JAMES & BABY JAMES FOR SUN LIFE  / LADIES  RULE GRAMMYS


MANILA, FEBRUARY 3, 2010 (STAR) [PHOTO AT LEFT - JAMES AND SON, BABY JANES]

MANILA, Philippines - In Sun Life Financial’s latest TV commercial, the relevance of planning for one’s future could not be better told. Celebrity father and son James and Baby James Yap deliver the message.

James knows he is at the prime of his career as a basketball player and has what he needs to play it right. He wants to take advantage of his speed, his alertness and shows sheer determination to win his games. But he admits a basketball career cannot go on forever and has to be played while he still can.

Naturally, James, not wanting to be a burden to Baby James when the time comes that he can no longer earn from basketball has started planning for his future now. He, like every responsible father, doesn’t want to be a burden to his child. His youth is his best ally and he believes part of securing Baby James’ future means understanding the importance of early financial planning.

James and Baby James are Sun Life Financial’s latest addition to its roster of celebrity endorsers for its advocacy called It’s Time! It’s Time! is Sun Life’s financial advocacy which aims to empower Filipinos so they can achieve financial security. Other celebrity advocates of It’s Time! includes Pia Magalona, a Sun Life beneficiary, and Bam Aquino, a Sun Life investor.

James and Baby James ‘ TV commercial will also be supplemented by billboard and print ads, which will be revealed in the next couple of weeks.

Ladies rule the Grammys SOUNDS FAMILIAR By Baby A. Gil (The Philippine Star) Updated February 03, 2010 12:00 AM

[PHOTO AT LEFT - Beyoncé Knowles (left) and Taylor Swift]

Only males of the extraordinary variety were allowed to shine in last Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles last Jan. 31, it turned out to be ladies’ night most of the time.

Despite this, nobody outshone Lifetime Achievement awardee Michael Jackson. He starred in what was the evening’s most touching moment. Celine Dion, Usher, Carrie Underwood, a butterfly sleeved Jennifer Hudson and Smokey Robinson performed his Earth Song with 3D visuals on the screen. Lionel Richie, who co-wrote We Are The World presented the Grammy tribute to MJ’s kids, Prince and Paris.

So did Elton John. The Brit pop legend appeared rhinestoned to the nines and effortlessly stood up against the flashy Lady Gaga in their medley of her Speechless and his Your Song, which opened the show. So did Green Day in a preview of the Broadway take on their big hit American Idiot. It is for moments like these that viewers try hard not to miss the Grammy telecast.

So did Kings of Leon who survived the female onslaught to win two major trophies. And Andrea Bocelli and David Foster who almost didn’t shine at all because of the toned down but still stellar Mary J. Blige in their Bridge Over Troubled Waters number for the earthquake victims of Haiti. So did Pink who left everybody in the theater agape with her daring dance. Then so did the Black Eyed Peas (BEP) who came all metalled up for their number.

But take note that the BEP were not all males. There was lone girl Fergie who looked stunning in her silver visor. And because the Peas took home some trophies, Fergie was one of those lovely girls who lorded it over what must have been the most successful ladies invasion of the Grammys in its history. Take a look at this list of what the girls won.

Beyoncé Knowles got 10 nominations and won six of them, the most ever won by a girl artist. These were for Best Female R&B Vocal: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It; Best Traditional R&B Vocal: At Last; R&B Song: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It); Contemporary R&B Album: I Am… Sasha Fierce; Song of the Year: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It, Beyoncé Knowles; and Female Pop Vocal: Halo, Beyoncé Knowles.

Taylor Swift got eight nominations for last year. This is her very first time out for the awards, and boy, did she do very well. Best Country Album: Fearless; Best Female Country Vocal: Fearless; Country Song: White Horse, and that oh-so-coveted Album of the Year went to Fearless, for which she composed and sang all the songs. No Kanye was not around to steal the thunder from her acceptance speech.

It was also great going for Lady Gaga with the Best Electronic/Dance Album: The Fame and Best Dance Recording: Poker Face. And not to be outdone were the Black Eyed Peas who got the Best Pop Vocal Album: The E.N.D.; Best Duo or Group Pop Vocal: I Gotta Feeling, and Best Short Form Music Video: Boom Boom Pow.