Well, the Vallejo gig for Ating Tao Drum Circle went good. It was at the Fiesta at the Ferry Building. I think it's interesting playing for people who don't know what we're all about. Usually, it's shock and awe because they've never heard our sound before. It's cool RE-introducing Philippine music that's innovative but based on tradition to folks. Especially the older ones who might have only heard Kulintang at a Philippine Dance show in the Muslim Suite. I like showing them that kulintang music is not just background for dances such as 'Vinta' and 'Singkil'.

Oh and by the way, the Singkil that we've all come to know and love is actually a 'Hollywood' version of the real dance. The one we know today, which has princess and her maiden, fan girls, and a prince [complete w/sword and shield] was actually made popular by 'Bayanihan Dance Troupe.' The real version, which is from the Maguindanao tribe, doesn't contain all the pomp and business. So, though very impressive, with just its sheer numbers, Singkil as we're used to seeing it IS NOT the real dance. It is, in the words of Kulintang master Danny Kalanduyan, "an innovation based on tradition." So keep in mind that it's not the authentic one.

Makin' Mine Music

~No Tations~

My dad wrote the song "Whenever" for my mother over thirty years ago. It's been performed by various people, and I had the honor of performing it last Sunday at a jazz concert that he held. Peforming with him were Melicio Magdaluyo on reeds [inc. sax, clarinet and flute], David Yamasaki on guitar, Art Khu on piano, Paul Yonemura on drums and my dad on his 6 string electric bass.

No Tations believe it or not...

Back in 1970s my father's various bands, including Mundo, Brass Drops, Max B, and Pearl, were a popular group in the Bay Area and had gigs opening for well known groups who were touring through the Bay. It just so happened that the group Malo was in town and my dad's group opened for them. They performed "Whenever" which was one of their signature songs, unique because it starts out like in a bossa nova then goes into a samba before ending in a bossa nova. The background had distanct "la la las" in it as well. So they played the song and he noticed the members of Malo standing around watching, bobbing their heads and listening. Malo's performance that night consisted of no song even remotely sounding like "Whenever". Fast forward a year later, and my father is listening to the radio, and hears "Suavecito" for the first time. It struck him funny that the chords were the same, but what was more interesting was the "la la la" in it. Was "Whenever" the influence and basis of "Suavecito"? My father never answered that, but then again I've never known him to be a liar.

Believe it or not.

Whenever
by Ben Luis

Whenever I am with you baby
I get the feeling of warm sunshine
But when you're away
I can hear myself say
Oh how I miss you baby
And how I love you so

Our love is so together baby
It's like red roses in the sprintime
But when you're away
I can hear myself say
Oh how I miss you baby
And how I love you so

Making Mine Music

~No Tations~

You Know You're Asian If....

Some funny sh!t from the writers of the 18 Mighty Mountain Warriors.

Just finished reading Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix less than three minutes ago. I reserved it a month ago and picked it up sunday. Every spare moment I've head my face has been buried in the book. It's frustrating that we're going to have to wait! Just like Star Wars. I bet she and George Lucas are cousins or something.

Great book. Great series. I can't wait to read these books to my children.

HULK SMASH

I met up with my middle brother, his girlfriend, my youngest brother, plus my friends Gilomonsta and Mr.E to go see The Hulk at Century in Daly City.

I'm not going to spoil it but as a fan, or at least to me and my brothers, it was the comic book come to life. Ang Lee had hinted at making the movie 'comic like' and it was a pretty cool concept.

Once again I had a lot of people say, "Gee, the hulk looks hella fake" or "too much computer generated images" and once again my answer was, "Well, seeing as there are no 9-foot tall, thousand pound guys walking around here, I think it's pretty hard to get a good perception of what he's supposed to look like." I had my doubts too but then you see him in the sun and he's going crazy.

As a comic book fan who knows his history I couldn't wait for them to show the Hulk but it had to be built up. For you X-Men fans, the first movie was the same thing. You have to build up the history and background before the 'dogs are let loose'. X-Men2 was a good example of action right off the bat. We know who they are, so no need for the background storytelling.

