Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Statements were made by everyone from Peru's Defense Minister to reporters on BBC when a nude picture of a Peruvian showgirl sitting on the country's flag was posted on the cover of an entertainment magazine.

It was affirmed that charges would be brought against model/dancer Leysi Suarez and the head of D Farandula magazine, Daysi Ontaneda (right) for inappropriate acts with a national symbol.

Ontaneda appeared on Monday at her first hearing for the controversial picture that caused an array of reactions across Peru.

It was reported that the head of the entertainment magazine showed up for her hearing fifteen minutes late accompanied by a lawyer and her father in law.

She was present to explain herself to prosecutors for the picture posted on the cover of D Farandula.

Leysi Suarez has already publicly apologized and affirmed she would "not make the same mistake again", stating it was an immature act.

She assured the picture was Ontaneda's idea and she was just doing her job as a model.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After Peruvian entrepreneurs affirmed it would be impossible for Madonna to include Peru on her Latin American tour assuring the Queen of Pop charged approximately $4 million per concert, local media stated the Andean country would have to settle for Cyndi Lauper.

It has been confirmed that the American Emmy and Grammy award-winning singer will perform in the country's capital on November 27.

Lauper, who was the first artist in history to have four top-five singles released from one album, is to perform for the first time in Peru at the Estadio Monumental in the Limean district of Ate-Vitarte.

She has assured she will perform several of her greatest hits such as Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time" as well as songs in her latest album Bring Ya to the Brink.

In other music news, it was reported that the Mexican rock band Molotov would be coming to Peru on August 15 despite news that their concert had been canceled.

They are to play at the Parque de la Exposición in Lima alongside Peruvian rock bands such as La Mente.

Peruvian singer-songwriter Gian Marco began on Friday his concert tour called “Desde Adentro” with a wonderful show at Lima’s Marsano theater, which was packed with 500 people who showered him with loud applause and cheers.

Gian Marco was moved when the audience sang his emblematic theme “Hasta que vuelvas conmigo” from his last album. The concert began with “Vientos del sur”, theme of great personal significance for Gian Marco.

He also performed the songs “Hoy”, “Me cansé de ti”, “Canta corazón” and “Tu fotografía”, in their original versions.

“This season represents the beginning of a new phase in Gian Marco’s carrier. He will give a series of concerts in Lima and provinces, as well as Mexico, Colombia and Spain, where he is also promoting his new album. This is a time of changes and new experiences”, his manager Ivan Cock pointed out.

Marsano theater has a special meaning to him because his mother, Peruvian actress and singer Regina Alcóver, performed there for many years and he also had his first acting experiences there.

“It is a magical place and it holds many memories for me”, Gian Marco said.

The 2005 Latin Grammy award winner released on June 20 his new album "Desde Adentro" which is a compilation of all the songs he composed for artists such as Emmanuelle, Gloria Estefan and Marc Anthony among others.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Two Peruvian singers have made it to the final stage of the third edition of Latin American Idol.

Nicole Pillman, a 21-year-old accounting student at the University of San Marcos is one step closer to fulfilling one of her greatest dreams, being internationally recognized for her talent.

"Thank you Peru, thank you Latin America," were Pillman's words when she found out she had made it into Latin American Idol's top ten.

The Peruvian girl from San Martin de Porres made it to the reality show's final stage by singing "Escucha tu corazón", a song by Laura Pausini.

Like Sandra Muente, Pillman was the first singer chosen out of her group.

The two Peruvians have entered the toughest part of the show, in which they will go up against each other and eight other singers that want to be the next Latin American Idol.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

While this is not the first time Peru has had a singer in the top 30 spot on the Latin version of the famous reality show, American Idol, it is the first time the country has had one singer in the top 10 spot and another in the top 30.

Last week, 17-year-old Sandra Muente blew contestants and judges away when she was ranked number one in her group and automatically advanced to the final round of Latin American Idol, which is currently in its third season.

Sandra thanked Peru for all its love and support.

Nicole Pillman, on the other hand, will compete tonight, Wednesday evening, to see if she has what it takes to advance to the top 10 along with Sandra.

Nicole, a 22-year-old accounting student at the University of San Marcos, is in the third and final workshop.

Thirty singers were divided into three groups or workshops and are being eliminated as the show continues.

Three singers were chosen from the first workshop the week before last while three were chosen from Sandra's group, the second workshop, last week.

The two have already advanced far in the competition, which began with over 20,000 contestants.

As in other editions of Latin American Idol, finalists are chosen by the audience, which can vote for the participant of their choice by dialing 43657 and sending a text message with the singer's name.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Leysi Suarez, a Peruvian showgirl and dancer for Alma Bella band made international headlines when a naked picture of her on top of the Peruvian flag was published on the cover of a magazine.

News agencies from Reuters to the Associated Press covered the story while BBC News broadcast a report on the dancer's controversial picture.

While she initially affirmed there was nothing wrong with what she had done and stated she would do it again saying she loved Peru and would show it with her "body and soul", she has changed her mind and retracted her statements.

