YOU NEED TO KNOW

June 7, 2008

Britney Spears

Filed under: Facts, Fictions and Fashions - Administrator @ 6:17 am

BRITNEY SPEARS

 

Britney Spears

(born December 2, 1981) is an American female pop singer and actress. Spears has sold over 85 million records worldwide, of which are 75 million albums. Spears has sold over 85 million records in under 9 years of entertaining.

Spears released her debut album …Baby One More Time in 1999, resulting in an international success.[1] It spawned the Billboard magazine-topping single "…Baby One More Time".[2] She released her second studio album Oops!… I Did It Again in 2000 with continued success.[3][1] A third album Britney was released in 2001, followed by the release of her fourth album In the Zone in 2003. The album’s breakout single "Toxic" won Spears her first Grammy Award.[4] After the release of a greatest hits collection, EP, and a remix album, she released her fifth album Blackout in 2007.[5]

Spears’ personal life began to gain more media attention after her marriage to Kevin Federline in 2004. Their marriage ended just two years later resulting in an ongoing custody battle. She gave birth to her first child in 2005 and to her second child in 2006.[6][7]

 

Childhood and discovery

Britney Spears was born in McComb, Mississippi,[8][9] and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana as a Southern Baptist. Her parents are Lynne Irene (née Bridges), a former elementary school teacher, and Jamie Parnell Spears, a building contractor. Spears’s brother Bryan works as a manager for the Spears family interests[10] and her sister Jamie Lynn is an actress and singer. Her maternal grandmother Lillian Woolmore was an English war-bride,[11] born in Tottenham, London[12] who met Spears’s grandfather Barnett O’Field Bridges in England during World War II. Her paternal grandparents were June Austin Spears and Emma Jean Forbes.[11]

Spears was an accomplished gymnast, attending gymnastics classes until age nine and competing in state-level competitions.[13] She performed in local dance revues and sang in her local Baptist church choir. At age eight she auditioned for the Disney Channel series The New Mickey Mouse Club. Although she was considered too young to join the series at the time, a producer on the show introduced her to a New York City agent.[13] Spears subsequently spent three summers at NYC’s Professional Performing Arts School and also appeared in a number of off-Broadway productions, including 1991’s Ruthless!. In 1992, she landed a spot on the popular television show Star Search. She won the first round of competition, but ultimately lost. At age eleven, Spears returned to the Disney Channel for a spot on the The New Mickey Mouse Club in Lakeland, Florida.[13] She was featured on the show from 1993 to 1994, until she was 13.[14] After the show ended, Spears returned to Kentwood and attended high school for a year.[15]

In 1997, Spears briefly joined the all-female pop group Innosense.[16] Later that same year, she recorded a demo solo and was signed by Jive Records.[13] She began a U.S. concert tour sponsored by American teen magazines, and eventually became an opening act for ‘N Sync and the Backstreet Boys.[17]

Music career

1998–2000: Rise to fame

See also: …Baby One More Time and Oops!… I Did It Again
Spears performing during the …Baby One More Time Tour
Spears performing during the …Baby One More Time Tour

Spears’s debut single "…Baby One More Time", released in the end of 1998, became an instant international success; it peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. With nine million copies sold worldwide,[2][18] the United World Chart ranked "…Baby One More Time" as the 38th best song and second most charted song of all time.[19] The song was also ranked 25th on Rolling Stone and MTV’s "100 Greatest Pop Songs of all time".[20] The music video of the song features Spears dressed in a midriff-baring schoolgirl uniform.[21]

The album of the same title was released in January 1999, reaching number one on the Billboard 200.[22] …Baby One More Time was certified diamond in the U.S. and subsequently achieving worldwide sales of 25 million copies, making it the biggest-selling album by a teenager to date.[23][1][24] Spears broke the record in U.S for the youngest artist to have their debut single at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. She also broke the record for the youngest artist to have their debut single and debut album simultaneously at number one on the Billboard charts. Spears still holds this record to date.[24] The album received mixed reviews. Allmusic gave it 4 out of 5 stars, stating that the album "has the same blend of infectious, rap-inflected dance-pop and smooth balladry that propelled the New Kids and Debbie Gibson."[25] While Rolling Stone gave it 2 out of 5, noting that "while several Cherion-crafted kiddie-funk jams serve up beefy hooks, shameless schlock slowies, like ‘E-Mail My Heart’, are pure spam".[26] The success of Spears’s music coupled with her controversial image made her one of the year’s biggest stars. She also became the first artist to have a number one album and number one single in both the U.S. Billboard charts and in the United World Chart.[27][28][29]

In December 1999, she won four Billboard Music Awards, including Female Artist of the Year. A month later, she took home the Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist award at the American Music Awards.[30] At the 2000 Grammy Awards, Spears received two nominations in the categories of Best New Artist and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for …Baby One More Time, but lost to American singer Christina Aguilera and Canadian musician-singer Sarah McLachlan, respectively.[31]

 Audio samples:

Following the success of her previous album, Spears released the album Oops!… I Did It Again. It debuted at number one in the U.S. by selling 1,319,193 units during its first week of sales, breaking the SoundScan record for the highest album sales in its debut week by any solo artist.[32] The RIAA awarded the album with a diamond certification with 10 million copies sold in the U.S.[33][34][1] Concerning both musical content and sales, the album was very similar to Spears’s debut, although it fared better with critics. All Music Guide once again gave it 4 out of 5 stars, saying that the album "has the same combination of sweetly sentimental ballads and endearingly gaudy dance-pop that made One More Time."[35] Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 by noting the album as "fantastic pop cheese" and "Britney’s demand for satisfaction is complex, fierce and downright scary."[36]

The album’s lead single of the same name broke the record for most radio station additions in a single day, and quickly became a top ten hit in the U.S. and other countries.[37] The same year, Spears launched her first world tour, the "Oops!… I Did It Again World Tour". During the tour, she made a stop in New York for the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. As part of her performance, she ripped off a black suit to reveal a provocative nude-colored and crystal-adorned outfit that generated much controversy.[38] She finished the year with two more Billboard Music Awards,[39] and two Grammy nominations for Oops!… I Did It Again in the categories of Best Pop Vocal Album and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.[40]

2001–2003: Career development

See also: Britney (album) and In the Zone

Spears released her third studio album Britney in November 2001. Although not as successful as her previous albums,[1] she assumed some creative control by co-writing five of the album’s tracks.[41] It surpassed Michael Jackson’s album Invincible when it had a successful debut at number one in the U.S. by selling 745,744 units during its first week.[42] The album’s success made her the only female artist in music history to have her first three albums debut at number one.[43][22][44] The album fared well with critics such as All Music Guide who gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, describing the album’s title tracks as being "pivotal moments on Britney Spears’s third album, the record where she strives to deepen her persona, making it more adult while still recognizably Britney."[45] In contrast, Rolling Stone said of the album Britney "belabors the obvious: Spears is one month away from entering her twenties and clearly needs to grow up if she’s going to bring her fans along."[41]

The singles did not perform as well; Britney’s lead single "I’m a Slave 4 U" peaked at 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 making it the album’s biggest hit.[46] To help promote the album, Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour in November 2001. The tour was forced to cut short in Mexico City due to bad weather.[47] With the end to her tour, Spears announced she would take a six month break from her career.[48]

