Love is like a raffle stub.
The more entries you send the more chances of winning!!!
I hope you win the heart of your beloved this Valentine’s Day. It’s not the day you run away from love, it’s the day you track it down, tie it up and take it home.
Here’s a classic yet modernized Kundiman song for all lovers out there…
Hapi Balentong Day!
Years ago when I was still living in the humble abode of Nengkoy, I collect CDs of various musical genres from classical Vivaldi to heavy metal rock. Almost every weekend I would troop to a record bar to get me a new CD. One of the CDs that I will never forget buying is the second album released by Paula Cole entitled This Fire. This Fire is an impressive collection of songs. It contains the hit Where Have All The Cowboys Gone; I Don’t Want To Wait the theme song from the hit TV series Dawson’s Creek; and, Feelin’ Love used as one of the soundtracks in City of Angels movie.
During those days every time I play my newly bought CD, I made sure that the volume is blaring. It is so loud that the music could be heard in the outskirts of southern Mindanao.
In the album, the dramatic and poetic track number 6 made me rolling down my bedroom floor from laughter because of Nengkoy’s reaction. The astounding yet underrated song is entitled Nitzsche’s Eyes. Nengkoy upon hearing the last part of the song came nervously running and rushing up the second floor of the house to find out who was the wailing woman in my bedroom. Only to find out that it was just the CD player running.
Here’s the great Nietzsche’s Eyes. I recommend that you turn the volume in full blast to know and appreciate what I’m talking about. Warning: before clicking the arrow, tell your mom first that you are to listen to an amazing song and there should be no cause for alarm.
Ol togeder now!!! — Geting dawn dis! Getting dawn dis! Geting dawn dis!
Who is your Facebook cartoon character profile picture until December 6? (The peaceful protest against violence towards children) Mine was Ursula, the sea witch. She is the overweight yet cool and seductive evil villain in Disney’s The Little Mermaid. In my opinion she’s the perfect villain, balancing out being intolerably evil and funny as hell!
She is one of the full-pledged wicked antagonists that creeps me out by just merely looking at her mole. Add up her terrifying character, her husky smoky voice plus the spine-chilling humongous laughter, you’ve got a perfectly dark vicious piece of work.
Aside from the magnificent soundtrack, for me, the reason why Disney’s The Little Mermaid movie was so successful was because of this terrifying fat octopus lady. Her song “Poor Unfortunate Souls” was even revived by Jonas Brothers. She swelled into monstrous proportions, she literally slashed boats apart with her tentacles, she crashed the ocean waves and she turned the heavens into stormy skies!
I know that Ursula’s nasty tentacles were defeated in the end. It is even considered that Ursula had one of the most petrifying deaths of all Disney movies. But two of the most powerful lines uttered by this ruthless thug can actually be based on awful truths:
Don’t underestimate the importance of body language!
Life’s full of tough choices… isn’t it?
Walang bida kung walang kontra bida! Yu pur unportyuneyt sowls!!!
This is a Coca Cola ad in the mid-80s when I was still a part of the young population. It was such a colossal hit then. The whole Philippines was talking about a pretty singer (with enormously big set of ears) named Lilet being chosen to represent the country in filming this commercial for local release. She was actually sent to Liverpool, England to shoot this Coca-Cola advertisement. If memory serves me right, there were actually versions of this ad sang in different languages all filmed in one common venue.
The catchy song was about unity, strength and hope among the young dynamic earthlings. That year, I would have nominated Coca Cola Company for a Nobel Prize for Peace because of this advert.
Lilet, I and the rest of the youth who grew up in the ‘80s are no longer the future but the actual front runners of this planet. We being todays adults may have not done the best in preserving world peace and in conserving mother earth, at least Madonna, U2 and MTV Channel (plus Regal, Viva and Seiko Films movies produced locally) were some of the unique conceptions of our time. Moreover, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that apocalyptic annihilation will not take place during our incumbency and dominion.
Significant changes had happened (good, delightful, wicked and screwy) and I hope that today’s luckluster, bland and boring youth will be inspired by the lasting message of this amazing song.
