The Story of an Aspiring Artist

connect the dots

2009-06-05T00:29:00.000+08:00

i know it has been forever since my last post. and because of that i'm pretty sure this entry will consist of countless random topics on which i have failed to blog in the past two months.

first off...i want to know who is in charge of selecting the playlist at mcdo. i was grabbing a quick bite at the branch in glorietta one day and the songs being played were an unusual bunch. when i got there, "brick" by ben folds five was playing, and it was just refreshing to hear it again after a very long time. then a jason mraz number came on. you know the one that makes you feel like you're at the beach? it went well with my chicken mcnuggets. (don't ask me how i relate the beach to chicken mcnuggets.) after that, i was very surprised to hear "lions, tigers & bears" from jazmine sullivan. i absolutely loved her "fearless" album, but not a lot of radio stations here really played her songs. so i have to give credit to that mcdonald's branch. i was pleasantly stupefied (i just want an excuse to say stupefied) to have that not-so-typical background music with my meal.

speaking of which, my friend michelle texted me some time ago saying my entire "commited" cd was being played at the mcdonald's where she was eating. i mean if i loved mcdonald's before, i really love it now. i never got the chance to ask which branch that was. i want to go there and buy everyone a burger.

ahhh burgers. i think it will be a while before i can enjoy a burger again. it seems like the new greeting nowadays is "tumaba ka" or simply "you gained weight." i've never had to bother with diets before and now it's going to be on my to-do list everyday. we wrapped up the mossimo bikini summit about two weeks ago and this is where i realized how much weight i had really gained. i performed for the first (and hopefully last?) time wearing just a bikini and a see-through top. and i danced. or i tried to dance haha. i have to thank m for giving me those quick lessons. but geeeez...i didn't know how hard it was to dance and sing at the same time until i was out of breath doing it. i have a newfound respect for britney.

that girl has definitely made a comeback. back in the 90s i hated her. but now i just gotta hand it to her. some of her new beats are really sick--and that is just insane coming from someone who grew up in a ghetto. (DC baybeee!) but anyway. it seems i'm not the only one welcoming britney spears back to the scene. i just hope she doesn't do another movie. her best platform is still the radio.

now let me tell you...the radio music awards is just right around the corner. it's the first one of its kind here in the philippines and i'm really excited about it. i've got a nod in the best pop female category for my rendition of "if you're not the one." i don't even want to say anything more about that. i don't want to jinx it! but you can help me win people's choice award by logging on to http://www.radiomusicawards.com.ph/vote.html. i'm apparently also going to be a presenter. i don't know yet for what award but that's going to be fun. i've never presented anything except powerpoints.

ok. i'm going to read this a couple days from now and realize how many things i forgot to mention. but it's past midnight, and along with dieting i have promised to sleep earlier. it's all about being healthy. weee! let's see how long that lasts. if you are reading this, which is pretty evident that you are, i would like to wish you a gust of happiness and an exquisite day. don't let the rain getcha feeling down!

just between you and me

2009-04-07T01:59:00.004+08:00

i know i usually write entries based on "the story of an aspiring artist" yada yada yada...but right now i just want to be dianne. i don't normally do this because i am a very private person and this blog is a very public one. but enough of the disclaimer. i just thought i'd share my thoughts on some things because i know a lot of people will be able to relate.

i've been listening to a lot of my friends' stories lately, or to be more specific, their misadventures in love. i see a lot of common elements in these stories, and i'm sorry to say, the woes begin when people stop using their heads. my parents always said to me, "use your head, not your heart." but ofcourse like most girls i'd always use my heart. and i got myself in a stupid mess recently because of this. but now i remember the words of an old friend:

be true to your heart, not through intelligence but through wisdom. for some people say "use your head, not your heart." i say "use your wisdom and feel your heart."

you can't be in a relationship if all you use is your heart, because based on all these stories and own experiences, you won't be able to make the right choices. you won't be able to see if he's treating you wrong. you won't be able to hear if he's lying to you. or worse, you'll convince yourself that he's right for you.

on the other hand, it would be equally lethal to be in a relationship wherein everything is calculated. to find love that is amazing and beautiful, you need to take risks. i'm not saying do it blindfolded; i'm just saying let yourself fall. but throughout that journey you should be wise enough to make the decisions to be in a healthy relationship.

it's funny how i can say all these things and give my friends the most logical advice, but when it comes to my own troubles, i'm clueless. i left prince charming because i wanted to stop being a damsel in distress. then i fell for a jack who woke up one day and realized i simply wasn't in his cards. now prince charming wants to rescue me but i just want to rescue myself. i want to be whole on my own.

so how's that for breaking out of my shell.

i'm not going to fear the future anymore. and neither should you. but we won't be able to see that future if we keep repeating the mistakes of our past. so for everyone who is stuck in a rut, it's time to find a way out of it. sunny days ahead! you won't wanna miss it.

Blurbs and Blurts (say THAT five times fast)

2009-03-02T22:07:00.000+08:00

I've had only one meal the entire day, it's now almost 10 in the evening, and I'm not hungry. If you knew me at all you would KNOW that that's really strange. I could pass for anorexic in some countries based on appearance alone, but in reality I eat like a pig. Today maybe not so much. Blah blah blah blah blah...

Moving on to slightly more interesting things.

This Wednesday I'm going to do a live chat on MYX.TV. I was told it would be from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. so I guess it'll be two hours long? Oh my gawd people are gonna get bored with me. I suppose if people run out of questions (or if NO people sign up), I could always just read a Twilight book out loud. Any suggestions on which one? I actually only liked the first one. After that I was all like..."Jacob Shmacob. Bella you are an idiot. " Hopefully the last installment will be a good read. I'm going to start it tomorrow. But yeah I am getting REALLY off topic. MYX.TV live chat. If this piques your curiosity at all, even if it is only to ask prank questions (--THAT would be interesting--), then please log on to the following site for more info:
http://phil.myx.tv/Default.aspx?tabid=364

Also happening this Wednesday is Vintage Soul. A lot of people have been asking when I'd return with a new episode and I'm hoping those people will read this blog. Coz I have no idea how else to tell you guys. =p Tune in to Wave 891 at 8 P.M. this Wednesday (and the Wednesdays after that) while you're stuck in traffic or doing whatever. I have a lot of nice songs lined up for this month...songs that have really touched me the past few weeks...and I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you. :) Corny moment. Sorry.

Aaaaand last but not least, if you wanna catch me live I'll be singing at a friend's bar in San Juan on Wednesday. Yes, it's all apparently happening on Wednesday. Guitar idol Gigi Arcay will be joining me so I know it'll be a fun night. Bring your friends and happy faces to BELA BAR right along P. Guevarra Street in Greenhills. If you know where North Park is, it's reeaally close to that. The show will start at 9 P.M.

Hmmm...lack of food in my system makes me crabby. Speaking of crabs I am sooo looking forward to my seafood dinner tomorrow. Thank God for my friends. I'll be back with a bubblier post next time. =D See ya!

Party Like It's 2999

2009-01-28T09:10:00.009+08:00

Wow. Is it 2009 already? I can still remember when people would say "Party like it's 1999" and it was a general idea that by the year 2000 human teleportation would have been possible. Seriously. What ever happened to that? Oh yeah and people thought the world would come to an end. But hey...a decade later and we're still here. Although this time it isn't some far-out Y2K bug threatening our existence; it's global warming. And it's a closer problem than we think. But oh my goodness I'm not really writing about global warming; I'm just looking at how far we've come. And on some alien planet someone is probably laughing at me right now. (sigh.) Anyway...

In January, people often like to look back on the past year. Do their countdowns and top ten lists and whatnots. But I suppose right now I just want to look ahead. This month--this YEAR actually--started with such a blast and I was catapulted into this completely different space, which I'm sure was there all along, but I had just been on a different plane. I know now that this is where I'm supposed to be and I can say I'm happy.

