What a year this one has been for the Hotdog. The Manila Sound era band has been in the news all throughout 2011. Hotdog staged a reunion concert on May 16 at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati and sold out the house. So they had another one on July 26 and sold it out again. There was also the hugely successful first one-man show of paintings by Hotdog frontman and founder Dennis Garcia, titled Rakenrol, only a few weeks ago.
Then I heard recently that Hotdog is “reuniting” again. The latest “reunion” will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center Tent at the Cultural Center Complex in Pasay City on Dec. 1. And for all we know, there might be another one before the year ends. Truth to tell, I know a lot of people who would just love to welcome the New Year with the sound of Hotdog. Funny, but at the rate this group is going, it can just keep on holding “reunions” for years and years, and the fans will still keep on coming to enjoy the music.
Pinoys are big suckers for nostalgia, more so when it involves music. We like to bask in memories, beautiful, painful, bittersweet or fun. We get a lot of those when we hear the Hotdog songs. Your first love, the first Miss Universe beauty pageant at the Folk Arts Theater, Inday Badiday saying Careful, careful, disco dancing nights at the Coco Banana and so many others that the older smart set from hereabouts just love to indulge in. Come to think of it, don’t you just miss walking along the old Carriedo and Rizal Avenue and Raon while Hotdog’s Manila blares from speakers everywhere? Those were really the days.
And so once again, Hotdog will treat concertgoers to its hits. Pers Lab, Ikaw Ang Miss Universe Ng Buhay Ko, Bongga Ka Day, Annie Batungbakal, Manila, Panaginip, Beh Buti Nga, Bitin Sa ‘yo, Dying To Tell You, Langit Na Naman, plus compositions that Dennis wrote and produced for other artists like Sa Isip Ko, Saan Ka Na Kaya Ngayon, B.A.D.A.F. Forever, Kung Aminin Kong May Asawa Na Ako, Kulang, Parang Robot, When The One You Love Is Gone and others.
Performing will be Dennis on bass; Rene Garcia on vocals and lead guitar; Jess Garcia on drums; and to do those distinctively Hotdog female vocals are Gina Montes, Maso Diez, Joy Reyes, Rita Saguin-Trinidad and Nadia Moore, all of whom were at one time or another Hotdog girl singers. Tickets to Hotdog: The Reunion are priced at P3,000, P2,000 and P1,500 and are available at Ticketworld.
From a reunion, we now go to an anniversary celebration and it is one that still involves memorable Filipino music. The Bukas Palad Music Ministry commemorates its 25th year with the release of a new album titled Sing Forever. The CD will be launched with a free concert tomorrow, Nov. 26, 7 p.m. at the Ateneo de Manila High School’s covered courts in Loyola Heights, Quezon City.
Sing Forever is made up of 12 new songs and comes with a songbook with choral arrangements and liturgical notes that other singers and parishes can use. This is Bukas Palad’s 16th album release and it is a continuation of the group’s effort to create and most of all, propagate new music for the Mass in the pop charismatic genre. Bukas Palad has accomplished a lot in this regard. In fact, I believe that I can say that it is the most successful music ministry in the country today.
Founded by college friends Manoling Francisco S.J., Norman Agatep and Jandi Arboleda at the Ateneo in 1986, Bukas Palad was responsible for popular songs like Sa ‘Yo Lamang, Tanging Yaman, Humayo’t Ihayag, Hindi Kita Malilimutan and many others. These songs have transcended religious origins and have now become inspiring pop staples. Cheers to Bukas Palad. Happy anniversary. I am sure that like me, a lot of people out there cannot imagine hearing Mass without the choir singing those beautiful songs.