News

January 28,2007

Justine, as Michelle Draper in real life,  recently was chosen as one of the semifinalist for Great Image Idol Model Search this year. Out of  704 finalist, she came out as one of the chosen 197 applicants. Though she was not chosen to join the 24  finalist, when they were squeezed into 30 or more applicants, she admitted that the contest was really a tough one, “All the participants were really great, most of them were teens obviously, I’m not one of them anymore. And I’m a novice in this modeling  world, but I’m happy that I had this chance to be chosen as one of them. I’m contented with that. I know there are people who are a lot prettier, taller, and some younger than me. I just did what I have to do, to be me and be happy with myself. At least I tried, ” Justine muses.
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Semifinalist for Great Image Idol Model Search 2007

For more info about Great Image Idol, check out www.greatimage.com.ph for more details.
BY Greenkisses @ greenkisses@yahoo.com

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June 18- 24, 2006
Forever In Time…Miss Justine Draper
by Maressa Gallos Engo

It was right in the middle of a bountiful lunch, or what I would call a post-recital victory party, when I had a chance to have an exclusive interview with Justine draper, special guest performer during the 2nd Grand Recital of the Angel of the Rainbow Productions and Publishing’s that was held a day before at the Robinson’s Place Bacolod.

Born to an Ilonggo father and a Cebuana mother, Justine’s mestiza features bespeaks of her British ancestry. However, what is most admirable about Justine, more than her pretty facial features, is the fact that she was a top honor student during her elementary and high school days and had been a working student during her college years.

This “beauty and brains” started joining TV contests at the young age of nine years old and finally had her lucky break when she signed a recording contract after winning as the Eat Bulaga’s Birit Queen in 1997. Richsound Music Corporation headed by Mr. Ricky del Rosario produced Justine’s CD entitled “Just In Time” which was manufactured and distributed by Viva Records Corporation. According to Justine, to date some 20,000 copies had been sold in the local market. 

An international performer, Justine has been doing shows in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan and Shanghai China from 2001 to 2004. She is also a composer having earned a Certificate for finishing the three-year Music composition course at the UP Diliman, Quezon City from 1995 to 1997. She submitted two of her musical compositions entitled “Broken Melody” and “Doubts” in a demo tape to the National Library for copyrighting purposes. 

She joined the Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Inc (FILSCAP) from 1997 to 2002. Said organizations is anon-stock, non-profit association of more than 800 local composers, lyric writers and music publishers. It was established way back in 1965 to administer the public performance, mechanical reproduction and synchronization rights granted by law to creators and owners of original musical works. It’s head office is located at 1365 E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave, Quezon City.

Miss Justine Draper’s sterling performance at the Bacolod Bays Center in 1998 captured the attention of Sir Allan Chu Jr, manager of Angel of the Rainbow talent studio. As a result of Dir Allan’s trust and confidence in her singing power Teens, Angels of Pop and Little Cupids as they performed their well-rehearsed numbers during their grand recital.

Miss Draper’s advise to Sir Allan’s talents is to have trust in God, in the trainer and in one’s self in order to succeed in the entertainment industry. Having talent in singing or dancing is not enough. One should also practice discipline and show persistence in developing their God-given talents. Miss Draper thanked everybody for making her feel so welcome and she also thanked the parents for being so supportive of their children’s activities. 
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Porkchop at Boulvar Lounge
February 5, 2006
Entertainment

The Porkchop duo performs on Feb. 10, 8:30 pm at the Boulvar Lounge of the Manila Pavilion Hotel.
On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, Lnce Raymundo, 2003 Aliw Awards Most Promising Entertainer and National Consumers’ Young Achievers’ awardee in Entertainment for 2004 and 2005, will lovers’ hearts ablaze in his concert entitled Heartthrob directed by Angie Magbanua in the same venue at 8:30 pm Lance will render love songs with Samantha Demetrio and Travis Karft as guests.

