstration simultaneously at the parking lot of SMX MOA. A free car care maintenance for patrons applying Armor All Tire Foam or Auto Glass Cleaner to their cars showing the benefits instantly.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on Jan. 19 go to Shirley Tesoro, Belen Ocampo, Jerico Strachan, Talitha Espiritu, Noel Rene Nieva of Perception, Inc., entertainment columnist Jose Barrameda, and film critic/columnist Mario Bautista. Happy wedding anniversary to Jorge and Wally Sanmiento.