34th Mo Awards...
The evening of Tuesday 11th May 2010 saw the large cabaret room of Sydney's Bankstown Sports Club packed to capacity with a glittering array of Australian showbiz stars gathered to mark the 34th Annual 'MO' Awards, the longest running annual entertainment industry awards which recognize the achievements in live entertainment in Australia. The Mo Awards began in 1975 as the New South Wales Star Awards, when local entertainers started the awards to promote live entertainment in New South Wales. When Johnny O'Keefe became chairman in 1976, he decided the awards should become a national awards program . Don Lane then proposed the awards be renamed the Mo Awards in honor of Australian entertainer Roy Rene, who used the stage name "Mo McCackie". The evening was presented by Barry Crocker and proved to be special for many including entertainer extroaordinaire Tony Pantano (pictured) who, for a record thirteenth time, received the Mo Award for "Best Male Vocalist".


Musica Brasileira...
Eight piece band Guarana’, formed in 2001, are the leading proponents of bossa and samba in the Philippines and as such are always very much in demand at leading beach resorts, bars, restaurants and hotels. They also continue to perform their twice weekly gig at Café Havana in Greenbelt 3 Makati, Metro Manila and also at jazz and arts festivals and for important corporate events. Their dedication to the bossa and samba style has seen them featured in the Brazilian television program "Fantastico Ao Mundo" televised in prime time on Brasil’s Globo TV network. Bandleader is vocalist Eileen Sison (pictured) whose passion for the South American rhythm has earned her an award by none other than the Brazilian Embassy for her “invaluable cooperation in the promotion of Brazilian music in the Philippines”. Eileen makes regular trips to Rio de Janeiro not only to attend the famous Carnival but more so to further her learning of Brazilian music and culture. She can speak, sing and write songs in Brazilian Portuguese and is the Founder and Dance Director of Escola de Samba de Manila, a samba school composed of drummers and dancers headquartered at Steps Dance Studio in Makati. Eileen is also the founder of the Bossa Nova Club of the Philippines and hosts a radio segment called “Understanding Bossa Nova” on Crossover 105.1 FM. Guarana’s new CD, to be released in early 2010, will also feature a cover of a song by GMP writer Nello Giansiracusa, a guitarist with strong cultural and musical ties with both the Philippines and Brazil.



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