On January 4, the product of several months' of butt-busting came to be in the charity show Red Letter Night. It all started one idle afternoon when I thought to myself, "I need to do something useful in my life." From there I began gathering my contacts, establishing new ones, and at more than one point going door-to-door either soliciting sponsorships or promoting the event. In the end, my lineup included my personal favorites Julianne, Miguel Escueta, The Out of Body Special, 3rd Avenue, and Thor. Special appearances were also made by Eri Neeman, Caren Mangaran, and Ramon Bautista, with hosts Atom Ungson and Mica Froilan! :)

With the help of my family and friends I was able to raise P50,000 for the Philippine National Red Cross. Thank you to everyone who helped make it happen! It was a great way to start the new year.

Just a few days after the charity show, I escaped to the States for the shortest but SWEETEST vacation ever. It had been seven years since the last time I was there so you can just imagine the fun I had. I watched a musical on Broadway, discovered the beauty and complexity of the Subway with my two best buds, ate at Serendipity with even more friends, visited the latest art exhibit in DC, went to Target, Wal-Mart, and CVS (hahaha!) AND ate at Taco Bell, P.F. Chang's, and IHOP!!! And I'm sure with my terrible memory I was only able to list half of the fun.

The day of my return to the Philippines, I wrapped up my Robinsons mall tour at Galleria. Let me just say my body clock was sooo confused (still is up to this day) but it was so worth it. After the show people came up to me with not just my latest CD but both of them...and they were telling me how they loved the songs and they would listen to them with their sweethearts. It was just so heartwarming to hear all the positive feedback and it didn't make me feel so tired afterwards. So for that I just gotta say...Thank you to everyone who made me feel quite at home again.

To cap off the month, I'll be taping some shows for MYX tomorrow. It's always fun to be with the MYX crew so I'm really looking forward to it. Ooh and I get to meet the new VJs! :D So yeah...I'll let you guys know when those shows are going to air...and I'll also post my February gigs soon. I hope you are having as much fun as I am with...well, life. If not, it's time to make a change! Shrug off that negative energy and welcome all things positive. (I had to have that Dr. Phil moment just right there...Even though I am absolutely allergic to Dr. Phil. But yeah.) HAPPY 2009 TO ALL!

RED LETTER NIGHT

2008-12-10T10:31:00.002+08:00

MY BIRTHDAY WISH

2008-11-26T16:40:00.008+08:00

As you may or may not know, I am celebrating my birthday today. :) But more important than that is the charity show I am organizing in celebration of it. Buying tickets to this show would be the best birthday gift you guys could give me...because 100% of all the ticket sales will go directly to the Philippine National Red Cross.

I've been a busy bee working on this show and I have finally rounded up a stellar lineup of performers. "RED LETTER NIGHT" features Awit-winning R&B singer Thor, Awit-nominated band 3rd Avenue, rocker Miguel Escueta, soul child Julianne, The Out of Body Special, many other bands, and surprise celebrity guests. It will be on January 4, 2009 at Fiamma along Jupiter Street in Makati.

I don't have a poster for the show yet so I'll let you guys take a look at the ticket concept instead. :P I just got the actual tickets today, so if you are interested to buy some, email me! (alwaysdianne@gmail.com)

Thanks to all the sponsors who have extended their support to this project, especially 7107 Islands Cruise and Mossimo! Huge thanks also go out to First Gourmet Academy, Sanctuario Spa, Well of Health, UCPI, Ed Arevalo of musicrator.com, Raintree Restaurants, Cupcakes by Sonja, Gerry's Grill, and Cardinal Printing Press. A SUPERSIZED thanks to Marlon Barnuevo for designing the tickets and posters!

AND BY THE WAY GUYS...If you would like to be involved, you can help me sell tickets! They are only P350, and like I said earlier, every centavo of that will go to the Red Cross. I am awarding the person who sells the most number of tickets with a FREE CRUISE TRIP FOR TWO. Contact me on how you'd like to get started! :D

Well that's about it. I gotta go celebrate my birthday now. Hahaha! Mmmmmwah!

Radio and Mall Tour

2008-11-09T14:40:00.014+08:00

NOV. 10, 2008 - RX Concert Series, 6 PM
NOV. 13, 2008 - RADIO TOUR

10:30 -11:00 AM........LOVE/YES FM
11:00 -12:00 NN........STAR FM
1:30 - 2:00 PM..........BRGY LSFM
2:30 - 3:00 PM..........WRR
4:00 - 4:30 PM..........MAX FM
4:30 - 5:00 PM..........WAVE
8:00 - 8:30 PM..........MELLOW
8:30 - 9:00 PM..........MAGIC (TBC)
9:30 -10:30 PM.........RT/BREWRATS

NOV. 22, 2008 - Robinsons Sta. Rosa
NOV. 23, 2008 - Robinsons Manila
NOV. 26, 2008 - Radio Guesting on Mellow, 2 PM
NOV. 29, 2008 - Robinsons Metro East
DEC. 6, 2008 - Robinsons Novaliches
DEC. 13, 2008 - Robinsons Dasmarinas
DEC. 14, 2008 - Magic 89.9 Live Na Live, 7 PM, Eastwood

HEAR! HEAR! (or read! read!)

2008-10-26T02:14:00.005+08:00

Dianne Elise to unveil latest project

Filipinos first heard Dianne Elise when she revived the Chicago classic "You're the Inspiration." Since then she has come out with more singles including a Chris Cross cover and her own composition. This time she is returning to the music scene to make bigger waves. She just signed with MCA Music, the local arm of the Universal Music Group and the largest recording company worldwide. Dianne is now among the Philippines' most formidable acts, which include Richard Poon, Julianne, Miguel Escueta, Zoo, Pedicab, Chiscosci, Cambio and Side A. She is all set to release her sophomore album this month.

The new album is called Committed and it takes listeners through the roller coaster of love. Promising songs include a string of boy band hits and retro ballads, but the most alluring is the first track, "If You're Not the One." While the Daniel Bedingfield song was too recent to revive for some, Dianne was said to have insisted on doing her own version. The result was the ubiquitous idea to make it the first single off the album.

Award-winning director Milos Curameng took on the challenge of creating the music video for this song. The concept of the shoot had Dianne reaching out to someone that could only be barely seen. For those familiar with the director's works, it would be no surprise that he set the video to a somber tone. But with the song's debatably happy mood, a balance was struck to let the viewers decide how they want to interpret it.

The premiere for the music video "If You're Not the One" is slated to air tonight, October 26, on the Myx Music Channel at 9:00 PM. Be sure to watch as Dianne Elise unveils the next chapter in her musical journey. She shows she is committed to it in more ways than one.

HEROES!!!

2008-09-21T16:22:00.004+08:00

Yeah I know...This has nothing to do with this blog...but I just can't wait!!!

Gee WIZ!

2008-09-13T14:31:00.011+08:00

I had the most amazing photo shoot yesterday for my second album. The team that was gathered to do it were all wizards in their respective fields. What I'm trying to say is, they made MAGIC happen! I don't have the final pictures yet, but here's a look at what went on behind the scenes. I'm getting all giddy just remembering how spectacular it was.

Not another sentence can go on until I mention the individual who made this shoot so incredible. (Unless you count THAT sentence. Oh shoot, I did it again.) RAYMUND ISAAC!!! The name is abundant enough to be a sentence itself! He's only been in the business for over 25 years...He's only shot like half of the pics you see in magazines and billboards...He's only captured the who's who of Philippine society on cam...He's only the most brilliant photographer I've ever had the blessing to work with!

There's also the stylist who put together the beautiful garments and made them work like a delicious cocktail drink! Mervin Lazaro is stylist to celebs like Marian Rivera and he also designs clothes for several labels in the country. From the moment we first met and selected the key items, I knew we were going to jive. The outfits let me be fun and girly without being too prissy, a little more earnest when necessary, and all throughout, fierce! He knew exactly how to maximize every look without exaggerating, and that was the perfect balance.

The best part of it all was that these people--with the most phenomenal skills--also had the most down-to-earth attitudes. It was truly a joy working with them. I realize that's a hackneyed expression, but it really was a joy.

