Filipino singer Ivy Grace Paredes is returning to the UAE for back-to-back shows in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Paredes, 33, catapulted into fame after appearing in the latest season of The X Factor UK. A fan favourite who had impressed the judging panel in the reality programme's first three rounds of competition, Paredes was disqualified last month from The X Factor UK after failing to secure a visa to the United States, where the show's next stage of the contest was filmed.
A single mother of a two-year-old daughter, Paredes had been living and working in Dubai since 2009, working as a regular performer at the Regent Palace Hotel and the Comedy Junction Bar in Al Mamzar. Earlier this year, she left Dubai and flew to London to audition for The X Factor UK.
Paredes will perform a show, titled The Return, at Societe Bar at the Hotel Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche on October 20 at 10pm. Tickets, priced at Dh85, are available at the door. For ticket and table reservations, call 055 285 0176.
The next day, on October 21 at 10pm, Paredes performs the same show in Dubai at Club of Asia in Wafi Mall on Oud Metha Road. Tickets are priced at Dh75 and available at the door or by calling 050 833 0644.
"Abu Dhabi and Dubai, see you soon — my second home," Paredes told The National in a brief statement. "Please share and spread the good news. I am so happy to be back in the UAE."
Paredes, along with daughter Raphaella, arrived at the Dubai International Airport on Monday. They flew from Manila, where Paredes has now been temporarily based since returning from The X Factor UK. Paredes's career has thrived in the Philippines since her appearance on the reality programme, with multiple shows lined up and appearances on local television shows.
Filipino artist Whilce Portacio coming for Dubai PopCon
Filipino-American illustrator William “Whilce” Portacio in one of the Hall of Fame guests invited to the PopCon festival in Dubai, which will be held at the Dubai Outlet Mall from October 27 to 29.
Portacio, 53, started his illustration career in 1985, working at Marvel Comics for titles such as The Punisher, Uncanny X-Men and Spawn. Throughout his career he has worked on a number of popular comic titles including Heroes Reborn: Iron Man, Wetworks and Batman Confidential.
Born in the Philippine province of Cavite, Portacio later moved to California with his family.
At the PopCon festival, Portacio will be appearing alongside other renowned illustrators Agnes Garbowska, Jason Palmer and David Yardin. Other celebrity guests include Ultimate Fighting Championship and Mixed Martial Arts champion and actor Randy Couture, actress Brianna Hildebrand and Kuwaiti social media sensation Fouz Al Fahad.
Hosted by American television presenter Giuliana Rancic, the PopCon festival will also feature a Halloween-themed music festival, dubbed Fiesta De Los Muertos, on October 28, featuring headline acts Major Lazer, All Saints and DNCE. A cosplay contest will also be held, where attendees can dress up as their favourite fictional characters, competing for a Dh25,000 top prize.
PopCon was launched in Manila last year, and recently hosted a second event in the Philippine capital. For more information, visit www.popcon.com
Filipino documentary wins at Busan film fest
Filipino filmmaker Sheron Dayoc's latest documentary, The Crescent Rising, was awarded the top documentary prize at last week's Busan International Film Festival in South Korea.
The documentary follows the lives of individuals caught in the conflict between Christians and Muslims in the southern Philippine region of Mindanao. For decades, the group Moro National Liberation Front has demanded independence from the Philippine government, with the struggle resulting to a series of peace talks and violent clashes.
At the Busan festival, The Crescent Rising competed with 10 other documentaries, including Sunday Beauty Queen from Filipino director Baby Ruth Villarama. The documentary chronicles a beauty pageant organised for Filipino nannies in Hong Kong.
"I never thought the film could actually win best documentary," Dayoc told the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Dayoc, who hails from Mindanao, has won a grant of US$10,000 (Dh36,730) to assist the filmmaker's next project. He says he hopes the recognition would lead "to more opportunities and platforms to share our film so that people would know the true plight of our brothers and sisters in Mindanao."
In her review of the documentary for Variety Magazine, critic Maggie Lee wrote: "The rate at which Philippine filmmakers are cranking out original, challenging, often masterful work is nothing short of astounding. [Dayoc] offers a rare, knowledgeable study of the grievances and ideals of the Muslim community, often portrayed as violent insurgents in skewed popular media."
artslife@thenational.ae