MovieGoer
Nina gives up on showbiz boys
Nestor Cuartero

TWO FAILED romances with fellow singers must have sent a message, a healthy advice, to petite soul singer Nina’s heart. Done with men who sing. Over na. It’s time to shift gears and fall in love with someone out of the biz.

Nina candidly admitted during a media lunch Monday she’s happy with her new love, the scion of a taxi company and who’s just about her age, 27.

‘It’s better this way, iwas-intriga,’ she explained. The singer admitted her falling-out with her first showbiz boyfriend, Jimmy Bondoc, had been traumatic.

‘Binitay ako,’ she laughed. She and Jimmy have not been speaking and also have not done shows together since.

Nina blamed conflicts in sche-dule pushed her and Nyoy Volante away from each other. ‘We say hi and hello when we see each other. I know we can still be friends,’ she said.

Nina rationalized her relationship with Volante must have developed due to constant togetherness at the time they both peaked as acoustic singers.

She has remained focused on spreading acoustic sound. On Valentine’s Day, Nina topbills ‘My Simple Heart’ at One Esplanade at the SM Mall of Asia complex with Wency Cornejo as guest. Her repertoire shall consist of songs from the 70s and 80s.

Five days earlier, on Feb. 9, Nina co-stars with Marissa Sanchez and Mark Bautista in another Valentine concert, ‘A Hearty Dinner Show,’ at Le Pavillon on Roxas Boulevard.

http://www.tempo.com.ph/news.php?aid=36576

The most romantic thing
By : Edgar O. Cruz | Entertainment Editor
5 February 2008 | 3:05 PM

Here are your favorite stars no-fuss answers to the question: What’s the most romantic thing then did for love?

*snipped*

Nina: “I drove to Tagaytay (with my driver) to be able to have dinner with his family.”

http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/celebs/article.aspx?id=199686

Nina admits cause of breakup with Nyoy
By : Edgar O. Cruz | Entertainment Editor
5 February 2008 | 10:11 AM

"We were always working together that we forgot the personal side of our relationship," Nina admitted to Yehey! Entertainment the cause of her breakup with Nyoy Volante. The Soul Siren is doing the My Simple Heart concert at One Esplanade on Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. and this allowed BuzzBox to confront her with the often passed-up question. She continued, "When Nyoy and I recognized the problem, we have fallen out of love. It was easy for us to let go." Nina has such a simple heart that she moved on as soon as she was ready to fall in love to a non-showbiz guy. What's his name? She refused to disclose as if she wanted the romance a secret. But her new love life will watch her Valentine concert that is why she's inspired to deliver the best one she can. Ernie Duque directs.

Besides her well-loved songs, Nina has two big surprises in her repertoire: she’ll do an exciting slow version of “I Will Survive” and show she’s got the power to ballroom dance the first time in a concert. Wency Cornejo guests. Cocktail buffet opens at 7:30 p.m. One Esplanade at the SM Mall of Asia Complex, is the most chi chi place to spend Valentines in. Enjoy hassle-free parking. Tickets are pegged at P2,500 and P2,000. For ticket reservations, call 832-5746 and 826-9173. JSU Enterprise and Hardy’s Entertainment are producers.

http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/celebs/article.aspx?id=199662

Nina bares her heart's simple joys at One Esplanade concert



Walden Sadiri

A big artist like Nina deserves to hold a concert in a venue that will give justice to her voice.

Iconic balladeer Basil Valdez was the first performer to perform at One Esplanade. His fans were not disappointed. One Esplanade proved to be the perfect place to match Valdez’s immense talent as a singer.

Nina’s Valentine show "My Simple Heart" will be held at One Esplanade located along Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

"I’ve heard a lot of good things about One Esplanade na malaking venue at maganda siya at marami na ang nag-show doon. Siyempre merong pressure for me so sana maraming manood," said Nina.

Danny Sotto, chief executive officer of One Esplanade, has only praises for Nina’s talent.