Ofcourse...I wouldn't even be able to write about this experience if it had not been for MCA Music and Real Talent. I think I've got the best people by my side and I am everyday thankful for that. This is gonna be Round 2 for me, and while I know I'm far from where I want to be, I also know that I've got what I need to get there.

P.S. Mr. Raymund Isaac, even though you had not slept for the past three days, I still thought you were a beautiful man! :X And not to mention oh-so debonair. It was an HONOR to have been your subject! :)

2008-08-19T15:38:00.008+08:00

Please watch out for my sophomore album under MCA Music next month!

Gig Sched for August:
TUESDAYS - Aruba Bar & Restaurant, Metrowalk
THURSDAYS - Prophets Bar & Restaurant, Libertad St.

September:
TUESDAYS - Aruba Bar & Restaurant, Metrowalk
SATURDAYS - Prophets Bar & Restaurant, Libertad St.

P.S. If you are a young director with fresh ideas please email me at alwaysdianne@gmail.com. We are looking for someone to do my next music video! :)

nonsense and some sense

2008-07-16T12:45:00.010+08:00

i'm one of those people who get a cough and cold like every three months. but since the start of 2008, i've been doing such. a. good. job. at not getting sick. that is ofcourse up until now. i could blame my lack of sleep, which in turn lowered my immune system, so that after staying at a public place, i was more susceptible to the ever so common cold. but then again, i could just blame myself for not going to bed early enough.

after realizing how sickly i am because of my poor sleeping habits, or the absence thereof, i have miraculously turned into some kind of a morning person. i may be jumping the gun in making that statement since it has only been three days. but since then, i have been going to bed at midnight. not at three, four, or five am. midnight! to top it off, i have been waking up at nine am! i don't usually wake up in the "am" at all, so that is just truly magnificent for me. and oh it feels so good to see the sun on the other side of the street. and my cough and cold which usually lasts two weeks? well...i think i'll be all better by this weekend! so congratulations are in order. i have finally listened to everyone's advice: "go to bed early."

but enough of that. i shall no longer rant about my health. don't worry...this isn't going to be one of those blogs. i don't want to bore you to tears...i do however have a few updates as long as i'm blogging away.

at the end of the year, there will be certain highlights that everyone will look back upon. being signed as an mca artist is definitely one of my highlights. i did my first gig as an mca artist during the mariah carey victory party at eastwood. and now i am recording my sophomore album with the major label. i am trying to include some of my own compositions, but a lot of people are saying that they just don't jive with the album. actually, i sugarcoated their comments. (pang doobie night daw.) i am doomed to forever doing covers. (don't get me wrong--i love the songs obviously, but i just really wish i could have people hear my originals!)

i also did my first tv commercial, which has been on my to-do list since i was like 16. i'm so happy it finally happened. oh but i can't really talk about that until they start airing it. so just watch out for it instead...

aside from the career, i was able to reunite with two of my closest friends from chicago: my best friend maria who i haven't seen in six years, and my other good friend katrina who i haven't seen in three. we escaped to boracay and were lucky enough to have good weather in a normally rainy season. even after the recent storm, boracay was still as beautiful as ever. (i had so much fun with you, maria and kat!!! memories to last a lifetime!)

before i go...let me invite you guys to watch me live. i'm back at aruba metrowalk every tuesday with my kickass band. so i'll see you when i see you. i gotta walk my dog now.

PART 2

2008-05-02T14:25:00.014+08:00

Finally...here's Part 2. So what had kept me busy since February? I'll let the pictures and videos speak for themselves.

I did another radio tour within Metro Manila to promote my second single, "Swept Away." And I was elated to find that people love my version of the Chris Cross love song. Here I joined Papa Dudot behind the booth. I was also able to meet Papa Kiko, Papa Bear, and Mama Annabelle. Hi guys! :)

I also got the call that I had been waiting for. The one where they would ask me to sing on ASAP for the first time. "Swept Away" was featured in a medley of new radio hits, as I performed it with the big screen idol of idols, Piolo Pascual. I don't think I was ever MORE nervous than I was that day. But I am so grateful that it happened.

And did I mention I was able to meet Charice Pempengco backstage? This girl blows me away! When I watched her on Ellen, I got goosebumps! I'm betting on her and Arnel Pineda to show the world that Pinoys got talent!!!

As for other TV appearances, I also went on SBX, Walang Tulugan, and The Good Night Show to talk more about my debut album and second single. The hosts from all the shows were very warm (and some even quite out of the box). So you can tell I had a great time with all of them.

Last month I was asked to be part of an event not as a performer but as a speaker. And I was thrilled to do something like that for the first time. It was a youth summit by Ford against drinking and driving. This is one of many issues that I strongly advocate so it was hardly like work at all. (I have such a fun job.) I shared the stage with some MTV VJs and radio jocks from Magic 89.9, as we tried to lay down some hard facts about the dangers of drunk driving. SO WHILE I'M AT IT...Listen up. Er...read up. We don't have any laws here in the country against drinking and driving so it's up to US to exercise self-control! Like Brandon Boyd sang, "Will I choose water over wine and hold my own and drive?" Well, even if he chooses water, atleast...whatever tomorrow brings he'll be there. With open arms and open eyes yeah.

Last but not least, I was invited by M.O.R. to sing some songs at the Panaad Festival in Bacolod a few weeks ago. It was awesome 'cause I made some new friends along the way, got to eat some AMAZING inasal, and for the first time, I sang in the rain! (Sans electrocution ofcourse.) Too bad I wasn't able to get any photos of my performance. But I'll try to upload some pics from that trip (as soon as Stephanie sends them to me. Ahem, ahem. Hahahahaha...)! But anyway. Thank you so much to M.O.R. for having me over that weekend. It was truly a memorable experience.

Ok and if I missed out on any events or whatever, you must forgive me because I have some serious memory gaps. And guys, watch out for my third single entitled "Easier." It's MY own composition with Bobby Velasco, so I hope you all like it as much as you liked the first two. I will be shooting the video for that song in a few weeks, and ofcourse, I'll give you all the updates when I have them. :) If you're reading this...whether you're a friend or a foe, fan or a hater, thank you for dropping by. May God bless you everyday. :) PEACE OUT!

Part 1 of My Update :)

2008-04-08T23:02:00.011+08:00

Wave just celebrated its seventh anniversary, and if you were lucky enough to be there, you would have been a witness to the incredible talent this country has to offer. Everybody who's a somebody was there. So it was very exciting for me to share the stage with some of the artists I had only admired a few years back. "Makin' It Happen @ Seven" featured artists like Jay Durias, Nina, Thor, Julianne, Luke Mejares, Amber, Urbanation, Jay-R, and a whole lot more. Happy anniversary to Wave and a million thanks for being the first station to ever play my song!

In other news, the most embarrassing and most memorable gig of my life took place a few weeks ago. I was singing my first number at the birthday party of--let's just say--someone from a very notable family...And before the song ended, I had managed to fall flat on my bottom. To my defense, the spotlight was blinding me as efficiently as possible, so I didn't realize I had already reached the end of the slightly elevated dancefloor. Arrgghh! I know I have a proclivity to clumsiness, but it sure does surface at the worst times. All I kept thinking was, "Please don't let me see this on YouTube..." And if anything at all, they should have had a sign.

Well, this is not all for my update but I'm afraid I have to stop here for now. I still need to upload more pics so I can show you what had kept me busy for the past two months. Don't forget to tune in to my weekly radio show on Wave called VINTAGE SOUL. It's on at 8:15 PM every Wednesday. And for live gigs, you can catch me at Liberty Center along Shaw Blvd. on April 11 and April 25. PEACE.

