It’s December once again and while trying to beat  VT deadline, I suddenly realized that it’s the end of the decade, not just the year. It’s the time when we all have to reflect on our efforts for the past years or should I say for the last decade. It’s a great time to rejoice with our families and friends and rekindle our relationships; a time to take stock of what our contribution has been to a host of things: be they social, be they individual, and resolve to do even better, given another new year. I would take this opportunity to do a recap of Wassup for the year. 2009 is a challenging but yet a great year as it showered us with glitz in the showbiz arena. The year has also been kind to me as GOD has poured multiple and countless blessings that I am truly grateful about.

JANUARY 2009, Las Vegas’ Diva and Asia’s Nightingale LANI MISALUCHA and Journey’s Frontman ARNEL PINEDA graced VT/CPRTV as they shared their powerful vocal pipes and amazing performance thru their back-to-back show. Despite our cold Chicago weather and blizzard, the two phenomenal singers shared their exceptional talents to entertain Chicagoans. Their back-to-back concert was held in February. It was also the same month when we had the opportunity to meet the hilarious POOH who gamely granted interview for CPRTV prior his concert with K Brosas and Ruffa Mae Quinto.  

FEBRUARY 2009 was also the time when our good friend and kumare, Rachelle Ann Go, reaffirmed the title as the “Ultimate Champion,” when she shared to VT/CPRTV the success of her coming-of-age performance at the Music Museum. 
 
It was March 2009 when we learned that the Tony Award Winner and our country’s pride, LEA SALONGA, stormed North America for her “Inspired” Tour. She had an SRO concert at the Horsehoe Casino in September. It was also the same month when our friends from the mainstream media invited CPRTV to cover the “Beer Wars Live” event as well as film screening of an Asian American showcase- “The First Breath of Tengan Rei.” I would say that it was also a sad month since my dear Lola Munding, my paternal grandmother, joined our creator. And so I missed her.

 APRIL 2009 dawned for the DIVAS 4 DIVAS as Chicago buzzed about Pop Diva-KUH LEDESMA, Asia’s Songbird-REGINE VELASQUEZ, Divine Diva-ZSA ZSA PADILLA, and Concert Queen-POPS FERNANDEZ. The four Divas shed their respective phenomenal titles and simply shared the center stage. The 4 Divas bombed the Arie Crown Theater in May with their amazing performances. It was also April when we had the opportunity to meet the vocal rock artists HEARSTFIELD, as they rocked Chicago with their Spring Fling Tour. This month is also a great celebration as my youngest son Rovic Joseph turned One! We had an amazing celebration of his birthday at the Holiday Inn Chicago-Elk Grove with friends and family.   

MAY 2009 unfolds as the powerhouse vocalist CHARICE debuts first single, “Note to God” on Oprah. The song was a bestseller in iTunes and Amazon.com and Charice’s career continues to bloom. This month is also a celebration of life of CPRTV executive producer and VT publisher, my nangni, Veronica Leighton as it is her birthday month. 

R&B Songstress and Oprah Winfrey’s Pop Star Challenge Champ, LASHELL GRIFFIN, graced CPRTV in JUNE 2009 and shared her “Dreams Are Possible,” LaShell herself is a living, breathing testimony to the truth of her heartfelt, voluminous assertion. Dreams Are Possible’s earnestness and authenticity is refreshing. LaShell Griffin has a beautiful voice and she’s also gorgeous inside out. Dreams Are Possible does her gift the highest justice. I love this month as well as it is my birthday month!

JULY 2009 was an exciting month as the phenomenon continued. Yes! The Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince finally came. It was the sixth installment in the Harry Potter franchise, a complete and very fulfilling sixth chapter to a franchise that, like a vintage of “pumpkin juice” just keeps getting better with age. 

In AUGUST 2009, we have featured and Asian Singing Sensation and Pinoy Pride, JULIA ROMAN ABUEVA, who’s paving her way to conquer Asia with her magnificent voice. We also had the opportunity to cover Rock N Roll Legend, RANDY BACHMAN’s concert, and shared the benefits of Yoga thru PEGGY CAPPY’s  “Heart Healthy Yoga” DVD.

