“BANTAWAN SA BATHALAD” features Poet Gerard Pareja



A little less than three years ago, a band of wordsmiths, verse-fiends and storytellers found this nook of a place called Kahayag Café. They found it suitable conversation, the sharing of dribbles and oodles of words that poured forth from random musings and politically incorrect conjecture. Thus, was born, “Bantawan sa Bathalad.”


“Bantawan” is monthly poetry reading activity that features the oral form of the works of Cebuano writers and poets of the Bathalad, or “Bathalad-ong Halad sa Dagang” (Divine Gift of the Quill). It is a venue for the expression of the Cebuano language, and aims to usher renaissance of Cebuano literature, and nurture appreciation of Cebuano language. Local writers and people in the audience are always invited to read their original poetry during the session. A few months earlier, “Bantawan” began featuring the “Poet of the Month.” This new feature added opportunities for audience members and other writers to discuss the Poet’s works and voice their opinions about them. It broke ground beginning with Cebuano poets Bambi Beltran, Vince Cinches and Kaira Zoe Alburo. For June, "Bantawan" will be featuring the works of poet-photographer Gerard Pareja.

Bathalad is helmed by notable Cebuano writers Michael Obenieta, Januar Yap, Jeremiah Bondoc, Greg Fernandez and Josua Cabrera. “Bantawan sa Bathalad” will be featured at the Tapas Lounge, at the Crossroads, in Banilad, this Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at 8PM. This will be a temporary arrangement as their home of many readings, Kahayag Café, closed down late last month. Cabrera says the Bathalad is eyeing a few venues and hope one may be receptive to sponsoring a spot for this merry band of wordsmiths. ArtCebu is also sponsoring this month’s reading as Bathalad is in the thick of searching for a new home.

A little less than three years ago, a band of wordsmiths, verse-fiends and storytellers founded monthly event that celebrated the Cebuano language, and featured the works of local writers. Since then, the “Bantawan” has become part of local fare, entrancing audiences with the Cebuano spoken word, inviting them to beguile and be beguiled by the sharing of verses written in a language that both strange and alluring, as it is very much their birthright.






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Stagecrew makes studio time for "Dreamland"



The pop-alternative band, Stagecrew, has been together since 1997. The band is based in the Cebu City, Philippines and is popular in the Visayas, especially in the Leyte-Samar region, where their new hit single, “Kapiling Na,” has gained a massive following. They are especially known for their energetic live performances, as well as their rapport with audiences.

Stagecrew’s stint in Manila between 2001 and 2004 added experience and maturity to their music. The trip gave them exposure to the music and entertainment industry, where they guested in television shows and live events. Stagecrew was also able to launch their self-titled debut album. Some of their songs have been included in a few original movie and television show soundtracks such as “Jologs,” “Bituin,” and the Pinoy Big Brother edition.

Formed ten years ago, Stagecrew was composed by Rommel Tuico, Jason Dacua, and George Castro, Jr. Joel Gabucan and Edward Ceballos were playing for their own bands before joining the trio. Their first months together were marked by their disagreements over musical preferences that Tuico subscribes to as birthing pains.

Fortunately, they were able to find their groove and Stagecrew has been playing sweet music ever since. Dacua says that it was mainly being high school buddies and friends that kept their egos in check (and keeping the band together). Playing and keeping their musical chemistry came in second.

The band has regular gigs at Ratsky’s resto-bar and Sunflower City bar. The band is popular on the live performance circuit, playing regular events like SMB’s “Sarap Magbabad” concert series. Stagecrew is also favorite guest at local televisions shows and is featured regularly at local variety shows such as GMA 7 Cebu’s “Oi!” variety show. Their influences are varied; from reggae music, hard rock, popular music, and romance ballads. Their repertoire is equally determined by the venue and event that they play at. Stagecrew’s repertoire covers songs by favorite bands like U2, Keane, Coldplay, The Police, REM, Sublime, Big Mountain and Sting. Not content to just sit on their success, Stagecrew expanded their repertoire by including original songs.

