To the lovers and the hopeful, here’s balladeer Richard Poon’s version of the classic Rey Valera song, “Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Ko.”

And to you all, for loving …

Multiawarded artist Grace Nono met face to face with folk singers in rural inland Mindanao, where she learned Visayan songs that she later recorded for her most recent album, “Dalit: Ballads on Love, Loss, and Finding Heart Again.”

Released under TAO Music, this new album consists of ten ten tracks that border between traditional folk and popular Filipino music.

LA, California–Filipina jazz and world vocalist Charmaine Clamor has won the 6th Annual Asian Heritage Award in the Performing Arts.

Clamor, the creator of jazzipino, was recognized for her trailblazing accomplishments in bringing Filipino languages, melodies, and instruments to mainstream listeners. She is the only Filipino to have two consecutive albums land in the top 10 of JazzWeek’s World Music radio chart.

Jed Madela sings at the opening of the prestigious talent contest World Championships of Performing Arts. Madela was the grand prize winner in 2005.

Los Angeles, CA– Filipino singers Jed Madela, Catherine Loria, and the Cercado sisters performed during the opening of the 2009 Hollywood Olympics or World Championships of Performing Arts at the Westin Bonaventure last Sunday.

All seven were past grand prize winners of this prestigious competition, which brings together amateur and professional performing artists from more than 40 countries to compete for the Grand Champion of the World titles in dance, voice, modeling, acting, and comedy, among others.

Twenty-eight Filipino performing artists will compete in the 13th World Championships of Performing Arts, which will be held in Los Angeles, California, this July. The WCOPA is the only official “Talent Olympics” for aspiring performing artists. Five Pinoys–Jed Madela , the Cercado Sisters, Reymond Sajor, Aria Clemente, and Catherine Loria–have emerged from this contest as grand champions since the Philippines first joined in 2005.

This year’s team is composed of  Canadian Idol finalist Martha Joy, Sexbomb dancer Evette Pabalan,Mayumi Morales (sister of young singer-actor Makisig), Rhap Salazar (ABS CBN Little Big Star Brightest Star), LA-based recording artist Divo Bayer, and up-and-coming performers Keane Andeza, Oreo Vamenta, Maila Mitra, Nicole Espolong, Melchi Bicua, CJ Concepcion, and Mia Sinaguinan.

Christian Bautista performed for overseas Filipinos at an Independence Day concert at Morden Park in London.

Pinoy OFWs in London and Barcelona celebrated Philippine Independence Day with Asia’s Pop Idol Christian Bautista, who sang their favorite love songs in a concert sponsored by The Filipino Channel (TFC) and Globe Telecoms.

“I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to spend Independence Day with my fellow countrymen in Europe,” said Christian.