Nikki Gil breaks free from stereotypes



By ANTONETTE VALDEZ–PUA

Being in show business has some disadvantages and singer Nikki Gil sights being stereotyped as a ‘showbiz person’ who is nothing more than a ‘‘dumb blonde" as one.


"People think you can’t study anymore or you’re not smart when you’re in showbiz. So I try to break free from that image by staying in school," 18–year–old Nikki told Manila Bulletin last Wednesday at the press conference held for the July 23 premiere of the Asian version of "Breaking Free," a song from the Disney Channel original movie "High School Musical."

Nikki was joined by Vince Chong of Malaysia and Alicia Pan of Singapore for the said music video which will be airing over Disney Channel.

Aside from avoiding stereotypes, Nikki said she also sees to it that she stays away from anything that can hold her down from pursuing her dreams because the road she took to get to where she is now was not an easy one to trek.

Showbiz did not land smoothly on her lap, confessed Nikki, instead she had to pass through the long route before getting her big break.

"I started doing VTRs for commercials and auditioned for commercial jingles when I was eight years old until 15. Then I stopped when I can’t seem to find a break. When I stopped thinking about it and focusing on it, that’s when the break came to me," she cleared.

Nikki’s successful stint in a Coke commercial two years ago made her into a MYX VJ, a co–host in ABS–CBN’s Sunday noontime show "ASAP," and a recording artist. However cool and easy she seems on cam, Nikki admitted that she still finds herself struggling to break free from certain things in the industry.

"I’ve had my share of intrigues but I don’t really talk about them that’s why they don’t affect me," she shared.

One intrigue hounding her these days is her recent break–up with Gabriel Valenciano, son of Gary V. Unlike other showbiz love stories that are served in a hot pot to the public right after it ends, Nikki said she did not feel the pressure to answer questions concerning her break–up with Gabriel.

"We killed the fire before it could get bigger by not talking about it. Gabriel and I, however, have remained friends," was all that Nikki could say about the topic.

Except for occasional intrigues thrown her way, Nikki’s overall perception of show business is that it’s a fun and exciting place to be in. She says this because she really enjoyed the opportunity of having worked with Vince Chong and Alicia Pan for the music video of "Breaking Free."

"It was a challenge working with them because we have different cultures and personalities. They were intimidating because they were very, very good singers. But the experience is also something I’ll always remember because it was the first time I’ve ever worked with anybody outside the country and they were really fun to work with," Nikki mused.

Disney Channel handpicked Nikki among today’s young Filipino singers for the Asian version of "Breaking Free" since she emulates two important things that the song wants to impart to youngsters.

"The song talks about following your dreams and believing in yourself. We found these in Nikki so we called her right after we chose her. There were no auditions required," explained Mai Tatoy, senior manager at Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia).

Upon asking Nikki if she has plans of embarking into the international arena in the near future, she said she’s hoping the "Breaking Free" music video would open doors to it. At the moment though, she’s pleased to announce that she has a new project in the offing from ABS–CBN.

Nikki will be cast as a kind–hearted goddess in the network’s upcoming animé fantaserye entitled "Rounin’ which stars Diether Ocampo and Angelica Panganiban.

http://www.mb.com.ph/ENTR2006071869515.html

Nikki Gil: A voice of Generation Now


By Alwin M. Ignacio, Contributor

07/22/2006


When Nikki Gil appeared for the first time in the Coca-Cola commercial, many were immediately smitten by her sweet singing voice and very congenial personality. The commercial was instrumental to Gil’s ascent in show business, and the jingle became a national anthem of sorts.

Nikki’s sunshiny persona brightens the ###### tube in ASAP ’06, Breakfast Surprise and MYX. She is also set to host the daily reality search show Pinoy Dream Academy. Her voice constantly fills the airwaves as songs from her self-titled album, like “Sakayan ng Jeep” and “Glowing Inside,” have become easy listening tunes favored by the young. Her star reaches bling-bling proportions as she, together with Singapore’s Alicia Pan and Malaysia’s Vince Chong, sings “Breaking Free,” one of the sound tracks of the Disney Channel’s original movie High School Musical.

