Treats for June
Before we know it, we’re almost halfway through the year. With June comes student enrolment and weddings, then the rainy season in official mode.
Flame trees will continue to flourish throughout the month, so that it may be time to revisit the Ateneo campus in Loyola Heights just to say hello to my favorite old caballero behind Gonzaga Hall.
The month also thrives with excellent entertainment events, led off by the 1st Philippine International Jazz & Blues Guitar Festival on June 1 and 2 at Sofitel Manila’s Sunset Pavilion. Quite a cast of guitar virtuosos the PIJazz Foundation has assembled, in cooperation with The Philippine Blues Society.
Starting at 5:30 p.m. on the first day, taking the stage will be Jerome Rico, Boy and Beyond, Noel Mendez, Caren Mangaran and Carlo David, Jun Lopito, Abby Clutario with Eric Tubon and CJ Wasu, Noli Aurillo, Chuck Stevens with Jeri de Leon and Jun Viray, Joey Puyat, Johnny Alegre, and Tonet Lipana.
The evening peaks at 9:30 p.m. with international guest The John Abercrombie Organ Trio with Adam Nussbaum.
On June 2, The John Abercrombie Workshop starts at 2:30 p.m., with Adam Nussbaum also conducting a drum clinic. At 5:30 p.m., the following performers will be featured: Triple Fret, Carlos Jesena & Enrique Santamaria, Ruben Reyes, Dr. Tedd Walter Wirth, Keith Delleva, Carlos Castano, Cowboy Santos, Kakoy Legaspi, Mico Ong, Aya Yuson, Gino Mariano, Edsel Tolentino, Paolo Blaquera and Empi Martinez, Jazz Almonacid, and Luis Galang.
Scheduled at 8 p.m. is Sungha Jung of South Korea, while capping the two-night fest at 9:30 p.m. are Bleu Rascals with Arnold Ang and Kento Ido of Cebu, Enzo Rodriguez, Mike Bewe, Francis Reyes with Karel Honasan and Michael Alba, and Hijo.
Tickets are available at Ticketworld and SM Tickets, with VIP seats at P1,200 and General Admission at P600 (per day/ with one drink). Student discount is at 50 percent while senior discount is at 20 percent. For updates, visit www.pijazzfest.com
From June 6 to 10, music lovers have another special treat when the Philippine Opera Company restages Ang Bagong Harana at RCBC Plaza’s Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium.
Our friend Karla Gutierrez, the POC’s dynamic artistic and managing director, makes the pitch that it’s a must-see for every Filipino. She argues:
“In an entertainment scene so full of imported ideas and concepts, why do we need to do Ang Bagong Harana? We have chosen to do it because now more than ever, when globalization is the future of the world, we need to remind ourselves of who we are, where we are, where we have been, and what we hold dear.
“Where is our culture going? ... This is something that we should cultivate. If you love your country, everything goes back to you. Let us bring back the sense of pride of being Filipino.”
The original music revue billed as Harana was first staged in 2008, showcasing Philippine music with particular emphasis on our relationship with history, faith, nature, and nationhood. More than just a simple selection of memorable Filipino love songs, it was said to be a love letter to all Filipinos, highlighting our past as well as the values we should rely on in our journey into the future.
The following year, the well-received revue was staged in Amsterdam, and in 2010, it went on a regional tour covering Cebu, Dumaguete and Roxas cities, as well as Antique, Bohol, and Palawan. In 2011, Harana toured Bacolod, Ormoc, and Tacloban.
Last year, too, a fresh version retitled Ang Bagong Harana was first staged. As a re-run, the performances this June coincide with the lead-up to Philippine Independence Day. Quite fittingly, too, as it parades an array of classic Filipino songs that showcase the best works of distinguished Filipino composers of different music genres — including Nicanor Abelardo, Constancio de Guzman, Felipe de Leon, Francisco Santiago, Antonio Molina, Hernani Cuenco, Levi Celerio, Jose Estella, Resti Umali, George Canseco, Willy Cruz, and Ryan Cayabyab.
Directed by award-winning director Floy Quintos, the revue features Philippine theater’s celebrated singers — Karla Gutierrez, Aizel Prietos, Charley Maglit, Janine Santos, Marian Santiago, Lawrence Jatayna, Jack Salud, Nazer Salcedo, Marvin Gayramon, and Al Gatmaitan.
“Love our own. Support our own.” This is Karla’s battle cry, which indeed we must do our part to share, for the cause of bringing back the sense of pride of being Filipino.
For ticket inquiries, call 881-7168 or 0917-5224184.
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Visual artist, comic book specialist and editor, and writer Hugo “Boboy” Yonzon III asked himself:
“What does an aging artist/writer do when caught in the nexus between old ways and abruptly changing technologies / tools in pursuing his craft while, at the same time, faced with a nagging question: must sex activity decline with age?”
He supplied his own reply: “Write and launch a book.” And so it happens.
At 6 p.m. on June 7 at Arts in the City, Bonifacio Global City, Yonzon launches The Old Men and the Sex — a compilation of his recent articles, essays, and columns that appeared in various dailies and magazines. The topics cover the arts, travel, folklore, the creative content industry, eroticism, and death.
He has also written about geishas, Mick Jagger, nannies, panties, Walt Disney, Amy Winehouse, Bali, Mt. Pulag, nudity as protest, among other titillations.
Boboy Yonzon considers his book a celebration with friends, since the visuals feature works of outstanding photographers and graphic designers, among these Edd Aragon, Gerry Alanguilan, Ross Capili, June Dalisay, Eric David, Ernie Enrique, Jeryc Garcia, Nap Jamir, Dengcoy Miel, Bogie Tence Ruiz, Joey Tañedo, Manny Ongpauco, Wig Tysmans, Boy Yñiguez, Lito Yonzon, Joel Yonzon, and Piya Constantino.
The visual works from The Old Men and The Sex will compose a group show that opens on the same day. Boboy himself designed the book and its cover, where the three paper boats pay tribute to Ernest “Papa” Hemingway, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and Junichiro Tanizaki, while the author-editor is represented by a rubber float that looks like an areola. The naughty book is in black and white.
So many other events transpire in June, but this next one is a no-miss affair as far as I’m concerned.
On June 19, Radio High 105.9 brings back Grammy-winning trumpet player Chris Botti for a one-night concert at Resorts World Manila’s Newport Performing Arts Theater.
The Portland-born musician has been hailed as the largest-selling American instrumental artist. Over the years, Botti has amassed a following in the adult contemporary market for developing a unique fusion sound. His decades-long career has seen him sharing the stage with music greats such as Sting, Paul Simon, Steven Tyler, Yo Yo Ma, John Mayer, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban, and collaborating with legends such as Frank Sinatra, Joni Mitchell, Aretha Franklin, Mark Knopfler, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, David Foster and Natalie Cole.
He has been nominated for five Grammy Awards and sold over three million albums to date, from his groundbreaking 1995 debut album “First Wish” to his latest anthology titled Impressions under Sony Records.
Thanks to Francis Lumen, chair and CEO of Radio High 105.9, Chris Botti performed for a rapt audience at the Greenbelt Fashion Walk last Nov. 4, as the special guest and featured artist at the popular radio station’s official launch. This time around, he’s bringing an all-new repertoire, plus fresh faces to round up his band.
Pinoy Jazz legends Richard Merk and Verni Varga will open the show, which is being presented by Globe Telecoms and Resorts World Manila for the benefit of the Young Musicians Development Organization (YMDO).
For ticket inquiries and reservations, call Ticketworld at 891-9999 or log on to www.ticketworld.com.ph
