Category: Arts and Culture

The Tenor

Published by Ellen on March 6, 2012

I wrote this article for Rogue Magazine February last year. Click here:http://issuu.com/rogue.ph/docs/roguefeb2011

Last week Espiritu was back as Alfredo in Verdi’s opera, “La Traviata.” I missed it but friends who were privileged to watch it said, as usual, he was superb.

He is currently conducting Master Classes at the Cultural Center of the Philippines.For inquiries, please contact the CCP Artist Training Division at 832-1125 loc. 1604-1605.

He will be back to perform in “Barber of Seville” at the CCP very soon.

That is something to watch out for.

Filipino-American tenor Arthur Espiritu’s enthralling performances are proof of the power of simplicity.

It’s beautiful singing that is pure talent and superior technique. It’s no wonder that he made it to the La Scala de Milan, the first Philippine- born tenor to have graced what is considered the hallowed altar of operas.

63-year-old pianist puts up impromptu ‘concert’ for train commuters

Published by Ellen on January 14, 2012

This is so beautiful!

By Amer R. Amor, VERA Files

When world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell played at the Washington DC Metro Station in 2007 as part of The Washington Post’s social experiment on how people perceive and appreciate art and beauty, very few noticed and applauded. But when a 63-year-old man played the piano at the LRT 2 Cubao Station on Jan. 12, Filipino commuters stopped, paid attention, took videos, applauded, and at some point, swayed and sang along with his music.

Perhaps as a testament to British award-winning author Neil Gaiman’s tweet on Friday that it is indeed more fun in the Philippines since Filipinos applaud loudly, at least 300 commuters alternately took delight in the impromptu “concert” of pianist performer Vidalito Infante in a music retail stall at the Cubao Station from 4 to 6 p.m.

Ang panata sa Itim na Nazareno

Published by Ellen on January 10, 2012

Isa ako sa hindi nakakaintindi sa milyun-milyun na Pilipino na sinusuong ang hirap at peligro para makasama at makalapit sa poong Nazareno na ginaganap tuwing ika-siyam ng Enero sa Quiapo.

Tama siguro ang sinabi ni Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Tagle na para maintindihan, kailangan magiging ‘devotee’ ka ng Nazareno.

Ang prosisyun kahapon ay ang pinakamahaba sa buong kasaysayan ng Itim na Nazareno sa Quiapo. Biruin mo, nagsimula ng mga alas-otso ng umaga ng Lunes, Enero 9 sa Luneta pagkatapos ng misa at dumating sa Quiapo church alas-sais ng umaga ng Enero 10.

Maigsi lang ang distansya na yan. Kung lalakarin mo yan (palagi naming nilalakad ang ruta nay an nang nagra-rali kami ng panahon ni Marcos), hindi ka siguro aabutin ng isang oras.

Mga walong milyon daw ang dumalo sa prosesyun at katulad ng nangyari taon-taon, marami na naman ang nasaktan.

Ito ay sa gitna ng babala ni Pangulong Aquino mismo na may banta ang mga terorista na maghasik ng lagim habang hagang nagpu-prosisyun. Mabuti naman at walang nangyari. Alerto ang buong kapulisan at mga sangay ng gobyerno na may kinalaman sa seguridad.

Pwede naman ang makahulugang Pasko kahit walang pera

Published by Ellen on December 11, 2011

Nagsimula na ang Christmas traffic. Ang biyahe na dapat 30 minutes at nagiging dalawang oras.

Lahat yata namimili na para sa Pasko.

Ganyan ang maganda sa mga Pilipino. Kahit mahirap, talagang buhay na buhay ang diwa ng Pasko.

Pilipinas yata ang may pinakamahaba na Christmas season. Pagkatapos ng All Saints at All Souls Day, simula na kaagad ang tugtug ng Jingle Bells sa mga department stores at labasan na ng mga Christmas decors sa mga bahay.

Hindi yan natatapos sa Disyembre 25 o sa New Year. Hanggang Jan.6 yan, ang Three Kings.

At siyempre kapag panahon ng Pasko, kainan. Kaliwa’t-kanan ang Christmas party. Sigurado, pagkatapos ng Pasko, magtatabaan na naman tayo. At ang cholesterol, dios mio.

Nagbigay ng paala-ala si Health Secretary Enrique Ona dahan-dahan lang sa litson at sa alak nitong Kapakuhan dahil yun ang ilang sa sanhi ng atake sa puso.

Rizal’s Sibylla Cumana

Published by Ellen on November 30, 2011

A different kind of Rizal revealed.

On December 8, 6 p.m., the Paciano Rizal Family Heritage, Inc., and Cruz Publishing will launch the book Haec Est Sibylla Cumana at Auditorium 1 of the Ateneo Professional Schools on Rockwell Drive in Makati City.

Sybilla Cumana, we are told by the eminent Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, is a seeress and fortune teller in the Graeco-Roman culture.

What will be launched on Dec. 8 is an undisclosed and believed to be the last book written by the National Hero Jose Rizal.

Mrs. Nakpil wrote in the Publisher’s Note:”Jose Rizal continues to surprise us. An unexpected facet of Rizal’s persona has been revealed with this book. He was so humorous, playful and resourceful that he once invented and produced the material for a new parlor game using a character from the ancient Graeco-Roman culture of occult practices, the Sybilla Cumana, seeress and fortune teller.”

