The controversy about the amusement tax exemption (or reduction) for their forthcoming Ogie Alcasid-Ryan Cayabyab concert that independent producers Pelita Peralta-Uy and Carmela E. Honrado requested from the Pasay City Council (which wasn’t granted) continues to escalate, much to their regret. All because Ms. Lalaine dela Cruz of Blue Dream Entertainment (producer of the Adam Lambert concert) has denied that they got an exemption, and that was why they also tried to request for such, thinking their request would be granted since they were presenting an OPM concert featuring Filipino noted artists Ogie Alcasid and Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Pelita said.

“I am deeply disappointed that it seems now that her (Lalaine) boss, BDE’s SVP and Managing Director Christian Andoy, misinformed me on four separate occasions about their tax exemption,” Pelita said in an official statement sent to Bulletin Entertainment. “On one occasion, when we received an invitation to appear before the Pasay City Council and while awaiting – for four weeks! – for our permit, I mentioned to Mr. Andoy that BDE might get through the same process. He informed me that they already got their permit and tax exemption – just within two days from submitting their papers to the Pasay City Government! During three of the four times he claimed he got tax exemption, my partner Carmela E. Honrado overheard his statements. Mr. Andoy also told me that another producer of a foreign act also got a tax excemption.”

Pelita added: “When Mr. Andoy learned about our request for tax exemption, he e-mailed me an unsigned copy of their tax exemption request letter to file a letter asking for reconsideration and pattern our letter to theirs. The copy he e-mailed was complete with letter head, concert details, named signatories and their offer ‘to donate a reasonable amount to a charitable institution to your own choice’ in lieu of paying the amusement tax. He informed me that they donated P300,000 to the Pasay City Government in lieu of paying a much higher amusement tax. I replied that we will not contest it anymore since we were pressed for time and the ruling was according to law. To this he replied by urging me to just cancel our show.”

Pelita also said: “Ms. Lalaine’s claim that ‘wala naman exemption sa amusement tax, lahat naman ng producer kailangan magbayad niyan’ was misguided to say the least. We can confirm that for the Feb. 13, 2010 APO Hiking concert we produced, we got a discount or partial exemption on the amusement tax upon requesting for the same as we were donating a portion of our proceeds to a charitable institution. This time around we asked for a tax exemption for the ‘O.C. at PICC’ concert because we would be donating a portion of the proceeds to the Organisasyon ng Mang-aawit na Pilipino (OPM) to help provide financial assistance to members in need.

“I hope Mr. Andoy and BDE join us in our appeal for standardization as indeed it was through his efforts of informing us of the BDE’s fortunate experience with the PCG that we became aware of the possible different treatment given to different entertainment producers and prompted us to push for a standard rate and procedure for getting concerts approved by the Pasay City Government.”

On her part, Carmela said “we at Beginnings at Twenty Plus and Star Express stand by our earlier claim that the promoter of the Adam Lambert concert claim that he got full amusement tax exemption from the PCG. On many occasions, I personally overheard Christian Andoy brag his exempted status to my partner Pelita after asking a P300,000 donation.

“That Mr. Andoy is now denying all his earlier claim is beyond us. We have been known to fight for our advocacies and in this case, it’s the issue of standardization of who should be exempted or not. We only wanted clear cut policies in this regard. It would not be wise after we have been adhering all this time to truth and equality, we will now come out as liars. We are definitely not that.”

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Meet Osang, the Jologs Diva

Another comedian who’s been making waves in the comedy clubs circuit is Jeffrey Pascual Soliven, more popularly known as Osang, the Jologs Diva.

After a successful stint in the US doing front acts for several Filipino artists who did shows there, Osang is back to where he once belonged – at The Library, Sitcom, Klownz and Zirkoh. But only for a short while because very soon he will fly again to the US for another series of shows.

While here, Osang became a favorite guest of Sharon Cuneta in her show “Sharon” and just recently, Osang was part of the bevy of artists who graced the show of husband and wife team Zoren Legaspi and Carmina Villaroel.

A Business Management undergraduate of the Republican College in Murphy, Osang said his goal is to provide a better future for his family.

“There was a time I was belting out Regine Velasquez’s songs. That was the time na hit na hit ang R2K niya. But when I auditioned na at The Library and one of the owners asked me to belt a song sung by a male – that’s where they found out na kaya ko naman pala and that’s where the idea of me donning a girl’s outfit pero singing songs na panlalake came into being. And I became a part of the Osang and Betty Lafea tandem.”

Osang also was once a part of the Raging Divas which had a long stint on GMA’s “Sis.”

As to his jet-setting status now, Osang said he never expected that he would be one of the chosen few asked to fly to and from the US – just to entertain people of all ages.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Oct. 2, go to Atty. Adel Tamano, Chit Guerrero, Rose Hilario Libongco, Angie Favis, Terry Aldeguer, Carmen Ronda, Ma. Theresa “Maite” T. Defensor, Emily Joy Legados, Graciebelle Banaria-Espiritu, Almond N. Aguila, and Zeny Yumul-Sato…