Words and music

For the 12th straight year, the Philippine delegate to the ESU International Public Speaking Contest has been selected by the English Speaking Union (ESU) – Philippines.

Lenard M. Robles, a senior pursuing a BS degree in Business Administration & Accountancy in UP Diliman, goes to London in May to compete against some 60 other student delegates in the international contest previously won by two young Filipinos: Patricia Evangelista in 2004 and Gian Dapul in 2008.

The national finals were held two weekends ago as a feature of the UP Debate Society’s own annual school team debate contest. Eight students 18 years or below were selected for the individual public speaking finals.

The competition theme was “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Robles’ unique five-minute speech dwelled on the healthy tension between the left and right sides of the brain. Vincen Yu of UP Manila, who wound up as First Runner-up, spoke on Filipino-Chinese cultural issues, while Second Runner-up Arman Ghodsinia of Philippine Science High School focused on multicultural/religious issues. A new theme will be assigned for the London competition.

Heading the judges was former Ambassador to the Court of St. James Cesar Bautista, who was responsible for the establishment of the Philippines chapter of the English Speaking Union, which enjoys the affiliation of over 60 countries and over a hundred country chapters.

Also in the judges’ panel were ESU-Philippines president and AdMU Humanities dean Dr. Marlu Vilches, UP Alumni Relations director Dr. Wendell Capili, 2008 ESU-Philippines and International winner Gian Dapul of Philippine Science High School, 2011 ESU-Philippines winner Germaine Chuabio of DLSU, the 2009 champion of the Philippine Intercollegiate Debating Championship, from UP Diliman and now Business World senior reporter Claire Jiao, and this writer.

ESU Philippines thanks the UP Debate Society for doing an excellent job of organizing the competition that led to the choice of our candidate for the 2013 IPSC. Co-sponsors for the activity were HSBC and Shell Philippines, with the latter also sponsoring our candidate’s participation in the London competition this May.

Meanwhile, stalwart supporter Loline Reed, who always proves to be of great help to our student reps in London, currently finds herself in town with her husband Ken, with whom she’s attending the Global Summit on the Diaspora of Filipinos as a former Presidential Banaag Awardee, in 2006.

Loline reports that the Inter-Cultural Society of London will be staging a world premier of a classical work by Filipino composer Jed Balsamo on July 6 at the historic St. John’s Smith Square Concert Hall in London.

The renowned London Piano Trio led by Robert Atchison, violinist, will perform Jed’s Piano Trio Number 2. Loline says that they “are all excited about this concert because for the very first time, the classical work of a living Filipino composer will be performed in London.”

The concert will move on to Italy and Spain after its London debut, as international interest in Jed’s work has grown. Loline will have the opportunity to meet up with Jed Balsamo here. Loline and Ken are also excited to catch a performance on February 23 at Aliw Theater of Gia Macuja Atchison, Maya Barredo Duffy and Ces Campos Bonner, former stars of the West End theatres, and now known as the West End Mamas. Three earlier performances conducted over the past weekend saw their act as part of Ballet Manila’s Ballads and Ballet show.

On Friday, Feb. 22, we look forward to the ABS-CBN Jazz Gala at the Rockwell Tent in Makati, starting at 8 p.m. and mainlining renowned jazz artists as part of the annual Philippine International Jazz and Arts Festival (PI Jazzfest), which has been going on for much of this month. The special concert, in partnership with ABS-CBN’s Cable and Print Media Group, stars jazz saxophonist Mindi Abair and jazz duo Tuck and Patti. 

Mindi Abair has produced 10 No. 1 radio singles and five major label solo releases that have topped the Contemporary Jazz Charts, among these “It Just Happens That Way” (2003), “Come As You Are” (2004), “Life Less Ordinary” (2006), “Stars” (2008), and “In Hi Fi Stereo” (2010). She has hosted the internationally syndicated radio show “Chill With Mindi Abair” for six years now, and has been the featured saxophonist on the 2011 and 2012 seasons of American Idol.

With over a decade of performance tours and recordings with music stars such as Backstreet Boys, Mandy Moore, Josh Groban, Adam Sandler, and Aerosmith, Mindi has indeed come a long way from playing on the streets of Santa Monica.

For their part, the American jazz duo Tuck Andress and Patti Cathcart have built up quite a following for over three decades. The husband-and-wife duo has been performing since 1981, with Tuck on guitar and Patti on vocals. Among the popular albums they’ve produced are “Tears of Joy” (1988), “Learning to Fly” (1995), and “A Gift of Love” (2004).

