Pinay trio in Emirates' 'Global Harmony' campaign

Curtain-raisers:

• “I knew that it wouldn’t last,” said Lolit Solis when asked if it’s true that her ward Pauleen Luna (photo) has broken up or is into a “cooling-off” period with Eat, Bulaga! co-host Vic Sotto (photo) after going steady for only a few months (although Vic has never confirmed it and Pauleen only hinted at it). “The age difference between them is too much,” added Lolit who noted that Pauleen’s first stint in Eat, Bulaga! was when she competed in the show’s Little Miss Philippines search. “Vic is older than Pauleen’s father,” added Lolit, “at siempre, si Pauleen naman is a bit spoiled. Bata pa nga kasi, eh.” But Lolit can be wrong. There are May-December romances that work. Name one? Zsa Zsa Padilla and Dolphy!

• 1968 Bb. Pilipinas-International Nini Ramos-Licaros on the reported break-up of her niece 2009 Bb. Pilipinas-Universe Bianca Manalo (photo) with John Prats (photo, tagged as “Ang Munting Playboy”): “I have no idea what caused the break-up. Tita is the last to know. Bianca cannot say that I did not caution her against having a relationship with a fellow showbiz personality. I told her that it could hurt her and reminded her that showbiz is a totally different world.” Now, did you know that John has a fondness not only for girls who tower over him but also for beauty queens? Former Miss Earth Karla Henry (a Cebuana) was his “ex.”

• With Chris Botti in his concert in Manila on June 19 is Grammy awardee Jazz Diva Lisa Fischer. Lisa is one of the vocalists on Jose Mari Chan’s (photo) landmark OPM CD The Manhattan Connection (The Song of Jose Mari Chan). She sings the love song Love Lost. The CD, produced by Janis Siegel of the famous quartet The Manhattan Transfer, is available in all record stores and can be downloaded at myMusicstore.com.ph.

• Filipina-Kiwi (or Kiwi-pino) actress Janna Cachola (photo) plays the lead role in Bad Romance, a New Zealand film by Aoraki Brothers Production produced by Aaron Richardson and directed by Tim Small (who also directed Janna in the TV show Southern Upload that airs on Cue TV in New Zealand this month). The niece of the late Sampaguita actress Juvy Cachola and beauty-queen/TV-host Jean Altavas, Janna, 22, is also a make-up artist, stunt-actor and a model signed up with NZ agency Ali McD since 2011.

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Yes, music as a universal language has no borders, that’s why it has the power to unite people from different countries and cultures.

For this reason, the Dubai-based Emirates has just launched its Global Harmony campaign via videos highlighting singers and musicians from around the world performing the theme song of Harmony in different cultural styles and interpretations.

Representing the Philippines in the campaign is the trio Baihana who arranged and breathtakingly performed the Emirates theme song as pure vocals in stark contrast to the musical instruments that other countries are known for.

Gigie Baroa, Emirates Philippines country manager, noted that with Baihana’s exceptional vocal prowess, outstanding showmanship, charming wit and enchanting choral harmonies, the group is a living testament to the reputation of Filipinos as world-class artists.

Managed by The Thirdline Inc., Baihana (Cebuano word for woman) is composed of Krina Cayabyab, Mel Torre and Anna Achacoso whose musical influences are the Andrew Sisters, the Chordettes, and many other famous 1950s and 1960s jazz vocal groups.

The girls come from musical families: Krina, the creative force behind the trio, is the daughter of Ryan Cayabyab; funny girl Mel is the cornerstone of Baihana’s intricate vocal harmonies; and cute and witty Anna is the granddaughter of Armida “Tita Midz” Siguion-Reyna.

(Note: To see Baihana’s video, go to http://www.emiratesharmony.com and click on the “View Gallery” section [alternatively, you can view it on YouTube, simply go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHRvqR-nAQY ].)

Emirates, which recently launched its new global brand platform Hello Tomorrow, hopes that through Harmony, it will be able to strike a chord with music fans around its network by asking them to help create the ultimate musical mash-up.

The airline’s Harmony campaign invites participants to interact with a specially-commissioned musical composition, which has been recorded by professional musicians playing traditional instruments from around the world, such as the harp, Taiko drum, bass guitar, saxophone, Shekere, Oudht and Indian Flute.

“Emirates connects over 120 destinations around the world, each with its own distinct cultural traditions that are constantly being reshaped and re-interpreted as new ideas and influences come into play,” said Maurice Flanagan, executive vice chairman of Emirates Airline & Group. “As the bridge between these destinations, Emirates is perfectly placed to bring ideas together; and the goal of our Harmony campaign is to achieve this through music.” 

2012 Miss World Philippines bets

Miss World Philippines franchise-holder Cory Quirino and TV5 presented to the media this year’s 25 official candidates at the Centennial Hall of Manila Hotel last Thursday, June 7.

They are: Kay D. Wigand (Puerto Galera, Mindoro), Vanessa Claudine M. Ammann (Lapu-Lapu, Cebu City), Rosheila P. Tungol (Angeles City, Pampanga), Mariz R. Ong (Echague, Isabela), Carla Jenina C. Lizardo (Pasig City), Paula Rich D. Bartolome (Sta. Cruz, Laguna), Maria Teresita G. Baccay (Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija), Maham M. Ahmed (San Carlos City, Pangasinan), Rizzini Alexis C. Gomez (Cordova City, Cebu), Larah Grace P. Lacap (Quezon City), Vania Valiry A. Vispo (Pasig City), Paulina Eliseeff (Quezon City), Mary Anne Ross C. Misa (Parañaque City), Mariver D. Ocampo (Paombong, Bulacan), Daphnne Tania L. Molinaar (Bacolod City), Brenna Cassandra S. Gamboa (Laurel, Batangas), April Love A. Jordan (Manila), Rufaida Babudin (Palawan), Marie Loraine Dione D. de Guzman (Manila), Kaye Michelle D. Agnes (Sorsogon), Fer Mary S. Baliquig (Tagbilaran, Bohol), Queeneerich A. Rehman (Las Piñas City), Lara Lee O. Sarino, (Negros Occidental), Natacha Kristel A. Peugniez (Muntinlupa City) and Ma. Danna U. Javier (Malabon City) who replaced TV5 contract star Arci Muñoz.

Also present at the event were 2011 title-holder (and Miss World first runner-up) Gwendoline Ruais and Laguna Gov. ER Ejercito who signed the memorandum of agreement with Cory Quirino, declaring Laguna as the official tourist destination of Miss World Philippines 2012. — Reported by Funfare’s ‘other beauty expert’ CELSO DE GUZMAN CAPARAS

Anna Maria is Best Featured Actress

Former Disney artist Anna Maria Perez de Tagle was voted Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Godspell at the 10th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards, with Godspell as Best Revival of a Musical. The largest and most popular online Broadway polling event of its kind, it shattered previous site records by more than double as hundreds of thousands of theatergoers cast their votes. Anna Maria was featured in Funfare Tuesday (June 5) last week. — Reported by Funfare‘s Big Apple correspondent EDMUND SILVESTRE

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos visit http://www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on www.twitter/therealrickylo.)