For the first time in their musical career, two famous and acclaimed foreign artists, Per Sorensen of Fra Lippo Lippi, and John Ford Coley, are sharing centerstage today, Feb. 18, at the University of Baguio. Presented by Steve O’Neal Productions, the Per Sorensen-John Ford Coley show is produced by Waltrix and Gatepass Productions.

Per Sorensen just had a successful concert Feb. 14 at the NBC Tent. John Ford, on the other hand, was just on a stop-over in Manila after a concert in Malaysia when offers poured in.

John Ford has been to Manila many times and like Per, he has developed fondness for Filipino fans.

The ambience at the NBC Tent on Valentine’s Day was nostalgic with Fra Lippo Lippi fans going down memory lane with Sorensen as he sang his group’s hit songs in the ’80s and ’90s. These responsive and appreciative people is the reason Per keeps coming back to the Philippines which he now could also call his home!

The almost 50 Per showed he still has the passion to entertain with his music. The fervor he displayed was reminiscent of Fra Lippo Lippi in its heyday!

He also rendered some new songs like “Loneliness” which hasn’t been heard in the airlanes here or anywhere in Asia. These songs may be new to the audience’s ears that night, but easily they connected to Per because they have the same flavor and style of the other more popular Fra Lippo Lippi songs.

The rest of the night was a nostalgic journey through the group’s hit songs. With every song, the crowd cheered on. And most of the time they sang with Per, turning his performance into a lively chorus.

Among of the crowd’s favorites were “The Distance Between Us,” “Everytime I See You,” “Light And Shade,” “Angel,” “Later” and more.

By the way, the Sorensen-Coley show in Baguio will also be sponsored by Hyatt Hotel, PCSO, Mossimo Music, San Miguel Beer, Hard Rock Café, Business Mirror, Airspeed Int’l, Coffee Republic, Albergus, IFM, Jack TV, ETC, 2nd Avenue, Solar Sports and RJ 100.FM.

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SM Baguio joins Panagbenga fest

With “Environment and Community in Harmony” as this year’s theme, SM City Baguio joins in the Panagbenga Festival celebrations this February.

The month-long festival was conceptualized as a tribute to the city’s beautiful flowers. For this year’s festivities, SM City Baguio has set up a beautiful Panagbenga Garden at the Market Fresh Area that will run till March 6, 2011.

Discover the best of Baguio through beauty and dance contests: The Search for Little Mr. and Ms. Panagbenga today, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m., the Panagbenga Princess Pageant at 4 p.m. on Feb. 20; and the eliminations for the RNB Dance Contest on Feb. 25.

The country’s top networks also make a fun stop at the mall: The Kapamilya Karavan with ABS-CBN’s artists on Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. at The Drive; and Kapuso artists from GMA’s top rating shows on Feb. 27 also at 3 p.m. at The Drive.

SM City Baguio will rock with some of the country’s hottest bands from Feb. 28 to March 5 with the Korean performers of Pointen on Feb. 28 at 5 p.m.; the Bloom Brothers on March 1 at 5 p.m.; and True Faith on March 2 at 5 p.m.

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Mocha Uson plays lead in ‘Crazy Idiots’

The lean times in the production of local movies saw the coming of co-production ventures from our Asian neighbors in the local movie industry.

One co-production venture is a digital film billed “Crazy Idiots” (“Seksing Masahista”) with the frontliner of the country’s top sing- and-dance group Mocha Uson in the lead role opposite singer-stage actor Zyruz Imperial who also played in the Maguindanao massacre-inspired film “The Road To Ampatuan.”

Incidentally, Mocha Uson placed fourth in the recent list of the most searched artists by Google Zeitgist 2010 which more than affirmed that her sex and gender-friendly advocacies on the website have considerable following.

Also playing stellar roles in “Crazy Idiots” are Rommel Padilla, Ramona Revilla, Roldan Aquino with Mocha Girls Mae dela Cerna and Jhane Santaguiel in cameo roles.

The film is co-directed by John Ad Castillo and Z. Lokman and produced by a Malaysian businessman Joachim Hon. It is slated for international release in Latin American countries, China, and Asian countries including Australia.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings Feb. 18 go to veteran actors Perla Bautista and Robert Campos, Atty. Felipe “Jun” Medina, Ret. Judge Prudencio A. Castillo, Christopher Michael A. Zamora, Dodo Puzon Malicor, Lydia C. Tensuan, Norma Razo, Ester Banzon-Parungao, Carlito Pascual, Dr. Bernadette Coden, Arleen Asuncion, Rajhie Jade M. Tabor, Clarence Jacob Gerilla Martinez, Brenan Espartinez, and MB business editor Lorie Cabanes...