By Gian Geronimo VERA Files The celebration of the 150th birth anniversary of Dr. Jose Rizal on June 19 becomes more meaningful because the public…
Making life worth living.
Category: Arts and Culture
On May 16, the grand ballroom of the Dusit Thani Manila hotel will be filled with the delightful hits of the Hotdog band when the trailblazing Pinoy pop- rock group in the 1970s stages a one- night reunion concert.
Dennis Garcia, one of the founders of the band and who plays bass, said the rare event will bring together other members of the group, namely, Rene Garcia (lead guitarist/vocals), Jess Garcia on drums, and Gina Montes, Maso Diez, Joy Reyes, and Rita Saguin Trinidad, all former lead vocalists of Hotdog at various times.
They will be backed up by guest performers Joey Abando from The Boyfriends, and session musicians Benjie Santos, Carlo Gaa, Roy Marinduque, and Roy Sadicon.
Hotdog revolutionized Philippine musical landscape with what was dubbed as the “Manila sound.” The songs were original Pilipino music distinguished for their catchy lyrics written by the Garcia brothers, Rene and Dennis, which mostly conveyed exuberance.
Balay ni Datu Lubay (House of Datu Lubay) in San Jose, Antique houses Alex de los Santos’ collection of more than 1,000 dolls and figurines, some of them made by potters in the province.
The toy museum is run by the Datu Lubay Center, chaired by de los Santos who also serves as artistic director. Organized in 2008, the Center aims to promote culture and arts education among Antiqueños as a tool for empowerment and social change.
Kausap ko ang aking kamag-anak kahapon at nagkamustahan kung paano sinalubong ang bagong taon. Sila ng kanyang dalawang anak na dalaga ay nagpunta sa Eastwood. Sa unang pagkakataon, sabi niya, sa labas ng bahay siya ng New Year. Ang dami-daming tao daw at punong –puno ang lahat na restawran.
Sabi nga niya, sa pag-iba ng panahon, naiiba na rin ang mga tradisyun.
Ako, lumaki sa tradisyun sa probinsya na kapag bagong taon, may sayawan sa plaza. Kapag malapit na ang bagong taon, may misa. Sabay-sabay ang buong baryo na magsalubong ng bagong taon. Kasama ang banda, umiikot sa buong baryo at nagsisigaw ng “Adios, (kung ano ang taong lilisanin) at “Viva (kung anong bagong taon).
By Pablo A. Tariman
VERA Files
This will be his first Christmas season engagement in the Philippines since he made it in the international circuit, including a stint at the renowned La Scala in Milan.
Espiritu’s wish is to spend Christmas here because to him, there is nothing like a colorful Philippine Christmas. He recalls: “I used to do Christmas caroling at rich peoples’ houses first and dress up with my new pair of shoes and clothes! I miss going door to door asking for piso around my neighborhood. Those were the happiest days for me.”
To him, an ideal Christmas is still spending it with all members of his family. “I miss the noche buenas and the array of food my mom used to cook in Tanay, Rizal. I miss them so much; I wish I can spend Christmas with them this year,” he says.
The Espiritus had lived in New Orleans for 16 years. But two years before his La Scala debut in 2007, the tenor’s family home in Chalmette, Louisiana was destroyed by hurricane Katrina, forcing them to move to Phoenix, Arizona.
Born in Morong, Rizal, and raised in Tanay, Rizal, with four brothers and two sisters, Espiritu’s father sold fire extinguishers for a living while his mother was a secretary at the Philippine Constabulary before they migrated to the United States.
If ever Gerard Salonga remounts FILMharmoniKA, don’t miss it. It’s not only super entertaining. It’s educational.
FILMharmonika (take note of the additional letter “M”) was last Saturday’s concert by Salonga with his orchestra, FILharmoniKA, of music from the movies with Bituin Escalante as guest.
The lovely thing about FILMharmoniKa was that non-hardcore classical music lovers easily understood and enjoyed the performance. Salonga presented an interesting repertoire that combined the majestic with the soulful. He started the evening with the vibrant theme from the movie classic “The Magnificent Seven” followed by the haunting pieces from the Schindler’s List by John Williams.
The younger people in the audience who may not not have seen “The Magnificent Seven”, the Hollywood hit in the 60’s that starred Yul Bryner , Steve Mc Queen, Charles Bronson recognized the music which they identified with the Marlboro Country ad.
By Vincent Cabreza
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Moshe Dacmeg, 19, was almost thrown out of the hotel’s conference hall on Wednesday by an unidentified American and two hotel employees who regarded his Kankanaey G-string attire as inappropriate.
Dacleg is an aide of Vladimir Cayabas, administrator of the Baguio-based National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT), who spent P6,000 to bring the boy and a friend to the lecture.
From China, Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. told the Inquirer he was offended by the report.
“Diplomats who come to the Philippines should be educated about cultural sensibilities. A man in a G-string is not a terrorist but an honorable man,” said Baguilat, who chairs the House committee on indigenous cultural communities.
Cayabas, a Kankanaey from Mountain Province, had attended formal events in Baguio and the Cordillera wearing a G-string. But for the Clinton lecture, he wore a Cordillera-inspired Barong Tagalog. His female companion was in a Kankanaey “tapis” (skirt).
Ella del Rosario who enthralled us with such mega hits “Pers lab” and “Mr. Disco” in the 70’s with the iconic Hotdog Band will be in Manila in December. Don’t miss her homecoming concerts Dec. 14 – Strumms; Dec. 16 & 17 – Music Museum
She honed this talent in singing shows and programs during her elementary and high school years at Assumption Convent.
While performing with a high school garage band in 1974, Ella was discovered by Dennis Garcia – leader of then newly formed Hotdog band – and invited her to be the frontline female singer of the group. This move established a major milestone in Pilipino music because, back then, convent girls wouldn’t be caught listening to (and God forbid – singing) Tagalog songs. (Tunes in the vernacular were considered “bakyang-bakya”.)
But the taboo didn’t deter Ella. Her first single with Hotdog – “Pers Lab” – was one of two Hotdog songs that cemented the emergence of the “Manila Sound” – and the unexpected appreciation of original Pilipino music by local music lovers from the entire spectrum of Philippine society.
In 1976, Ella decided to go solo and her first single was produced by Dennis Garcia – “O Lumapit Ka”… also a huge hit.
This was followed by several more popular songs like “Mr. Disco”, “Meron Na Bang Iba?”, “Shake It, Baby”, “Pabulong” and more.
Ella graduated summa cum laude from Maryknoll… packed her bags 22 years ago… and left for America – without saying goodbye.
by Pablo A. Tariman VERA Files Mark Nov. 13 (Saturday) for Gerald Salonga’s concert with the FILharmoniKA at the Philamlife Theatre. Gerard Salonga is emerging…
There is never a lack of something to discover in Antique, my province.
I arrived in San Jose, the capital town, yesterday for the Binirayan
conference on culture and heritage organized by the Datu Lubay Center at the Pinnacle Suites.
Checking in at Pinnacle Suites was a pleasant surprise. It’s a boutique hotel, clean, tastefully furnished with rooms more spacious than other San Jose hotels. And surprise, it has wifi!
It is owned by the Liao family who also owns Susana Marketing that sells construction and housing materials.