They were invited to witness her contract signing with the Kapuso Network. So, Kapuso na si Heart, And she will be so for two years. But as to how much she’ll be getting as talent fee, they’re not telling. It’s highly confidential, Ms. Vilma Galvante said.

Heart’s signing up with GMA Network is a career move decided upon by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Reynaldo Ongpauco who’ll be managing her career from now on, with Ms. Annabelle Rama as co-manager. "It’s just like going home, bati na kami ng parents ko," Heart said. It would be the first time that her father is actively involved in her daughter’s career. But it was Annabelle Rama who talked to Heart’s parents and paved the way for Heart to move over to the Kapuso Network.

"Kaibigan ko for a long time na ang parents ni Heart," Annabelle shared, "so when Ms. Galvante told me that Heart is no longer under Manila Genesis Entertainment, she thought we could ask her to join us in GMA 7. And since matagal ko nang gusto na makatrabaho ni Richard si Heart, I talked to her parents and did not relent until they came with me here at GMA to sign the contract," Annabelle related, feeling proud and happy for her accomplishment. She also stressed that Richard is not leaving GMA, he will remain a Kapuso, and they are scheduled to sign a renewal of his contract today, April 25.

Although it was noted that Heart’s career with ABS-CBN wasn’t that good, Heart said the network had also been good to her, "but when my father talked to GMA execs, we were given a good offer – sure projects for two years. And so her father said, it’s time to move on." The biggest lesson Heart has learned so far is "always follow your parents, they know best what’s good for you."

It’s public knowledge that Heart and her father weren’t in good terms for several years, ever since she got involved romantically with Jericho Rosales, who she said is still her boyfriend. "He’s in Malaysia working, I’m working here, we’re in our prime, we’ll both be working to achieve our goals, so it’s nice to miss each other sometimes." But they’re still on, she said, contradicting rumors that they’ve parted ways.

For her first project, Heart will be Richard Gutierrez’s leading lady in "Asero" and she will be doing teleseryes and other project, and so she looks forward to be working with other GMA artists. Heart will be given a grand welcome on "Showbiz Central’ this coming Sunday.

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German Moreno does it again

From the pigeonhole:

Last Saturday (April 19) German Moreno, discoverer of numerous singing talents shone the spotlight on a young balikbayan with a unique and powerful voice spanning four octaves – Joel Garcia.

Joel Garcia sang "One Moment In Time," a song requested by Kuya Germs, in GMA 7’s "Walang Tulugan," Kuya Germ’s morning show, and Joel brought the house down. The big crowd in the studio fell dead silent as he began to sing and held its collective breath as Joel was about to hit the highest note of the song. After a dramatic pause which made the suspense more unbearable, Joel reached the peak note, his voice powerful and controlled. The audience burst into a raucous applause, relieved and impressed.

Before Joel sang, Pilita Corrales in her introductory remarks said Joel’s voice was "different, very unique." Kuya Germs described it as "sensational." After Joel finished singing, the audience’s verdict was unanimous: It was AWESOME.

It was not surprising that the legendary Pilita found Joel’s voice different and unique. Joel is a counter-tenor.

According to Joel, "Countertenors are usually male classical singers with voices higher than tenors. There are many in the international stage such as Alfred Deller, David Daniels, and Andreas Scholls. The latter two singing opera leading roles. There are also pop singers who are countertenors or whose voices come close to counter-tenors. Among them are Michael Jackson, Wayne Newton and Smokey Robinson. These are stateside vocalists." In Joel Garcia, the Philippines has its very own counter-tenor, doing pop, R&B, Gospel as well as classical music. So far he is the only one.

Joel can do Michael Jackson to perfection but he prefers to sing in his own style.

That style was honed by long years of study in classical music under Prof. Larry Paxton, a well known and respected classical music guru in Hawaii, and Charlotte Rothschild. In pop and R&B his learning curve was charted principally by Seth Riggs, the famed Hollywood vocal guru who coached Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, and Anita Baker along with other famous artists. He has also coached our very own Sarah Geronimo.

In the Philippines, Joel is being coached by Amy Camua of the Muzette Music Center in Ayala Alabang. Amy describes Joel’s style as beautiful and powerful with a refreshingly unique tone.

German Moreno invited Joel to be a guest singer in "Walang Tulugan" after hearing him sing "One Moment In Time" in Pilita’s Place, the favorite singing venue for locals and balikbayans and, if everything goes well, the rest may be history for the first and, perhaps, the only Filipino counter-tenor.

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The best of Rica Arambulo in "Que Rica"

Rica Arambulo was born to be a musician for she has quite literally breathed, lived, ate and dreamt music her entire life. Born to world-renowned piano professor Carmencita Guanzon-Arambulo, Rica made the Greenhills Music Studio (now celebrating its 40th anniversary) her own personal musical playground, earning the reputation as a classical piano wonderkind who shone brightest at competitions.

Truly talented, Rica also plays the drums, percussion, recorder, and organ and also sang for her school choir. She graduated cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in Music, major in Piano, minor in Voice, from the UP College of Music. A Maria Mota scholar, she was consistently awarded the highest grade in piano and music theory, which led her to the Grove School of Music in Los Angeles, California where she took courses in composition.

Living music, Rica went on to achieve the praises of her musical peers including that of legendary Maestro Ryan Cayabyab and the extremely gifted Louie Ocampo. She has earned Awit Award nominations, Metropop trophies and other awards for musical arrangements to one-woman shows, TV appearances and sell-out concerts.

Today, April 25, Rica’s greatest dream comes true as she celebrates her life and music in a concert billed "Que Rica! A Toast to the Music of Rica Arambulo" at the Teatrino in Greenhills.

Joining Rica tonight is The Company, the Suzuki String Ensemble and Arnell Ignacio. Show starts at 8 pm for the benefit of the Greenhills Music Studio Fund.

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Judy Ann Santos on Q-11’s "Proudly Filipina"

Q-11’s "Proudly Filipina" pays tribute to three outstanding Filipinas who have all made their marks in their respective fields this Friday as host Charlene Gonzalez-Muhlach talks to Judy Ann Santos, Marilou Diaz-Abaya and Minnie Togno de Ramos.

Judy Ann Santos shares her journey from anonymity to becoming the princess of tearjerkers, and to being one of the country’s most successful young actresses – an inspiring story of tenacity and hard work, dedication to perfection and single-minded commitment to giving the best of herself to everything she does.

Direk Marilou Diaz Abaya reveals her face-to-face encounter with death and how the experience has deepened her appreciation for life and for the intimate relationship she has with her Creator.

Minnie Togno de Ramos lost her arm when she was just 6 in a freak accident that scarred her limb but not her heart as she went on to be a table tennis champ despite her disability.

Catch their stories on "Proudly Filipina" today, 7 p.m., only on Q-11.

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Tidbits: Happy b-day greetings today, April 25, go to Mrs. Lulu Mendoza, Rea Reyes, Berto Leroy, David Ussery, Normelita Ocampo, Tessie Arrieta, Joey C. Recio lll, Naning Tensuan, Erlinda Gamboa, Dr. Mila Jardin-Ongoco, Joel Taginhot, photog Norman C. Albano and Grace Lim Wong of Metrobank Sta. Cruz...