The 15th Annual
Sept. 9-10, 2006
10am to 6pm 
FPAC is sponsored by 
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FPAC 2006 HEADLINERS Schedule for Headliners on Main Stage 
REX NAVARRETE www.RexNavarrete.comMany claim that college is the turning point in one's life, when one finds his or her future. This was the case for San Francisco Bay Area comedian Rex Navarrete, when Navarrete's college professor told him he was wasting his talents. "He told me, 'Get out of my office-we shouldn't be joking here, you should be taking those jokes to the stage," recalls Navarrete of his Asian American Studies professor Dan Gonzales, the teacher who supported his dream to be a comedian in 1989. That spring, 19 year-old Navarrete was baptised by fire, entertaining a crowd of 800 at the annual Asian Pacific Islander Student Union conference at UC Santa Cruz. "I was looking for my identity then just as everyone else was at that age," says Navarrete. "Much of my material was very serious, it lacked comedy. I figured that I had some important stuff to say, so say it in the format of stand-up. This is where I started to take comedy as a vehicle seriously." By the early 1990's, Navarrete began seeing his routine evolve through the use of characters, many of whom were struggling underdogs. His portrayals, which ranged from his ESL teacher Mrs. Scott to his Uncle Boy and to Maritess the domestic worker, gave him the voice to air his thoughts on issues and speak about things that otherwise wouldn't be mentioned. 
Navarrete gathers all of his material from what he calls "real Rex moments," reality and shared life experiences. "I think everything has humor; you will always find humor. I don't always make stuff up. Even though most of my material is geared for a Filipino audience, if you're smart enough you'll understand the universality of it. Look at the comedy traditions of Jewish and African American comics, which are now the mainstream through Seinfeld, Bruce, Allen, Rock, Pryor and Murphy. Our struggles become our comedy." "My parents never knew I would become a comedian. They did think I would go on to become an architect or join the Army as I planned. I led a dual life; I would play the role of a Filipino at home and at school be the American with my classmates. I bought my first Eddie Murphy album in middle school and memorized 'Comedian' with my friends. That was my first real introduction to stand-up comedy and the art of storytelling." A lot has happened since then. Navarrete has performed his brand of comedy all across the nation touring numerous colleges, universities and community events. He has become a household name in Filipino American homes. In 1998, he released his first comedy CD entitled, "Badly Browned", which was followed by another CD in the summer of 1999, "Husky Boy". Both have become bestsellers on the Classified Records label and have brought high praise by listeners across the country. In the summer of 2001, he released his third CD album this time under his own label Kakarabaw Productions entitled, "Bastos". As a major follow-up to the three CD's and touring like crazy in Asia and North America, he produced, directed and released "Hella Pinoy", his first ever, live standup DVD concert. Shot in San Francisco, it has all the hidden goodies including a feature-length performance, a behind the scenes documentary, his early days of standup and much more. It's become a must have DVD in anyone's comedy collection. He currently remains on tour worldwide throughout the year after being in the comedy business for over 17 years. He currently travels all over North America touring cities such as Los Angeles, New York, Seattle, Houston, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver and Hawaii doing his one-man show. 
In 2004, he brought his act to the peoples of Germany, Austria and Switzerland sharing the bill with renowned Philippine vocalist, Regine Velasquez. He has also had the distinction of becoming the most celebrated stand-up comic to perform to multiple sold-out shows in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore since 2002. He regularly returns to Manila, which has become fertile ground for his style of stand-up, inspiring the growth of an emerging local stand-up comedy scene. His next plan of attack is to perform in Australia and the United Kingdom, where fans eagerly await his arrival. In late 2005, the release of his sophomore DVD entitled, "Badass Madapaka!", showcases Navarrete on his Pacific region tour of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and Manila. This will be the first international tour DVD by any Filipino-American artist. The San Francisco show was taped in front of a sold-out house at the historic Warfield Theater in downtown. The Los Angeles taping filled up the also historic Wiltern LG Theater. One will truly be able to experience Rex's fan-base from all angles. His other current projects include his own television series, "Rex In The City", for MTV Philippines, which shares his stand-up talents to a younger, hipper TV viewing audience throughout the Philippines. For the upcoming animated series in 2006, "The Nutshack", Navarrete voices many of the series' key characters in this groundbreaking Filipino-American animated production. Navarrete remains to be a one of the hardest working, relatively unknown American comedians today though he's performed alongside notable national headliners as George Lopez, DL Hughley, Paul Mooney, among others. He does plan to release a number of other comedy albums on CD and DVD's under his label for fans to enjoy in the future. Presently, he lives on the island of Oahu in Hawaii where he just loves to relax quietly, swim and fish when he can. The future seems to only give him the chance to connect with a larger audience that is now finally getting the opportunity to witness the changing face of American stand-up comedy. All three CD's and both DVD's can be purchased online at www.brownjungle.com.
