Early years
Amapola who was born in Cebu, Philippines to musicians and educators Kabahar
Cabase and Priscilla Vale Campugan. Amapola was educated at Cebu Normal School,
Malate Catholic School, the University of the Visayas, and the University of San
Carlos, before abandonning her academic studies for a full pledged career in
music. She received her first key to Cebu City at seven years old for her work
in conducting Toy Orchestras in several elementary schools in Cebu. This concept
started in Amapola's school when during music class, instructor Coronada Pingol
noticed Amapola's retention of the Toy Orchestra repertoire. The largest Toy
Orchestra organized by Pingol and conducted by Amapola was composed of one
hundred schoolchildren from Cebu Normal School. The affair was hosted by Genie
Peralta and broadcast on DYRC-Radio, then later replayed all over the Visayan
Islands. Amapola's first piano recital was at the age of five. She then began
singing her father's compositions and her mother's lyrics in the Visayan movies
the following year, then co-starred in her first film Utlanan, at the age of
seven. Her career from a child star into her teens took her to Manila.
Career
Amapola's career took her around the world performing solo concerts, and cabaret
performances onboard some of the world's most luxurious ships, notably the Royal
Viking Lines fleet, followed by a seven year career as headliner onboard the MS
Song of Flower owned by Seven Seas Cruises.
Amapola juggled performances at the Fairmont Hotel in San Francisco and in her
weekly television show, which still holds the record for the longest running
magazine-variety show produced locally in the Bay Area. Directed by Dirk
Dirksen, the Amapola Presents Show was aired on Channel 20, KEMO-TV from 1975 to
1980, then further shown on other Californian independent stations until 1983.
Included among her American performances to date are headliner appearances at
the Fairmont Hotel, the Miyako Hotel, the San Francisco Golden Gate Bandshell,
and Stern Grove in San Francisco; the Sahara Hotel and the Union Plaza Hotel in
Las Vegas; The Kahala Hilton, Honolulu International Concert Hall, Waikiki
Shell, and Hyatt on Waikiki in Honolulu; The Town Hall in New York; the Grand
Hotel in Washington, DC; and the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
She has toured globally, performing concerts and cabaret in Singapore, Bali, and
Hong Kong.
Radio and television career
Amapola co-produced and starred in her first musical television show at ABS TV
Studios in Cebu City when she was a third year high school student at the
University of San Carlos Girls High. Sharing in the duties of producer and
director was Marilyn Bajarias, who later worked for ABS-CBN TV and Radio Studios
in Manila.
One of the highlights of Amapola's career was the grand opening of the San
Miguel Brewery in Mandaue City. The mammoth extravaganza starred all the big
names in the Philippine music industry including Sampaguita and LVN Studios
actors and television stars, including Pilita Corrales, host of the nationally
acclaimed An Evening with Pilita. After that evening's performance, Corrales and
her company offered Amapola her first appearance on national television as
special guest on the former's show.
Amapola was a frequent guest on Joe Quirino's Seeing Stars on Channel 13; Nora
Aunor's Superstar show, the Pilar Pilapil Show, the Helen Gamboa Show, and
eventually co-hosted Etchos Lang, Stop Look and Listen and others.
Concerts and recordings
Amapola opened for internationally acclaimed artists like Jack Jones, Lou Rawls,
Astrud Gilberto, The Platters, The Young Americans, Matt Monro, and Sergio
Mendes Brasil 66.
Amapola's first recorded movie theme "Kapantay Ay Langit", composed by George
Canseco, won the Manila Film Festival Award for Best Song of the Year. Her first
English LP album with Vicor in their Pioneer Label followed. Entitled Songs and
Amapola, it featured Canseco's "Ode to Amapola" and title song, both of which
were wrotten especially for the album. Every song on the album was released as a
single, three of which held positions in the Philippines Top 10 for several
weeks.
The first international concert tour Amapola signed on for was the Cavalcade of
Stars with Diomedes Maturan, among others. The show toured Taipei, Guam, and the
Hawaiian Islands. Her popularity spread and she held the distinction of being
the first Filipino female artist to top the Hawaiian most famous female
performer 1972.
