Here's an update on the pinoy music industry.  Know what's up with your favorite singers and artists.

It was a big day for Universal Records as two of its prime artists Noel Cabangon and Christian Bautista were presented record awards for their respective albums. Noel’s Byahe was given a Double Platinum Record Award, while Christian’s Outbound was awarded a Gold Record Award.

“At this day of piracy and downloading, it is really an achievement that albums still sell,” says Universal Records Kathleen Dy-Go. “We are so proud to have the bestselling artists in our roster.”

Noel is currently working on a follow-up to the successful Byahe album and is now currently promoting his latest album Panaginip.

“Mabuhay ang lahat ng nagmamahal sa OPM,” declares Noel. “Maraming salamat sa lahat ng sumuporta.”

Christian, on the other hand, has just released an expanded version of his Outbound album called First Class.

“What a fitting way to start the celebration of my 10 years in showbiz,” shares Christian. “I am so blessed to have everyone supporting me and my music.”

 


Here's something from Converse with their line of Chuck Taylors and this time it is for the feminine ones. Its the Chuck Taylor for the ladies.

Slimmer silhouettes make for a more lady-like fashion and Converse understands your need for shoes that keeps you comfy and fashionable for your on-the-go lifestyle!


Beloved throughout the ages, Converse extracted the DNA of the classic Chuck Taylor All Star and transformed it specifically with the ladies in mind! Lighter in weight, slimmer in look, and available in various colors, all complemented together with the signature Converse Chuck Taylor All Star comfort.


Fashion plus comfort and timeless style, the Converse All Star Light has it all. Check out these awesome kicks at the selected Converse stores nationwide and make these a closet staple! Visit Converse Philippines on Facebook to get updates on the latest Converse releases!

This March 1 (Thursday), 10 am at the PICC, Kyle Imao, hailed as the First Pinoy Junior Masterchef will be in the midst of major players in the food and beverage industry. The 12-year old champ will do the ribbon cutting for Tradecon as it launches its 5th Annual Food and Beverage Expo and HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant and Caterers Expo) which will run until March 4.


Over 300 exhibitors will be present at the expo,including both local and international suppliers, distributors, and manufacturers. International exhibitors from Indonesia, Malaysia,Thailand, Vietnam, Korea and the United States will also showcase their products.

For more information, log on to pifbex.com or call 395-5009.

Guys if you have nothing to do today and would still love to feel the final day of the love month, here's your chance to have a final blast of the love month.

Asiansations Christian Bautista and Karylle will close the Valentine Season with their Love & Laughter concert this February 29, 8p.m., at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World. The concert is produced by Resorts World, in cooperation with Ultimate Entertainment and Stages Talents.

Christian and Karylle, who exhibited undeniable chemistry in the musical West Side Story and international series The Kitchen Musical, is set to bring their magic in the concert stage.

They will dish out memorable love songs of different themes in the show- from falling in love to heartbreak to reconciliation and moving on.

An elaborate The Kitchen Musical medley was also prepared for the show. “Christian and I are so alike in so many ways,” admits Karylle. “We have always been good friends and I am excited to do this show with him and the other talented artists who will join us.”


Comedienne Nanette Inventor, known for her hilarious skits, will give this show a funny dimension.

“Leap year only happens once every four years,” says Nanette. “So the concept of this concert is also a rarity. With the immense talent of Christian and Karylle, I am sure viewers will fall in love and travel back in time with such beautiful love songs that they will perform.”

Opera Belles and Primo are also guests of the show.

Tickets are available at the Resorts World Manila Box Office and all TicketWorld outlets.

Call the Resorts World Manila Tourist/Visitor Hotline at 836-6333, 908-8833 or TicketWorld at 891-9999 for more information.

Last week I was able to watch a locally produce film entitled HITMAN which was starred by Cesar Montano and Sam Pinto. It was good to see that the local movie has starting to level up with the way film should be done.  Though some scenes were a bit raw and shows a little more polishing, still, local films are trying to par with the world's top film makers.

