CHARICE's Another Amazing Performance

It was another jaw- dropping performance made by the "Most Talented Girl in the World", Charice when she  guested at the annual "Christmas at the Grove" tree lighting celebration held last Sunday evening, November 21 in Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Mario Lopez of America's Best Dance Crew.

The young Filipina diva sang the song, "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" with the American Idol Season 7 Runner Up, David Archuleta. The song is included in Archuleta's Christmas album, "Christmas From the Heart" which was released last year. After the duet, Charice had a chance to shine on her own by belting the songs "Jingle Bell Rock" and "My Grown- up Christmas List" respectively.

As you can see in the video, she didn't just amazed the crowd but also the musicians who were standing and listening to her songs including the R&B Legend and Grammy Award winner singer, song- writer and guitarist, Jonathan Butler (the left- handed guitarist on the right).

Charice is expected to fly and perform in New York with Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Boyle and other known international singers for the NBC's 13th "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" special.

Accent Training: American T Part 1

The American T is influenced very strongly by intonation and its position in a word or phrase.

If the T is at the beginning of the word, it is strong and aspirated.

Examples: two, table, ten, time, tease

Sentence: Teddy took ten tickets.

If the T is at the end of the word, do NOT aspirate it - that makes the T not heard at all.

Examples: put, lot, hot, sit, cut

Sentence: It was cut short, right?

But in the Past Tense of words ending in unvoiced consonant sounds - f, k, p, s, ch, sh - T is strong and aspirated.

Examples: tricked, dropped, watched, washed, stuffed

Charice joins Mariah Carey in NBC's Christmas Special

November 30 will be a big day for the young Filipina singer, Charice as her name joins the list of big names in the international music industry such as Mariah Carey, Josh Groban, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson, Sheryl Crow, Susan Boyle, just to name a few. They are all expected to perform in NBC's 13th "Christmas in Rockefeller Center" Special. Another performance we all shouldn't miss to watch!

In a recent interview, the young singer said that she was overwhelmed when she got the invitation to perform and light up the world- famous giant Christmas tree- a real must- see attraction in New York City!

Charice, the only Asian artist to land in the Top 10 of Billboard 200,  is currently in the country after completing the Asian Tour of David Foster and Friends, with sold- out tickets and performances that received standing ovations from audiences from Manila, Tokyo, Jakarta, Bangkok and Singapore.

A Korean Actress Insults Filipinos

Many Filipinos became furious after watching Lee Da Hae, a Korean actress and commercial model in her guest appearance in one of the talk shows of Korean Broadcasting System (KBS).

In the episode, Lee Da Hae tried to imitate how her American, British and Filipino teachers speak English by saying, "Excuse me. I'm a little bit thirsty. Can I have a glass of water please?"

It is evident that after she said the sentences in American and British accents, she intentionally made it sound very insulting as she tried to copy the way her Filipino teacher speaks the sentences. As for me, her imitation of all the accents is not credible or commendable and a total failure! She tried so hard and just wasted her effort!

Lee Da Hae was part of the Koreanovela,  "East of Eden" which is currently shown on GMA 7.

This is Lee Da Hae's complete explanation about the incident:

"First, I'd like to give you my sincere apologies for what seems to be a misunderstanding.

"It has come to my attention that many of you from the Philippines have posted comments protesting that i was being derisive by mimicking Filipinos when they speak English.

"Therefore, in light of this matter I'd like to take this opportunity to clear the air.

"In spite of what many people believe, I myself did NOT mention anything about the Philippines or Filipino accent whilst on the TV show.

"On the other hand, I recall bringing up Southeast Asia and not the Philippines, and the subtitles were inserted when the show was being edited, of which I was not aware of until it was aired.

"The TV show where this footage was taken from was designed to amuse its audience and my sole purpose was to entertain the viewers by coming up with lighthearted stories.

"Since the producer knows that i speak English he asked me if I could share any episodes that touch upon the English language.

