Adele soars high with success

Adele

Since making her debut in the late 2000s, Adele has become a household name with her powerful voice, plus size figure and indefatigable spirit that never dipped through the passing of time. Her numerous hits, chart-topping singles and dozens of awards only serve to prove that success comes to those with the talent and determination to win life’s hurdle.

Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born on May 5 1988 to teenager Penny Adkins and Welshman Mark Evans. The father walked away from his family when Adele was only two and her 20-year-old single mother was left alone to raise her. Adele resented what his father did and to this day, she hasn’t forgiven him.

In 2006, Adele graduated from the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology in Croydon. Leona Lewis and Jessie J were among her classmates. Adele considers BRIT School as instrumental in honing her talent. After graduation, Adele successfully had her two songs published in the online arts publication PlatformsMagazine.com. Her song grabbed the attention of by XL label executive Nick Huggett who sent her to Jonathan Dickens of September Management.

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Chris Brown sings his way to superstardom

Chris Brown

At a very young age, Chris Brown (born Christopher Maurice Brown, May 5, 1989), already knew that he wanted to sing and dance. And the boy was pretty talented at it. Today, he is one of the most recognizable performers in the industry, selling millions of albums, appearing on TV and movies and performing in concerts worldwide.

Brown was born in Tappahannock, Virginia, to Joyce Hawkins, a former day care center director, and Clinton Brown, an officer at a local prison. With Michael  Jackson as his inspiration, Brown taught himself to sing and dance. He joined the local church choir, as well as local talent shows, which did him well to nurture his talent and passion for performing.

When he was 13, Brown’s talent was discovered by Hitmission Records, a local production team, who arranged for Brown to audition for a record deal. Tina Davis, a record executive, was so impressed with him that she agreed to become her handler.

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Tim McGraw endures as a country music icon

Tim McGraw

It’s very difficult to separate Tim McGraw from the country music charts. Simply put, McGraw is one of the most popular country crooners that’s too hard to forget.

Samuel Timothy McGraw was born May 1, 1967, to Ann D'Agostino, a waitress, and Frank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr., who served as a relief pitcher for the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies

McGraw decided to become a singer when he dropped out of college in 1989. Three years later, he landed a recording contract with Curb Records, who launched him with his self-titled album. A lot of McGraw's albums and singles eventually became country best-sellers and chart-topping country hits.

His second album, Not a Moment Too Soon sold over 6 million copies and was 1994’s best selling country album, with his first no. 1 single, “Don’t Take it Girl.” In 1995, the album’s title track, “Down on the Farm” became no. 1 country music single, while “Refried Dreams,” joined the top 5 list. The Academy of Country Music honored him with the Album of the Year and Top New Male Vocalist Awards.

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Dwayne Johnson parlays wrestling stardom to box-office success

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

Dwayne Johnson has already achieved fame and fortune even before he tried his hands in acting. As The Rock, Johnson was an iconic wrestler, one of the best in the world. And as Dwayne Johnson, the actor, he is highly regarded as a potent box-office star, with hit after hit under his best.

Dwayne Douglas Johnson was born on born May 2, 1972 in Hayward, California, to a family of wrestlers and wrestling enthusiasts. His father, Rocky Johnson, was the professional wrestler Rocky Johnson. His maternal grandfather, "High Chief" Peter Maivia, was also a wrestler. His maternal grandmother, Lia Maivia, was a pioneer female professional promoter who eventually took over her husband’s Polynesian Pacific Pro Wrestling after the latter’s death in 1982, until 1988.

Johnson also excelled in football. In fact, he won a scholarship by joining the University of Miami's team. He later played for the Calgary Stampeders in the Canadian Football League, although he was cut two months into the 1995 season.

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Screen legend Deanna Durbin dies

Deanna Durbin

Deanna Durbin, the screen legend, who wowed Depression- and World War II-era movie goers with her “sweet, soprano voice,” has passed away. She was 91 years old and has been away from the limelight for almost 65 years now.

The exact date of Ms. Durbin’s death is actually unknown. She died a few days ago and it was not until Deanna Durbin Society quoted Durbin’s son, Peter H. David of the actress’ passing. David thanked her mother’s fans for supporting him and respecting his family’s privacy.

Born Edna Mae Durbin on December 4, 1921, Deanna was one of the last surviving actresses of Hollywood’s golden era. She was born to British-born parents in Manitoba Canada and started acting in 1936 after MGM signed her up for the short subject Every Sunday, opposite Judy Garland. When her contract option expired, Universal hurriedly grabbed the talent and cast her in the feature-length film Three Smart Girls (1936). The film was a smash hit and Durbin was single-handedly credited for saving Universal from bankruptcy. The film was followed by a sequel, Hers to Hold, in 1943.

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TV Review: Kahit Konting Pagtingin

Kahit Konting Pagtingin

I find Kahit Konting Pagtingin a delight to watch. I always go home tired after a hard-day’s work and I would usually turn on the tube and tune in to pre-primetime drama before dinner. While Aryanna awashed me and my household with drama (right before an even more dramatic news program), Kahit Konting Pagtingin gives me a chance to savor the appetizing treat of a light comedy of a TV series. Kahit Konting Pagtingin is Angeline Quinto’s first foray in TV and ABS-CBN must have high confident in his singing lass that they placed her show on prime-time. Dubbed as the station’s first Kilig-Serye, I have read a lot of positive response from audience. In fact, from viewer commented that Angeline’s performance was ala-Pretty Woman, who brings cheer to the rather dark and bleak household of the grieving grandfather, played by veteran actor Joonee Gamboa.

