The Dorques‘ album was just launched last week, November 14 at Saguijo Cafe in Makati City. Aside from them being the main act, there are other bands who performed such as Twin Lobster, The Camerawalls and Poubelle International. I was able to participate in a song performed by Poubelle International. I became a fruitshaker for a night ( mine’s an apple) and also “person number 4 “. Listen to this indie bank, their songs are really great. 2 of them are Swedish and 1 of them is Australian. They just came from Hong Kong and stayed 2 days here in Manila. Watch the video below to see me shake ( actually, my arm fats were shaking lolz ).

Anyway, going back to The Dorques, they performed songs from their album. Actually most of the people there already knew their songs because you can listen to them from their My Space account. I remember the very first time I watched them play live was in Magnet High Street. My friend told me that they’re really a cool band and in fact I enjoyed the very first time I saw them play live. When I learned that they will be launching their new album, I said to myself “I have to be there!”. Oh well, I already got the album and have been listening to it all week. Hehe. I really enjoyed the gig and will be seeing them on their upcoming gigs Congratulations to The Dorques and keep it coming!

Bratpack has just recently opened its newest store in Greenbelt 5 Makati. A mini bloggers get together was held last November 12th at Greenbelt 5. Food that was served to guests were courtesy of Travel Cafe (it was delish! thanks! ). I think the main thing in this event was the riddle game wherein we could get the chance to win bags such as Jansport, Timbuk2 and Hedgren. The riddle game was really long because we have to answer 3 questions correctly and look for the objects in the bags displayed. It was like Pera o Bayong because we have to guess where the object is. It actually took more than an hour for us to finish the whole game. Take note, there has to be 10 winners. hahaha. Luckily, I won a bag! I was eyeing for the black bag but unfortunately I got the grey bag which was ok because that was my 2nd choice :).

Brian Kong of Taken By Cars awarding me the bag. He’s the Marketing Officer (?) of Bratpack, his day job

The California Proposition 8 has been already out in the news and I guess you already know what happened, it was PASSED. 52.3% voted yes and 47.7% voted no. It was a close fight but we were not able to succeed. If you already know me personally, I am based here in the Manila and maybe you’re asking why I said WE were not able to succeed. I am saying WE because WE may belong to a different ethnicity, geographical location, etc…but WE are part of the global LGBT community. We may not have same sex marriages here in the Philippines but we are part of the community that is being discriminated by hypocrites.
I was watching the show “The View” yesterday and what really struck me is what Whoopi Goldberg said. It’s just an issue of semantics ( and that’s what I also believe ). These hypocrites only relate the word marriage as the sacrament and would like to claim ownership among “their kind”. They don’t want the word gay beside the word marriage probably because it insults the “holiness” of the word itself. Bottomline, just change the word “marriage” into UNION. The hypocrites want to own the word marriage so give it to them. In my own opinion, I would get married not because of its religious functions but because of practical reasons. I am concerned about have equal rights with my partner in some legal documents like owning a property ( conjugality ) or the right to claim my partner’s body if ever she dies ( I’m not wishing this to happen to my partner). It’s just the pragmatism of it so that we as members of the LGBT can work our way out also with these mostly heterosexual-made laws. This is far cry from happening here in the Philippines. I would like the Anti Discrimination Bill to be passed first before asking for same-sex unions.

Oppose Prop 8!

The semi-final legs are already going on so if you still want to catch the rest of the legs, here is the schedule below. The most interesting part will be the Final Round wherein an international rock band who has become one of the “institutions of rock” during 90’s will be performing. Should I say the name of the band? Hmm, I’ll give you a clue, it was mentioned in the monologue of Marcus Adoro in the album Circus entitled “Punk Zappa” and it’s composed of these letters: S**pultura. Haha. If you are a 90’s headbanger, you would definitely know that

GMA Leg
November 8, Saturday, 7:30 pm
Ever Gotesco - Bgy. Sta. Lucia, Ortigas, Pasig
Featured Band: Greyhoundz

