loQal - Arts and Entertainment | Philippines

‘Musikabataan’ scholars show off talent in Broadway recital

loqal.ph — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:50:36 +0000

By Nikka Garriga

SAN JUAN CITY, METRO MANILA – Ten young music scholars recently showcased a performance of Broadway classics and their own compositions in the graduation recital of the MusiKabataan program.

Miah Isabelle Canton, Francis Marie Clemente, Darlene Louise Ordanza, Jessa Mari Ranque, Genesis Bryan Reyes, Ana Gabriela Vasquez and Maria Danica Velasco belted out songs from popular musicals like Miss Saigon, Fame, The Hunchback of Notre Dame as well as kundimans and Original Pinoy Music (OPM) songs.

These seven primary scholars were selected from a group of 100 teens aged 13 to 17 who auditioned at the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab (TMSRC) last year.

Meanwhile, Banjo Gonzales, Rafael Gutierrez and Enzo Mendoza wowed the crowd with their tour de force numbers from Jesus Christ Superstar and a theatrical performance of their very own compositions.

These advance scholars were given an opportunity to advance their training in musical performance, note reading, movement and musical composition.

The recital is culmination of an intensive 10-month, three-level course training under the Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, his wife Emy and the staff of TMSRC.

“These music scholars have learned and developed liberating ideas to achieve their dreams and become better performers. I am proud of them. There is a future in Philippine entertainment because of them,” Ryan Cayabyab said.

Launched in 2008, the Music Museum’s music scholarship program was established as a way to give back to the music and entertainment industry.

“We sincerely hope that the little push that we gave them through this program will also help them achieve their dreams of becoming the next generation of talents of our music industry,” Music Museum Group Incorporated Vice President Rosie Mendoza said.

(Photos courtesy of the Music School of Ryan Cayabyab)

Pinoys online cheer as Jessica Sanchez lands in ‘Idol’ Top 2

loqal.ph — Fri, 18 May 2012 04:39:35 +0000

By Anna Valmero

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Filipinos on the Internet are jubilant as Filipino-Mexican Jessica Sanchez was included as one of two finalists vying for the coveted title of American Idol this year.

On Friday, the announcement was made that Sanchez and Phillip Phillips will sing it out to the finals—which calls for a celebration as she is the only Filipina to be included in the final round, the best finish since Jasmine Trias made it to the Final 3 in the show’s third season.

On Facebook and Twitter, many Filipinos posted “Top 2!” as their status updates, while some posted the young singer’s name followed by exclamation points, as posted by Ogie Alcasid on his Twitter account.

Pia Magalona,widow of the late rapper Francis M, was also among the first Pinoys around 9a.m. who tweeted the news: “Jessica Sanchez is IN!!!!”

Broadcast journalist Cesar Apolinario also posted: “Hope always triumphs fear. Congrats Jessica Sanchez : )”

Dog lover Marlon Zosimo Caspe also posted his reaction on Facebook after watching the TV announcement: “Congrats Jessica Sanchez! Pls bring home the Bacon! ^_^ so proud of you! ♥ ♥ ♥”

Even the offices of President Benigno Aquino III and Vice President Jejomar Binay made formal statements congratulating Sanchez.

“I am sure that I speak on behalf of the entire Filipino nation when I say that we are proud of her and all the other Filipino-Americans and Filipinos overseas who continue to make us proud to be Filipinos,” said Aquino in a report.

“Jessica’s star is just beginning to shine. Someone as talented as her is destined for greater things. I would also like to thank all our kababayans who voted for Jessica. The overwhelming support you have shown is proof that with the spirit of bayanihan that is innate in us Filipinos, nothing is impossible,” said Binay.

Earlier, Sanchez also made it to the news as she was the first contender to be “saved” by the judges from elimination despite having the lowest vote results. Contest judge Randy Jackson also urged America to choose the best singer wisely and to vote for the best.

Sanchez said she is prepared for anything that will happen in the show: “Whatever happens happens, and I just want people to know that I’ve been working hard my entire life.”