THE VISIONARIES www.upabove.comwww.myspace.com/visionariesThe Visionaries are back with their fourth album, “We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For),” coming October 3rd on Up Above Records. “We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For)” follows the runaway acclaim of their last full-length release, 2004’s “Pangaea” (Up Above), which found the group soaring to new heights in both sound and scope. “The album is a stellar musical effort,” praised Mean Street, “the Visionaries have not only shattered the rules of hip-hop, they’ve redefined them.” URB’s album review stated, with a “4 out of 5” star rating; “merely damn-good tracks are the exception, with f*cking great being the norm.” Skinnie Magazine wrote “their love of music has become more than a youthful passion; it has become their breath and life. The quality of their next release comes from knowing that someone’s life will be affected by the message they convey.” Deemed as a “group of the people, for the people,” the Visionaries have propelled themselves onto the vanguard of hip-hop’s life-affirming countermovement. With a sharpened focus and revitalized approach, this L.A. based group now brings forth their most potent work to date on “We Are The Ones (We’ve Been waiting For).” The album captures the Visionaries in a writing frenzy, tackling a wide range of topics with absolute fervor. Coming from diverse backgrounds and different walks of life, each crew member openly flexes their growth on the upcoming release, blurring brutally-honest reflections, confessional narratives, and self discoveries into a very powerful and personal record. The aptly-titled “Do Gooders” displays the group’s gift as adept storytellers, providing freeze frame shots into the scenes of their daily lives, while “Growing Up in the Good” is an infectious West Coast anthem, with each emcee flipping through the pages of their distinctive Southern Cali experience. Meanwhile, “All Right,” produced by the late great J Dilla, is an instant classic that resonates a universal appreciation for all the loved ones in life. The phenomenal posse-cut enlists Madlib on production, with the Visionaries MC’s passing the mic between heavyweight lyricists: Brand Nubian’s Sadat X, X-Clan’s Brother J, Rakka Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, RBX (of Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” fame), and none other than the “Holy One,” YZ. The Visionaries have been on the grind for over a decade now, and “We Are The Ones (We’ve Been Waiting For)” is just another milestone from the multifaceted unit. Amongst the group’s six members (LMNO, 2Mex, Lord Zen, Dannu, KeyKool, & DJ Rhettmatic), they’ve released over twenty solo and side projects, including three full-length albums as a group on Up Above Records, “Galleries” (1997), “Sophomore Jinx” (2001), and “Pangaea” (2004). They have collaborated with some of the finest talents in hip-hop, and blessed stages alongside a long list of luminaries including: Linkin Park, Nas, Wu-Tang Clan, Common, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Dilated Peoples, De La Soul, Blackalicious, and Jurassic 5. 2006 is poised to be a huge year for the group, as they take their explosive live show on the road, with tours planned throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Pushing forward independently and spreading universal love through art, the Visionaries are breaking down barriers with their own brand of message music. The group was acknowledged for their positive impact and contribution to hip-hop in 2005, as they were formally inducted into the Universal Zulu Nation. Their music was also recently featured on the MTV feature film “Volcano High,” the Warner Brothers’ box-office hit “Oceans Twelve,” and one of Midway’s best-selling video games of 2005 “NFL Blitz.” The Visionaries have done it all, and they’re just getting started.
