M.A.R.A.

Ruby Neilam Salvador Adams

(aka Neile McQueen-Toffel) is a Filipino-American actress, singer, dancer born in the Philippines, July 10, 1936, and is of German, Spanish, English, Chinese, and Filipino descent. Adams spent 18 months during WWII imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. [Family photo above via]

Adams gained national attention by age 20 when she starred in Bob Fosse’s Broadway production of “The Pajama Game”. A string of legends such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, hand selected her to star in their Broadway productions. Film and television features soon followed.

Adams’ MGM publicity photo c. 1960 [via]

Adams married actor Steve McQueen just four months after they met in 1956. Adams wrote about her 15-year marriage and 24-year friendship with McQueen in her book, My Husband, My Friend.

[via]

In 1963, McQueen told LIFE magazine, “With strangers, I can’t breathe…But I dig my old lady…”

MCQeen and Adams in a Sulphur bath, Big Sur, 1963. Photo by John Dominis.

McQueen and Adams stylin 60s mod [via]

McQueen and Adams in Taipei 1965 [via], photo by Doris Nieh

McQueen and Adams at home [via]

McQueen and Adams poolside in their Palm Springs bungalow, 1963.
Photo by John Dominis. [via]

Sources & more: Life, book excerpts, book press release, Wiki, IMDb
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Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist, Jose Antonio Vargas, outs himself as an illegal immigrant

June 22, 2011

Jose Antonio Vargas, who moved to the US from the Philippines when he was 12 years old, divulged his undocumented citizenship status in The New York Times Magazine today to rally support for the DREAM Act, which would allow children of undocumented immigrants who have lived in the United States for at least five years, graduated from high school, and are of good moral character the opportunity to earn citizenship through at least two years of college or military service.

Vargas, who has written for The Washington Post and was a technology editor with The Huff Post, and contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning articles on the Virginia Tech shootings, was inspired to step forward after learning of high school graduates who marched in Washington to support the Dream Act.

“We are not who you think we are. We don’t just mow your lawns, and babysit your kids, and serve you tacos…we do a really good job doing that…but we do other things and we are a part of this society…and I think everyone deserves dignity.”

The risks. The interview. The article in the New York Times Magazine.

Other Keywords: famous filipino-american writers, filipino american journalist, immigrant activism, the dream act

Hey Folks! I know I kinda been MIA - my apologies - been SO busy! I have you all in mind in the meanwhile - will be posting catch ups in a week or so - thanks for staying with!

If you haven’t already heard, 18 year-old Filipino sensation, Charice Pempengco, will be guest starring in Fox’s hit show Glee in its second season. Entertainment Weekly reported that Pempengco will play an exchange student with a singing talent that is a serious rival to that of Rachel Berry’s (played by Lea Michele). Here she is singing Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” for Billboard’s Mashup Mondays.

Pempengco debuted in front of a live audience on the Ellen Degeneres show in Dec 2007, followed by an appearance on Oprah in Sept 2008. Pempengco launched her first international album in May this year and became the first Asian in history to land in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 album chart.

WOW! ROCK ON GIRL!

See her “Pyramid” video below feat. Iyaz. She’s adorable and so incredibly talented!

Other Keywords: famous filipinos, famous filipino, famous asians, famous asian, famous asian singers, singing sensation, talented kids, charice on oprah, charice on ellen, pyramid video, charice sings shania twain, you’re still the one, mashup mondays, billboard, glee, charice on glee

Filipino White House Chef draws attention to healthy eating

Only one more month till we see Filipino White House Chef, Cristeta Comerford, in an Iron Chef America challenge against renowned chefs Bobby Flay, Mario Batalli, and Emeril Legasse. First Lady, Michelle Obama, will make a cameo appearance introducing the secret ingredient: anything grown in the 1,100 square foot White House garden.

The White House approached the Food Network about filming “Iron Chef America” at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. as a way to reach those people who haven’t heard yet about the first lady’s efforts to curb childhood obesity through healthy eating and exercise, the New York Times reports.

Actress Jane Seymour, food writer and journalist Nigella Lawson, and Olympic gold medalist swimmer Natalie Coughlin will judge. The episode will air Jan 3, 2010 on The Food Network @8pm/ET. [Note: Coughlin is Filipino too (part)]

[via]

Comerford was hired at the White House in 1995 as an assistant and became the first woman and Filipino to hold the White House Chef position when she was hired by Laura Bush in 2005. Sharing the perspective on the importance of healthy eating and healthy families, Michelle Obama announced that Comerford would remain as White House Chef in early 2009. More on Comerford.

