Julio Iglesias

Internationally famous Latin singer Julio Iglesias, who is here for a fundraising concert for the victims of the killer typhoons that hit the country last year, became a singer by accident.

It wasn’t his dream to be a singer; he wanted to be a lawyer and in fact was already studying law in a university in Spain. But a car accident injured his spinal column, which made him stay in the hospital for some time. It was during treatment that he learned how to play the guitar and write songs. His love affair with music began in that hospital.

He got well despite a grim prediction that he might not be able to walk again. When he got out of the hospital, he joined a music festival in Spain, and the song he wrote won the grand prize. That started Julio’s singing and recording career that would span several decades.

Julio is currently on a world tour that would bring him to places he hasn’t performed before. But in a recent telephone interview (he was then in Buenos Aires, Argentina), he told me that nothing could be more exciting than performing once more for his dear friends and fans in the Philippines.

Julio’s concert at the Araneta Coliseum on Saturday, March 20 is aptly titled “Heart Of Gold.” He will have Sharon Cuneta as a special performer. He has done a duet with the megastar (and also Lea Salonga) in the past.

“You know that I will always be part Filipino, I could hardly wait to be in the midst of traffic in Manila and to eat my favorite Filipino foods – adobo, pansit, lumpia…”

Julio’s first wife was Manila-born socialite Isabel Preysler with whom he has three offsprings, among them Enrique who’s following in his footsteps.

Julio told me he intends to bring his family (wife Miranda and their children Victoria, Miguel, Guillermo, Rodrigo and Cristina) to Boracay and other tourists spots in the country.

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Kithara, acoustic music at a whole new level

A group called Kithara, composed of three one-of-a-kind musicians – Pat on main vocals, chimes and egg shaker; Poli on guitar/vocals, and Dex on Cajun/vocals - is currently proving that indeed music is universal, something that transcends color, race, culture and religion. They are very different but when they perform together, they create musical harmony unlike any other.

Kithara, which aims to do its share in uplifting the Philippine music industry through its own compositions and unique musical blending, prides itself in having a great passion for music and a very good working attitude.

Main vocalist Pan (San Juan) says: “Creating songs that pinch the heart and can move our audience, is something we love doing…”

Lead guitar and alternate vocalist Poli (Oscar Policarpio Jr.) adds, “music has always been a part of who we are, sharing our type of music to our audience is something we would never tire of doing.”

On the other hand, Cajun and vocalist Dex (Galsim) says “…music is part of who we all are. The three of us may have different backgrounds, but our music binds us together…”

With former recording company executive and music hit maestro Renato “Tato” Malay at Kithara’s helm, expect a lot of good things to come from this one-of-a-kind acoustic trio in the next few months.

Aside from various mall performances, the group has already done live radio performances at Mellow Touch 94.7 and has had TV guesting in shows like “Jojo A. All the Way,” where they have showcased their musical talent.

Kithara, by the way, has regular performances at Forest Grill in Timog every Monday night and at Esquinita in Sgt. Esguerra Ave. in Quezon City every Friday. Their performances in both venues start at 9 p.m. For updates on the trio, check them out in Facebook under the name Kithara the Acoustic Trio.”

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Former child star graduates

Former child performer Star Villareal, who was last seen in GMA-7’s action teleserye “Totoy Bato” playing the role of the secretary of Daniel Fernando, and is now cast in “Diva” as Rufa Mae Quinto’s best friend, joins the roster of 2010 graduates. Star considers her inclusion in the Regine Velasquez-Glaiza de Castro TV series as a fitting graduation gift.

“Actually, I graduated from the Technological University of the Philippines (TUP) last year with a course in production design, but I opted to continue a course leading to Bachelor of Graphic Technology in Industrial Design for another year,” Star said.

Star’s showbiz career started when a talent scout spotted her during the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant held in Manila. She was four years old then and she was chosen to be the “little sister” to Miss Guatemala. That short exposure – walking along with the beauty contestant during the pageant’s opening night – paved the way for little Star’s entry to modeling and television. Before she could even attend kinder or grade one, Star appeared on “Hiraya Manawari,” “Sineskwela” and “Mathinik,” the kiddie-educational shows on ABS-CBN. Thus, in a way she was already already teaching TV audiences subjects like mathematics, as well as values, good manners and right conduct, etc. which she herself has to learn from school!

During her growing up years, Star managed to juggle showbiz and school life at the same time. She has appeared and featured in different drama shows such as “Pangako Sa ‘Yo,” and “Marinela” on ABS-CBN; and “Best Friends,” a variety show of “Master Showman” German on GMA-7.

Star also co-hosted “Yan ang Bata” and was a regular member of “Pen-Pen de Sarapen,” both on RPN 9, and during her college days, she was able to join in hosting and also performing at the same time in Willie Espiritu’s variety show entitled “Celebrity Night of Dance and Music,” shown on SBN channel.

Star showed her acting prowess via “Maricel Drama Special,” “May Bukas Pa,” “Pira-Pirasong Pangarap,” “Kasangga,” “Maynila,” “Kahit na Magtiis” and “Lovingly Yours, Helen.”

While many celebrities opted to stop schooling and concentrated on their showbiz careers, Star did the opposite – she enrolled as a full-time student, unlike others who took distant learning or home-study programs. “It’s different when you study in school,” she said. “Like my classmates, I live a normal student life. Besides, schooling has always been my priority. I know I’m better prepared in the future if I have a degree or education as a fall-back. And I thank my professors at TUP (Prof. Mario Bonita, Dr. Dionisio Espression, Jr., Prof. Almina Tengco, Prof. Elpidio Balais and Prof. Elmer Sangalang), our dean, Arch. Roberto D. Panganoron,  Prof. Leo Cabansag, and CAFA Evaluator Elaine Villanueva  for being considerate and supportive to me…meantime, I am also looking forward to new possibilities in my career. I can host, I can act, and I could be a performer because I can sing and dance at the same time. It will be a lot of fun to do all these,” Star concluded.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on March 19 go to Vancouver-based singer Joey Albert, Joy Conde Cruz, talent managers Girlie Rodis and Bibsy Carballo, violinist Joe Nicolas, Josie Vergel de Dios, Kaj Seva Rebano, Margarita Castro, Sam Bayani Ortiz, Mercedes “Nena” Sunico, Josie Tobias, Tina Tolentino, Josie de los Reyes, Jocelyn M. Gerilla, Aloha Joyce “AJ” Calvio, Mara Schinitka, MB’s graphics artists Joseph “Oteph” Antipolo and Robert Tabor II, Juna Rebekah Cadungog and Mara Montes of ABS-CBN Star Magic.