(Photo courtesy of American Idol)

Tony DeZuniga is a hero for Pinoy comic artists

loqal.ph — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:59:55 +0000

By Anna Valmero

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA—For each Pinoy comic book artist and avid comics reader, Tony DeZuniga was a hero, but not because he donned a suit and wielded superpowers.

He was a hero for inspiring young and even old artists to always give their best and nurture their creative passion for comics and in almost everything.

On Friday morning, reports of him succumbing to death from complications of a stroke and pneumonia shook the international comics industry. The 70-year-old comic book legend suffered a stroke last April and has been at the intensive care unit of the Las Piñas Doctors Hospital for 24-hour monitoring.

“Sir Tony,” as he is fondly called by younger comic book artists, literally paved the way for Filipinos to break into the international scene and drew illustrations for US comics bigwigs, DC Comics and Marvel.

During his 18-year stint at both houses, he penned illustrations for X-Men and Spider-Man, and co-created Western hero Jonah Hex and bullet-proof Black Orchid.

His passing was dubbed a “big loss” by the international comic book artists including Laguna-based Gerry Alaguilan, who is an inker for titles such as X-Men, Fantastic Four and Wolverine.

On his Komikero.com blog, Alanguilan wrote a piece dedicated to the late DeZuniga, whom he said was more than a comic book legend because he was a friend to young and aspiring artist and even to readers.

“Tony DeZuniga mattered a lot to us because he became one of us. He joined us at our conventions, he hung out with us, interacted with us, and by doing so, he showed that he embraced us and accepted our contributions to the comics industry. He was our friend,” Alanguilan wrote.

“He was, and still is a huge inspiration. I’m not exactly a very young man anymore, but whenever I think of Mang Tony, who was still active and still pushing his artistic boundaries well into his 70s, it was terribly, terribly inspiring. I wish I could be as active and creative when I reach his age,” Alanguilan said.

“Now that he’s gone, I have no doubt that he will continue to inspire us. And while our conventions may seem empty now without him, as if something would always be missing, his memory will help keep us going, and keep us making comics,” he said.

I was witness to Sir Tony’s passion to help nurture young talents when he held a one-night exhibit at The Collective last year.

Even after retirement, Sir Tony was active in holding art workshops for aspiring comic book artists, even giving them his tips on how to properly pencil or ink an illustration.

He told me that old age is never an excuse not to read or draw comics. At 70, he still read comic books and whenever he is in New York, he rummaged the comic book stalls to look for different comics from UK, Russia and Japan to see the confluence and evolution of styles over time.

His advice to younger artists is to do the same to help develop their own style and maybe, get an inspiration or two.

“Drawing requires daily practice so you can improve your craft. When creating a character, it doesn’t have to be muscular, just make sure the figure stands out to make them alive and command attention,” he said during an interview with LoQal.ph.

During a brief meeting with American actor and producer John Malkovich, he encouraged the latter to keep on practicing, even after he stopped for years.

“Even if you stopped, I advised people like John Malkovich who told me he used to draw, that drawing is just like riding a bicycle. Even after years of not doing it, you can get into the rhythm again if you practice,” he said.

For me, comic book writer and artist Jonas Diego made a good parting word to the late Sir Tony with his simple Facebook post: “Today we lost a legend. Godspeed, Sir Tony DeZuniga. Thank you for everything that you’ve done for the Philippine Artist.”

Meanwhile, the local community of comic book artists and enthusiasts are calling for financial support to help the DeZuniga family defray the costs during Sir Tony’s hospitalization.

Indie filmmaker has high hopes for Cinemalaya 2012

loqal.ph — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 13:04:10 +0000

By Anna Valmero

QUEZON CITY, METRO MANILA – Budding filmmaker Sigrid Andrea Bernardo is hoping this year’s Cinemalaya festival will help shine a spotlight on under-budgeted but quality independent films that are worth the attention of Filipino movie-goers.

For Sigrid, indie films are more “open” in terms of tackling Filipino culture as much as it gives face to social realities such as poverty.

