Artista june 2017 issue by Ley Navarro

ARTISTA WINNIPEG JUNE 2017 ISSUE

Gerald Anderson on working with Arci Munoz:

‘She’s the life of the movie’

by: Rhea Manila Santos

s the release date draws near for Star Cinema’s Can We Still Be Friends, Gerald Anderson said he enjoyed every minute of working again with leading lady Arci Munoz. “It was great. She was the life of the movie eh, parang life of the party. Yung energy niya, yung sex appeal niya, lahat. And that’s what people are going to see in Can We Still Be Friends. Talagang mas marami silang makukuha. And I think tungkol sa buhay, tungkol sa relasyon, mas maraming tanong itong movie na ito,” he shared. Even though it’s only been less than a year since they were first paired together onscreen, the actor revealed their working relationship still feels natural. “Yun yung maganda kay Arci kasi kahit yung first movie pa lang namin, yung unang eksena pa lang namin sobrang naging kumportable ako agad

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dahil kung anong klaseng tao siya, very humble, very approachable and then mas sobrang naging kumportable sa set,” he admitted. The 28-yearold actor also said his latest project is close to his heart because of the

learnings he got from the role. “Ang masasabi ko lang sobrang grateful ako because since yung first movie namin ang dami kong natutunan. Siumula ng buong career ko palagi kong sinasabi ang dami kong natutunan sa project na ito or ang dami kong nakukuhang value, pero ito literally and geuinely sobrang totoo ito. “For the last two years lahat ng projects na ginagawa ko there’s something I always learn especially in this movie. Ang daming tanong na nasagot eh. And every time I do a scene parang, ‘Nangyari na sa akin ito’ or ‘Dumaan ako sa ganitong sitwasyon.’ At alam ko yun din ang

mararamdaman ng viewers. Naka-relate ako sobra,” he said. With his co-star Arci recently gone through a break up, Gerald remarked he and his leading lady feel very connected to their characters. “Ang tawag nga sa amin ni Arci #TeamRelate eh. Si Arci is going through something sa personal life niya very recently so mas nakaka-relate siya and me I’m going through something na very similar sa sitwasyon sa movie right now which is Next page pls.

It’s official! Liza Soberano is the new DARNA

being friends with my ex.” Meanwhile, Arci Muñoz proudly walked the red carpet in her jaw-dropping best during the premiere of “Can We Still Be Friends” on Tuesday. Muñoz, who dyed her hair blue, arrived in a revealing white dress, giving the people who graced the movie event at

SM Megamall a generous glimpse of her flawless skin. In a recent interview with Star Cinema, Muñoz acknowledged that she did “overline” her lips. She added that she supports people who undergo plastic surgery as long as the procedure makes them “more comfortable and more confident.”

ANILA – The guessing game is over! Liza Soberano has emerged as Star Cinema’s pick to play the newest incarnation of Darna -- perhaps the country’s most iconic superhero -- in an upcoming film adaptation by Erik Matti. Soberano, who is 19, has built a reputation after starring as the lovable lead of both “Dolce Amore” and “Forevermore” over the past three years with onscreen partner Enrique Gil. She made her acting debut in 2011, and has also appeared in other hit shows like 2013’s “Got To Believe.” In an exclusive interview with ABS-CBN News’ MJ Felipe on Tuesday, Soberano said: “Yes, it is confirmed. Tinatanggap ko na ang role na Darna.” She succeeds Marian Rivera, who was the last to portray the Mars Ravelo character onscreen. Rivera was 24 when she first donned famous fire red costume in 2009, and the choice of Soberano seems to suggest that the newest version will now be a tad younger. Angel Locsin, who played Darna in 2005, was first tapped by Matti to star in his film but a back injury forced the actress out of the project. Locsin has since called her fans to support whoever will replace her. “I now entrust the reins to the next lucky lady who will have the time of her life portraying the role,” she said. A post shared by Angel Locsin (@therealangellocsin) on Mar 21, 2017 at 1:36am PDT S i n c e Darna made her komiks debut in 1950, the well-loved character has been played by several actresses on TV and in films, including a young Vilma Santos in the 1970s. In the original lore, Darna is a warrior from Planet Marte who manifests herself in a village girl from Earth named Narda. In order to transform into the heroine and defend humans from evil forces, Narda swallows a tiny meteorite and shouts “Darna!” -- a small scene which