Spears made her third consecutive MTV Video Music Awards performance. While performing "I’m a Slave 4 U", she controversially utilized caged animals and danced erotically with a large albino python draped over her shoulders. Animal-rights organization PETA claimed that the animals featured in the performance were mistreated and cancelled plans for an anti-fur billboard that was to feature Spears.[49] Her career success was highlighted by Forbes magazine in 2002 as Spears was ranked the world’s most powerful celebrity.[50] At a performance at the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, she appeared with Aguilera performing the song "Like a Virgin", and was later joined by American pop singer Madonna. Spears locked lips with Madonna in a highly-publicized kiss.[51][52][53]

 Audio samples:

In November 2003, Spears released her fourth studio album, In the Zone, jettisoning the Max Martin-produced synthpop of her earlier releases. The album took in lesser-known producers such as RedZone and big names including Moby and R. Kelly. Spears co-wrote eight of the album’s thirteen songs and co-produced several pieces of her material for the first time. In the Zone reached number one in the U.S. charts during its debut week, selling over 609,000 copies. This made Spears the first female in the Nielsen SoundScan era to have her first four studio albums to debut at number one.[54] The album had a mild reception from critics. Stylus Magazine gave the album a D and even blamed Spears’s career choices by stating, "Ultimately, In the Zone suffers greatly from Britney’s uneasy transition from teen tart to sexually powerful woman. Had Britney been in charge of her career direction instead of mercilessly prostituted by her management, she might have been able to produce something with some semblance of musical vision."[55] The Guardian praised the album’s melodies and her effort, giving it 4 out of 5 stars and writing, "Unlike previous Britney albums, In the Zone has no filler and no shoddy cover versions, just 57 varieties of blue-chip hit-factory pop. There is southern hip-hop, deep house, Neptunes-style R&B, the ubiquitous Diwali beat and, most importantly, oodles of Madonna."[56]

The album spawned the hit single "Toxic", winning Spears her first ever Grammy in the category of Best Dance Recording.[4] The Onyx Hotel Tour began in March 2004 to promote the album. The tour’s choreography generated much controversy and criticism, with the presence of young children in the audience.[57]

 Audio samples:

2004–2005: Greatest hits and remix album

See also: Greatest Hits: My Prerogative and B In The Mix: The Remixes

After her marriage to Kevin Federline, Spears announced on her website she was taking another career break in order to start a family.[58] November 2004 saw the release of her first greatest hits collection, Greatest Hits: My Prerogative, which features all of Spears’s singles with the exception of "From The Bottom Of My Broken Heart". It also featured three previously unreleased songs, them being a cover version of American R&B singer Bobby Brown’s 1988 hit "My Prerogative", "Do Somethin’", produced by Bloodshy and Avant, whom she had worked with on In The Zone, and "I’ve Just Begun (Havin’ My Fun)", which was a song recorded for Spears’s fourth album, In The Zone, but did not make the final cut.[59] By the end of that year, Spears had become one of the best-selling artists in the world.

In November 2005, Spears released her first remix album, B In The Mix: The Remixes. The album ranged from "…Baby One More Time" to "Toxic". Her newest single "Someday (I Will Understand)" was also remixed. Another single, "And Then We Kiss", was only released in Asia, where it charted in many countries. The song peaked at number 15 on Billboard’s Hot Dance Airplay chart,[60] despite it not being officially released in the U.S.[61]

2006-present: Return to music

See also: Blackout (Britney Spears album)
 Audio samples:

In May 2007, just weeks after Spears left a rehabilitation center, she produced a mini-tour for the House of Blues under the name The M+M’s; with six shows altogether, she sang live during some lines of her songs.[62] She recorded her latest album with producers such as Sean Garrett, J. R. Rotem and Nate "Danja" Hills throughout 2006 and 2007.[63][64]

The release of Spears’s fifth album, Blackout, was rescheduled to October 30 2007 rather than November 13 2007 due to online leaks.[65][5] Blackout debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200.[66] It was fairly well received by critics.[67] Rolling Stone gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars.[68] Allmusic also rated the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling Blackout "coherent and entertaining" and stating that "it holds together better than any of her other records".[69]

Blackout’s lead single, "Gimme More" leaked on the internet on August 30.[65] The song, which was Spears’s first produced by Danja, peaked at number three on Billboard’s Hot 100 on October 3, making it her most successful single in the U.S. since her debut, "…Baby One More Time".[70][71]

Spears’s highly-anticipated performance of "Gimme More" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards was panned as a disappointing attempt at a comeback and prompted Jive Records to cancel all further promotion involving Spears and the album, except for music videos and radio airplay.[72][73][74] The BBC stated that "her performance would go down in the history books as being one of the worst to grace the MTV Awards",[75] and The Times noted that "Spears was out of synch as she lip-synched and at times just stopped singing altogether."[76] Despite the criticism on her performance,[77] the single has achieved worldwide success.[78][79][80]

Future projects

Music producers, JR Rotem and Sean Garrett, whom worked with Spears on her previous album, Blackout have confirmed to People that they are back in the studio with Spears.[81] A source also told the magazine that she is in the experimental stages of a new album and Spears is trying to find the sound and direction she wants to go in and nothing is set in stone, just yet. According to her aunt, Chandra McGovern told Britain’s The Sun newspaper that Spears is working on a new album and could go head to head with Whitney Houston’s upcoming album.[82] Several reports have surfaced, that Spears could be in talks with George Maloof, owner of the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas to perform a string of shows at the resort’s Pearl Theater. Spears and Maloof have been seen on multiple occasions having dinner business meetings, were thought to be making plans for the performances. [83]

Film and television

Spears entered New York City’s Professional Performing Arts School when she was 8. She was an understudy in the 1991 play Ruthless! and appeared in several other off-Broadway productions. At age 11, she joined the cast of The New Mickey Mouse Club until the show ended in 1993.[13][14]

Spears had her first starring role in the 2002 film Crossroads,[84] in which she portrayed a high school graduate who travels to find her long-lost mother. The movie was poorly received,[85] as was Spears’s performance; Spears received Razzie Awards for Worst Actress and for Worst Original Song.[86] Nonetheless, the film grossed over $60 million worldwide.[87] Spears also made cameo appearances in Austin Powers in Goldmember and Longshot.[88] Footage of Spears appeared in the 2004 documentary Fahrenheit 9/11, which samples a 2003 CNN interview about the Iraq War in which Spears says, "Honestly, I think we should just trust our president in every decision he makes and should just support that, you know, and be faithful in what happens."[89][90]

In late 1999, Spears appeared on the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch and performed the song "(You Drive Me) Crazy"; this cameo was a cross-promotion for the film Drive Me Crazy, which starred Sabrina’s Melissa Joan Hart and was named after the song.[91] She later appeared on Saturday Night Live as host and musical guest during 2000, 2002 and 2003.[92] In 2006, Spears guest-starred on the Will & Grace episode "Buy, Buy Baby". Her portrayal of a closeted lesbian drew criticism from conservative Christian groups.[93][94]

