JASMIN TRIAS - after American Idol - thoughts for Thia

Before Thia Megia, there was Jasmine Trias.

Jasmine Trias (Getty Images)
Jasmine, who was 17 years old when she joined Season Three of the "American Idol" stood alongside Fantasia Barrino and Diana DeGarmo as the season's top three finalists, even besting the now Academy Award Winner Jennifer Hudson.

In the Philippines, her debut self-titled album, "Jasmine Trias" reached platinum. She also became an in demand endorser capturing the hearts of most Filipinos with her talent, charm and smile.

But after her short stay in the country, whatever happened to Jasmine Trias?
Yahoo! OMG! Philippines was able to contact the original "American Idol" "Filipino pride" via e-mail and she graciously shared exciting details about her life, career, her advice to Thia and plans of going back to the country.

OMG: How are you? What's keeping you busy nowadays?
Jasmine Trias: I'm doing great thank you! It's a really busy and exciting time right now.
I decided to make the move from Hawaii to the mainland US, so I'm now based in the 'Entertainment Capital of the World', Las Vegas.
I spent most of 2010 performing live on the Vegas "Strip" with the Society of Seven, but recently I've been traveling a lot for live shows all over the world. I'm currently working on a new live show with British singer / songwriter, Ben Stone (www.benstonelive.com). I've also been back in the studio recording brand new original music for my upcoming second album. I'm working with some amazing songwriters and producers, so I'm excited about the new sound, and can't wait to release it. On top of all that, I'm almost done with my Business degree, which I've been completing online for the past few years. This was something I always wanted to do. I'm hoping to branch out and develop new business projects outside of my music career, in other areas I have an interest in as well.

OMG: How did 'American Idol' change your life?
JT: "American Idol" completely changed my life. It allowed me to follow my passion for music and singing as a career, which is a dream come true. My life was pretty much mapped out when I auditioned for American Idol. I had been offered a college scholarship and was all set to follow a career as a Nurse. Then literally everything changed overnight! I've met some amazing people along the way, and I get to travel the world doing what I love. I couldn't ask for more. A lot of doors open as a result of the exposure an international TV show gives you, so it's something I'm thankful for everyday and never take for granted. I try to enjoy each and every experience to the fullest.

Jasmine with Simon Cowell (Contributed photo)

OMG: Thia Megia is doing well in AI. What advice can you give her?
JT: I'm really happy to see another Fil-Am doing well on American Idol! I take great pride in my Filipino heritage, and think there is some incredible Filipino vocal talent out there, which should be showcased. I think Thia has been doing great, and is handling the pressures of the show well. I can relate with how she must be feeling, having gone through the American Idol experience at a very similar age.

My memories of the show are kind of a blur as everything was happening so quickly. There were so many life changing moments and experiences, that it was hard to take it all in at such a young age.

The best advice I can give Thia would be to enjoy every moment, and really try to savor the experience. Of course, be focused and work hard, but try not to get too stressed out. Have fun! Other than that, I think song choice is always a key ingredient to anyone's success on the show. Thia has a beautiful vocal tone, so hopefully they can find songs that best showcase this for her, and give her the greatest possible chance in the competition. That said, there's so much talent in the Finals this year, that she should already be extremely proud of herself for reaching this stage of the competition, regardless of what happens.

OMG: When are you going to visit the Philippines again?
JT: I've spent the last few years performing live, mostly in Las Vegas, really honing my vocal ability, as well as developing my skills as an all around entertainer. I'm passionate about my music, and I feel like I've grown a lot as an Artist since my debut album. I'm now back in the recording studio working on my long awaited second album, taking the reins more in the creative process this time around, finding a sound that represents me and where I'm at in my life right now.
This is an exclusive really, as I'm yet to talk about this, but I do plan to return to the Philippines later this year to promote my new album with a number of live concerts. I'm really excited to spend more time back in the Philippines, and perform for my fans there again, especially showcasing my new songs.

OMG: What do you miss most about our country?
JT: First and foremost, I miss the people. I really do feel at home in the Philippines, and I love how welcome my fans made me feel there. I also love the beautiful remote beaches, which in my opinion, are some of the very best in the world. Coming from someone born in Hawaii, that is saying a lot! I have to say I miss the Filipino food too!

