Keanna Reeves: No. 74 Most Beautiful Filipina

Keanna Reeves (born Janet Derecho, 1970) is a Filipina starlet who first gained national attention and notoreity in the Philippines for exposing a private escort girl service in December 2004, and confessing that lawmakers were among her clients. The expose allowed her to make headway into show business. Her stage name is obviously derived from Keanu Reeves’ name. She won in the reality show Pinoy Big Brother celebrity edition and became one of ABS CBN’s hottest property. Read more about Keanna here.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe Split Up

7-years married couple Reese Witherspoon (Legally Blonde, Walk the Line) and Ryan Phillippe (Crash, Flags of our Fathers) have decided to formally separate, their representatives said on Monday.

Witherspoon, 30, and Phillippe, 32, reportedly met at her 21st birthday party before working together on the 1999 film “Cruel Intentions.” They married in June of that year and have two children, 7-year-old daughter Ava and 3-year-old son Deacon.

The publicists, however, didn’t mention any reason for the split.

Michelle Stays, Iya Leaves Pinoy Dream Academy

What’s wrong with this photo? Michelle is staying and Iya is leaving. How come? Everyone knows Iya is the better singer than Michelle. And how come, Michelle wasn’t in the bottom 3 last Saturday night? Instead it was Ronnie who received the lowest grade and Chai (the top 1 in the midterm exams) who are nominated in the Probationary night together with Rosita and Eman.

First, the ouster of Iya wasn’t a surprise at all. The episode when she didn’t wake up her co-scholars in time for the fitness class really affected her image. That episode stirred emotions from viewers branding her as a “traitor”. The result, most of the female scholars didn’t vote for her.  

Michelle, on the other hand, must thank her oozing charisma that overshadowed her performance. But in my opinion, although she improved a lot since the beginning of the show, her performance last Saturday is still at the bottom level compared with Ronnie, Rosita, Chai and even Eman’s performance.

One more thing. Chad was also in my bottom list because his performance last Saturday night was really terrible. Thanks for director Joey Reyes, hindi lang pala ako ang nakapansin nun. Ang daming flats and sharps and pitch problems sa rendition ni Chad ng Bed of Roses. He was virtually all over the place. Miles below his best performance of Freddie Aguilar’s Anak last week. And yet, Chad wasn’t nominated. That’s weird. That’s really weird.

 

Philippine Idol Final 9 Performances on Youtube

Sorry guys, medyo na-late ang pag-upload ko ng performance video ng Final 9 Philippine Idol contestants. But better late than never right? Anyway, if you want to review what happened last Sunday night, here are the links for each of them. And my little take na rin on why Gian, Mau and Pow were no longer in the bottom 3 or bottom 4 for that matter. And why Jeli and Arms were eliminated…

:: Apple Chiu - Someone to Watch Over Me ::

Apple is one of the bottom 4 last night. I have to agree. Her performance is a little boring. I guess it’s the choice of song. The melody of “Someone to Watch Over Me” makes me zzzzzzzzzzz. But of course, Apple has strong vocals and a pleasing personality that saved her from getting eliminated.  

:: Arms Cruz - If I Believed ::

Many believed the elimination of Arms last night is caused by her uncareful statement last week urging the public to be “wise voters.” Maraming nag-react saying “does it mean na pag binoto siya wise voter na?” Maybe it hurt her chances a little bit but for me, i say Arms’ style of attack in every song that she sings is consistent…consistently boring! She has a powerful voice, i know, but the “angry style” is too much for me. Every week it’s just the same. She is a good singer but every good singer has to change style once in a while para di nakakasawang pakinggan. That’s why Madonna always shine year after year because she always reinvent herself….and she’s not a good singer compared to Arms.

:: Ken Dingle - Get Here ::

Ryan C said parang tinamaan daw ng kidlat ang mga Ken haters dahil sa ganda ng performance niya. Hindi naman siguro kidlat, ambon lang siguro. Definitely Ken’s best performance but it’s not flawless. Hindi malinis ang rendition niya specially in the birit parts and kulot parts. Plus add the fact na di ko pa rin makalimutan yung pagkalimot niya ng lyrics last week. I still think he should have been (at least) in the bottom 4 last night.

:: Pow Chavez - For Once in My Life ::

Despite what Mr. C said, i still like the performance. Although medyo “sayad” sa simula and Pow’s weakness is the low range, nabawi naman niya from the middle to the end. And for me, i feel the song was indeed one of the  highlights of her life.

:: Jan Nieto - Kailangan Kita :: 

A great song choice for Jan. The beginning was excellent but as he proceed to the climax of the song, his voice turned a little shaky. A pitch flaw was obvious at the end, maybe it’s the nerves. It was ok but it’s not perfect. But he looks great that night. He deserves points for the appearance.

:: Mau Marcelo - I Will Always Love You ::

I already posted the video and my comments about Mau’s performance. What can i say? It’s my favorite for the night!

:: Gian Magdangal - Superstar ::

Gian is a kind of performer na mahirap pag-sawaan. His strength is that he could easily connect to his audience. I don’t care if he’s singing theatrical or pop, rock or ballad, for me he can sing anything. He’s a shoo-in for the title! 

:: Jeli Mateo - You Don’t Know Me ::

Jeli shows the real her in her rendition of You Don’t Know Me. Inipon niya talaga yung best niya for this performance only to find out that it will serve as her farewell song. At least, it was a good farewell performance.

:: Miguel Mendoza - Sandra ::

Miguel pulled another surprise last Sunday night. Playing the piano in the beginning of his emotional song for his mom was really something. It made an impact even to Mr. C who told him he should concentrate na lang on his studies last week, but that night binawi ni Mr. C yung sinabi niya saying Miguel can do both Philippine Idol and high school.