Sotto is also one of the partners of Hardy’s Entertainment which is co-producing "My Simple Heart" together with JSU Enterprise.

"Nina and her audience will enjoy the place because of it’s serene ambience, and because it is very private and very conducive for shows kasi maganda ang acoustics’ and the place is an ultra-modern venue for concerts, seminars, and conventions. We invested a lot for this kasi we really wanted the place for concerts. Even Ryan Cayabyab said that it only took him 30 minutes to fine tune all his musical instruments because we have very good acoustics at One Esplanade," explained Sotto.

This early, Nina’s fans are scrambling to reserve tickets for the concert. Sotto said an entire family will fly all the way from the US just to watch Nina’s concert.

An avid fan of Nina said she played the CD’s singer when she was pregnant.

"I’m flattered to hear that and I hope I could meet that family personally on my concert," quipped the singer.

Included in her repertorie are the hit love songs from the 70s and 80s.

"Simple lang ang heart ko but happy - what with my blessings in love and career, of family and friends. Yung mga songs na kakantahin ko sa show talk about the different levels of love – happy love, sad love, iba-ibang story. I will also sing some Barry Manilow songs which I have been singing and of course yung mga songs ko na kilala ng mga tao," she described.

Nina’s special guest is Wency Cornejo.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR20080208116429.html

 

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

02/09/2008

Togetherness kept Nina and Nyoy apart

“We were always working together that we forgot the personal side of our relationship,” Nina admitted as the cause of her breakup with Nyoy Volante. The Soul Siren is doing the My Simple Heartconcert at One Esplanade on Feb. 14 at 9 p.m. The intimate interview with Nina allowed Buzzstation to ask her the often passed-up question. She continued, “When Nyoy and I recognized the problem, we had fallen out of love. It was easy for us to let go.”

Nina has such a simple heart that she moved on as soon as she was ready to fall in love to a non-showbiz guy. What’s his name? She refused to disclose it as if she wanted the romance a secret. But her new love will watch her Valentine concert, which is why she’s inspired to deliver the best one she can. Besides her well-loved hits, Nina has two big surprises in her repertoire: she’ll do an exciting slow version of “I Will Survive” and show she’s got the power to ballroom dance the first time in a concert.

Wency Cornejo guests. Ernie Duque directs. Cocktail buffet opens at 7:30 p.m.

One Esplanade at the SM Mall of Asia Complex is the most chi chi place to spend Valentine’s in. Enjoy hassle-free parking. Tickets are pegged at P2,500 and P2,000. Produced by JSU Enterprises and Hardyfs Entertainment, call 832-5746 and 826-9173 for ticket reservations.

http://tribune.net.ph/life/20080209lif4.html

Dollywood 



By Dolly Anne Carvajal
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:45:00 02/10/2008

Loveless on V-day

Nina may be loveless this V-day but she will still spread l’amour via her “My Simple heart” concert on Feb. 14 at One Esplanade, SM Mall of Asia 9 p.m., with guest Wency Cornejo.

What’s her most romantic V-day? Nina recalls: “I was surprised on the eve with my room full of Ecuadorian roses, a heart and butterfly made out of petals on my bed.”

Her song for herself these days is Gabrielle’s “Out of Reach.” After her split-up with Nyoy Volante, is her heart unreachable to Cupid?

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/entertainment/entertainment/view/20080210-117995/Leas-advice-to-young-sing

Nina bares her simple, happy heart
By Bot Glorioso
Monday, February 11, 2008

Nina likes it simple this time when it comes to affairs of the heart. Two past relationships with fellow singers that went into the ditch are enough for her to sit down and notice the pros and cons of loving someone from the same profession.

Lack of time tops Nina's list of reasons why she and and Nyoy Volante's relationship fizzled out several months back. But there's no sense in sulking. She has moved on. Now, her heart is beating again, this time for a non-showbiz guy.

"Simple and happy," Nina describes how she feels about her newfound love. The guy is the brother of Nina's guitarist who, without her knowing it, has been keeping an eye on her for quite some time.