In 2008, Spears guest-starred on CBS’s television show How I Met Your Mother playing a receptionist.[95] She received positive reviews for her performance as well as bringing in the series highest ratings ever.[96][97] Spears reprised her role in May 2008, leaving the storyline open for a future return.[98]

Products and endorsements

Britney Spears perfume
Britney Spears perfume "Curious"

In early 2001, Spears signed a multi-million dollar promotional deal with Pepsi that included television commercials, point-of-purchase promotions, and Internet ties between Spears and the company. Britney Spears has earned over US$370 million from her many, multi-million dollar advertisement and endorsement deals all around the World..[99] She has published four books, including A Mother’s Gift, and released seven DVDs, including her self-produced 2005 reality series Britney & Kevin: Chaotic. Other Spears products include a doll and a video game. She participated in seven tours including "The Onyx Hotel Tour" in 2004. She has grossed over US$350 million from tour ticket sales and over $185 million in merchandise from her tours, the most ever grossed by a performer (male and female).[100][101][102]

Spears endorsed her first Elizabeth Arden fragrance "Curious" in 2004. The perfume netted more than US$190 million in one year of sales, making it the best selling perfume of 2004. To date it has netted over US$590. It sold over 570 million bottles to date (April 2008); on average every 1 in 12 people owns a bottle of the highly successful perfume.[103] In September 2005, Spears released the fragrance "Fantasy" with Elizabeth Arden, which also saw great success.[104] These were followed by the release of two more fragrances of "In Control" and "Midnight Fantasy" in 2006. Her latest Elizabeth Arden fragrance "Believe", was released in September 2007.

Personal life

1999–2004

Spears posed for her first major magazine publication, Rolling Stone in April 1999. Shot by photographer David LaChapelle,[105] the photo shoot garnered much criticism for the controversial mixing of child-like innocence and adolescent sexuality. The cover featured her in a skimpy outfit lying on a bed.[105] More controversy arose when Spears declared that she would "remain a virgin until marriage".[106] This pledge has been questioned due to her apparently sexual relationship with fellow pop singer Justin Timberlake.[107] In early 2002, Spears’s four-year relationship with Timberlake ended.[108] His 2002 song "Cry Me a River" and its music video, which featured an actress resembling Spears, caused speculation that Spears had been unfaithful;[109] Timberlake, however, denied that his song was meant to portray her.[110]

June 2002 saw the opening of Spears’s restaurant, Nyla, in New York City, which served Louisianan and Italian cuisine. However, she was pulled out of the business venture in November as a result of debts and management issues. Nyla officially closed in 2003.[17] In the same year, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst confirmed that he was in a relationship with Spears. Durst was also hired to help write and produce tracks for her album In the Zone, which were eventually scrapped.[111]

Spears married childhood friend Jason Allen Alexander on January 3, 2004, at The Little White Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas.[112] The marriage lasted 55 hours, ending with an annulment stating that Spears "lacked understanding of her actions to the extent that she was incapable of agreeing to marriage because before entering into the marriage the Plaintiff and Defendant did not know each others’ likes and dislikes, each others’ desires to have or not have children, and each other’s desires as to State of residency."[113][114]

Months after her Las Vegas marriage, Spears embarked on The Onyx Hotel Tour, which was canceled in June, after Spears injured her knee during the filming of the video for the single "Outrageous".[115] She then became involved in the Kabbalah Centre in September 2004 through her friendship with Madonna.[116] However, she publicly left the religion in 2006, stating on her website, "I no longer study Kaballah, my baby is my religion."[117]

2004–2006

In July 2004, Spears announced her engagement to Kevin Federline, three months after they met. Federline had recently been in a relationship with actress Shar Jackson, who was eight months pregnant with their second child.[118] These initial stages were chronicled in Spears’s first reality show Britney & Kevin: Chaotic, which aired on UPN in May and June 2005.[119] On the night of September 18, Spears married Federline in a surprise, non-denominational ceremony at a residence in Studio City, California, filing legal papers on October 6.[120][121] After the marriage, Spears announced via her website that she would be taking another career break to start a family. She gave birth to her first child, Sean Preston Federline, on September 14, 2005 in Santa Monica, California by a scheduled caesarean section.[6]

Spears announced her second pregnancy in May 2006 during an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.[122] She also appeared on Dateline the next month to discuss tabloid rumors about an impending divorce, and motherhood. She addressed an incident which occurred in February when photos revealed her driving with her son unrestrained in her lap,[123] explaining, "I see a bunch of photographers and I’m scared and I want to get out of the situation… They’re coming up on the sides of the car which is a scary situation for me… so I get my baby out of the car and I go home."[124] The month following the televised interview, Spears posed nude for the August 2006 cover of Harper’s Bazaar.[125][126] Just two days before Sean’s first birthday, Spears gave birth to her second son, Jayden James Federline on September 12 in Los Angeles.[7]

Spears filed for divorce from Federline on November 7, citing irreconcilable differences and asking for both physical and legal custody of their two children, with visitation rights for Federline.[127] The following day, Federline filed a response to Spears’s divorce petition, seeking physical and legal custody of their children.[128] American attorney Laura Wasser was hired to represent Spears in the case.[129] According to a representative for Federline’s lawyer, the divorce filing "caught Kevin totally by surprise".[130] The couple reached a global settlement agreement in March 2007 and their divorce was finalized in July.[131][132]

2007–present

Spears’s aunt Sandra Bridges Covington, with whom she had been very close, died of ovarian cancer on January 21, 2007.[133] Spears then stayed in an off-shore drug rehabilitation facility in Antigua for less than 24 hours on February 16.[134] The following night at a hair salon in Tarzana, California she shaved her head with electric clippers. A few days later, she admitted herself to another treatment facility in Malibu, California.[135] While leaving the facility briefly, she quickly returned on February 22.[136] The previous day, Kevin Federline had requested an emergency hearing regarding the custody of their children but then his attorney announced that Federline asked to cancel the court appearance. No further explanation was given.[137] Throughout 2007, Spears’s behavior received heightened media attention, including attacking a paparazzi vehicle with an umbrella.[138] Spears left the rehabilitation center on March 20 according to her manager, who said she was released after "successfully completing their program."[139] As the legal battle over the custody of their children continued, many members of her entourage have been summoned to testify about her parenting skills.[140]

In September 2007, the official findings in Spears’s custody battle were announced by the court. She was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testings and to attend parenting counseling. Spears and Federline continued to share joint custody of their two children on a conditional basis.[141] A few days later, she was officially charged with misdemeanor hit-and-run and driving without a license. If convicted, she could face a year in jail.[142] Spears lost physical custody of her children to Federline on October 1,[143][144] with the court ruling that Federline will keep full custody of the children.[145] The charges for her alleged hit-and-run that occurred in August 2007 were officially laid,[146] she was booked for the charges by the Los Angeles Police Department on October 15 but was not arrested.[147]

On the evening of January 3 2008, police were called to Spears’s home after she refused to relinquish custody of her children to Federline’s representatives.[148] She was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after she "appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance,"[149] though blood tests show negative for any illicit substances.[150] She was held for psychiatric evaluation for two days.[151][152][153] Pending a February 19 hearing, Commissioner Scott Gordon issued an order on January 14 stating that her visitation rights have been suspended indefinitely. On January 31, a court placed Spears under temporary co-conservatorship of her father James Spears and attorney Andrew Wallete, giving them complete control of her assets.[154] As a result of an order placed by her psychiatrist, she was taken to UCLA Medical Center to be put on a 5150 involuntary psychiatric hold for the second time that month.[155] On February 1, a restraining order was issued against Sam Lutfi, a prominent figure in Spears’s life.[156][157] She was released from the hospital on February 6, amid speculation that she has bipolar disorder,[158][159] although medical records are classified, and no confirmation has been made. Her parents expressed disappointment and concern at the decision to release her.[160] She has regained some visitation rights after coming to an agreement with Federline and his counsel.[161]

Cultural references

Spears has been referenced in songs by Eminem, Missy Elliot, and Pink. Madame Tussauds has wax figures of Spears at museums around the world.

