Philippines, Filipino Singer, Amapola, The Total Performer, Singer, Musician, Author

Amapola's Career Timeline in the Philippines and Abroad

Child Star

1951- Dubbed Children's singing voices for Visayan Movies; First Piano Recital playing Waltzing Doll
1952 - Starred in her first Visayan Film 'Utlanan'
1953 - Won 2nd Prize Purico National Amateur Hour Singing 'Peanut Vendor'
Cebu Normal School Toy Orchestra Conductor
1954 - CNS Orchestra; Second Piano Recital Playing Rustle of Spring
1955 - Performed at Clover Theater
1956 - Performed at the Opera House in Manila1957 - Performed for 'Student Canteen' radio noon show; Malate Catholic School History Medalist

Teen Star

1958 - Malate Catholic School Cheerleader, Sodality of Mary Member; Won Luneta Amateur Hour singing 'It's Siesta Time'; Third Piano Recital playing Dream Of Olwen & The Key To Love
1959 - Returned to Cebu and starred in her own TV show: Amapola Sings in Cebu City's ABS TV Station
1960 - Resident Pianist Phys Ed and Choir for Girls High School, University of San Carlos Cebu City; Fourth Piano Recital playing Fantasie Impromptu & Malaguena
1961 - Resident Pianist University of San Carlos Choir and Glee Club
1962 - Featured Vocalist - Yarrow Beach Resort with the Manny Cabase Orchestra
1963 - Headlined at the Keyboard, Fuente Osmena
1964 - Headlined at the Sandtrap, Hotel Magellan

And so on

1965 - Headlined at the Sandtrap, Hotel Magellan
1966 - Headlined at the Sandtrap, Hotel Magellan
1967 - Opened at the new Temptation Supper club and Nightclub Cebu City
1968 - Headlined at the 'Temptation' Nightclub co- owned by Senator Sonny Osmena; Discovered by Fae and Pilita Corrales during the San Miguel Brewery opening in Mandaue Cebu.
1969 - Opened at the Manila Hilton at the Luneta
1970 - Opened at the Hotel Intercontinental in Makati at the El Castellano. Introduced in the film: "Plaza Miranda", Weekly TV show: Stop Look and Listen (Wednesdays), The Sensations with Vilma and Edgar (Sundays); Awit Awardee
1971 - Premiere Christmas Presentation of "Mr. Lonely" Co-starred with Victor Wood and Djoanna; Recorded 'Kapantay Ay Langit' that won the Manila Film Festival Award for George Canseco
1972 - Premiere of 2nd Tagalog Ilang Ilang film 'You Are My Destiny" Valentine Presentation nationwide; Awit Awardee
1973 - Farewell Concerts and TV Appearances before New York Concerts
1977 - Sentimental Journey Concert Series Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao Produced by Romy Jalosjos
1978 - Makati and Metro Manila Appearances
1981 - Queen Of Hearts Philippine Road Tour Concert Series
1982 - Playboy Club at Silahis Hotel Concert Series
1983 - Cebu Tourism Concert at the Plaza Hotel
1984 - Nightclub Concert Series begins at the Bayside on Roxas; Admiral Hotel, Eduardo's, etc.
1985 - US Midwest Concert Tour: Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania; Wisconsin; Washington D.C. etc.
1989 - Playboy Club at Silahis Hotel Concert Series; National Press Club 'Hall of Fame' Award

Cruise Ships

1990 - Royal Viking Sun visits Manila. Gala Show onboard with guests
1994 - MS Song of Flower visits Manila, Gala Show Onboard for Guests
1996 - MS Song of Flower visits Manila, Gala Show Onboard for Guests
1990-1996 Song of Flower
1994-1997 Hanseatic
1997-1999 Gripsholm, etc.
1998-2004 Back in the USA

Marie Hernandez Writes About Amapola

Singer/Musician Amapola,
"The Total Performer"

To those who have tasted of Amapola's sumptuous musical fare, she is the embodiment of the complete performer - she plays eight different musical instruments (she plays excellently the piano drums, vibraphone, marimba, electric bass, classical guitar, all percussion and all keyboards including the organ and synthesizers), ...dances vivaciously, and holds her audience with her warmth and stage presence.

On stage, she engages her audience in witty repartee, sings deliciously in German, English French, Spanish, Tagalog, Japanese and several other languages. Her excellent showmanship, vibrant personality and distinctly unique singing style leave everyone with an exhilarating experience.

One is astounded how this 4'11" marvel has managed to develop her own magic of artistry and attain close to perfection as a total performer. Legions of performances since she stepped on American soil are testimony to an unparalleled success in her chosen career.

She has had her own TV show, "Amapola Presents Show" on KEMO Channel 20, San Francisco for eight years. The same length of time, she has been a mainstay at the Tonga Room of the Fairmont Hotel regaling her audiences with her excellent showmanship. she has appeared in the musical capitals of Canada and the US - from the Venetian Room in San Francisco, to the Town Hall on Broadway in New York, and the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas.

Notes from Amapola: Webmaster Mack asked me for this Timeline. It is difficult to track all the major events in my career whilst in the Philippines so therefore I will add as I go along when more memories stir and remind me of what I had done during my early days back home in my mother country.

As far as I can recall, I had always been busy as a child. My father, the Visayan legend Mahnee Cabase and my mother, everyone's favourite friend Sheila Cabase instilled in me the desire to always better myself at my music. Ever since I can remember, my mother, the quintessential 'stage mother' worked hard at maintaining my status as a child star. When I was finally on my own, the strong urgency to start projects and finish them had become my sense of duty. Thus, I am never without a project and I always finish them at the end of any given year.

As early as seven years old, I received the key to Cebu City from then Mayor Osme�a who was very pleased with the Cebu Normal School Military Toy Orchestra of 100 kids and my role as singer/conductor. The second time I received the key to the city was in 1982 when I performed for Cebu Tourism's Beauty Pageant. Then I received the third key in 1989.

When my parents passed away 22 days apart from each other in December and January of this year, the undesirable task of clearing their domicile became a surprisingly bittersweet pleasure for our family as we uncovered many treasures of photographs, music, poetry, recipes, diaries, etc. from their collection. I asked to be the keeper of these treasures and through them I learned more about my parents and I learned a lot about myself.

This timeline I have submitted would not have been possible without my parents photo collection. I was a busy child and did not have time to collect clippings and souvenirs thus their collection of memorabilia had given me this opportunity to learn more about myself and my career, the career they lovingly nurtured.

With love,
Amapola