"I only noticed him three months after I broke up with Nyoy. And it's better this way, no intrigues," Nina shares. But she is mum about her new boyfriend's identity.

The petite singer admits her romance with a guy surnamed Enriquez and the young owner of a taxi company, is going strong. It is very different from her relationships with her past loves. Her falling out with Jimmy Bondoc had been so traumatic, she's not yet on speaking terms with him until now, two years after they broke up.

"But Nyoy and I separated amicably. We say hi and hello every time we bump into each other," Nina says. She thinks hers and the acoustic singer's constant togetherness during shows made love bloom. But their conflicting schedules tore them apart.

"We seldom saw each other before we parted ways," Nina recalls.

With a newfound love by her side, Nina expresses how happy she is at being well taken cared of by the guy who is so self-effacing he does not want to come out in public.

"He is good-looking, we're of the same age and bini-baby nya ko," Nina says as she shows off his picture on her cell phone.

Still, Nina is focused on her music, rendering songs that touch the heart. Come Valentine's Day, she will perform in a dinner concert titled My Simple Heart at One Esplanade located along Macapagal Ave., Pasay City. Cocktail buffet opens at 7:30 and show starts at 9.

Danilo Sotto, one of the men behind Hardy's Entertainment, producer of Nina's show, and CEO of One Esplanade, says the soul siren's voice and endearing songs fit the occasion best. The venue's serene ambiance, too, will make the audience feel the romantic mood.

In the show, Nina will dish out heart-warming love songs from the ‘70s and ‘80s as well as some of her romantic songs.

But Nina hastens to add that she won't be singing songs that would remind the audience of her past loves yet. She assures everyone will feel her love when she renders Suddenly It's Magic, the song that tells how love blooms anew, now that she's been going steady with someone for 10 months now.

Joining Nina in the show is Wency Cornejo with Ernie Duque as musical director.

(Produced by JSU Enterprise and Hardy's Entertainment, tickets to My Simple Heart are priced at P2,500 and P2,000. For details, call 832-5746.)

http://www.philstar.com/index.php?Entertainment&p=49&type=2&sec=31&aid=2008021039

More Valentine stuff

Nina, the Philippines’ Soul Siren, will make her audience fall in love as she enchants them with a performance on Valentine’s Day.

My Simple Heart features Nina tomorrow at One Esplanade in the SM Mall of Asia Complex.

Cocktails will be served at 7:30 p.m. prior to the show at 9 p.m.

In My Simple Heart, Nina says that she will warm her audience’s hearts with her soulful rendition of unforgettable and meaningful love songs from the ’70s and ’80s, as well as her hit trademark songs.

Ernie Duque, the show’s director, promised that her repertoire is guaranteed to make both the young and young at heart reminisce about love—the good and bad phases of it—from getting-to-know-you, to the happy times, to breaking-up, to the moving-on stages.

Aside from sharing her simple heart that’s full of love through her exceptional voice, Nina will treat guest couples to a special Valentine surprise.

Joining Nina in this romantic night will be guest performer Wency Cornejo, former lead vocalist and superb songwriter of the ’90s popular hit band, After Image.

My Simple Heart will also mark the much-awaited reunion of 2007 Aliw Awards’ Best Performer in a Concert with 2007 Aliw Awards’ Best Concert Stage Musical Director, Ernie Duque. Both won the respective coveted awards for their spectacular work for the concert Nina sings Very Manilow.

Ticket prices are pegged at P2,500 and P2,000. For ticket reservations, call 832-5746 or 826-9173.

My Simple Heart is produced by JSU Enterprise and Hardy’s Entertainment Inc.

Meanwhile, after weeks of waiting, it’s finally time to hit the road for A Heart’s Journey.

