Filipina Sylvia Ratonel is a "Singapore Idol Season 3" Sensation

Euro-Filipina Sylvia Ratonel, who works as a secretary in Singapore, joined Singapore Idol on its third season and is currently enjoying her place in the show's Top 12 roster of other talented singing hopefuls.

In the first weekly performance, where the Top 13 had to sing chart toppers, Sylvia performed Alicia Keys's "Fallin' (watch her performs below).



Because of her impressive performance, Sylvia survived the first elimination.

In the Top 12 performance, the contestants had to sing songs from the year they were born. Sylvia chose to sing Guns 'N Roses' "Sweet Child of Mine" (watch below).



The 21-year-old's version of the song did not exactly impress the Singapore Idol judges (Ken Lim, Florence Liam, and Dick Dee), but they unanimously commented that Sylvia's energetic nature would get her further in the competition. That said, voting came into place and thankfully, Sylvia's version did not have her end up in the bottom three.

Watch below Sylvia Ratonel's other Singapore Idol performance:



Videos courtesy of 6yb5w8 via youtube

Indie Films "Independencia" and "Imburnal" Win Awards in 2009 Bangkok International Film Festival

Two Pinoy independent (indie) films emerged victorious in the just concluded Bangkok International Film Festival 2009.

The black-and-white film Independencia bagged two prizes while Imburnal was given a Special Mention in the filmfest that took place in Thailand from September 24-30.

Independencia was the Grand Prize winner in the Southeast Asian Category and the recipient of the NETPAC (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Jury Prize Award. The period film set during the American colonization of the Philippines stars Sid Lucero, Tetchie Agbayani, and Alessandra de Rossi.

The jury awarded Independencia the Grand Prize in the Southeast Asian category "for its strong cinematic expression. The film is visually adventurous with humor, expressing historical aspects while also very friendly to the audience."

The NETPAC Award was given to Independencia "for its cinematic creation exploring the history of the Philippines and the history of Philippine Cinema within the limited space and with a few characters."

Meanwhile, the 2008 Cinema One entry Imburnal (which shared the award with Malaysian James Lee's Call If You Need Me) was given a Special Mention honor "for putting together a very risky concept with complicated sociopolitical background, and for the director's courage and bravery."


Another Filipino indie film, Aurora, also competed in this year's edition of the Bangkok IFF.

The jury of the Southeast Asian Category was composed of Vincenzo Bugno, Royston Tan, and Tul Waitoonkiat.

Brillante Mendoza served as a jury member in the main competition of the Bangkok IFF and his obra Kinatay was screened in the non-competition section.

The Piolo Pascual-starrer Manila was also be screened in the Southeast Asian Panorama section. It was recently announced that the film, co-directed by Adolf and Raya, would compete in a separate film festival that will take place in Warsaw, Poland.

Valerie Concepcion Covers FHM Philippines October 2009 Issue

Single mom-host Valerie Concepcion is on the cover of FHM Philippines October 2009 issue.


Get your own copy of FHM Philippines October 2009 issue to know why hot momma Valerie Concepcion makes FHM proud with her sizzling comeback shoot.

Bea Alonzo Covers Cosmopolitan Philippines October 2009 Issue

Bea Alonzo - The local showbiz’s resident "good girl" turns bold and brazen is the cover girl of Cossmopolitan Magazine October 2009 issue.

Other featured articles in the 150th issue of Cosmopolitan Philippines include "Fave Quotes on Breakups, Love, Women, Power and Life from the Past 150 Issues", "Cosmo-Chick Celes-And Their Love For Your Fave Mag", "Get a Date, Keep a BF", "The New Luxury: Posh Pieces Below P600", "What Rich Girls Know", "Travel for Every Budget", "Are Recession and Office OT Hurting Your Relationship?", "Complete Your Climax: Fantasy Cards (Cut and Play)", "Aljur Abrenica: He’ll Get You ‘StarStruck,’ Smitten and Super Kilig", and "Special Sealed Edition: Everything Your Gay BFF Needs to Tell You About Gay Guys Yourself and Your New Boy Toy".

Cosmopolitan October 2009 issue is mow available wherever magazines are sold nationwide.

Hmmm, She's A Robot In Disgust . . . Oops I mean Disguise!

Brenda GOT a baby y’all!

Now see B’wood, don’t like talking about people. But, it’s lunch-time and I can't even get my grub on.

This disturbed me!

G’rl, Baby G’rl, Lil Momma, Big Momma, Shorty-Do . . . You ain’t no damn Autobot!


You know you better wash that stuff off before Optimus Prime get in that ass!

See that’s why we can’t never go nowhere.

Cybertron, welcome committee would be like HELL TO THE NAW!

See, ya’ll don’t know how to act.

NEW COUPLE ALERT

CHILLI never ages. . . Dayyuuummmm G'rl that body still in tact! But, let the baby hair go. We know you got that silky, wavy grade of hair. Once again people KINKY CURLY, NOT TODAY!

ATTENTION! Hip Hop is Offering an Early OUT - Get Yo Benefits Now!

VH1 Hip Honors 2009 will air October 13, 2009.

Is it me or are we getting’ old ya’ll?

Some folks just need to retire and stop trying to do comebacks.

Nonetheless, it is so good to see Mary J. and Method Man back together. That dynamic duo has chemistry like none other.

Not to mention. . . Method Man gives me that ruff around the edges, bad boy, so don’t want to be a pretty boy, NY swagger.

But, damn . . . HE KNOW HE FINE.

Method come here. . . A little closer. Ummm, yeah . . with those two middle fingers… are you really tryin to . . . . AWWWW, fudge never mind?

Eve, and Chrisette Michelle are lookin’ sassy!

Foxy & Ms. Ashanti have surpass thicka than a snicka! Those heifers are thick and chocolatey Hostess HO HO Cakes enrobed in delectable confectionary coating.

MMMM, mmm good!

The ROOTS – Dang, do I really have to choose?

GYM Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy… Yeah, somethin’ special. . . I just don’t know why, but I like his DJ-AM, ROC Raida T-shirt in the shape of the famous Run-DMC logo!

DMX – I just need you to growl one good time, and I’m done. Damn-it I’m leakin’ already just thinking about it!

KRS-One, Chuck-D, Flava, Flav, Redman --- are classic, but, I think I’m OVER IT!

Jazzy Jeff. . . still looks wholesome.

Eminem – are you trying to steal Phylicia Rashad shine, because clearly you need to be a spokesperson for Jenny Craig? But, stop already, you’re scaring me!