Thanks to Orange Magazine TV and Wow FM for winning that premiere night ticket. I did get three of those and unfortunately my wife couldn’t come with me and none of my friends are available. That’s really too bad!

Not sure how it is on the other side of the world but I did get some hint that Ticketamerica.com has ryder cup gold seats  (ryder cup tickets) there and abroad plus church hill downs (churchill downs tickets) home of the kentucky derby and the RBC center (rbc center tickets) home to concerts and show.

How about you where do you get your tickets?

Sarah G Live! Will start it's first air tonight! Catch it on ABS CBN at 8:30 PM!

Here's a teaser for the Kanta Pilipinas and with in it is Ms. Lea Salonga. Better watch out for it!

 

If you were ask the definition of Slow Rock what would it be?  For sure there will be dozens of it but for Hijo they define it well and simple.

Read their definition below and the details about their album....

Life is about moving on. And that was what Nathan Azarcon, Ira Cruz and Vic Mercado did when their former band Bamboo ceased being a group. With their passion for music, they decided to form their own group in late January 2011—a band they would eventually call Hijo.

“The name Hijo was suggested by Vic,” Nathan said. “It is short for HIJO dePuga"

Nathan, aside from playing bass now mans the vocals with Ira and Vic still doing the same thing they are good at- guitars and drums respectively. But adding to the band’s members are Radioactive Sago Project’s Junji Lerma on guitars and Wowee Posadas (who replaced Jay Orduna) on keyboards.

For people to get a taste of their music, Hijo released an EP entitled “Slow Rock Vol. ½”which they tag as “Kung-Fu Rock”.

“It is slow rock… and we wanted a funny title for it. It’s so dark as it is,” Nathan said.

Compared to their previous experience with their former bands, it was a different recording process for the group especially for Nathan, Ira and Vic.

“Working with the band is just amazing. This is the first time the three of us recorded most of our parts separately. We already had a formula for laying down tracks but this time we pushed ourselves and went the opposite way. I love how it all turned out. It’s still us. Plus, of course, with the addition of Junji and Jay o, it sounded fresh. Working with Shinji Tanaka and Eric Perlas was pretty cool,” Nathan said.

“Slow Rock Vol. ½” contains four tracks like “Tamalee” which is about insatiable greed; “Di Mo Na Kaya”- a song on separation and loss; “Torquemada”- about pain and torture and “Dahil Sa Iyo” which speaks about love. The videos for “Tamalee” and “Di Mo Na Kaya” are currently playing on top music channels in the country.

“The music videos are amazing. Direk Jason Tan and Erwin Romulo is the shiz. We have a good team,” Nathan said.

Though a lot of bands have been mushrooming left and right, Hijo belies they have the traits that differentiate them from others.

“We are in our prime. Kung baga sa modern warfare, veteran. We pack light, hit hard, retreat, regroup, we adjust and then we attack again. Such is the nature of the pride,” Nathan said.

“Slow Rock Vol. ½” is now out under MCA Music in CDs at leading record bars nationwide or online via mymusicstore.com.ph. To download Hijo’s music on your mobile phones, just text HIJO to 3456.

I only heard jazz music when I'm watching old movies.  A complete combo or band of musical instruments and take note the most common or should I say famous instrument in a jazz music is the saxophone.  To me it marks jazz when the combo or band is in coat and tie and the singer with beautiful red lipstick and a very glamorous hairstyle plus a sparkling evening gown.

Last night was indeed a jazz it up night as Tria Bascon launches her latest album "Wanderlust" under Universal Records and produced by Moy Ortiz of The Company.  As we all know The Company has been around for more than a decade already and as I recall jazz has been one of their genre.

Tria Bascon sings some of her songs in the album, together with Aquarela and The Company.  It was really a great moving night.    I think everyone was also astonished with the remake and "jazzification" of the known "Boom Tarat Tarat".  It was great, feet-thumbing and funny at the same time.

