Fresh from our own Broadway concert, I was really excited to watch tonight's Idol episode dedicated to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.  Unfortunately, my high expectations resulted in great disappointment.  The voices of the Top 6 did not exactly translate very well into the Broadway mode. 

Syesha Mercado wore a slinky sexy red dress, and sang quite well actually.  However her song ''One Rock 'n' Roll Too Many'' was unfamiliar to me and I did not enjoy it that much.  Jason Castro dared to tackle "Memory" with his thin vocals, and while it may sound sincere, I did not like it.  Brooke White experienced another do-over at the beginning of her song.  Because of this, her "You Must Love Me" sounded very tense and shaky. 

David Archuleta took on "Think of Me" sung by Christine in Phantom of the Opera.  The grand  operatic number turned into a pop ditty.  Weak in spots, bu not bad.  He did try his darnedest to keep his eyes open, as advised by Sir Andrew.

Carly Smithsen.  Now she was great in her "Jesus Christ Superstar" number.  It was a bombastic and it fit her voice and style.  Very strong vocals.

In the pimp spot again tonight, David Cook.  His "Always Be My Baby" last week is now being played n local radio.  This week, he chose to sing "Music of the Night" again from Phantom.  The verses I felt he sang very haphazardly.  The build up to his glory note was very good.  The glory note itself was really amazing.  Great show of vocal ability.

My bet for Bottom 3 are the first three:  Syesha, Jason and Brooke

My bet for elimination:  Brooke White

Start:	Apr 16, '08 7:00p
Location:	St. Luke's College of Medicine Auditorium

In celebration of the First World Voice Day in the Philippines, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, in cooperation with the Voice, Swallowing and Sinus Center of St. Luke's Medical Center proudly presents "Repertory Broadway Showstoppers."

This special concert features Repertory Philippines finest talents, including Ms. Menchu Lauchengco-Yulo, JM Rodriguez, Cathy Asanza, Felix Rivera, Carla Guevara, Rem Zamora, Liesl Batucan and Jack Salud. In addition, selected St. Luke's doctors and staff will also deliver their take on Broadway classics.

The programme includes:
Opening Suite (That's Entertainment)
Ms. Saigon Suite
St. Luke's Suite (featuring St. Luke's staff)
West Side Story Suite
Phantom of the Opera Suite
Les Miserables Suite
OPM Medley

Join us in this celebration of the Human Voice!

Start:	Apr 14, '08
End:	Apr 16, '08
Location:	St. Luke's Medical Center

Our voices are used to communicate ideas and emotions. It makes us human, setting us apart from other animals. With all its versatility, the voice is a very fragile and sensitive instrument. It can be damaged by voice abuse or misuse, tobacco use, laryngopharyngeal reflux, respiratory dysfunction, neurologic dysfunction, and many other causes brought about by our profession and the daily stresses we experience.

However, to this day, the general public would still take their voices for granted. We still accept their voices even if our voices are clearly not healthy. This is true even for professional voice users like actors, announcers, teachers and politicians. This is unfortunate because minor conditions that can easily be helped are just tolerated and ignored. Worse, the diagnosis of serious conditions, including laryngeal cancer is delayed.

Because of this distressing lack of public interest about the voice, the World Voice Day was born on April 16, 1999 in Brazil through the efforts of a group of physicians, speech-language pathologists and singing teachers. Its main goal was to increase public awareness of the importance of the voice and alertness to voice problems. This initiative was followed by other countries, such as Argentina and Portugal, and the Brazilian National Voice Day became the International Voice Day. In the United States, this celebration was officially recognized in 2002 and in that year the event obtained the name ‘World Voice Day’.

World Voice Day represents one small step toward increasing awareness of vocal health among members of the general public and highlighting advances in voice diagnosis and treatment. World Voice Day should be used as an opportunity to bring ourselves up to date on the latest developments in laryngology, and to help educate the communities through lectures and other community outreach projects. Great progress has been made in voice diagnosis and treatment during the last 2 to 3 decades, and this, the public has to be made aware.

Voice, Swallowing and Sinus Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center is the country's most modern and most fully-equipped integrated unit created for the diagnosis, management, and rehabilitation of patients with upper aero-digestive tract disorders. It is equipped with Digital Laryngeal Videostroboscopy with laryngeal microphone system, a Flexible Rhinopharyngoscopy Work Station and a Computerized Speech Laboratory to comprehensively assess patients with voice problems. We also have a Nasometer, Visipitch III, Phonatory Aerodynamic System as additional instrumentation for Evaluation of Laryngeal and Voice Disorders. We are also equipped with a Laryngeal Electromyography-guided - BOTOX injection for spasmodic dysphonia. We also do Pediatric and Adult Voice Therapy and Singing therapy provided by our Speech Language Pathologists and Vocologist.

The Center also assists an increasing number of Filipinos engaged in occupations which mostly rely on their voice, such as singers, actors, radio and TV emcees. The Voice, Swallowing and Sinus Center addresses their needs, and assists these special groups in the care of their voice. Staffed by an interdisciplinary team of specialists who have received special training in their respective fields, the Center also promotes research programs related to problems of the voice and the upper aero-digestive tract.

Therefore, on the occasion on our 5th year Anniversary, we at the Voice, Swallowing and Sinus Center of St. Luke’s Medical Center have decided to observe and celebrate World Voice Day here in the Philippines for the first time on April 16, 2008. Several activities have been lined up for that special week.

On April 14, the staff will give a Lecture on Vocal Health to the students of the Ryan Cayabyab School of Music from 4-6pm

On April 15, there will an “Oplan Paos” or free check ups for charity patients with voice problems from 8am to 12nn.

And on the day itself April 16, all the activities will be held at the Angelo King Auditorium, Penthouse of the St. Luke’s College of Medicine Building. In the morning from 8am to 12nn, there will be a free lay forum dubbed “Voice Out on Voice”. This will feature lectures by Drs. William Lim, Allan Carpela and Jaren Cabudol, Speech Pathology Prof. Fernando Ligot of the UPCAMP, and Voice Therapist Prof. Kitchie Molina (who will lecture on the McClosky Voice Technique). Details here: http://3xhcch.multiply.com/calendar/item/10001

And in the evening of April 16, the culminating event will be a Broadway Showstoppers Concert featuring talents from the Repertory Philippines. They will be joined by other Voice Talents from the SLMC staff and the St. Luke’s Master Chorale.