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[> Subject: Starmedia: A story of success
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Author:
viktoria
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Date Posted: 22:10:41 09/23/05 Fri
Scuttlebutt
Shirley Pizarro
Sept. 24, 2005
Starmedia: A story of success
When she decided to break away from old "complicated" ties in the Philippines back in 2003, little did everyone expected how concert producer Ana Puno would pull away that fast and bounce quite successfully at that.
But a string of highly-attended shows in the US featuring local productions boasting of Filipino talents are but attestations to the success that we have come to realize when we had lunch with the still young–looking (if not even more youthful-looking than the last time we saw her) and still very vibrant Ana.
The persona of an achiever, someone who doesn’t stop until she gets the job done, is still there. Talking fast over lunch at Italianni’s in Greenbelt with her trusted assistant Bernard Cloma in tow, Ana has filled us in, during the gaps when we started wondering where she was.
"The hard work that I put through in the international shows the old company that I was with had put up there, had a lot to do with the education that I got in mounting shows abroad. I was the one working my way in, hands-on, discovering the ropes of the trade. It’s really good that I am a fast-learner and I absorb lessons well. That’s why, when the time came for me to mount my very first concert production abroad, I knew already what exactly needs to be done. Kapa ko na yung market doon," she told us.
Ana’s "StarMedia" was born with the advent of "The Songbird and the Songwriter" US tour in April, 2004. More than anything, Ana confesses, "I was challenged to get the job done. This was my first and naturally, I put in all the efforts I could muster to make this a success. God blessed me with it because it proved to be a brilliantly good start for me. It was a success," Ana said of the shows headlined by controversial couple Regine Velasquez and Ogie Alcasid.
That shining moment led to another victory that added another feather on Ana’s cap via "The Greatest Hitmakers US Tour" featuring Hajji Alejandro, Rico J. Puno, Nonoy Zuniga, Marco Sison and Rey Valera in July, 2004. "The Filipino community there had a grand time reminiscing their good old days in the Philippines via the music of these OPM stalwarts. These shows really warmed my heart because of the overwhelming response of the crowd there," Ana shared to us.
In October of 2004, Ana made a homecoming of sorts by mounting the homecoming concert of then American Idol finalist Jasmine Trias at the Araneta Coliseum. It was another well-attended affair.
The early part of this year has proven to be an even better one for Starmedia when Ana prophetically had that stroke of brilliant idea in putting together Pops Fernandez and Regine Velasquez in one show. Kicking off as a Valentine offering in February, 2005 at the Ultra, "Queens On Fire" went on to tour around the US in April, 2004 that brought the entourage, including Erik Santos, to San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlantic City, San Diego, Seattle, Hawaii, Florida, Texas and even Toronto in Canada.
The good news is that due to insistent public demand, "Queens on Fire" shall be coming back to the US to once more showcase the stuff the concert queen Pops Fernandez and songbird Regine Velasquez are made of. They are set to hit Chicago, Washington D.C., Las Vegas and Guam on March, 2006. "We expect another round of SRO attendance for the shows of these ladies. It was amazing how they were received the first time. We sold out practically all shows. We even had to sell production passes at the last minute just so we could accommodate some of the Filipino concert-goers who were begging us for tickets. It was amazing! That’s why we don’t have any doubt that this return engagement for Pops and Regine will again be very well-received," Ana said.
Last May, Starmedia worked with the management group of the megastar Sharon Cuneta in its Atlantic City concert as part of her Mega Concert Tour in the US. That, too, according to Ana, allowed her to experience success. Her most recent production was the highly-successful launch of "GMA Pinoy TV" in San Francisco. "Had we not encountered problems about colliding head-on with ABS-CBN’s free show, GMA and Starmedia were on our way to a really successful event. We were all set long before them. We had everything in order, but because at the last minute, we found out that ABS decided to mount a free show against ours, we needed to do something about it," Ana revealed. "But just the same," she added, "the San Francisco launch was very well attended and we were able to pack the venue. That is the truth," Ana said.
When everything is said and done, we asked Ana what was the hardest obstacle she had to overcome before reaching this position? She admitted, "breaking into the US entertainment industry was a tough challenge. Competition is really stiff. But if you really set your heart and mind into it, getting the right formula by feeling what the American market wants and giving it to them, topping it with hard work and dedication, you will be able to accomplish your dream. I did," she said triumphantly.
Next month, Ana will be one of the recipients of the San Francisco-based Filipino Gawad Awards 2005 bagging the title, Concert Producer of the Year. Last year, she got an award for the same category in Reflections XVI in Los Angeles and then again in the Uliran Awards 2005.
Let’s follow where Ana’s star will lead us in the months and years more to come.
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