has since been embedded in local pop culture. The upcoming Star Cinema “Darna” movie was first announced in 2015. Speaking at the time, Matti, who directed the acclaimed “Honor Thy Father,” said he accepted the project so that he could introduce the character to a whole new generation of Filipinos. In his previous interview with DZMM, Matti agreed that Soberano has the built to successfully do the role justice. “She has the strength physically, ‘yung itsura at katawan. And then tama ‘yung edad and you can do a lot of things sa mukha niya. Puwede siya mag-iba-iba ng itsura and she could still look really good. At the same time, Pinay siya na maganda, pan-Asian. Mahirap ‘yung mestiza eh,” he said.

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Kris Aquino to start shooting for Hollywood movie

Pinoy comedian joins ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ cast

umors of Kris Aquino’s role in the Hollywood adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians” have been floating around since she and the book’s author, Kevin Kwan, followed each other on Instagram. And the television host added more fuel to the fire on Tuesday when she revealed that she is currently in Singapore

ing in New York City with her boyfriend Nick. Much like in Kwan’s book, it gives a glimpse of the wealthy lives and lavish lifestyles people lead. It boasts a cast that include Michelle Yeoh, Gemma Chan, Constance Wu, and Ken Jeong. Some roads in Singapore are scheduled to be closed for the movie shoot this week, according to newspaper The

just as filming for the Jon M. Chu-directed movie begins. On her Instagram account, Aquino posted a photo of her before she boarded her flight to Singapore with the caption: “Flying to fulfill a dream. SHOOTING this week.” She could be seen with more than seven pieces of baggage and gowns that are, as she described them, “befitting a princess” designed by Michael Leyva and Michael Cinco. Talk of Aquino’s role came about first when she said that she signed a contract with a Los Angeles-based agency back in April. Since then, she has been teasing about a Hollywood project which she refused to name to reporters. The former Kapamilya did so again on Monday when she shared that she has signed a deal for a “major Hollywood project,” saying that it’s a dream come true for her. As of writing, the only Filipino confirmed to be in “Crazy Rich Asians” is comedian Nico Santos. The film is romantic comedy centering around a woman liv-

Strait Times. Meanwhile, Nico Santos who is based in the US, will be part of the allAsian ensemble headed by “Fresh Off the Boat” star Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Gemma Chan, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, and Ken Jeong. Santos expressed excitement over his newest project on social media. Santos is known for his role in “Superstore,” a hit comedy show from NBC with “Ugly Betty” stars America Ferrera and Ben Feldman. He plays an undocumented immigrant in the series about the lives of workers in a super-sized store. “A lot of them are Filipinos, a lot of undoc-

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umented people are from our community and it’s important to sort of portray them in this light, that we’re all contributing members of society,” he told Balitang America of his role. “We pay our taxes, we just wanna have the same opportunities as everybody else. We came here for the American dream,” he added.

Before his big television break, Santos regularly performed as a stand-up comic. He is a self-confessed fan of popular love team of Sharon Cuneta and Gabby Concepcion. Prior to news of Santos’ casting, Kris Aquino was widely speculated to have a role in “Crazy Rich Asians” but there has been no confirmation of it so far.

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Venus Raj earns her Master’s degree

eauty queen Venus Raj recently graduated with a Master’s degree in Community Development at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. Having posted her graduation picture on Instagram, she captioned, “To those who became instruments in making this journey possible, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I can never boast of this moment, this is all by the grace of God.” She also advised fellow graduates to never stop learning, “When we stop learning, we stop growing. There are far more lessons that we have to discover. Don’t be afraid of the process, God is with you.” Venus, who won 4th runner-up in the 2010 Miss Universe, graduated Cum Laude at the Bicol University in 2008 where she took up Communication Arts, major in Journalism.