Mau Marcelo - I Will Always Love You

The first 5 seconds of Mau onstage, “captured” na niya agad ang audience. She started a capella. When she dropped her overcoat, the energy level increased. And when she arrived in the “birit” part, the intensity of her performance also increased leaving the audience wowed and compeled Luke Mejares to a standing ovation.

Mamita and Mr. C’s comments on her costume delivered some comic relief. Mamita said she expected that when Mau opened her big overcoat she’d be in a bikini. Ryan Cayabyab said Mau’s costume was in time for the halloween kasi mukhang “mangkukulam”. I was laughing so hard and awed at the same time. Please vote for Mau!

Philippine Idol - Final 9 Performance Night

Tonight it’s ”Song of My Life” night in Philippine Idol where the final 9 contestants performed songs that best convey their life story in the past or in the present. Fresh from the hard-hitting comments of Mr. C last week, the contestants were noticeably better this week. Some have improved a lot and a couple of them delivered hot performances that finally our “sizzling hot” category has names in it. And for the first time, our bottom list is empty. So here goes:

SIZZLING HOT

• Mau Marcelo - I Will Always Love You
• Gian Magdangal - Superstar

HOT

• Pow Chavez - For Once in My Life
• Apple Chiu - Someone to Watch Over Me
• Arms Cruz - If I Believe

WARM

• Jeli Mateo - You Don’t Know Me
• Miguel Mendoza - Sandra
• Jan Nieto - Kailangan Kita
• Ken Dingle - Get Here

WARMING UP

(Seems everyone have warmed up tonight. Thanks to Mr. C’s hard-hitting “tira” last week the contestants showed improvements and hard work) 

The guest judge tonight is former South Border vocalist turned solo artist Luke Mejares. Luke’s choice was Mau, Apple and Gian.

There’s also a new rule in voting. The 24 hours voting period from the performance night to the results night were shortened to 2 hours, starting at the end of the show, approximately 10:30 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. The 2-hour voting period was patterned from American Idol. I think it’s cool and i hope it will solve the ”unwise voting” dilemma.  

Maraming Na-Offend sa Comments nina Arms at Mau sa Philippine Idol

Arms said last week, “Vote wisely. Matuto na tayo, please!!!”

Mau said last week, “Mahirap maging mahirap sa labang ito.”

Strong words from 2 tackless bestfriends Arms and Mau stirred mixed reactions from their fellow contestants and their supporters. Ano nga ba ang ibig nilang sabihin sa kanilang mga comments? Anyway, anuman iyon, nag-apologize naman sila sa mga taong na-offend. Marahil ay nadala lamang sila ng kanilang emosyon.

Pinoy Dream Academy - Performance Night

Due to bandwidth limitations, i will embed here the 3 performances in Pinoy Dream Academy 7th Expulsion night which i think deserve to receive the highest grades. I will just post the links for the rest of the performances.

Just like what i’m doing with Philippine Idol, we will measure tonight’s performances according to 4 “hotness” levels: sizzling hot, hot, warm and warming up. So here’s my take…

>>> SIZZLING HOT <<<

:: Jay-R Siaboc - Banal na Aso ::
Jay R’s “electrifying” stage presence and charisma sold this performance. A total package like Jay-R, just a little voice and diction lessons pwede mo nang i-market. This 19 year-old rocker has a lot of promise that could lead him as one of the contenders for the title.

:: Ronnie Liang - Paglisan ::

Not his best performance but still enough to get him the top 3 spot. A balladeer with a rich voice, his rendition of Paglisan is miles better than Jeli’s rendition in Philippine Idol last Saturday. Vocal-wise, mas lamang siya kay Jay R but stage presence is Jay-R’s thing na dapat pag-butihin ni Ronnie to win the competition. Another contender for the title.

:: Joan Ilagan - One Sweet Day ::

I’m choosing between Joan and Rosita for the 3rd spot in our Sizzling Hot category and decided to give the slot to Joan. The audience choice tonight, if there was one, is definitely Rosita for her “Total Eclipse of the Heart” performance. But a lot of diction problems prompted me to choose Joan over her who nevertheless delivered a nice rendition of One Sweet Day. It was a very difficult song choice but still Joan sang it nice and clean. You can tell that she’s putting a lot of effort in everything she does.

>>> HOT <<<

Rosita Bareng - Total Eclipse of the Heart
Yvan Lambatan - Say You’ll Never Go
Eman Abatayo - Sometimes a Fantasy
Yeng Constantino

>>> WARM <<<

Irish Fullerton - Somewhere
Chai Fonacier - Baliw
Panky Trinidad - Bring Me To Life
Davey Langit - Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang
Iya Ginez

>>> WARMING UP <<<

Chad Peralta - Bed of Roses
Michelle Bond - Love Moves in Mysterious Ways

In my opinion, the scholars are on equal footing. Kaunti lang ang agwat nila sa bawat isa as far as talent is concerned. And this is a good thing because it’s still anyone’s ball game. The excitement and unpredictability, two of the best ingredients for a reality talent search show, are still there. Unlike with Philippine Idol, theirs is a mixture of good and bad talents. At this stage, you can pin point already who are the best and the worst. And the bad thing with Philippine Idol, the best are the ones being eliminated and the the votes are becoming predictable as the show goes on.

Back with PDA, I’m just wondering how Michelle escaped the “automatic expulsion” (supposed to be a trap for her) last night. If she’s not in the bottom 3 then who gets the lowest grades according to the judges? We shall find out tomorrow.

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