The sentiment that drives the Philippine Educational Theater Association’s (Peta) full production of “Walang Aray”—itself a comedic adaptation of Severino Reyes’ 19th-century zarzuela “Walang Sugat”—is a triumphant one. From its title to its celebratory tone, the production proudly announces itself as Peta’s return to live theater unscathed, emphasizing that nothing can replace the experience of...
Category: Music
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(There’s) always something to remind me of Burt
First things first. I am not a huge fan of Burt Bacharach, who died last Feb. 8 in his 90s, triggering a global wave of mourning. But I do have fond memories associated with him. So this is a love letter (sort of) to a pop icon in a non-fangirling way. It was the turbulent...
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The Dawn: new song asks the existential question
“Is love still a thing?”It seems like a line in a love song, but it’s a question raised by one of the country’s original rock bands, The Dawn, in a new song titled “Earth.” The band is known for its anthem songs like “Salamat” and “Iisang Bangka.” This time, it asks the existential question amid...
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The Jerks at 44: still raging, still dreaming
Editor’s Note: The following are the liner notes for the limited-edition vinyl release of “The Jerks Live” (Backspacer Records), which sold out almost immediately after it was issued last year. (A 45-rpm single of early original songs was also quickly snapped up by local analog addicts.) To celebrate the band’s 44th anniversary, a more affordable...
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Poor youths play band music in key of a better life
PANDAN, Antique—Rising on his toes, Juanito Maglunob moved his arms upward as though he were hanging laundry on a clothesline to reach and capture that climactic moment in the musical score of “Beauty and the Beast.” Satisfied with the response, he resumed his normal stance and continued to conduct 14 musicians barely out of their...
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After cryptic posts, Gary V celebrates Christmas with kin, attends E-Heads concert
Mr. Pure Energy is A-OK. After worrying fans and observers with cryptic messages on social media about his health, singer Gary Valenciano has emerged alive and kicking. It’s a known fact that Gary is afflicted with life-threatening diseases, such as diabetes, and has been confined in hospital due to dengue, tuberculosis, and other illnesses. He...
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‘Carousel’ takes old-fashioned values into the present day
Nearly 80 years since Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s “Carousel” was first performed on Broadway, the main challenge of restaging this classic musical has become less about creating great performances or doing justice to its score, and more about providing insight into the subject of domestic violence. Handled poorly, this dark love story between poor carnival barker Billy Bigelow (Gian Magdangal) and innocent mill...
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Italian tenor, Korean diva excited to perform in Puccini’s ‘Turandot’ in Manila
“I am excited to be part of ‘Turandot’ in Manila,” said Italian tenor Alessandro Liberatore, who has arrived for the staging of Puccini’s opera on Dec. 9 and 11 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Main Theater. Liberatore, who is to sing Calaf, said he was happy to be singing in Manila where Italian opera greats...
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The music has died; long live his music
Oct. 31, 2022, was the day his music died. The musikero Danny Javier (formally Daniel Morales Javier) had mentioned dying before, on June 11, 2011, shortly after his 40-odd years of making music as part of the trio Apo Hiking Society ended in separation. He was 64 then and diagnosed with multiple illnesses: congestive heart...
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Sarah G on celebrity loneliness
In case it’s still unclear from the song “Dati-dati” alone how terribly Sarah Geronimo misses her estranged mom and dad, she has visualized it in the accompanying music video that she conceptualized herself. You can’t miss Sarah’s sadness, even melancholia, in the video’s first half alone. It’s there in how she moves rather listlessly as...