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Angel Locsin visits the evacuees from Marawi Angel Locsin is indeed a real life hero with a heart of gold. The actress flew to Iligan City as a volunteer for Task Group Emergency Preparedness Response team to visit the evacuees from Marawi. Angel was welcomed with warm hugs and big smiles as she personally checked the condition of the evacuees. Truly, you don’t need to wear a costume to be a superhero.

Anne Curtis returns to boxing training

uling nagsanay ang It’s Showtime host na si Anne Curtis sa boxing matapos itigil ito noong nakaraang taon. Nag-post naman siya ng kanyang video na nakikipag-sparring kasama si Brandon Vera na isang mixed-martial arts champion. “After probably a year-long hiatus, giving it a try again. Need to mix up my training again to avoid plateauing. Super kulelat and rusty!!!! Not having a proper workout for weeks doesn’t help either! Girl, ang hirap girl. Bawi ako next session,” kwento niya sa kanyang Instagram post.

Maine shows off ‘tropical state of mind’ in Maldives

he Kapuso actress is in the Maldives for a much-needed vacation after the end of her first primetime television series “Destined To Be Yours. She posted a photo on Instagram showing off her abs as well as her pierced belly-button. Last April, Maine opened up about plans to go to the beautiful destination after the end of the series. “Gusto ko pong magpunta sa Maldives na talaga. Gusto ko pong makapag-beach after ‘Destined To Be Yours’ para makapagpahinga, makapag-break bago po mag-start yung movie,” she said. When asked who she wanted to go with for her vacation, she replied: “Siyempre po ‘yung mga taong mahal ko... ‘yung mga... you know [who].” —JST, GMA News ARTISTA WINNIPEG JUNE 2017 ISSUE

Pista Pista ng ng Bayan Bayan Sa Sa San San Juan Juan

BASAAN

ll towns and suburbs named San Juan (St. John the Baptist) celebrate this feastival, which involveds playfool “baptism” with ilangilang scented water and is meant as a coy filtration between the sexes. It can degenerate into a free-for-all water fight with much drenching and laughter. Places to see and be drenched include San Juan in Metro Manila; Baylan in Batangas, which stages a lechon parade; Punta in Taytay, near Bacolod City, in Negros Occidental and Camiguin, North Mindanao. People in Xishuangbanna, southwest China, douse one another with a basin of water to usher in spring. In Thailand, people sprinkle water on guests at a water festival in April. The Philippines has its own version of these Buddhist traditions, when it celebrates the Feast of San Juan Bautista, or St. John the Baptist. In many parts of Europe and North

America, people kindle bonfires on hilltops at the approaching summer solstice, when the days begin to grow shorter. To this an-

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cient ritual are added other festive activities like games and parades, street dancing, outdoor eating, carnival attractions, and fireworks. Such gaeity may well be their version of a Philippine fiesta, but for the fact that the custom coincides with the Feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24. West meets east in the Philippines when June 24 is celebrated by dousing and sprinkling of water or by family outings to the beach or riverside. This Filipino custom is the most appropriate way of commemorating the only saint, other than Mary, whose birth is celebrated in the Christian liturgy. (Feasts of other saints fall on the day of their death.) After all, Saint John is the precursor who prepared people for the coming of Christ by baptizing them with water. Matthew 2:11 quotes Saint John as saying: “I indeed baptize wou with water unto repentence but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he sahll baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with fire.” Anyone who goes to the town of San Juan, Metro Manila on the morning of June 24 cannot stay dry. neither will anyone who visits small towns near a stream, a river, or the sea before noon. The experience is supposed to re-

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mind

one of one’s baptism. Small childre nuse a tabo, usually an empty can used as a water dipper, to douse strangers with water. Older perspns my fill theor ancient coconut shells with perfumed water to sprinkle on passersby. Others get their bamboo cylinders fitted with pistons to squirt water on whoever passes by. Still others use water pistols. U n f o rtunately, the tradition is being

threatened by killjoys or local bullies who douse car owners or jeepney riders wuth water from open ditches. Their actions have made others question the very idea of the festivity.