“Ever since I was a child, I have always been a Disney girl. So, when they offered me (the chance) to be part of it, I immediately said yes. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a Disney project?” exclaims Nikki. “Doing the video was a challenge and something that I will treasure. It was a challenge because it was my first time to work with people from other countries; a treasure because the artists and staff I worked with were all fun-loving and very good.”

“I feel really blessed to have been chosen to sing a song that speaks about believing in yourself and going after your dreams. After all, you need to believe in yourself before people can believe in you. You have to believe in your skills and talents before people can see that you have potential. It all starts from within,” explains Nikki on what the song means to her.

This self-confessed Disney fanatic says she loves Cinderella, Mulan and Aladdin for their storylines, heroines and outstanding music.

Disney’s High School Musical tells the story of two high school students – Troy (Zac Efron), a popular basketball jock, and Gabriella (Vanessa Anne Hudgens), a nerd of the highest order – who share one passion, singing. It is a contemporary “break into a song” presentation and highlights the various cliques found in a typical campus — the jocks, nerds, skateboarders and cheerleaders. Through music, the two protagonists literally break free by believing in themselves and following their dreams despite the expectations of the dominant factions.

When this film for TV debuted on air early this year, nearly eight million viewers watched it. The soundtrack reached number 10 on the Billboard pop music charts two weeks after its release and it hit No. 1 weeks later. It also registered impressively during its Asian run.

In Manila, High School Musical ranked No. 1 in its timeslot, beating all other kids’ channels during its premiere. This prodded the Mickey Mouse network to release a soundtrack suited for this special market. A “Breaking Free” Asian version was born with Gil, Pan and Chang interpreting.

The Asian theme music adaptation has a stronger R & B and pop adaptation, which tapped into the rich musical influences of the region by blending various instruments like the Chinese flute, Guzhen, Pipa and Tablas to highlight the unique and distinctive Asian feel.

“Breaking Free” is not an alien concept to Nikki. She was a resident geek in high school and was her batch valedictorian. She successfully reinvented herself and broke free from the geeky persona by using her love for music and performance to boost her confidence and character. Of late, she managed to free herself from a blossoming romantic entanglement with Gabriel Valenciano.

Another stereotype from which Nikki wishes to break free? “That a showbiz personality cannot pursue her studies. I am a walking testament that breaking free is not bad at all.” This junior English Literature student from the Ateneo de Manila University adds, “I hope to be a positive influence to the Filipino youth of today. In my own little way, I know that this song will help me realize this dream.”

“Breaking Free,” the music video, premieres on July 23, Sunday after the broadcast of the High School Musical Sing-Along, 7:30 p.m. on the Disney Channel.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/20060722/life/20060722lif1.html

I love the Asian Version of Breaking Free!!! Go Nikki!

The video (different links, same video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p1XdArW-xo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23cuVOC3lKY
with a special intro by Nikki: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDM0zGTdzI0

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Wednesday, August 02, 2006


It-girl Nikki
By Rome Jorge

A young talented girl finds her voice and aspires singing stardom. Despite academic pressures and all the difficulties with coming of age, she remains true to her good-natured self. She finds camaraderie from across divides with like-minded young souls. Going beyond their differences, they find they have the same musical passion. Her talent shines as she enters the limelight hand-in-hand with her newfound friends, voices joining together to make heart-warming music. This wholesome story could be Disney’s latest blockbuster. And it could also be the story of 20-year-old Nikki Gil.

Gil, along with fellow singing sensations Vince Chong from Malaysia and Alicia Pan from Singapore, sings the Asian version of the song “Breaking Free” from the hit Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, the phenomena that has kids across the globe singing its catchy melodies and knowing the inspiring values-forming lyrics of its entire soundtrack by heart.

“Breaking Free” went from gold to platinum in 13 days and catapulted from No. 86 to No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart—the largest jump in Billboard’s 48-year history. Here in the Philippines, High School Musical ranked No. 1 in its timeslot beating all other kids channels during its premiere. The movie was also the number one Disney Channel show for the day among cable kids 7 to 12 years old.

