(U.S.) Manila Mail article on Dianne - August 1, 2007

Remember Elise Eclar?

The daughter of a Filipino couple who used to live for many years in the Washington metropolitan area and at one time owned the Golden Bowl Restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia is making waves in the Philippine music world.

Dianne Elise Eclar, the only daughter of Ferdi and Elise Eclar, who relocated to the Philippines in 2002, has just released her CD album “Now and Then" which is now available at KabayanCentral.com. Released by Universal Records, Now and Then is now No. 6 at the MYX Top 10 with just one week in the airwaves.

Elise appealed to her friends in Washington to vote for Dianne’s music by texting MYX,VOTEYOU’RE THE INSPIRATION so she could soon be in the Number 1 slot. Additionally, Dianne joined MYX VJ Search and from four hundred applicants, she was able to get in the 12 finalists.

Dianne has just graduated from Miriam College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts.

Apollo - God of Music

Dianne Elise has a dog named Apollo and she just wants to share his photos. She loves him and the whole family loves him. As a puppy, Apollo went everywhere they went - even to far-flung Ilocos! Ahh, the joys of having a pet! He is a West Highland Terrier - and these are just some facts about him: he's from Scotland originally, he is all-white and he has unfortunately a sickness canine atopy which prevents him from eating ordinary food; he itches or just thinks it; he is super picky in his food. But still and all, he is such a lovable dog. He just turned 1 yo last September 18 and he is ready to be a stud!

look, free pics!

there's this funny story...dianne elise saw her pics posted at great image in sm cubao, without permission! weeks after she had her picture taken there, she paid them, of course. so then, she asked why? and they explained and explained and offered to give her free pictures, a whole set card. (these were pics taken by her mom, though...while the shoot was going on, hence they don't look professionally done.) who could refuse a free shoot? the thing is, her professor at miriam said that she could have asked for free pics and demanded money, too...oh well...dianne elise don't want to give the people a hard time. all's well that ends well.

other appearances and projects

2007
- TV appearance at GMA’s Walang Tulugan with 3rd Avenue (September 22)

- 1st ever Mall Tour at SM Supermalls with 3rd Avenue September and October

- CD launch, “Now and Then” at Aruba Metrowalk, Ortigas center (August 22)

- one of the 12 finalists on the MYX VJ Search among more than 400 contenders

- featured on cable channel ETC in Samantha Oh’s
“Rated Oh” episodes in Boracay, Baguio and Puerto Galera

2006
- sang on ABC in Ariel and Maverick’s
“Wala Yan Sa Lolo Ko”

March 2005
- appeared on MTV’s “U-Break” as VJ Buddy

June 2004
- appeared on GMA’s “SIS” with
Something Infinite as featured band

2003
- played bit part in Jeffrey Jeturian’s film
Bridal Shower

post grad party pics

Dianne Elise graduated in March of this year. After graduation, she had a party with her friends and also with family and friends at a luncheon held at Dampa sa Libis - one of her favorite eateries - actually her favorite food is crabs, so anywhere there's tasty crabs, count her in!

Concerts pre-Dianne Elise solo career

special concerts
May 13, 2006
“Accent in Concert”
Phi Bar, Metrowalk

2004
Ramsky’s Restaurant, Panay Ave., QC

July 11, 2003
Art of Dona and Diwata
Options Bar & Restaurant, Tomas Morato

February 13, 2003
Von Arroyo and Patricia Javier
in “Heart Attack!”
Options Bar & Restaurant, Tomas Morato

June 2002
Rey Valera in “Upclose and Personal”
American Legion Hall, MD, USA
Golden Dragon Restaurant, MD, USA

September 2001
Marco Sison
Baltimore, MD, USA

July-August 2001
Jo Awayan in “Livewire 2”
Peking Garden Restaurant, VA, USA
Step by Step Ballroom, NJ, USA
Tropical Island Restaurant, NY, USA
Golden Dragon Restaurant, MD, USA
Aabshaar Restaurant, VA, USA
Galaxy Restaurant, VA, USA

April 20, 2001
Ara Mina, Ogie Alcasid, and Roselle Nava
in “Rated A Plus R and O”
Union County Arts Center, NJ, USA

April 7, 2001
Jolina Magdangal and Gabby Concepcion
Lisner Auditiorium, Washington, DC, USA

September 2000
Jo Awayan in “Livewire”
Golden Dragon Restaurant, MD, USA
Rene’s Supper Club, VA, USA

Jo Awayan in “An Evening to Remember”
West Shore Elk’s Lodge, PA, USA

June 30, 2000
Kai in “Unity Tour 2000”
Arlington-Fairfax Elk’s Lodge, VA, USA

February 12, 2000
Lloyd Umali in “Valentine’s Disco Show”
State Theater, VA, USA

July 31, 1999
Jose Mari Chan in “Souvenirs Live!”
Northern Virginia (NOVA) College Auditorium, VA, USA

May 1998
Jun Polistico in “The Way You Look Tonight”
NOVA College Auditorium, VA, USA

gigs, gigs!