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What Gerald tells Matteo about Kim Chiu

erald Anderson gave Matteo Guidicelli some advice on working with Kim Chiu. The two actors are currently working with Chiu on two separate projects. Anderson and Chiu are busy taping their upcoming series “Minsan Lang Kita Iibigin,” while Guidicelli is filming the horror movie “Ghost Bride” with her. Huwag mong sabayan ang energy niya kasi pagdating sa take, mapapagod kana,” he said with a laugh in an exclusive interview with entertainment site Push on Wednesday. “Iba yung energy ni Kim. She’s a ball of energy talaga at hindi siya nauubusan. Nabubuhay niya lagi ang set kahit anong oras. So as a leading man, huwag mo na sabayan,” he added. Anderson shared that Chiu always talks about her movie with Guidicelli every time she arrives on the set of their series. “Kinukwento sa akin ni Kim ‘yan kapag minsan kasi segue segue siya shoot and then taping. So kinukwento niya sa akin na ‘yun nga magkasama sila,” he said. Anderson said Chiu has come a very long way and she deserves everything that she

has now. “All the blessings na meron siya ngayon, sobrang deserve niya at mas higit pa doon. Alam kong mas malayo pa ang mararating niya at mas marami pang blessings ang makukuha niya dahil napakabuti niyang tao,” he said. Meanwhile, Walang patid ang pagngiti ng aktor na si Matteo Guidicelli nang matanong sa isyung maaari silang ikasal ng kasintahang si Sarah Geronimo sa susunod na taon. Sa panayam sa kanya nitong Martes, pagkatapos ng victory party para sa pelikula niyang “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” sinabi ni Matteo na wala pa naman silang plano ng Pop Star Princess. “Wala pa naman, wala pa

naman,” ani Matteo. Pag-amin ni Matteo, narinig niya na ang nasabing isyu, pero wala siyang alam sa nasabing petsa. “I heard pero I didn’t know about the date, that there’s a date,” aniya. Nang tanungin kung susundin ba nila kung saka-sakali na makasal sa petsang April 28, 2018 dahil sa swerte itong

Pinay transgender artist is seen as Hollywood’s “Next Big Thing”

flourishing Hollywood career is one that a few tread. More so for a Filipina transgender artist, it becomes a journey all the more triumphant and fulfilling. With Ivory Aquino sharing credits with an ensemble cast of A-listers in the major ABC miniseries When We Rise, the acclaim and achievement are both

monumental for what she represents— the changing tide towards inclusion, diversity and the growing appreciation for Asian, notably Filipino, talent and recog-

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araw para sa mga magpapakasal, sinabi ni Matteo: “Yung date na ‘yon? Hindi ko alam, hindi ko talaga alam.” Matatandaang nag-ugat ang isyu sa mensahe ng talent manager na si Noel Ferrer sa Instagram na maaaring may isang celebrity couple na ikasal sa April 28, 2018. Noong nakaraang linggo, inamin ni Iza Calzado na posibleng siya at ang kanyang nobyong si Ben Wintle ang maaaring ikasal sa Abril ng susunod na taon.

opportunity came: actually playing the role of a transgender activist in the ongoing primetime miniseries on the major US TV network, ABC. “In my career, I had yet to play a trans character and said I was interested in playing a trans woman who was more

nition for transgender people. When We Rise is a retelling of the gay rights movement in America, which offered this ultimate opportunity for Ivory to live her dream. That is actually playing a transgender role befitting her own real journey as a person. “Sharing her story” Ivory stresses it quite succinctly: it’s like “sharing her story.” “I haven’t really talked about my personal history until now because frankly, there was never a reason to. I’m a live-in-the-moment type of person,” Ivory tells Push in an exclusive e-mail interview. “What changed my mind in terms of sharing my story with the public was the importance of ‘When We Rise’ in terms of telling diverse stories to hopefully show that the LGBTQ community has a lot more in common with other communities in that we all desire the same things: love for and from our families, love for and from a life partner, love for one’s vocation and wanting to contribute to society through a meaningful life.” Ivory, a Berklee College of Mu-

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sic graduate, first set foot in the US at age 18 from the Philippines after graduating from the Ateneo High School to pursue her passion in the theater arts. She took non-gender-specific or cisgender roles in noteworthy stage productions, particularly her unforgettable Juliet in Bryant Park Shakespeare. Monumental opportunity And then, the most monumental

than a stereotype, someone who was representative of the community in being three-dimensional and hopefully, would contribute positively to how trans women are depicted in film.” Ivory stressed. She then received a casting call for the role of Cecilia Chung in the series, playing the role of a real-life LGBTQ activist who, like her, is an immiPls. turn to page 14.

