CDs to look forward to this September and October

Reposted from MUSIC MINOR

Of the thousands of CDs being released in the U.S. this month and next, there are quite a few I am hoping will be available in the Philippines. Chances are, many of them will. But oh, my fingers are crossed.  Here are some to look forward to.  I'll be adding to the list soon, so do come back for more....

The five-time Grammy winner is set to launch this month an album featuring his renditions of songs that have influenced and inspired him in the past decades. James Taylor gathered his band early this year for a 10-day live recording session (a refreshing idea in today's world of overdub), and the result includes such beloved songs as Wichita Lineman, On Broadway, Hound Dog, I'm a Road Runner, Why Baby Why, Sadie, and many others. I can't wait for this one.

I just watched Dreamgirls last week (I know I am so delayed), and I thought Jennifer Hudson did pretty well in her singing role. Ok, her debut album is ready for release, and it promises collaborations with OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder; producer, composer, rapper, and singer Timbaland; and pop sensation Ne-Yo, who wrote the album's first single. I'm supposing of course that the tracks won't carry the histrionics Hudson displayed in Dreamgirls--oh, though And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going is part of the CD.

Jazz artists Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour partner once again, this time for a romantic and rhythmic mix of timeless melodies from Classical and South American music. Working on this project with Joshua Bell, Chris Botti, Renee Fleming, and James Taylor, the two push further the concept of their previous album, Two Worlds, where they borrow influences from two musical styles that are poles apart, and marry these in a seamless and unexpected body of work. Ooohhh....

Perhaps most remembered for his middle-of-the-road hit, We're All Alone, Boz Scaggs, whose career peaked in the 70s and 80s, is set to unveil his 17th studio album. Titled Speak Low, the project is Scagg's latest collection of standards (his first, Be Beautiful debuted at #1 in the Billboard Jazz charts in September 2003), this time featuring the work of Ellington, Mercer, Rodgers & Hart, and other classic writers and composers.  The album was recorded in George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch complex.

After 2 multi-platinum CDs and 5 Grammys, John Legend is prepping to release his latest project, Evolver, a seemingly politically-colored album that is expected to hit the airwaves before the U.S. elections this year. A staunch Obama supporter, Legend's track, If You're Out There, "reflects the themes of hope and change, responsibility and leadership, and commitment to a better tomorrow expressed in the principles of Barack Obama and the hearts of the American people," the artist told MTV.

Consider the songs: Can We Still Be Friends, Hello It's Me, Love Is The Answer, I Saw The Light--and know that they all came from this man, Todd Rundgren.  After having just turned 60, Rundgren is launching his 21st solo album, Arena, with songs expected to bear big, singalong choruses and melodic guitar solos.  Rundgren explains, "I called it Arena because I figure it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy: if I make successful arena rock record, I'll wind up playing arenas!"  The project is all Rundgren, playing all the instruments, doing all the vocals, and handling the production.

TINOLA: The plight of KAGSABUA

By now you must have heard about KAGSABUA (pictured left), the Philippine eagle released by the Philippine Eagle Foundation into the Mount Kitanglad Natural Park some four months ago, following treatment for a gunshot wound which the bird had attained in 2006. Upon its release, the blue-eyed eagle was the first to be fitted with a radio transmitter to monitor its activities in the wild. 

By now you must have also heard that the gadget attached to the eagle's body had stopped transmitting in July 8, and was found on July 10 buried in the bank of a creek in the park. Meters away were the eagle's severed feet.

A 22-year old vegetable farmer recently confessed to shooting the endangered bird with his air gun, thinking that it was a hawk. He chopped off its two feet, burned its feathers, brought home the carcass and prepared tinola for his friends. 

This is so sad.

There are only about 800 of these giant birds remaining in the Philippines, where deforestation and even poaching threaten the monkey-eating eagle's existence.

After the vegetable farmer had confessed to killing KAGSABUA, he was handed over by park officials to Higaonon tribal leaders, to be dealt with according to the tribe's justice system. Under Philippine law, those found guilty of killing endangered species can face up to 12 years in prison. It is said that the among members of the Higaonon tribe, offenders are made to atone for wrongdoings by offering a pig or a chicken and coins.

And why was the suspect placed by park officials under the custody of the tribe leaders? To maintain healthy relations with the community--after all, the tribes folk have been the park's partner in its efforts to conserve the Philippine eagle.