High School Musical tells the story of two high-school students: Troy, popular basketball jock, and Gabriella, nerdy newcomer. Despite being so opposite, they find themselves both auditioning for a school musicale, where their love for music overcomes all differences. Despite the school’s various cliques conspiring to ruin the pair, Troy and Gabriella defy expectations and pursue their dreams, inspiring other students to come out with their own previously hidden talents. “I identify with Gabriela,” confides Gil.

Gil’s own rise to fame is no less exemplary and inspiring. A devout Christian currently pursuing her junior year for English Literature at the Ateneo de Manila University, she graduated a high-school valedictorian and received the Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Presidential Academic Award for Excellence and Leadership. While maintaining her studies, she continues her steady rise to fame without compromising her principles. Gil recalls her younger days at school: “I was a nerd, a geek.” But soon enough she bloomed.

The public first saw her on a television commercial for Coca-Cola. Today the youth get their daily dose of Gil as a VJ on music video channel MYX and morning show Breakfast Supersize, and their weekly servings on Sundays when Gil cohosts variety show ASAP ’06. Nikki will play Rounin, a lead role in an animé-teleserye soon to be aired will host the Pinoy Dream Academy this August. Gill also has released a self-titled debut album.

Continuing her steady rise to fame, she now teams with Chong and Pan, finding a friendship based on their common love for music that mirrors that of Troy and Gabriela in the movie. Gil admits, “It was intimidating. They’re good singers.” But sure enough they soon found their harmony. Gil reveals, “They’re fun-loving people. All of us felt like kids, living out their dreams.”

http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2006/a...060802lif1.html

STURIO WHISPERS
Ethel Ramos

* * *

Nikki Gil and Geoff Eigenmann used to be classmates at the Shekinah Training Center, where Nikki graduated valedictorian. After their graduation, they’ve not had the chance to see each other, until they both became ABS-CBN contract stars.

For the first time, Nikki and Geoff are doing a teleserye together, the fantasy show "Rounin." Those close to them hope they will be paired in it, or be an item in real life.

Nikki, for a time, was linked to Gary Valenciano and Angeli Pangilinan’s son, Gabriel.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug03/ente_1.htm

Nikki Gil on breaking free

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Whether it involves our career or relationships, we have all been challenged to break free at some point in our lives. TV and music personality Nikki Gil admits to having her share of breaking free moments, one of which happened recently when she was formally introduced as one of the three featured artists to star in the music video and sing the Asian version of "Breaking Free" from the hit Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical."

Nikki is a mainstay VJ on MYX and hosts "ASAP ’06" on Sundays. Nikki is also involved in playing one of the lead roles in "Rounin," an anime-teleserye, soon to be aired as one of ABS-CBN’s primetime shows. She was also tapped to host "Pinoy Dream Academy," a daily reality TV talent search show to air this August.

Joining Malaysia’s Vince Chong and Singapore’s Alicia Pan, Nikki was naturally ecstatic concerning her latest achievement. She relates, "It was a challenge to work with people of different cultures but it was something that’s enjoyable." She adds that doing the Asian version of a hugely popular song was a great opportunity especially since the song "represents what teens face, and that is breaking free from things that are holding them down."

Walt Disney Television International (Southeast Asia) senior manager of communications Mai Tatoy says that no auditions were held to determine who will sing the Asian version of "Breaking Free." Instead, she says the artists were chosen based on the fact that they are all pursuing their dreams and have budding music careers.

Aside from the honor of being one of the featured artists in the Asian version of "Breaking Free," Nikki says her other breaking free moment was when she broke free from being stereotyped as a shallow showbiz personality. "People have this notion that showbiz personalities aren’t bright but I just don’t agree to that," says Nikki who was a high school valedictorian and is currently in her junior year at the Ateneo de Manila University taking up English Literature.

Discussing her experience in doing the song, Nikki says she had a lot of fun with Alicia and Vince. "They are both fun loving and we all felt like kids. We enjoyed each other’s company and we could really relate to each other because we are all involved in music. This is definitely something that I’ll never forget and hopefully it will open more doors for me."

Mai adds that "Nikki, Vince and Alicia were all troopers. All of them were very down to earth and conducted themselves very professionally."

As expected, Nikki is a big fan of "High School Musical" a contemporary "break into song" production that follows the story of Troy, a popular high school basketball jock, and Gabriella, a shy, academically-gifted newcomer who discover that they share a secret passion for singing. Together, Troy and Gabriella must learn to believe in themselves and follow their dreams despite the expectations of their high school cliques.