I'm gonna see this movie again. I can't wait for other comic book movies to come out. With the special effects it's gonna be cool.

Ahh. TGIF.

Since I've moved away from home in A-Town to the Pinoy capitol of the U.S. I don't see my family as much as I'd like. My brothers, especially, who are the first two best friends I ever had and ever will have. So I've figured out a way to hang out with them -- movies. We saw Matrix: Reloaded and now we're gonna see Hulk tonight. It's a cool way to get together with them because we get to hang out and watch movies that we're all interested in.

Speaking of the Hulk...

He used to scare the sh!t out of me when I was little. I'd run into the other room and cover my ears to cover up all the screaming and roaring from the TV. In order to get me to behave my uncle would threaten to call the Hulk to come and kick my @ss. That sure put me in line.

But yeah, I'm so stoked this movie is coming out. Now we can see how he's supposed to act...like a 9 foot, half ton green monster who jumps a mile high and long in one bound.

Can't wait...yeah...

Like I said before, if any of you all live in the Hercules area my group is performing at that park with the gazebo around noonish on Saturday!

Make Mine Music
[with a 40s pinup in black and white]

~No Tations~

New Digs

So chic, so Chim.

Enjoy.
Voodoo

I'm so HULKing out for Friday.

I'm getting ready my spell incantations as well.

Wingardium leviosa!
Remember, it's 'leviOHsa not levioSA'!

Hulk and Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix.

Dope

This weekend my friend Gilomonsta and I drove around the producers for this daytime variety show in the Philippines called "Eat Bulaga." The Producer, one Herman, was riding in the car when he asked me where I was born.
"America."
"And where are your parents from?"
"They were born here also."
Here's the catcher. Then Herman says, "Oh, so you WERE Filipino?"

WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN?

Funny, eh, how we're NOT 'Filipinos' to the 'real Filipinos' yet were still looked at as not 'American' by the 'real Americans?'

I used to be constantly checking my email whenever there's down time at work.

Now I find myself be constantly checking Friendster.

Oh lord, I think I'm hooked.

Well this was supposed to be my third year of being hired to drive around the various out of town artists that were due to perform at Fiesta Filipina. But it turned out that some of them couldn't get their visas and the others had no need for our services. So I actually borrowed my parents' car [which is a whole helluva lot nicer than mine] and tried to make my schedule open to be available to drive. But they didn't need us. I hope we still get paid though. SUCKS

Other than that, a whole weekend of just hanging out. Kinda cool that way. Ating Tao has a performance in Hercules on Saturday. I play my first kulintang solo. That should be fun. If you're out that way, we're playing around noon at that one park in Hercules that has that big gazebo.

If that helps any!

Make Mine Music

~No Tations~

Have a nice weekend everyone.
Here's to sunshine and good times.

'Nuff Said!

[This is a day late folks, sorry.]

Yesterday was Philippines Independence Day.

105 years ago the leaders of the Katipunan established this as the day that they would forever be rid of Spanish influence and rule in the Philippines.

On July 4th, 1946, the Manuel Roxas raised the Philippines flag and the islands once again became 'self-ruled,' upon recommendation by the US government. From that day until the early 1960s the 4th of July was the national independence holiday in the Philippines.

Then, using the people as his motiviation, President Diosdado Macapagal [yes, Gloria's dad] decided that paying tribute to the day that the US 'allowed' the people to get their own country 'back' was bullsh!t. In a couple of years it was changed to June 12.

So our ancestors established the first 'Asia' republic. Now it's up to the government and politicians to start helping our own people rather than pump money into tourism and other crap while forgetting about unemployment, poverty, and especially education.

Oh yeah, a woman came into the store here at Serramonte and asked for something called 'Avimil'.Apparently it's a herbal sexual formula for women. But she was kind of embarassed to say that.

What gives? I guess it's cool for men to admit they have problems, because it's so damn obvious. If it don't go up then there's a problem. Either it's breaking down or he has something on the side.

But for women, you can't tell, and sex is still so taboo a subject that they're embarassed to admit they have no 'urge'.