I imagine that members of the Philippine Eagle Foundation are outraged. It was they who cared for KAGSABUA--nursed him, released him into the park, and tracked his movements there. But now, that eagle has been ingested by a vegetable farmer and his friends.

The recent events follow another in 2004 when the first eagle hatched in captivity by artificial insemination was released, only to die a year later when it perched on an electrical post and was electrocuted.

Awit Sa Panginoon Song book

Members of the Bukas Palad Online Community are set to launch soon their collection of liturgical and inspirational music via their songbook, AWIT SA PANGINOON.

The book puts together the works of talented musicians, themselves members of various choirs, who met online at www.bukaspalad.com and collaborated to complete this project without the benefit of face-to-face meetings.

Do await details on the release of their songbook. The materials within are certain to help enrich the celebration of the Eucharist if not our personal prayer lives.

What I hate most about gas price increases

I have come to terms with the fact that gas prices will never be the way they were when I started to drive to work. Heck, back then, P500 could last me a week and slightly more.  Today, P2000 can't even hack it.

But what pains me more? Driving home and running on empty, pulling over at the nearest gas station, rolling down my window, and being greeted by the gas attendant with, "V-Power, full tank sir?"

To my mind, this is pure mockery, and I am not amused.  I am tempted to drive away except that I am out of gas.  Instead, I meekly respond, "P200, Super Unleaded."  I wish gas attendants could be more sympathetic about the gas price situation and not be so interested in making a big sale.  But I guess this a business.  

In fairness to Shell, though I have used the company as an example, I have experienced the same in the 2 other companies that comprise the Big Three.  And in fairness to Bobby Kanapi, Shell spokesperson, he has often been quoted encouraging motorists to save gas and has been advising us all on how to spend less when it comes to fuel.  Switch to E10, he says, which gives us more mile for the buck, or avail of credit card promos that offer a rebate on fuel purchases.  Sure.

I just can't wipe the image of the fully-grinning gas attendant waiting for my response to his foolish question.  It's just as bad as the image of Lorna Tolentino's billboard for Potencee--the same one where, with the sweetest smile, she suggests that vitamin C can help skirt cancer. Why the billboards were up even after Rudy Fernandez's death escapes me.  Shame, shame.  

When life becomes tough, we all need a little sympathy.

License to Drive

Rica has just advised me that after 3 years of not having visited the LTO, she has finally been able to renew her license this time around.

I do not know how I would have survived 3 years without my driver's license. That's why dutifully, on the month and year when my card expires, I head over to the LTO along East Avenue to battle it out with the hundreds of others who have trooped to the same location for the same purpose.  This year, however, I did not have to do all that.  Credit this to the fact that I work beside a mall, and that here, in Park Avenue of the Robinsons Galleria, there is now a satellite outlet of the LTO.  

My first trip to the LTO here was most pleasant--it is fully air conditioned, with relaxing piped-in music, and ample, comfortable seating.  But truly, what is most encouraging is the ratio between LTO staff and clientele.  There were like 4 of us in the office with maybe 8 people attending to our needs, all accommodating, courteous and helpful--a sharp contrast to the usual scenario at East Avenue.  Everything from the eye exam to the collection of urine was a breeze.  The result?  I was able to renew my license in 45 minutes. And since I was on my lunch break, I had plenty of time to grab a sandwich still.

Because Rica has had no license for 3 years, she was compelled to take a driver's exam, or so I understand.  Now, teacher Rica is lucky to once again own student permit.  Oh well, I suppose for some, the advancement in systems and procedures of government offices isn't working yet.

A Chocoholic's Vexation (more variety please...)

I am a confessed chocoholic. 

Chocolates are among my favorite addictions, and my colleagues at work know I get weak in the knees and give in to their petty requests whenever they bribe me with a bar or two.

My regret?  If only we had the wealth of varieties other countries enjoy. Even if I do not tire of treating myself to a choco snack, I sometimes tire of the limited choices available here.

A recent trip to Hong Kong led me to a grocery where I was bound to grab some sweets to bring home to friends and family.  And here's what I found.