Featuring Jose Mari Chan, A Heart’s Journey will be a celebration of love and the career of one of the most prolific singer-songwriters in the business. The musical genius behind hits like “Can We Just Stop and Talk A White,” “Afterglow,” “Please Be Careful With My Heart,” “Beautiful Girl” and countless other love songs will share the stage with special guest Sheryn Regis tonight, Feb. 13 and on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 at 8 p.m. Marc Lopez is musical director. Stage direction is by Chi de Jesus.

For last-minute ticket reservations for Jose Mari Chan’s Valentine concert, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or the Music Museum at 721-6726.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=goodLife2_feb13_2008

By : Edgar O. Cruz | Entertainment Editor
15 February 2008 | 9:01 AM

How the Valentine’s Day shows did

Nina almost filled One Esplanade. With Wency Cornejo, they serenaded the audience with beautiful songs. Reps.

http://www.yehey.com/entertainment/celebs/article.aspx?id=201111

Congratulations NINA!

Nina "Heaven" - Double Platinum

Nina "Smile" - Certified Gold

Nina "LIVE" - 8X Platinum

Nina "NINA" Self-Titled - Platinum

Nina "Featuring the Hits of Barry Manilow" Limited Edition - Platinum.

Reading to children about Mother Earth
By Kate V. Pedroso
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:29:00 04/20/2008

MANILA, Philippines—Stories about nature and conserving Mother Earth took center stage at Friday’s special Inquirer Read-Along session in celebration of Earth Month.

Featured readers were United States Embassy Charge d’Affaires Paul Jones, sibling singers Nina and King, and Alitaptap storyteller Rich Rodriguez.

More than 60 children attended the session held in the cinema lobby of Robinsons Galleria in Quezon City. They listened to stories about alternative sources of energy and ways of caring for nature. Three environmental plays were staged.

Jones, who came with his wife Catherine and their two children Aleksandra and Hale, read “Felix and Fely,” a story of two siblings who learn about alternative energy sources, like the sun and wind, when they visit their grandparents’ farm.

“I think this is a terrific program because it promotes reading and it promotes protecting the environment,” said Jones. “When I open the newspaper and see the stories about this reading program, it reminds me to read to my children that day and I think it probably does that to a lot of parents.”

Nina and King, on the other hand, presented “Pupils Power,” a story about students who learn about the ill effects of vehicular pollution and later on prompt their parents to advocate the use of biofuels.

King noted that the children’s warm reception and active participation pushed his sister to go on despite feeling ill.

“We were happy about the children because they really listened,” Nina added. “Whenever we asked questions, they were all raising their hands energetically.”

Teaching modules

Both “Felix and Fely” and “Pupils Power” were written by Dymphna Leizel Jocson, head teacher at the Quintin Salas Elementary School in Jaro, Iloilo, as part of teaching modules on alternative energy developed for Grade 1 students of the Department of Education Division of Iloilo City.

The teaching modules were a product of the Sustainable Energy Module Development activity of the Sustainable Energy Development Program.

“When I first heard that we were supposed to do a lesson plan integrating the concepts of renewable energy and biofuels, I thought it would be really difficult because it would include a lot of technical terms,” said Jocson, who flew all the way from Iloilo to attend yesterday’s Read-Along.

“I believe children could be instrumental in educating their parents. We know they have their own convincing powers,” Jocson added.

Meanwhile, returning Alitaptap volunteer reader Rodriguez read “Emang Engkantada at ang Tatlong Haragan,” a story about three hard-headed kids who refuse to care for the environment, and “Ang Unang Baboy sa Langit,” which was about a pig who reached heaven by virtue of his cleanliness. Both stories were written by the late Rene O. Villanueva and were published by Adarna.

Short plays

The Read-Along session was part of a series of events celebrating Earth Day, which will be marked worldwide on April 22. Last Tuesday, SEDP in partnership with Fuels for Life Movement partners, which included Junior Inquirer, Center for Environmental Education, E-artistshop Global Inc. and Miss Earth Foundation, launched the staging of three environmental short plays. Kenney and other US Embassy and USAID officials participated in the play as characters.

