#Throwback2014: Pinoy celebrities, shows, and films that gained international acclaim

Proving how Filipino talent can go further than the 7,100 islands of the Philippines, Pinoy celebrities, shows, and films have made noise in the international entertainment and sports arena through hard work, perseverance, and talent. 

 

Rachelle Ann Go

 

Rachelle Ann Go was chosen to play Gigi Van Trahn in the West End revival of the hit musical Miss Saigon for its 25th anniversary during the later part of last year. She set out to London in March to fulfill her role. 

 

Since opening night on May 21, Rachelle has been performing eight shows a week with other cast members, including fellow Filipina Eva Noblezada who was chosen to play the lead character Kim.

 

 

Last September, Rachelle performed with Lea Salonga, who got the role of Kim in the original Miss Saigon directed by Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Lea could not keep her pride to herself while watching Rachelle. She even tweeted, “First emotional gulp of the night: watching Rachelle Ann Go. Because it's Rachelle Ann Go, and I'm so bleeping happy for her!” 

 

Rachelle has since been recognized not just for her talent, but also as for her beauty. Four months ago, she was named one of the "Hottest women in the West End' by theater blog PocketSize Theater, together with Samantha Barks from "Les Miserables" and Savannah Stevenson from the West End production of "Wicked."

 

Just recently, Rachelle was recognized as the Best Featured Actress in a Musical in the 2014 Broadway World West End Awards.

 

Mark Bautista

 

Aside from Rachelle, singer Mark Bautista is also in London to capture the hearts of the theater audience. 

 

Mark was chosen to play the role of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos in "Here Lies Love," a rock musical inspired by the life of Imelda Marcos. The show is set to run from late September this year to January next year in London’s West End.

 

"It was never in my wildest dreams that I could get a lead role in a Manila musical... and now I have this," the singer said before heading to London to star in the show written by Talking Heads co-founder David Byrne and Norman Cook -- a.k.a Fat Boy Slim.

 

Mark's hectic schedule includes six performances a week, and this rendered him unable to go back to the Philippines to celebrate Christmas with his family.

 

 

Although he admitted feeling nervous and intimidated by the standards of West End musical and theater performances, he learned to grab every opportunity and ended up with the lead role in a musical depicting a part of our very own history.

 

"Nakaka-proud po kasi history natin, talagang pinagkakaabalahan nila [sa ibang bansa], parang binibigyan nila ng pansin at ginawan nila ng musical… Makaka-relate pa rin 'yung mga Pilipino ‘pag panoorin nila. Hindi siya alien para sa ‘tin kasi about sa history natin," he said.

 

Paolo Ballesteros

 

Paolo captured the heart of netizens here and abroad with his incredibly on-point make up transformations that he usually shares on his Instagram account.

 

 

International blogs as well as news and lifetyle platforms such as ONTD, Cosmopolitan.com, and EliteDaily.com have featured Paolo's transformations, regarding his make up skill as "beyond impressive."

 

"Using just makeup, colored contacts and wigs, Filipino television host Paolo Ballesteros transforms himself from an ordinary dude into several of Hollywood’s biggest stars. His skills with the makeup brush are beyond impressive. You can see all of his work on his Instagram, but below are a few of our favorites," said EliteDaily.com about Paolo.

 

Kobe Paras

 

PBA superstar Benjie Paras' son Kobe has become a teenage sensation without having to venture into show business.

 

Last August, Kobe joined the Philippine team in the FIBA Under-18 Championship, where they went head-to-head with Jordan in Doha, Qatar.

 

During his free time, the 17-year-old basketball player posts snippets of his practice on Instagram where everyone gets another dose of how good this "kid" is.

 

 

Kobe has committed to play for the University of California Los Angeles in US NCAA Division I after receiving a scholarship offer from the Bruins.

 

According to PBA legend Jerry Codiñera, a long-time rival of Kobe's father, he can't help but notice the boy's talent. "He has all the tools to be an NBA player."

 

He added, “"Kita ko 'yung game, pumapasa siya, he can shoot, athletic, 'yung dribble, handle, 'yung tira. Magkaibang-magkaiba siya sa father niya. Iba, ibang maglaro." 

 

Jomari Yllana

 

Actor Jomari Yllana is the first Filipino to join the Super Race Championship held in Yeongam, Korea last October.

