Curtain-raisers:
• Is broadcast journalist Korea Denmark really moving from a family-oriented network to another network (which is very aggressive in its “recruitment” drive) where her husband will soon assume the position as head of the News & Public Affairs? Well, almost but not quite. You see, there’s indeed some truth to the “blind items” that KD was planning to, so to speak, jump ship. In fact, it was already a done deal. KD described her decision as a career move as she would have undergone changes in her look and language to fit the image of her new home — until she changed her mind.
KD won’t be leaving her primetime newscast and afternoon radio show in her present home. Why? “She found out that her new ‘ship’ is still part of the ‘family’,” according to Funfare DPA Karachi China. Hmmm, it goes to show that Karen Davila...oops!...Korea Denmark pala is a loyal “family” member after all. KD will anchor a new morning news show on ANC (Skycable Channel 21) starting Feb. 15. The yet untitled news program will take over the weekday 8 a.m. timeslot. It’s KD’s first show on the 24/7 English news channel of ABS-CBN.
We will get to see a different KD this time. This makes her one of the busiest and most visible broadcast journalists in the country as she also has Pasada Sais Trenta on dzMM Radyo Patrol 630 in the afternoon, TV Patrol World and The Correspondents on ABS-CBN.
• Krista Ranillo is flying to the States tomorrow night on PAL PR 102, giving as alibi that she’s visiting her younger sister who might undergo (or has undergone?) another surgery to check her lips. Is it all coincidence that Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao also left for the States only a few days ago? As you must have noticed, Krista’s life has been a series of “coincidences” these past few months. Now, if Krista comes, can Pacman’s wife Jinkee Pacquiao be far behind? Said Funfare’s Darling Rose, “Susunod si Jinkee kay Manny...anytime now! If Manny is ready to face either Clottey or Mayweather in the ring, nakahanda na ring harapin ni Jinkee si Krista in any ring.” Wow, interesting days ahead!
• A bold starlet has come out in the open about her pregnancy without naming the would-be father but only hinting that he’s a rich businessman. After some sleuthing, Funfare DPA “DR” found out that the guy is the father of the love child of a beauty-queen-actress who is now happily married. “He’s a responsible man,” added “DR.” “He’s a good provider for his love child.” No wonder the would-be starlet-mother is resting, assured that she’s in safe hands.
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Also featured on the concerts are Boyce Avenue and Jabbawockeez.
A backgrounder on Kris courtesy of Fearless Productions:
When he was seven years old, Kris listened to a cassette of Michael Jackson’s Dangerous and his life changed forever.
“I’d be alone in my room and I would sing and dance and try different hats on. I’d stand in front of the mirror and try to moonwalk, but it just didn’t work. One night my dad walked in and caught me. I stopped in my tracks but he thought it was hilarious.”
Despite that embarrassing moment, Kris’ parents, Neil and Kimberly, were always supportive of their son’s interest in music and never once suggested that he consider any other career than the one he was most interested in. Neil was a musician himself; he played guitar and sang lead vocals for a rock band called Maxxzoid. He also had a record collection and Kris enjoyed listening to his dad’s albums, especially artists like Garth Brooks, Journey, Queen and Foreigner.
When Kris was born on June 21, 1985, his dad gave up his music career and went to work at a car dealership to support his family. Kris’ talent was apparent as early as the fourth grade, when he learned to play the viola and joined the school orchestra.
“I tried to be cool and play baseball. Playing viola is not the coolest thing in the world. I kept going but stopped right before college.”
By that time, Kris had already picked up another instrument.
“At 13, I was a chubby little kid trying to play the guitar. My brother Daniel would go swimming all summer so I was home alone and no one knew what I was doing all day.”
Kris never took a lesson, so his guitar-playing was entirely self-taught. By the time he enrolled in college, he knew he wanted to play music professionally.
“When I was a freshman I realized I needed to start writing songs.” During his sophomore year, he played his first gig at a local bar.
