Alaala ng Kamikazee

12/12/2015 5:42:06 PM

Hindi ako isang masugid na tagahanga ng bandang ito. Sa totoo nga ay nung high school lang ako natutong making sa kanila. Partida, hindi tumutugtog ang Chiksilog sa isatsyon ng radyo na pinapakinggan ko, at bata pa ang YouTube kaya hindi pa ganun kahinang ang kalidad ng mga lumalabas na video nun. (Well, kasabay lamang ng pag-usbong ng mga DSL nun.)

Habang sinusulat ko ito ay pinapakinggan ko ang recording ng pinakapaborito kong kanta ng Kamikazee. Hindi makakaila ang emosyon na umaapaw sa Araneta Coliseum noong nakaraang Huwbes, a-10 ng Disyembre. Punyeta, astig ng enerhiya sa loob ng Big Dome. Napaka-electrifying.

At yung stage na yan, na may higanteng LED screen na halos pantayan ang mga modernong set-up ng mga sport arena sa ibang bansa? Tangina, angas!

Photo credit: Manila Concert Junkies

Pero maliban sa huling sayaw, literal na masaya at malungkot na pagkakataon ito para sa lahat ng mga nabighani at nahumaling sa kanilang musika. Oo, maaring maingay; magkahalong pop, punk, grunge, at nu metal; pero aminin mo—nahumaling ka nung minsan gumawa sila ng kantang inspiradong sa teleseryeng Darna ng GMA-7 noon. 

Dahil nga sa “Narda” ay mas napansin nga sila ng madla e. Hindi lang sa gaya ng NU, RX, RT at Magic lang sila naririnig nun; pati na rin sa mga masa station gaya ng Love Radio, YFM at Energy FM. 

Ibang klase ang bandang ito, mula Girlfriend, Yung Tagalog, MMM… sarap, Unang Tikim, hanggang sa KKK, Director’s Cut, Ambisyoso, Seksi, Wala, at samu’t saring hit nila; hanggang sa mga kanta sa kanilang pang-apat at huling album na Romantico gaya ng Halik, Tagpuan at ang pinakahuli sa lahat—Huling Sayaw. 

Parang halos kahit anong paksa, mula senswal hanggang pulitika at pag-iibigan ay naikot na nila. Isama mo pa dyan ang First Day High, Komiks at ang mga cover nila sa kanta nila Ariel Rivera (Sana Kahit Minsan), Britney Spears (Lucky), Francis Magalona, at APO Hiking Society (American Junk and Do Bidoo).

Mayroon pa bang hindi nagagawa ang Kamikazee? Parang ayos na ayos na e. 15 years is no joke sa industriya, no. Hindi biro ang mamayagpag sa eksena nang ganyan kahaba, lalo na’t kung ika’y tumatanda at nagkakapamilya ay marami kang name-missed out sa mundo. Oo, tanong mo na lang sa mga gaya ng Urbandub at Parokya ni Edgar. Nakita mo naman siguro ang litratong ito nung a-28 ng Setyembre, 'di ba?

Photo credits: Jason Pineda, Inquirer Entertainment

Yan nga. Ang emosyonal na pamamaalam.

At minsan nga, mare-realized mo may sakit ka pala, gaya ni Jay Contreras na sinabing sasailalim siya sa isang oeprasyon para alisin ang bukol sa kanyang lalamunan. Idol pagaling ka po.

Ayos na rin ang isa’t kalahating dekada. Bagamna’t hindi ko napanood ang kanilang Huling Sayaw, tingin ko wala naming masama kung pepreno sila mula sa pagbabanda e. Oo, 15 taon nga yun, pero higit pa roon ang naiambag nila sa kabihasnan. Ang mga gawa nila ay sa malamang tatak na sa kasaysayan ng henerasyong ito at sa mga susunod pa.

Mabuhay, Kamikazee!

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

The #iBlog11 Experience (Part 1)

12/13/2015 1:51:02 PM

It’s that time of the year once again. After a year and a half—including a six-month wait after a sudden shift on schedule—iBlog is back on a bigger venue and more talks.

First stop was actually the first time in iBlog11 where they will have a forum about the rise of fashion and beauty blogs here in the country. Liz Lanuzo, Diego Buenaflor, and Tolian Gjika shared insights about the beauty blogging in the Philippines and how do bloggers deal with the notable PR firms in the industry.

Halfway through the morning, Amor Maclang, Ivan Saldajeno and Ellen Tordesillas distinguished the blurry line between the old and new forms of scribes and media; while after lunch, it was all about podcasting as Marv De Leon, RD Llarena and veteran voice actor Pocholo Gonzales spoke about the perks and responsibilities of broadcasting over the Internet.

