Alisah Bonaobra To keep up with the kids, one must remain a kid at heart.” In his 40 years on the music scene, Vehnee Saturno has composed countless classics for some of the country’s biggest artists. But despite his formidable body of work, the renowned songwriter and producer has never once felt that he could rest on his laurels. The industry is constantly shifting. And it’s his duty, he said, to stay in the moment and in tune with what’s happening around him—from today’s pop stars and prevailing trends to the latest advancement in production and consumer platforms. “Some writers my age feel they’re too old to learn new things. But you have to have the heart to adapt… I’m old-school. I started out when we marketed our music with physical records. But I have to study the digital market and streaming platforms,” he told the Inquirer in a virtual conference for “Kahit ‘Di Totoo,” the new single he wrote for singer Alisah Bonaobra. “We have to accept the fact that we can’t go …
For Shaina, having a love life isn’t a measure of one’s success
Shaina Magdayao If only finding a partner is as easy as creating bags,” quipped actress Shaina Magdayao, whose last public romantic relationship was with actor John Lloyd Cruz, before breaking up with him in 2012. “If only it’s that easy to design your ‘perfect partner’ and achieve that ‘perfect fit,’ with all the functionality and sustainability you require. Unfortunately, it’s not,” said the actress, while reacting to a question about her love life from show biz scribes during the virtual launch of her new business, The Organized Chicas. Since 2012, Shaina has been rumored to have dated other guys in the business, like fellow ABS-CBN contract artist Piolo Pascual, but she denied all of them. Besides, having a love life isn’t how one should measure personal success, the actress stressed. “As long as I”m doing everything with a purpose, as long as what I do isn’t just serving myself but also the people around me, then that’s already being successful,” Shaina pointed out. …
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Kiko Pangilinan on his case vs YouTubers, Sharon’s ‘wild’ movie trailer
Sharon Cuneta (left) and Kiko Pangilinan Kiko Pangilinan is now a certified vlogger. He recently launched his YouTube (YT) channel, KIKOnek. The cool senator spreads good vibes (GV) through his videos about “ReciPICKS” and “DadVice.” But not all vloggers are GV providers. Some are purveyors of bad vibes, just like the YT channels, Starlet and Latest Chika. Kiko filed a cybercrime complaint against the owners of both channels for their defamatory videos about him and his family. Also named in the complaint is Google Philippines’ country manager Bernadette Nacario. Here’s an update from Kiko: “The case is now with the DOJ and NBI,” he says. Sharon fully supports my decision to file these cases as we have been repeatedly bashed and trolled for years now and have held back, but they have gone too far. “We also believe Google, YouTube and other social media platforms cannot simply close their eyes while all the filth and garbage are being spread to millions of viewers while they …
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Robredo says she’s not focusing on 2022 elections due to COVID-19 response
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo was asked again about her plans for the 2022 National Elections, to which her answer remained the same — that she is still holding out on making a decision amid her office’s COVID-19 response. But aside from her usual answer, Robredo also offered a view into other public officials’ mindsets — like Manila Mayor Isko Moreno — whom she said may also be unable to plan for 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an interview on Friday, the Vice President said that she believes she and Moreno have been intent on fixing the health crisis first and foremost, that they have set aside political talks as of now. “Nakita ko siya (Moreno) sa partnership namin ano rin siya, eh, nagre-raise din siya for herd immunity so grabe rin iyong concentration nila sa COVID response,” Robredo told reporters in her hometown of Naga City, where the Office of the Vice President (OVP) recently launched the Nagavax Express program. (I saw Mayor Moreno during …
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Odd couple: Mayfield, rocker Alice Cooper team for TV spot
5 CLEVELAND (AP) — Baker Mayfield never dreamed of being on a team with Alice Cooper. The Browns quarterback also had no idea the legendary rocker, known for theatrical stage shows featuring pyrotechnics, snakes and a guillotine, had more serious skills. "He's a scratch golfer,” Mayfield said of the 73-year-old Cooper, who shot three strokes below his age during a round at an area country club this week. The unlikely pairing of Mayfield and one shock rock's godfathers took place during a TV commercial shoot for Progressive's popular “At Home With Baker Mayfield” campaign, which features Mayfield and his wife, Emily, living inside FirstEnergy Stadium, home of the Browns. In the new spots for the award-winning campaign's third season, Mayfield and Cooper are neighbors. Mayfield, who led the Browns to their first playoff berth since 2003 last season, knew only a little about Cooper before their first meeting. He was aware of …
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Cleveland’s baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians
