The Scene Around: Gabi Ng Pagpupugay

06/13/14 01:32:20 PM

The Independence Day was the very important holiday for the citizens of Republic of the Philippines. It was indeed the date which showcased one of the most pivotal events in the history of this country–our independence of the three-century colonization of then-European imperialist Spain.

It was every June 12th of the year when several events were held in observance of our Independence day, such as job fairs, the annual rituals of giving tributes and respect to RP's official signs, and even advocacy-driven rallies and concerts.

Though most of them were on the political and artistic themes, no one seemed to put a hand on sports. It's like everyone forgotten something–that is to pay tribute to the people who made recognition through the means of playing the physical (and mental) activities in life called “sports.”

This is what the objective of a veteran sports-beat journalist and former commissioner of the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League (PBL) Chino Trinidad when he waged a sporting tribute event called “Pagpupugay”at the Newport Performing Arts Theater located inside the Newport Mall of Resorts World Manila on Thursday evening, which by the way was also the Independence Day (June 12).

Prior to the main event, the organizer himself put up a Memorabilia Exhibit on the Newport Mall's Ground Floor, which runs from June 1 to 15. Yours truly have seen some of the most precious things which these athletes brought to the country alongside their highest pride, from medals to uniforms to even the ball they used during the 1954 World Basketball Championships in Brazil (and don't be confused though, 'coz for your information: soccer was the ball used during the early decades of basketball).

Aside from the literally memorabilia, some of the artworks were part of the exhibit such as paintings from Anthony Galvez, Jun Aquino, and the gigantic King Caloy sculpture by Reynald Bon Mujeres.

It was near six in the evening when people started to flock the venue's lobby (which situated on the mall's third floor). Stars from past to the present and from all sorts of sports were there along with their supportive families and friends. Aside from them, personnel from both the mainstream and new media were in attendance to witness the star-studded evening.

The formal show started around eight in the evening, with veteran sports broadcaster Sev Sarmenta serving as the anchor alongside organizer Chino Trinidad.

From there, several Philippine-raced athletes were given tributes, with some of them represented by their respective families. In particular order:

1st – boxing: Pancho Villa (tribute presented by Denver Cuello)

2nd – football: Paulino Alcantara (Chieffy Calindong)

3rd – swimming: Teofilo Yldefonzo (Eric Buhain)

4th – track and field: Simeon Toribio (Elma Muros-Posadas)

5th – track and field: Miguel White

6th – boxing: Ceferino Garcia

7th – tennis: Felicisimo Ampon (Felix Barrientos)

8th – golf: Ben Arda

9th – boxing: Anthony Villanueva

10th – boxing: Gabriel "Flash" Elorde

11th – chess: Eugene Torre

12th – bowling: Rafael “Paeng” Nepomuceno

13th – bowling: Olivia “Bong” Coo

14th – billiards: Efren “Bata” Reyes (Francisco “Django” Bustamante)

15th – bowling: Arianne Cerdeña

16th – boxing: Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco (brother Roel)

17th – bowling: Lita Delas Alas (Coo and Cerdeña)

18th – basketball: Carlos Loyzaga (also, selected past members of the Philippine Basketball team; present: PBA player Chris Tiu and Marc Pingris of Gilas Pilipinas).

(Other tribute presenters were Sev Sarmenta and Chino Trinidad)

However, as the program was about to give tribute for Loyzaga, Trinidad broke the news that the basketball player known as “The Great Difference,” never made it to the venue and was instead confined to Cardinal Santos Medical Center, though the former commissioner quoted that his condition was nothing serious.

Going back, as the ceremonial rites rolled during the evening, emotions poured around some of the industry's key personnel; specifically, one of them was on the segment about the boxer Anthony Villanueva, whom passed away a few weeks prior to the event. He bared the trust fund intended for the boxer who just passed away a month ago, and vowed he will never let another misery on any Filipino athlete pass by.

He also announced the first beneficiary of the trust fund were the former boxer and now COPD fighter in Leopoldo Serantes.