Stagecrew is currently logging time in the studio. The band is currently working on their second album and has finished laying down the tracks for ten original compositions (Five in English, and five in Tagalog). Already, “Kapiling Na,” the carrier single of “Dreamland,” is getting heavy circulation in Eastern Visayas and in Cebu City and has in fact, begun making rounds online via Youtube.com.

Ten years in the making, ladies and gentlemen, on center stage… Stagecrew!


Stagecrew is:
Rommel Tuico (Lead Vocals)
Jason Dacua (Keyboards/vocals)
George Castro, Jr. (Drummer)
Joel Gabucan (Bassist/vocals)
Edward Ceballos (Guitarist/vocals)

Notable Singles
“Next in line” – Afterimage cover that became part of the “Jologs” OST and the Pinoy Big Brother reality show soundtrack
“Cinderella” – Along with “Next in line” was used in the Pinoy Big Brother OST album
“Alam ko di ako, okay lang” – Entry for Himig Handog 2003, interpreted by Bayani Agbayani
“Ulan” – penned by Rommel Tuico for all-male band Cueshe

Albums
Stagecrew (self-titled)
Dreamland (in production)

Repertoire includes music from:
U2, Keane, Coldplay, The Police, REM, Sublime, among others.

Notable Appearances
“Jologs” movie, as the house band
"Bituin" TV series, as the lead character, Melody Sandoval's, band.
“Oi!” GMA 7 Cebu variety show, as regular guest band.

Awards and Nominations
1997 DYRT Artist of the Year
Best Jingle, SMB Jingle Contest 2000
Artist of the Year, Cebu FAME Awards




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WHEN BARDS BAND TOGETHER, WHAT SONGS DO THEY SING?


   When bards of old --- wandering musicians and poets --- were wont to gather, what tales did they weave? What stories would they share about their travels? In this same vein, Powerhouse Entertainment and BisayaOnline.net are bringing some of local music’s wandering bards to tell their music tales and misadventures.



   According to IndieCultureOnline, co-presentor of, "Banded," this unique Lola Basyang-esque event happening at the Handuraw Events Café, this Saturday, March 31, 2007, some of the bands taking turn at telling their tales are Silhouette, Cold Transfer, Indephums, UNO, One Man Down, Ruined, Glass of Dirt, Missing Filemon, Balde Ni Allan, Aggressive Audio, Xephra Project, and Zarah Smith Band.


   Also taking their turn at the helm are members of the seminal RockEd Philippines volunteer group.


   Read up on the full ICO story now.





Penumbra:
      Many thanks to Ian Z. of ICO, for the info!

Bringing the “Island Riddim” to the Island-Cosmopolitan

March ushers in proms, grad balls, final exams, and the onset of summer, to this small island-cosmopolitan of Cebu. To urban Cebuanos who have done their academic dues, March is more notable for being the unofficial month of reggae. It is the month when pocket concerts are held in honor of that rastafarian prophet and reggae statesman, Robert Nesta Marley.

This year, a tribute in his honor will be bringing the “island riddim” to the island-cosmopolitan dubbed, “High Noon on the road to Mout Zion.” This event will begin at high noon, no less, and will open with a reggae bazaar, with an assortment of activities and booths toting reggae-themed items and accessories.

This year’s tribute event will feature many of Cebu's foremost reggae bands, like, Junior Kilat, Urbal, Skunky Muggles, Island Joe, Coolie Dread and the Microphone Commanders, Crown Royale, Bambu Spliff, Skankin' Brew, Potent Bush, Domestic Grass, Powerspoonz, Paskanin, Big Marvin and D'Wigiws, Toy Souljahs, No Parking Anytime, and Santing Scalawags, and more!

To add spice to the reggae brew three non-Cebu based three reggae bands have been invited, namely, Reggae Mistress, Milagros Dancehall Collective and the much-loved Enchi.

Check out the event details below and I’ll see you at the festival!