CNN Interactive has hailed the duo as “one of this country’s enduring treasures,” while Bobby McFerrin calls them “The best duo on the planet!” To Leonard Feather’s comment that ”Not since Ella Fitzgerald met Joe Pass on stage has there been so felicitous a mating as Tuck & Patti,” the legendary Joe Pass riposted jovially, “I’m gonna get Ella and come after you guys!”

Front acts will be our very own up-and-coming jazz artists: the all-female jazz trio Baihana and singer/songwriter Jennifer Blair-Bianco.

Since 2009, PI Jazzfest has brought together the biggest international jazz greats and our Pinoy jazz legends. Bar tours started on Feb. 2 with assorted groups, culminating on Feb. 21 at Merk’s Place with Richard Merk & Friends. Other performers have been playing at St. Giles Hotel for the Jazz It Up module, with the Israeli duo Yahel & Guy scheduled for tomorrow night, and Beaujean Project from Mexico on Thursday the 21st.

The Ayala Mall Tour began with a bang with All Blues at Boni High, which we caught on Feb. 9, featuring the Bleu Rascals, Nino Mendoza & the Blue Jean Junkies, Gary Perez, and Bluesviminda with the incandescent Cooky Chua.

Cultural Nights @ Greenbelt 3 Park will feature Absolute Zero, Jerome Rico, Yahel & Guy and Beaujean Project at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Bleu Rascals will also perform at 8 p.m. at SM Southmall on Feb. 23, and at Harbour Point in Subic with the Blue Jean Junkies on March 2, while Jazz Workshops will have Guy and Yahel and Eileen Sison Guarana in FEU at 3 p.m. on Feb. 21, and Tuck and Patti in St. Giles Hotel at 3 p.m. on Feb. 24.

For Jazz at Manila Hotel starting at 7 p.m., the remaining performances will be by Baihana tonight, and Tap Room Divas, Beaujean Project, and Yahel and Guy on succeeding nights, respectively, all at the lobby.

Other main shows at Rockwell Tent are the International Jazz Gala on Feb. 23 with Beaujean Project, Yahel and Guy, Tuck and Patti, and Eldar Djangirow of Khyrgystan, and PIJAZZ Night on Feb. 24 showcasing Tateng Katindig, Romy Posadas Trio, Richard Merk, Arthur Manuntag, Mon David, Tess Salientes Joyful Jazz and Megan Herrera — spiced up with the Hall of Fame and Koyang Awards rites. Jazz at Ayala Museum will also have Yahel and Guy at 6 p.m. on Feb. 25 and Piano Festival Days on Feb. 26 and 27, with Francophil: Bojan 2 from France on Feb. 28.

Tickets for the PI Jazzfest are sold in all Ticketworld outlets. Or log on to www.pijazzfest.com / www.ticketworld.com.ph or e-mail pijazz@gmail.com.

Also on Feb. 23 will be another grand musical treat, with the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra doing a repeat of their concert that showcased the well-loved movie scores of legendary composer John Williams, starting at 7:30 p.m. at the Meralco Theater.

“The Magic of John Williams: The 2013 Repeat” will feature memorable movie themes such as of E.T., Star Wars, Jaws, Superman, Jurassic Park, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Harry Potter, Yes Giorgio, and the 1984 Olympics Anthem.

Also performing are Karylle and Jose Mari Chan. An added attraction will be The Philippine Outpost of the 501st Legion, an international organization of Star Wars fans who wear costumes from the movie. For inquiries, call 911-5555 or e-mail absphilharmonic@gmail.com.

Finally, back to the word, UMPIL or Unyon ng mga Manunulat sa Pilipinas (Writers Union of the Philippines) presents “Andres Bonifacio & the Problem of Intellectuals,” The Adrian Cristobal Lecture 2013, by Dr. Resil B. Mojares on Feb. 20, 1 p.m. at Room 520, 5th Floor, Tower II, RCBC Plaza on Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat in Makati.

All writers are enjoined to treat themselves to what will surely be another milestone lecture from one of our most formidable literary scholars — in fitting celebration of the tradition of excellence fostered by dear Adrian, whom these lectures honor each year. Both Resil’s and Adrian’s books will be made available by Anvil Publishing.