[via 1, 2]

Sources: Slashfood, The Washington Post, Wiki
Keywords: Filipino White House chef, Filipina White House chef, Filipino on Iron Chef, childhood obesity, Michelle Obama, Public Health, healthy eating, healthy habits, healthy practices

Tickets were still available as of 2:30pm today, Saturday, November 7th.

Stephanie Reese

“…is the third Filipino solo performer, after pop singer Regine Velasquez and Broadway star Lea Salonga to sing at the famed [Carnegie Hall].” [via]

Reese wowed Pattie La Belle, Natalie Cole, Earth Wind and Fire, Jamie Foxx, and Will.I.Am (of the Black Eyed Peas, who boasts Filipino group member APL), when she performed powerful renditions of Classical Broadway and Opera songs to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the famous Beverly Hills Crustacean Restaurant in June 2008.

Oliver Stone, Angela Basset, Magic Johnson, San Fransisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom, Michael Bolton, and Paris Hilton were also among the crowd who stood to applaud, cheer, and throw flowers at Reese’s feet before she even finished singing.

Patti La Belle was so impressed that she invited Reese to dine with her in the VIP room. They sang the end of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma together, at La Belle’s request, and brought the crowd to screams and cheers once again. (Read more about Reese taking Hollywood by storm.)

Here is a Reese rendition of the above mentioned aria. Performed July 4, 2009 at the Fil-Am Friendship Day at Redwing Park Virginia Beach, VA.

Keywords: Filipino opera and Broadway singer performer, Stephanie Reese performs at Carnegie Hall in NYC November 7, Reese at Carnegie Nov 7, Gawad Kalinga

Miranda Kerr

As of mid-2007, Kerr is the first Australian to be signed onto a Victoria’s Secret modeling contract. Australian “Current Affair” show, Today Tonight, reports in the video below that Kerr is of Serbian, Iranian, Turkish, and Filipino descent.

Born in Sydney, Australia on April 20, 1983, Kerr and her family moved to the Brisbane city life from Gunnedah, New South Wales where she rode motorbikes and horses as a child in her grandmother’s farm. Kerr planned to study nutrition in college before deciding to pursue modeling.

The dimpled beauty has been the face of major cosmetics and fashion campaigns such as Maybelline, Clinique, and Arden B. Forbes magazine listed Kerr as the 10th top-earning model with $3.5 million in 2008.

Kerr and her boyfriend, actor, Orlando Bloom, of the famed Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings films, practice a Japanese branch of Buddhsim, called Nichirin Buddhism. More on Miranda Kerr on Wiki.

[photos via 1, 2, 3]

[photos via: 1, 2, 3, 4]

Mark Dacascos

Born on February 26, 1964 Dacascos is an American actor and martial artist from Hawaii who is of Filipino (paternal), Japanese and Irish (maternal) descent. With So You Think You Can Dance finalist, Lacey Schwimmer, Dacascos is currently a contestant on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. He has also been “The Chairman” on the Food Network’s Iron Chef America since 2005.

DWTS is on ABC/8pm, Mondays (tonight!) - other Famous Asians on DWTS this season - dancer Cheryl Burke (L), contestant and Olympic gold medalist, Natalie Coughlin (R) - both women are part Filipino.

[Via DWTS: Cheryl with Tom Delay, Natalie with Alec Mazo]

[via]

Kristine Johnson

is an Emmy nominated Filipino American journalist born June 5, 1972 at the former Clark Air Base in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. She currently co-anchors the 5 and 11pm newscasts with Chris Wragge on WCBS-TV in New York, NY.

[via]

From 2005-2006, Johnson was anchor on MSNBC’s Early Today and First Look, and was an alternating anchor on NBC’s Weekend Today. Johnson covered major breaking news events including the killing of Abu Musab Al Zarqawi and the London Terror Bombings.

[via]

Johnson will be hosting a book release gala at Cipriani’s Wall St. in NYC on Monday, October, 19th. The $125 ticket includes an evening of jazz, acrobatics, performance by the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter, Melky Jean, and an author-signed copy of An Event to Remember. A portion of the proceeds will go to The Food Bank. Email for inquiries about the event or call 212-675-5105.

★ M.A.R.A.★