"HIGH NOON ON THE ROAD TO ZION"
The 12th Tribute to BOB MARLEY
12Noon, March 24, 2007
At the Paseo Mall, Panagdait,
Mabolo, Cebu City, Philippines.




Penumbra:
Thank you to Wikipedia for the photos used in this entry
(despite the lack of permission, thank you kaayo)

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October to February: There and back again.

Feel-good February

For a month steeped in romance and commercial pandering to the heartstrings of every person deeply in love, I was more caught with preparing for PODD Corp’s 2nd anniversary, more than anything.

The PODD @ 2 anniversary party was it for me, as February was concerned. It was a great party and the PODD Digital Art Contest was the best way to say, “Happy Birthday!” The venue was great, the spread was delectable and the finalists outdid themselves with their entries. (Mitch Tedor and Ian Zafra’s exclusive on winner, Luke Tornilla, in an earlier entry). And although, we weren’t able to finish out the production as much as we hoped and expected it to turn out, but shit does happen even to good guys --- damn that Murphy’s Law!

But I wasn’t completely out of it, celebrating Valentine’s and all. At the start of the day, Joyce and I had a romantic brunch, and I bought her chocolates and books on --- what else? Historical romance.


Here ends this five-month sojourn. More stories to come about Cebu and the beat of this island-cosmopolitan's thriving cityscape.

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October to February: There and back again.

January: Sinulog, Fiery Pigs, Pinnipig, Midweek Session and Perfect on Paper.

January heralded the year of the Fiery Pig. PODD Corp marked its second year, with a digital art contest open to college students. Luke Tornilla, of UP Cebu, won the first prize of this inaugural digital art contest.

January was also auspicious for three things: The Sinulog Video-Docu Contest, Pinnipig and the Midweek sessions. Clee Villasor, my erstwhile cohort at itzamatch.com, contacted me to do consulting work on his script. The piece came in 8th place (I think). Not bad, for a first-time director and screenwriter. Kudos, Clee!

Niel Quisaba and Ian Zafra, are probably two of most artistic and hardworking people I know, and the idea of them joining forces to form an online store just blew me away. In fact, I think it blew the two of them away, too. Pinnipig.com, their joint online effort into promoting Niel’s artwork, became so popular that, within a month of its birth, the site crashed because its bandwidth limit was exceeded. Peejay, another friend on mine, told me that bandwidths are only exceeded if your site has had too many users clicking and trying to access your site, or if you’ve exceeded your weight index two times over. Which is quite an achievement for a young online store like pinnipig.com. Kudos, Niel and Ian, to your success!

Another digital delight was last January 17’s Perfect on Paper, skippered by Niel Q., this group exhibit featured the digital artwork of Cebuano graphic artists such as Rocky Barria, Palot Umali, and Leo Guevara, among others. Watch out for these individuals because they’re more than just perfect on paper.

Segue to music and then some... In the early 2000s, a small, albeit inocuous band-space, called Midweek Sessions was created at the now-dead-and-revered Artist Dais music bar. It was a weekly gig that featured local artists who wrote and sang their own material. Many local music aficionados and fence-sitters tried to dissuade the trio of Eimer Tabasa, Fern Villaflor, and Ian Zafra that gathering a horde of mostly young bands together to play their original material may look great on paper, it may just be a pretext to a very flat note. Unfazed, the trio approached Edwin Asis of Artist Dais. The rest, as they are fond of quoting, is history.

Midweek Sessions made its comeback last Feb 28, Wednesday, at the Outpost, in Nivel Hills, Lahug, Cebu city. Indie freshmen, The Line Divides, and local pop-chartbusters, Missing Filemon opened the relaunch.









Penumbra: Next “Feel-good February”

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October to February: There and back again.

Samal Christmas holiday and Poker de Pamilya

I spent my holidays with the in-laws in Davao. Three whole days of sun, sun and more sun. We started with a boat ride to Cagayan de Oro, followed by a grueling 6-hour road trip to Davao, where temperatures raced from noontime-hot, to midnight-deathly cold. I wouldn’t want to be stranded in Buda, at 3AM in the morning, that’s for sure.



