Evo & Grace: The WanderLusts

THE Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra performs under the baton of guest conductor Gerard Salonga in the PPO’s 6th season concert on February 14, 2020 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo (Main Theater).  Soprano Andion Fernandez-Ching is the guest soloist. Slated on Valentine’s Day, the program for the concert includes Lucio San Pedro’s Ang Buwan sa Kabundukan , Franz Schubert’s Erlkőnig , Manuel De Falla‘s Siete Canciones Populares Españolas , Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Tatiana’s Letter Scene (Eugene Onegin) , Jeffrey Ching’s My Heart Stayed Numb (The True Story of King Kong) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no.6, op. 74, B minor “Pathetique” .  Gerard Salonga is currently the music director of the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra in Manila, and is in his second season as assistant conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He has guest-conducted the HK Philharmonic, Philippine Philharmonic, Shanghai Opera House Orche...

Ben&Ben is showing no signs of slowing down. In terms of consistency, the nine-piece outfit continues to break streaming records and dominate cultural conversation with releases that resonate with people from various walks of life. Last January 2020 alone, the acclaimed folk-pop band won Wish FM’s Group of the Year and Urban Performance of the Year for their chart-topper “Pagtingin.” On top of this milestone, the band is currently at number one on Spotify Philippines Top 50, with their cover of “Make It With You.” With overwhelming support from music fans and industry peers, there is no doubt that Ben&Ben is simply defining the times that we live in: the band pours their energy in uplifting our fellow countrymen with their brand of accessible but well-crafted music.  “It really boils down to the heart behind the song,” Miguel Benjamin, vocalist and guitarist points out. “When a song is written as a vessel to carry a message that is beyond ego or prideful intent, and s...

The national orchestra and resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra (PPO) announces its series of shows and programming, the line up of guest artists, soloist, and conductors for its 37 th Season for the year 2019-2020. CCP President Arsenio Lizaso CCP President Arsenio Lizaso in his speech during the Press launching last August 28, 2019, at the Kachina function room of Century Park Hotel, that PPO will have a very busy season because of the support of many people across the country, who appreciate music whether they understand it or not. He is thankful to former Senator now Congresswoman Loren Legarda that pave the way in providing them funds,in order for the PPO to go to different places in the Philippines. “We want music and the arts accessible to people, to make it available to people who cannot come to the center, the center goes to the people and I’m so happy when I see people from all walks of life right in f...

Chris Nicolas, The Only Diva of Club Mwah Since 2004, Club Mwah is the one and only Las Vegas inspired show-stopping performance bar in the Philippines, still giving us jaw dropping show that only they can offer, one name behind the colorful costumes and grand production numbers is Chris Nicolas, the in house Choreographer, Director and Designer, and the only one Diva of their center stage. “Sa totoo lang in the Philippines, etu lang ang may ganitong seryosong show, iba hindi tumatagal, etu yung pang long lasting entertainment, etu yun eh.” Nicolas said.  Nicolas not known to many is a former member of Bayanihan Dance Company, a graduate of Physical Education at the Philippine Normal College, start as a dancer in 2004 during the establishment of Club Mwah, after that he takes over as a choreographer until now. He draws his inspirations depends on her audiences, he believes that it’s a constant change, that they need to keep creating production numbers that people wil...

Dong Abay It rains hard that night of July 31, the last day of the month but like music, its unstoppable and didn’t dampen our spirit to catch Bandang 90’s concert, one of the two shows to close the weeklong celebration of “Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino 2019” celebration at Historia Bar in Quezon City. Head by Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit with National Commission for Culture And Arts, the festival aims to promote awareness and appreciation of all forms of Filipino music through many platforms, it started last July 20 and it covers different music venues nationwide from Metro Manila up to Davao City. Dong, Cooky and Wency Bandang 90’s feature four OPM icons of my youth, the band we look up and that music who give us joy and inspiration back in the days, Wency Cornejo of the band After Image, Color It Red and Cooky Chua, Dong Abay of the band Yano, and Barbie Almabis of Barbie’s Cradle. Wency Cornejo First to perform is Wency, with his opening song Mangara...

The Cosmic Misfits A whole new music festival is set to premier in the north of Luzon come August 24 at the Filinvest Mimosa in Clark field Pampanga, billed as Oddisee Music and Arts Festival organize by Docdef Productions, the group handling the annual Tagaytay Art Beat since 2016, and the recently concluded Fete De la Musique . “Oddisee is a music festival happening up north, it’s crazy because the vibe is different, usually it’s in Tagaytay Art Beat but now we are bringing the music scene up to the north like Pampanga, a growing City and growing culture for music, and music lovers are all there, what we are doing there is providing indie musicians in the north.” Said by Reuben Pascual, Host of the upcoming music fest. Pugfish The one day festival is expected to draw around 3,000 people,  featuring almost 20 local artists and bands from the indie circuits, the confirm bands are The Ransom Collective, Munimuni, Leanne & Naara, Oh, Flamingo!, Carousel Casualt...

Sony Music Philippine’s Newest Artists: Ben& Ben, Alex Bruce, Syd Hartha, The Vowels, They Orbit, and Nathan & Mercury. Home and institution for most of the country’s successful homegrown artist, Sony Music Philippines launch their newest promising musical acts as an addition to their growing family last July 24, 2019. A batch of upcoming acts includes the country’s hip-hop prodigy Alex Bruce, the pop-rock band The Vowel They Orbit, folk-pop chanteuse Syd Hartha and the funk-soul band Nathan and Mercury. With a history of unparalleled success in the OPM industry, Sony Music Philippines has produced numerous prominent talents, such as the classic Eraser heads, Lea Salonga. and Gloc 9 to name a few. The premium record label, together with Ben&Ben, boast this line -up of fresh artist that offers something different sound of this generation and a brand that is unique but still a globally relevant. These acts are one of the most streamed artists in the different music pl...

The FEU Chorale welcomes everyone for Musica FEUROPA 2019 The Far Eastern University Chorale Competition has gone a long way, from just four choirs in 2009 mostly from Manila, the list of competing choirs rose to almost 30 hailing from all over the Philippines, making it one of the most prestigious Chorale Contest in the Philippines today. For 2019, FEUROPA again supported by the European Union as its principal sponsors featuring 10 choirs for Open category and 5 from the teen category, Grand Champion shall take home P100,000.00 and a trophy, First Placer will receive P30,000 and P20,00 for the Second Runner up plus trophy. P10,000 consolation will be given away also to remaining finalists. Musica FEUROPA year 11 is set on May 25 and 26, 2019 in the upgraded retrofitted auditorium of the FEU Manila Campus. The Chorale competition will require each Choir to perform two songs, one of that is their chosen piece that is written in any European Union language, and another piec...

Ben & Ben After making hits in all digital platforms, OPM indie folk band Ben & Ben (formerly The Benjamins) finally release their debut album in the market in titled “Limawasa Street”, inspired by the street name that one of their members holds dear with memories  of personal comforts. Limawasa is derived from Butuanon word “Masawa” that means light. "We wanted the album to represent a place of light by singing about hopeful perspectives in troubled situations," lead singer and guitarist Paolo Guico said. This 9-piece act are behind the songs “Kathang Isip”, “Maybe The Night” and “Ride Home” and was watched and stream via Spotify and Youtube, they headline major concerts here and abroad and consider now as one the most popular band in the country today. Limasawa Street, the debut album has 13 tracks including collaboration with Sugarfree Vocalist Ebe Dencel and Johnoy Danoy, they also acknowledge U2 and Dave Matthews for this album. “The reas...