OMG: Sorry I have to ask this... How's your love life? :)
JT: Well . . .  I'm not married yet. No kids yet. But I do have a boyfriend! :)

OMG: Message to your fans all over the world
JT: I'm thrilled to be making plans to return to the Philippines later this year. I have some exciting projects planned :) Thank you to all of my loyal fans around the world for your continued support. I love meeting you all at my live shows, and always try my best to continue to shine as your 'Filipino Pride'. I can't wait for you to hear the new songs off my upcoming second album. I promise it will have been worth the wait! Visit my Facebook fan page and follow me on twitter @jasminetrias for all the latest updates on my career including future live show dates, samples of new tracks from the upcoming album, prize giveaways, and more :)

Hollywood legend Elizabeth Taylor dies at 79

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor, whose violet eyes, tumultuous love life and passion for diamonds epitomized Hollywood glamour, died on Wednesday at age 79.
The star of "Cleopatra" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles surrounded by family after a long battle with congestive heart failure that sent her to the hospital six weeks ago.

In a career spanning seven decades, Taylor first gained fame in 1944's "National Velvet" at age 12 and was nominated for five Oscars. She won the best actress award for "BUtterfield 8" (1960) and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" (1966) with actor Richard Burton, whom she would marry twice.

Taylor's eight marriages, health problems, prescription drug addiction and ballooning weight often overshadowed her career, but she overcame adversity and used her fame to advocate for causes such as AIDS education and research.

Her death triggered an outpouring of tributes from Hollywood luminaries like Barbra Streisand, recording stars such as Elton John and politicians including former president Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Speaking for her family was her son, Michael Wilding, who called his mother, "an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humour, and love."
"It wasn't just her beauty or her stardom. It was her humanitarianism. She put a face on HIV/AIDS," Streisand said. John called her "a Hollywood giant" and an incredible human being.
In a joint statement, the Clintons called her "thoroughly American royalty."

GLAMOROUS HOLLYWOOD LIFE
Taylor was born on February 27, 1932, in London to American parents. She moved to the United States as a child and soon after her 10th birthday landed the lead in the 1942 film "Lassie Come Home," followed by her turn as a young girl who tames the fury of a wild horse in "National Velvet."

She confirmed her star power in 1958 in Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and cemented her reputation as among the greatest actresses of her generation playing a foul-mouthed alcoholic in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

She continued working through the 1970s, '80s and '90s, taking a variety of roles in movies and on television. In 1992, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences gave her its humanitarian honour. Her last movie was the 1994 live action comedy "The Flintstones."
But Taylor's fame went far beyond her screen life. After marriages to hotel magnate Conrad Hilton, British actor Michael Wilding and film producer Mike Todd, she found herself in a scandalous love triangle with singer Eddie Fisher and his wife actress Debbie Reynolds, before marrying Fisher.

Reynolds, 78, was gracious in remembering Taylor on Wednesday, calling her career long and productive and saying "no one else could equal Elizabeth's beauty and sexuality."
While filming the lavish "Cleopatra", at the time the most expensive movie ever made, in Rome in 1961, Taylor started a torrid affair with her married co-star Burton. The pair first wed in 1964 and Burton lavished her with furs and diamonds, including a $1 million pear-shaped jewel.
But the actors were as famous for their tempestuous relationship as they were for their love. They divorced in 1974, only to remarry in 1975 and divorce again in 1976.

"We enjoy fighting," Taylor once said. "Having an out-and-out, outrageous, ridiculous fight is one of the greatest exercises in marital togetherness."

She also married U.S. Senator John Warner and construction worker Larry Fortensky. "She was my 'partner' in laying the foundation for 30 years of public service in the U.S. Senate," Warner said. "We were always friends -- to the end.

TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH
As she grew older, the Hollywood legend began drinking heavily and grew addicted to prescription drugs. Her weight ballooned and she was lampooned by comedians. In 1983 she entered the Betty Ford Centre in California for treatment.
Yet, she overcame those problems, and when her friend Rock Hudson died of AIDS in 1985 she began a crusade to raise awareness and money to treat the deadly disease.
"She was among the first to speak out on behalf of people living with HIV when others reacted with fear and often outright hostility," said The American Foundation for AIDS Research, of which Taylor was founding national chairman.

In May 2000, Taylor received the title "Dame," the female equivalent of a knighthood, from Queen Elizabeth.

When her friend Michael Jackson was tried and acquitted on child molestation charges in 2005, she defended him in public.