While in the Philippines Hershey's Kisses come in

our fave milk chocolate, milk chocolate with almonds, special dark chocolate, and cookies and cream, other markets like Hong Kong carry strawberry (pictured above).  In special pink foil, these Kisses are a refreshing surprise with their sweet fruity essence. Incidentally, in the U.S., Kisses also come filled with peanut butter, caramel, and chocolate truffle.  I must plan a trip soon...

Nestle Kitkat, on the other hand, has gone beyond the milk chocolate and white chocolate (oh, there was cappuccino variant once as a special offering) we have come to know.  In other markets, the famous crisp wafers have also been enrobed since 2004 in rich dark choco, choco-orange and choco-mint.  Mmmmm.  And what about my recent discovery?  Kitkat Vanilla Bean pictured here.  These are essentially wafers dipped in vanilla-infused white chocolate.  And you've got the vanilla caviar specs as evidence.

Ok, here's another. I am a major Meiji fan.  I think for its price, Meiji delivers outstanding quality.  I particularly delight in the creamy texture of its chocolate bars (especially its Dark variant), and the same is true for the Meiji Rich Matcha I came across.  Don't be distracted by the asparagus colored chocolate. Yes, it can be off-putting. Meiji Real Match is essentially white chocolate flavored with Japanese green tea. Think of it as Haagen Dazs green tea ice cream in a bar. Sure, maybe this variety isn't for everyone. But you see, I'm also a confessed matcha addict.

Imagine my enthusiasm when I found out that Swiss brand Lindt had become available in some supermarkets in the metro.  But do these stores carry such variants as the one pictured here?  You read it right.  Lindt Chilli is a 100g dark chocolate bar, rich and creamy, but with a distinct kind of heat that lingers on one's tongue and throat.  It carries none of the flavor of jalapeno or habanero, or any of the more popular varieties of pepper. But count on the Lindt Chilli to provide a subtle yet spicy hit that will stun you and make you ask, how did they do that?  Lovely.

It frightens me to think what my colleagues would bribe me with had all these chocolate treats been available to us in groceries and supermarkets.  But it bothers me more to wonder what other chocolate wonders are waiting for me out there but are for now are under my radar.  Pity me.

FREE International and Domestic Flights from Cebu Pacific. Book Now.

Dinner last night with advertising industry colleague and fellow BP member, Barok Gutierrez, has made we wonder when the best time would be to visit Ho Chi Min.  After all, Barok has been stationed there for seven months now (but is in town briefly), and I need a respite from my daily routine--so what the heck, I figured a trip to Vietnam soon would be ideal.

Ah, such luck.  Today I got wind of Cebu Pacific's latest promo: ZERO COMES BEFORE JUAN.  read on, and book now.  You have till Sunday...

CEB offers ZERO fares to all domestic and international destinations; More than half a million seats available 

Low-fare leader Cebu Pacific (CEB) is offering more than 500,000 domestic and international seats at zero fares.  The promotional seat sale will run from May 15 to 18, 2008 or until the allocated seats are sold out.  Travel period is from June 9 to December 31, 2008. 

  

CEB allocated more than 100,000 seats for its international routes that include:  Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Kaohsiung, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Macau, Taipei, Shanghai, Singapore and Xiamen. More than 400,000 seats have been allocated for all of CEB’s domestic routes. 

  

Candice Iyog, CEB vice president for marketing and product, said, “This is our biggest seat sale, to date.  We are offering yet another first in Philippine aviation history by offering zero fares to international destinations as well.  This is to further stimulate domestic and international travel in spite of rising fuel costs.  We hope that the riding public will take advantage of this promotion.” 

  

The airfare is free.  Passengers will only pay for taxes, as well as fuel and insurance surcharges which are non-refundable.  Iyog explained, “The best way to book flights is via CEB’s website, www.cebupacificair.com.”   

The airline continues its expansion with the delivery of its 18th brand new Airbus aircraft last week, which brings its fleet to a total of 20 aircraft.  CEB also has a sub-fleet of 2 ATR 72 aircraft.   

  

Now in its 13th year, CEB operates flights to 21 domestic destinations.  Its international destinations will soon increase to 16 with the addition of Kaohsiung and Kota Kinabalu in the coming months. 

  

Alay Kay Fr. Honti Tonight

Dear friends,

DAKILANG PAGI-IBIG: ALAY KAY FR. HONTI is on tonight and tomorrow night at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila, 7pm.  