NATIVE GUNS www.myspace.com/nativegunsNATIVE GUNS consists of California-bred, Filipino MCs Kiwi & Bambu, who have been doing work together since 2002, combining their love for music & word with their love for community and their commitment to turning the system upside down. They have rocked crowds all over California as well as New York, Seattle, Chicago, Minnesota, Boston, Florida, and Vancouver with their daring mix of hard-hitting beats, machine-gun lyricism, and unapologetic critical content. KIWI, an L.A native who now lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, has been holding it down for years and released his first full-length project entitled "Writes of Passage: Portraits of a Son Rising" in October of 2003. BAMBU, originally from the Watts community of Los Angeles, released his debut album "Self Untitled…" in April 2002. Bambu also appears on “the Wake Up Show Freestyles, Vol. 8.” His mixtape “.38 Revolver” was released in October 2005. DJ Phatrick has been involved with the Bay Area hip hop community since he first moved to from Houston, TX, in 2000 to pursue a degree in ethnic studies at UC Berkeley. There he met Kiwi & Bambu, as the organizer for the renowned Bay Area event “Hip Hop in the Park.” Native Guns have shared the stage with such acts as Common, the Visionaries, Medusa, KRS-1, Planet Asia and more. In September of 2004, the Native Guns released the beat-jacker cult-classic "Stray Bullets Mixtape Vol. 1" CD. They also appear on Hard Knock Records’ “Slam Bush” mixtape, which also features Mos Def, Dave Chappelle and more. Their first 12” Single “Champion” b/w “Get Down” produced by DJ Rhettmatic, released October 2005. The Native Guns have released their debut album “Barrel Men” on May 2, 2006.
JOEY GUILA www.myspace.com/joeyguilaFilipino comedian Joey Guila is the host of a new television show called Comedy Zen on ImaginAsian TV. In the bay area, he won the Kings of Comedy competition which led him to perform on P Diddy’s Bad Boys of Comedy in New York. Joey’s tours include, Latham Entertainments’ Kings of Comedy Search Tour 2003, Takeout Comedy Tour 2004, Brown Belt Comedy Tour 2005 and Brown Belt Comedy Tour coming to a city near you!
CHARMAINE CLAMOR www.charmaineclamor.comCharmaine Clamor is the first Filipina jazz singer to find success on the mainstream American radio. Her album, "Searching for the Soul," has been heard on more than 100 stations around America, and peaked at #1 on the CMJ jazz charts in several markets. Critics and disc jockeys have compared Charmaine's sultry alto voice to legendary vocalists like Nancy Wilson, Sarah Vaughan, and Cassandra Wilson, all the while recognizing her individual style and sound. A longtime member of the renowned vocal harmony ensemble CRESCENDO, Charmaine is also the first Pinay to headline the world-famous Catalina Bar & Grill jazz club, in Hollywood, which presented Charmaine at their sold-out 2005 Filipino-American Jazz festival. In 2006, she headlined the Manila International Jazz Festival in her birth country, the Philippines. Originally from the provincial town of Subic-Zambales, Charmaine Clamor began her singing career at age 3, entertaining passengers (whether they liked it or not!) in the back of buses traveling to Manila. As she grew, she began providing piano accompaniment while her mother sang kundiman (Filipino torch songs) and English language classics. From these early memories comes her love of the Great American Songbook. One of the founding members of JazzPhil-USA, a non-profit organization which promotes Filipino-American jazz artists in the United States, Charmaine is an American citizen and proud Pinay who is honored to perform at concerts that celebrate the Filipino culture.
CAMILE VELASCO www.myspace.com/camilevelascoCAMILE was born in the Philippines in 1985, but her family moved to Hawaii when she was at young age. Her dream has always been to sing and write music. At 17, Camile left her home in Haiku, Maui and auditioned for American Idol (Season 3). Her passion and dedication for music paid off and she survived the strains of performing live for 25 million people week-after-week and became one of the top ten finalists. She has appeared and performed on numerous television shows such as Entertainment Tonight and Access Hollywood, as well as at NASCAR, the NFL Pro Bowl Weekend and other live events. She also was part of the 48 city American Idol tour. Her song on the American Idol CD Season 3 was praised by music reviewers in the New York, L.A. and other major papers as the best cut on the CD. Camile's hard work was rewarded with a recording contract with Universal / Motown Records. She is releasing a single with Pras, from the Grammy Award winning hip-hop group The Fugees. She also is working on her own songs with Grammy Nominated producer Gen Ruben, who has worked with Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin and Baby Face, for her upcoming CD. Furthermore, Camile has collaborated with Apl (Black Eye Peas) for an upcoming single and Jeru the Damaja from the legendary hip hip group, Gang Starr.Camile is dedicated to her music andher fans. Her heartfelt song writing, creative beats, and gifted vocals give her the talent to become a young superstar.