After the performance, bloggers were able to get a chance to have a chat, picture, and autograph signing with Tria Bascon.

Photo courtesy of pinoybeat.info

 With a niche music like jazz it is indeed small and because quite few people appreciate this kind of music the chances of bringing more people to like is really hard but according to Moy Ortiz' thought of jazzifying music like the "Boom Tarat Tarat" then perhaps it will bridge the gap.

For me music is a part of life and like what Tria Bascon did say in her performance "Music is a Journey"!

If you like JAZZ, Tria Bascon's debut album "Wanderlust" will be available in record stores nationwide under Universal Records.

Sarah G Live! has not aired yet but has already made it as one of the top trending topic on twitter and take note world wide.

Yes! Sarah G. Live! is the newest variety show of ABS CBN. It will be a one hour show showcasing the bigger and bolder Sarah G. Starting February 26 it will make Sunday night filled with Sarah's singing, dancing and hosting. Plus a chance to know more about Sarah G as she moves to the next level of her career.

Sunday Nights has always been fun and it had made those nights livelier.  Last Sunday was thought to be the last Sunday for the Gandang Gabi Vice.  It even has a hash tag of GGVFinale and GandangGabiViceFinale.  It did made it to the top trending topic world wide.  It is for sure that people really loved the show very much and they want it to continue.

Last few minutes of show made most of the audience teary-eyed because the show will bid its farewell.  Vice Ganda made a simple announcement and even showed some clips people saying about the show.  Everybody thought it is final.  Yes, it is the finale for season 1!  Vice Ganda announces that due to public demand the ABS CBN management has decided to continue the show.  This Sunday, Feb 26 will start the Season 2 of Gandang Gabi Vice.

Excited with the upcoming PhilPop Music Festival? Well, if you are, these people are much more excited than you are. Here are what they say about this upcoming PhilPop Music Festival.



“The Philippine Popular Music Festival should offer what we all have been missing – a worthy venue to showcase the best and the brightest in OPM,” - Ely Buendia, songwriter/ musician


“Sobrang nakaka-excite ‘tong Philippine Popular Music Festival! More than a performer, a musician or anything else, I consider myself as a songwriter, and this makes it exciting for me…an event which will showcase the talent of my fellow Filipino songwriters. I honestly believe that this is what the music industry needs now: more original material. We have a deep bench of talented singers and musicians and we have to have a bigger pool of fresh new original songs to give them something new to sing. Revivals are okay but we need to come up with new songs to add to our piggy bank of classic Pinoy pop songs…and this Philippine Popular Music Festival will surely help our local music scene. Mabuhay ang original Pinoy music!,” - Chito Miranda, songwriter/performing and recording artist, Parokya ni Edgar

“It’s more fun in the Philippines! The 1st Philippine Popular Music Festival is an awaited competition that will draw the creativity of Filipino composers, old and new. This competition is a welcome endeavor to propel original Pilipino music to be known and recognized globally,” - Noel Cabangon, songwriter


“I'm so happy that a prestigious songwriting competition such as the Philippine Popular Music Festival is being launched! We in the OPM are supporting this show 100%! Mabuhay ang musikang Pilipino!,” - Ogie Alcasid, songwriter/multi-media artist/president of OPM

“Finally a song writing festival where both young and old songwriters can share their creation. This will truly inspire everyone and give a new, fresh and dynamic meaning to OPM,” - Louie Ocampo, songwriter/producer/music director

“I'm glad we're bringing back the SONG FESTIVAL. We need to encourage the young songwriters to write original music to express our own sentiments, tell our own story and re-awaken our natural gift for MELODY,” - Jose Mari Chan, songwriter/businessman

“A free people must sing and dance to its own songs. Let our soul be expressed through its original musical expressions. Mabuhay ang Philippine Popular Music Festival!,” - Jim Paredes, songwriter/artist/teacher

So music lovers better watch out for the Philippine Popular Music Festival!  Coming very soon!