I am the future of the world
I am the hope of my nation
I am tomorrow’s people
I am the new inspiration
And we’ve got a song to sing to you
We’ve got a message to bring to you
Please let there be, for you and for me, a tomorrow (tomorrow)
If we all can agree there’ll be sweet harmony tomorrow (tomorrow)
And we all will be there, Coca-Cola to share
Feeling so real and so true
Promise us tomorrow
And we’ll build a better world for you
Ngayon, matataba na tayo dahil sa kowk na yan.
mango tres leches of cafe adriatico
Can anyone be unhappy while eating cake? Like instinct, we have all craved for cake in our happiest moments. People actually serve cake when they’re happy. Why is it so? Because life is a cycle of pain and bad memories or perhaps like the bitter-sweetness of life, we try to make our joys even sweeter.
Like instinct also, we feel joy and the sweetness of life when precious people are around us. Just like being served with cake. So be still and open your eyes. Look around you so you may realize that you are not actually sad and lonely. Just like being surrounded with cake. You’re surrounded by people who make you happy. These perhaps are the same people that help you in realizing that life is a piece of cake. You may not know, but maybe, you’re the most precious cake for somebody.
Here’s a slice of thought from a genius but defunct Pinoy band…
“There’s a fruitcake in everybody
There’s a fruitcake in everyone
There are b-sides to every story
If you decide to have some fun
Just take a bite, it’s alright
Taste the taste that sent all mothers giggling in sheer delight
Take a bite, it’s alright
A little lovin’ and some fruit to bake
Life is a piece of cake”
Tinapay? Puto? Mamon? Ano ba Tagalog ng keyk?
More than 10 years ago when Video City (VHS video rental house) was still the “in” thing to do to catch-up and see previous movies people failed to see in the cinemas (pirated DVDs were virtually non-existent and is sooo illegal then, now its not so illegal anymore hahaha!), I stumbled upon a VHS of the 10th anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the Royal Albert Hall. I rented it out in Video City good for three days without expecting and knowing what to see, hear and experience.
As soon as the rented VHS tape was running, I was stuck like a barnacle on my seat shrieking silently without blinking an eye. I was surprised to see Lea Salonga magnificently singing the part of Eponine. Salonga was just perfectly phenomenal for the signature song of Eponine ‘On My Own’. But the most chilling number was the “I Dream A Dream” song powerfully sang by Ruthie Henshall. The concert was just a concert and it was not even the actual musical play but the emotional impact it gave me is far beyond the confines of my senses.
Video City would not want to sell the said VHS during that time and I failed counting how many times I rented it out. I suppose, the said tape spent more days in my house compared to the number of days it spent on the shelves of Video City. I stopped renting it when I discovered the same concert in YouTube.
Just last night, I stumbled into a website announcing the 25th year anniversary concert of the durable Les Miserables on October 3. Surprisingly, Lea Salonga will be again in said concert singing the songs of Fantine this time. There will be no more Video City to rent a VHS tape of this captivating 25th anniversary concert. Therefore, I pray to the mighty Lord that He work on with His Holy Providence to grant me this awesome wish. I wanna see it, I wanna feel it, I wanna hear it, I wanna experience it!
However, I’m running out of precious time because according to the official website, the tickets for 7:00 PM show is now sold out and there are few remaining tickets for the 3:00 PM matinee… But my faith is so heavy-duty that miracles will happen and I am sooo convinced that I will be seeing myself inside the O2 Arena in London on October 3, 2010 at exactly 3:00 PM.
Sana mali si Elsa ng sinabi nyang “Walang Himala!”
My delicious body just attended the marvelous Jellicle Ball! Thanks to Mrs. Eugene Billones and her family who chose me to be one of the recipients of a ticket to see Cats (The Musical). We were seated at the balcony’s “high-end” parterre box next to the reserved box for President Noynoy Aquino (but he was a no-show!).
Though I am not fond of the storyline, after watching Cats, I no longer wonder why this show is considered the 2nd longest running-show in Broadway! It was awesome, it was colorful, it was pure entertainment!!!
The Manila run was an all-international cast except for Lea Salonga. That is why I got a bit teary -eyed when a short Tagalog translation of Memory was sang by one of the foreign actors during the opening of Act2. Everybody was surprised and was not expecting this little add-on or exclusive revision of this famous Broadway show.
The dance numbers were breathtakingly spectacular. I was amazed by the double-windmill dance moves of Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer. But the character who most impressed me when it comes to sensational dancing was Mistofelees!