A Galleon museum in Manila

Published by Ellen on November 27, 2011

Presentation of commemorative stamps — Postmaster general Josefina de la Cruz and Sen. Edgardo Angara presenting the Dia del Galleon commemorative stamps to First Lady of Mexico, Margarita Zavala.

There’s a plan to build a galleon museum in Manila that will not only make Filipinos appreciate Philippine historical ties with Latin America but in the words of Mexico’s First Lady Margarita Zavala, “ could serve as an intercultural and globalization research center which will further help in uniting us.”

Madam Zavala, wife of President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, was here on a two-day visit last week.

At the cultural gala in her honor hosted by Sen. Edgardo Angara held at the Philippine International Convention Center last Thursday, Zavala shared her excitement after reading Jose Rizal’s “Ultimo Adios.” “He wrote it in Spanish!,” she said underscoring the affinity of Mexico and the Philippines in the Spanish language.

She said to the mostly English-speaking audience, “”I know you speak in English but your heart is still in Spanish. “

Zavala, a lawyer and was a member of the Mexican parliament, also observed that Philippine handicrafts are very much similar to Mexican handicrafts. “I’m sure the reason for this similarity goes back to the Galleon,” she said.

Paano gumamit ng malong at iba pa mula kay Aliah Dimaporo

Published by Ellen on November 12, 2011

Inimbita kami noong isang buwan ni Rep. Aliah Dimaporo para sa isang “getting-to-know you” na tanghalian.

Tinanggap ko kaagad ang imbitasyun dahil bumoto siya para sa amnesty sa mga sundalong lumaban kay Gloria Arroyo kahit na siya ay miyembro ng Lakas-NUCD ni Arroyo. Lalo pa ang kanyang Nanay, si Rep. Imelda Dimaporo ng unang distrito ng Lanao del Norte ay bumuto laban sa amnesty para sa mga rebeldeng sundalo.

Hindi ko siya masyadong nakita noon dahil umalis siya kaagad pagkatapos niya napaliwanag ang kanyang boto. Nilalagnat pala siya noon, sabi niya.

Sa litrato, tinuturuan kami dito ni Aliah paano gumamit ng malong.Parang patadyong din sa amin sa Antique.

Sumulat ang aking kaibigan na si Gypsy Baldovino, ang media officer ni Rep. Gina de Venecia, na kasama namin sa pananghalian sa bahay ng mga magulang ni Aliah tungkol sa okasyun.

Ito ang sinulat ni Gypsy:

Dennis Garcia’s art exhibit and Max Soliven’s biography

Published by Ellen on November 1, 2011

Just perfect after the long holidays are two events next week: Rakenrol, the first art exhibit of Dennis Garcia and the launching of the book “Maximo V. Soliven: The Man and the Journalist” by Nelson Navarro.

Rakenrol will be open on November 8 at 6 p.m and will run until Nov. 22 at the Galerie One Workshop, Suite 324, LRI Design Plaza, Nicanor Garcia St., Bel Air II, Makati City.

Rakenrol will showcase another facet of the genius that is Dennis Garcia.

We all know Dennis as the musician. He was part of the trailblazing Pinoy pop-rock band of the 70’s -“Hotdog”- that delighted us with such hits “Bongga Ka ’Day”, “Annie Batungbakal” and the iconic,” Manila, Manila”.

Dennis went into advertising after Hotdog members went their separate ways. He did stints in Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur,Singapore, Jakarta and Guam. Every now and then Hotdog members would get together for SRO reunion concerts in Manila.

Dennis is active in New Media, sharing gems for the mind with Facebook friends. He has a blog “Chubibo” where political irreverence has become an art. He writes a Friday column in the country’s number one tabloid, Abante.

Rakenrol, Dennis wrote, is part of his bucket list.

Hotdog Reunion: The Repeat

Published by Ellen on July 16, 2011

I did this story for VERA Files

Hotdog Repeat — Hotdog reunites in a repeat gig. Front row, from left: lead vocalists Joy Reyes, Maso Diez, Gina Montes and Rita Trinidad. Back, from left: Bassist Dennis Garcia, lead guitarist/vocalist Rene Garcia and drummer Jess Garcia. Front row, from left: lead vocalists Joy Reyes, Maso Diez, Gina Montes and Rita Trinidad.

Musician and advertising executive Dennis Garcia said there are five simple reasons why you should be at Dusit Thani at 8 p.m on July 26, Tuesday:

One, you will enjoy one and a half hours of fond memories;

Two, you will enjoy more hits than going to a concert of any other group – past or present;

Three, the core original members who truly molded the success of the legendary Hotdog band will be there plus Gina Montes, straight from London and Nadia Moore from Canada;

Four, maybe, this would be Hotdog’s time together on stage;

Five, you only live once.

Dennis , is one of the founders of trailblazing Pinoy pop-rock band Hotdog that delighted and have been delighting Filipinos with their exuberant music the past four decades.

Hotdog is the band behind such classics as “Pers Lab”, “Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko”, “Bongga Ka ’Day”, “Annie Batungbakal”, “Beh Buti Nga”, “Bitin Sa Iyo”, “Langit Na Naman”, “O, Lumapit Ka” and that ageless ditty beloved by homesick Filipinos,” Manila”.

My kalan:something simple, practical, and useful

Published by Ellen on June 14, 2011

Look what I found one day last February when I went home to our barrio in Guisijan, Laua-an, Antique.

I found this stove being sold for P150 by a barriomate in front of his house. He said he is the one making it. This is how it is when you use wood for fuel which they do in the province.