It was mainstream once again when we had the chance to get to know the Fil-Am Hollywood Actor MICHAEL COPON in SEPTEMBER. Yes, the Power Ranger and “Felix” in One Tree Hill and the young Mathayus in Universal’s “The Scorpion King 2: Rise of A Warrior.” He was also one of America’s biggest heartthrobs and was voted on People’s Magazine’s 50 Hottest Bachelors in 2005 and was voted hottest male actor in 2006.  It’s also the same month when we learned about the “AS ONE” Concert of the two of the Philippines’ most successful and established music icons- Mr. Pure Energy- GARY VALENCIANO and Concert King- MARTIN NIEVERA. Through the years, GARY and MARTIN have each pursued successful and colorful careers that have spanned more than two decades. And although they were considered rivals during their salad years, GARY and MARTIN were both able to outgrow their so-called rivalry by elevating their artistry to a higher level of maturity and professionalism. They had an amazing performance at the Copernicus Center in October. 

OCTOBER 2009 marked the moment when I had the opportunity to meet the awesome Olympic Ice Skaters at Disson Skating’s “Skate For The Heart.” I had an amazing time to be “up close and personal” with the phenomenal Olympic, World and National Champions in the likes of JOHNNY WEIR, Three Time U.S. National Champion, 2008 World Bronze Medalist, 2008 Grand Prix Final Bronze Medalist & 2001 World Junior Champion, and JEREMY ABBOTT, 2009 U.S. National Champion and 2008 Grand Prix Final Champion, who were able to spare some of their time during their rehearsal for an interview with CPRTV. We also had the chance to get some footages of the show with performances of these Ice Skaters, American Idol’s JORDIN SPARKS, CHARICE, HONOR SOCIETY and KSM. We had the full review of the show in Wassup of November 2009. 

Our Comedy King. DOLPHY, graced the NOVEMBER cover of VIA TIMES and we have featured in Wassup the details of his “Nobody, Nobody but…Juan” movie. It was an official entry to the 2009 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), which opened on Christmas Day. The film was partly shot in the Philippines and here in Chicago. 

And now, this DECEMBER 2009, only a few days from the start of another year, another decade, I would like to take this opportunity to share a top ten list of year-end questions as a reflection. In order to embrace the new year, we must release the old. A trapeze artist cannot swing from one bar to another without letting go. An important part of preparing for a New Year is to review the past year, to release it, and to learn from it. To go where we wish to go and be whom we wish to be, we need to know where we are and who we are. An honest self-analysis is always helpful to gain clarity. As we end a year, it seems particularly fitting to devote some time to reflect on the year past and where we find ourselves as the New Year dawns. The following questions are from Michael Angier’s article that I received thru e-mail from a friend. It should stimulate your thinking for this process. Enter into discussions with people you care about. Write out your thoughts and feelings. Do some journal writing. Consider writing a letter--an end-of the-year-epistle to yourself. It could be profound to write it and valuable to read it in the years ahead. Reflect upon what you did, how you felt, what you liked, what you didn't like and what you learned. Try to look at yourself and your experience with as much objectivity as you can …much like a biographer would. Here are some suggestions to get you started in thinking over the past year or perhaps the last decade. Feel free to add your own questions too.

1. What did I learn? (Skills, knowledge, awareness', etc.)
2. What did I accomplish? (List of my wins and achievements.)
3. What would I have done differently? Why?
4. What did I complete or release? What still feels incomplete to me?
5. What were the most significant events of the year past? List the top three.
6. What did I do right? What do I feel especially good about? What was my greatest contribution?
7. What were the fun things I did? What were the things that were not fun?
8. What were my biggest challenges, roadblocks or difficulties?
9. How am I different this year than last?
10. For what am I particularly grateful?