6 CLEVELAND (AP) — Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland’s Major League Baseball team will be called Guardians. The ballclub announced the name change Friday — effective at the end of the 2021 season — with a video on Twitter narrated by actor and team fan Tom Hanks. The decision ends months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to drop logos and names considered racist. The choice of Guardians will undoubtedly be criticized by many of the club’s die-hard fans, some of whom quickly went on social media to vent. The organization spent most of the past year whittling down a list of potential names that was at nearly 1,200 just over a month ago. But the process, which the club said included 140 hours of interviews with fans, community leaders, front office personnel and a survey of 40,000 fans. Owner Paul Dolan said last summer’s social unrest, touched off by the killing of …
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Mario Batali harassment probe settlement: $600K to accusers
NEW YORK (AP) — Celebrity chef Mario Batali, his business partner and their New York City restaurant company have agreed to pay $600,000 to resolve a four-year investigation by the state attorney general’s office into allegations that Batali, restaurant managers and other workers sexually harassed employees. The money will be split among at least 20 former employees of B&B Hospitality and their Manhattan restaurants Babbo, Lupa and the now-closed Del Posto, all of which Batali co-owned with Joseph Bastianich until March 2019, Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday. The company must also revise employee training materials and submit reports to the attorney general’s office for the next three years documenting harassment and discrimination training and policies. Batali, whose high-flying career crumbled amid myriad sexual harassment and misconduct allegations, was accused in the New York investigation of pulling a waitress’ hand toward his crotch as she served him and …
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EXPLAINER: Does suspension end Giuliani’s career in law?
CHICAGO (AP) — The days of practicing law for the mob-busting prosecutor turned point man for pushing Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election may be over. Rudy Giuliani’s law license has already been suspended in his home state. That suspension, in practice, may well amount to a national suspension. A New York appeals court took the action in June, saying Giuliani's bid to discredit the election was so egregious that he poses “an immediate threat” to the public. Here’s a look at the implications for the 77-year-old Giuliani: WHAT’S THE RIPPLE EFFECT IN OTHER STATES? States have an interest in weeding out lawyers deemed unethical. So when one state takes steps against a lawyer, other states typically take the same steps. That means there will be few places, if any, where Giuliani will be able to practice law or appear in court on behalf of clients as long as his New York license is suspended. States seek to mirror disciplinary actions of other states under …
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New Orleans Saints WR Michael Thomas could miss NFL games after ankle surgery, source confirms
METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas underwent ankle surgery in June and could miss time at the start of the season as a result, a source told ESPN, confirming multiple reports. Thomas, 28, was plagued by the ankle injury throughout last season, and ESPN's Adam Schefter had previously reported that he was expected to undergo surgery to repair the torn deltoid and other injured ligaments in his ankle. It is unclear why Thomas had surgery so late in the offseason, but the goal is a full recovery. Thomas missed nine games over two stints on injured reserve last season after initially injuring the ankle in Week 1. He finished with 40 catches for 438 yards in the regular season and didn't catch his first touchdown pass until the playoffs. Not having Thomas available would increase the degree of difficulty for Saints quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill as they battle to replace the retired Drew Brees. The Saints were already thin on …
Cleveland changing name from Indians to Guardians after 2021 season
Known as the Indians since 1915, Cleveland's Major League Baseball team will next be called the Guardians. The ballclub announced the name change Friday with a video on Twitter narrated by actor Tom Hanks, ending months of internal discussions triggered by a national reckoning by institutions and teams to permanently drop logos and names considered racist. The name change is effective at the end of the 2021 season. The organization spent most of the past year whittling down a list of potential names that was at nearly 1,200 just over a month ago. But the process, which the team said included 140 hours of interviews with fans, community leaders, front-office personnel and a survey of 40,000 fans, quickly accelerated, and the club landed on Guardians. Team owner Paul Dolan said last summer's social unrest, touched off by the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, spurred his intention to change the club's name. "We are excited to usher in the next era of the deep …
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