 

According to the actor-racer, he gave himself one full year to prepare for the said competition, and it was a dream come true to compete with racers from different parts of the world. He was the first Filipino to ever get invited to join the prestigious race, where he competed with GMA Network as media partner.

 

 

His efforts were definitely not put to waste when he became the first Pinoy podium finisher in the Yeongam International F1 Circuit.  Jomari finished second in the Super Race Round 8 Championship Accent One category of the said race. 

 

Meanwhile, his racing team Yllana GTR is also the first Filipino racing team to win in the event. 

 

Dennis Trillo 

 

"My Husband's Lover" star Dennis Trillo was nominated in the 2014 Asian Television Award in the Best Actor in a Leading Role category last November, together with Director Dominic Zapata who was nominated in the Best Direction category. 

 

Dennis bagged the Highly Commended Award for his performance. 

 

"Nakakatuwa na hindi lang dito [sa Pilipinas] napapansin [ang ginagawa ko]," he said. "Iba yung pakiramdam na napapansin lahat ng pinaghirapan mo."

 

Gab Valenciano

 

With his "super selfies," Gab Valenciano inspired no less than Beyonce herself.

 

Bey's newest music video Entitled "7/11” was inspired by Gab's videos, which he posts on his Instagram and Youtube accounts. The super selfies feature snappy dance moves and quick cuts, which can also be seen in Beyonce's new video, which features her randomly dancing at a hotel room, balcony and corridor.

 

 

Gab started uploading his "super selfies" on social media since 2013, and has garnered millions of views. His videos have also been picked up by international media, including People magazine and Huffington Post.

 

Gab's super selfies were also included in Youtube's “Youtube Rewind: Turn Down for 2014,” a recap of the most viral videos that the video sharing site releases every year.

 

 

"Reel Time" documentaries

 

GMA News TV's flagship documentary "Reel Time" won the Maeda Award at the 2014 Japan Prize for its episode entitled "Nibulaysir."

 

 

Japan Prize's Maeda Award is given for excellent work dealing with issues in a producer’s country or region, which enlightens and encourages people toward finding solutions.

 

The last time GMA brought home a Japan Prize Trophy was back in 1998 for its co-production of Batibot with the Philippine Children’s Television Association.

 

Meanwhile, the episode "Silang Wala Sa Mapa” was recognized in the 2014 US International Film and Video Festival while "Batang Halau" was feted in the UNHCR Refugee Film Festival.

 

'My Husband's Lover'

 

"My Husband's Lover" was nominated for an International Emmy Award under the Telenovela category.

 

My Husband's Lover was aired from June to October 2013, and told the story of Vincent, a gay man married to Lally, and was secretly having a homosexual affair with his first love, Eric. 

 

 

It won five citations in the 5th Golden Screen TV Awards last March, and was also nominated in the 9th Seoul International Drama Awards a couple of months later. 

 

"Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan" and "Mula sa Kung Ano Ang Noon" by Lav Diaz

 

Director Lav Diaz's films were recognized by several award-giving bodies this year. 

 

Last August, the 5.5-hour film "Mula Sa Kung Ano ang Noon" won the coveted Golden Leopard prize at the Locarno film festival in Switzerland.

 

The film also bagged the International Federation of Film Societies' (IFFS) Don Quixote Prize, the FIPRESCI International Critics Prize, the Environment is Quality of Life Prize—handed out by Locarno Festival Youth Jury—and the Boccalino de Oro Independent Critics Award for Best Actress for lead Hazel Orencio.

 

"Mula sa Kung Ano ang Noon" recounts the strange events that befall an isolated village in the Philippines in 1972 during the era of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos, when brutal militias roamed the countryside.

 

 

"Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan" was nominated in the Best International Film category of the Independent Spirit Awards last November.

 

The film was also awarded Best Film at the Pancevo International Film Fest in Serbia,  Nuremberg International Human Rights Award and Best Picture at the International Cinephile Society Awards last year.

 

Diaz bagged the Best Director award for "Norte" at the Cinemanila Film Festival, while the film continues to gather rave reviews from no less than the New York Times, The Guardian at Film Comment. It was also named one of the Best Films of 2014 according to different lists.

 

'Norte' was also chosen to represent the Philippines in the Best Foreign Language Film Category in the upcoming 2015 Academy Awards. — JST, GMA News