Her film “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong” is one of this year’s finalists in the Short Film category in this year’s Cinemalaya festival.

Completing the ten finalists are “Bohe: “Son of the Sea” by Nadjoua Bansil, “Pasahero” by Mario Celeda, “As He Sleeps” by Sheron Dayoc, “Sarong Aldaw” by Marianito Dio Jr., “Balintuna” by Emmanuel Escalona Jr., “Ruweda” by Hannah Espia, “Ulian (Senility)” by Chuck Gutierrez, “Manenaya (Waiting)” by Seymour Sanchez and Richard Legaspi, and “Victor” by Jarell Serencio.

Cinemalaya provides exposure to budding directors and film talents by giving them a venue to showcase and promote their work.

Sigrid’s film tackles a belief among Filipinos that you can whisper and send your wishes to the dead.

“The film is about a family who happens to take care of their ailing grandmother. They see this as a burden in their lives and they wait for her death so they could whisper their wishes,” she narrates.

“There is always a glimpse of comedy in every material that I do. But for this film, I pushed my limits by doing a satire/ dark comedy theme. The characters are surreal.”

The idea for the film was inspired by a talk about a friend’s grandmother who just died and how people really believe that they can whisper wishes of fortune or good luck from the departed.

Unlike other films with meticulous preparation, Sigrid says she only did the script for a day and was unable to hold auditions and readings before the shoot. “And I had to shoot this for one day because of the budget constraints.”

She says she is thankful for the help of her staff who gave their own money and acted pro bono to help produce the film. Her employer, Pixeleyes, also helped to co-produce the film.

She believes budding filmmakers and talents should consider venturing into independent films because of the freedom that one can enjoy in producing a film.

“Anyone can help produce independent films. But they should understand that independent films are not equivalent to low-budget films, independence in vision is.” Sigrid says. To her, an independent director exercises his artistic freedom by being rational on what he or she believes is best for the film rather than following the dictates of how much a film can earn.

As a director in a third world country, it is inevitable to have a low production budget. But this does not mean that the stories and the product have to be so-so.

“We don’t have much money, but we have more stories to tell. Independent directors should challenge themselves to make quality films that have profound meaning and boundless noteworthy stories rather than trying to pretend that we could be at par with high budget films.”

“A good story is worth your last penny,” Bernardo said.

Cinemalaya 2012 will be held on July 20 to 29 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. For details, call the CCP Film Division at 832-1125 local 1704-1705.

(Photos used with permission from Sigrid Bernardo)

FlipSide promotes Filipino comic book artists thru digital publishing

loqal.ph — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:06:20 +0000

By Alexander Villafania

PASIG CITY, METRO MANILA – Publishing is taking on a different route especially with the availability of tablet PCs and smartphones. Comic books, in particular, have seen a new era for distribution and readership.

In fact, major comic book publishers such as DC and Marvel Comics have already started digital publishing of some of their comic books in the hopes of targeting new avenues for comics.

In the Philippines, digital publishing – much less e-comic book publishing – is still in its infancy. However, one Filipino company is anticipating growth in this area and is hoping that more artists would consider promoting their work through digital means.

FlipSide Digital Content, a company based in Libis, Quezon City, is expecting more Filipinos to read comics on a digital format, including iPads and Android tablet PCs.

The company has already published a number of e-comics through Apple’s iTunes, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble. In fact, the company has been been generating huge revenues on e-comic publishing alongside its e-book publishing business.

Some of the Filipino comic book artists published by FlipSide include Jose Nicolas (“Windmills”), Adam David (“The Long Weekend”), Michael David (“Kubori Kikiam”), Manix Abrera (“12”), Jose Gamboa (“Pacquiao: Winning In & Out of the Ring”), and Hannah Buena and Paolo Chikiamco (“High Society”).

One of their more successful e-comics was “Tabi Po” created by Mervin Malonzo, which was distributed through iTunes. The e-comics sold at least 300 copies a week at US$0.99 (approximately P43).