Spears is parodied in the 2005 straight to DVD release of Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story.[162] Spears is also parodied in the series The Fairly Odd Parents with the character Britney Britney who looks and acts like Spears.

Spears was also made reference to in Spamalot by having her name said in the song "Diva’s Lament". However, because of Spears’s hospitalization, it was removed and replaced with Victoria Beckham.[163] It was also reported that Brian May ordered all references to Spears be removed from the musical based on the songs of Queen, We Will Rock You out of respect.[163]

The South Park episode entitled "Britney’s New Look" also made reference to Spears’s troubles and 2008 hospitalization, portraying her attempting suicide by putting a rifle in her mouth and pulling the trigger.[164] However, Spears survives and attempts to make a musical comeback at the MTV Video Music Awards to disastrous reviews, making reference to Spears’s "comeback" performance at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards.[164] In this episode, the makers portrayed her with sympathy. She had also been referenced to in two other South Park episodes one in 2003 and the other in 2004.

Justin Timberlake made a few jokes that seemed to be directed at Britney Spears while giving a speech about Madonna before she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 2008. Timberlake commented that "She (Madonna) has still found time to kiss someone I may or may not have publicly kissed while I was in the audience." Then going on to say he was talking about Sean Penn. He then said "The world is full of Madonna wannabes, and I may have even dated a couple."[165]

A month long exhibit called Number Ones created by 11 current and former ASU students featured their art work that displays the essence of the number one single of Spears they were assigned too.[166]

Jenn Harris will portray Spears in an upcoming off-Broadway show at the Ace of Clubs theatre in New York.[167] Though recently due to last minute scheduling conflicts the show will play later in the year instead of the original date of May 11, 2008.

Author Karen Dawn is set to release a book called Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way We Treat Animals, where she blasts Spears as a pet owner.[168]

 

TOM CRUISE

Filed under: Facts, Fictions and Fashions - Administrator @ 6:10 am
TOM CRUISE
 
Date of Birth
3 July 1962, Syracuse, New York, USA

Birth Name
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV

Height
5′ 7" (1.70 m)

Mini Biography

In 1976, if you had told 14 year old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be considered one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to become a priest. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, was destined to become Tom Cruise, one of the highest paid and most sought after actors in screen history. The only son (among four children) of nomadic parents young Tom spent his boyhood eternally on the move and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the US and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences.

Though below average height and not particularly handsome in the traditional sense, within 5 years Tom Cruise was starring in some of the top grossing films of the 1980s including Top Gun (1986); The Color of Money (1986), Rain Man (1988) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989). By the 1990s he was one of the highest paid actors in the world earning an average 15 million dollars a picture in such blockbuster hits as Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996) - for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for best actor. In 1990 he renounced his devout Catholic beliefs and embraced The Church Of Scientology claiming that Scientology teachings had cured him of the dyslexia that had plagued him all of his life. A kind and thoughful man well known for his compassion and generosity, Tom Cruise is one of the best liked members of the movie community. He was married to actress Nicole Kidman until 2001. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV has indeed come a long way from the lonely wanderings of his youth.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom McDonough

Spouse
Katie Holmes (18 November 2006 - present) 1 child
Nicole Kidman (24 December 1990 - 8 August 2001) (divorced) 2 (adopted) children
Mimi Rogers (9 May 1987 - 4 February 1990) (divorced)


Trivia

Cousin of actor William Mapother and Amy Mapother.

Chosen by Empire magazine as one of the 100 Sexiest Stars in film history (#41) (1995).

Ranked #3 in Empire (UK) magazine’s "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list (October 1997).

Chosen by "People" magazine as one of the 50 most beautiful people in the world (1997).

Voted Best Dressed Male Movie Star (1997).

Stopped to help a hit and run victim and paid her hospital bills. The victim was aspiring Brazilian actress Heloisa Vinhas (1996).

Caused a stir in the medical community when he claimed, in an interview, that Scientology cured him of his dyslexia (1992).

While he was working with Paul Newman in the The Color of Money (1986), he engaged in much conversation with the politically active actor. The resulting conscious raising changed him from an actor who ignored the jingoistic tone of Top Gun (1986) to a performer who chose a film with a strong anti-war tone, Born on the Fourth of July (1989) to counter his contribution to the former film.

Has three sisters: Marian, Lee Anne De Vette and Cass. Lee Anne became his publicist in 2004 after he left Pat Kingsley.

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world (1991).

Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world (1990).

Graduated from Glen Ridge High School in New Jersey (June 1980).

At age 14, he enrolled in a seminary to become a priest. He dropped out after one year.

He took up acting after losing his place on a high school wrestling team due to a knee injury.

He and Nicole Kidman adopted two children, Isabella and Connor.

Is right handed when writing, but does most things left handed.

Mission: Impossible (1996) gave him a total of $70 million with percentage of gross included.

Enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, and piloting his Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane

Recently restored an older home in the township of Biltmore Forest, a town within the city limits of Asheville, North Carolina (2000).

Chosen "Sexiest Man Alive" by People magazine (1990).

Received the John Huston Award for Artists Rights in 1998.

Was considered for the lead in The Matrix (1999).

Cruise earned roughly $75 million for Mission: Impossible II (2000). He did this by turning down any upfront salary, for instead taking a back-end deal that landed him 30% of the film’s gross for both his producing and acting duties.

Attended Packanack School in Wayne, New Jersey from first through third grade.

Filed a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Michael Davis, a man who allegedly offered to sell videotapes of himself having sex with the actor. The lawsuit accuses Davis of making the statements "in order to hurt the plaintiff and gain widespread publicity for himself." (May 2001).

Lived together with Vanilla Sky (2001) co-star Penélope Cruz from 2001 to 2004.

His adopted son Conor Antony was born on 17 January 1995.

His adopted daughter Isabella Jane was born on 22 December 1992.

Instead of his affair with Penélope Cruz damaging both their careers, it only boosted it.

Suffers from dyslexia.

Earned his pilot’s license in Toronto, Canada in 1994.

He didn’t stay for the remainder of the 2002 Academy Awards after opening them because it was his turn to look after his and ex-wife Nicole Kidman’s children. He reportedly left the Kodak Theatre by a back door after opening proceedings and dashed home to watch the rest of the event on TV with his adopted kids Conor and Isabella.