South Luzon Leg
November 8, Saturday, 7:30 pm
Pacific Mall, Lucena
M. L. Tagarao, Bgy. 3, Lucena City
Featured Band: Quezo

Visayas Leg
November 14, Friday, 7:30 pm
Quezon Park, Dumaguete - Rizal, Dumaguete City.
Featured Band: Slapshock

Central North Luzon Leg
November 15, Saturday, 7:30 pm
Magsaysay Ave., Olongapo City
Featured Band: Slapshock

Mindanao Leg
November 15, Saturday, 7:30 pm
Otis Mall, Butuan - JC Aquino Ave., Km 3, Libertad, Butuan City
Featured Band: Kjwan

SCHEDULE OF PRE-JUDGING

November 25, Tuesday, 1:00 pm - MME Office, Makati - 108 tordesillas cor.
Gallardo Sts., Salcedo Village, Makati City

GRAND FINALS

November 29, 2008
Marikina Sports Complex, Marikina City

Visit the Red Horse Beer official website for more details .

The name Shirley rings a bell to Eraserheads fans because: (1) It’s the title of an Eraserheads song included in Ultraelectromagneticpop and (2) it’s the name of a certain E-heads member’s ex-gf.  ( hmm, a little bit of chika there hehe). Anyway, Ang Bandang Shirley actually has a little bit of a connection with the Eraserheads because the band was named as such due to a requirement in school (?) wherein they have to form a group name related to the Eheads ( hmm still have to verify that information )

Last October 25, Ang Bandang Shirley already launched its debut album entitled ‘Scary Debut’. The title of the album is very timely to its launch since Halloween was already approaching. The event happened at the Kolektib in Cubao X. Almost everybody was in their Halloween costume ( especially the band) and people were really creative in making it really interesting.

Before the actual gig started, a documentary of the band was shown to the public. This was to introduce and to also get to know the individual band members. Right after the documentary, Ang Bandang Shirley performed their first set. Other bands also participated in the said event such as: Twin Lobster, Halik ni Gringo and Radioactive Sago Project.

The event was a success and everybody enjoyed. I was able to have a little chat with Marcus Adoro of the Eheads there, probably just there to enjoy the gig and have some booze . I also bought the ‘Scary Debut’ CD and am already listening to it.

Congratulations to the Bandang Shirley!

This was actually an Ely Buendia filled weekend because after the Eat Bulaga stint his interviews in Startalk and Showbiz Central were shown and then come Sunday, Pupil guested in SOP. Lots of revelations were mentioned by Ely in those interviews especially about the Eraserheads and his relationship with his manager-cum-partner Diane Ventura. Rumor has it that they have ended their relationship but Ely really didn’t answer it directly but instead uttered:

I would not call it ‘Rough’. Everybody has to do what’s best for what you think is best. She is still my manager and she has always been my manager. She has guided me from the very start ever since the Mongols days, up to the Pupil days, up to the reunion. We are very, very good friends and we’re the best of friends. We have a special relationship. She is the mother of my son and there is no person I want to work with or be with now than her.

As for the next Eraserheads reunion, Ely said that it’s already over and that 15 songs are enough. He also mentioned that he has revived his friendship with his former bandmates.

Ely will be doing gigs with his band but not as busy as what he was doing before. He’s trying to get back in shape. Of course the doctors advised him not to be involved in too strenuous activities. I’m happy he’s back and will be watching Pupil’s gig at Club Dredd in Eastwood on November 8th.

Here are the videos. Enjoy.