But the packed afternoon doesn’t stops right there as it was all political-and-legal affairs for iBlog11 as Carlo Ople talked about Internet Mobile Marketing Trends and Politics, while Prof. JJ Disini gave a bunch of relevant legal updates for bloggers. 

Later on, Ople took the podium once again (but setting his AlDub fandom and IMMAP persona aside) as he talked about the impacts of blogging for the Philippine elections, as well as Jaemark Tordecilla spoke about the effects of social media, and Commission of Elections spokesperson James Jimenez put his take on what every influencing netizen should do for the upcoming 2016 Philippine Presidential Elections.

It’s been a very packed show so far at iBlog 11. Though it happened on a Friday, with merely close to a hundred in attendance, looks like everyone who missed Day 1 really lost a lot of good stuff. 

I enjoyed more of Pocholo’s stuff though I agree about the time allotment for him. Fifteen minutes were not enough for me to hear this guy but still it’s good as fuck. 

The talk about dividing the ages of media and journalism suited my interest the most as from there, we knew everyone can be a journalist as if the same way people has the abilities to express his or her sentiments. But it takes a lot of credibility to really distinguish who’s who.

I have been trying to do podcast, but the talks about that reignited my interest in doing so. Their tips are something I have to heed on. While we could only hope social media will be really playing a huge factor in shaping the nation’s political view. But with the digital divide we have right now? It’s gonna be a long way to go.

More of my insights about iBlog11 on my next related post soon!

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: The Rest is Noise 8

12/8/2015 8:21:51 PM

I wasn’t supposed to head on to Route 196 during that Saturday evening due to massive stress I have been with in life (and also, a sudden financial constraint), but I have to talk to PULP Managing Editor Cris Ramos and return the albums of WOMB and GENERATION. We agreed on the same date.

But with a stress that I had on my corporate side recently? I could’ve say “Man, can I return this to you on another day?” but I have to be man enough just the same way I passed my album reviews for their November issue (well, actually I sent them late but anyway).

Luckily, I managed to take a brief layoff from the harhs reality courtesy of my friends from Vandals On The Wall as they organized their 8th installment of The Rest Is Noise.

At least, that saved me from a potential insanity as I hang out to the music of Sud, Jensen and the Flips, Run Dorothy, andwich and Pedicab. Well, I was supposed to stay for the rest of the evening with Tandems ’91, and Yurei but circumstances are already slapping me back to reality. And I missed the first act, too—Tom’s Story. Damn it!

Perhaps I’ll be watching by from start to finish again on the next The Rest Is Nois gig (hopefully, on December!).

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: Bloggys 2015

12/12/2015 7:51:44 PM

This year, ESSAYS.PH established an event which gave prestigious honors to the blogging industry here in the country. And it took place 21 November 2015 at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura, Taguig.

Dubbed as #bloggys2015, The 2015 Philippine Blogging Awards has been a promising one, with thousands of nominations trimmed into selected finalists in different categories such as arts and entertainment, lifestyle, news, politics, fitness, and more.

Yours truly was one of the invited to its gala night held at the said venue. As a nominee and an observer, I had some few takeaways from bloggyis, but for the meantime here are the results as published on bloggys.ph

Best Arts and Entertainment Blog – The Googly Gooeys Best Beauty and Fashion Blog – Project Vanity Best Business and Finance Blog – Tycoon Philippines Best Corporate and Brand Blog – ASKSonnie Best Family and Relationships Blog – Teach With Joy Best Fiction and Literature Blog – Michael’s Shades Of Blue Blog Best Food and Dining Blog – Pepper.ph Best Health and Fitness Blog – Pinoy Fitness Best Lifestyle and Hobbies Blog – When in Manila Best Nature and Environment Blog – Living with Nature Best News and Events Blog – The DailyPedia Best Personal Blog – Life Is so Full of Tae Best Photo Blog – Two2Travel Best Society and Politics Blog – Raissa RoblesBest Sports and Recreation Blog – Pinoy Mountaineer Best Technology and Internet Blog – Back2Gaming Best Travel and Places Blog – Biyaherong Barat
Best Blog Post – The Endocrine Witch Best Design – Pepper.ph Bloggys 2015 People’s Champion – Controversy Extraordinary

Bloggys 2015 Champion – Pepper.ph

Meantime, here’s my take. There might be a bit of controversies prior to setting the event (I remember there was a Twitter feud regarding the naming rights and corrections), but overall I can say Bloggys2 2015 was a good start. A lot of stalls which offered awesome entertaining way, an open bar which actually made me realized there’s a lot of good mixes I have yet to try on drinking (laughs). I guess sooner, as the event folds annually, more bloggers will be more appreciative and as the program rolls on. I get it: me and my friend SailorStarCatcher actually argued about the use of applause, and I think the host Matthew Urbano wasn’t a bad thing. He did his job for; I just hope the crowd will appreciate that more soon.