Though the character of Lea Salonga being Grizabella (The ostracized Glamorous Cat) sang the most popular song in the show and Lea’s voice is the clearest with understandable words being sang, I particularly most enjoyed watching the introduction of Skimbleshanks (The Railway Cat) to the Jellicle Ball. Skimbleshanks number was fun, the dance was very playful, the song sounds young and the props used were very innovative.
All in all Cats in Manila was fun, fun, fun!!!
Por syur, walang daga sa CCP ngayon… Meow!!!
Fame Flores, a semi-finalist in the TV contest Pilipinas Got Talent (a Filipino franchise-version of Britain’s Got Talent owned by Simon Cowell) possess the most tasteful, sophisticated and world-class talent among all the contestants. Her singing was beyond Pinoy. It can cross the boundaries of cultures around the world. It’s the type that cultured souls would love to listen to.
She could be compared to world-class talents like Italy’s Andrea Bocelli; England’s Sarah Brightman; Charlotte Church of United Kingdom; or, New Zealand’s Hayley Westerna (my personal favorite among these lot whom I own 2 of her CDs).
The title of the show “Pilipinas Got Talent” is a misnomer. It should have been called “Pilipinas Got Mercy” because the judges seem to base their decision/selection not from remarkable talent but from either: corporeal, financial or emotional state-of-affairs of the contestants. Flores should have joined the British version. For sure she could have undoubtedly advanced to the finals.
Unfortunately, the dubious lady judges are cheap and unsophisticated that is why they let such a rare talent go astray. If Fame Flores reached the finals, her talent could have further widened the diverse spectrum of popular Filipino art and music. The Philippines do not have mainstream pop-classical genre. Flores could have started it!
Paki-treyn nga ang mga diyadyes!
Ironically my May 1 Labor Day is nothing laborious. I lay all day on my bed but when late afternoon comes, I fetched my “darkest” nephew Luis to watch with me Kelly Clarkson’s All I Ever Wanted Concert Tour (the Manila leg).
Ironically also, I am not a big fan of Kelly Clarkson but I possess three (3) of her magnificent albums. I was able to unintentionally amass all these albums simply because I am so impressed by the rock beat and soulful songs she has written.
Thanks to an officemate who got me a twelve thousand pesos worth of complimentary tickets for the said concert. I admit and concede that I enjoyed and was totally entertained at the said musical event. Owning the 3 albums made me aware of almost all the songs played during the concert making me sang along with Kelly. But there were moments in which I just sat down, shut up and let the sound slice up the air and wash me.
Kelly Clarkson may not be the greatest pop rock artist in the world but her songs are majestic primal howls of anguish and isolation yet centers on appealing melodies with hooks that dugs into a listeners brain. During the concert she even admitted that her songs are not happy. I knew that after listening for numerous times to her albums in the past. He songs are about pain, confusion, defiance and loss. Even then, listening to her will leave you feeling cleansed and strangely… happy!
Her slow pop-rock hits were simply awesome it made the whole Araneta sing along with her — Because of You, Breakaway and Behind These Hazel Eyes.
Of course, I did not gave up my chance of enjoying to wave my hands, stomp my feet, dance on my seat and sing with her and the awesome audience when the fast-beat top hits by Kelly were performed — Since U Been Gone; All I Ever Wanted; I Want You; Walk Away; Never Again; If I Can’t Have You; Gone; and, Walk Away (my personal favorite). The last song (My Life Would Suck Without You) just blew it because it failed to keep my heavy butt on my seat. It made me stood up and dance to the beat!
Ayun umuwi akong masakit ang palad at medyo namamalat!
This morning I went inside a convenience store and bought a large bottle of drinking water, a tube of cool mint candy, a single pouch of green tea and a pack of yosi. After paying the cashier, I refused to have my items be placed inside a small plastic bag which would later be dumped in a trash bin that will consequently add up to the immense plastic garbage of the planet. This thought may not be a big deal but for me this is a small yet positive contribution in saving Mother Earth.
Congruent to this incomplex environmental thought is the song that I have been singing and humming the whole morning today. It is the song entitled Big Yellow Taxi sang by Joni Mitchell and popularized by Counting Crows a couple of years ago. This amazing song is as old as I am and yet this piece of music has environmental message that is definitely applicable in today’s time. It’s raw, sublime, timeless and exceptionally cool.
Watch and listen…
Or you want to watch and listen to the version of Counting Crows…
I lav mader ert kaninang umaga…
Nengkoy 