Randomness

2008-02-11T02:53:00.000+08:00

it's february and love is in the air. for those of you who have a special someone with whom to share valentine's day, make every moment count. and when it's over, celebrate it again everyday for the rest of the year. for those of you who are single...learn to appreciate your solitude and distinguish it from loneliness. it's so ironic, but nothing is more attractive than independence. but then ofcourse that's just my opinion.

many thanks go to all those who showed their love for me in my recent mall shows. i will be dropping by robinsons cebu this saturday, february 16 for my next gig. and i have to say, i'm so excited to go back to cebu. after my first mall show there, i was able to try all the wonderful food that the city had to offer. so on my trip back, i'll be looking forward to more food trips!

after exchanging a few words with some of you during my mall shows, i learned that there are some people impersonating me on several networking sites. please be careful disclosing private information to individuals who claim to be me. you can be sure by checking the links:

www.friendster.com/iamdianne

www.dianneelise.imeem.com

those are the only public accounts i have, in addition to this blog. just giving you guys a heads up. :)

well i guess that's all for now. don't forget to tune in to my radio show, VINTAGE SOUL, every wednesday night on wave 89.1. this week i'll be featuring my cousin, carl talabis, on guitar. so keep it locked on the metro's most influential.

PEACE.

Ever Been Swept Away?

2008-01-20T22:44:00.000+08:00

Just the other week, we wrapped up the production of my second music video for my new single, Swept Away. Some of my friends and family were able to join me in the shoot, including my mom who also made an appearance, so it was a project that has been most fun. The entire video was shot in this alley in Manila, featuring real people, and real happenings. Check it out.

Below are pics of my friends and family who, luckily for me, were free that day to offer their services as actors/actresses in my music video! :) Watch out for the cutie in yellow! He's got places to go!

The one who looks like he's doing karate in this next picture is our kick-ass director! And the guy taking a photo in the back? Oh...some obsessed fan. (Bwahahahahahahahahahaha!)

Eeewww...my face looks really chubby there. But look at Jonna in this next shot! So masungit! Hehehe!

Here are some of the residents of that street in Manila. We asked them to do some of their normal, everyday activities for the shoot. Ofcourse in front of a camera, it's always a little more difficult. But they did such a great job anyway! I most especially loved the carpenter guy...You'll see what I mean when you watch the video. :)

The next photo was taken while we were previewing what we had shot for the day. I guess we're biased, but we liked it! :D I hope all of you out there like it too!

Well, the video is out now on MYX. It aired just last week and I was surprised to see it! I thought it wouldn't be out till February, but hey, the sooner the better for me. Please support it by voting for it as many times as you can everyday! Hehehe...You can do that by keying in MYX[space]VOTE[space]SWEPT AWAY and send it to 2366.

I know it's too soon to be talking about this, but I can't wait till my next music video. With that one, you all will finally be able to hear my own composition! My first two singles have been covers, but the third one will be my very own! So there's always something to look forward to...Oh and hey! I just want to say THANKS to Billie Princesa for providing us these pictures! Hahaha! She's an old schoolmate of mine, a singer-songwriter too, so be on the lookout for her. Hey Billie!!! (Yeah, you know I gotta give my props.) CHOMP! :D

Isn't It Time?

2008-01-07T01:55:00.000+08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND FANS! Wow…I never used the word “fans” before. But this is a new year so I’m going to start doing things I never used to do! Even though I missed the countdown and the new year greeted me with some bad news, I won’t let it get to me. I can’t be superstitious about that stuff. Happiness, success, and everything else that’s good is whatever you make it. So I’m taking 2008 in my hands and I’m making it mine.

With that, I’d like to invite you all to my new lineup of mall shows. This year we’re doing the rounds at Robinsons. So here’s the preliminary sked:

ROBINSONS MALL TOUR
JAN. 12 - Lipa
JAN. 13 - Metro East @ Cainta
JAN. 19 - Manila
FEB. 1 - Galleria @ Ortigas
FEB. 3 – Pampanga

This week I will be doing the music video for my second single, Swept Away. I’m really excited about it, but ofcourse I’m not going to give anything away. So just watch out for that!!!

Before I go, I just want to take this moment to say…I hope you all enjoyed your holiday celebrations. And if your New Year’s Day wasn’t all that great, it does not mean the rest of the year will be like that. We all have the choice to make our situation better than it was a minute ago. So make 2008 yours too! :D

Flash Report!

2007-12-17T18:27:00.000+08:00

HEY GUYS! Just a quick update. Please watch the MYX Daily Top Ten Countdown tomorrow, December 18, at any of the following times: 1 am, 7 am, 1 pm, or 7 pm. I will be the featured guest in tomorrow's episode with VJ Igi. (Hey Igi! Just showin' some love!) Also, keep it locked here for the schedule of my Star Myx episode. (I finally get to be on Star Myx and I wasn't prepared with my top five favorite videos!!! Arrgghh! So I picked the top five faves that I could remember...) Kudos to MYX for having me over. I had a blast! You all are still so loveable and makulit! And I LOVE that new game with the ball! Hahaha! Happy holidays to you guys! :D

If you want to catch me live this week, you can drop by any of these venues: Aruba Bar & Restaurant at Metrowalk on Monday, Gloria Jean's Coffee at Glorietta on Wednesday and Thursday. Take a breather from the holiday rush and just chill with me. :)

PEACE OUT!

"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"

2007-12-06T00:41:00.000+08:00

It's December again and we are nearing the end of 2007. So many things went down this year, and not just for me, but for the whole world. I, for one, have a memory span of a goldfish so I won't even try to recollect this year's headlines. But it's not even Christmas yet, so perhaps it's too early for the Top Ten lists and countdowns. Instead, allow me to share with you the current events of my realm.

Last Thursday, Mossimo launched a very special CD entitled "The Christmas Project." It features artists such as Barbie Almalbis, Arnee & Jeffrey Hidalgo, Luke Mijares, Rocksteddy, Urbanation, and 3rd Avenue. I contributed two tracks as well and you can expect a variety of your favorite Christmas tunes arranged in each artist's unique styles. The CD costs only P250. But here is the best part...100% of the CD sales will go to the Cancer Warriors Foundation. Every time someone buys Mossimo's "Christmas Project", they are helping in the treatment of kids with cancer. Please log on to www.c-warriors.org to learn more about this cause.

In other news, Kris Aquino's sophomore album "Love & Inspiration" is sure to follow, if not, surpass the success of her first album. In this compilation, I performed the songs "That's What Love is For," "Dreaming of You," "Weekend In New England," and my favorite among the four, "It's Just Another New Year's Eve. This Sunday, I will be at Robinsons Ermita to promote this album, so I'll see you guys there!

Don't forget to keep it posted on Wave 89.1 every Wednesday at 8:15 PM. I still have my radio show, Vintage Soul, right after Duets with Thor. And if you want to catch me live, Aruba Bar & Restaurant is the place to be at Metrowalk every Monday. Thanks again to all my supporters for showing me so much love! :) And to my family and friends who just keep on believing in me. You guys are my light when others show me darkness. Infinite thanks.

2007-10-31T01:22:00.000+08:00

After much prodding, I've finally created a Friendster account for everyone and anyone. If you don't live in the Philippines, you're probably saying, "Friendster is so 2002." But over here in my beautiful country, we still live in 2002. Kidding aside (...people might decide to boycott my blog...), I want to invite you to be my "friend" on the networking site if you have an account of your own.

Live in 2002 with me! :)

In other news, Kris Aquino's second album "Love & Inspiration" is out in stores now! It features Jed Madela and Gail Blanco, among many other artists including yours truly. I contributed four tracks to the CD, but the one I love most is "It's Just Another New Year's Eve". I can totally relate to the song right now...but, oh, that is a different story altogether. You just gotta check out the CD. To the non-believers out there, I have to tell you it is a great compilation.

Last but not least, I will finally get to see the other islands of the Philippines next month! I am so excited! On November 16, I will have a mall show at SM Davao. On the 23rd, I'll be at SM Cebu, on the 24th at SM Bacolod, and on the 25th at SM Iloilo. I don't know just how far my music is reaching, but if you live in those regions and you like my stuff, I hope to see you there! Just don't forget to greet me on the 26th...'cause that's my birthday! Hahaha...

But before I go...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN, EVERYONE!