"I’ve seen the movie about 20 times already," gushes Nikki, who says that her favorite part of the movie was the audition scene. "If you guys haven’t seen the movie yet, I strongly suggest that you do and watch out for that part." She adds that she identifies well with Gabriella "because I was also a geek back in high school."

Like Nikki, you can sing-along and dance-along to your favorite "High School Musical" songs as Disney Channel airs the movie’s sing-along version and dance-along version on September 8 at 7:30 p.m. Right after the movie, expect to catch "Breaking Free" music video featuring Nikki Gil, along with Vince Chong and Alicia Pan.

"High School Musical" is a runaway hit that attracted 7.7 million viewers when it premiered in the US. The US version of "Breaking Free" sang by Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens, went from gold to platinum in 13 days and rocketed from no. 86 to no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart—the biggest jump in Billboard’s 48-year history. "High School Musical" has also earned 6 Emmy nominations, which includes Outstanding Music Composition for "Breaking Free."

With the way things are going for Nikki, she’s certainly showing that there is not a star in heaven that she can’t reach.

http://www.malaya.com.ph/aug05/ente2.htm

I hope this gets Nikki some attention at Disney and maybe put her in a worldwide or US project!

Good luck Nikki!

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ganda nga ung breaking free video nila

crush ko tlga yan si nikki

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HUS BACK!?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIKKI!!!

NIKKI SNATCHED MARIEL’S HOSTING JOB?

FREEHAND
By Mario Bautista
People's Journal

IT’S obvious that ABS-CBN has spent so much for “Pinoy Dream Academy (PDA)”.

Aside from the total renovation of Pinoy Big Brother house that will be used as the dorm of the 16 scholars in PDA, they built two new buildings beside it: the PDA school where the students will hold their cl######es everyday and the huge Concert Hall (built by Globe Asiatic) where they will perform a live concert every Saturday to show what they’ve learned so far.

Director Lauren Dyogi and Linggit Tan, business unit heads of PDA, proudly toured the press around these three structures and they’re really quite impressive. Aside from the cl######room, they have a music room, faculty room, a gym for physical fitness, and two huge gardens instead of just one like in PBB. Really, it’s like the 16 scholars are going on a grand vacation, all-expenses paid at that, and they can even win big prizes.

Nikki Gil is glad to be one of the regular hosts of PDA. She’ll be with Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby during the Saturday concerts and she will anchor the nightly primetime updates with Bianca Gonzales. (Wonder what happened to Mariel Rodriguez who hosted the last PBB?)

“I know it’s a big responsibility and people will expect a lot from me, so I promise to do my best so I won’t disappoint them,” she says. We have no doubt Nikki would be a good host as she is a combination of beauty and brains. After all, she graduated valedictorian in high school and she’s also been honed as a VJ in MYX.

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=n...date=2006-08-28

Get to know more about Nikki Gil


Check out Nikki Gil as she talks about her dreams, interests and favorite things and find out why she is a Club Pen model in the first place and most recently, the host of Pinoy Dream Academy, a show about achieving one’s dreams against all odds.

Attractions:

I am attracted to people who are real, transparent and have no pretenses in their bones. People who are confident of who they are and do not make apologies for what they are not. Another major turn on for me, especially with the opposite ######, would be leadership. I am easily drawn to the person who almost always surfaces as the leader in any gathering. I also enjoy the company of “funny” people, people who share the same humor that I have.

A major turn off? Free loaders! A person whose personality spells insecure and I have a perfect eye for one. An insecure person who tries to mask his insecurity through arrogance, superiority, loudness that makes the person more obnoxious… people who talk non-sense or those who name-drops just to belong. Another major turn off for me, especially with the opposite ######, would be timidity. I am easily repelled from a person who just follows the flow, one with no decision-making quality. And bad breath!

Hobbies :

I enjoy reading, and writing on my journal when I have the time. I like fiddling around with my computer. I also enjoy playing with the SIMS. I love taking videos of my younger cousins while directing them.

