Chelo Aestrid

MANILA, Philippines -- She is as Pinay as can be, but Chelo Aestrid’s exterior defies the image of a Maria Clara. Because she looks and dresses up outrageously wild, wears funky, multi-colored tresses, wears clothes with loud ethnic prints and walks with a hiphop swagger.

At the recent launch of her solo album “Love, Life & D’Light” at the former Ratsky Morato, we watched her perform songs that she herself composed. And of course she impressed us with confidence and boldness to be utterly different.

Chelo’s album was released in June under Jay-R’s Homeworkz and Universal Records. The music video of the first single, “Pinays Rise,” directed by Treb Monteras, has been getting a lot of hits on YouTube, and has climbed up fast the MYX and Channel V charts. The second single, “Connection” was performed by Jay-R and Q-York, a Fil-Am production team, and it has an international feel.

Born Maria Chelo Espina in Cebu, Chelo started performing at age six. During her formative years, she christened herself Chelo Aestrid and she explained: “In Greek, ‘astrid’ means ‘star’ I just gave it a personal touch by adding an ‘e’ to it. I coined it for fun and the name stuck ever since.”

Chelo’s family moved to Los Angeles, California when she eight and stayed there until she was 20. Although she’d been shuffling back from LA to the Philippines, it was in 2007 that Chelo decided to move back here.

Singing has always been her first love, but Chelo also has the natural talent and flair in dancing. Since 2005, she has been an original member of the Philippine All-Stars dance group. She took some off from dancing to study in London, but she went back to dancing by the time the Philippine All-Stars bagged their second World Hiphop Dance Championship Award in 2008. But after four years with the group, Chelo decided to take off, despite the fun, camaraderie and adulation.

“I just wanted to do something for myself this time,” she said. “I was blessed with other talents that I want to share.” These include singing and song-writing.

In 2009, she founded Capital G Shop which sells original Pinoy apparel and music.

She also manages Allstars Gear that helped Philippine All-Stars to go abroad and compete. She designs her own clothes and has a small clothing line called “BY: Chelo+G.”

Chelo was also in the Cesar Montano movie “Panag-hoy sa Suba.”

In 2007, she started working on music with Q-York Edutainment and their single “Mainit” won “Video of the Year” at the Urban Music Awards.

Chelo took up Architecture and finished Business Management at London’s Middlesex University where she graduated with First Class Honours. She is now under Arnold Vegafria’s ALV Talent Circuit.

Noli Me Tangere, the musical

Tanghalang Pilipino presents “Noli Me Tangere the Musical” as contribution to the celebration of Dr. Jose Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary as well as to open its milestone 25th anniversary theater season 2011-2012.

Nanding Jose, artistic director of Tanghalang Pilipino, said that no less than two National Artists (Bienvenido Lumbera for literature, and Salvador Bernal for design), top music composer (Ryan Cayabyab), noted stage director (Audie Gemora), playwright (Rody Vera) and choreographer (Agnes Locsin) have joined in a burst of synergy to create a total theater experience in words, song and dance out of Rizal’s great novel “Noli Me Tangere.”

“Noli Me Tangere the Musical” will have its gala night tonight (Aug. 5) at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Directed by Audie Gemora, the musical is topbilled by Mark Bautista/Gian Magdangal as Crisostomo Ibarra; Cris Villonco/Tracy Garucca (understudy) as Maria Clara.

The musical will run till Aug. 28 at the CCP’s Little Theater.

Meanwhile, Music Theater Foundation Phils. in cooperation with UP College of Music, is presenting tonight at 7 “Applause, A Musicale Celebration” at the Abelardo Hall, UP College of Music in UP Diliman.

The musicale, directed by Tony Mabesa, showcases excerpts from the libretto of Fides Cuyugan-Asensio, including “Amy.”

• • •

Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings for Friday, Aug. 5, go to Senator Richard “Dick” Gordon, actor-artist Dranreb Belleza, singer-actor Jeff Geronimo from London, Col. Neo Andaya, Wally dela Cruz, Alice Arenas, Felisa Almaden, Amy Dacer, Henry Gosyco, Alice Pizarro, Carmencita “Baby” San Juan and Makati Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr.… Belated b-day greetings to MB’s editor-in-chief Crispulo J. Icban Jr. (Aug. 3)…