Dianne Elise's rockin' band :)

2007-10-13T01:08:00.000+08:00

hey everyone...let me introduce to you all the wonder that is my band. they don't have an actual band name; they're just awesome sessionists that i have been blessed to be teamed up with. if their faces are familiar to you, it's because you've already seen them play with the country's best musicians. here are some shots taken by keo saulog, a supporter i met last monday at my aruba gig. thanks, keo, for the pics! :)

below is our ultimate idol, marc santos, together with our liver idol, gigi arcay. they are otherwise known as the keyboardist and guitarist. :)

and here we have our true idol, oman peradilla. but you can't really see his face here...sorry oman! di ka kasi tumitingin...

last but certainly not least...if you strain your eyes, you can see our philippine idol in the back. that's franklin benitez on drums. :)

and there you go, guys. my AWESOME bandmates. the people responsible for making me sound good every monday night at aruba metrowalk. KUDOS TO MY IDOLS!!! :P

just an excerpt

2007-09-28T03:44:00.000+08:00

i stumbled upon this the other day and just wanted to post it here for sheer fun. i would translate for our non-filipino readers, but i'm sorry, this stuff is only funny as is. so here it is...an excerpt from a conversation between two people bashing just about everybody in show business. paano ako nasama dyan i don't know...hahaha. ENJOY! :)

bebs: My gawd. jodi sta.maria a jung da bin hrslf! jus a difrent maner
me: oh i'm stil sad for dat cat nw. She jumpd frm da attic bcos her karir going up in smoke.
bebs: i thnk wendy shud pakamatay 2
me: i think so too. If wendy wil not pakamatay i wil push her frm da ELJ bldg nlng
bebs: oh,both of us wil. lets tali a cloth n her leeg den lets 2lak her.
me: U knw i saw wendy in person n. bebs,u r a diyos tlga compared 2 hr. D naman mganda balat or fez or hair. Just da boobs
bebs: Rily? my gawd! im flaterd,alrdy a tunaw. dat wendy am sur was a cockroach n d past lyf.
me: nt evn cockroach, a maggot maybe. Oh i hate her. dnt undrstand y da VPs of ABS love her so. S'why she has her own show
bebs: Oh cmownst,wendy s dyogi's bata. dyogi s malakas 2 d mgt. instead of wastng money n wendy, y nt taas nlang d swldo of abs employees.
me: ohyes plz..taas our sweldo nlng..Dat stupid wendy. see,we shud tulak her frm da ELJ rooftop for the benefit of ABS employees
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thank God this next part was not as brutal as the previous...
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bebs: btw da new myx vjs vry taaaaaaae
me: wahaha i dnt evn knw who won da VJ search am jst glad it's nt [tooooot insert name here]
bebs: argh. evry1 horble.
me: what abt dat diane elise. ruining Chicago's 'You're The Inspiratn' nw
bebs: My gawd! dat diane elise balandra-ing her bilboard in edsa! ebak she is.
me: i knw ryt! i hope a bagyo comes and makes bgsak her billboard!
bebs: wyl she's walkng and it bgsaks on her

i wouldn't have a sense of humor if i didn't find that funny! :D till next time again. peace out everybody.

GOOD AND BAD NEWS

2007-09-26T23:52:00.000+08:00

i don't know if you guys have heard of kris aquino's album, songs of love & healing. when i first saw her poster at music one, the first thing that came to mind was..."kris aquino is a recording artist now?" well, apparently a lot of people have this misconception about the album. it's actually a compilation of some of her favorite songs performed by misty blue and one by jed madela. ofcourse, with kris aquino's name, it's no surprise that this album has already reached platinum status.
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you can imagine how i felt when i heard that the big boss from universal records wanted to feature ME in the next kris aquino album. as in...the big boss himself actually thought of me?! that's probably the best compliment ever.

they've asked me to do four songs for the album, and ofcourse i'm not going to say which songs, because IT'S A SECRET! :) i just got a copy of the songs last night and i learned them just this afternoon before i had to go in the studio to record them. (time is a luxury i don't have...just listen to my composition WHERE IS THE TIME from my album now & then! i'm sure you guys can relate.) tomorrow i'm going back to the studio to do some final polishing on the tracks. i don't know yet who the other featured artists are, but you can anticipate the release of this album very soon.

in other news, i auditioned for this show tfc connect which airs on all tfc territories across the globe. they're looking for new hosts and i thought i would be perfect for the job. but as soon as i got there, i realized that speaking filipino was a prerequisite. i thought i could go in there, bust out my english, and win them over. but nooo...silly (overconfident) me! filipinos across the globe would want to be reminded of home, therefore they would want a FILIPINO-SPEAKING host! not another english-speaking fil-am! aarrgghh!!! i mean, yeah, i can speak filipino alriiiiight, but it is no where near fluent. so when i realized this, my confidence level came crashing down along with my energy level. as i was doing my vtr, all i kept hearing from the crew was "more energy! more energy!" ahhhhhhhhhh! i SOOO did not get that job.
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you win some, you lose some. i try not to make too much of a big deal out of anything, whether it's good or bad, because i think it's the only way to stay sane. oh! like the other day, i read my first negative comment about myself. and...i just laughed at it. because it was pretty damn funny! i'll find it again so i can copy and paste it here. you guys gotta read it, it's hilarious. :P (SEE PREVIOUS POST.)

LIGHTBULB 1.0

2007-09-19T16:04:00.000+08:00

IT'S MY SECOND DAY AT HOME AND I AM SUPPOSED TO DO NOTHING BUT REST. MY BODY IS REJOICING IN IT BUT MY MIND IS...WELL, RESTLESS. SO LET ME SHARE WITH YOU MY LIGHTBULB MOMENT FOR TODAY.

I think we are all trying to convince ourselves that we are doing something worthwhile in our lives.

But there are few people to have walked this earth who have actually led lives of purpose.

And because of a lack of time and willpower to think harder, I will cite only two. They are GANDHI and MOTHER TERESA.

I'd like to think I can follow in their footsteps, but alas, I could never be as genuinely self-sacrificing as they were. They displayed the greatest acts of love and kindness. But it was never an "act" for them. They did it not to promote their name, but to promote a good that was over and above them.

Achieving that would be my greatest dream.

SPECIAL SHOUTOUT TO M APIDES WHO IS CELEBRATING HER BIRTHDAY TODAY. HAVE A GREAT ONE! :)

DIANNE ELISE'S MALL TOUR

2007-09-18T20:08:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone...I guess I've not been taking enough vitamins (or any at all...) because I am stuck at home right now with a terrible cough and cold. I can't even do my radio show for Wave this week because my voice is practically non-existent. I have to get better by Friday because we have a whole slew of shows this weekend for the mall tour. Anyway, I've posted some pics from the show at SM The Block. Thanks to everybody who came out to support me! (That is...everybody from SM Marilao, SM The Block, and SM Sucat...maraming salamat po!)

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Posted below are the remaining dates of the tour. Hope to see you there!

MALL TOUR:

September 21 - SM Molino

September 22 - SM Manila

September 23 - SM Bicutan

September 29 - SM Baguio

September 30 - The Podium

October 5 - SM Southmall

October 6 - SM Batangas

October 12 - SM Lucena

October 18 - SM Clark

October 20 - SM Fairview

October 26 - SM Pampanga

October 27 - SM North Edsa

By the way...I just gotta say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to all the demo girls out there who have been promoting my CD. Like my manager said, you guys are the soldiers in the battlefield, fighting to keep ME alive! (I added that last part.) Thanks especially to SARAH from Astrovision Podium, for helping make Now & Then one of the highest-selling CDs at your branch! See you again soon!

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . ALBUM LAUNCH

2007-08-23T14:46:00.000+08:00

WOOOOOOOOOO!!! After a night like last night, I just have to let that out! And I have to elaborate; that "WOO" was more of an exhalation rather than some self-targeted praise. So let me do it again. WOOOOOOOOOO!!! (or more like WHEW!)