Press Release
Coming from a very musical family it was only natural that Tria Bascon would start singing at an early age. Her father and older siblings were already well known in the music business in Cebu in her native Philippines.

After gaining a degree in Business Administration, Tria was spotted singing in a restaurant/jazz lounge and this started her professional singing career. The early influences in her style and range were renowned International vocalists of jazz, standards and pop, which led her to appreciate and develop such a wide range of musical genres.

In order to gain greater experience and exposure, Tria Bascon then moved to Manila and launched what has become a very successful career. Since those days Tria Bascon has travelled far and wide for both pleasure and in pursuit of her work.

Her travels have taken her to virtually all Continents of the World adding greatly to her experience both as a vocalist and as a person, and she now spends her non working leisure time between the US and UK, as well as in her native Philippines.

She has entertained audiences on luxury cruise liners as well as in 5 star hotels of Asia, Europe, North America and Australasia. She has performed in far reaching and exotic places in the South Pacific, such as French Polynesia, Fiji Islands and The Kingdom of Tonga.

A wonderful, smooth and powerful voice is complemented by her natural beauty and graceful elegance, which captures an audience with her remarkable presence. With such an impeccable style, Tria Bascon’s performances ensure that a warm, intimate ambience is always present and enhances both the sound and vision experience to the full. It is fair to say that her ideal choice of music is mainstream jazz, but great versatility enables her to equally perform and feel at home with Pop, Blues, Broadway, Country, Dance, and standard Ballads with a repertoire that spans seven decades of music.

Extensive travel has assisted Tria in learning to sing in many different languages, enabling her to entertain and charm multicultural audiences in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Indonesian, Tahitian as well as her native Filipino tongue.

Tria Bascon launched her first album, a jazz album called Wanderlust in January 2012, a fulfillment of a long held dream. The dream being to make a very professional, quality album featuring classic jazz songs and performed along with renowned international Musicians.

As the choice of title suggests, the tracks selected for the Album readily affirms the life that Tria Bascon has experienced and enjoys whilst allowing her to sing in several languages having appeal to a global audience.

The tracks, personally selected by Tria Bascon, are from a list of her long time favorites and she is accompanied by several well known vocalists and musicians from Asia and Europe. The featured artistes are Moreno Donadel, an Italian jazz/classical pianist, Asia’s premiere vocal group The CompanY, renowned Filipino songwriter and crooner Jose Mari Chan and Aquarela, a bossa/latin group.

The Album contains an original track, Magkikita Pa Rin Naman Tayo, a very melodic and moving song written specially for Tria Bascon by the Producer of the Album, Moy Ortiz of the The CompanY.

In between continuing to perform internationally in shows, concerts and gigs, Tria has plans for new Albums, which will further add to her reputation as a very talented, beautiful vocalist with a mesmerizing and distinctive voice.

Tria Bascon’s debut album “Wanderlust” will be available in record stores nationwide under Universal Records.

I forgot when was the last time that there was a music festival showcasing the imaginative notes and flowery words of a songwriter.  I may not be a good songwriter but I definitely write quite a bit, it just need more practice and more learning.  Perhaps I do that before the deadline of the submission.

Anyway, so much with reminiscing.  If you know what I am writing about, well, good because the competition for songwriter will be starting very soon.  Amateur and professional Filipino composer will have a chance to prove that Original Pilipino Music are still alive and kicking all it needs is venue like this, the Philippine Popular Music Festival.

To know more about the Philippine Popular Music Festival or PhilPop read the details of the press release below...


There are competitions for aspiring singers, dancers, actors, models, bands, chefs, even children wanting to be chefs but what about for songwriters?

With a local music scene widely dominated by imported music, the Filipino songwriter has become a stranger in his own land.