For 1988, he became the first actor to have the distinction of starring in both the year’s Oscar winner for Best Picture, Rain Man (1988) and the year’s Razzie "winner" for Worst Picture, Cocktail (1988).

Ranked #14 in Premiere’s 2003 annual Power 100 List. Had ranked #16 in 2002.

Ranked #4 in Star TV’s Top 10 Box Office Stars of the 1990s (2003)

Born to Thomas Mapother III (15 October 1934 - January 1984), an electrical engineer, and his wife Mary Lee Pfeiffer, a special education teacher.

Has two dogs called Basil and Murray and a cat called Harvey.

First actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in the USA: A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996).

Briefly attended St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Kentucky and was a paperboy for the Louisville Courier-Journal.

Wore braces on his flashy, million-dollar smile in 2002 to correct a misaligned bite.

Announced that his relationship with Penélope Cruz had ended in January 2004. [March 2004]

Has appeared in films opposite four directors who have also directed his films. Sydney Pollack, who directed The Firm (1993), appeared in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed Magnolia (1999), appeared as an extra in Minority Report (2002). Minority Report (2002) director Steven Spielberg appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Cameron Crowe, who directed Jerry Maguire (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001), appeared in Minority Report (2002).

Will not allow his likeness to be used in video games or for action figures.

While filming Days of Thunder (1990) at Daytona International Speedway, he enjoyed playing football with the truck drivers. He was the receiver - he loved going deep to catch a pass.

While filming Days of Thunder (1990) at Daytona International Speedway, he drove one of the Hendricks Motorsports R&D cars around the track. The best time recorded was a lap at 205 MPH.

He was voted the 31st Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.

Lives with his sister Cass and her three children in Los Angeles (September 2004).

Spoke at his niece’s, Lee Anne De Vette’s daughter, graduation from the Delphian School.

Ranked #18 on VH1’s 100 Hottest Hotties

Lost out to actor Peter Barton for the lead role in "The Powers of Matthew Star" (1982).

Renée Zellweger thanked him in her Oscar acceptance speech when she won ‘Best Actress in a Supporting Role’ for Cold Mountain (2003).

Attended the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City.

Channel 4’s ‘Ultimate Film’ show states that, in terms of UK cinema audience rather than revenue, Cruise’s most successful film in the UK was Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002).

While a student at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre, he studied one of his courses under legendary acting teacher Sanford Meisner.

Studied drama at the prestigious Neighborhood Playhouse, in conjunction with the Actors Studio, New School University, New York.

Was named the #1 top money-making star at the box office in Quigley Publications annual poll of movie exhibitors a record seven times between 1986 and 2005. Being crowned the top box office champ in 2005 put Cruise one title ahead of Tom Hanks, who has been named #1 at the B.O. six times. Bing Crosby and Burt Reynolds both were named #1 for five consecutive years, and Clint Eastwood also has been #1 five times, but non-consecutively.

He has been named to the Top 10 Poll of Money-Making Stars 18 times, as ranked by Quigley Publications’ annual poll of movie exhibitors. With his 18th appearance on the B.O. list, he moved out of a tie for 4th place tie with Paul Newman (17 appearances on the list) into a tie for #3 with Gary Cooper. John Wayne is #1 on the all-time list, with 25 appearances in the Top 10, followed by Clint Eastwood with 21 appearances on the list. Gary Cooper rounds out the top three. Due to his young age and continued popularity, it is conceivable that within 10 years, he will exceed Wayne as the #1 box office champ ever.

Has donated to charities such as The Ashley Flint Fund, The Tsunami Relief Fund, Themoms.biz Diabetes Fund, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Campaign and The Church of Scientology.

Premiere Magazine ranked him as the #3 Greatest Movie Star of All Time in their Stars in Our Constellation feature (2005).

Studied with renowned acting coach Phil Gushee at Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre, New York.

His character Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (1992) was based on real life U.S. Navy JAG Corp Donald Marcari, who now works as an attorney with Marcari, Russotto, and Spencer P.C. in Cheaspeake, Virginia.

The name Mapother is pronounced like "MAY bother", only with a P.

Time magazine once described him as a "baby-faced Christopher Reeve".

Ranked #14 on Premiere’s 2005 Power 50 List. He is the highest ranked actor on the list.

Engaged to actress Katie Holmes (17 June 2005).

Proposed to Katie Holmes at the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Was the original choice for the role of Tom Ripley in The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999).

Emilio Estevez served as best man at his wedding to Mimi Rogers.

Celebrated his 43rd birthday atop the holiday box office with War of the Worlds (2005).

His May 2005 appearance on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" (1986) was named the #1 "Celebrity Meltdown Ever" by TV Guide Magazine.

Owns and operates "Montana Miss" a WWII P-51 Mustang.

He and his former girlfriend Penélope Cruz appeared together in Vanilla Sky (2001)

He and ex-wife Nicole Kidman made 3 movies together: Days of Thunder (1990), Eyes Wide Shut (1999) and Far and Away (1992). They met on the set of Days of Thunder (1990)

While attending the London premiere of War of the Worlds (2005), he was squirted in the face with water during a prank interview. His reaction on camera was stern but not livid. The culprit was charged with assault.

He was in two different movies featuring the song "Iko Iko" on its soundtrack - Rain Man (1988) by The Belle Stars and Mission: Impossible II (2000) by Zap Mama.

He is a big fan of British singer Joss Stone.

Has played a soldier in six different movies. Taps (1981), Top Gun (1986), Born on the Fourth of July (1989), A Few Good Men (1992), The Last Samurai (2003) and Valkyrie (2009).

Has worked with an impressive list of master filmmakers: Stanley Kubrick, Martin Scorsese, Brian De Palma, Francis Ford Coppola, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott and Steven Spielberg.

Is a vegetarian.

Parents divorced when he was 12.

Tom and Katie Holmes became the parents of Suri Cruise, who was born on April 18, 2006 in Los Angeles. "Suri" weighed 7 lbs. 7 oz. and was 20 inches.

In the past twenty years since his first hundred million dollar grosser (Top Gun (1986)), only six of his films have failed to reach that status.

Was originally to star in Enemy of the State (1998), but scheduling conflicts with Eyes Wide Shut (1999) forced him to miss out on the film. His part went to Will Smith.

Wears a mask on six different movies. In all of the three "Mission: Impossible" movies and in Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Vanilla Sky (2001) and Minority Report (2002), where the injection that makes his face disfigured can be considered as a futuristic mask.

Topped Forbes magazine’s "100 Top Celebrities" list in 2006 ahead of The Rolling Stones and Oprah Winfrey (June 2006).

Ranked #14 on Premiere’s 2006 "Power 50" list. Had ranked #14 in 2005 as well. He is the highest-ranked actor on the list.

Stepfather of his children Isabella and Connor is Keith Urban

Is talked about in the song "Though the Wire" by Kanye West.

Was ranked # 1 in Forbes Celebrity 100 Who Made Bank (2006).

