Binibini ties the knot

Curtain-raisers:

• Did you know that Actor R hasn’t been sleeping at home for almost a month now? Is there any problem between him and his actress-wife C? Oh my, this couple never seems to run out of problems, domestic or otherwise.

• Could it be true that a popular actress has sold her multi-million-peso house in a posh subdivision outside of Manila? The buyer is a prominent Chinese magnate.

• You didn’t know that a controversial showbiz couple spent a bakasyon grande in Palawan, did you? Actor J reportedly spent more than P2M for that summer holiday with his girlfriend-actress A. Really now, haven’t you forgotten the opening line in F. Scott Fitzgerald novel The Great Gatsby? Yes: The rich are different from you and me…

• BREAKING NEWS: It Takes a Man and a Woman, the third starrer of John Lloyd Cruz and Sarah Geronimo for Star Cinema, is well on its way to dislodging Sisterakas as the company’s biggest grosser. During its two-week run (March 30 to April 12), Man/Woman has already raked in close to P300M, making JLC and Sarah the real Box-Office Couple. It continues to draw record crowds nationwide.                                                                  

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As the Bb. Pilipinas Pageant celebrates its 50th anniversary with a “golden” show tomorrow night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum (aired live by ABS-CBN), one former title-holder may be on Cloud 9 enjoying her honeymoon.

She’s none other than Colette Centeno Glazer, 1998 Bb. Pilipinas-International, who tied the knot with her bedimpled British boyfriend Michael Fox (namesake of the actor, minus the “J”) last Arpil 1 at the Gosfield Hall in Essex (England), described by Funfare’s “beauty experts” Felix Manuel, Joey Cezeare, Gery Yumping and Francis Calubaquib who filed this report as “a stunning Georgian manor house that was built in 1545 by Sir John Wentworth, a member of Cardinal Wolsey’s household, and hosted by Royal visits by Queen Elizabeth I and her grand retinue throughout the middle of the 16th century.”

Felix recalled that he and his group first featured Colette in this corner in 1998 and then in 1999 when she had her debut.

The “beauty experts” said that Colette, a statuesque morena beauty, met Michael in 2009. He proposed to her Christmas Eve of 2012. Michael decided to have a treasure hunt around the flat where he carefully put together some poems with songs. On top of the Christmas Tree was the last present: A  heart locket Christmas decor which Colette handed to Mike who was down on one knee.

“The half-a day-long wedding event was attended by family and friends of the couple,” added Felix.

The entourage included:

• Bridal Party: Mother of the bride, Rizalina Glazer; Father of the Bride, Mark Glazer; Maid of Honor, Chantal Glazer; Matron of Honor, Maria Myla Dinglasan; Bridesmaids, Stefanie Pisani and Rebecca Letchford; and Junior Bridesmaid, Theanna Arriola.

• Groom’s Party: Mother of the Groom, Susan Fox; Father of the Groom, Clive Fox; Best Man, Tim Woods; Groomsmen, James Costello, Stephen Fox, Paul Gregory and Seymour Orton; and Games Master, Robert Hulme.

The Platters recorded a Filipino love song

Did you know that The Platters (Second Generation) recorded a Filipino love song? (The Third Generation Platters was here recently for a concert.)  

Funfare contributor Tato Malay is reminding readers (who must have heard about the news years ago) that the song was the poetic What Name Shall I Give You My Love, composed by the multi-talented George Sison, included in the album The Platters Have The Magic Touch released in the US in 1965 and as a single in the United Kingdom.

“We’re talking about the inclusion of a Filipino song in an album for international release to let every Filipino realize that our songs have always been acceptable in the international market,” said George. “We don’t have to indulge in wishful thinking every time we desire to make it globally. I, too, believed the same way a few decades ago, however.”

George recalled to Tato how he got his songs published in the US.

“One day, I simply decided to have my songs published in America. In one of my trips to the USA, I brought my compositions with me which were already recorded by Pilita Corrales, Asia’s Queen of Song. In the hotel, I simply opened the Yellow Pages to music publishers’ section, pointed a finger, went down the list, and wherever my finger stopped I called. 

“It happened to be Gon-Jo Publishing Company. The only question the guy who talked to me asked was if the songs were in English, I said yes. And then he asked me to come over. 

“I showed up with the album. They listened and asked me to come back in a few days to sign a contract. But before the appointed day Gon-Jo called and said, ‘Mr. Sison, the second generation Platters is interested in recording one of your songs, do you mind?’  

“I was so astounded, all I could say was, ‘Are you pulling my leg?’ The rest is history.

“That’s when I fully realized that we have always been acceptable in the international market.” 

Love From A Distance, another composition of George’s, was bought by the manager of Frank Sinatra with the intention of including it in one album of the world-renowned crooner. 

“Unfortunately, Sinatra’s manager had a misunderstanding with Gon-Jo Publishing Company which could not be settled immediately before recording time, so it did not make it to the album,” Sison recounted. 

Meanwhile, Tato said that those who would like to listen to The Platters’ rendition of What Name Shall I Give You My Love can access it on YouTube which has been uploaded by a fan of the haunting song.

Added Tato, “Two new renditions of the song are also in the double CD album Only Love Remains of Bo Cerrudo and classical pianist Raul Sunico (yes, the incumbent president of the Cultural Center of the Philippines). The album features vocal and piano interpretations of Sison’s compositions. 

“For sure there are many other Filipino songs that have been recorded many times over and in varying formats or even in varying tempos or genres. That’s a good credit how remarkable Filipino composers are and how much potential they have for the global market,” Sison concluded.

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. You may also send your questions to [email protected].)