AMAPOLA, Arguably the Most Captivating Entertainer From the Philippines

(PRWEB) October 22, 2004

In a career spanning four decades and more than 300 concerts performed for her countrymen, Amapola’s sound combines Jazz, Broadway, Cabaret, Rock and occasional country in treatments both traditional and untried. Long known for being a pioneer in the Philippine and Filipino-American entertainment world here and abroad, Amapola championed important Filipino composers, singers and musicians for decades and never failed to pay tribute to their talents from her first Hawaiian tour in the early 70, to New York where she twice filled the Town Hall, on board some of the world’s most luxurious cruise ships and up to the present in her selective Cabaret and concert performances in America. Twice awarded the equivalent of the Philippine Grammy, Multi-Awardee of various credits and merits from her fellow countrymen in America (chronicled in her website), Amapola is now emerging as a novelist of distinction herself. Her 2003 novel ‘Coming Home’ won awards from the Florida Writer’s Association for Published Fiction (Royal Palm Award), Blue Ribbon Award from iUniverse, a Finalist in the Book of the Year Award with Foreword Magazine and a winner of the IPPY Trophy from Independent Publishers. Already finishing her second book, Amapola is set to establish herself in the romantic fiction mainstream.

In addition to her writing and her prolific performances and recordings, both here and abroad, Amapola is committed to her favorite charities: Salesian Missions, Cystic Fibrosis, Disabled Veterans of America and the Humane League of America. Amapola devotes portions of her earnings to these charities.

Amapola took up piano at a tender age of four and did her first recital at 5. She then took up other instruments to please her father and eventually to give fellow musicians a much-needed break when they played nonstop music in Cebu City nightclubs. ‘At first I was just a gap stopper, and then I became good at what I did. So I learned to play Drums, Bass, Guitar, all percussions and whatever we had onstage so the band members could rest!’

As a teenager Amapola was crowned ‘Rock N’ Roll Queen’ and eventually the ‘Juke Box Queen’ when her career took her to the Philippines’ Big Apple – Manila. It was there that she was discovered by ABS-CBN studios and cast her opposite big names in television and radio comedy skits and drama. After apprenticing with ABS-CBN, Amapola emerged as the new leading lady for Philippine Matinee Idol Victor Wood in three major films by Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions. Her performance in her last film ‘You Are My Destiny’ electrified the movie scribes who hailed her as the new Amalia Fuentes (one of Amapola’s idols). Her movie career was derailed however by an offer she could not refuse - a concert road tour which included Hawaii that opened entertainment doors for her in Mainland USA.

Long regarded as a key figure in the Visayan entertainment field, Amapola’s last successful Visayan tour was with Cebu’s Mr. Music (her father) - Mahnee Cabase and his band, Lourna Pal from Davao and star of The Ugly Duckling in Makati, and April B. (her daughter who co-billed with her in Cebu City’s Hotel Magellan) covering the major cities of the Visayas and Mindanao and was produced by the highly regarded promoter and owner of the television sensation Eat Bulaga - Romy Jalosjos.

The musicians who have sought her out to collaborate with them onstage mirror the wide range of Amapola’s musical talents. Amapola has performed with such diverse artists as: Cal Tjader Trio, Bobby Enriquez, Walter Wanderley, Jimmy Price, Gerri Granger, Sergio Mendes Brazil 66, The Carpenters, Martin Nievera, Nora Aunor, Gary Valenciano, Katy dela Cruz, Vilma Santos, Pops Fernandez, Sharon Cuneta, Dulce, Vernie Varga, Rico J. Puno, Gabby Concepcion, Tirso Cruz III, Aristeo Dimavivas, Butch Miraflor, Phil Torres, Emil Mijares, Emil Munji, Domy Legaspi, Nestor Gonzaga, Novo Bono, Jr., Eddie Mesa, Carina Afable, Nida Blanca, Luis Gonzales, Pilita Corrales, Helen Gamboa, Jeanne Young, Pilar Pilapil, Edgar Mortiz, the late Ike Lozada, German Moreno, Justo C. Justo, The Regalado brothers, Carmen Patena, Bobby Gonzales, Carmen Soriano, The Hypertensions, Society of Seven and many more Philippine local and international stars.

Visayan Entertainment Network Online based in Miami recently paid tribute to this Philippine American Icon with a full website designed by Mack Manx from Hamburg, Germany on Alopama.com and mirrored on Amapola.Net. The website showcases Amapola’s career from start to finish. ‘…my own entertainment museum? How exciting!’ Amapola exclaimed in her last interview.

Asked about her goals as an author, Amapola promises to write at least one book a year. She will also start her own column about self-publishing to help fellow authors who have been looking into self-publishing but were afraid to try.

‘All I can say is, come on in, the water’s fine!’ Amapola added.

Interviews and press releases are available on her website Alopama.com

Amapola’s second novel is due for publication before the New Year.

Her latest CD ‘Amapola in Cabaret’ is available now

on CDBaby and Tower Records and her website

Amapola’s books is now available from online booksellers

and in more than 25,000 traditional booksellers worldwide.

For more information visit the artist’s official website: http://www.alopama.com

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