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Hope no Oscar brouhaha this year

With the 2012-2013 awards season coming to its much awaited conclusion come Oscar’s night, who do you think is/are joining the leagues of the likes of Meryl Streep, Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson, etc to scoop the Triple Crown for acting? It’s evident who are these season’s favorites with the Golden Globe and SAG trophies handed out to the expected winners. But the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have a mind of its own and many times over, it bypassed those who should have been winners and handed the gold-plated statuette to someone we all didn’t expect to win. Many times over, in fact, a landslide of honors from Golden Globe, SAG, and dozens of critics circle awards aren’t enough to prove your cause worthy with the almighty-Academy.

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Why Angelica Panganiban Should Never Feel Insecure with Angel Locsin

Spat between Angelica Panganiban and Angel Locsin?

I have read from a local tabloid this morning that Angelica Panganiban hasn’t gotten over Angel Locsin’s scene stealing performance in One More Try. If we can recall, the two actresses has quite a number of scenes together , although critics noticed how Angel’s role as the desperate mother of a dying child was portrayed so well and great! To worsen Angelica’s insecurity, at one thanksgiving party, the acclaimed actress was dumped by the press people, who showered their attention on Angel.

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Opinion: Why I Shouldn’t Watch TV this Saturday Night

NO prime TV this Saturday

You will know when election time is coming because some weekly drama anthologies would recount the lives of a big-name candidate. I have really nothing against these politicians wanting to have their lives become an open book for the public to feast on and talk about. But please, if you are going to televise it, don’t make it run near—or on—campaign period and don’t make it sound like you’ve gone a lot in life, that your life is so soap-operatic. I bet we common people have been through more than you do, so don’t make us try to feel we’d really be happy to watch your hyped, romanticized biopic. I hope this TV stations always soliciting for true-to-life stories from audience would find time to really look for a tear-jerking material that’s worth watching on a Saturday night. 

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Entertainment Press Club reveals 10th Golden Screen TV Awards nominees

The Entertainment Press Society, Inc.,
reveals nominees for the 10th Golden
Screen Awards.

The Entertainment Press Society, Inc., has finally unveiled the nominees for the 10th Golden Screen Awards for Television. Among the biggest names in the industry vying for the top honors include the country’s Superstar Nora Aunor, Dawn Zulueta, Helen Gamboa, Marian Rivera, Coco Martin and Gerald Anderson.

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Movie Review: Sisterakas

Sisterakas

This movie review may be late, but I say, better late than never! At P340+ million, Sisterakas (gay lingo for soul sisters) is the country's highest-grossing film and it's pretty interesting to note given that it's been released during the most competitive time in the country's local film industry--the Metro Manila Film Festival. Seeing its sequel already made me laugh. Seeing the film made me laugh and laugh.

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TV Review: Princess and I, a Royal Finale

Image source: Noypitayo.com

Princess and I

I admit it, but since the passing of Walang Hanggan, I haven’t been a fan of primetime TV series, although I must say that my royal fanaticism has been telling me to stay hooked up with Princess and I. I didn’t… until last night when I found out that it’s the “Royal Finale,” so I told myself I should watched it.

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Movie Review: A Little Bit of Heaven

A Little Bit of Heaven

A good treat to a tiresome Friday is a nice movie night. Contrary to what critics had been writing, I find A Little Bit of Heaven (2011) light, inspiring and a delight for a lonely—and even desperate—soul. The plot is really simple: a hard-working, hard-partying girl was told she was suffering from cancer and she’s dying. God appears to her and tells her she’s got three wishes… and then she lives the rest of her short-lived life and makes the most out of it.

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The Divine Ms D: Getting to Know Dina Bonnevie

Dina Bonnevie

In a world where even the greatest beauties do come and go, one image continues to linger despite the passing of time. Dina Bonnevie may have reached her peak and passed her prime, yet, to this day, she remains one of the most iconic actresses ever to grace the Philippine cinema. Perhaps, none could outdo, let alone match the bida-contrabida portrayals which she showcased in most of her films. Indeed, it is easy to grab the audience’s pity by playing helpless heroines, so much more endure the enmity of the masses by being the villain. But then, not all are gifted enough to play both roles all in one film. That’s acting the Dina Bonnevie style. Famed for her exotic beauty that endures to this day, Bonnevie is equally praised for her intelligence and quick wit, an attribute that not too many of her contemporaries, or even stars of succeeding generations, are not quite known for.

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Demonizing Cristine

Cristine Reyes

From newspapers to blogs, I have encountered so many write-ups demonizing Cristine Reyes. So many people keeps on saying that she has “the attitude,” a liar par excellence and a true-blue bratinella who wouldn’t give a dam. On my personal observations, I believe she’s one and in my own opinion, ABS-CBN has actually done more than enough to maintain her stardom. 

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