Favorite movies and why:

“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” I love this movie the way I love candy, very much! Watching this movie brings me to a different world where I can suspend reality and just enjoy fantasy for a moment in time.

“The P######ion of the Christ,” this movie gives us a very realistic account of Christ’s crucifixion which is very far from what tradition tells us. The graphic portrayal of Christ hanging on the cross cuts through the heart. It makes one realize how very small Christ is asking from us compared to the suffering He had to go through to give us life eternal.

“Serendipity,”—I like the way they played with destiny and how fate brought them together.

“Anak,” —I love the casting. While watching it, you find yourself identifying with one of the characters or maybe telling yourself, I know someone in the same situation. A Pinoy movie I am very proud of.

“Meet the Parents,” —reminds me of my dad!

Favorite TV shows and why:

“That’s So Raven,” very entertaining show. The plot goes around the regular day of a teenager and that’s very close to my heart. Very funny. Sometimes I feel though that before the show ends, the joke is on me because I would sometimes find myself in the same situation.

“Friends,” —Exchange of dialogue is very spontaneous. Never a dull scene. Very funny and “kilig din” because of the love angle.

“ASAP 05” – Because I’m one of the hosts! Also it’s the show to watch if you want to know the latest trend in local fashion, music and the performing arts.

“MYX” – Because I’m one of the VJs! It’s exciting to see how a song you hear on the radio is portrayed on video.

Favorite actors and why:

Adam Sandler—I like his “little-boy-trapped-inside-a-man’s-body” personality.

Brad Pitt—Need I say more?

Ben Stiller—He cracks me up!

Favorite actresses and why:

Julia Roberts— She’s a natural. When you watch her, you always end up identifying with the character she is portraying. Her beauty is not perfect, like when you look at her, you will find some flaws but it’s what makes her more attractive.

Meg Ryan— Her beauty is perfect but she is not all that glam. She doesn’t mind portraying characters that de-glamorize her. And that makes her more charming, funny, and reachable by her viewers.

Favorite singers and why:

Alicia Keys - I like her genre, it’s not too pop but her music is popular; and not too RnB but it’s cool for the teen music lovers. And also, like her, I sing and play the piano.

Stacie Orico – A Christian singer. She sings songs with a message.

Jinky Vidal- Locally, she’s somebody I would want to sound like. Her style, the character of her voice, her magnetic stage presence, which she does without really trying hard…she’s cool.

Kyla – The RnB Princess, need I say more?

Favorite books:

The Bible, The Diary of Anne Frank, I Kissed Dating Goodbye by Joshua Harris, Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden, Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel and The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks

Favorite authors:

Lois Lowry, Nicholas Sparks and Joshua Harris

Top three prized possessions:

My Bible, my laptop and my box of letters

One word that would describe yourself:

Focused.

Describe your fashion sense:

I wear clothes that I am comfortable with. I go with the fashion too but would normally adapt it to my own taste - like playing it down if the in-fashion is too outrageous or reinventing it to give it a lift using my own selections of accessories.

Favorite fashion item:

A white tank top. It goes with anything.

Your most shining moment:

When I graduated Valedictorian of my high school batch. In the same event, I was awarded two of the highest honors given to a graduating high school student- The Gloria Macapagal -Arroyo Presidential Award for Academic Excellence and The Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Presidential Award for Leadership.

The most influential people in your life:

My father and my mother.

Your most unforgettable vacation:

My first US trip.

Top three dreams in life:

To go on a Europe Tour with my family

To cut a full-CD Christian album

To have the same functional, happy family that I have now, in the future.

What can’t you leave your house without and why?

My phone. When I leave without it, I feel like I’m not connected to the world. I feel like I am invisible. I want to be in constant contact with the people around me.

What is your battle cry?

Wake up and seize the day, now!

Peoples Journal
8/29/2006 19:51 PM

http://www.journal.com.ph/index.php?page=n...date=2006-08-29

Kakaibang Talino Ni Nikki Gil
SUNTOK SA BUWAN Ni Emy Abuan-Bautista
Ang Pilipino STAR Ngayon 08/29/2006

Sa nakaraang 20 yrs. ay nanatiling paborito ng makabagong henerasyon ang Penshoppe. Kaya naman di kataka-taka kung maging mag-partner ang Penshoppe at ang latest prime time reality show na Pinoy Dream Academy.