In an interview, FlipSide Managing Director Honeylein de Peralta said that one of the biggest challenge of comic book artists in the Philippines is lack of any avenues for having their works published and distributed.

Often, local end up promoting their works either through traditional means or through the Internet, which only allows them to target a smaller audience.

“But Internet-enabled devices are letting more people to purchase content. There is also the added plus factor of having to keep them organized in a single device rather than keeping stacks of comics that take u space in one’s cabinet.”

She added: “We hope that more Filipino artists will look at e-comics as a way for them to be published and be promoted not just in the Philippines but also abroad.”

FlipSide is developing other forms of publishing techniques that would target all devices. Peralta noted that not all types of digital formats could work on all devices.

She also added they are looking at payment schemes to allow Filipino readers to purchase e-comics.

“We’re continuously looking at different ways to publish and generate revenues. Hopefully, this will create more buzz for the comic book industry.”

Dsign Conceptx Decals

loqal.ph — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 04:50:28 +0000

Address:124 Gen. Tirona Hi-way Poblacion Kawit Cavite, Cavite City

Email address: dsign_conceptx@yahoo.com

Contact number: (46)574-0152 / (0932) 3800110

Short description of business: Dsign Conceptx Decals offers printing services, focused on reducing the overall printing price structure, in addition to enabling business-to-business transactions for printing presses and the graphic art design industry.

Short description of products and services: To serve customers with the highest quality designs communication solutions and printed products, produced precisely to their requirements.

‘Eloy’ is a film about a Filipino dancer’s passion for tango

loqal.ph — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:25:30 +0000

By KC Santos

MAKATI CITY, METRO MANILA – Ely Damasin knew he simply could not teach and influence every Filipino to learn the tango. So he resorted to a more familiar medium – film.

Ely is the founder of the Guachinanggo Tango group, an all male ensemble of Argentine Tango dancers and the brains behind the first ever and upcoming Asia Pacific Tango Festival Manila 2012.

Born and raised in Davao, Ely started dancing at the age of 13. Equipped with a more technical know-how in several disciplines of dance and experience in competitions, Ely today tackles filmmaking with “Eloy” as his first independent project.

“Tango is a very passionate and intimate dance. Just like in other performance arts, Filipinos can excel in it, if only someone would entice them to learn it,” he says.

Independently produced, Eloy (played by Ely himself) tells a story about a young football player who, after meeting several other characters, learns and falls in love with the tango. It highlights important daily life lessons that apply to dance such as discipline, dynamism and the passion to excel.

By integrating and showing the direct relationship of tango and football, Ely hopes to negate notions about tango being for the older generation.

“Tango is a lot like like football. The latter has footwork, kicks, and blocking. We pay the same attention in dancing, and the youth can learn a thing or two about that,” he says. He also reiterated that tango is not just about the glamor or the sophistication often associated with it.

“You can enjoy learning tango dressed-down. You can wear jeans and just put your own rugged spin to it. It really doesn’t matter. What’s important is you feel it.”

Ely says the film is very personal, in that some of the scenes were inspired by his own hardships and actual experiences while competing in various dance competitions.

Also in movie TV host and dancer Regine Tolentino and veteran actress Vangie Labalan. With no background in screenwriting or filmmaking in general, Ely owes much of the film’s artistic appeal to his co-actors.

“Tita Vangie (Labalan) was a really good mentor. She helped me a lot in putting more substance in my script. It was a great learning experience but I know I could still learn more about filmmaking.”

Eloy is set to be premiered sometime in August. Portions of the film will be shot during the Tango Manila festival.

More than promoting tango as a dance, Ely says the film will open the Filipinos to “potentials they never thought they had but the world would want to see.”

“The unique energy and artistry of Filipinos are best complemented by tango. We have to prove to them that we have a shot at the global dance scene,” he says.

For more information, about Eloy and the Asia Pacific Tango Festival Manila 2012, visit Manilatango.com. Or check out this video.

Have your fill of indie music and crafts at ‘United South’

loqal.ph — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 11:20:50 +0000

By KC Santos

LAS PIÑAS CITY, METRO MANILA – If you’re from the southern part of Metro Manila, you’re most likely looking for entertainment, especially the kind that combines music performances and local merchandise.