“It was in downtown Conway and the place was filled because it was the bar’s opening night. It was also their closing night. I don’t think it was our fault, because everyone said we played well. That night is when I got the encouragement to keep going.”
Kris played gigs in nearby Little Rock and Fayetteville and recorded a CD when he left college in the middle of his junior year. He continued to play gigs at night while working as a salesperson at Hibbert Sporting Goods during the day.
Though not an avid television viewer (Kris and his wife Katy don’t own a TV), Kris did see the Season 6 episodes of American Idol when his friend Sean Michel won praise from the judges during his audition.
“It was great to see someone from Arkansas make it to Hollywood.” Living with his parents during Season 7, Kris became hooked on Idol. In July 2008, Kris’ brother Daniel decided to audition in Louisville, Kentucky, and asked Kris and a friend to go with him.
“I didn’t have anything else to do so I was down with that,” says Kris. “We arrived and there were 12,000 people standing there and we were the last ones to sign up. It was intimidating.”
Kris and Daniel survived the first round of judging but only Kris made it to see Simon, Paula, Randy and Kara. Randy was the first to say yes, followed by Simon, then Paula and Kara. Kris and Katy were married that same month and after the honeymoon flew to Hollywood. “I was just hoping to get a little TV time so someone would recognize me and I could start a music career,” says Kris.
Kris made it from Hollywood week to the Top 36 to the Top 12 and survived elimination week after week, heading into the finale with Adam Lambert. When Ryan Seacrest read the name of the winner, after a long pause he said. “Kris Allen.”
Kris’ path to victory included memorable performances of Bill Withers’ Ain’t No Sunshine, Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror and Kanye West’s Heartless. Kris was praised by the judges for his original arrangements of such well-known songs.
“What I do is completely forget about the original version and ask myself how I can play the song when it comes to phrasing, chord structure and emotion. I hear what it’s going to sound like in my head and run with it. Hopefully it’s a way that no one has ever thought of doing it before.”
Since the finale, Kris has had multiple songs appear on the Billboard charts. “That was crazy!” he exclaims. “Four months before that we were all unknown. That first moment I knew I had five songs on the Billboard chart was very cool.” At the same time, his finale song “No Boundaries” was No. 1 on the iTunes chart. Kris found out when a friend sent him a text message. “I had no idea. That was crazy, too!”
Now Kris is ready to travel all over the United States on the American Idols Live summer tour. He’s writing songs and preparing to record his debut album for 19 Recordings/Jive.
It’s been an incredible journey for the 24-year-old who came very close to giving up on having a music career.
“I was going to return to college and get a decent job so my wife and I could have a comfortable life together, which would have been fine. But things worked out a different way, and I’m really happy!”
Robin Tomas winner in NY
Robin, 33, who is based in New York, took the prize at the Supima Design Competition in New York City held last Jan. 19. His winning design will be sold in all Bloomingdale’s stores all over the US. His winning creation capitalized on the tensile strength of lightweight Supima cotton with layers of knit in various tonal shades.
Selected through an arduous contest that began with an open call held at Bloomingdale’s in October, Robin was one of six finalists whose works were featured in a live runway finale show held at the Times Center at the New York Times building in front of judges, representatives from Bloomingdale’s, Parsons School of Design, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. The finalists presented four pieces: Three pieces of women’s evening wear and one men’s T-shirt, all made from Supima cotton. Gina DeSilva, who has her own ready-to-wear label, took home the prize of Best in Show for her evening wear designs.
Robin launched his own collection during Philippine fashion week in Manila last May. Asked about his view on fashion, Robin said, “It is a great mix of entities: fantasy and practical reality; past periods and the uncharted path of what’s to come. I see fashion not just as garment being worn, but attitudes enhanced.”
A graduate of Parsons School of Design, Tomas worked as a men’s wear designer for Gap, Tommy Hilfiger and J. Crew. He interned at Valentino and Anna Sui.
(E-mail reactions at rickylo@philstar.net.ph or at entphilstar@yahoo.com)