My Oscars reports

This past awards season I covered the three major awards: The Emmys, the Golden Globes, and the Oscars.

I was the first Filipina TV reporter to cover all three in one year so it's been a humbling and pinch-me-please-unbelievable experience.

I grew up in a small barrio in Batangas where I had to beg neighbors to open their window so I can watch with them when Hollywood awards aired. While at the Emmys and the Globes interviewing big stars, I had an "Am I really here?"moment of panic. I had to get over it quickly because stars were coming and I had a job to do.

People only see the glamourous side of it, but covering an awards show, especially these big ones, involves a lot of painstaking hard work and preparation behind the scenes. But it is fun, I'm not gonna lie.

ABS-CBN.com doesn't allow video embedding so please go to these links to watch my report on Fil-Am producers whose short film won an Oscar, plus Fil-Am nominees Matthew Libatique and Hailee Steinfeld:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/entertainment/02/28/11/fil-ams-sweep-oscars-best-short-film

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/entertainment/02/28/11/shell-be-oscars-one-day-pinay-winners-dad


And here's the report I did for Balitang America. Go to the beginning part of this video to see my report. It's weirdly set at the end:

(Photo credit: Benjie Uy)

Daughter of Filipino OFWs Wins Goldin Hollywood

By Yong B. Chavez

"K. O. T. S. Kim Owns The Stage." That's what Kim Molina says to herself over and over again to conquer her stage fright before she sings. Last week in Hollywood, she did own the stage. The 18-year-old music student was World Championships of Performing Arts senior vocals gold champion. The annual competition attracts talents all over the world each year. Performers compete all week in elimination rounds as the best contestants move on to the finals.

The daughter of Saudi Arabia overseas foreign workers (OFWs) took the grand prize in her category by singing "New York, New York," a song she learned only a week before her performance.

"I don't even know the lyrics to the whole song. I just learned one minute of it," she says.

She was the lone contestant from Saudi Arabia, although the Philippine team fielded 20 contestants. In the end, Filipino singers got 25 golds in different categories. Rhap Salazar was the biggest winner, taking home the Junior Grand Champion Performer of the World prize.

Molina's voice has attracted talent scouts and has people calling her the next Charice Pempengco.

"Parang I'm still floating actually, I don't know what's happening now but I'm really thankful to God for everything, for all the blessings. Just really thankful," Molina says.

She almost didn't make it to the competition because the trip to the U.S. was expensive. But through the support of OFWs in the Middle East where she sang at fundraising shows prior to her departure, she was able to go.

Watch TFC's "Balitang America" tonight for my full story on Kim's victory.

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle:"Fame" Star is a Proud Filipino

By Yong B. Chavez
www.FilipinOnline.com Exclusive

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is the lissome and winsome "Hannah Montana" and now, "Fame" star. The remake of the popular '80s movie is getting some serious Hollywood buzz so it's becoming more evident that when "Fame" comes out in September, her star will shine even brighter.

But no matter how successful she gets, those who know Anna Maria say she won't be a big-star-with-big-ego Hollywood cliche.

"I'm really lucky with her. Even the mom of the Jonas Brothers tuwang-tuwa sa kanya because she's really nice," her mom, Evelyn, says.



And if you think she is pretty onscreen, you'll be knocked out by her delicate beauty in person.

On a recent set visit for the Balitang America story (above), she was all decked out in her character's clothes. She plays Joy Moy, an outgoing, aspiring performer in the movie.

"I'm actually very different from Joy. She's very out there and I'm more reserved. It's cool to play someone who's the opposite of myself just because it's fun," Anna Maria says. She adds that she has no clue how she gets the confidence to play characters that are miles away from her personality. The 18-year-old talent is a bit shy in person.

"I go onstage or in front of the camera and something in me just snaps and I become a different person," she says with a big smile.

She remembers that she shares something with her "Fame" character.

"We both had to leave (regular) school because of our careers," she says.

Anna Maria was home schooled starting in the 10th grade and finished high school last September. "I'd like to go to college one day, too," she says.

She loves her plum role in "Fame" but Anna Maria's Hollywood dream is "to be in an action movie. Kind of like 'Charlie's Angels', Lucy Liu-kind of thing."

Later this year, she will reunite with the Jonas Brothers in "Camp Rock 2".

"They're like my brothers, we're constantly texting all the time. It's great to collaborate with people like them and Miley (Cyrus, "Hannah Montana" herself), too," she says. "I think they're amazing."

They must be saying the same thing about her.

Filipina Cristeta Comerford Might Retain Presidential Chef Post

There's a good chance Pinoy-flavored food will stay in the Obama White House menu.