All the plays—Fuels for Life, Eco-defenders vs. Global Warming and Kings of the Road—were initially launched as cinema ads and storybooks and were read and featured in Read-Along last year.

The special Read-Along session was in cooperation with SEDP, Robinsons Movieworld, Krispy Kreme, C2 and Universal Robina Corp., San Miguel Brewery, Inc., Hands-On Manila, Virlanie Foundation and Adarna House.

Launched in May by Inquirer Research, Inquirer Library and Junior Inquirer, the program aims to teach children aged 7-13 to love reading through storytelling sessions.

The next Read-Along at the Inquirer office in Makati will be on April 26 and will feature TV personality and author Christine Bersola.

Admission is on first-come, first-served basis. Contact Ellen Caparros or Girlie Refran at 8978808, local 329. With a report from Schatzi Quodala, Inquirer Researc

 

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20080420-131504/Reading-to-children-about-Mother-Earth 

 

For all the ‘Kabayans’ in town

18 May 2008

IF YOU have been away from the Philippines for quite some time now, no doubt you’ve been missing shopping in ‘Greenhills’, ‘Tutuban’, or any ‘tiangge’ that mostly sprout like mushrooms especially during the holiday season.

You must be missing bargaining everytime you are faced with a fabulous find in BurJuman or Mall of the Emirates. Filipinos being innately ‘shop-aholics’ is one of the driving forces why ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel brings to the ‘kabayans’ in the Middle East another historical event in the making. The first ‘Filipino Exposition In Dubai: Tiangge, Bazaar, Atbp’, on June 19-21, at the Hall 4 of Dubai World Trade Centre.

 

This is a rare assembly of products, services, and opportunities for the Filipinos from different business and government outfits.

 

Various industries from the Philippines and even from here in the Middle East will converge to bring to the world the best from that Asian country.

 

Seminars and workshops will be conducted by some of the exhibitors, while three of the most promising and idolised Kapamilya stars are to provide entertainment every night during the 3-day event. Featuring the Asian Pop Idol Christian Bautista on ‘Ballad Thursday’, Grand Star Dreamer Yeng Constantino on ‘Pop Friday’, and Soul Siren Nina on ‘Acoustic Saturday’, their song renditions will surely be perfect after a day of non-stop shopping.

 

In the tradition of bringing to the Filipinos successfully staged and much attended events, the event promises to be part of another history since this is the first exposition that is to be done by and for the Filipinos.

ABS-CBN hopes to make this exposition a viable venue for all the entrepreneurs for they will be able to tap the most coveted market of the migrant Filipino workers in the Middle East.

EVENT DETAILS:

WHAT: Filipino Exposition In Dubai

WHEN: From June 19-21

WHERE: Hall 4 of Dubai World Trade Centre

http://khaleejtimes.com/CityHome.asp?xfile=data/citytimes/2008/May/citytimes_May143.xml&section=citytimes&col=

WHAT: Filipino Exposition In Dubai

WHEN: From June 19-21

WHERE: Hall 4 of Dubai World Trade Centre

http://khaleejtimes.com/CityHome.asp?xfile=data/citytimes/2008/May/citytimes_May143.xml&section=citytimes&col=

May 22, 2008 05:39 PM Thursday

Ogie at Regine, imbiyerna kay Nina?

By: Ogie Diaz

Bading

Imbiyerna raw itong sina Regine Velasquez at Ogie Alcasid sa singer na si Nina. Wala naman itong ginagawang masama sa kanila.
   
Pero dahil kaibigan ng dalawa si Nyoy Volante, nandito ang kanilang simpatya, lalo pa’t tinu-time raw ni Nina si Nyoy.
   
Wala raw kamalay-malay itong si Nyoy na meron daw palang ibang lalaking ine-entertain si Nina.
   
Hay, naku... mahirap namang husgahan si Nina.         Let’s hear it from Nina, okay?

People's Tonight

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?issue=2008-05-22&sec=3&aid=60417

Hard Rock Cafe (HRC) closes the month of May with a special concert featuring Side A band on May 30 at 9:30PM and NINA on May 31. Fans and music lovers can expect an evening of beautiful music as Side A and NINA dish out chart toppers and party favorites and their hits.