Anyway, congrats, Paul and the rest of Essays.PH! I know you can do Bloggys again soon. Keep giving recognition to every single blogger out there and especially to the prospect top ones by 2016.

Cheers!

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: Coffee Barn Sessions 2

12/8/2015 7:58:34 PM

Two months ago, The Coffee Barn celebrated their second anniversary with a bang as Gabi Na Naman Productions and Vandals On The Wall teamed up to set their second installment of Coffee Barn Sessions.

The show was an instant star-packed by paper; and for barely five hours of live music, Coffee Barn Session delivered as promised with Kai Honasan gracing the evening with her share of tunes—both cover and original.

This was actually the first time I hear Honasan live on her solo project. All that despite having Autotelic bandmate Josh Villena as her session guitarist. Hey, their rendition for Mapa was something verya dorable, aside from her original Liwanag and cover of Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream.

April Hernandez a.ka. TheSunManager also performed as well as Aia De Leon (with her brother), Glaiza De Castro and Alasmedya. Indeed, the finest musicians during the evening, with De castro emerging as one of the instant favorites with tons of her fans flocked the venue. Wow, instant sold-out success, eh?

In all fairness, when I heard Glaiza for the first time, it’s no surprise that she has that huge edge over the showbiz artists who made a crossover leap to the music scene. Forget the lesser hype and numbers. This actress indeed has the prowess of being one.

Apart from hearing good sets from Hernandez, De Leon, and Alasmedya, it was a night of first times for me to hear some notable names familiar to many.

I think GNNP and VOTW should establish more of Coffee Barn Sesssions since not all people are inclined to hear live (and loud) music at the bars and instead, prefer buying in to some chillax ‘coffee shop’ music.

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

CURSES!

12/12/2015 7:27:18 PM

Anong meron sa isyung ito: nagmura si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.

Okay, una: Patama raw ito laban kay Pope Francis. At pangalawa: nung bumira ito ng “putangina,” humiyaw ang tao.

Ows. Talaga, ‘di nga? 

Ayon ito sa isang press conference na tila nabadtrip na raw ang presidentiable sa traffic scheme noong andito ang Santo Papa sa Manila.

Pero teka nga, literal ba minura niya ang Santo Papa o minura dahil sa nangyaring traffic? Mukhang malinaw ang sagot sa video.

Sa totoo lang, mali nga naman talaga. Pagwawalang-galang e. Isa sa mga ginagalang na tao sa buong mundo ay ang mga lider ng mga relihiyon gaya ng Santo papa.

Ngunit ano naman kung nagmura siya? Santo Papa kasi ang minura niya e. Nakakaoffend yun sa mata ng mga nakararami, partikular ng mga Katoliko. At aling relihiyon ba ulit ang dominante dito sa bansa?

Humihiyaw nung nagmura? Sabagay, hindi nilang magawa magalit sa ginawa e. Kaya kahit mali, ayun, be proud ika nga. 

Ito ang isa pang problema: kung may isang tao ba ang gumawa niyan ay nagrereact din ba tayo nang todo-todo? Maari, at malamang. Bakit kanyo? Ang relihiyon ang isa sa mga pinakamatinding paksa pagdating sa pagtatalo. Walang tunay na nanalo rito, at lalo wala ring natatalo, pero marami ang ayaw magpatalo. Para sa pananampalataya e. Para sa ‘tamang landas.’ At sinuman ang bibira na taliwas, good luck.

Reality is: halos lahat naman ng tao ay bumibitaw ng mura kahit minsan sa talambuhay e. So bakit pa tayo nagmamalinis at magkunwaring kinokondena natin ang mga ito? Mas nakakagago yata yun no.

Naiisip ko: sadya ba tong ginawa ni Duterte o isa na naman ‘tong simpleng isyu na pinalaki ng mass media? Kasi mahal ng media ang kontrobersiya. Magmura lang si ganito, gagawiong national news item kahit sa totoo lang—maliban sa kanyang prominenteng pangalan at reputasyon—ay basura lang ang laman (kung hindi man hangin).

At masasabing wala namang problema sa mga kandidato e. Minsan, ang may pakana nito ay ang tatlo sa mga ito: ang mga publicist nila, ang mga tagahanga, at ang media.

Bakit kanyo?

Sa sobrang pageekseperimento ng publicist nila, hindi nila naiisip ang mga bagay na mas dapat bini-build-up. I get it: nagpapakatotoo lang naman si Duterte e. Pero again, hindi siya yung dapat mas pinupuntirya ditto e. Kundi yung mga bwakanangninang oportunista na pinapasikat ang isyung iyun. Dahil ‘bad publicity is still publicity.’ 