Other performers for February are Suzy Unas, Mondays; Winnie Vidad, Tuesdays; Jeli Mateo, Wednesdays; MTV Supahstar winner Sitti Navarro, Thursdays; Margarita and Timeout, Friday; Justine Draper and Divo Bayer, Saturdays. Myla Galang sings her heart out on Sundays from 9 pm onwards.
All Shows are co-produced by Manila Pavilion Hotel and Celebrations DOT Com led by lawyer Dot Gancayco.


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City Weekend, Shanghai, China Magazine
January 8 – January 28, 2004 Issue
Stereotype Uncovered Filipino Bands

   Philippine government officials estimated that there are as many as seven million Filipinos living abroad, remitting US$7 billion home, annually. China’s Filipino musicians are no exception. DNA’s members are supporting wives, children, mothers, fathers, brothers, and cousins in the Philippines In other bars and hotels, the situation is much the same. “ I’m a breadwinner in my family’” explains vocalist Justine Draper, 24, as she sits at a table below the Westin Shanghai’s Niche Bar, where she sings. “I support six people.” Her piano accompanist, Ed Juatan, (“In my 50s’”), explains, “If the dollar weren’t so strong all of the Filipino musicians would be back in the Philippines.” Juatan has spent most of his adult life working as a musician away from the Philippines, including 17 years in a Saipan hotel. “You learn how to be alone,” he concedes. Draper has not yet had to acquire that skill. At 16 she was performing in hotels; before she was 21 she had hit a record and a role in a feature film. Today she, too, performs six nights per week, using her astonishing range and expressiveness to reinterpret jazz and pop standards. “I have no regrets”’ she enthuses, “What is important to me is that I can help my family.”                                                

Contact the author on: editor@cityweekend.com.cn
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FRIENDSTER 
February 2004

   JUSTINE DRAPER is official member of FRIENDSTER. Visit FRIENDSTER for more information. 
SEARCH :: JUSTINEdraper Singer 

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By Greenkisses
October 18, 2003
Saturday

    If you’ve already heard the songs of JUSTINE, I bet it’s been quite long since you last listened to them. Unless of course, if you have a copy of her album you can play anytime you want. But for those who haven’t heard tem yet … and for those who want to hear them again .. you can still do … Two of her singles are, once again, back in the OPM charts. “UTOS NG PUSO” and “DI MO BA ALAM” were, just recently revived by Gail Blanco and Jessa Zaragosa, respectively. The latter changing the title of the song to “SANA MAGBUHAT PA NUNG UNA” … Of course, original’s still the best … Just listen and compare. You’ll see …

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January 2000. 
   

    Luckily, Justine got her first movie. ‘Di Ko Kayang Tanggapin’ with April Boy Regino, she portrayed the role of “VANESSA” a young college girl belonging from a wealthy family in Bacolod who was cheated by her boyfriend Jeric [ Trobador James Ramos ].