Another suggestion: Consider listing all the things in your life of which you'd like to let go, anything you no longer want. Give thanks for what they've brought you in terms of learning and usefulness and then burn the list. It's a symbolic gesture to help you release the old and be open to the new. The next step is to list what you DO want … experiences, knowledge, material things, relationships, healings, whatever. In doing this, you'll be using the principle of vacuum …releasing what you don't want and embracing what you do. Use your year-end as a time to reflect, learn and grow. This will prepare you for a positive New Year ahead. 

On a side note, allow me to extend my special birthday greetings to Tita Anabelle Leyba (Nov. 14), Tita Haidee Angeles (Dec. 4), Laurenz David Felix (Dec. 9), Kaycee Patena-Cuyugan (Dec. 10), Ninong Orly Bernardino (Dec. 10), Ryan “Jack” Javate (Dec. 16), Rev. Alberto Liggayu (Dec. 20), Howell Felix (Dec. 20), Michelle Ola (Dec. 20), Janine Celdo (Dec. 21), Tita Joy Liggayu (Dec. 25), and, of course, to my ever-loving Daddy-yo, my Dad Ricky Calma (Dec. 28). I love you so much Dad! To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, thank you for your continued support. Please continue to share your blessed Sunday with us.

Metro Manila Film Festival Best Actor winner Senator Bong Revilla credits the advice of Philip Salvador as the reason for his win. The two arch enemies in “Ang Panday” are actually the best of friends in real life.

“He was the one who told me how to attack the role, so here we are now, both with awards.”

 Salvador won Best Supporting Actor, the same award he won in last year’s MMFF for “Baler.”

“Ang Panday” won a total of seven awards at the SMX convention center at the Mall of Asia, including the Best Picture plum and the Best Supporting Actor trophy for Salvador, who won the same award in last year’s MMFF for “Baler.”

The other categories dominated by “Panday” were Best Festival Child Performer – Robert ''Buboy'' Villar; Best Production Design, Richard Somes; Best Visual Effects, Jay Santiago/RIOT; and Best Theme Song, “Tanging Ikaw Lamang” by Ogie Alcasid.

“Mano Po 6: The Love of A Mother” was also a big winner with seven awards: Best Director for Joel Lamangan, Best Actress for Sharon Cuneta, Best Supporting Actress for Heart Evangelista, Best Screenplay for Roy Iglesias, and Outstanding Musical Score for Von De Guzman.

Mano Po 6 also took home the Most Gender Sensitive Film Award and the Gatpuno Antonio Villegas Award which is given to the film that highlights Filipino values best.

Star Cinema’s “I Love You Goodbye” bagged Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing. The film of Gabby Concepcion, Kim Chiu, Angelica Panganiban, and Derek Ramsey came out with the 2nd Best Picture award.

Cuneta was escorted to the podium for her acceptance speech by husband and Senator Francis Pangilinan.

She announced during her speech that they will be adopting a new baby boy.

Cuneta, echoing Revilla’s sentiments, also credited her onscreen rival Zsa Zsa Padilla for the award.

“Why are the most effective kontrabidas your closest friends? This is my first MMFF win and my first Regal film after 31 years in showbiz. Mother Lily should also win an award for her 53 years in showbiz,” she said.

“Si Jin Feng na si Boots Anson Roa ay nanay ko pa sa ‘P.S. I Love You’; siya ang inspirasyon ko. Ang award na ito ay para sa lahat ng ina sa rami ng delubyong sinapit natin. Tayong mga ina ay gagawin lahat para sa ating mga anak. Pumayat man ako o tumaba nandiyan kayo parati,” she said.


Rodolfo “Dolphy” Quizon was given the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his title as “Hari ng Komedya” and his 168 films spanning six decades. His previous awards include dramatic roles and Best Actor awards from Urian and FAMAS.

A posthumous award for film service was also given to Atty. Espiridon Laxa, one of the founders of MMFF.

In between major awards, Lea Salonga performed a stirring version of “Imagine” originally by John Lennon.