Mga tagahanga. As much as iniintindi ko ang sentimiyento ng mga humahanga sa bawat kampo, may mga sandal talaga na lumalabis sila e. Mas malandi pa sa mga clingy na jowa nila. Tangina, kala mo naman may nakukuha o pinapakain. Tsk.

At higit sa lahat, media. Dahil sila ang mas may ugnay sa PR at sila rin ang pinapanood ng mga tao—partikular ng mga taong humahanga at mga basher na rin. Kahit ipagdiin pa nila na hindi sensationalized na isyu ukol sa pagmumura ni Duterte eh nagmumukha silang gumagatong dahil sa kung paano nila ihatid ito at sa kung anon gang mas ineemphasize.

Punyeta. Kaya hindi umuunlad ang Pilipinas e.

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions

Not So Gentle

12/12/2015 4:43:11 PM

Sa totoo lang, hindi ako nainiwala sa diwa ng salitang ‘chivalry.’ Ngunit alam ko na buhay na buhay ito, at hindi mamamatay sa adbiyento ng pakikidigma sa ekwalidad ng mga gender, sa panahon na moderno na ang paligid, at sa panahon na mas sibilisado na ang kilos ng sangkatauhan.

At higit sa lahat, hindi ako gentleman. 

Walang naming masama sa pagiging maginoo. Ngunit sa sa mga bagay na tahasan kong kinamumuwian sa pamantayan ng ating lipunan ay ang akto na dapat ay pinapaupo ang mga kababaihan.

At sa isang viral na Facebook post na kailangan pa talagang kunan siya ng litrato nang palihim (siguro naman ay natutunan niya rin ang “art of paparazzi,” ano po?), sa tingin mo ba ay nakaaangat ka na pagdating sa utakan? 

Ingat-ingat kasi sa mga pinopost, lalo na kung galit ka. Uso ang backlash. Kung anong pinost mo na tila pantitrip sa isang tao, babalik sa’yo hindi lang dahil sa hindi maganda ang kalokohang ginawa mo. Ang hirap kasi sa karamihan, akala mo tama na e. Akala mo porket nasa social media ka, influential ka na. Akala mo potket araw-araw kang updated ay hari o reyna ka na. Instant celebrity. (“famous” sa bokabularyo nila.) Parang alam mo na ang lahat-lahat ng tama at mali sa mundong kinagagalawan mo.

Eh sa kasamaang palad, hindi. Hindi porket hindi ka niya pinaupo ay hindi na siya gentleman. Malay mo, pagod lang talaga siya. Galing sa isang mahabang lakaran. O marami lang talagang ginawa. Nakakapagod kaya. Masakit sa katawan, lalo na sa paa o tuhod. Kala mo ba? Pagtayo nga lang ng isang oras o higit pa ang nakakapagod na e, maging pogi pa kaya?

At sa sitwasyon na kinasasadlakan ng MRT na halos sardinas na ang laman ng mga bagon at hassle pumila, may gana ka pang bumira nang ganyan? Na halos

Karespe-respeto ba ang ganitong klaseng opinyon at gawain, na halos ipahiya na sa buong mundo ang taong ito na naupo lang sa MRT? Sige nga, punyeta. Paki-explain!

At teka, ano nga ba pinaglalaban ng babaeng ito? Ang pagiging hindi gentleman ni koya, o kasama yung pagiging unattractive niya? Aba, parang T-shirt lang ng Team Manila at pamagat ng isang blog post ni Lourd de Veyra ah: Umasal Nang Ayon sa Ganda ang peg. Huwaaaaaw!

Maganda nga naman. Kaso yung itsurang panlabas lang. Kaya naman pala e. Kung sasabihin niya na ang litanya ng ilang babae na “Chivalry is Dead,” aba, may rebuttal din ang ilang mga tao riyan: yung kagandahan mo, hanggang mukha lang inabot. Hindi pumasok sa kalooban.

Araykupo.

Pero awat na. Humingi raw siya ng paumanhin.

Ayon ito sa artikulo na nilabas ng The DailyPedia. Tila nagkaayos na raw ang dalawa na pinangalanang Jonathan. At umaamin naman siya sa pagkakamali.

Kung totoo man, aba, mabuti kung ganun. At least may bayag ang babaeng ito na umamin sa kanyang kabobohan kamalian. Sabagay, kung sobra-sobra naman siyang namahiya, at apaw-apaw rin ang kanyang panghingi ng patawad.

Well, at least alam mo na kung gaano ka-GRABE ang social media. Pag inabuso mo nang husto, babalik at babalik ang masasamang epekto nito sa’yo. 

Lalo na kung akala mo ikaw na ang pinakamalupit na nilalang sa mundong ito. Hinay-hinay kasi.

(ALSO SEE: http://www.thedailypedia.com/2015/12/erin-matilla-cervantes-paola-kristal-shane-gardon/)

Author: slickmaster | ©2015 september twenty-eight productions