7 times Jennylyn Mercado proved that she is the Ultimate Star of Philippine showbiz

Gal Gadot wowed by Paolo Ballesteros’ Wonder Woman transformation

My Love From The Star Si Jen ang bagong Steffi sa ‘My Love From The Star,’ kung saan nakapareha niya ang model turned actor na si Gil Cuerva. Kwela ang karakter ni Jen bilang isang aktres na gandang-ganda sa sarili, pero at the same time may mga dramatic moments din sa tuwing magkakaroon ng mental breakdown si Steffi Chavez. Dito pinatunayan niya na siya rin ang Queen of Rom-com flicks.

My Faithful Husband Si Jen ay gumanap bilang si Melanie “Mel” Fernandez-Dela Paz, isang single mother na pumayag magpakasal kay Emmanuel “Emman” Dela Paz (Dennis Trillo.) Pero paano pag biglang bumalik sa buhay niya ang ama ng kanyang anak na si Dean Montenegro (Mikael Daez)? Dito pinarangalan si Jen bilang PMPC Star Awards for TV Best Drama Actress.

Rhodora X Isa sa mga kilalang roles ni Jennylyn ang paganap niya bilang si Rhodora Ferrer-Vasquez, isang babaeng may Dissociative Identity Disorder. Dito pinatunayan ni Jennylyn kung gaano siya ka-versatile pagdating sa pag-arte.

Just The 3 Of Us Starring alongside John Llyod Cruz, si Jen ay ang flight attendant na si CJ Manalo Abusado na na involve sa pilotong si Capt. Uno Abusado (John Llyod.) Pagkatapos ng isang one night stand, kinailangan nila magsama dahil sa unexpected pregnancy ni CJ. Ang pelikula nila ay isang critical and commercial success earning more than ₱ 2 00 million worldwide.

The Prenup Kapareha ni Jen dito ang aktor na si Sam Milby, kung saan binigyan-buhay nila ang karakter nila Wendy at Sean. “Cat-dog relationship” kung i-describe ang relasyon ng dalawa, na agad namang naging malaRomeo at Juliet pagbalik nila sa Pilipinas. Box-office hit rin ang rom-com flick na ito.

English Only, Please Si Tere (Jennylyn Mercado) ay ang English tutor ng isang Filipino-American named Julian Parker (Derek Ramsay.) Kabilang ang ‘English Only, Please’ sa mga entries noong 40th Metro Manila Film Festival 2014. Napanalunan nito ang mga sumusunod na award s : Best Picture: 2nd Place, Best Actor (Derek Ramsay,) Best Director (Dan Villegas,) Best Story (Antoinette Jadaone and Dan Villegas,) Best Screenplay (Antoinette Jadaone and Anj Pessumal,) Best Editor (Marya Ignacio) at Best Actress (Jennylyn Mercado,)

aolo Ballesteros continues to attract global attention for his makeup transformations. But while he usually gets compliments from his followers and his makeup magic posts receive thousands of likes and comments, the “Die Beautiful” star was not expecting to impress Wonder Woman herself. This, after he copied Gal Gadot’s fierce look as the Amazon warrior, complete with tiara and bracelets. In a Twitter post on Wednesday, Gadot shared Ballesteros’ transformation video which she obviously loved. In the caption, Gadot wrote: “Wow! This is incredible! Bravo!” In response, Ballesteros was only able to say “wow.” He accompanied his reply with various emoticons to express his joy. Gadot’s “Wonder Woman” opened in Philippine theaters last June 1. Directed by Patty Jenkins, it tells the story of Diana as she discovers her powers, finds out about a raging war outside her island of Themyscira, and embarks for London to try and stop it. It also stars Chris Pine, Connie Nielsen, Robin Wright, David Thewlis, Danny Huston, Elena Anaya, Ewen Bremner, and Saïd Taghmaoui.

