LOS ANGELES — The task was to keep tabs on Filipino-American cager and Los Angeles Lakers guard Jordan Clarkson.
But as the chain of events unfolded at the Power 106 FM Celebrity All Star game at the Galen Center inside the campus of the University of Southern California (USC), it was hard to ignore the presence of the Filipino personalities gracing the event.
With music luminaries such as Nelly, Chirs Brown and Will I Am of the Black-Eyed Peas in attendance, you can’t help but wonder who is the genius behind the gathering of suh hip-hop gods?
That’s where DJ Eman enters. Named Emmanuel Coquia in real life, he planned, booked and produced this event. He was all over the place, giving instructions to artists for media photo opportunities and dictating the flow of performers.
Heck, he even played guard in the basketball game itself.
A master of those two turntables as a DJ, Eman also happens to be the assistant program director for Power 106.
Jordan Clarkson, fresh from his trip to support our Gilas basketball team was all smiles while guest coaching. Naturally, he was swarmed by fans asking for photo-ops.
The Jabbawockeez, an award winning dance crew, were a crowd favorite. They lit up the halftime show with their body breaking performances, gyrating and generating oohs and ahhs from an excited crowd.
Funnyman Jokoy was also in attendance. So was Liane V, Vine?s fun loving personality who can sing, write, dance, model and act. Liane pretty much does everything while maintaining to excel in class. A true example of the Filipino mantra: ?Sipag, Tiaga at diskarte?
Justin Bieber?s ex girlfriend, Jasmine V, who has now blossomed into a fine young lady, also lent her presence. A former performer for the Los Angeles Clipper games where she sang the National Anthems, she has an impressive 100 million plus YouTube followers.
Disney Actor Roshon Fegan was also in the crowd that night. I spotted him whip and doing the Nae nae with Chris Brown and friends.
A new school of Filipino artists were seen in the stands, taking pictures and soaking in the atmosphere. The presence of Filipino personalities listed in the 60-plus celebs present that night made me beam with pride.
As the old slogan used to say, “Yes, the Filipino can!”
We sure can jam with every beat and rhyme in the beautiful art that is hip hop.