Davao, is by far, the biggest city I’ve been to. From my cousin-in-law’s place, to the commercial district was something like 45 minutes to an hour, in early morning traffic, which is a bit longer than I’d expect, coming from an island-city that Davao city’s port could probably swallow up, and still have enough space to include Barangay Punta Prinsesa. I wouldn’t want to be caught in mid-hour jams there, that’s for sure!


But I enjoyed Davao. Very likey! And Samal Island was great! For want of a better comparison, it was like Malapascua. Same travel bumps going there, but very, very, very much like Malapascua. (I want to go back there!)


Christmas was also a time for me to strengthen family ties, renew bonds of friendship, cuddly with my wifey, Joyce, and play home poker games --- what else?



It was fun at first, then, the kids got better and better. Negreanu, Lederer, Hansen and Esfandiari, you better hold on to your winnings because when these Tan kids come of age, they’ll be sweeping the tables clean!



Penumbra: Next “January: Sinulog, Fiery Pigs, Pinnipig, Midweek Session and Perfect on Paper.”

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October to February: There and back again.

PODD Christmas Party @ The Vudu Lounge

December wouldn’t be outdone with the PODD Christmas Party at the Vudu. The Kris Kringle exchange of gifts netted me a poker set, which was promptly used at a family home game two months down the line. Beer was flowing, albeit the two-drink stub we all got. One of our Estonian friends was quoted to have said, “This is the happiest Christmas I’ve ever had in my entire life! (sniff-sniff)” Yeah, yeah, always blame the Filipinos for your fun.

The party was a blast, complete with singing and holiday cheer. And while the food was a fiasco, everyone went home pretty satisfied, loaded down with gifts, and piss-drunk. Post-Christmas party, my wife, Joyce, and I spent some quiet romantic time to ourselves --- We dropped by Flame-It for some burgers. She commented on how good I looked; I complimented her on her taste of clothes. She blushed; and I thanked her for helping me pick out my wardrobe for the night. And we both remarked how Astrid and Peejay looked good together.

Penumbra: Next “Samal Christmas holiday and Poker de Pamilya”

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Luke Tornilla: Bringing home the bacon

In the wake of capturing the inaugural PODD Digital Art Contest bacon, PODD’s Mitch Tedor and Ian Zafra, caught up with Luke Tornilla to talk about his winning entry, digital art in general, and why his mom and dad should have a share of his winnings.

Ian and Mitch: I think your entry seems to tell a story. If you are to make a story out of it, can you tell us what happened before the action in the picture took place and what happens after?
Luke: Hmmm... that's a little hard but I'd like to believe that it happened during the Sinulog when everyone in Cebu is celebrating the mardi gras parade and Sto. Niño is just as glad and so He hovered above the heavens. If you can see, there's the Philippines below Him on the picture.

I&M: You used some of the names from Greek mythology. Is there a relation behind the Cebuano Sun God?
L: Well when I learned that Palmy Tudtud is one of the judges, I thought I should make an impressive work (laughs). So I tried to make up a little story about it (pointing on the description scribbled at the back of his artwork).

I&M: Can you tell us how you got the idea of the Cebuano Sun God?
L: It was first based on the PODD contest theme "Pigs On Parade: The Year of the Fiery Pig"... then everything else has something to do with Cebu. There's the Sto. Niño driving the kalesa, and the orange and crispy pigs inspired from the lechon (roasted pig). It's very Cebuano.

I&M: How many hours per day did you spend on making this art?
L: 1 week. An hour or two after classes and after watching TV.

I&M: How did you get interested in digital art?
L: I got interested with computer games since 4th grade and got my inspiration from there.

