Missy macuja elizalde biography books

JEANNIE YNIGUEZ Engages

Bistro Filipino Book edited by Yolanda Perez Johnson, with Contributor Chef Rolando Laudico

(Soumak Collections, Inc., Manila, Philippines, 2014)

[Editor’s Note: Jeannie Yniguez’s Tribute was first presented at the Third Filipino-American International Book Festival, San Francisco, October 2015.]

Magandang Hapon sa inyong lahat. Good Afternoon to everyone! I am Jeannie Yniguez. 

I am honored to be here to represent my sister, Yolanda  Perez Johnson, the woman behind the scenes of Soumak Collections whose company mission is to promote the Philippine Arts in the context of the global landscape and to create books on Filipino Artist and Artisans.

A woman of vision and passion, “Yola,” as she is called, has tremendous respect for rare talent and artistry. She is the editor and publisher of Bistro Filipino Book. From the editor’s notes:

"Filipino Culture remains food-centered in the sense that Food is an Inspiration for Connection and an assurance of one's social standing. Food on the table is indeed every Home's pride and joy.  Artworks, depicting bounty of fruits, was a typical household fixture during the turn of the century. It was one of the many objects that represented the Filipino's reverence for food, framed by all our notions of Survival, Pleasure and Mere Adoration.”

We all had an opportunity to meet her in person last year [during the San Francisco book launch of the book. She is, indeed, an extraordinary human being.  She recognized the talent of her son "Chef Rolando Laudico" who is the subject of the Bistro FilipinoBook. It is the first book ever on Filipino Fusion Food and its mission is to promote Filipino Cuisine worldwide.

"Rolando was to the kitchen Born," Yola says of her son. "He grew up smelling the aromas and flavors and hearing the sound emanating from where I was cooking. The minute he could walk and eat, Rolando can be found t

"Ghost", starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg, is one of the biggest hit movies of the year 1990. Many people have seen it, many times over for a lot of them. The story of Sam's ghost trying all means to reconnect with his beloved Molly is well-known and well-loved.   It was also nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture that year. Ms. Goldberg won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress as the wacky psychic Oda Mae Brown. For its 15th Anniversary, Atlantis Productions brings us the first staging of musical version of "Ghost", the first time this show is performed in the Asia Pacific region.

Sam is played by pop balladeer Christian Bautista. He did not really impress in his previous stage outings. He was a dull Tony in 'West Side Story." He did much better in the vocal aspect in "Rama Hari." Here, Bautista fulfills the physical requirement of the role, and is practically on stage the whole time.  He does well enough in the acting department, though he may be too exaggerated at times. The songs, which have a rock edge, do not fit his pop singing style completely. Thus, despite being the central title character, his female co-stars still outshine him.

Molly is played by the luminous Ms. Cris Villonco.  This versatile young actress can really do no wrong.  She can fit into any of her diverse stage roles like a glove, be it in English or in Filipino, straight play or drama, period or modern.  This role is no different.  Despite being practically morose and serious the whole play, she can still light up the stage with her presence.  She can make those generic-sounding sappy theatrical ballads sound so special. She is not the titular ghost, but she is ethereal one.  

Oda Mae Brown is played by the powerhouse Ima Castro.  This must be the very first time I saw Ms. Castro completely right for a role.  When she was Aida or Sarafina (in "Nine"), her voice was beautiful, but her