Tentative Cinemalaya screening schedules are up!

Calling all indie film buffs! It’s July once again and that only means one thing---- CINEMALAYA! Screening of entries is scheduled from the 20^th to the 29^th in three different locations: CCP in Manila, Trinoma in Quezon City, and Greenbelt in Makati. Click here for the complete tentative schedule and ticket prices.

What to watch? What to watch? *ngatngat sa kuko*

Rizal Rocks Back to Life in “Rebulto” Album Launch

Former Yano lead vocalist, Dong Abay proves that even after his 6-year hiatus from the music scene, he still can sway the crowd. In his “Rebulto” album launch held in Cubao Expo last Thursday, June 28, the 41-year old punk icon brought the house down with his edgy songs, outstanding stage presence and unintentional sense of humor that not even a faulty sound system can spoil.

Beer toting Dong talks about his album. The shirt will have to come off, of course.

The possessed performer. The fans loved it.

With 7 tracks under its hood, the concept album, “Rebulto” probes into our national hero’s insights on the current situation of the country that he once defended against the Spanish occupation. According to Abay, Jose Rizal is his hero, no matter what other historical cynics may say about him. He also said that this album is his tribute and gift to the patriot who had his 121^st birthday last June 19^th.

Here are the tracks:

Kilometro Zero

Kikilos

Par Que

Anonymous

Rizal Day

Bagumbayan

Titigas

This list was never followed.

Former bandmates Raymund Marasigan of Sandwich and Buddy Zabala of The Dawn collaborated with Team Manila in producing the album. But just like what others have already observed, we think that it’s not as punk-laden as his previous ones, but it still has Dong Abay written all over it. Though it was hard to make out the lyrics, it was clear to us that he was trying to say something with each word.

Neither the faulty sound system nor the sudden downpour of rain dampened the crowd's spirit...

...or Dong's.

With Raymund Marasigan’s Sandwich taking care of the strings and the beats, Dong Abay performed with reckless abandon. And when the fans clamored for his popular compositions like “Perpekto”, “Tsinelas” and the controversial, “Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo”, the vocalist obliged and the evening came to life. People sang in unison, threw their hands in the air and yelled their lungs out [including us, of course], while some guys just went overboard. We think we saw a mosh pit there somewhere. One guy even dared approach Dong Abay and ask the vocalist to wear what looked like a white baby bonnet. Abay tactfully declined. Then, it got even more tense towards the end when this guy, whom obviously had one too many, decided he can do a solo mosh pit on stage:

Caught in the act: Big boned girl at the left about to tackle topless dancing guy on the right out of the stage.  Diego Castillo of Sandwich with that "Who the f***?" look.

Still, we think everything went well. We even dare say that the hero would have been proud.

Dong Abay’s “Rebulto” is now available in all Team Manila outlets.

Break a leg, Cynthia Alexander!

One of the most intimate gigs we've been in.

We were there during the last night of Cynthia Alexander’s send-off series last Saturday, June 23 at the Conspiracy Bar along Visayas Avenue. It was our first time to see her perform live on stage and we’re glad to have been there inspite of the jam-packed crowd that would rival that of Divisoria’s during the Christmas last-minute shopping season. In fact, for us, that amount and density of people was necessary to create that very intimate and personal mood for the gig.

There were familiar faces among the crowd and the performers alike, and we can only imagine how touched Cynthia felt to see all of these people coming together to bid farewell. The artist sang crowd favorites as well as newer ones like our particular favorite, “Kabaka”, a poem by award-winning poet and educator Vim Nadera, arranged and sang by Cynthia herself. The night was nothing short of spectacular in every aspect, yet, the experience is bittersweet because the truth remains: Cynthia Alexander is leaving the country to seek greener pastures.

Filmmaker Sari Dalena documents the event.

Not his most flattering picture, but hey, that's Mark Escueta of Rivermaya performing with Cynthia on stage.

Now, we’ve all heard of Filipino nurses, teachers, doctors and other professionals going abroad for a better future. But musicians? Something must be really, really wrong. And according to Cynthia, there is, indeed, something very wrong with the Philippine music industry. In an interview with Interaksyon.com, she’s particularly discouraged by the Optical Media Board’s thougtless regulations for artists like her, read this or view the pdf version here.

Here, ladies and gentlemen, is an artist who truly makes significant contributions to Original Pilipino Music, and to see her resort to leaving the country for better fortune is a real shame.

However, she says she can never leave the country for good since this is her one and only home. That can never be good enough for the fans, of course.

Good thing we got her to sign our copy of her album, had a blurred photo together and a memory of our first, and probably, our last Cynthia Alexander gig.

Cynthia wrote: "Love will come to you." Yes, it did.