With this in mind, prominent names from various industries have come together to spearhead the creation of the Philippine Popular Music Festival.

PhilPOP is a songwriting competition open to all amateur and professional Filipino composers. By March 1, 2012, interested composers can start submitting their entries online at PhilPOP.com.ph. The deadline of submission is on May 10, 2012. Song entries must be in MP3 format and can be in any popular music genre or a fusion of known genres, in any form or structure. Each entry must not exceed four minutes. Contestants can submit a maximum of two songs, either as a sole composer or as a collaborator. Song lyrics may be in Filipino, English, any Filipino dialect or a combination thereof.


There will be three levels of screenings and during the semi-finals, the judges will choose the top 14 finalists. The final performance and competition night will be held on July 14, 2012 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC). The grand prize winner will receive P1 million in cash and a trophy. The second and third runners up will each receive a trophy and P500,000 and P250,000 in cash respectively. All non-winning finalists will receive P50,000. A People’s Choice award will also be given to the entry with the most number of online and text votes. The winner will receive P200,000 and a trophy.


The competition hopes to provide a channel through which Filipino songwriters can create new songs and discover new expressions or genres in popular music. The organizers of PhilPOP also hope to start spark renewed enthusiasm and pride in Filipino music by starting a brand new collection of freshly produced Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

“Filipinos, in general, are musically gifted,” music maestro and PhilPOP executive director Ryan Cayabyab said. “We are well-known the world over simply because of our immense talent. But we are not just a country of talented singers, dancers and actors. With PhilPOP, I also want to shine the spotlight on our world-class composers and songwriters,” he added. The renowned musician also noted that this songwriting event is not a “revival” of another popular songwriting competition in the past decade.


Maynilad president and chief executive Ricky Vargas, who is also the event’s organizing committee chairman, further noted the significance of PhilPOP. “It’s high time we celebrate the artistry of the Filipino songwriter. What better way to do that than by giving them an avenue to showcase home grown talent and shine on a stage of their own.”

Meanwhile, business icon and PhilPOP chairman, Manny Pangilinan, also shared his motivation for lending support to the competition. “There are two reasons why I'm back in the Philippines after living in Hong Kong for so many years. I miss our religion and our music. You hear God’s voice in music,” he said.

The Philippine Popular Music Festival is jointly presented by Maynilad, Meralco, PLDT, Smart Communications, Sun Cellular, PICC, TV5, DDB Philippines and official press launch food provider, Via Mare.

When in high school until college I was a member of our church choir and singing in a cantata are one of my favorites.  Not a very good singer but I can say I could at least follow the notes and hit it right.  So, knowing this cantata will be restage by DLSU I was hoping that I could watch it performed by great artist.

A Fire in the Soul: A Cantata is a story about the Lasallian mission in Southeast Asia, it is said to be a crucial event in its history.  It was February 12, 1945, American forces bombarded the City of Manila that forced a group of Japanese soldiers to enter De La Salle College campus on Taft Avenue.   People who lived there were attacked, twenty-four men, women, and children, and 16 La Salle brothers died in that massacre.  Perhaps only few people knows about it.

This is the result of war, they turn human into monsters but also forges heroes out of its flames. This story is shared and told to honor their memory, their service to humanity, and to remember them eternally.

This cantata is created by Gabby Fernandez and directed by Peque Gallaga, it is one of the highlights of the centennial celebration of De La Salle University (DLSU) in the Philippines. Vicente Garcia Groyon wrote the libretto and Von de Guzman composed the music.

A Fire in the Soul: A Cantata will have two performances only: February 26 (Sunday - Matinee) at 3pm and February 27 (Monday - Gala Night) at 8pm. Both shows will be held at Teresa Yuchengco Auditorium at the 7th Floor of Don Enrique T. Yuchengco Hall of DLSU.