After Peru's Minister of Defense, Antero Flores-Araoz assigned the case to a public prosecutor and announced that charges would be pressed against Leysi, the Peruvian dancer has stated she is truly sorry.

"It was all Daysi's idea," said Leysi, blaming the woman in charge of 'D Farandula magazine.

Leysi explained she had nothing to do with the idea and was only hired to pose. "Everything was planned beforehand," said Leysi.

"If I have to apologize I will, I don't have any problem, I'll do it one thousand times," said the Peruvian showgirl.

"This experience will serve me to mature and not make the same mistake," said a concerned Leysi.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Peruvian teenager Sandra Muente is one step closer to fulfilling one of her biggest dreams.

The 17-year-old singer received enough votes to make it into Latin American Idol's Top Ten.

Sony representatives were not only amazed by Sandra's beautiful voice, but were also surprised at the number of points she received.

Sandra was ranked first in her group and automatically qualified for a top 10 spot.

Grammy award winner Jon Secada congratulated Sandra and assured her that she had made him feel the music stating, "I believed you 100 percent".

He also warned Sandra about singing songs that began with low tones.

"Thanks to my teammates we are a very united group. Peru, I love you, thank you for the support," said an emotional Sandra when it was announced that she was the first singer chosen out of the group to be a finalist.

Muente advanced to the final stage with a song by Jennifer Lopez, "Si ya se acabó tu amor".

Latin American Idol divided thirty singers into three groups or workshops. Three finalists were chosen from the first workshop and Sandra was one of the three finalists from the second workshop.

In the third workshop, which will sing next week, is another Peruvian finalist, Nicole Pillman.

The 22-year-old accounting student at San Marcos University lives in the Limean district of San Martin de Porres.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Sandra Muente and Nicole Pillman, two Peruvian singers, have used their talent to place themselves among the top thirty singers in the third season of Latin American Idol.

Sandra, who will sing on Wednesday, and Nicole, who will continue next week, are battling to remain among the top ten in the famous reality show, which is taking place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Having to compete against 20,000 participants that wanted to qualify as badly as they did, reaching the top 30 was not easy for the two Peruvian women.

The 30 singers have been divided into three groups or workshops and are being eliminated as the show continues.

Last week, three participants were chosen to continue. Another six will be chosen, from Sandra and Nicole's workshops, between this week and next.

Sandra, who is 17 years-old, put the following message on her Facebook profile: "Watch Latin this Wednesday and vote for me pleaseeeeee. I love you."

She is seen in pictures with family members and musicians such as RBD.

22-year-old Nicole Pillman, who is in the third workshop, lives in the Limean district of San Martin de Porres and studies accounting at San Marcos University.

She won second place in a recent edition of the Peruvian show "Desafío y Fama".

As in other editions of Latin American Idol, finalists are chosen by the audience, which can vote for the participant of their choice by dialing 43657 and sending a text message with the singer's name.

The show can be seen in Lima on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. on channel 15 (Cable Magico) or on channel 210 (DirecTV).

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Robert Warren, a world-renowned sound expert and the Dolby director for Latin America was in Lima last week to supervise the installation of the 3D Digital System in a Peruvian movie theater.

Multicines UVK in Larcomar is opening the doors to a new dimension of technology that will allow national artists and directors to display and promote their art in a completely new way.

This project, which has made Peru's movie theaters the most advanced in Latin America, was designed to give Peruvian artists and directors the most modern tools to push the country's talent ahead, reported RPP Noticias.

"This is a new stage in the history of cinema and movie theaters in our country and what better person than Fabrizio Aguilar to represent this new generation," said Mónica Ubillús, the general manager of UVK Multicines.

"He will be in charge of beginning this new adventure, which has put us ahead of other countries in the region."

Fabrizio Aguilar, director of Paloma de Papel, is not the only Peruvian who will be using this new technology to promote the country's talent; Grammy award winner Gian Marco will also promote his new album using UVK's new technology.

"At UVK we bet on what's ours and we want to give them (Peruvian artists) the best before anyone else. That's why we are working on this new stage with two of our country's most important artists, Gian Marco and Fabrizio Aguilar," said Monica Ubillús.

Peru's first 3D-Digital theater will be inaugurated Tuesday July 22 at UVK Multicines in Larcomar.

Peruvian president Alan García Perez said today that Mexican actor and comedian Roberto Gomez Bolanos "Chespirito" is a humor icon in the world and thanked him for making Peruvian people smile for many years.

Talented comedian Roberto Gomez Bolaños and his wife Florinda Mesa visited today the Government Palace in Lima to meet with president García and a group of ministers.

During the meeting, the Peruvian leader confessed that the famous mexican series "El Chavo del 8" was watched with joy by his daughter Josefina and now it is one of the favorite TV shows of his little son, Federico Dantón.

"Peru owes so much to you, your art has a place in the hearts of Peruvians. You made us laugh many times. The Peruvian people love and admire you,” Garcia told "Chespirito".

News source: ANDINA