As people started coming into Aruba on the night of my album launch, my energy level increased by the second. And by energy level, I mean pure terror. I had been anticipating the event for weeks with excitement and fear. Everyone kept telling me to treat it like it was a normal gig, to just be myself, and to relax. But oh how that was much easier said than done. It would not be a normal gig for many reasons. It would be much shorter than a regular gig, being only one set of about 45 minutes. So the impression I make on the audience would be based on a mere 10 songs that should encapsulate the essence of my album and at the same time showcase my capacity as a singer. For a lot of people, it would be the first time they would hear me. And a lot of those people...would be from the media. That was the most nerve-wracking factor.
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I was getting my makeup done when Jonna (one of our road managers) told me that some media people were already there. The makeup artist finished in a hurry and I was off to do my initial round of interviews. First it was ABS-CBN with Mario Dumaual (!!!) together with another TV station who didn't bother introducing themselves (probably because I was already supposed to know who they were...), then I talked to the correspondent of Cinema One, and then Mario Dumaual again for some follow-up questions! I was so scared I'd end up sounding stupid on-cam, but SOMEHOW I was able to talk coherently, and the news reporters actually responded positively to me. After that first round, I made it to the bar to have some semblance of a dinner. But after my first bite, I was asked to do another interview. This time it was with the lovely people of ETC. (I joined them last summer in Boracay to do a show, so I was already familiar with them, not to mention more relaxed.) The interviews came and went, mostly repeating answers to the same questions, and I was able to appear calm and collected. My parents were amazed at how unruffled I was the whole night, but I assured them it was only on the surface. Inside, my body parts separated from one another and ran for their lives!
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I was able to take a few more bites of "dinner" before Shooli (our other road manager) told me we were starting in five minutes. Panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic, panic. When I get nervous before a show, it usually lasts a few moments and then I'd take control again and be cool. So I was waiting for that moment to arrive...But it just never came! I quickly changed into my dress, which I had picked out two months ago just for the event. And when I came out of the restroom, Lhar Santiago from GMA was waiting in front of the stage to interview me. At this point, my panic level was at an extreme high since I was about to go on stage already. I don't even know anymore what he asked me or how I answered. But I went through it with all the poise I could muster. Finally, FINALLY...I went on the stage and said a little prayer before the lights went on.
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And...ACTION! "A Song For You" played on the piano and when I started to sing, The Moment finally came. The panic disappeared. I realized then that Aruba was packed that night, and that was exactly what I had hoped for. They were all there to see me! So when I had forgotten the entire second verse of the song, I knew I couldn't let anybody know. The band had no idea where I was when I started singing the chorus instead of the verse, so they cleverly faded away for me to go a capella until we could all come together again at some point in the song. THAT should have made me fall to pieces. But somehow it didn't! And my manager didn't pull his hair out as I imagined he would, so I THINK we got away with it!

The rest of the set went more smoothly with the exception of a recurring wardrobe malfunction. The tube dress that I had bought for this momentous occasion kept slipping down! And every camera from every major TV network was on me as I almost flashed the whole audience (every so often). But what could I do but pull it up every time it slipped down. I had a show to deliver and I couldn't be worried about my dress! Or so this is what I told myself as I kept worrying about it. I sang the standards from my album, my two compositions (which I was most excited to do), and finished it off with Dianne Reeves' "Better Days." Applause and then dimmed lights. I got through the set.

When I came down from the stage, the people from MYX waited for their interview. I was at the VJ Search all over again. "Introduce the event, talk about your album, and ask them to vote for your video." Just a few weeks ago, their instructions were: "Tell us how you felt about the activity, say something about yourself, and tell the viewers to vote for you as the next VJ." Hahaha! It was great to see them again, although many of them couldn't come because of other events they had to attend. The MYX interview was the last. So I changed into some Mossimo clothes that WOULDN'T malfunction and finally got to sit down with my guests. (THANK YOU TO MOSSIMO!!!)

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The buzz of the album launch lasted for a good while as I looked back on what had happened. I had some major bloopers, e.g. wardrobe disaster, forgotten lyrics, etc., but the audience didn't seem to mind or notice. The part I hated most was forgetting to thank some people for coming to the event. Although my nervousness went away at some point, my head was stuck in spin cycle the whole time. I remember how Hilary Swank forgot to thank her then-husband when she won an Oscar in 1999, and that makes me feel less guilty. But still...I'm really sorry. I'm sure she felt just as awful.

My journey has OFFICIALLY begun. Starting next month I am going to be busy with a mall tour all over the Philippines. I'm going to be in need of multivitamins so I shall stock up on them! This rocket has been launched and I am reaching for the sky.

P.S. Thank you to Universal Records for the HUGE support you have been giving me. Also to the radio stations who were able to make it to the launch and show me your love! RX 93.1, 101.1 Yes FM, Energy 91.5, and 102.7 Star FM, I obviously wouldn't be anywhere without you guys! Maraming salamat po!

When One Door Closes...

2007-08-13T01:44:00.000+08:00

I am taking this so much better than my parents. Ofcourse they're allowed to feel bad because their daughter didn't make it to the Final Four in the MYX VJ Search. And yeah...I was disappointed too...but life, as it tends to do, goes on. I don't regret joining the competition. I had the time of my life! I got to be silly without anyone shooting me a weird look. (Well, maybe a few weird looks.) I made some very interesting friends. I got to work with the unbelievably down-to-earth MYX crew. And the experiences that the whole thing offered me were all so worthwhile. So, Mom and Dad...Thanks for wanting only the best for me. But I know you can agree with me when I say...the best is still yet to come.

I've got so many things to look forward to. My debut album, Now & Then, is currently the third-highest selling CD in Astrovision-Podium. (Thank you to the demo girl over there who plays my CD all the time!) My first single, You're the Inspiration, has made it to the top ten lists on the radio and TV. And my formal album launching hasn't even taken place yet. (BE THERE! August 22 at Aruba Metrowalk, 8 PM.) I realize I'm no where near No. 1 and a lot of people a) don't know me, b) haven't heard of my song, and/or c) don't care about any of the above...but a girl can dream! And that's what I'll do till I make 'em come true! (Oh goodness I did not intend to rhyme...or sound corny.)

With that, let me say congratulations again to the newest MYX VJs: Sanya, Mica, Igi, and Drei...ROCK the Philippines (and play my videos)! To the other finalists: Atom, Nico, Jet, Max, Sandra, and Odessa...What they've been saying to us is so true. We're young and we have so much more ahead of us. So don't throw your hands up yet (unless you're dancing to a command in a song) because we gotta be ready for what they throw at us next. And to the people who dream of auditioning for next year's MYX VJ Search, I say GO FOR IT!!!

P.S. Thank you to Igi for unknowingly letting me post the pictures from your camera onto my blogsite. I'll post more pics from my own cam next time! :) And hey...you were obviously a great partner! The best of luck to ya!

Tune in to my radio show, VINTAGE SOUL, every Wednesday at 8:15 PM on Wave 89.1. This week I'll be singing tunes from Maria Muldaur, The Stylistics, and Anita Baker. For those of you who only know artists from the year 2000 onwards, let me help take you back a little farther. :) Enjoy the music!

The Last Week (dunt-dunt-dunt)

2007-08-01T01:17:00.000+08:00

The MYX VJ Search is soon coming to an end. By the end of this week, we will know who the lucky Final Four will be. The last peg of the mall tour is happening later today at Mall of Asia, and it's the last chance we'll get to prove our worth to MYX before the highly anticipated FINALS NIGHT. That big night is going to transpire this Saturday at Hard Rock Cafe. Can't you just smell the tension?!

Just earlier this evening we were at a taping of Game KNB, and yes, the MYX VJ Search finalists were the contestants. (I believe that episode will air on August 7 or something.) It was terrifying! I forgot what the "M" in PGMA stood for! I mean--hello?! President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo??? But I'm actually semi-glad I didn't move on to the succeeding rounds...because there's no way I could've done that "papaya" dance with any dignity! I mean...I cannot dance to save my life! (To my dear friends in the States who have no idea what I'm talking about...In this game show, they make you dance this funny dance after successfully doing two rounds. I'm talking serious choreography.) Oh but I gotta say, Edu Manzano was an awesome host. Refreshingly so. He was funny, witty, and...Mr. Manzano, are you reading this...? Hahaha! No, seriously though. My mom and I agree he's a great host. All in all, I had such a fun time. And now I know how to do the "papaya" dance! Well, no, not really.