In addition, several members of the London Paralympic teams, as well as the mentally-impaired-but-winning Filipino athletes, members of the Philippine Army, young football players (students of Calindong), and other vintage athletes—both in good form or in deteriorating condition—were given recognition.

The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Sebastian Trinidad, provided the musical scoring, with the Mandaluyong Children's Choir providing the vocal accompaniment; and the Resorts World's resident band The Draybers providing the rocking color, with The Voice Philippines' winner Mitoy Yonting as the front man.

Overall, the program rolled for almost two and a half hours, with the post-program set slated for photo ops, autograph sessions and even interview questions fielded by both broadcast, journalism and online media. Yours truly though was grateful to meet several personalities, including Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez, and “The Dean” Quinito Henson, and Chino Trinidad, to name a few.

The downside though is that I never knew some of the classic athletes our country ever had, like for instance, I never noticed it was Bong Coo until she was introduced (perhaps the photos between my old Sibika book and the present one could really tell the difference), and even Yoyong Martirez and Danny Florencio, whose happened to be seated next to me minutes before the program started (I moved since my friend whose invited me to the “Pagpupugay” came). Alright, I know, I suck at that point.

Anyway, the program had its own good cause. I think there should be a second “Pagpupugay” soon since we still have a lot of world-class athletes who excelled very well.

Post-script: Before I formally culminate this post, I would like to give a shout out to one of my friends who blogs as the SportyGuy. He was the one who invited me for this prestigious event.

Author: slickmaster | ©2014 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: SYNC Music + Tech 2014

5/5/2014 8:09:30 AM

On April 27, musicians and music enthusiasts alike were treated by SPINNR indie to their event called SYNC: Music + Tech held during that hot Saturday afternoon at the Black Market in Makati City.

Yes, it was scorching hot that walking along the streets of Pasong Tamo for a second might cause you terrible sickness within the next few hours or so.

But that did not stop me anyway.

So I managed to register for the event itself, and braced myself for few hours of music and technology convergence.

Jimmy Ayson gave the welcome remarks at 4 pm, while Abby Borja tackled their brand, and Vida Sioson formally introduced the SPINNR’s independent music counterpart names SPINNR INDIE.

After the three corporate personnel took the podium and present themselves, talks from several artists and key music personnel such as Barbie Almalbis, Vin Dancel, and Francis Reyes took turns in sharing their knowledge in the music modernization thingy.

With Almalbis, a former Hungry Young Poets and Barbie’s Cradle vocalist, gracing the afternoon with her sets of “stompbox,” or the gadgets which guitarists used as “pedals.”

Mr. Mony Romana, Lee Grane and similarobjects also had their share of talks to numerous attendees.

Apparently, Grane, a singer/songwriter from the TV show The Voice, launched her single “Sana” during the event.

After the talk, dinner and drinks were already served as musicians Joee and I, Sinyma and similarobjects, delivered their performance acts to cap the night away.

Overall, it was a musically-packed full of information night for us. And not to mention, a perfect chillin' booze for the weekend. Well, I just wish there are lot of similar events. I mean, things like this. 'Cause we badly need it. Much support for the local underground scene.

(Post-script: shout outs to my blogger friends Clarenz Nixon, Axl Guinto, Sailor Star Catcher, Ron Mia and special thanks to Faudible for inviting me here.)

(Photo credits (All): SPINNR PH's Facebook album "SYNC: Music + Tech")

Author: slickmaster | © 2014 september twenty-eight productions

The iBlog10 Experience (Part 3)

4/15/2014 8:42:13 PM

A few days ago, I had thought of creating a part 3 of my experiences on the 10^th Philippine Blogging Summit. The funny thing though is that one of my friends in the industry replied of “go ahead.”

And now, turns out the joke was one me when I made this post real.

As much as there are several points I imparted on the first two write-ups of this series (which by the way, was my personal tales of accounts during the two-day event).