The musical events are presented by Asian Spirit and Coors Beer. For details, call 893-4661 to 64.

 

"Nina`s Men"

Music Museum

August 2, 2008 9:00PM

GUESTS: Jay Durias Richard Poon and King with Streetboys

Ticket Prices: P1,545.00 P1,133.00 P618.00

I love Nina! :) Especially her songs Someday, Miracle, and Love Moves in Mysterious Ways. So talented yet so underexposed -_-

---

~sig by me~

‘Come What May,’ ire-revive nina Gabby at Nina
By: Vinia Vivar Vinia Vivar

Si Nina pala ang makaka-duet ni Gabby Concepcion sa revival ng Come What May na included sa debut album ng aktor sa Warner Music.

Ang nasabing awitin ay very memorable kay Gabby dahil may duet sila ni Sharon ng kantang ito sa kasagsagan ng kanilang loveteam noon. In fact, hanggang ngayon ay tandang-tanda pa ng Gabby-Sharon fans ang tungkol dito.

May nakarinig na ng duet nina Nina at Gabby at maganda raw ang bersyon ng dalawa.

Why Nina? Talent din kasi ng Warner Music ang nasabing singer kaya naisip siguro ng recording outfit na sariling recording artist na lang nila ang gamitin.

IS soul siren Nina a playgirl? It’s rumored she played with the hearts of former boyfriends  like Jimmy Bondoc and Nyoy Volante. Is this true?
     
“Hindi naman po,” she says. “Never kong pinagsabay ang mga naging boyfriend ko. Baka sila nga ang tumu-two time sa akin.”
  
How come it’s reported that she didn’t have a good parting of ways with both of them? “Sa akin kasi, I listen to my family. Siyempre, sila ang mas pahahalagahan ko. That’s all I can say.”
       
Nina launched her fifth studio album at Red Box Trinoma, “Nina Sings the Hits of Diane Warren,” and it contains 15 compositions of the noted songwriter.
    
“This album was conceived after Warner Music released a compilation album of her songs, ‘Dianne Warren Presents Love Songs,’ in 2005. It contains original versions of her songs sung by the likes of Celine Dion and Toni Braxton. I was the only Filipino who interpreted her (Warren) song ‘I Don’t Want to Be Your Friend.’  It was a hit and stayed on the number one spot for two months. I did another song of hers, ‘I Love You Goodbye,’ and it’s part of my album ‘Nina Live.’  Naging hit din ito. Since then, fans have been requesting that I do a full album of her songs so, heto na nga, bilang pagbibigay sa kanila. I did it with her permission and she even wrote me a note saying she hopes this won’t be the last time I’d record her songs. Nagkaka-goosebumps nga ako each time I read her letter to me. I included in the notes on my album.”
   
The album’s carrier single is “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing,”  originally recorded by Aerosmith, Nina’s mellow version is so different from the cover version previously done by Regine Velasquez. Other great cuts are “Because You Loved Me,”  “Un-Break My Heart,”  “How Do I Live,” “I Turn to You,”  “There You’ll Be, “Blue Eyes Blue,”  “I Could Not Ask for More” (Nina’s personal favorite since she feels God is giving her so many blessings,)  “When I See You Smile,”  “If I Could Turn Back,” “Love Will Lead You Back,”  “How Can We Be Loved,” “Saving Forever for You,”  “I’ll Never Get Over You” and “I Don’t Want to Be Your Friend.”
   
Nina will have a special concert, “Nina’s Men,” at the Music Museum on Saturday, August 2, and in September, she’ll have a concert of all Diane Warren songs at the Aliw Theatre. Her Diane Warren album will be released in other countries in Asia and she hopes this will start her international career. The special limited edition double disc package includes a minus one of all 15 songs for only P350. You can also get the “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing” ringback tone by texting WMT to 2728.