On August 22, 2006, Viacom Chairman Sumner Redstone announced through the "Wall Street Journal" that Viacom’ Paramount subsidiary was terminating its development dealt with Cruise after 14 years. Redstone said the firm terminated its deal with Cruise due to the under-performance of Mission: Impossible III (2006) (which had been expected to gross $100-150 million more than it did), which he attributed to Cruise’s "bad behavior". Movie pundits were somewhat surprised by the announcement, as Cruise remains the top B.O. draw in North America and was Paramount’s cash cow. Cruise’s films reportedly have accounted for 32% of Paramount Pictures’ revenues in the last six years, and he was named the Top Box Office draw for a record 7th time by Quigley Publications for the year 2005. As part of its machinations before severing its connections with Cruise, Paramount leaked to the press the information that the deal was worth $10 million annually; however, the development deal actually was for $3 million per annum. At the time of the announcement, Cruise and his advisers were considering Paramount’s new offer of $2 million per year in development money when Redstone dropped his bombshell. The news gave rise to speculation that Paramount has run out of cash as it reportedly has told other development partners with which it has deals to use their own cash for the rest of the year, with the proviso they will be reimbursed come 2007.

In September of 2006, he visited actress Brooke Shields at her home and personally apologized to her for criticizing her in 2005 about her use of prescription medication to overcome her post partum depression. Touched by the gesture, Brooke accepted his apology.

As of 2006, he is tied with Tom Hanks for the actor with the most consecutive $100 million-grossing movies (7).

Resurrected United Artists together with MGM executives to produce and star in some of the company’s projects (November 2006).

The years of birth of his wives are 11 years apart: Mimi Rogers was born in 1956, Nicole Kidman in 1967 and Katie Holmes in 1978.

Although they officialized their marriage in Los Angeles prior, he and Katie Holmes celebrated their wedding in the Odescalchi castle in Bracciano, Italy. The ceremony was performed by a Scientology minister in front of more than 150 relatives and friends including Hollywood superstars such as Jim Carrey, John Travolta, Kelly Preston, Russell Crowe, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Richard Gere, Brooke Shields, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and Kirstie Alley. Italian pop opera purveyor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the newlyweds (18 November 2006).

He and Katie Holmes both wore Armani at their wedding.

He and Katie Holmes honeymooned in the Maldives.

Best Man at his wedding to Katie Holmes was his best friend David Miscavige.

Once lived in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada & attended the same high school as Bryan Adams.

Donated to Hillary Rodham Clinton’s electoral campaign for the U.S. Senate together with his then wife Nicole Kidman (2000).

Considered for the role, in Crimson Tide (1995), that went to Denzel Washington.

Mentioned in the song ‘High School Never Ends’ by ‘Bowling For Soup’.

Was offered for the lead of Reign Over Me (2007).

According to Forbes, for each dollar he got paid, Cruise’s movies averaged $11 of gross income (December 2007).

Attended St. Raphael The Archangel Elementary School in Louisville, Kentucky.

Although the shooting of Valkyrie (2009) caused controversy in Germany due to his Scientology membership, he was awarded at the Bambi Awards for "Courage", a category, newly created by the organizers to honor him for "tackling a story that had never been covered by Hollywood before". The decision was also heavily criticized by journalists and politicians (2 December 2007).

The Japan Memorial Day Association declared 10 October 2006 "Tom Cruise Day".

Due to his friendship to David Beckham, he became a supporter of Spanish soccer club Real Madrid.

When attending a Franciscan seminary in Cincinatti, he aspired to become a priest.

Has German and English ancestry from his father’s as well as German and Irish ancestry from his mother’s family.

Was introduced to Scientology by his ex-wife Mimi Rogers.

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year to be $31 million.

Mentioned in song "Faudrait leur dire" by French rap band "3eme oeil".

Listed at Number 7 on "The Top 10 Box Office Moneymakers of 2007".

Is the only actor to ever work with all of the following directors; Oliver Stone in Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Martin Scorsese in The Color of Money (1986), Stanley Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut (1999), and Steven Spielberg in Minority Report (2002).

Huge fan of professional wrestling.

Has married two actresses who played Batman’s love interest. Nicole Kidman from Batman Forever (1995) and Katie Holmes from Batman Begins (2005).

Is reportedly a huge fan of The Simpsons. However, he has twice turned down guest roles; once for the part of "Tom," which was written specifically for him, in the episode "Brother From The Same Planet" (eventually voiced by regular Phil Hartman) and the other alongside his then-wife Nicole Kidman in the episode "When You Dish Upon A Star" (eventually voiced by then-couple Alec Baldwin and Kim Bassinger).

Considered for the role, in End of Days (1999), that went to Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Was going to play as Tom Warshaw in House of D (2004) and opted to do War of the Worlds (2005) instead.

Attended Glen Ridge High School with Bruce Springsteen.

In 1974, when Cruise was 11, his parents divorced.



Personal Quotes

The thing about filmmaking is I give it everything, that’s why I work so hard. I always tell young actors to take charge. It’s not that hard. Sign your own checks, be responsible.

[to Jay Leno regarding his topless Vanity Fair cover shoot] I don’t drink but I had a beer that night and they only did one setup like that. I’m a cheap date. What can I say?

[about Eyes Wide Shut (1999)] We knew from the beginning the level of commitment needed. We felt honored to work with Stanley Kubrick. We were going to do what it took to do this picture, whatever time, because I felt - and Nic [Nicole Kidman] did, too - that this was going to be a really special time for us. We knew it would be difficult. But I would have absolutely kicked myself if I hadn’t done this.

I have cooked turkeys in my day but when Mom’s around I let her do it.

I was 18 when I saw Akira Kurosawa’s Shichinin no samurai (1954). After about 30 seconds, I realized that this was not just a cultural thing, it was universal. Years later, I read Bushido. It talked about many things that I strive for in my own life: loyalty, compassion, responsibility, the idea of looking back on your life and taking responsibility for everything you’ve ever done. I’m fascinated by the samurai and the samurai code - it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to make The Last Samurai (2003).

Awards are wonderful. I’ve been nominated many times and I’ve won many awards. But my journey is not towards that. If it happens it will be a blast. If it doesn’t, it’s still been a blast.

I believe in life. I know that life comes in at your heart and it doesn’t matter if you’re an actor, a filmmaker or a gentleman on the street, it comes at you. What Scientology gives me is the tools to deal with that, to better enjoy my life and to be able to contribute more.

[on his role as the hit man in Collateral (2004)] I’ve never played a character like this before. Vincent interested me because he is such an anti-social personality, bringing destruction and chaos with him wherever he goes. He’s a force of nature.

I remember getting through high school and thinking, "Boy, I’m glad I got that behind me!" Then, when I was 19, I got Risky Business (1983), and I realized, "Ah, so this is life - it’s a little bigger than I thought!"

As a young actor, people were trying to define who I was before I really knew that for myself. But I still remember thinking, "This is what I love doing, and I hope I’m going to be able to do it forever."

I’ve had a very interesting life. There are ways of handling the complexities. I’m willing to take on responsibilities as a father, as a producer, as an actor - and I enjoy that. I’ve always been changing and evolving and growing. There’s no pinnacle of power where you can sit back and rest.

Because I grew up in so many different places, I was used to rumors [about me]. You know, I didn’t have the right shoes, I didn’t have the right clothes. I even had the wrong accent.

