IT was last Saturday (November 26) morning when Judith A. Moose announced the passing of “Fame” and “Flashdance…What A Feeling” star-singer na si Irene Cara , who was found dead in her Miami, Florida home on Friday, November 25. Hindi pa alam ang cause ng kanyang pagkamatay. She was 63.

She was formerly married to Conrad E. Palmisano in 1986 and was divorced five years later in 1991.

Puerto Rican ang kanyang amang si Gaspar Cara Escaler na dating factory worker at retired saxophonist habang ang kanyang inang si Louise ay isang Cuban pero sa Bronx, New York na siya ipinanganak along with her four other siblings – two girls and two boys.

Sa edad na tatlong taong gulang ay naging finalist si Irene sa “Little Miss America” pageant at natuto siyang tumugtog ng piano by herself. Even as a young child ay mahilig nang kumanta at sumayaw si Irene. She later studied music, acting and dance seriously. She would sing and dance in Spanish language sa ilang TV shows at sumali rin siya sa The Original Amateur Hour (singing in
Spanish language) for the Latin Market and has also guested on Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show”.

Irene’s real fame happened when she sang and starred in the hit musical film na “Fame” in 1980 na dinirek ni Alan Parker na sinundan ng “Flashdance…What A Feeling” which she wrote and sang and earned for her two Academy Awards and two Grammys.

Bukod sa mga sold-out live concerts, on and off-Broadway musicals, record- breaking sosngs, Irene appeared in various TV shows including her own “Irene” in 1981. She also appeared in “The Electric Company,” “Kojak,” “Love of Life” among others.

Nakagawa naman si Irene ng almost twenty movies at kasama na rito ang “The Magic Voyage,” “D.C. Cab,” “City Heat,” “Beauty and the Beast” at iba pa.

She had a cameo role in the 2004 movie na “Downtown L A Street Tale” which was her last film.

Ang iba pang hit songs ni Irene include “Up Where We Belong,” “Cruel Summer,” “Ladies Night,” “Desire,”

“Respect Yourself," "C’mon and Get My Love,” “Pilot of the Airwaves” and “Maniac.

Luma at bagong talents pumirma

TATLONG bagong talents ang lumagda ng kontrata sa T.E.A.M (Tyronne Escalante Artist Management) ng talent manager na si Tyronne Escalante na ang premier talent ay ang “Darna” star na si Jane de Leon who she co-manages with Star Magic ng ABS-CBN.

Ito ay sina Polo Ravales, Andrew Gan at ang Artista Academy alumna at Miss World Philippines 2018 na si Chanel Morales.

Ang contract-signing ay ginanap sa Pandan Asian Café in Quezon City kung saan din ginanap ang launching ng duet collaboration ng commercial model and fast-rising singer and recording artist na si Ally Gonzales at Kapuso heartthrob na si Kelvin Miranda sa pamamagitan ng mga awiting “Gusto Kita “ at “Ating Kabanata”.

Kahit baguhan pa lamang sa industriya si Ally, sumailalim siya ng music ang vocal trainings mula sa yumaong American singer-composer na si Keith Martin at sa popular songwriter na si Vehnee Saturno at singer na si Ladine Roxas.

Si Ally ay naging daily winner din ng “Bida Next” segment ng longest- running noontime show na “Eat Bulaga” at pumasok siya sa semi-finals.

Dahil sa pagiging extra close nina Kelvin at Ally, marami tuloy ang nagdududa na may special something sa dalawa bagay na kanila lamang nginingitian.

Samantala, nagiging paboritong venue ang Pandan Asian Café in Scout Limbaga, Quezon City ng iba’t ibang special occasions and gatherings tulad ng birthdays, wedding reception, seminars, get-togethers, media conferences at iba pang okasyon dahil bukod sa magandang ambience, napakasarap ng pagkain ng nasabing lugar ng award-winning and book author na si Chef Myke `Tatung’
Sarthou.

Ang Pandan Asian Café ang official home studio ng “TicTALK with Aster Amoyo” where we hold our exclusive celebrity interviews for our online talk show.

Maraming salamat sa mag-asawang Alvin and Carla Fortuna, Dennis and Ems Macalintal at sa iba pa nilang business partners.

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