Focus on the Philippines: ‘Mr Pure Energy’ Gary Valenciano is returning to Dubai

Plus: actress Jodi Sta Maria nominated for an Emmy; beauty queen Venus Raj coming to Abu Dhabi; Filipino contestant makes it on The X Factor Australia.

Gary Valenciano. Courtesy ABS-CBN Entertainment

Filipino music superstar Gary Valenciano will be making his way to Dubai to entertain fans at a UAE concert. Dubbed as “Gary V Back in Dubai”, the show will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre Arena on December 1.

Valenciano, whose smooth vocals and fiery dancing have earned him the nickname “Mr Pure Energy”, previously performed in Dubai in 2008.

The 52-year-old singer is considered one of the most influential music artists in the Philippines. In a career spanning 38 years, he has released 26 chart-topping albums and has appeared in 18 films. Valenciano is currently a presenter and performer on the long-running musical variety programme ASAP and was previously a judge on The X-Factor Philippines and an adviser on The Voice of the Philippines.

During his Dubai show, he will be joined by his son Gab, a dancer and choreographer who was nominated last year for an MTV Video Music Award for his choreography of Beyonce's music video for her hip-hop track 7/11.

Tickets for the show (priced Dh95 for silver standing and Dh200 for gold seating) are available at Virgin Megastores, UAE Exchange branches and online on www.platinumlist.net and www.tickets.virginmegastore.me. Doors open at 7.30pm; the show starts at 8pm.

Actress Jodi Sta Maria nominated for an Emmy

Filipino actress Jodi Sta Maria has been nominated for the Best Actress award in the 2016 International Emmy Awards, which recognises the best television programmes produced outside the United States.

Sta Maria, 34, was cited for her performance in the television drama series Pangako Sa 'Yo (This I Promise You), which concluded its run in February. Sta Maria played the show's lead villain, Amor Powers. She will be competing against the veteran English superstar Judi Dench (Roald Dahl's Esio Trot), German actress Christiane Paul (Under the Radar) and Brazilian star Grazi Massafera (Hidden Truths).

The Filipino soap opera Bridges of Love was also nominated in the Best Telenovela category. Headlined by Maja Salvador, Paulo Avelino and Jericho Rosales, the drama series aired in 2015 and was filmed in Manila, Japan and Saudi Arabia.

The International Emmys ceremony will be held in New York City on November 21.

Beauty queen Venus Raj coming to Abu Dhabi

Filipino-Indian beauty pageant winner Venus Raj is headed to Abu Dhabi to lead workshops for aspiring ramp and fashion models. The 28-year-old Raj will be joined by Filipino model Mark McMahon.

Born to an Indian father and Filipino mother, Raj was raised in the Philippine province of Bicol. In 2010, she won the Miss Philippines pageant and represented the country during that year’s Miss Universe competition, where she finished as fourth runner-up. She has since appeared in several films and television programmes.

Organised by the UAE-based Brilliant Talents modelling agency, the series of workshops will be held from November 30 to December 2 at the Intaleq Languages and Training Centre and on December 3 at the Al Jaheli Theatre at the Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel. For more information, contact [e-mail]

Filipino contestant makes it on The X-Factor Australia

Another Filipino singer is making waves in an international reality singing competition. A 33-year-old performer known as Miss Powers impressed the judges on The X-Factor Australia on Tuesday after a spirited cover of James Brown's 1966 classic It's A Man's World.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Miss Powers immigrated to Australia in 2014, where she now works as a ballroom dancing and yoga instructor in Sydney.

“I’m so excited. This has been my lifelong dream,” she said in an interview backstage, while accompanied by several Filipino friends.

As Miss Powers belted out the first few bars of the song, she jumped into splits, shocking the panel and the live audience.

Judge Adam Lambert told her, “That was a big firework of an entry — I was very entertained. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store for us”.

Fellow judge Iggy Azalea praised her too adding: “We’ve seen a lot of performers and I think this is the most we’ve been entertained all day — you truly have a strong vocal. A 100 per cent yes for me”.

Guy Sebastian described the performance as “hands down the best opening to any audition I’ve ever seen”.

All three judges agreed to advance Miss Powers to the next stage of the competition, known as the boot camp rounds, which will air on October 17, 18 and 19.

The two most recent editions of The X Factor Australia have been won by Filipino contestants: pop crooner Cyrus Villanueva in 2015 and teenage singer Marlisa Punzalan in 2014.