"As we all know every country has a typical accent when its people speak English (including myself) so after giving it some thought, I came up with a few lines where I simply tried to compare different English accents: the somewhat rigid British accent and beginners in Southeast Asia whose English tends to be a little hard-edged. No pun or ridicule was intended.

"As an individual who used to take English classes over the phone with a Filipino instructor, I give you my word that even the mere thought of mocking Filipinos would never cross my mind.

"I cannot tell you how much Filipino fans mean to me and as much as I love them, I would in no way hurt or upset them.

"I hope I have clarified any misunderstandings and once again I am truly sorry if I inadvertently hurt anyone's feelings.

"I really love you, my Filipino fans."

Well, it's all for you to decide! I felt very much insulted! Don't you think that it is just right to be grateful to your English teacher no matter what accent he/she has because you owe him/her a lot for the development of your English abilities? Clearly, that is something Lee Da Hae should learn!

A Filipino "Bad- Twitting" Vietnam, What A Shame!

 Early this morning as I had my breakfast, I watched TV and came across this topic being discussed on ABS- CBN's Umagang Kay Ganda with one of it's hosts, Mr. Anthony Taberna interviewing Mr. Ed Lingao of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism and Ms. Ellen Tordesillas, a veteran columnist-journalist. . I was so disturbed and even angered after hearing that President Benigno Aquino III on his visit to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Vietnam brought with him a female delegate who posted negative comments about Vietnam on her Twitter account! As my eyes were glued on the TV monitor, I found out that this female delegate, Ms. Carmen "Mai" Mislang was exchanging tweets with Mr. Ricky Carandang. Ms. Mislang is President Aquino's Speechwriter/Assistant Secretary while Mr. Carandang is the Secretary and both of them work for the same office, the Presidential Communications Office for Strategic Planning and Development.

Ms. Mislang tweeted to Mr. Carandang:
"the wine served during the banquet 'sucks'"
"there were no handsome men here"
"the easiest way to die is to cross the motorcycle- filled streets in Hanoi"

As I watched Mr. Taberna's interview to Mr. Lingao and Ms. Tordesillas further, Mr. Lingao said that Ms. Mislang should have just sent text messages to Mr. Carandang instead of posting her negative comments on Twitter and he sees this act is really "careless". And according to Ms. Tordesillas, Ms. Mislang's action is very rude - that when you are invited to a dinner, you have to be grateful and not supposed to complain behind the hosts' backs about the food or wine or complain that you are not dining with "handsome" men. And she also mentioned that the wine they were served during the banquet is not Vietnamese but Chilean. Well, it's just a matter of GMRC, Good Manners and Right Conduct!

On a personal note, I think what Ms. Mislang posted on her Twitter account is really unacceptable! She was not asked to be with our president for nothing. It must be her first time to go to Vietnam and with that, she doesn't have the right to say anything bad about the Vietnamese country and its people! I am also a Filipino and so ashamed with what Ms. Mislang has done! I was able to live and work in Ho Chi Minh City for 6 months and Hai Phong for 8 months but I never dare to say anything harsh about Vietnamese people! She should have known that these people are beyond what our eyes can see. With all my experiences living and working in Vietnam for a short time, I can truly say that Vietnamese people are close to my heart. They are very friendly and warm, something that the whole world should know!

I feel really bad about this and I can say that it's not only me who feels this way. Many Filipinos are angered by what Ms. Mislang did. Some people commented on some news sites that Ms. Mislang should be fired for her bad behavior. In fact, somebody made a spoof account of her on Facebook. Click the link
http://zh-hk.facebook.com/pages/Maria-Carmen-Mislang/163873206968099 and see how this issue made many Filipinos' hackles up! It is because many of us believe that this action of Ms. Mislang is not what an "educated" person should do specially someone who works for the government. Even though Ms. Mislang has already asked forgiveness for what she did and deleted her Twitter account, I think it's not enough. For sure, this chapter will not be closed until she gets what she deserves.

To everyone, here's something we all have to learn, as Mr. Taberna closed his segment on Umagang Kay Ganda, he said, "Bawal ang mayabang!" (Arrogance is forbidden!). And that sentence sums it all up...