Galing Pinoy

Poker star Toto Leonidas - Call his bluff

Monday, 10 August 2009 04:51 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Poker star Toto Leonidas - Call his bluff

CALLING Pinoy poker player Alfredo "Toto" Leonidas’ bluff is not always a good idea.

Just ask poker living legend Phil Hellmuth.

Hellmuth, the owner of 11 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and arguably, one of the best poker players in the world, called Leonidas’ bluff during the final table of the 2003 United States Poker Championship (USPC) and found himself with no more chips and his head buried in his hands in shock afterwards.

Hellmuth will always remember that moment as the championship that got away.

Ace Cruz Herrea - Hollywood Actor/Director/Producer/ Screenwriter wins award in International Film Fest

Monday, 03 August 2009 00:06 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

"AND the Best SciFi Picture Award goes to…OUTRAGE!"

Those amazing words will never be forgotten by Fil-Am Producer/ Actor/ Director Ace Cruz Herrera as he received the award for his brainchild movie during the Awards Show of the 2009 Action on Film (AOF) International Festival held in Pasadena last July 30.

The (AOF) International Festival is one of the most progressive film festivals on the scene today attended by writers, producers, directors and filmmakers from all over the globe. Held in the beautiful city of Pasadena, the AOF Festival Award Show recognizes the best from hundreds of films, videos, and documentaries from around the world.

Outrage, which won the Best SciFi Picture Award. stars Michael Madsen, Natasha Lyonne, and Michael Berryman, and Ace Cruz. Herrera, who also directed and produced the film.

The Philanthropic Life of Michael Balaoing, Senior Vice President of the Entertainment Industry Foundation

Sunday, 26 July 2009 21:36 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

MICHAEL John Balaoing is a firm believer of philanthropy. The word, derived from Ancient Greek meaning "to love people", is the act of donating money, goods, services, time and/or effort to support a socially beneficial cause, with no financial or material reward to the donor. Michael believes in the benevolence of the United States and its people. He believes in the age-old pursuit of love, kindness, compassion and generosity. And, he believes in the Philippines and the Filipino people, and in giving back to the land of his heritage.

Inspired by his Filipino parents, Aida and Johnny, who, like all immigrants, struggled and sacrificed to make a new life here in the US, Michael has a deep appreciation for the good life that America offers. He is aware that millions of Filipinos back home in the Philippines live a miserable life of depravity. And that is why he is passionate about helping make life better, not only for Filipinos, but for needy people in general.

Romie Adanza - Muay Thai Champ

Sunday, 19 July 2009 20:33 Joseph Pimentel / AJPress Los Angeles. Photos courtesy of www.iMuayThai.com

(7 votes, average: 4.43 out of 5)

PINOY fight fans know all about boxing champions Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire Jr., Brian Viloria, UFC mixed martial art stars Brandon Vera, Mark Munoz and Phillipe Nover but little is known about a small fighter with a big heart in the world of professional Muay Thai.

FilAm Romie Adanza is the current WBC Bantamweight US Champion in Muay Thai. "It would be great if I could be mentioned with the likes of those guys like Pacquiao and Brandon Vera," said the 29-year-old, 122-pound Adanza to the Asian Journal. "I’m not there yet but I’m hoping to be."

And Adanza will have his chance to be better known.

Cecile Marie Tecson – Visual effects artist

Sunday, 12 July 2009 23:33 Cynthia de Castro / AJPress Los Angeles

Behind some of Hollywood’s special effects is a Filipina

ALMOST any Hollywood movie, music video and TV commercial that you see today uses visual effects of some sort -- from the X-Men to Die Hard to car and burger commercials - visual effects make the imaginary look completely real! Visual effects (commonly shortened to VFX) create environments which look realistic, but would be dangerous, costly, or simply impossible to capture on film. If you go behind the scenes of most Hollywood films today, you will find incredibly talented visual effects artists who work with an amazing array of technology to create the incredible scenes in movies that look so real on the big screen! One of these very talented visual effects artists is a Filipino- American, Cecile Fortun Tecson.

Cecile has done a surprising array of visual effects that have been integral to the story and appeal of such movies as Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle, Hostage, Paycheck, Die Hard ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, The Spirit, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Music Videos for Celine Dion, N.E.R.D., Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, and others.