The cast includes Michael de Mesa (Br. Egbert), Franco Laurel (Br. Antonius), Al Gatmaitan (Br. Mutwald), Jonel Mojica (Br. Friedbert), Miguel Castro (Br. Arkadius), Floyd Tena (Br. Athanasius), and Naomi Sison (Alma Mater).

Also, joining them are Onyl Torres (Japanese Captain), Nazer Salcedo (Japanese Soldier 1), Gary Fabricante (Japanese Soldier 2), and John Gilbert Arceo (Japanese Soldier 3).

Narrators are Jaime Fabregas, Ricky Gallaga, Conchita Castillo, Dado Jose, Tanya Lopez, and Louie Zabaljauregi.










Aside from known actors and actresses different La Salle singing groups were also featured in this cantata.  They are De La Salle Inner Soul, De La Salle-Zobel Chorale, La Salle Centennial Orchestra, La Salle Centennial Chorus. Some kids of La Salle-Greenhills are also part of the show.

Joining the Production and the Artistic Team are Mio Infante (Production Design), Dong Calingacion (Technical and Lighting Director), GA Fallarme (Projection Design), Br. Bernard S. Oca, FSC (Executive Producer), and Lore Reyes (Line Producer).

For the matinee performance on February 26, 2012 (3pm), regular tickets are at P200, while student rates are at P100. For the gala show on February 27, 2012 (8pm), orchestra seats are priced at P500 (regular)/ P250 (students) and balcony seats at P250 (regular)/ P200 (students).

For more information, please call the DLSU Centennial Office at (632) 524-4611 local 290 or email perla.garcia@dlsu.edu.ph.

Follow De La Salle University on:
Website: http://www.dlsu.edu.ph
Facebook: http://facebook.com/DLSU.Manila.100 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dlsumanila
Tumblr: http://dlsumanila.tumblr.com
YouTube: http://youtube.com/DLSU100

Upod na Kita Cagayan De Oro sa KANTA PILIPINAS! TV5 Manila believes in the talent of the Filipino! For while the news reports the damages of calamity brought by floods previously hit the Cagayan De Oro province, the faith of the Filipino to lift spirits up should be promoted to push recovery and strength of the region. TV5's newest and biggest reality singing search calls on the nation to sing with Kanta Pilipinas set to hold its first on-ground audition at SM Cagayan De Oro Feb.24.

Open to all aspiring singers ages 14-30 years old,male and female, solo, duet or groups, TV5's Kanta Pilipinas will not be your usual singing talent search. Contestants' lives and stories will be featured to set more Filipinos appreciate the talent more than the song. Believe that the song can move mountains, believe in the talent of the Filipino. The song may just push our fellow Cagayanons to hope and recovery. Kanta Pilipinas believes in the Cagayanons and will choose to keep the faith in the Filipino. Sing with all your heart and soul and help our fellow Filipinos in Cagayan De Oro hope and succeed. Sing for it may be what you are made for! Tara Na! Upod na kita Cagayanon sa Kanta Pilipinas!

Lea Salonga calls you to "KANTA PILIPINAS" Auditions!!!

Audition dates:

Feb. 24 - SM City CAGAYAN DE ORO
Mar. 02 - SM City CEBU
Mar. 10 - SM City DAVAO
Mar. 16 - SM City BAGUIO
Mar. 23 - SM City ILOILO
Mar. 30 - SM City NORTH EDSA
Apr. 20 - SM City BATANGAS

For more details:
Visit: http://www.kantapilipinas.com/
Email: kantapilipinas@tv5.com.ph
Twitter: http://twitter.com/kanta_pilipinas
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kantapilipinas
YouTube: www.youtube.com/kantapilipinas

Kanta Mo, Kwento Mo, KAPATID!!! KANTA PILIPINAS!!!

Simple or big celebration, it all comes to two things... thanksgiving for the year that had ended and a celebration to face the coming year.

Nuffnang will turn 5 end of this month and everybody please do wish NUFFNANG all the blessings!

Happy Birthday Nuffnang, God bless and more power!