If you are a Beatles fan, here’s your chance (in fact, it could be your only chance) to see an original member of the famous group in person via Steve O’Neal Productions’ latest offering, “Beatlesfest 2010,” presented by Hyatt Hotel & Casino (official residence) and Zest Air (official carrier).

The Beatles’ former drummer Pete Best and his band are coming over next month for a series of performances that will kick off at the Aliw Theater at the CCP Complex. Performing with the band are Ely Buendia of Pupil, Ramon Jacinto of RJ & the Riots, Rene Garcia of Hotdog, and McCoy Fundales of Orange & Lemons. Special guests are The Hotsteps and Glass Onion Band among others.

A special Beatles memorabilia will also be on display at the Aliw Theater lobby.

The Pete Best Band is on a world tour that started at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in New Jersey, USA last July.

Beatles fans in the country should delight to recall that the ’60s (specifically in 1960-1962) when Pete Best was The Beatles’ drummer, were the best years of the group, and as summed up by John Lennon himself, “we were at our best when we were playing in the dance halls of Liverpool and Hamburg. The world never saw that!”

The Beatles recorded their first hit song “Love Me Do” which was released in early 63. Unfortunately, it was around that time that Pete Best was dismissed from the group after two years of performing with them.

The real reason, it was said, was never given to Pete Best. One rumor said The Beatles let go of Pete because he did not want to conform to their mop hairdo and manner of dressing.

Pete Best became a civil servant for 20 years before he formed his own band bearing his name.

“Beatlesfest 2010” is sponsored by PCSO, Business Mirror, SM Megamall, Hard Rock Café, Ming’s Pei Pa Koa Candym MS, Mang Inasal, and RJ 100 among others. Tickets are available at Ticketworld, Ayala Malls, Robinsons, and National Book Stores.

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Bangs’ flawless skin makes her more sexy

When it comes to decision making, Valerie “Bangs” Garcia usually hesitates before accepting a new project. But then she always ends up successful once she starts working on it.

After becoming one of the finalists of the “Close-up to Fame” reality TV contest some years back, she joined another youth-oriented contest. She won as “Miss Youth Philippines 2006” and became the sponsoring organization’s ambassadress.

Bangs also hesitated posing sexy for a Tanduay calendar and for FHM Phils. But she was surprised by the public’s reception of her “sexy image” in showbiz.

And when everyone thought she made a wrong move when she opted for the role of a provincial lass rather than the sensual role of Krista Ranillo in “Marino,” she was right to give her “sexy image” a rest. Because what transpired next surprised TV viewers and fans with her performance in “Magkano Ang Iyong Dangal.”

Just recently, Bangs signed up with Calayan Surgicenter to endorse the clinic’s skin whitening services.

Bangs’ next movie project is “Bulong” with Vhong Navarro and she will be doing a show with Ryan Agoncillo on TV5 soon.

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‘666’ launches a new star

The horror film “666” when shown last month – and still showing mostly at SM theaters – was a surprise box office success.

“666” is the first indie film and the latest cinema work of Director Celso Ad. Castillo, one of the industry’s best which launches a new star, Victoria Haynes.

To this, Victoria said, “Director Castillo, during the shooting wanted me to do the style of the foreign actress in ‘The Exorcist of Emily Rose’ and the intensity that Linda Blair had in the highlights of her frightening flicks.”

If the former child star excels in her performance in “666,” she said she owes it to her three drama mentors in theatre: Alexis Tioseco “my teacher in films who met a tragic death two years ago; Brenda Fajardo, a National Artist in Painting (Ink and Tempra) where I learned character development and Samantha Sacramento, my director in ‘The Night of January 16.’ We performed for weeks in this theatre play held at University of Asia and the Pacific where I am a senior student in Liberal Arts, Major in Humanities.”
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Tidbits: Happy birthday greetings for  Aug. 15, go to Cogie Domingo, Pinky de Leon, Philip de Belen, Floro Mercene, Peter Stevens, Arturo Go, Pat Peralta, Bobby Formoso, Asuncion Quema, Susan Magalona, Mrs. Siony Flores, Atty. Mario Garcia, Marvin Agustin and Tetet Dy’s twins Sebastian and Santiago and Calamba Mayor Joaquin Chipeco, Jr... Happy wedding anniversary to Dennis and Armi Cruz...