But like Iceman I played it cool. I looked it up on the internet with the customer right beside me and didn't flinch. I think she was cool with that.

I have a problem when women ask about Blouissant, that herbal formula for breast growth. I think that they're almost inviting me to check out and see if they actually need it or not. Either way, it's cool with me.

While in Seattle I had the chance to see a group called Heart of the Son. They reminded me of the Ating Tao Drum Circle. I went up to their founder, Tim Cordova and told him about us and how it was cool to see something like that up in Washington. Then I told him that we're working with Master Danongan Kalanduyan. He said, "Yeah, but WE'RE FUSION!"

So what's that supposed to mean? Traditional is old and boring? That Fusion is the evolution?

Plus he said it so arrogantly. I doubt that he even knew we've been doing that 'fusion' style for almost four years now.

Whatever. I still give 'em props but I didn't appreciate that kinda attitude.

While I was walking down the street in Seattle I heard a voice say, "Hey baby! What are you doing tonight?"

I turned to see where it came from and saw a girl sitting in a truck between two guys. So I turned and kept walking.

Then she said, "Yeah you in the Hawaiian shirt! Where are you going?"

I kept walking as the truck turned left.

My friend says I should have turned back and talked to her, but I don't usually take the catcalling stuff seriously. I once did that a few years ago. This girl called me out of the blue who claimed to have seen me in line at a club. She said she knew a friend of mine who gave her my number. We talked once but the whole time I was swearing that it was a joke and she seemed genuinely hurt that I wasn't taking her seriously. I was starting to think more seriously about it but she never returned my phone calls. This is why I usually don't pay attention when girls do that.

Should I have gone back?

Hmmmmmmm. I guess I'll never know.

Just flew back from Washington state tonight.

Had a concert on Thursday with the Yakima Valley Community College Chamber/Concert Choirs at Central Washington University. I was told that Central Washington is a very good school for music ed. Hmm. I may be taking some summer courses there. I was treated to a performance piece by the CWU University Chorus. They performed a piece called "Shh". It consists of the singers teling each other 'shh' while the conductor is going absolutely nuts as he's conducting. Very funny.

That was fun. Afterwards I got to hang out with the singers in the choir. Though they might be lacking in talent, they more than make up for it with their heart and enthusiasum to sing. There are some in the SFSU Chamber Singers who, though they have incredible voices, are only there because they have to be there. It's a shame. Just think how good we can become if everyone actually wanted to sing in that choir.

Then drove to Leavenworth, which is pretty much a Bavarian Village created in the middle of Washington. In other words a big tourist trap.

I spent Friday and Saturday in Seattle. We stayed at my friend's cousin's house, but were barely there. We ate at Tace del Mar, which was actually pretty good. Then we drove around the city, checkin' out the vibe over near UDub [aka University of Washington]. Saturday we headed over to Pike Street market and I got to see those fish throwing guys. Finally we headed to Seattle center and had a chance to see 'Fiesta Filipina' Seattle style. I met Fred and Dorothy Cordova, the authors of Filipinos: Forgotten Asian IAmericans, which has evolved into a sorta Filipino American History 101 book. There was a group Heart of the Son, who played an interesting fusion of African and Filipino rhythms. They also incorporated dance into it. Very interesting. Similar to my group, Ating Tao Drum Circle.

Finally we killed my last hour there at a mall near the airport.

Overall, I had a good time. The Puget Sound is beautiful. All the places in Washington were cool. Not only that but I can add 'Choir Ringer' to my resume. And I also got to say hi to my old middle school band teacher.

Now back to reality.

Makin' Mine Music [back at home]

~No Tations~

I'm here in Yakima, Washington. Smack dab in the middle of the state and about two hours east of Seattle.

It turns out my friend Kris has a girlfriend who goes to school at Yakima Valley Community College and she invited Kris and I to sing with her Chamber Choir in their concert on Thursday.

I am now a professional Choir 'Ringer'!

More updates later when I get the chance.

Makin' Mine Music [in Yakima, Washington]

~No Tations~