** special thanks to DCRJPinoybiscuits03 and yusibear00, videos were grabbed from their Youtube.

The bands that performed at the Magnet event were Sandwich, Imago, Pedicab, Salamin, Reklamo, ChicoSci, Severo, Greyhoundz and Spongecola. Each of these bands showed their version of a Gary V. song. Salamin, lead by Gary V.’s son Paolo Valenciano, performed “Babalik Ka Rin”, the song that was used on an ad in the 90’s dedicated to the Overseas Filipino Workers. Paolo Valenciano even imitated the movements his dad made for this song that made the audience laugh a bit. Imago performed a heartbreaking love song “Paano Ko Sasabihin”. Aia de Leon of Imago even asked Gary over the mic on how he was able to sing this heartbreaking song. Next on the bands that performed was Reklamo. They added their funky and witty guitar riffs on the song “Shake It”. Yael Yuzon of Spongecola, having lost a bit of his voice still managed to pull off another love song of Gary which is “Sana Maulit Muli”. The melancholic mood of Gary’s original rendition turned into an angst driven mood as Yael was singing the bridge of the song “Kung ako’y nagkamali minsan, di mo ba mapagbibigyan…” and still even managed to return to the melancholic mood by toning down his vocals. Severo performed “Looking in Her Eyes”, which gave the band a funky ‘Incubus’ sound.

One of the funniest renditions would probably be from Pedicab’s. They performed “Eto Na Naman” which actually fit the band’s sound, probably the nearest to their own sound. It seemed that Diego Mapa was really giving his all in singing the song (including a slight “piyok”) and still pulled it off with their rendition. Once the song was done, he jokingly said “We tried to do it right, now back to our forte,” then following it up with their own composition. Sandwich performed “Wag Mo Na Sana Isipin” while Chicosci performed “Di Bale Na Lang”. The last performer was Greyhoundz. Both of them, Chocosci and Greyhoundz, rendered a different sound as they added some growling in Gary V’s songs.

While the bands were performing, Mr. Pure Energy Gary V was there to listen and appreciate the bands that performed for him. After each set (around three songs per band), the band would approach Gary V. to thank him and also pay tribute to him.

For those people who were not able to catch the gig at Magnet High Street, they will be able to see their favorite local bands perform Gary V. songs on Nov. 14 and 15 at the Araneta Coliseum. Tickets are available at Ticketnet, either online www.ticketnet.com.ph, ticketworld and at the Araneta Coliseum. Ticket prices are for reserved seating are: Patron A - P3000, Patron B - P2,500, Lower Box - P1500, and Upper Box A - P750. For free seating, ticket prices are: Upper Box B - P350, and General Admission - P150.

** article written for www.titikpilipino.com

** Special thanks to Jay DJ of titikpilipino.com for the invite

Here are some videos on the said event:

(Salamin performing “Babalik Ka Rin”)

( Imago performing “Paano Ko Sasabihin”)

( Reklamo performing “Shake It” )

(Pedicab performing “Heto Na Naman”)

(Severo performing “Looking in Her Eyes”)

(Spongecola performing “Sana Maulit Muli”)

It would be incomplete without having a picture taken with Gary V. himself

Up Dharma Down is definitely going up the charts right now because they have already released their sophomore album, ‘Bipolar’ last October 24 at the Hexagon Lounge, RCBC Plaza. Many people attended the said event and there’s even still a line outside Hexagon Lounge which unfortunately couldn’t be accommodated by the venue anymore. Tickets were sold at Php 150 however people who will be availing the CD at the event will also get the limited edition DVD which actually cost Php 500 ( that’s inclusive of one free beer or iced tea). Limited editions ‘Bipolar’ shirts were also being sold courtesy of Team Manila at Php 550 each.

The venue was packed with lots of people so we really sneaked our way just to be at least infront of the stage. I was quite short so I just have to just listen to the music. Armi Millare looked different that night, all made up, with her hair cut short ( most likely a bob cut) and she was wearing a backless short black dress paired with black stockings. Also Armi was already talking to the audience. Well, having watched her numerous times during gigs, she’s not really much of a talker. It’s really the music that is being used to communicate to the audience.

I have already listened to the album, probably I’ll make a review in the next few days ( or weeks, hehe)

Ahaha. It’s just the Lydia’s Lechon Mascot. Picture taken when I was in Megamall with Karla.