Filipino maids in Hong Kong

From the Associated Press:

HK star Lau channels China earnings to local films -

"While mainland China is now enjoying the fruits of rapid economic growth after years of political upheaval and central economic planning, Hong Kong has long enjoyed a high standard of living thanks to its bustling port economy. Filipino maids and domestic helpers from other Southeast Asian countries are common among middle-class Hong Kong families, let alone the super wealthy."

Gaga on See-boo Pacific

This morning I was watching E! News, and on their "So True/So False" segment, Jason Kennedy asked: "Were flight attendants in an airline in the Philippines fired because of dancing to Lady Gaga? This is so false."

Kennedy identified the airline as Cebu Pacific, which he pronounced /see'-boo/. He says there have been 5 million hits, but when I checked 12 hours after the show, there have been 7 million views. Kennedy opines that those are nice Gaga-worthy moves, and Ryan Seacrest added, without a hint of irony: "Those would calm me in an emergency water landing."

This is the third consecutive day I'm writing about the Philippines finding itself on the world stage. Isn't that interesting?

Does it mean the Philippines is now most certainly a major player in pop culture (with Charice also being on Glee)? Or that I watch too much television? 

International Emmy nods 2010

The nominees for the International Emmy Awards have been announced. The Philippines got two nominations, both of them for ABS-CBN.

From The Star Tribune:

"Hoskins and Sbaraglia will be competing in the best actor category with Germany's Sebastian Koch for "Sea Wolf" and the Philippines' Sid Lucero for "Dahil May Isang Ikaw" ("Because There Is Only You"), which was also nominated for best telenovela...."

That's the British actor Bob Hoskins and the Argentine actor Leonard Sbaraglia.

Last year Angel Locsin got nominated as best actress for Lobo ("The Wolf").

Not being Alec Baldwin

This afternoon I was watching The Dish. At the start of the program, they showed a clip of William Baldwin asking Venus Raj that major question.

After the clip, host Danielle Fishel quipped:

"Later, Miss Philippines asked William Baldwin his biggest mistake, and he said: "Not being Alec Baldwin." (At which point the TV screen behind her showed a picture of Alec holding up an Emmy.)

Then Fishel added: "It could be worse (mock-whispering 'Stephen Baldwin' while they showed Stephen's picture). "

(Photo from http://nookdeejung.blogspot.com/2010/08/top-15-miss-universe-2010-contestants_25.html )

Steve McQueen married a Filipina?

In the past month, I've been catching episodes of The Vampire Diaries, which is a cross between Dawson's Creek and I Know What You Did Last Summer- creations both by Kevin Williamson, who, incidentally, is the show runner of The Vampire Diaries.

In this horror-fantasy show, newcomer Nina Dobrev plays Elena, a young woman in love with Stefan, who turns out to be a vampire. Dobrev could be a stand-in for Katie Holmes (Dawson's Creek), or Shiri Appleby in Roswell, yet another teen drama on interspecies romance from the past.

The attraction to tune in, for me, was Ian Somerhalder, who plays Stefan's brother, Damon. You see, he was the first series regular in Lost to have been killed off, and you might know how addicted I am to all things Lost. (Watch Jimmy Fallon perform a "musical tribute" for dearly departed groundbreaking TV series at the 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards.) He is surprisingly wicked here in TVD, especially when you consider that he played a good guy in Lost.

One of the cast members listed in the credits is one Steven R. McQueen, and I have always wondered why he would use such a screen name.

Then I came across this Wikipedia entry on him (apparently he's the one who plays Elena's younger brother, Jeremy):

"Steven R. McQueen... best known for his role as Kyle Hunter in Everwood....

(He) was born in Los Angeles, California.... His paternal grandparents were actor Steve McQueen and Filipino-born actress Neile Adams."

The entry for Neile Adams states:

"Ruby Neilam Salvador "Neile" Adams... is a Filipino-American actress, singer and dancer....

...was born in Manila, in the Philippines. Her mother, Carmen Salvador, was of English, Chinese, and Filipino ancestry. Her mother... was the sister of basketball player and actor Lou Salvador, Sr..... was first married to... actor Steve McQueen, who insisted that she not work. Adams' influence with agents helped McQueen establish his own career.

In 1960, she co-starred with McQueen and Peter Lorre in a memorable episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents based on Roald Dahl's short story Man from the South. Recently, Adams has appeared in her own eponymous one-woman cabaret show."

Anyone who can confirm any of this?

(photo from tvfanatic.com/gallery/steven-r-mcqueen-photo/)

Dandy and Eccentric

From The State last week (June 17):

"LONDON- Self-styled dandy and noted British eccentric Sebastian Horsley,who found fame by having himself nailed to a cross in the Philippines, died Thursday at the age of 47....

Horsley is perhaps best known for a bungled attempt to have himself crucified in the Philippines in 2000 as part of an art project. The procedure almost ended in disaster when his foot support broke, threatening to rip his hands apart (he was caught and taken down from the cross just in time.)"

Yes- getting yourself nailed to a cross makes you dandy and eccentric. If you are rich. Otherwise, sira-ulo ka lang (You're just plain crazy).

No kisses for Asimov?

From couponsherpa.com last week - Isaac Asimov's Book of Facts supposedly contains this bit:

"The Tinguian people of the Philippines kiss by putting their lips close together and inhaling. (There must be a brisk business for breath mints among the Tinguian.)"