Rico Blanco

 Here’s the latest from multi-awarded musician Rico Blanco – he is currently working on a new project to encourage more Filipinos to become entrepreneurs and being one’s own “Bossing” – and he’s doing it the best way he knows how: By providing inspiration and hope through a song. Blanco, an advocate of entrepreneurship, believes that as more Filipinos go into business, the sooner the nation’s poverty problem can be solved.

Using his music for positive and meaningful goals is not a new undertaking for the former vocalist and co-songwriter of the legendary band Rivermaya. Blanco, for example, helped co-write the song “Posible” for the Philippine delegation to the Southeast Asian Games to inspire Filipino athletes to give their best.

More recently, Blanco composed and recorded the song “Bangon” as his way of helping the victims of typhoon Ondoy. “Bangon” is still available as a free download on Rico’s website (www.ricoblanco.com.ph) where you can also find details on how you can contribute support to Ondoy victims.

“The song is a call for Filipinos to take control of their destiny. No matter who you are and what you do – whether you drive a taxi, or you’re a street vendor, or you’re a new graduate who can’t find a job – you are not a slave of your circumstances.”

Blanco says his inspiration for writing the song are Filipino entrepreneurs – especially those who started with almost nothing and became small-to-medium scale entrepreneurs or SMEs.

With private sectors like PLDT and non-government organizations like Go Negosyo pushing efforts in giving SMEs the opportunities to succeed in their business, anyone who has the drive to become one’s own boss has a greater chance to succeed. Blanco is hoping that his new song, when it is released, will help Filipinos realize that there’s still hope, and that they have more options when it comes to becoming successful in life.

Blanco says he is looking forward to finally releasing his new song when the time is right. “As an artist and as a Filipino, I find it very fulfilling to create the music that I love, while at the same time making my own contribution to improving our nation’s situation,” says the popular musician.

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Miguel Escueta’s hot, rockin’ summer tour

Catch award-winning OPM rock artist Miguel Escueta this summer as he embarks on a nationwide mall tour in line with MCA Music’s promotional efforts for his “Sleeping While the World’s Awake” EP.

The event coincides with the release of his latest music video “The Take Back,” which was shot in New York City, and is currently enjoying extensive airplay in the Myx Music Channel.

Miguel also recently signed up with GMA-7 as one of the regular mainstays of its new Sunday noontime variety show, “Party Pilipinas.”

The tour covers all major SM Malls, with the following schedule: April 22 (SM Rosario); April 23 (SM Sta. Mesa); April 29 (SM South Mall); April 30 (SM Valenzuela); May 7 (SM Sucat); May 13 (SM Clark); May 14 (SM Marikina); May 21 (SM Baguio); May 23 (SM Bicutan); May 24 (SM Lucena); May 28 (SM Dasmariñas); and June 5 (SM Rosales).

Miguel and his band will also be the front act for the Kelly Clarkson “All I Ever Wanted” Manila concert at the Araneta Coliseum on May 1, 2010.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings on April 22 go to Asia’s Songbird Ms. Regine Velasquez, Leonor Caparas, Regina Patricia “China” Cojuangco, Vicky Lapeña, Freddie Mañalac, April Rose Lina, Randy Padiernos, Aiah Soliman, Marc Hanzel Dionela and Linda Tan. Deadline for submission of applications to the Musikabataan, a talent search for teens spearheaded by Music Museum and Ryan Cayabyab, is on Thursday. Application forms are available at Teatrino and Music Museum. Auditions will be held on April 24, from 1-6 p.m. at the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab, Basement Level of Robinsons Galleria in Pasig. Condolence to the family of MB’s asst. sports editor Willie Caballes who passed away April 18. His remains lie at Funeraria Paz, Araneta Ave., QC.