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About

8-aMichelle Draper in real life, a.k.a. JUSTINE DRAPER  is the eldest in a brood of four. Born to an Ilonggo-Antiqueño father, whose name’ s Dominador Draper and a Cebuana mother named  Victoria, Justine’s mestiza features bespeaks of her British ancestry from her father, and owes her Spanish blood from both genes as well.
          She thinks that she inherited her passion for music from her parents , her mom plays guitar and loves folk songs , way back in her young age. Her dad was a former session musician too in his younger years. Even her brothers and sisters had musical inclinations as well yet they’ve chosen to try  other fields of work.
           Justine advanced in her early years in Bagong Maria Clara Caloocan, when her family flew to Cebu to mourn for her grand fathers funeral that ended up to transferring her early grade school in Casay, Dalaguete . A year after, the family decided to go back to Manila for good. There she studied in Bagumbong Elementary to Bagumbong High School as a consummate top honor student with spontaneity, a Salutatorian grad and eventually a Valedictorian grad successively.
           It was here in Manila where her passion for singing developed. When she was little over eight years of age , she was urged by a friend to join amateur singing contests. It was one of Novaliches local singing contests where Justine was pulled out from the crowd , and urged to sing. That was her first singing contest , and luckily , she brought home the bacon.
           Discovering that she had a knack for singing , she further honed her talent by singing more , starting from time she wakes up until she sleeps. Her only break was to eat , nothing more. She joined more singing contests and even had a stint on television.
           Prior to becoming a professional singer , Justine was a part of the kiddie shows Pen Pen de Sarapen and even guested with Sunshine and Friends, (a jumpstart career for Sunshine Dizon).
           She juggled singing and studying at the same time. In high school , thought she was busy singing as front act to some other recording artist like Geneva Cruz, Introvoys, South Border, and Ella Mae Saison, Chad Borja,etc.. yet she graduated valedictorian of her class. She even became the vice president, and eventually the president of their Student Council. She even won the hearts of her fellow youth when she ran for Councilor at  the Sangguniang Kabataan of their district in Caloocan by winning their votes. So as she served for four years.  She was judged as one of the Top Ten Most Outstanding Students in  Caloocan. A school paper editor, consummate essayist of their school’s essay writing champs. And even joined their schools, beauty pageants and brought honor to their school when she won as the First Runner-Up in KIPSIAM. (Kalookan Inter-Schools Athletic Meet). 
           Aside from singing , Justine also loves writing songs. She started writing poems first at eight. Her poems were about a cat , a dog , and about her school. In high school , she started translating her poems to a song and soon , her teachers would ask her to do a jingle for the school program.
           After high school , Justine took music composition at the UP Diliman Conservatory of Music while working and taking an Associate course in Computer Programming at the same time in STI, Novaliches , where she did won a trophy for the Championship at the SEARCH FOR THE SINGING PROGRAMMER in 1996. She was a former legitimate member of KATHA, and FILSCAP,( Filipino Society Of Composers, Authors and Publishers from 1997 to 2003. And spent her scholarship at the PSBA for BS Accountancy. But juggling for scholarship and working at night isn’t easy for a full loader, so she finally decided to drop school for a chance of a lifetime when offered a recording contract. She didn’t bother to think twice sacrificing studies for her passion in music.       
          To further developed her singing voice she underwent voice trainings at  Victor Canon, Kitchie Molina, Atek Jacinto and took private voice lessons in U.P. She was given the privilege to be trained at the Center for Pop Music Philippines under Butch Albarracin, and Joy, and later also took lessons at  Ryan Cayabyab’s School for Music in her teens.
          Aside from pursuing her singing career , Justine was also a constant winner in many beauty contests. She was the BINIRAYAN dubbed as LIN-Ay Kang ANTIQUE”s FIRST-Runner Up. The so-called prestigious beauty contest in Panay Island. Where she joined a contest of mostly brain and beauty and how timely they excluded  the TALENT portion, that she expected but luckily she still brought the bacon.

          Justine, also unknown to some while studying in college, did some few mulitiplex for cover songs under Sonny Ilacad’s Sunshine Records. While singing at various Hotel lounge night acts. She even started as session to some few bands as The Crayons, Saint Tropez, X’S etc.

           Her crossroad to fame came after her frustration when she was not able to make it live and recorded the song she made to the finals for her fellow musician when she made a demo for the Metropop Songwriting Competition in year 1997.She was challenged, so she went on to join the Birit Queen, (song belting contest) in Eat Bulaga, (the reigning top-rated primetime noontime show in the Philippines’ Channel 7  to the present.) that same year and turned to be the First Runner Up and fortunately head on to be the chosen pioneer recording artist of Richsound Music Corporation, an independent recording company headed by Ricardo del Rosario, when she was spotted by Mel del Rosario. She debuted her first solo album, Just in Time, released year 1997 of September 28.Successfully, it top-billed the radio stations such as DWKC, WWR, Love radio, Cool 106, DM 95.5, and Yes Fm for months. And even rated as top 15 in the Philippine trade and Industry charts for its sales. The follow up was not as successful as the first, so she decided to accept international stints for better earnings as well.

          As an international performer, Justine had done shows in Tokyo and Kyoto Japan and Shanghai, China, singing at the Miyako Hotel Kyoto and Westin Shanghai respectively.  
          All these achievements prove that Justine is not just another face in show business. She is beauty and brains all rolled into one , and she has the potential to make it BIG.

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