Nic [Nicole Kidman] and I don’t talk publicly about custody but, definitely, both of us share the kids back and forth. They’re amazing kids.

I would live with all of my sisters if I could. We’ve always been very close, my sisters and me.

The important thing with a child is that you love them, you protect them and you help them to grow and find out who they are. And as a parent, it’s my responsibility to help them to become independent and get all the knowledge and a broad view of the world and life. I know that Nic [Nicole Kidman] absolutely agrees with that. And that’s what’s important: being there.

I’d like to be with a woman who goes [he switches into a woman’s voice], "I’ve reviewed your schedule, and I’m going to set up this motorcycle trip for you, because you’ve been working really hard. And I’m going to go with you. We’re going to go riding together. And I’ve already been working on it for a couple days so it can be special."

I don’t really keep counsel with others. I’m the kind of person who will think about something, and if I know it’s right I’m not going to ask anybody. I don’t go, "Boy, what do you think about this?" I’ve made every decision for myself - in my career, in my life.

SAT (exam) scores have gone right down the toilet. The parents are blaming the teachers, the teachers are blaming the parents and the psychs are putting everyone on drugs.

[on the relationship with Katie Holmes, about other people thinking it’s a publicity stunt] It’s amusing at first. It’s funny. But then you sit back and realize how sad it is that there are people who can’t even imagine feeling like this. But my friends are happy for me. The people who know me are happy. My mom is happy. My family is happy.

I’ve never agreed with psychiatry, ever. Before I was a Scientologist, I never agreed with psychiatry. Here’s the problem. You don’t know the history of psychiatry. I do.

I’m passionate about learning. I’m passionate about life.

[on the invasion of Iraq] Personally, I don’t have all the information President [George W. Bush] has. But I believe [Saddam Hussein] has committed many crimes against humanity and his own people.

Every single time I start to do a picture, without fail, I feel as if I don’t know what I’m doing.

(On his father) He was a bully and a coward. He was the kind of person where, if something goes wrong, they kick you. It was a great lesson in my life - how he’d lull you in, make you feel safe and then, bang! For me, it was like, ‘There’s something wrong with this guy. Don’t trust him. Be careful around him.’ There’s that anxiety.

[On Born on the Fourth of July (1989)] When I made that film people said, ‘This is going to ruin your career. Why are you doing this after you did Top Gun. Why not just do Top Gun 2?’. I wanted to challenge myself.



Salary
War of the Worlds (2005) (20% profit participation)
The Last Samurai (2003) $25,000,000 + % of profits
Minority Report (2002) $25,000,000+
Vanilla Sky (2001) $20,000,000 + 30% of Profits
Mission: Impossible II (2000) $75,000,000 (gross participation)
Eyes Wide Shut (1999) $20,000,000
Jerry Maguire (1996) $20,000,000 against 15%
Mission: Impossible (1996) $70,000,000 (gross participation)
Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) $15,000,000
Far and Away (1992) $13,000,000
Rain Man (1988) $3,000,000+% of gross
Top Gun (1986) $2,000,000
Risky Business (1983) $75,000


Where Are They Now

(January 2003) In New Zealand filming The Last Samurai (2003).

(December 2004) Filming Paramount’s War of the Worlds (2005), due out Summer 2005.

(August 2005) Filming Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Los Angeles, USA.

(November 2005) Filming Mission: Impossible III (2006) in Shanghai, China.

(January 2008) Release of the book, "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography" by Andrew Morton.

RP proposes world rice stockpile at food summit

Filed under: Facts, Fictions and Fashions - Administrator @ 5:01 am

RP proposes world rice stockpile at food summit
By Raul O. Marcelo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 06:04:00 06/06/2008

ROME — The Philippines has proposed the immediate creation of a global grains reserve or stockpile to protect both importing and exporting countries from sharply fluctuating prices.

Speaking before the world food summit hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) here, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said the stockpile could be managed by an appropriate United Nations agency like the World Food Program, which has a track record in administering food reserves.

Under the Philippine proposal, participation in the grains reserve will be on a voluntary basis with actual food stocks warehoused in countries and regions projected to experience food shortfalls for immediate access in times of need.

As a stabilizing mechanism to moderate unusual price fluctuations, the grains reserve would operate and defend a price band.

This will protect grains producers when prices go below the low end of the band. At that point, exporting countries can sell or deposit their inventories to the grains reserve at the low end of the price band, preventing the release of more stocks into the market that can further crash prices against farmers.

When prices breach the high end of the band, the grains reserve would sell or lend stocks to importing countries which would like to avoid having to buy food at higher than normal market prices. The infusion of supplies is expected to moderate, if not stop, further increases in food prices.

Yap said exporting countries should also be allowed by multilateral financing institutions to borrow funds against their stocks kept in the global grains reserve.

“This is an effort to ensure that by protecting the profitability of food producers, they will continue to produce food, while the world’s poor and hungry will be sheltered from the harm of harsh speculative commodity prices,” Yap said.

Yap suggested in the Philippine statement delivered at the food summit that rice be first on the list of the proposed global reserve inventories because it is the staple consumed by nearly three billion people.

The proposed reserve could be expanded later to include other staples such as wheat and corn, he said.

In arguing the Philippine position, Yap pointed out that among the world’s traded staples, rice should be the first commodity to be covered by a global stockpile because it has been the most prone lately to sharp price fluctuations as a result of “a very thin market” — only 5 to 7 percent of total production of this grain is traded worldwide.

He said current rice prices have jumped 68 percent from year-ago levels. Since January this year, rice prices have soared 53 percent.

Emphasizing the urgency of the Philippine proposal, Yap said: “Whatever the resolution will be at the conclusion of this conference, let us be reminded that the world’s vulnerable are not interested to hear more of our words, but are actually begging for our action, now. We confront a new order and no solution is simple, yet if the objective is to stabilize price and supply to protect the world’s poor and hungry, we must persist no matter how seemingly difficult the path may be.”

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Mindanao bishop rebukes ‘satanic’ rice traders

Filed under: Facts, Fictions and Fashions - Administrator @ 1:12 am

MANILA, Philippines — Short of comparing greedy rice traders to Satan, a Mindanao Catholic bishop Monday castigated businessmen who hoard and resell cheap rice that has led to runaway prices in the region and “incompetent” government officials who failed to stop the illegal practice.

Bishop Dinualdo Gutierrez of Marbel, South Cotabato, the former chief of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action–Justice and Peace (NASSA), said he has been receiving reports that some traders in Mindanao are re-bagging the cheap National Food Authority (NFA) rice and resell them for much higher price.

In a Radio Veritas interview Monday, Gutierrez said the avaricious traders should be ashamed of themselves. Their action to hoard rice and re-sell the cheaper ones for a higher price is “satanic,” the prelate said, adding that they are exploiting the poor.

“We are producing rice but why is it so expensive. Something is wrong. The reason is the greed of all businessmen and the incompetence of some government people,” Gutierrez said.

“Yesterday (Sunday) in my Mass, I said where is your conscience? Why are you, according to reports, repacking NFA rice and selling it as commercial rice. That’s not good, that is why a kilo of rice has reached P47, P50, P51. I hope your conscience will bother you,” he added.