Ang Penshoppe din ang magiging official clothing partner ng PDA kung saan ang Club Pen na si Nikki Gil ang magiging host sa weekday run.

Higit na maganda ngayon si Nikki. Kakaiba rin ang talino niya. Nang magtapos ng high school ay nakatanggap siya ng dalawang highest honor bilang valedictorian– The Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Presidential Award for Academic Excellence at The Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Award for Leadership.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/PINOY200608297303.htm

What’s Up


09/06/2006

Nikki Gil at High School Musical

TV and music star Nikki Gil, one of the three Asian artists featured in the Asian version of the music video of “Breaking Free” from the hit Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical, gamely signed autographs for fans who attended the launch of the movie soundtrack held recently at the Alabang Town Center. During the event, fans also got to take home cool prizes, Disney Channel goodies and take part in fun games. The High School Musical fever rages on as Disney Channel premieres its dance-along version on Sept. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

http://www.tribune.net.ph/life/20060906lif6.html

Fashion ‘rocks!’

By Diana Uy
Rock will never go out of fashion.

That’s what Penshoppe just proved during its “Penshoppe Denimlab Rockfest” last Sept. 1 at the Big Dome.The event, which celebrated the company’s 20th anniversary, gathered together 20 of the most prolific local bands, and clad incidentally in couture created by the Young Designers Guild of the Philippines.

“It’s the first of its kind in the country,” exclaims Gigi Tibi, Penshoppe marketing communications manager. “It basically is a fusion of rock music and fashion. This is our way of thanking the consumers for patronizing Penshoppe.”

“It’s something new. We’ve played before during fashion shows, but this one is really big being in Araneta Center.... Everybody is all dressed up, with makeup on...” a pumped Raimund Marasigan, of Pedicab and Sandwich, shared backstage.

Alongside the rockers, Penshoppe models led by the elite Club Pen: Jericho Rosales, Heart Evangelista, Nikki Gil, Matteo Guidicelli, Dawn Balagot, Victor Basa, Einar Ingebrigtsen and Vicky Herrera showed off the latest Penshoppe Denimlab Collection in a kaleidoscope of mohawks, dark make-up, deconstructed tees and denims, tight pants, denim minis, capris, skinny jeans, leggings, ponchos, shrugs, embellished jackets, pointed boots and rain boots, berets, quirky neck ties, studded belts and other funky accessories that gathered both silence and admiration from the crowd.

The collection represented five genres of rock ‘n’ roll: street rock, funk rock, pop rock, rebel rock and power rock.

Among those who came to rock the house was Kamikazee, who up until then never faltered in providing the audience a good time with their spontaneously combusting comic antics while wearing a Louis Claparols ensemble of jacket, Penshoppe denims, and tees.

The pop rockers Hale, in a Mitzi Quilendrino set, made ears bleed what with young girls screaming their names.

Aia de Leon of Imago mesmerized the audience in her James Reyes creation, which consisted of a sleeveless shirt with mesh shoulder details and with hook and eye embellishments paired with a bubble skirt made from three cargo pants.

The same went for Lougee Basabas of Mojofly who was in an understated Ciara Marasigan black ######ymmetrical top paired with sexy Denimlab jeans. The piece was made more glamorous with Marasigan’s signature jewelry of chunky cuff and an oversized neckpiece made of onyx, crystal, and mother of pearls in fuschia, engine red, and jet black, “....for a total glam rock look!,” enthuses Marasigan.

Other show stealers included Parokya ni Edgar, in Reian Mata set; Sandwich, whose lead vocals Raimund Marasigan wore an LZ Punzalan dark jacket made from two slacks; Sugarfree, in Patty Eustaquio; Pedicab and Itchyworms, both in Joey Samson pieces; 6CycleMind, whose Ney Dimaculangan wore a Brian Leyva multi-pocketed denim jacket; Dicta License, in Yvonne Quisumbing’s simplistic graphic tees; Spongecola, in Carlo Jequinto collection; Up Dharma Down, also in Brian Leyva; Mayonnaise, in Dong Omaga Diaz; Calla Lily, in LZ Punzalan also; Kala and Juana, both in John Herrera; Pupil, in Ferdie Abuel; and Protein Shake, in Ivar Aseron.

