Film and television actor Ian Veneracion is coming to Dubai for a one-night-only show on October 19 at the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium. Veneracion will be performing pop ballads and interacting with his fans on and off the stage. The 42-year-old actor recently starred in the popular television drama series <em>A Love to Last</em> and the acclaimed thriller <em>Bliss</em>, which premiered at this year's Osaka Asian Film Festival. Tickets for the event, which are priced from Dh75 to Dh225, are available from Virgin Megastores in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Gates open at 6pm and the show starts at 8pm. Filipino acoustic duo Aien & Cris are the front-act performers. <strong>Alisah Bonaobra advances to next round of The X Factor UK</strong> Filipino contestant Alisah Bonaobra survived the bootcamp round in this week's episode of <em>The X Factor UK</em>. During the first stage of the bootcamp, contestants performed in small groups for judges Nicole Scherzinger, Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh. Bonaobra was grouped with contestants Rai-Elle Williams, Natalie Lomax and Gaga Lord, a 40-year-old Filipino cafeteria lady. The four women performed Mariah Carey's hit <em>We Belong Together</em>, but they failed to inspire the judging panel which sent the entire group home save for Williams. Bonaobra then broke down on stage, pleading for a second chance. After being comforted by Gaga Lord and Scherzinger, she then suddenly belted out lines from <em>We Belong Together</em>, catching the attention of the other judges. “Based on what you’ve done there — from what I can hear — we’re going to give you a pass on this one,” Cowell told her. On the second stage of the bootcamp, contestants were tasked to perform solo numbers in front of the judges and a live audience. This time, Bonaobra did not disappoint with a rousing cover of the song <em>Defying Gravity</em> from the musical <em>Wicked</em>. Her performance earned a standing ovation from Osbourne, Scherzinger and the audience. She has now advanced to the next stage of the competition, known as the six-chair challenge, where the four judges can take only six singers each to the next round. Bonaobra was accompanied to the bootcamp by her mother. During her audition last week, the 22-year-old singer said she and her mother flew to London with the financial assistance of a family friend from back home. One of eight children, Bonaobra helps her family through her singing career. Her parents work as sidewalk food vendors. Bonaobra previously appeared on <em>The Voice of the Philippines</em> in 2015, finishing as the competition's runner-up. Another bootcamp episode is scheduled to air on Saturday, October 7, featuring two other Filipino contestants: boy group JBK and singer-songwriter Elysa Villareal. The<em> X Factor UK </em>started accepting international contestants in 2015. That year, Filipino girl group 4th Impact finished in fifth place. In 2016, Dubai-based Filipino singer Ivy Grace Paredes made it to the show's top 24 round. <strong>Kathrina Feigh impresses Jennifer Hudson on The Voice US</strong> Another Filipino contestant is making waves on a reality singing competition. Kathrina Feigh earned praises from the celebrity coaches of <em>The Voice US</em> after she covered Jessie J's <em>Big White Room</em> during her audition. “Your voice is amazing. It moved me,” Jennifer Hudson told Feigh. “The vibrato that you have, the quality that you have — I couldn’t help but turn my chair around. That is what this show is called — The Voice — and you have the voice.” Blake Shelton also turned his chair for the young singer, but Feigh chose to join Hudson’s team. Later on social media, Feigh wrote: “Wow I am in awe. Thank you Jennifer Hudson. I am truly humbled.” Feigh has advanced to the next stage of the competition, dubbed the battle rounds, where contestants perform in pairs. <em>The Voice US</em>, presented by Carson Daly, also features coaches Adam Levine and Miley Cyrus. <strong>Filipino films selected for Tokyo film festival</strong> Five Filipino films will screen at the 30th Tokyo International Film Festival, to be held from October 25 to November 3. Loy Arcenas's musical <em>Ang Larawan</em> (The Portrait) and Arnel Arbi Barbarona's <em>Tu Pug Imatuy</em> (The Right to Kill) have been selected for the festival's Asian Future section. HF Yambao's Kristo will screen in the festival's Crosscut Asia panel, while Daniel Palacio's family drama <em>Pailalim </em>(Underground), which was produced by acclaimed director Brillante Mendoza, will be showcased in the World Focus section. Mendoza himself will be at the festival to deliver a masterclass titled "Working with Actors" on October 26. A restored version of Mike de Leon's 1980 comedy <em>Kakabakaba Ka Ba? </em>(Will Your Heart Beat Faster?) will also screen as part of the festival's Discovering Asian Cinema programme. _______________ <strong>Read more: </strong> _______________