Walang Forever Isang scriptwriter si Mia Nolasco (Jennylyn Mercado) na nakipagbreak sa kanyang long-time boyfriend na si Ethan Isaac (Jericho Rosales) . Light comedy nung una, kilig in between dahil sa love-hate relationship ng mag-ex, at isang dramatic turning point ang nagbigay ng maraming awards sa ‘Walang Forever.’ Kasama rito ang Best Picture, Fernando Poe Jr. Memorial Award for Excellence, Best Actor (Jericho Rosales,) Best Screenplay, Best Original Story at Best Actress (Jennylyn Mercado) mula sa 41st Metro Manila Film Festival. ARTISTA WINNIPEG JUNE 2017 ISSUE

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Pinay Transgender... Con’t. from page 12.

grant. “I auditioned two days later for the show’s casting director with four scenes they had me prepare. A few days later, my intuition told me to write the casting director a note letting her know my gender history. Coincidentally or not, I got asked the following day to do a callback audition, which consisted of learning a fifth scene. I had one day to prepare and did all five scenes. A couple days later, I was informed that I was up for network approval where I believe the network executives all watched my audition tape, and a few days later, I got the job,” Ivory recalled. Ivory revealed that the show’s creator Dustin Lance Black had no idea she was a transgender when he saw her audition tape. “He didn’t know I was trans when he saw my tape. He said it was only when we were on the phone for the first time and I shared with him my gender history, that he knew,” she noted. “Pinch my cheeks” She said that when she learned who her co-cast members were, she “literally had to pinch my cheeks.” “When I found out who was in the cast namely Guy Pearce, Mary-Louise Parker, Rachel Griffiths, Michael K. Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Rosie O’Donnell, just to name a few, and that the directors included Gus Van Sant who is a two-time Oscar nominee, and Thomas Schlamme who created the West Wing with Aaron Sorkin and is a multiple Emmy winner, and Dustin Lance Black who is an Oscar winner, and Dee Rees whose work and film ‘Pariah’ I have been a fan of, I literally had to pinch my cheeks.” But when she got down to business, Ivory said she was passionately driven. “Once I got on set and my focus was on doing the best job I could in terms of telling Cecilia’s story, all these amazing artists became my colleagues as we were all committed to telling all these touching stories intertwined,” she said. With her own “rise,” Ivory is dubbed by Hollywood Reporter as Hollywood’s “Next Big Thing.” “It’s truly very flattering to be called that. It’s not a term that I’ve coined for myself, so there’s no added pressure on my part to pursue things any differently from how I’ve done these past years, which is to follow my gut and intuition in terms of choosing projects. For me, the simple guideline is, “Does this excite me as an artist?” So I’ll keep following my joy and trust it leads me to do work that’s meant for me,” she added.

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Bea Binene will be the first cover girl of an online magazine

By FELIX ILAYA Interview By JANIS GOPEZ

ea Binene will be the first ever cover girl for the online lifestyle hub, iamClaire. In an exclusive interview with GMANetwork.com, the Kapuso actress shared her excitement for her new project. According to Bea, “Siyempre natuwa ako, na-excite ako because gusto ko talaga gumawa ng mga ganito, fun shoot lang. Excited ako na lumabas na siya and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.” Bea also told us how she prepared for the photo shoot. “I started eating clean since June 1, I don’t eat fast food [and] rice and I go to the gym. Pero ‘yung clean eating, I just eat nilagang saba, kamote, pechay, repolyo and then baked fish or chicken,” said she. iamClaire Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Liam Mendoza shared with us the reason why they chose Bea to be their first ever cover girl. Liam stated that “We watched her journey from being a Starstruck Kids finalist and then taking on bigger roles right now. Whenever we talk about what it means to be an iamClaire cover girl, we look at the story and journey -- does that person actually have an inspiring story to tell women? The iamClaire philosophy is we empower transformation. With her, the authenticity we are looking for is there so we believe that in terms of embodying the essence of iamClaire, she is that person.” Liam also told us a bit about their soon-to-be-launched platform, iamClaire. According to her, “iamClaire is a new hangout place for millennial women where they can be with their friends, share interesting content with them and at the same time, easily buy the products they want in an ecommerce platform. It’s basically a “social commerce,” that’s the word we have used for it.”

