Ogie’s song in Butterfly

The book is by Michelle Van Eimeren but the lovely little tune that ends the accompanying video is another composition by her husband Ogie Alcasid. Michelle is the beauty queen from Australia who came to the Philippines for the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant and fell in love with our very own comedian, singer and songwriter, Ogie, the Pogi. Ogie and Michelle have been married for over five years and they have a pretty little girl named Leila. They are expecting their second baby any time now.

Michelle has acted in films and television and hosted her own talk show. Recently, she also unveiled her talent as a writer with the release of the book Butterfly. She was inspired to write the book by her daughter and the time that they spend reading stories together. She hopes to foster closer relations between parents and children with Butterfly. She also wants Leila and other children to grow up appreciating the little things. "We always miss the good stuff when we’re in a hurry to live life," she says.

Butterfly tells the story of Clarissa, an awkward little caterpillar who thinks there is more for her in this world than what a community of butterflies living in a big old tree can give to her. So she goes off to explore the world. In the process, she gets lost in the forest but she learns about life and living through the different creatures she meets while trying to find her way back home. There is a big bird who tries to make her his dinner, a friendly snail, a frog who saves her from drowning and a little girl who takes care of her until she becomes a beautiful butterfly old enough to find her way back home.

Butterfly comes in a book beautifully-illustrated by Fernando Escora. Older kids will surely enjoy reading it. As for the younger ones who still have to learn all those big words, they can still enjoy the tale by watching and listening to Michelle read the story to her daughter Leila in the VCD that comes free with every copy of the book. Ogie’s song, also titled Butterfly provides the sweet ending to the VCD. Performed by Jingle Buena, it is the sort of tune that kids will find easy to learn. So you can expect this one to also join Ogie’s fast-growing list of hit songs soon.

Inspirational album launched

The Jesuit Communications is formally launching the album Huwag Mangamba: Mga Awit ng Pagtatagpo on Sunday, Aug. 4 after the 4 p.m. Mass at the Riverbanks Mall in Marikina City. The album features folk singer Noel Cabangon performing songs inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Noel is of course, the man introduced in the album Pasakalye a year ago. The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are guidelines formulated by the Spanish saint on how to observe religious retreats.

Now how did Noel learn about the rules set by the founder of the Jesuit order in this new album? Some years ago, a collection of hymns composed by Jesuit priests was recorded and released as an album. These songs were chosen and arranged according to the Spiritual Exercises and they were intended to accompany retreats. These songs have since been used extensively in retreat houses and prayer meetings all over the country and have become familiar to most of us.

It is these songs that Noel performs in his new album. What makes his interpretation most interesting is that the songs have been arranged in a mix of styles. With Cabangon’s trademark folk as its bed, Huwag Mangamba soars into various directions with touches of rock, jazz, pop, classical strings and even operatic singing. This means that those who once thought religious music could be so boring can now get into a spiritual mood with the help of tunes done with an edge in an entire album.

Included in Huwag Mangamba are Panginoon, Aking Tanglaw, Ang Panginoon ang Aking Pastol, Sa Langit ay Higit ang Ganda sa Ganda, Ang Kaluluwa Ko’y Nauuhaw, Emmanuel, Narito Ako, Ang Mabuting Pastol, Huwag Mangamba, Panalangin Maging Bukas Palad, Sa Pag-ibig ng Panginoon, Mahal Naming Ina, Ito ang Bagong Araw, Pag-ibig Mo, Ama, Pagsibol and Paghahandog.

Noel will perform some of these songs in the mini concert at the album launch this Sunday at Riverbanks. Try to be there.