Asked if he will refuse communion to “satanic” businessmen, Gutierrez said that will be the last resort. Noting that such move would be controversial, Gutierrez said he was planning to meet with rice traders “in private” in the coming days to discuss the situation and appeal to them to keep the prices within the reach of the poor.

The prelate said he will urge the traders to return what they have “stolen” from the poor. If the traders accept the condition, “then I will absolve him, I will give him communion.”

“If he will say no, that it is not possible, then I will say you will not receive communion because you are the one excommunicating yourself. You don’t want to be united with Christ because Christ said you should be helping the poor, but you are exploiting the poor,” the Marbel prelate noted.

Gutierrez said the rice traders should open their warehouses not only to government inspectors, but also to bishops. The prelate said the bishops and the priests can even help in the distribution of rice, the country’s main staple. “It’s free,” he added.

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Rice cartel / hoarding: Fallacy or fact

Filed under: Facts, Fictions and Fashions - Administrator @ 1:11 am

Rice cartel / hoarding: Fallacy or fact
By Romeo G. David
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 18:33:00 05/25/2008

MANILA, Philippines–The nation is again facing an ever-recurring rice crisis. And predictably, we hear the same rhetoric from our politicians to absolve themselves of any shortcomings relative to this crisis. However, it is curious that time and again the key issues raised by our politicians are rice cartels and rice hoarders with promises that they will address the issue and eradicate the problem.

Webster’s dictionary defines a cartel to be "a monopolistic association" and hoarding is defined as "to store up beyond one’s present or reasonable need."

This twin issues of cartel and hoarding touted by our politicians every time we face a rice-crisis raises the question if this is really the problem. Maybe it is they, our politicians, who are the problem? The fact that it remains an issue is testament to the indifference, lack of sensitivity as well as the lack of political will of our elected officials to address the problem.

That they, our politicians, having identified cartels and acts of hoarding as culprits that plague our society and economy every time we have a rice crisis; we should expect that through their conscientious and collective efforts, this matter should have long been resolved. So, if they honestly believed that it is the problem, then why has it not been their top priority? Why does the problem consistently surface only when there is a rice crisis? If it is only an issue worthy of attention when crisis time comes around, then one can only suspect that all their rhetoric was and is simply political grandstanding, absent of any sincerity to serve the people.

The question raised is do rice cartels exist? If we are to go by Webster’s definition under the Philippine context, I cannot agree that rice cartels exist, much less is it possible in the local trade scenario. It is highly irresponsible to conclude and condemn rice wholesalers and or retailers to be operating a cartel if no factual basis can be forwarded to support such a serious accusation.

The grains trade is scattered over the thousands of municipalities all over this vast archipelago. While there are strong nationwide trade organizations like the GRECON and PHILCONGRAINS, to believe that they are organized for the purpose of instituting a cartel to foster a self-serving motive to gain undue profit in restraint of trade is a stretch of the imagination. For the little I know of them, they often can’t even agree among themselves let alone organize into trading blocs.

Even within the tiny grains wholesaling district of Dagupan, Binondo in Manila this is not evident as traders compete fiercely to turn their inventories at least once a day just to earn their keep. With trading margins often running between 1 and 3 percent on investment, buyers and sellers are free to trade their goods in this free market and if one is not satisfied with the trade they get, they have many other areas to choose from…like Quinta Market, Paco Market or Munoz Market all within a few kilometers of each other. So there certainly isn’t any lack of competition in this dog eat dog industry! But let’s remember, the law of supply and demand rules at the end of the day.

Trade in the grains market are managed, operate and survive by the economic law of "supply and demand" and trade prices reflect the prevailing market situation. So unless some bright legislator believes that he can repeal this law, no effort or intimidation from government will change the situation.

Why is it that cartels seem to exist only when there is a crisis? And if it does exist, what is it that makes it unacceptable? As a consumer, I too would not agree to anyone gaining undue profit. However, we must understand that traders do provide a service for which he expects to be reasonably compensated. And if the amount of compensation is the issue, then let’s address that so we can have an orderly market for grains for all to benefit.

But for the politicians to finger-point and intimidate, this is the mark of poor governance and is counter productive. Realities are, if threatened, traders, out of self-preservation and to avoid conflict with the government, will cease to provide the service and the public will suffer all the more. Government in all its omnipotence cannot fill this vacuum and besides, it is not the role of government to do so.

On the issue of hoarding, it baffles me to see the President of the Philippines take time out from her prime responsibilities of running the affairs of the country to raid grain warehouses. I fail to see intelligent or beneficial use of executive time here. The country, I’m sure, is beseeched with more pressing issues that require her immediate and undivided attention. If it takes the President of a country to get a simple enforcement issue adequately taken care of, then it is time for those tasked with the responsibilities to go.

As to hoarding, to my knowledge no one has ever been proven to be hoarding despite high profile raids by the government since the birth of our nation. Why is that so? I guess it has something to do with the definition of what constitutes "unreasonable need", which is very subjective, so until and unless we can find a mechanism to measure / determine the reasonableness of inventory on-hand of a trader this will remain a problem.

And yet, even with the absence of a definition to extract enforcement; each time administrations are pressed with a rice crisis issue, the knee jerk reaction of Malacanang is to organize raids for the president to attend to. How shallow is government’s view of the citizenry it has pledged to serve. Do they honestly believe that this poorly choreographed theatrical antic will cure the problem? What the people need is food and not more politics.

If hoarding is perceived to be a problem then our legislators should define the parameters as to what constitutes "storing up beyond one’s present or reasonable needs" so appropriate action could be taken against those who err. First of all, we have to define what is reasonable. And having a large warehouse full of grain certainly does not automatically constitute hoarding if this is normal volume of trade that a trader handles? This large volume on-hand seems to be the present yardstick of what constitutes hoarding whenever the government raids a trader’s warehouse. In fact, after all the hoop-la and fan-fair is over, graft and corruption via extortion seems to be the next order of the day with minor minions of government moving in for the kill. This is one of the key causes of government’s loss of credibility with its citizenry.

Hoarding or the amassing of huge inventories beyond reasonable or normal trade needs, if proven to be with the intention to gain undue profit must be punished to the fullest extent of the law. But until such time politicians can define what constitute "volumes of inventory beyond one’s present or reasonable need" this will remain to be a politician’s ticket out of the responsibility for not adequately providing in anticipation for the eventuality of a recurring rice crisis. Politicians simply shift the blame onto traders and wholesalers without real or beneficial resolutions of the issue.

In conclusion, the consistent and predictable high profile reaction of politicians to an ever-recurring rice crisis is not appreciated and is an insult to the people’s intelligence. What we need is forward thinking politicians who are committed to addressing the rice crisis issue in a manner that is clear and doable so all will share in the responsibility of insuring that a rice crisis will be a thing of the past. That done, we could move on to bigger and better things to improve the quality of life for every Filipino.

Mabuhay ang Pilipino!

(The article reflects the personal opinion of the author and does not reflect the official stand of the Management Association of the Philippines. The author is Chair and President of BNL Management Corporation and former Administrator of the National Food Authority. Feedback at map@globelines.com.ph. For previous articles, please visit .)


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