Anyway. I seriously have to go to sleep already. We have a guesting at a radio show very early in the morning and it's already past 2 am. My brain cells are being depleted by the minute. The next time I update my blog will probably be after Finals Night. And oooohhhh I do hope I'll be back with good news. But gosh, I just adore all the finalists and we've all become pretty good friends--I wish we could all just win! (And yup, you guessed it. I also wish for world peace.) Till next time, guys. Wish me luck!

I'M BA-ACK...

2007-07-19T17:02:00.000+08:00

The cutest, most amusing thing happened to me today. I finally got the WHOLE day to just do whatever I want to do, and ofcourse (being the good girl that I am) I chose to do household chores. It was precisely when I was outside, laboriously cleaning my pet dog's cage, that I heard the neighbor's kids singing along very loudly to the music videos on MYX. It wasn't before long that I realized the show was the Daily Top Ten. I was just drying the cage when the Number 7 music video started playing. I could hear that intro from a mile away so I knew it was my song, You're the Inspiration. I couldn't help myself one bit--I just kept on smiling and laughing softly as I listened to the kids sing along to the chorus of my song. It was such a nice feeling that I continued to dry the cage a little longer even though it was already completely dry. When the song finished, that's when I would go back inside the house.

To watch my video, please click on the link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivtTv_l3auw

Yes, I have to say things have been a little hectic...but for a completely different reason I'd have expected a month ago. The number one music channel in the Philippines, MYX, conducted its very first VJ Search earlier this month and they selected 12 semi-finalists from almost 300 people who tried out. That's right...I actually tried out for this thing and made it! Who says you can't be a singer and a VJ at the same time? Hehehe...That is if I make it to the final four. So far we've had to do photo shoots (fun), interviews (so-so), and tape several MYX shows (fun and a little nerve-wracking) and that's what's been keeping me busy the past few weeks. Tomorrow we will have a Surprise Challenge and I have NO idea what to expect. Please, please, please don't make us eat any bugs!!! After that we'll be having a mall tour which includes the new Trinoma, SM Megamall, and Mall of Asia. Finals night is on August 4 and that's when we'll learn who the FOUR new VJs of MYX will be. You can vote for me by texting MYXMATCH 12 and send it to 2366. The race is on!

I know it's kinda crazy. I have a video playing on MYX and I'm trying out as a VJ on the same channel. But as far as I know, I have two things to be worried about! Everyday I worry if my music video is still in the Top Ten. And if it is, I'm paranoid about whether it is going up the charts or down. (I mean, we really want it to go to Number 1!) Then, I also have to worry about my performance as a "VJ" every time I go to the MYX studio. Am I impressing them or boring them? What are they looking for??? Yeah...it is a crazy time indeed. But I'm having so much fun.

Please vote for my music video on MYX. Just text MYX VOTE YOU'RE THE INSPIRATION and send it to 2366. Thank you so much for your support!

In the Mood to Parenthesize!

2007-06-25T00:28:00.000+08:00

The few times I get the chance to actually sleep early I always blow it on the Internet. I figure I HAVE to check my mail, or I HAVE to look at that website, or, in this case, I have to update my blog! I guess I'll forever be the insomniac because I just never really try to make it any different. But since I'm already losing sleep, I might as well give everyone an update. (And ofcourse, as I'm typing this I also have the Nokia site and Yahoo! Mail open in other tabs.)

I have a radio guesting on Wave this Tuesday from 2 to 3 PM. I'll be singing some tracks from the album and some of my favorite songs. I suppose there'll be a Q&A type of thing at some point during that hour as well. I hope Pam (the DJ) won't ask too many personal questions. I'm so guarded about my privacy! (Which is so weird because I have this blog.) It'll be my first PUBLIC interview so I hope I'll be able to express myself well. I always thought that I'm a much better writer than I am a speaker. I mean, with writing there's always Wite-Out and backspaces. But with speaking...you say something and it's out there forever. You can't take it back. Ah well. It can't possibly turn out so bad.

Coincidentally, my album will be hitting music stores this week. Merchandising (the big posters, paperboard cutouts, and whatnot) won't be up till August. Meanwhile, my manager will be working out deals for a promotional billboard or two along EDSA. (Me on a billboard? Tha-hat's just crayyy-zee...) As for the music video, the final product might actually be done tomorrow! I'm excited to see how it turns out. (I can't really act to save my life, but hey, I had fun doing that video.) Anyway, I think I need to prepare for a busy July.

Before I go, I just wanna send a special shoutout to my bandmates--Marc Santos, Gigi Arcay, Oman Peredilla, and Franklin Benitez! (MGA IDOL!!!) On Wednesday we'll be playing at Hard Rock Cafe in Makati, so if you're free, do drop by! Hit me up and leave your full name so I can put you on the guestlist. :) This is a limited time offer only so don't wait! Hehehe...Till next time!

This Just In!

2007-06-09T01:28:00.001+08:00

My first single, You're the Inspiration, debuted on Wave 89.1 yesterday morning at 7:30. It's just a SHAME that I don't get up that early! I suppose I was in Stage 4 of sleep while my song was being played on the radio for the first time. And now I will never know what it sounded like. Well I mean of course I know how the song sounds...But I'll just never know how it sounded the very first time it was on air. (sigh.) Well I guess it'll be more exciting to just be sitting in my car one day listening to the radio, and then out of no where it'll start playing. That would be crazy! I wonder how I'd react. That'll be something to blog about. Hehehe.

My album, Now & Then, will be out some time this month or early July. There are a few things that have yet to be finalized but everything seems to be in order. I'm glad my manager tells me what to expect step by step, so I don't get too shocked by anything. I think I will make this my motto: "Hope for the best, be ready for the worst." That way I'm being optimistic, but also practical. If anyone thinks of a better motto, let me know.

By the way, if you live in Metro Manila, I encourage you to request for my single on Wave. :) You can call 632-9283 or text WAVE [space] 891 [space] YOUR NAME and MESSAGE to 2968. If you do, then maybe I could actually hear my song while I'm awake! :D

My First Music Video

2007-05-31T23:46:00.000+08:00

what an amazing experience it was to shoot my first music video. we started the day at 5 am to take the two-hour drive to hacienda isabella in tagaytay. it’s a property owned by renowned singer-actress kuh ledesma and i must say it is a beautiful place. even though i was awake for 25 hours straight doing the video, i had so much fun. the production team was composed of the nicest people in the world and they made sure i was comfortable with everything before they shot each scene. the stylist and makeup artist were as equally kind and put up with me as i expressed my sentiments about the criminally short dress or the heavier-than-normal false eyelashes. the guy who played my love interest was quite the gentleman and i bet he’d make a lot of girls smitten when they see the video. and the best part of it all...(thanks to all those people) i actually think this video is going to be awesome.

i’ve got nothing but gratitude to show the people behind this production. omar cervantes, the director, knew exactly what he wanted to do with this video, took that idea, and ran with it the entire time. our cinematographer, jun aves, followed every detail and no doubt made each scene look exquisite. rommel malimban and jj purugganan will be taking care of post-production, and from what i’ve seen in them, they’re gonna turn what we’ve shot into a real work of art.

and, he’s not part of the production team, but i MUST say thank you to my manager, henry onglatco, for financing the whole thing! he believes in me so much it’s scary! hahaha! and ofcourse we wouldn’t even have a venue if it weren’t for jesse and mags david’s hookups (yet again)! they also gave me a whole bunch of mossimo clothes, which you will see in the video. too bad i can’t wear them on a day-to-day basis when the vid comes out. people are gonna be like, “didn’t she wear that in the video?” argh...but still, i’m LOVIN’ the free clothes.

at the end of the shoot, they had me do some spiels for a behind-the-scenes thingamajig for MYX. the director had me explain what the whole thing was about and, looking back on what i said, i think i sounded really stupid! i blame it totally on my sleep deprivation so now i must try to redeem myself here. the video is for one of the covers i did, you’re the inspiration, which was popularized by chicago in the 1980s. i’m one of those people who love irony, so i didn’t hesitate to suggest a tragic ending for this video. while it didn’t turn out to be a greek tragedy, it ended in a kind of unexpected way. the story is really very simple and it’s been told a thousand times. but what will make it different is how we tell it.

well i am so excited to see the final product. and i REALLY need to get cable installed at my place so i can actually watch this thing on TV!

now that i’ve revealed the secret of the location, i want to share its beauty with everyone. log on to http://www.haciendaisabella.com to see more of its jewels and to find out how you can make reservations.

