On Billboard’s Hot 100: (1) "Ridin" – Chamillionaire featuring Krayzie Bone, (2) "Bad Day" – Daniel Powter, (3) "SOS" – Rihanna, (4) "Temperature" – Sean Paul, (5) "Where’d You Go" – Fort Minor featuring Holly Brook, (6) "Dani California" – Red Hot Chili Peppers, (7) "Snap Yo Fingers" – Lil Jon featuring E-40 & Sean Paul of The Young Bloodz, (8) "Over Head (Cable Car)" – The Fray, (9) "Promiscuous" – Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland, and (10) "What You Know" – T.I..

How can anyone not like singer Faith Cuneta? She sings well, is warm with people and is pragmatic when it comes to her career.

Obviously, we’re not the only one who notices these. Just two years in the recording scene, she has already chalked up hits as "Pag-ibig Ko’y Pansinin" and "Bituing Walang Ningning." Another single, "One More Try," is underway.

Faith has been a front act favorite by foreign artists. We last saw her at the backstage of Araneta Coliseum for the Santana concert where she electrified the crowd with her versions of tunes as "Man On My Mind," "Tin Man" and "Game Of Love." The same way she did on the Rex Smith and BoyzIIMen concerts.

"I actually look forward to these gigs kasi at least nakakanta ko yung mga songs that are different from my records," she says. "Shows such as these remind me of my days as a lounge singer when I used to sing R&B, soul, standard, etc. I love it kasi duon ako nahahasa."

Faith adds: "Hindi ko kina-career itong mga front act gigs ko na to para magka-break sa international scene. I don’t give these foreign artists my profile ---- not even copies of my CDs. My only concern when I’m there is to open myself to these foreign acts’ market by doing my assigned songs to the best of my abilities."

This attitude boomerangs favorably to Faith. She is now semi-regular of GMA 7’s Sunday variety show, "S.O.P.;" same show where Regine Velasquez (whom Faith was pitted against by the press and public last year) is regular host of.

"Let’s not bring that up anymore because Ms. Regine and I are okay na. And despite what happened, I will always be a Regine fan. Nothing can take that away," she says.

As she, too, idolizes Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. In fact, Faith says that she’d agree to do front act for either of the two at the drop of a hat. Her favorite Mariah song is "Can’t Take That Away From Me" and "When I Saw You" while Whitney is "my ultimate diva."

Faith will be having a solo concert at the Music Museum on July 21 and 22. Before that, her first European tour next month.

Most new female singers opt to do pop songs because they want to capture the masses. Kimberly Dan, however, chooses to sing for God.

Recently releasing a debut album dubbed "Bless" of original gospel songs produced and written by Jungee Marcelo, Kim says "Bless" under RG Seven Creative Services Inc is her way of giving back the glory to Whom it is due.

"It is the Lord that blessed me with a talent for music so it’s only right that I make this known to everybody through my music," says she during the album launch.

Kim knows, though, that it’s an uphill battle as far as mainstream recognition is concerned. To go around this, she presents her music in pop alternative form and shows off her dancing skills when performing. This way, young people (her target market) who like Jennifer Lopez, Janet Jackson, Destiny’s Child and the production work of Rodney Jerkins and Ludacris, could relate.

Among the 12 cuts in "Bless" are "Rocking Chair," "Wiseman," "We Thang," "F.Y.I." and "Til It Hurts No More" (first single). The video of the title track is also on rotation in music channels.

Jungee says Kim may not be a belter but she possesses voice that’s radiofriendly. "Belting out a song is not just sole measure of a good singer. Often, sincerity in delivery is more important in getting message of songs across," he says.

Kim has a BA degree in Economics at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The 26-year-old pretty face has launched a thousand products by way of print ads.

The gospel songstress recently held a concert at Greenhills Christian Fellowship (church she goes to and still sings in) Center with Reuben Laurente and Arla Fontamillas (grand winner of "Shine For Jesus: Search for a New Generation of Gospel Artist").

As Billy Joel points out in his hit song, "She’s Always A Woman," the gender has many sides to it that compound to the mysterious whole.

So in "Woman," it’s no surprise that we hear songs of different statements on different subjects by different female singers from different genres. A lot of "different" there but, then again, women have been making a difference by being, well, different. Sometimes brave and bombastic on subjects even as sex ("Milkshake" by Kellis, "Dip It Low" by Christina Milan), in others, conservative and clinging when it comes to love ("We Belong Together" by Mariah Carey), all are tied to common denominator that a woman at least knows what’s going on and has almost always has the last say on these. She’s no fool and neither sinner nor saint.

"Woman" also celebrates the success of the gender in the international music scene. "We Belong," "Don’t Phunk," "Move Ya Body" (Nina Sky), "Can’t Get You Out Of My Head" (Kylie Minogue) and "Don’t Cha" (The Pussycat Dolls) are Top 10 smashes that ably slugged it out with male artists toe to toe for chart supremacy.

Three songs here talk directly about female empowerment. These are "Powerless" by Nellie Furtado, "What You Waiting For" by Gwen Stefani and "Wildflower" by Sheryl Crow. With their go-for-it and go-for-me slants, it’s a wonder females are not taking to the streets and burning their bras to protest this and that or to, at least, reiterate points on, well, this and that.

Oh, we know why: Most are busy tending to the family. Or going places in their respective careers.

And a great few are making hit songs that end up in great compilations as this one.