BERNARDO BERNARDO www.bernardobernardo.comBERNARDO BERNARDO received the 2005 FILIPINAS MAGAZINE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (For Entertainment). Citing Bernardo as "an actor par excellence," the nationally-circulated US monthly glossy gave the prestigious award to Bernardo as one of the top ten Filipino Achievers of the Year, in "recognition of the accomplishments of the advocates, role models, and movers and shakers in the Filipino-American community." Previous Fil-Am Awardees for Entertainment include actors Lou Diamond Phillips , Tia Carrere, and Rob Schneider; film director Gene Cajayon and scriptwriter John Manal Castro ("The Debut"); David Maquiling ("Too Much Sleep"), the only Fil-Am in the Directors Guild of America; Hollywood producer Dean Devlin ("Independence Day," "The Patriot," and "Stargate"); and singer Jocelyn Enriquez. Bernardo was also named one of the five distinguished recipients of the 2006 THOMASIANS, USA NOBILITY AWARD, given to outstanding alumni of the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas for their"outstanding achievements and contributions in their field of specialization and in the service of society." As a triple treat HOST, SINGER and STAND-UP COMEDIAN, Bernardo continues to wow audiences in a series of concerts in Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Juneau, Las Vegas and New York. His wit and wicked repartee sends up the wackier quirks of Pinoy Ghetto Glam USA. For his tongue-in-cheek efforts, he received the GAWAD PARANGAL 2005 BEST STAND-UP COMEDIAN AWARD in Sacramento; and the 2004 BEST ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR AWARD in the Via Times Hall of Fame Awards in Chicago. As a STAGE ACTOR, Bernardo and the cast of "VOYAGE" were featured on the front cover of AMERICAN THEATRE magazine (Cover Story ---“FRONTIER DREAMS, The Alaskeros Tell Their Stories,” July/August Issue 2005). Bernardo appeared as lead in two successive Perseverance Theatre productions: as Ben Cantil, the nostalgic Merchant Marine in "VOYAGE," a play based on the lives of four generations of Filipino immigrants in Alaska; and, as the despicable cannery foreman Conrado, in PT’s world premiere musical, "THE LONG SEASON," its companion piece, Bernardo was Prudencio in the Midwest premiere of the award-winning play "THE ROMANCE OF MAGNO RUBIO" at Chicago's Victory Gardens Theater. The outstanding production reaped standing ovations and garnered rave reviews. Out of more than 140 plays, "MAGNO RUBIO" was chosen as one of the top five and was nominated for Best Production and Best Acting Ensemble for the JEFF Awards (Chicago's Tony's). In Manila, Bernardo was an URIAN BEST ACTOR Awardee for Ishmael Bernal's much-acclaimed film "MANILA BY NIGHT." Also known as "CITY AFTER DARK," Bernal's seminal film was chosen by the elite Manunuri (the Philippines' National Society of Film Critics) as one of the 10 Best Films in the last 25 years in Philippine Cinema. Bernardo has an M.A. in Dramatic Arts from the University of California, Santa Barbara; he was also a recipient of various scholarships from the Inner City Cultural Center of Los Angeles, the American Conservatory Theater of San Francisco (Summer Workshop) and the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art under a British Council grant. Bernardo graduated from the Royal and Pontifical University of Santo Tomas where he received the degree of Bachelor of Literature in Journalism from the Faculty of Arts and Letters.He was Editor-in Chief of the University paper, The Varsitarian. He is also a graduate of the historic Manila High School in Intramuros, alma mater of distinguished statesmen such as Carlos P. Romulo (Pulitzer Prize winner and Ambassador Extraordinaire) and former Presidents of the Philippine Republic: Jose P. Laurel, Manuel A. Roxas and Elpidio Quirino.
FLORANTE www.theflorante.netFlorante's musical history began when he explored the ukulele at the age of eight. At seventeen, he joined his first band, The Ludwigs, as lead guitarist. His fantastic guitar playing had gained popularity for him in his hometown. After years of playing with several bands, Florante took the acoustic guitar path and pursued his music career as a folksinger. Driven by his dreams and ambitions, Florante began writing his own material and was immediately offered a recording contract that brought him stardom. His songs with poetic lyrics and catchy melodies became his trademark and are now considered classics. Recognized as an unparalleled composer in the entertainment industry, Florante without doubt is one of the most respected entertainment icons in Philippine show business. Florante is known to render a whole show by performing only his original compositions. In his performances, he injects one-liners and antics which have made him a much-sought after artist. Florante is a sincere and true Filipino and dedicates his heart and soul to his country and countrymen. He is constantly thinking and writing songs about his native land. Because of his music, not only is he dubbed as a folk hero but also as a living legend in Philippine Music.
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