Though change is coming in the White House this January, there's one area where Obama's new administration isn't likely to change, reports say.

Walter Scheib, White House executive chef for Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, says in an AP interview that "there's a 90 percent chance the new administration will stick with his successor, Cristeta Comerford."

Though the job is high-profile, the work of a White House executive chef isn't fit for someone wanting a celebrity status. Being sensitive and understanding is just as important as culinary skills, given that the chef is among the few people who interact with the first family in private, former White House chefs say.

Comerford, the first woman and first minority to serve as executive chef in the White House, gets high praise in those areas.

Below is an article I wrote about Comerford back in 2005.

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First Lady Head Chef In The White House is Filipina

By Yong B. Chavez

When Cristeta Comerford comes back to work from her vacation by the month’s end, she will have a full plate in front of her as she assumes her new responsibilities as the White House executive chef at that time.

Mrs. Laura Bush announced Sunday that Comerford, whom the First Lady calls by her nickname “Cris”, has been given the executive kitchen’s top post.
A Food Technology graduate of the University of the Philippines, the 42-year-old wife and mother is the first woman to get the job.

"I am delighted that Cris Comerford has accepted the position of White House executive chef," Mrs. Bush said in her press statement. "Her passion for cooking can be tasted in every bite of her delicious creations."

Comerford will be in charge of designing and executing menus for state dinners, social events, holiday functions, receptions and official luncheons hosted by President and Mrs. Bush.

The first lady top chef of the White House is trained in French classical techniques and specializes in ethnic and American cuisine. She has helped develop menus for previous special White House events including a state dinner in honor President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Susan Whitson, the First Lady’s press secretary, said that Mrs. Bush was very happy with Comerford’s work in her capacity as the White House assistant chef for the past 10 years.

“She is very pleased with Cris,” Whitson said.

It took six months for the position to be filled because the First Lady wanted to make sure that the person who would replace former executive chef Walter Scheib III would be the best that they could get, Whitson added.

The search for the presidential chief chef was headed by White House social secretary Lea Berman and head usher Gary Walters.

Walters has been quoted in reports as saying that the White House executive chef is paid in the general range of $80,000 and $100,000 a year. Although it is a sizable amount, famous chefs in America get so much more than that, but the high-profile job still attracted a lot of applicants hungry for the chance to rule the president's kitchen.

“They went through hundreds of applicants, and after thoughtful consideration, they went with Cris,” Whitson said. The fact that she is a woman is a bonus, but in the end, she was chosen because she was “the best qualified”, Whitson said.

The new White House top chef, a naturalized U.S.citizen who was born in the Philippines, lives in the Washington D.C. area with her family.

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About the photo:Chef Cristeta "Cris" Comerford prepares a meal inside the White House kitchen in this July 17, 2002 photo. White House Photo by Tina Hager

NURSING A DESIRE TO HELP

Filipina Nurse Heads a Charitable Group of Health Professionals

By Yong B. Chavez
FilipinOnline.com

Las Vegas resident Nenita Rattanopas is a mother of two, a registered nurse, a dreamer, and a big-hearted Filipina.

She leads From The Heart Charitable Group, a nurse-organized organization, in its mission to "serve the community and/or people from other countries by coordinating acts of charity or volunteer work from individuals or groups."

Theirs is a small yet steadily growing organization that has big philanthropic plans.

They recently lent a helping hand to a 6 month-old Filipino child named Mikayla Faye Kaiama who needed a liver transplant. The group has also raised funds for the American Cancer Society.

To help more people, this October 11, they will hold their annual charity ball at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. [To donate, visit their website From The Heart Charitable Group, or contact Nenita at nenita_r@fromtheheartcharity.org.]

In this Q&A with FilipinOnline, this admirable Pinay reveals more about their group and their plans.

FilipinOnline: Tell me all about your organization.

Nenita Rattanopas: From The Heart Charitable Group is composed of a multicultural group of healthcare professionals whose vision is to become a premier nurse-organized and nonprofit charitable group supporting other established organizations or individuals to improve quality of life and alleviate suffering. We carry out this mission through fundraising activities, volunteer work or medical missions.

What is your motivation in starting this organization?
In my line of work, I‘ve seen so much pain and suffering. I want to make a positive difference and help improve people’s quality of life.

What are the challenges you've encountered since starting the organization?
Our biggest challenge, of course, is raising the money needed to carry out our mission. We are spending our own money for the most part. We are a “young group” with no prior experience about fundraising, but we are all learning together. Our common and primary goal is to help others who genuinely need help.

What are your dreams for the organization?
My dream for this organization is to eventually get all of the healthcare professionals in Southern Nevada, especially nurses, involved in working, donating or volunteering for a good cause. We plan to do four small projects and one huge event each year.