The rock/fashion show ended with Bamboo, in a Patty Eustaquio shirt, firing up the crowd and screaming his “Alelluia” as stylish “angels” step down from Penshoppe’s rock ‘n’ roll heaven.

http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/?page=g...e03_sept11_2006

ang ganda ng breaking free..

of the three singers in breaking free -- Alicia and Vince -- sya lang ang magaling talaga... no favoritism...

Into the lion’s den & loving it
By Maridol Rañoa-Bismark
The Philippine Star 10/15/2006

They told her showbiz is a lion’s den. But Nikki Gil chose to act deaf, dumb and blind and proceeded to enter the den anyway. Now, she doesn’t regret her decision one bit. Never mind if she has to shuttle from her house in Alabang all the way to Ateneo (where she is a freshman English Literature student) in Katipunan, Quezon City, and on to her showbiz commitments every single day.

And, lo and behold! Nikki looks none the worse for all that daily stress. In fact, she looks fresh as the morning dew each time she greets you with that wide, sunshiny smile.

She was looking exactly that way at the presscon that launched Hotsilog, an album that compiles the hits of ‘70s band Hotdog. Nikki sings the track Kasi Naman while fellow ASAP hosts Piolo Pascual performs Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko; Sarah Geronimo renders Pers Lab, Rachelle Ann Go croons Panaginip and so on and so forth.

Nikki is not one to take any song at face value and sing it exactly the way it first sounded.

"I put my style and personality into the song," she says.

It’s the intuitive musician in her speaking. Nikki first sat on the piano bench and tinkered with the ivory keys with only her ouido (ear for music) guiding her. She was only seven years old then, and playing Rainbow Connection for all she was worth.

"I even used to compete in piano competitions when I was in high school," Nikki recalls.

Thus, bliss for Nikki these days is singing with her dad accompanying her on the piano.

But she doesn’t have the luxury of time to do that now. Nikki is steeped in school (14 units – or one unit short of the regular load), Pinoy Dream Academy, ASAP and Myx.

She also hosts Pinoy Dream Academy and ASAP and is a Myx video jock. Hosting is a whole new world for her, and she sees it as a challenge to hurdle.

Singing, on the other hand, is a first love, just like her ex-boyfriend, Gab Valenciano, whose mom, Angeli, was at the Hotsilog launch, too (Nikki and Angeli are in good terms, thank you).

Thanks to singing, Nikki did gigs in various night spots and even guested in a South Border concert. It also served as her passport to that memorable commercial that made showbiz people sit up and notice.

Thanks to singing, too. Nikki is now a member of ABS-CBN’s Star Magic stable of talents.

The girl who used to avoid acting like the plague is now ready to take on varied roles, like the one she’s doing for the upcoming fantasy series Rounin.

Those sharp features can also come in handy in villain roles, which Nikki is raring to do as well. Sure, it will run counter to her goody-goody personality, but that’s where the fun lies. Nikki can’t wait to sink her teeth into such a role.

After all, at this point in her showbiz career, Nikki is already used to making eyebrows soar – for good or for bad.

When she broke up with Gab, malicious tongues started wagging and said Nikki was using the relationship as publicity stunt. It was foul, but Nikki just shrugged it off and comforted herself in the thought that you can’t please everybody.

"No matter how hard you try," she sighs.

Now, people are linking her to ASAP co-host Geoff Eigenmann. Like Gab, they belong to a Christian fellowship group. Nikki and Geoff are with the Bread from Heaven Christian group. They’ve known each other since Nikki was 12 and went to the same high school.

But sorry, Cupid wannabes. Nikki and Geoff insist they are just friends, no more, no less. So let nature take its course. No use hurrying up things. As the song goes, love may just grow, for all we know.

http://www.philstar.com/philstar/NEWS200610151704.htm

BUZZSTATION

Edgar Cruz

10/24/2006

! Section

Can Nikki Gil be more careful with her fashion choices? In Pinoy Dream Academy last Saturday, her retro look made her appear stiff...

http://www.tribune.net.ph/life/20061024lif4.html