I live in the south of Manila myself and it has always been my dilemma whether or not to see live performances by my favorite local acts that – more often than not – are performing up north of the metro.

In most cases, I often resort to just waiting until local band productions decide to hold it in places like Taguig or Alabang – the odds of this happening in a year being very low.

The United South Music and Arts Festival was, therefore, a pleasant surprise.

To be held this April 14 (Saturday), the event was organized by local acts and merchandisers hailing from the south to strengthen their artistic potential and express their passion for their respective crafts.

The event promises to be a night of independent film screenings, art exhibits, and contests, a merchandise expo, and an array of live performances in the evening by local bands like Paramita, Odat, and Blue Boy Bites Back, among many others.

The line-up also includes Zaito, Constraint, Damnsa, An Army Of One, Ice Rocks, Call Us Garney, Blade Sheathe, Fherrond, Ray Mojado, Sucketseven, Abencoe, and Roma.

There will also be live arts sessions by Cavity Collective and Garapata, which groups consisting of street artists from Cavite.

A number of local entrepreneurs, mostly also based from south Manila, are set to showcase a hodgepodge of original merchandise all day.

The United South Music and Arts Festival is organized by TigaSOUTH and TheDruggedZombie. For more details, check out the event’s Facebook page.

Davao native champions Filipino talent in ‘Argentine Tango’

loqal.ph — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:53:10 +0000

By Nikka Garriga

DAVAO CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR- In an art form mostly dominated by Southern Americans, Ely Damasin wants to show the world that Filipinos can also groove to the rhythm of the tango.

A well-rounded artist in his own right, this Davao native started formal lessons in dance at the age of 13 from modern routines like hip hop to ballroom to salsa.

What truly captured his fancy, however, was mastering the Argentine Tango. This particular technique comes as a much intimate and somewhat improvised version of the tango, originating from the suburbs of Buenos Aires.

“I often travel to various parts in Asia to train and I’ve come to realize that most them believe there are no tango dancers in the Philippines because the community is too small,” he says.

“Apart from my passion to learn, I was also inspired to show the world that we have many talented Filipino dancers in the country. They only needed a venue for them to show their skills.”

Which is why Tango Manila officially launched the Asia Pacific Tango Festival Manila 2012, a three-part event of local and international tango acts produced and directed by Ely himself.

“This event highlights the rhythm of dance as an art form of sorts and reveals how the unique energy and artistry of Filipinos are best complimented by the tango.”

About 30 Filipino dancers are expected to take part in the event as well as performances from the all Filipino male ensemble group Guachinanggo Tango.

Ely is positive that the festival will not only shed light and appreciation to the dancing abilities of Filipinos but will also help promote tourism by creating a niche among tourists who wish to learn the craft of the Argentine Tango.

“We want to establish the Philippines as the ‘Spain in Asia’. We want to create an impression among Asian tourists that they can watch and learn the Argentine Tango here without having to go directly to Argentina.”

The Asia Pacific Tango Festival will begin with the Tango Congress on April 21; the Asia Pacific Tango Open Championship on April 23; and the Tango Dream in Manila on April 25. For more information, visit www.manilatango.com.

ICON MUSIC STUDIOS

loqal.ph — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:32:29 +0000

Address: L/G Thompson Square, Tomas Morato cor Roces Ave. Quezon City, Metro Manila

Email address: bandrage@yahoo.com

Contact number: (0920) 9824794

Short description of business: Icon Music Studios is an affordable, easily accessible band rehearsal studio facility located in the heart of Tomas Morato, Quezon City Philippines. 24/7 Security.

Short description of products and services: Now in its 4th Summer Season, Icon Music Studios Philippines is proud to be offering music classes for: Drums, Guitar (Acoustic, Electric & Classical), Voice, Piano/ Keyboards, Violin!!! Teachers at Icon Music Studios are from the UP Conservatory of Music or have extensive certifications, training & experience in their chosen field.