Events In and Out of Van Nuys

 

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From Boxing to Dancing, Pinoy is Tops

 

YES, THE FILIPINO is tops from boxing, to beauty contests, and dancing.

 

Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao from General Santos City, Cotabato demolished Erik ‘El Terrible’ Morales in their return bout last January 21 at the Wynn Resort Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada with a stunning 10-round technical knockout.

 

With his victory, Pacquiao is the first boxer ever to knock down the Mexican fighter in his entire boxing career. Pacquiao avenged his defeat in their first encounter when the Filipino boxer suffered a cut above his eye in the fifth round hindering his vision throughout the bout to lose the fight by decision.

 

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Precious Lara Quigaman from Laguna won the Miss International 2005 beauty pageant besting out contestants from all over the world through her talent and beauty.

 

Answering the question posed by the emcee: “What do you say to the educated people of the world who have typecast Filipinos as nannies?”

 

Her sharp but intelligent answer: “I take no offence on being typecast as a nanny. But I take offence that the educated people of the world have somehow denigrated the true sense and meaning of what a nanny is.”

 

“Let me tell you what she is. She is someone who gives more than she takes. She is someone you trust to look after the very people most precious to you—your child, the elderly, yourself. She is the one who makes a living out of caring and loving other people. So, to those who have typecast us as nannies, thank you. It is a testament to the loving and caring culture of the Filipino people. And for that, I am forever proud and grateful of my roots and culture.”

 

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And now comes Cheryl Burke, daughter of Manila-born Sherri Bautista Burke who grew up in San Jose, Nueva Ecija. A professional dancer, Cheryl with partner Drew Lacey of “98 Degrees” band danced away with the first prize trophy in “Dancing with the Stars” TV show of ABC Channel 7. Cheryl and Drew beat football star Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers and partner Anna Trebunskaya in the finals of the top-rated show.

 

In an interview with the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Cheryl said two Pinays inspired her to dance:

 

 “My mother, Sherri Bautista-Burke, dances and competes in a ballroom dancing, amateur level, with my step-dad Dr. Bob Wolf. Regretfully, I didn’t get to meet my grandmother, Rosario Bautista, who passed away even before I was born. She was a high school Physical Education teacher in the 1950s and 60s who brought beauty, grace and passion through dancing and inspired high school students in San Jose, Nueva Ecija. I believe I inherited her love for dancing.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lara Quigaman of the Philippines (center) gets a hug from runners up after she won the Miss International 2005 beauty crown. Below is precious Lara in the bathing suit portion of the contest.

2 Fil-Ams Win Top Award for Indie Film

Two Filipino-Americans have won the IFC/Acura Someone to Watch Award in the 2006 Independent Spirit Awards for their film “Cavite.”

Ian Gamazon and Neill Dela Llana, who were both born in the Philippines and grew up in the United States, received a $25,000 grant with the award handed out March 4 the day before the Oscar Awards. Top honors went to “Brokeback Mountain” for Best Picture and Ang Lee for Best Director.  At the Oscar Awards the following day, “Brokeback Mountain” and Ang Lee were also chosen Best Picture and Best Director, respectively.

“Cavite,” a film shot for 10 days in Cavite province south of Manila, tells the story of Adam, played by Gamazon, who goes home for his father’s funeral. A phone call at the airport upon his arrival, telling Adam that his family has been kidnapped, forces him to obey the anonymous callers’ order.

Asked what they would do with the $25,000 grant, Dela Llana replied, “We’ll pay the bills and, hopefully get another project off the ground.” The two Fil-Americans have been financing their feature films with credit cards.