From the pigeonhole:

Latin sensation Trini Lopez ushers the Valentine concert season with a show at the Waterfront Hotel in Cebu on Feb. 9 and at the Araneta Coliseum on Feb. 10, 2011 featuring Pilita Corrales and special guest Ramon RJ Jacinto.

The Latin superstar is known for his hits “If I Had A Hammer,” “America,” “Quizas Quizas Quizas,” “La Bamba,” “Lemon Tree,” “Besame Mucho,” “Cielito Lindo,” “Cuando Calienta El Sol,” “Guantenamera,” “Sugar, Sugar” (en Español), and his own version of all-time favorite Spanish and English tunes.

Born in Dallas Texas, Trini Lopez began his entertainment career playing in club circuit. He was discovered in 1962 by record producer Don Costa while performing at Club PJ’s in Hollywood, California. Costa was impressed with Lopez’s Latinized versions of contemporary hits.

His debut album “Trini Lopez Live at PJ’s” was released in 1963 under Reprise Records, an American label founded by Frank Sinatra. The album included “If I Had a Hammer” which became the No. 1 song in 36 countries, and was a radio favorite for many years. It sold over one million copies. He also performed his own version of the traditional Mexican tune “La Bamba.”

His popularity led the Gibson Guitar Corporation to come up with a Trini Lopez signature guitar in 1964. The singer came up with two designs – the Trini Lopez Standard, a rock and roll model based on the Gibson ES-335 semi-hollow body, while the Lopez Deluxe was a variation of a Gibson jazz guitar designed by Barney Kessel.

His chart-topping singles include “Lemon Tree” (1965), “I’m Comin’ Home, Cindy” (1966) and “Sally Was A Good Old Girl” (1968). On the adult contemporary chart, he had a total of 15 hits, including the Top 10 singles “Michael” (1964), “Gonna Get Along Without Ya’ Now” (1967) and “The Bramble Bush” (1967).

Produced by Ovation Productions, the concert is supported by The Rockwell Club, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Diva Universal, Jack TV, Edsa Shangri-La, DZRJ 100.3 FM, The Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, ABS-CBN and Optima Sign Solutions. Tickets are available at Ticketnet.

The Latin Superstar will also be performing cuts from his album entitled “El Immortal,” a compilation of classic tunes like “Let Your Love Flow,” “The Wanderer,” “Stuck In The Middle With You,” “Ramblin Man,” “If I Were A Carpenter,” “Sugar, Sugar” (en Español), “Guantenamera,” “I Can See Clearly Now,” “Lady Madonna,” “Lay, Lady Lay,” “Something Stupid,” and “Wonderful World.”

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Robin’s daughter realizes her goal

Robin Padilla’s daughter Kylie Nicole seems to be on the right track in her goals this year of the Rabbit. She has started the year big with her new show “Dwarfina” which starts airing on GMA Network on Jan. 10.

The show is a fulfillment of Kylie’s goal to be broaden her horizons and showcase her acting. She was first seen doing awesome stunts in the action series “Joaquin Bordado” also on GMA-7.

Now, in “Dwarfina” Kylie is set to soar high in the drama department. She plays the sister of Dennis Trillo in the latest telefantasya of the Kapuso Network. Kylie said, “I’m really looking forward to working with Kuya Dennis. I am excited to learn from him because he is a multi-awarded actor.”

Kylie is the youngest daughter of Robin Padilla and Liezl Sicangco. Her siblings are older sister Queenie and Zhen and younger brother Ali.

“I’ve never had an older brother so having Dennis as a ‘kuya’ on TV will be something new for me. But I do have male cousins who are older than me. I see them when we have celebrations and reunions in the family. Sila ang tinuturing kong mga kuya. Pero alam ko na iba pa rin ang may ka-bonding na kuya on a regular basis.”

An exclusive contract artist of GMA-7, “Dwarfina” is Kylie’s second TV project with the network. At present, she is also a mainstay of “Party Pilipinas.” When she learned from her manager Betchay Vidanes that she was going to be a Kapuso, Kylie volunteered to undergo further training and preparation. She went through extensive personality workshops at John Robert Powers.

Kylie wants to be a well-rounded performer that’s why she is also taking voice lessons.

Her role in “Dwarfina” came at a very opportune time because Kylie is turning 18 on Jan. 17.

Kylie’s ultimate dream is to be the first in her generation of actresses to specialize in both action and drama. “Gusto ko talaga ng kakaibang image,” she said.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Jan. 7, go to former Rep. Dante Liban, former Manila Councilor Lou Veloso, Rosemarie Lopez, Zenas Lozada, Ina Bautista, Rhea Vanessa “Mutya” A. Lorenzo, Tootsie Eduque Marco, Belgium-based Louise Belle Baterna-Hubert, Salador Bernal, Graziela Belen of Canada, Apa Ongpin, Rose C. Teodoro, Ana Marie Costes Lomboy, Marichelle B. Recio, Ricky Medina, Ditas Rodriguez, Cris Garcia and MB’s Jecelyn V. Macahindog… Condolences to the family of Alfred Vargas who lost their father Alfredo “Freddie” Vargas Jr., 63, last Jan. 4 at St. Luke’s Hospital due to cardiac arrest. His remains lie at Poblacion Sta. Maria Bulacan..