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Watch for Bea’s cover and the launch of iamClaire this July!

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Pinay Queens reunite in NYC

S Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, Miss International 2015 Kylie Verzosa and Miss World 2013 Megan Young are reunited for the 119th Philippine Independence Day Celebration in New York City.

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a Tonight with Boy Abunda, inamin ni Sam Milby na ideal age pa din daw ang 35 years old sa pagpapakasal para sa kanya. Pero ayon kay Sam, “I don’t want to feel pressured kahit halos lahat ng kaibigan ko…I don’t feel pressured that way. If I feel na eto na ang tamang panahon and I feel na siya talaga ang gusto kong makasama habang buhay then I’ll propose.” Nang tanungin kung ang girlfriend niyang si Mari Jasmine na ang mapapangasawa niya, ang sagot ni Sam ay, “I hope. I don’t think you should be in a relationship pag hindi yun ang iniisip mo.” Lumabas na din ang album ni Sam na Sam 12 at ayon sa kanya “I feel that this is my strongest album.”

Piolo Pascual remains reluctant about entering politics

hile many celebrities of the same status have branched out into politics, Piolo Pascual maintained that he would rather stay in show business in order to further his advocacies. One of his advocacies is preventing all forms of piracy as the newest Op-

tical Media Board ambassador. During his contract signing with the OMB representatives including the department’s chairman Atty. Anselmo Adriano, Piolo was teased by the press to reveal if he agreed to the position pro bono. “This is just an advocacy for me. ‘Yung mga ganitong causes naman talagang hindi mo na kailangang pagisipan,” he said. “To be tapped by this agency is a privilege for me already. Not just by being an ambassador of ABS-CBN but also of the film industry—in general.” Since OMB is a government agency, the Ultimate Heartthrob was asked if he’s now ready to be a public servant. “I don’t think so,” he said. Piolo underscored that for him, what matters at the moment is being able to protect the content and output of his fellow artists. “And being a businessman myself, ito na siguro ‘yung pwedeng maging advocacy ko in this business because it’s important for us to raise awareness using your celebrity status and your social media accounts,” he explained. Apparently, Piolo’s son Iñigo is also a huge supporter of the Anti-Piracy campaign. “… Because hindi lang naman ito for film and TV, even for musicians like himself. So it’s also important for him to have protection for his product and content, because he’s also a composer,” Piolo explained. ARTISTA WINNIPEG JUNE 2017 ISSUE

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Dr. Romulo & Patria Magsino Prize of Excellence in Education awarded on June 6, 2017

n Tuesday, June 6, 2017, The University of Manitoba awarded Kristen Erickson the inaugural Dr. Romulo & Patria Magsino Prize of Excellence in Education. Established through a donation by Dr. Romulo & Patria Magsino, and matched by the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative, this annual scholarship was developed in consultation with the Magsino family and approved by the Senate of the University of Manitoba. Selected by the Faculty of Education, the awardee must meet the following criteria: (1) Has successfully completed the degree requirements for any program leading to the Bachelor of Education degree offered by the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba; (2) Has achieved a minimum degree grade point average of 3.5; (3) Has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and/or community involvement. Shortly after the June 6 University of Manitoba Convocation ceremony, at a reception hosted by The Faculty of Education, Dean David Mandzuk personally awarded the prize and accompanying

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plaque to Ms. Erickson in the presence of members of the Magsino family: Patria Magsino, Mabelle Magsino and Rom Magsino. A permanent plaque will be placed in the Dean’s Office to commemorate the annual award winners.