After Amapola's successful run in the Hawaiian Islands, her high acclaimed
concert in New York's Town Hall followed. The Town Hall concert was followed by
a nightly appearance at the Bayanihan Club in Manhattan. In Amapola's audience
was Ed Sullivan who nicknamed Amapola an "eyeful."
After the East Coast appearances, Amapola returned to the Bay Area to open the
newly refurbished Mabuhay Gardens. During her second season at the club, a
personal request came from Bobby Enriquez for Amapola to perform with him at the
Miyako Hotel in San Francisco's Japan Town. Their team-up became legendary and
gained prominence in the Bay Area jazz scene. Enriquez and Amapola accepted
contracts as a team including their performances in the Lake Tahoe casinos. The
jazz concerts with Bobby Enriquez were followed by appearances at the Mocambo on
Polk Street on the same bill as Patti LaBelle, Carmen McRae, and Anita O'Day.
Her second book Promising Skies garnered a rave review from Ellen Tanner Marsh.
This second novel, published in 2006, follows her first multi-awarded novel
Coming Home.
Albums and singles
GOLD SINGLES: Pioneer Label: Never, Secret Love, Sinner or Saint, You Don't Know
Me, Little Things Mean A Lot, If You Love Me Really Love Me, Loss of Love
Kapantay Ay Langit - Movie Theme written by George Cansedo, won Manila Filmfest
Award for Best Song Of The Year
Songs and Amapola - Pioneer Label, Vicor Music Corporation Contains all of the
above listed singles, and Hideaway, One Love, Face to Face and the popular
ballad - Songs - written specially for her by George Canseco.
OTHER SINGLES:
Theme from the Godfather, Forbidden Games, Achoo, Starlight Starbright, Story of
a Starry Night, Cherry Blossoms - Movie Theme of the Film with the same title -
composed by award winning songwriter/singer/producer, Jose Mari Chan.
OTHER ALBUMS:
Amapola, Live At The Manila Hotel - Wea Records of the Philippines
Sophisticated Lady with Bobby Enriquez - Rodney April Productions
Amapola In Cabaret - Infinity Productions, England
Halad Sa Amahan - VISAYAN - Anahaw Records, Philippines
Top Ten Singles - Infinity Productions, England
Travelin' Gal - Marwood Productions, Florida
Memories - Marwood Producstions, Florida
Filmography
Inahan (Guest Appearance) - Azucena Pictures, Visayan Islands
Utlanan (Introducing) - Azucena Pictures, Visayan Islands
Plaza Miranda - Manila, Philippines, Introduced as Amapola Cabase
Mr. Lonely - Female Lead, Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions
You Are My Destiny - Female Lead, Tagalog Ilang-Ilang Productions
Awards and honors
Tinig Award
Manila Filmfest Recognition for singing Kapantay Ay Langit, in tandem with
composer George Canseco
Awit Awards Trophy (Philippine) equivalent of the Grammy, Twice
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Philippines National Press Club in 1987
Hall of Fame recognition from Aliw Awards.
In the United States:
Eye Award Plaque for Contribution to the arts
Eye Award Trophy for Best Entertainer of the Year
Philippine Cultural Award in San Francisco
The Philippines Cultural Award in Michigan Cebuano Circle
The Philipines Cultural Award in Florida Cebuano Circle
Plaque of Recognition for contribution to the Arts from former California
Governor Gerry Brown
Amapola received the Key to Cebu City, Philippines, twice. 1st = for her
achievement in conducting Toy Orchestras all around Cebu City elementary schools
2nd = on her return for the Cebu Tourism Concert in tandem with Miss Cebu
Tourism Beauty Pageant 1982.
References
Amapola on Philippine Music Registry
Songs and Amapola, recorded by VicorMusic.com on the Pioneer Label
Amapola Cabase in the Internet Movie Database
External links
Tribute site to Amapola's parents
www.alopama.com
www.amapola.net
