Old Article about fil-am star Options

[Fil-Am]

LOL I know this is old, but I thought it was interesting.
And to update peeps about her. She is currently doing an movie here in the US. Did anybody catch her show Flip-Side ?

Lovin' Lalaine

Updated 06:56am (Mla time) Sept 01, 2004
By Maria Lalaine B. Reyes
Inquirer News Service



Editor's Note: Published on page C1 of the September 1, 2004 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer


LALAINE Vergara, wearing shoulder-length and layered dark brown hair, brown stretch shirt, white bohemian skirt and red Converse sneakers, turquoise-and-brown bead bracelet and silver rings, saunters into the restaurant quietly.

She does have a funky sense of style.

Lalaine scans the restaurant and quickly proceeds to a corner table with her mom and uncle in tow. Only 17 and 5'3 in height, she has a cute-as-a-button nose, penetrating eyes and an arresting wide smile.

"Hi Lalaine, I'm Lalaine!," I greet her. "Oh hi!" Lalaine replies graciously, all smiles.

I tease her for not informing me of her new project here in the Philippines. I am introduced to her mom Lilia and we all take photographs, happy that we two Lalaines have finally met.

Fun and charismatic

We have been e-mailing regularly for almost a year now after I did two earlier articles on her. This was before the publicity mill had began making much of the fact that she was a Filipino

who made it good in Hollywood via the Disney hit TV show "Lizzie McGuire" where she played Miranda Sanchez, Lizzie's Mexican best friend.

When the show wrapped production, Lalaine did an independent film, "Promised Land," appeared as guest artist on "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" and a Disney TV movie "You Wish!", and embarked on her first album where she was both songwriter and singer.

According to Alan Sacks, the album's executive producer, "Lalaine is relatable and fun. She has that charismatic quality. And she writes her own songs."

And then came the offer from the Philippines to host a new show, "Flipside." The show will explore the various facets of Philippine culture, such as food, fashion, film, music and sports, while at the same time highlighting Filipino traditions and values.

The show will air on the Living Asia Channel starting this October in the Philippines and North America, with CCI Asia Group and Sari-Sari co-producing.

According to CCI Asia's Ludette Rosales, Lalaine was the only choice for the role. The timing couldn't be more perfect, a rare opportunity to reconnect to her Filipino roots in full glory. The first few episodes of Flipside were taped in LA as Lalaine prepared for her journey back home as a young adult.

Inherently Pinoy

So how did she prepare for the show? Well, Lalaine says she didn't.

"My being Filipino, it's just inherent in me. It's awesome. I don't know what to expect. I just have to have a good mood every day for the shoot because I can be a pain sometimes," she says. Lalaine is also happy that songs from her album "Inside Story," released in the States, will be used in the show.

Mom Lilia gets teary-eyed when she talks about her daughter's new show.

"I get emotional. But I'm very happy. I just want her to connect with our culture," she explains.

Lalaine was born in California but lived in the Philippines for a while. She was five when her family permanently moved to the States. There, she quickly made her mark in show business.

She bagged the Cosette/Eponine role in the Broadway musical "Les Miserables" and starred in countless commercials before joining the "Lizzie McGuire" show that introduced her to a bigger audience and to us. Despite growing up in Los Angeles, Lalaine was never less than Filipino.

"Our Filipino food is so fattening, but nothing beats it! I love going to Goldilocks and Chowking in LA," she says.

Chicken adobo, sinigang and ensaymada are her favorites. "I cooked beef steak once, it turned out good even though I don't really cook," she shares proudly.

She also enjoys dancing the tinikling and looks up to her grandfather when it comes to being hospitable and arranging parties. "I'm also very close to my Mom and still have to follow curfews," she says.

Humble, smart, mature

Lalaine's uncle, Mel Vergara, says that despite her success at a young age, Lalaine has been humble, smart and mature beyond her years. "She really finds time to say hello to her young fans," he notes.

Lalaine is aware that she's a role model to many young people. While she admits she's still young and is bound to commit mistakes, she strives to do things right.

Her uncle says his niece is allowed to have a boyfriend. Lalaine has been paired with Clayton Snyder aka Ethan Craft, her co-worker at "Lizzie McGuire," but she says they're just close. Her local crush? She finds Richard Gutierrez really cute.

The last time Lalaine was in the Philippines was in 1995. Now, she's amazed by the changes she sees all around and looks forward to going to Batangas, her mom's hometown, and meeting their relatives.

In the meantime, she's raring to go shopping, which wouldn't be a problem to her as she can speak and understand Tagalog and make "tawad."

Breaking into the local scene is also a possibility, but she plans to continue with her singing and acting career and win an Oscar or a Grammy in the future.

"Life is short," she says. No matter what I do, I just have to be happy. I am glad that my family and friends keep me grounded. I am just thankful to God for all the blessings. And I'm always proud to be a Filipino!"

[Ek-ek]

Nice article, At least she had acknowledge her roots