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The inscription on the award plaque reads: Dr. Romulo F. Magsino, O.M., and his wife, Patria E. Magsino, established an endowment fund at the University of Manitoba in 2015. Beginning in the 2016 – 2017 academic year, the Dr. Romulo & Patria Magsino Prize of Excellence in Education will be awarded annually to an outstanding graduating Bachelor of Education student who has demonstrated scholarship, exceptional leadership qualities, and significant community involvement. Dr. Romulo Magsino is a Dean Emeritus in the Faculty of Education and served as Dean from 1996 – 2001. He was

the first Filipino-Canadian Dean of Education in North America and is a recipient of the Order of Manitoba. Dr. Magsino has a notable history of leadership and service at the local, provincial and national levels in the areas of higher education, multiculturalism, and within the Filipino community. He is an outstanding scholar, a prolific academic writer, a community leader, and a caring educator. Dr. Magsino and Mrs. Magsino are both active leaders and mentors supporting excellence in higher education, community service, and cultural diversity in Manitoba. Photo Credits: Laura Orsak, University of Manitoba; Mabelle Magsino

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REFLECTIONS By Dr. Jun Vencer

FATHERHOOD: SOURCE AND ISSUE

hen I was growing up in a coastal village in Iloilo, every boy or girl was like my brother or sister, every father or mother was like my father or mother, every home was like my home. I am because we are. “It takes a village to raise a child” according to an African saying. Village life addresses the issues of roles, identity, and values. In a sense, I am my village. King David wrote, “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families” (Psalm 68:5-6). The reference is worship in the sanctuary and this relates to the role of the faith community today. James said, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress ….” (James. 1:27). I was aimless as a teenager when I found Jesus or, rather, when Jesus found me. I joined an Alliance Church which was a special kind of family to me. It helped build my Christian foundation. Every local church, though imperfect, is still God’s family – the central locus of

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the Fatherhood of God. From God, the fatherhood of man derives its transcendent meaning and purpose. From the church, fatherhood finds its elemental structure and nurture. Malachi prophesied that “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I (God) will come and strike the land with a curse” ( 4:6). But why are fathers mentioned and not mothers? Perhaps it is because mothers are the lesser problem in caring for their children. The acute problem today is with fathers. More children grow up without the presence of their father. Many don’t even know who their father is. Courts are clogged with paternity suits. We are becoming a fatherless society and children are always the casualties. David Blankenhorn (Fatherless America) came up with a profile of the Good Family Man: 1. Provider and protector, knows the value of money 2. Shows love of spouse and chil-

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dren through actions 3. Biblical and moral values – spiritual leader, good role model, good listener, takes time for his family, balances priorities, problem solver, teacher and guidance counselor 4. Flexibility, sharing workload as a partner. This is a comprehensive biblical profile of fatherhood. Unfortunately, this kind of fathers is now a “rare breed”. Vanishing! The evangelistic challenge is: How can we present God the Heavenly Father to a society who has little or no idea of an earthly father? If children do not recognize the authority of God or of their fathers over them, then whose authority will they recognize? They will most like grow up lawless and licentious. Fatherhood is not just about the survival of family but about the extinction of society. If fatherhood fails, will not God bring a curse to the land? Great nations and civilizations are often destroyed from within and at the heart of such destruction is the demise of marriage and the family. God, however, restrains national judgment on the basis of a faithful remnant. Father is both a noun (to be what God created Him to become) and a verb (to do what God wants him to pass to the next generation). This is consistent with the theological idea of “source and issue.” The source (father) replicates himself in the issue (children). And since every father issues from God the Father, then

every father is to transmit to his children that which is inherently given him by God in creation. Every Christian father, then, represents the fatherhood of God to our world. While it is not easy to be a father, God the Father is co-fathering with us. “Don’t faint … you will have your reward” (Gal. 6:9). There is hope. Amen. Dr. Jun Vencer is the President of Global Transformation Ministries Inc., a member body of the Global DAWN Network. He concurrently serves as Vice President of Leadership Development and as the Asia Director of DAWN Ministries. He also serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Alliance Graduate School, Philippines. He is the first Third World leader to have been appointed as International Director of World Evangelical Alliance and founding Chairman of the Evangelical Fellowship of Asia. He served as General Secretary of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and of the Philippine Relief and Development Services. He is Pastor Emeritus of the Alliance Fellowship Church. He is an ordained Minister and a Bishop of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Churches of the Philippines (CAMACOP). Dr. Vencer is married to Annabella Castillo. They have four children; three of whom are married and five grandchildren. He currently serves as pastor of the Alliance International Church in Pearland, Texas.

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