past & present resto-bar gigs
Altitude, The Fort
Amoeba, Eastwood City
Aruba, Metrowalk
Aruba, Tomas Morato
Blue Wave Mall, Marikina City
Coco Cobana, Rockwell
Dencio’s, Capitol Hills
Dencio’s, Greenhills
El Celino, Sgt. Esguerra
El Pescador, Metrowalk
Fuente Circle, Eastwood City
Gagah Locah, Pasig
Gerry’s Grill, Glorietta
Gerry’s Grill, Libis
Gerry’s Grill, Malate
Grilla, Commonwealth
Hard Rock Cafe, Glorietta
Kay Ryan Grill, Roxas Boulevard
Liberty Mall, Mandaluyong
Mélange, Eastwood City
Mocha Blends, Greenhills
Moomba, Mother Ignacia
Musikero Cafe, Sct. Ybardolaza
Nueve, Libis
OJ’s, Eastwood City
Oody’s, Robinsons Galleria Mall
Options Bar and Restaurant, Tomas Morato
Solas, Sgt. Esguerra
Spice, Eastwood City
Starsvenue, Makati
The Barn Bistro, Katipunan
Triad, Sgt. Esguerra
Tiendesitas, Ortigas
Venue 108, Timog
Watering Hole, Ortigas
West Lake, The Fort
Zeno Lounge, BMW Autohaus, Libis

Vacations anyone?

vacations are always a welcome treat...here Dianne Elise is with her parents and a friend from the U.S. named Grace and her two kids - Aiko and Jay, in beautiful Ilocos...hmm, and she's also with her pet Apollo (whose name means "God of Music"). don't you love that hat!

Dianne Elise sings at Aruba Mondays

Dianne Elise sings at Aruba on Mondays together with three of the members of Passage - Gigi on guitar, Oman on bass and Otep on drums (alternating with Franklin), plus the keyboardist, Mark.
The other shot is taken at Hardrock Cafe when Dianne Elise performed there before she launched her CD, here with the gang.

Dianne Elise as a MYX VJ Finalist

If you have been following Dianne Elise's blogsite at http://dianneelise.blogspot.com, then you already know that she was a finalist of the very first MYX VJ Search reality show. She devoted two months of her time there - doing all sorts of challenges, from the mundane to the wacky. As Jim Levy, my good friend would say, "Nothing is wasted. No such thing. At the very least, you learn from the experience."
She didn't win. Even with the many votes she got from the text messages, (she was either No. 1 or 2 on the last day), which comprised 40% of the total score, she lost. So this was really a learning experience for her. Her supporters were all bummed, but the good thing about Dianne Elise is she can take a beating and still come out fresh and a winner. She seemed unscathed. Life went on and goes on for her. She is actually relieved it's done so she could do the other important things to do...and that is to promote her CD!

growing up...and in color...

metamorphosis of dianne elise:
- as a baby, she sang herself (hummed) to sleep
- at 2 to 4, she performed for her parents and relatives on top of tables
- at 6, she performed on stage and sang her first songs with karaoke tracks
- at 12, she started opening for filipino singers who went to the u.s. like jose mari chan, ogie alcasid, marco sison, rey valera, kai, plus many more
- at 13, she recorded her very first cd in the u.s. entitled "let it fall" produced by jim levy
- from elementary to high school, she was a member of the school choir and even the prestigious honors chorus
- at 18, she produced a charity show and donated all the proceeds to childhope asia, an organization which teaches education to streetchildren
- at 21, she recorded her second album, albeit her first in the philippines and now has a song being heard all over - called "you're the inspiration" - her carrier single from her cd, now and then....
quite a metamorphosis indeed....

Dianne Elise's grad pics

Dianne's graduation pics at Miriam College; with classmates, friends and parents. Proud Bachelor of Arts, Major in Communication Arts graduate...

Mall Tour!

As I promised, here's DIANNE ELISE's MALL TOUR SCHEDULE together with 3RD AVENUE:

September 2 - SM Marilao
September 7 - SM The Block
September 15 - SM Sucat
September 21 - SM Molino
September 22 - SM Manila
September 23 - SM Bicutan
September 29 - SM Baguio
September 30 - The Podium
October 5 - SM Southmall
October 6 - SM Batangas
October 12 - SM Lucena
October 18 - SM Clark
October 20 - SM Fairview
October 26 - SM Pampanga
October 27 - SM North Edsa

A pose for Icon - hoping for a commercial exposure!

it's a great feeling!

today is the day that i am starting this blog and it's a great feeling that i am doing something i have never done before. i am calling this blog post metamorphosis - i am watching a pupa turn into a beautiful, colorful butterfly. people have been asking me if dianne elise has a group or a clique and till now, there was but one in friendster, but alas, that one was not created by dianne nor anyone among her friends. someone is impersonating her. well, if you are reading this and you know who simat is, then you know, this blog site is real and i am not a poser. this blog is for everyone who wants to know anything about dianne elise, and i will update it every single day. dianne elise is so busy nowadays, she needs someone to help her out and i can do the job.

i encourage everyone who supports dianne elise to visit this blog site every now and then, to check on what's going on, where she is, what activities are in store for her, hopefully, not just relatives and friends but people who would like to know her better - hopefully, no undesirable characters though... just like her impersonator at friendster...

dianne elise just had her mall tour started last september 2 at sm marilao. henry, the tour coordinator (not to be confused with henry onglatco, her manager) said that the shoppers in marilao hardly clap when they watch live performances at the activity center. well, it's a good thing dianne elise, together with 3rd avenue were able to make them put their hands together. and they bought cds, too. dianne elise was a little scared with one of the guys in the audience who was there early and asked her too many personal questions. she is, indeed, in for many surprises... hopefully she would still be able to maintain some privacy.

last friday, september 7 was her second stop at the block, sm north edsa. this time, she staged a one-woman one full hour show, and the audience was great. the best thing was that dianne elise was able to sell 16 cds which, henry, her manager said, is pretty good for a new artist. coming soon is her third stop - at sm sucat and we're inviting everyone to go! i will be posting here her whole tour sched very soon.