In her final few years, the once legendary beauty took to using a wheelchair in public to cope with crippling back pain, but she was still making appearances at charity events.
She was first diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2004. She also had three hip replacement operations, a benign brain tumour, skin cancer, pneumonia and heart surgery.
Taylor died surrounded by her children, Michael Wilding, Christopher Wilding, Liza Todd, and Maria Burton. In addition, she is survived by 10 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Ogie spearheads celebrity ‘ukay-ukay’ for charity

Ogie Alcasid encourages celebrities—regardless of network alliance—to join their Celebrity "Ukay-Ukay" fund-raiser this April.

The proceeds of the event will go to the GMA Kapuso Foundation's Kapuso School Development Project which aims to build 50 public school classrooms every year.
"Since it is a Kapuso project, hindi lang naman nangangahulugan na puro lang Kapuso artists yung iniinvite namin na magdala ng wares nila. So if you're from the Kapamilya network, if you're from TV5, you're most welcome to bring your wares," Ogie said in a press conference last week.

He added, "We're not after kung sinong mas magaling na network dito. Our project is to raise money for all the classrooms found in public schools here in the Philippines that need repairs or to build classrooms perhaps in areas na walang eskwelahan."
Ogie said he has already asked the support of various talent managers and producers such as Annabelle Rama and Girlie Rodis for the charity project. He also revealed that Lily Monteverde of Regal Films have already donated one million pesos for the Kapuso School Development Project.

"I think one important aspect that's very clear is that the students and the teachers and the ones employed in those schools, they've regained the dignity that they've lost because of the calamities that destroyed all these schools. So I think more than the money, more than us repairing all those schools, the dignity that they regained from having those schools fixed I think is more important," Ogie said.

In an interview with GMA-7's "24 Oras" aired recently, Ogie said he acknowledges the difficulty of raising that much money for the project. "Pero wala namang imposible, di ba?" Ogie told "24 Oras."

"I am so thankful that Ogie and Regine are there to spearhead this project. And I'm so thankful na lahat ng kanilang colleagues in the industry are really, they're excited about the project," Mel Tiangco, Executive Vice President of the Kapuso Foundation, told "24 Oras."
She added, "Itabi muna natin yung taga ibang network ako, o iba yung aking pinagtatrabahuhan. Sapagkat ang project ay para sa bansa e, ang project ay para sa edukasyon ng kabataan natin. So lahat imbitado."

The Celebrity "Ukay-Ukay" will be held at the Summer Heat Wave event from April 15 to 17 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

Eddie Garcia, 89, works non-stop for 62 years

After 62 years in the entertainment industry, 89-year-old Eddie Garcia has a track record very few actors can match. Eddie has done close to 400 movies and television shows and shows no signs of slowing down. He has played almost every conceivable role: the archetypal villain, Fernando Poe Jr.'s perennial antagonist, real-life personalities with a clean image, henpecked husbands  and even screaming fairies, to name a few.

For his artistry, he has amassed countless awards — 11 acting  trophies and Hall of Fame recognition from Famas, an Urian Lifetime Achievement Award as well as an acting award for an indie film ("ICU Bed No. 7") from the Cultural Center's Cinemalaya. I haven't even mentioned his achievements as a movie director.

With the movie industry in the doldrums, television has given Eddie another medium to conquer. One of his projects, GMA-7's "Kung Mawawala Ka" ran for 60 weeks in 2002-2003. His last assignment was "Koreana" which aired its last episode on the Kapuso network recently.
Talk about being in demand. Only a few weeks after "Koreana" wrapped up, Eddie had a new assignment waiting for him from TV 5—the drama series "Babaeng Hampaslupa," which airs weeknights after "Willing Willie." He's up to no good again as he plays the role of Edward Wong, the brother of George Wong (Freddie Webb) who was shot dead in a previous episode.
Edward has just been released from a Hong Kong prison after serving 50 years. He was convicted of murdering his dad. Now he has surfaced to claim ownership of the Wong business empire. He's about to make life even more chaotic for the characters played by Susan Roces, Alice Dixson and Alex Gonzaga.

In the latest episode, Edward is the typical taipan, dressed impeccably and very business-like in his manners. Nothing seems  to faze the former detainee as he manipulates the characters around him. However, when Edward has a showdown with his nephew over control of the Wong businesses, he shows his nasty side. With apologies to the Daniel Day-Lewis movie, we know that "there will be blood (literally and figuratively)" in future episodes. Eddie is the perfect choice for this villain.