I&M: What's your favorite PC game?
L: Prince of Persia

I&M: You said you're currently taking up Management in UPV and it's a bit offbeat from what you usually do or at least what we know of you, why Management?
L: Originally, my direction was to take up either advertising in UPV or economics in UP Dilliman. The latter being my first choice but it turns out that UPV is actually in Iloilo, and not in Cebu. I thought it was in Cebu. But I was still excited and I said 'Yes! I'm gonna be in Iloilo!' But my parents was horrified of the thought that I'd be there so I took up a course that has something to do with economics instead.

Back in elementary, things just doesn't make sense - you wanna be an astronaut and then when you start dreaming towards it, you realize that, ‘Hey wait, there's easier money over there [with my course]’ - so I thought of business.

I&M: What’s your dream job?
L: That's a hard one (laughs). You've been asking me hard questions (laughs again).

I&M: What would you think of your future be like?
L: It will be cool if all things could just come conglomerated. I don't think I've changed that much since high school.

I&M: What's keeping you busy these days?
L: I was enrolled in 2004 and 2005 at the International Academy of Film and Television (IAFT) taking up computer graphics and video editing. After that I got an OJT in the same school for 2 and a half months. Now I'm busy with school - it's the finals so I'm studying for my exams.

I&M: Did you hear about PODD Corp before the contest?
L: No, I did not. But I do know now that the company does graphic designs, search engine optimization, and web designs. I think PODD is a small, fast, and cool company that can do anything. It's almost like hey-c'mon-give-it-to-us kinda thing.

I&M: Aside from digital art, what else do you do?
L: Photography. I love the last hiking trip me and my dad had (showing a couple of images from his deviant art profile).

I&M: How did you learn about PODD Corp's digital art contest then?
L: My dad buys and reads the newspaper. My mom read your ad and showed it to me and said that I should join.

I&M: How do you plan to spend your prize money?
L: I got some money saved from Christmas, then some from my birthday, and then the money from the contest. I'm gonna buy a PSP (Portable Playstation) with it.

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Ian Zafra
Musician, e-businessman, and writer are just a few of the coats this man wears. Apart from his marketing work with Philippine Offshore Development and Design Corporation, he’s in the thick of rejuvenating Midweek Sessions (which relaunches this Wednesday, 28 February 2007), a weekly pocket music event in the late 90s and early-2000s which became a seminal launchpad for many Cebuano rock bands.

Mitch Tedor
A online marketing specialist, nursing a growing love for digital art, Mitch is one of the youngest online marketing specialists at PODD Corp, and considers chocolate her passion, second to none.

October to February: There and back again.


Halloween, Bloody Halloween
My November’s big event was the PODD Corp Office Halloween party, where my fellows brought their DARKER colors to life.

Quite a few ladies of the faerie kind dropped by; a couple of ghouls sampled the buffet while Sponge Bob cavorted with an apparently dead rape victim --- Celeste swears that she was dead, before Sponge Bob gave it to her.

The Fright of the Night was the irresistible diva of deviousness, queen of all arachnids, the most venomous widowmaker, Erica!






The twist: I missed that one. Won't miss this year's now...


Penumbra: Next, “PODD Christmas Party @ The Vudu Lounge”

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October to February: There and back again.

I was remiss in my duties to this blog. In lieu of months of missed deadlines and poor excuses, here is a series of articles --- blurbs, more like it --- highlighting my mis-adventures from... "October to February, and back again."

"If a May-December Affair exists, why not a March-October?"

My beautiful wife, Joyce, and I exchanged matrimonial vows last March 25, 2006, in Maribago Bluewaters. It was a Born Again Christian rite, attended by most of our closest friends and family. Little did we know then that when her papa called and asked us to visit his family in Basilan so I could pay my respects to his side of the family, we’d be replaying it again, the Islamic way.

It was ceremonial, of course, but its significance was heartfelt. My wife would always tell me that, “A man not only marries his wife, but her entire family, as well.” I am happy --- and thoroughly relieved --- to have Joyce’s papa’s blessings on our marriage. The alternative would be, shall we say --- a very, very, very delicate situation we would all love to avoid.

Penumbra: Next, “Halloween, Bloody Halloween”

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