Tell me about the charity ball. Who will it benefit?
Our 2nd annual charity ball event will be on Oct 11, 2008 from 7 PM to 11 PM at the Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Tickets cost $95 per person that includes a nice dinner, entertainment, fashion show with cancer survivors as models, and dancing. We are expecting 250 guests and proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

Would you like to make an appeal to our kababayans to help?
To our kababayans, let’s get involved. We are lucky to have stable jobs. Let us give back to our community, let us help the “not-so-lucky ones” and let us make this world a better place for our children and our children’s children.

Charice Pempengco on "Oprah"

Charice Pempengco has been wowing people all over the world, but the icing on her incredible story must be her appearance yesterday in "Oprah".

Born in San Pedro, Laguna 16 years ago to a loving mother, and as shown in the clip, an abusive father, Charice's Cinderella life is just getting better and better.

After her duet with Andrea Bocelli in Italy, she will match vocal talents with her ultimate idol, Celine Dion, this month at the Madison Square Garden in New York. This last piece of good news, delivered by Celine herself, made the young Pinay (and Oprah!) cry.

If the YouTube clip doesn't work, here's the link to her website where you can view Charice's Oprah performance & interview.

[Thanks to reader Jon dela Cruz for the YouTube link.]

NATALIE COUGHLIN:Filipino American, Champion Olympian

Originally from Concord, California, she started swimming when she was just a few months old. In the last two summer Olympics (Athens and Beijing), she won in every event she competed in, stashing a total of 11 medals.

She is Natalie Coughlin, and yes, the gorgeous, awesome swimmer is also Pinay/Irish American.

In Beijing, she became the first American female athlete in modern Olympic history to win six medals in one Olympics and the first woman ever to win a 100 m backstroke gold in two consecutive Olympics.

"I'm gonna take a long break away from the water for about a year," she says after her triumphant stint in Beijing. "I'd love to do a dance class, just for fun."

Here's a clip of her:



If you missed her recent appearance on Jay Leno's show, here's a link .

Here's an article about Natalie written by Dr. Ludy Ongkeko. "Her parents are Zennie and Jim Coughlin. Natalie has professed how she loves Filipino food and named ‘halo-halo’ and adobo as stand-outs, underscoring her grandmother’s chicken adobo," says the article.



[Picture - that's Natalie in the middle - from olympicgames2008medaltally.blogspot.com]

Fantastic Filipina: MARISA DE LOS SANTOS, Best-selling Author

When her first novel "Love Walked In" was published, Marisa de los Santos hit the literary jackpot - it became a New York Times bestseller.

Since then, it has resided in many other bestseller lists and has been translated into more than 14 languages. The film rights was optioned by Paramount Pictures.

The author did a reading in Historic Filipinotown in Los Angeles to promote her latest book, "Belong To Me".

Incredibly poised and gracious about her success, she is what every young writer, Filipina or not, should dream of becoming.

Both her books have become bestsellers - a lovely phenomenon that surprised Marisa.

"It's been a great surprise…I wasn't a fiction writer at all so I wrote the novel for the pure challenge…Once it got rolling, my biggest hope was to be able to write for a living, which I've been able to do. It's a huge privilege," she says.

Before becoming a full-time writer, she was a college professor. She is also an award-winning poet.

"My dad is really happy for me to be finally making money from my writing," she adds with a laugh. Marisa grew up in Baltimore and Virginia.

Marisa's father, a general surgeon in the U.S., hails from Cebu. Her mother, who's Caucasian, was a nurse. The de los Santoses are now based in Cebu.

The author's next book is partly about the Philippines and will feature some Filipino characters.

But whatever ethnic backgrounds her characters have, in Marisa's mighty pen, they are always interesting. Her two books are filled with people who are both familiar and unique, with situations that are heartbreaking and heart-lifting.

"Love Walked In" and "Belong To Me" deal with the issue of what makes a family. Entertaining, intelligent and warm-hearted, both books are hard to put down once you get going.

As a bonus for us Pinoys, the books' main male character is a Filipino fleshed out in the best possible light: impossibly handsome, strong and kind, and cooks pansit really well!

For aspiring writers, Marisa has this advice:

"When you're writing, don't think about the fiction market. Don't think about getting an agent…Be true to your story, your characters. Write the book you want to write."

A busier schedule notwithstanding, Marisa's priorities remain the same. Her family comes first, she says. Marisa is married to a fellow writer and they have two kids.

She does her promo duties but tries to make out-of-town trips as short as possible.

"My children love it when they see their mom's pictures when we go to bookstores," she says with a laugh.