At a recent press con for "BH," I learn that Eddie is scheduled to leave for Clark Field for a taping. He says he will probably be up till 3 or 4 a.m. the next day. How does he cope with the long hours? He says he gets a lot of rest because sleeping is not a problem with him. He can sleep any time of day. He admits, though, that he can no longer handle physically demanding scenes like he used to do in action movies. "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak," he chuckles. Memorizing long lines is not a problem, though. "When I start having problems remembering my lines, I think that's the time I will retire," says Eddie.
Many show biz personalities invest their earnings in business ventures. Not Eddie. "I am not a businessman. I also believe that money earned but not spent is not your money." He does, however, lead a simple life. He doesn't care for jewelry, fancy cars or high-tech audio or video equipment.

Eddie's only "bisyo" is shooting, a hobby that he's cultivated since the 1960s. He  has a military background, having served with the Philippine Scouts in the 1940s. In 1949, he and a friend auditioned for roles in Manuel Conde's "Siete Infantes de Lara." He got in and never looked back after that.

Like many other senior stars like Dolphy and Gloria Romero, retirement is not in Eddie's vocabulary. In a previous interview, I asked him what he thought about growing old. His reply: "Everybody grows old. I'm not afraid of growing old. I'm not afraid to die. When your time is up…when you gotta go, you gotta go," he says with a wide smile on his face.

Charice’s personalized microphone

Have you noticed that when she performs on either stage or on live television, the microphone used by Charice Pempengco really stuns our eyes. Now, we’ll see the microphone closer and know more about it.

This is Charice’s microphone in a closer view. It was due to her endorsement of Sennheiser audio equipments that she was able to choose a design for her microphone. This microphone costs $999 or at least Php47,000. It is encrusted with Swarovski crystals, and it possesses her own signature.

 What amazes me though is the fact that the visitors who read the post Charice Visited Thailand aren't seem to be that interested about her visit in the country, rather, they are more fascinated and curious about her dazzling crystal-studded Sennheiser microphone.

 Limited-edition Sennheisen Charice microphones will be sold here in the Philippines.
Other international artists that do have customized microphones include Beyonce, Avril Lavigne, Nelly Furtado, Celine Dion and Rihanna.

Charice is now the brand ambassador of Sennheiser in the Philippines. Last November 26, the singer launched the limited-edition Sennheiser microphones that bear her signature. Executives of the German company also gave a microphone encrusted with Swarovski crystals (inset) as a gift to Charice.

Charice receives Swarovski-studded microphone from German company

 At the Fish & Co. restaurant at Shangri-La Plaza last Thursday, November 26, a video was shown of renowned musicians performing in jampacked venues. Beyonce, Nelly Furtado, Avril Lavigne, Rihanna and Celine Dion were all shown using Sennheiser microphones—the same brand that Filipina singer Charice is now endorsing.

 Charice used a gray microphone to sing the upbeat song "Fingerprint," which she performed for the first time in the Philippines.

 After her energetic song-and-dance number, the crowd immediately requested an encore. Before she performed another song, Charice chirped, "Ginaganahan ako kumanta dahil sa mic ko, e." She then performed the songs "Note to God" and Beyonce's "Halo." 

On closer inspection, one can see what makes the microphone special: it bears the signature of the singer and is encrusted with the patented Swarovski crystals. According to Sennheiser executives, only a limited number of these Charice-edition microphones will be available in the Philippines. 

How does she feel about being chosen by Sennheiser, a leading German audio electronics brand, to be its ambassador in the Philippines?

 "Kinilabutan ako nung sinabi nila na next endorser ako, kahanay nina Beyonce and Celine Dion," revealed Charice, because when she was only seven years old, she distinctly remembers wishing that she could have her own Sennheiser microphone.

"Nung nagsisimula akong kumanta [in singing competitions], nakikita ko iba-ibang kulay ng mga mic nila [her competitors]," recalled Charice.

According to the website of the German company, customizing a handheld microphone with 2,300 crystals can cost up to $999 (around P47,000). Mommy Raquel told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) how she came up with the design for Charice's personalized microphone.

"Binigyan kami ng mga designs, then ang pinili ko yung star. Kasi si Mariah Carey may sarili siyang mic. Sinasabi [ni Charice] dati, 'Sana may sarili rin akong mic.' Kaya napaiyak siya nung pinakita sa kanya yung mic kahapon sa pictorial."
In her statement, she once told herself when she was still a kid that she does want a microphone like this. Also, she saw her other competitors using different colors of microphones.