Let's pay tribute to the man who has selflessly devoted himself to the service of God through music.  For many of us, it is because of or through him that we have found our own voices and have thus created for ourselves a life of prayerful song.  Performing will be the Pansol Choir, Canto Cinco, Tinig Barangka, Himig Heswita, Barangka Choir, Tanong Choir, Bukas Palad, Hangad, Hontiveros Family, Musica Chiesa, and the UP Filipiniana Dance Group.

We hope to see you there.  Admission is free.

Alay Kay Fr. Honti Tonight

Dear friends,

DAKILANG PAGI-IBIG: ALAY KAY FR. HONTI is on tonight and tomorrow night at the Church of the Gesu, Ateneo de Manila, 7pm.  

Let's pay tribute to the man who has selflessly devoted himself to the service of God through music.  For many of us, it is because of or through him that we have found our own voices and have thus created for ourselves a life of prayerful song.

We hope to see you there.  Admission is free.

A Promise Is A Promise

About this time last year, I had dinner with friends Anna, Rica, Gino, Palan, Lui, She and Lou at Galileo Enoteca in Mandaluyong. And somewhere between our cheese platters at the start of the meal and our limoncellos at the end of it, Rica managed to coerce Palan, Lou and me (as they had just celebrated their birthdays and I was celebrating mine) to draft a list of things-to-accomplish by our next anniversaries.

I no longer remember who dared me to finish three paintings apart from the other items on my list, which included completing BP's double CD and maintaining my blood pressure.

At that time, I boldly accepted the challenge, only because two years back, I had completed nine pieces in collaboration with my sister Monique, who was staging an exhibit of her ceramic work in Makati. How could I forget that what I had painted were mere backdrops for my sister's carefully shaped pieces of clay that were mounted on my canvases?

True to character, the last task I performed was the one I had dreaded the most. And why not? I had never completed on my own a painting on canvas (I have several abandoned pieces), primarily because I'm a pencil and pastel kind of guy.

But what the heck. Here are the three pieces (and Icar has been pressuring me to upload them). Products of just some nights' work during the last 2 weeks, but an interesting learning process for me.


This one is based on a photo I took of my niece Daphne last Christmas. She sat behind a table while defocused in the foreground was an empty goblet covering half her face and picking up some of the Christmas pin lights. I thought it was an interesting picture, but transferring the image onto canvas made me realize I do not like painting transparent things. Oh, and I dislike how quickly acrylic dries up. Maybe if I had taken up painting classes, I would not have to learn this the hard way. Maybe I should shift to oil.



In first year high school, our art teacher Lita Perez instructed us to take off our shoes and assemble them on our group work tables. We then painted some still life with poster color on cartolina while bearing the faint stench. Though I did poorly in that activity (heck, some of those around the same work table are now accomplished artists), I began to appreciate the beauty of crumpled leather, and have since been photographing and sketching shoes. These boots, I simply plopped onto my office table, so what you see is what I see every day from my desk (the couch, stuff on the ledge, and vertical blinds--sans the shoes, of course). So, ok, this was a pleasant painting exercise. I should begin to add insight to my paintings. This one is craving to know, But why? and So what?


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So I cheated. This painting of She I started as a belated birthday gift to Lou last January. But I quit because the work was getting schizo on me--the style is so confused. I tucked the work into a closet and revisited it a year later, noting I had barely 2 days before my deadline to accomplish what I had promised to do within the year. After lots of retouching last night and fresh from the easel thus, this painting is in search of style. I admit, I have to work on that badly. Nonetheless, happy birthday, Lou! You'll have something to look at while She is in U.K.

Mission accomplished. Not bad I guess. I've been surrounded by too many artists, so I learn via osmosis. In my family, all the kids have a natural art sense. Though only Eileen has been schooled at it (it was she who shoved them oil pastels into my hand when I was six) we all can draw (do we not remember those afternoon sessions drawing from Connie Gordon's ancient art books?). And the artists among my friends? Too many to mention.

My next fear? We'll be gathering the troops for dinner again this Friday, and who knows what I will be challenged to do now. As for me, I'm just trying to get my hands on whatever I can accomplish in a lifetime. Maybe there's an alternative career there somewhere waiting for me when I do get to retire. Painting may be an option. Oh, but that will be so many birthdays away from tomorrow when I turn 42.