The Where and The Who

2007-05-20T01:04:00.000+08:00

We took a look at a possible venue for our shoot last Thursday. And I must say it was PERFECT. Since we are going for something classic, we want to make sure the venue is going to match the theme. I don't want to mention the name of the place yet because I feel like it is my (or our) own hidden treasure for now. It's a beautiful house tucked away in Tagaytay and the whole property is about 4 hectares. But we'll be needing only a fraction of that, ofcourse. The landscape is gorgeous from every angle. The interior has an inviting, rustic feel. And I can only imagine the sunsets there are spectacular. Here are a few pictures:

We have also made our top picks on guys who might play my love interest. It was kind of weird because my real concern was whether or not these guys can act, yet I only had their pictures for reference. It was even more weird for the director and my manager when they were browsing through the photos, because two guys pouring over other guys' pictures (many of which are topless) can never look right. (Unless they swing that way--which I have no problem with whatsoever--but that wasn't the case). Anyway, there will be another meeting on Monday to finalize everything.

The shoot is scheduled to be next week and I am just excited and terrified to do my first music video. I will soon find out if I can act! Although I have an inkling the answer is negative. Oh well...we shall see! I hope I'm not setting myself up!

Now & Then

2007-05-16T21:01:00.000+08:00

I can finally say I've finished recording all of the songs for my upcoming album. They are now undergoing the last stages of mixing. There is a particular track that everyone seems to love and it's going to be my first single. My first single! I had recorded an indie album in the States, but none of the songs ever got airplay, nor did I really expect it. But this time, I'm actually going to hear one of my songs on the radio. I wonder how that would feel--to hear my voice over the airwaves for the first time? It's crazy. (And a little bit nerve-wracking. I mean, what would the critics say?!) Ah...but let me enjoy the positive stuff first!

Before I go on about the current events of my singing career, allow me to shed some light on some history. I grew up in a small city outside of Washington DC, where most of my friends were African Americans and my kind of music was R&B and Neo-Soul. At the age of 13, I would be nodding my head to Aaliyah, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill. So people might wonder, "Why is she singing standards now?" Well, my friends and environment weren't the only things influencing my musical taste. Both of my parents are musicians and they come from opposite ends on a spectrum of genres. My dad is responsible for my propensity to Ray Charles, The Beatles, and Bread. My mom, on the other hand, has a more classic preference. Her repertoire boasts of standards sung by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Natalie Cole. In a time where everything is being hurled forward into the future, sometimes it's a relief to go back. And I know a lot of people can agree with me when I say current trends are soon to expire. It's a risk to do something new (which happens to be old) but I'm sure the experiences are going to be worth it.

On the album, we've mixed up some favorite standards with a few covers of timeless pop songs. I am dreading what people would say about my rendition of an unforgettable OPM hit. The first time I recorded it in the studio, we almost decided to scrap it. They said I sounded too American. It might be cute for other artists to have that twang, but we didn't want to go for cute. We were reviving an OPM classic and we would need to do it justice. After some language coaching from my mom, I think the second attempt at the song was less futile. The other tracks on the album include my original compositions. One of them will also be a single in the coming months and I hope it can become something special to even a few people out there.

As the CD is almost out, we are already brainstorming for the first music video. Actually, we've done a bit more than just brainstorming. We already have a concept (which, I might mention, was partly conceptualized by me!) and now we just have to follow the steps. We are currently looking for a location to shoot and a certain someone to play my love interest. I just met with the production team this week and it was great to see that they are as excited as I am. We all want to do something different and at the same time simple, without forgetting to be evocative. If all goes according to plan, we'll be shooting the video two weeks from now. I have no idea what to expect since it will be my first video, but it goes without saying, I am so looking forward to it.

I won't try to deny it--it's a very exciting time! Practically no one knows about this blog yet, but I'll be spreading the word soon. If you are reading this, feel free to comment. I'd love to know what people make of this.

What Shouldn't Be

2007-05-09T04:21:00.000+08:00

this entry is not going to be related to music in any way. now that i have invented such an outlet to express my emotions at any given time, i guess i will take advantage of it. i just want to say this: the green-eyed monster is an ugly thing and i totally think it is unnecessary. but every now and then, it does visit me. it just knocks at my door and i let the bugger in. (i just became british for a second.) jealousy is the most hideous sickness in the world and i wish i could be immune to it.

i suppose everyone has their insecurities, or atleast the desire to be like someone else, or the involuntary attempt to compete with them. do you know what makes me insecure? well, a lot of things. and i never try to let anyone see that because i need everyone to know that i am completely confident in my own skin. the truth is a lot of things terrify and intimidate me. i considered delving into the details just now, but i’ve decided against it. writing it down (or typing it here) would just make those insecurities more real, then i wouldn’t be able to lie to myself and say “nothing intimidates me”. so, no. i’ll keep them to myself.

hmmm. this blog thing is never going to work out if i keep this DTA attitude. oh well i guess i’ll just write about music next time. or i could give myself more time to learn to open up. i’m a clam! i’m a clam! suddenly i am craving for some clam chowder soup.

well...a better post next time. (a more normal one too.) i am still tired from tonight's gig and i just had to check my friendster, hence the attack of the green-eyed monster. (sigh.) i gotta delete my friendster account.

Chapter 1

2007-04-29T15:07:00.000+08:00

So this is the beginning of the rest of my life. Actually my “Chapter 1” started long ago and other chapters have since then filled the time between then and now. But I suppose this part of my life is just a little too unique to be included in the same book. So allow me to tell you my story thus far. Or atleast the single most prevailing aspect of that story.

They say I have been singing ever since I was a baby. I hummed a tune before I even learned to talk. I guess it wasn’t much of a surprise because both my parents were (actually they still are) professional singers. My exposure to music was almost a nonstop process. My dad’s the rocker and my mom’s the jazzer. What a combination huh?

When my parents saw my interest in singing, they neither pushed it nor discouraged it. Relatives asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I gave them answers such as: doctor (until somebody told me at the age of five that I would have to work with a lot of blood), bus driver (because my school bus driver in the second grade was so friendly and she seemed to love her job), archaeologist (because it sounded so mature for a nine-year-old to say—I didn’t even know what it meant at the time), and at some point I also wanted to be a teacher (one of the most important jobs in the world).

On the other hand there was always singing. I would sing karaoke every weekend at the bar where my dad worked, until my parents decided to run their own restaurant. Then I would sing karaoke there every weekend. I guess some people thought I could sing because local producers asked me to be the front act for several Filipino singers touring in the DC metro area. They were awesome experiences but it was clear I still had much improving to do. I then recorded my first album with James Levy, a genius of a musician and former bandmate of my mom. Another awesome experience but still I thought I could have done better.

Fast-forward to 2007 and here I am in the Philippines, my home country, recording my second album. This time, it is an attempt to national success rather than regional buzz. At this point, I’ve added more shows to my singing resumé. And (I surely hope) I have improved since my days as the “teen singing sensation” as someone had dubbed me in the Filipino community of DC. All along I have always wanted to be some great singer, and now, I’m being given a really good chance.

I’m starting this blog to chronicle my journey as an aspiring artist. My first album in the Philippines is set to be out within the next couple of months. If you’re tuning in as early as now, I hope you can be a witness to something great for me this year. So join me for the ride.