It just so happened that I’m so thankful with bunches of stuffs I garnered during the stretch.and I’m not talking about anything materialistic here.

Instead, I’m all about ‘learning’ this time around.

1. Don’t write just because of Google. As what one of the social media kings Carlo Ople said (not in exact words though). Who cares if you’re the most searchable page on the world’s biggest search engine, while in fact you only have nothing but pieces of craps down there? It’s not bad to do the Search Engine Optimization, but make it your only second priority, ‘cause remember…
2. Content is still the king. Right, the C word does matter the most. This is what your readers and digital marketers are really up into. No one gives a crap on your site look on its superficial aspect, nor how catchy your title is, ‘cause...
3. Design only covers the small portion of your entire blog when it comes to SEO. Jason Bagio was right when he told me this. What’s the proof? My old blog design in 2012 where some readers expressed that I may have the good content – despite its not-so-freakin’-good outlook. But it doesn’t mean that you won’t focus on that aspect. Of course, you still have to level them all.
4. We are all marketers. Even if don’t have that natural way of ‘sales talk,’ the thing is we actually marketing ourselves to the entire cyberspace. And blogging is not the only ways and means; there’s also social media. Even if the way we used to express – that counts as our own selling strategy. In my personal and philosophical article entitled ’69 Things In Life According To Me,’ I told in one of the items there, “everyone’s a salesman, and the world is a huge marketplace.”
5. We’re not just bloggers. I’m not talking about our day-jobs here (even if reality-speaking, “I’m a BUM who blogs. LOL!”). It’s about professionalism too. Mr. Brad Geiger was right when he said we’re not just bloggers, as it alone lifts everyone’s status and morale in the entire society, regardless if that’s online or offline.
6. Don’t use (nor don't take even part) the platform for any of the ‘dark ops.’ ‘Cause you want to troll something? Make people pissed out of what you’ve written? Or to simply attack a personality? Dude, I may be a rant-maker, and I may be tagged as a troll (by nonetheless but a mob of no-brainers) or bully, but there is a ‘thin line’ between expressing one’s word and ‘pure attack.’ I would discourage that, especially if: first, you know nothing at all; and second, you’re nothing but a coward in real life.
7. Make your presence felt. This is how people will recognize you, regardless if you’re a big-time guy or just a member of an online cult. And if you’re sociable, or just a plain social climber (in a positive connotation), try joining on some online communities. Unless you don’t want to make many friends, doing such can be a huge starting step for you to get noticed. After all, we are all born to…
8. Make a stand. Through the advent of blogging, one simple person can be an online sensation. And now with the advent of social media, and other platforms, making a statement has just got easier. And on that note, making your own opinion can be reachable at your fingertips.
9. Never stop from chasing your passion. Take note: that P word keeps you going from doing what you love in the first place.
10. Make social media your friend. People may think that social media can be that one huge enemy from other aspects of the World Wide Web, especially for blogging. But, actually, NO. It’s definitely not. In fact, social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or even Tumblr (which is by the way a mixed platform of blogging and social networking), can be utilized to make your voice heard. It can be even more effective if you’re not that good on SEO.
11. Be responsible. Not just on your words, or design, but also on your entirety. The fact that there’s always a ‘responsibility’ accompanied for every basic human right we had – even if it;’s about expressing thru WWW. Besides, if in real life, you regularly check yourself at the mirror and fixing yourselves before you go, the same approach also applies on your blog too. Why did I say so? Simply because…
12. Your blog is your own brand. Just like as your name to your reputation.
13. Blogging is the new REAL venue for aspiring writers. Have you noticed a number of authors, writers, even journalists and other professions rose to the occasion through the act of blogging? Let’s face it: not everyone has a chance to become part of the school’s paper, or a pre-production staff, or every other profession that requires writing. You might be stunned if I tell you that even doctors do blog (just like one of the speakers during Day 2).
14. It’s even the new ways and means for the so-called ‘citizen journalism.’ Have you heard of the so-called news blogs? That one attests to this idea. The downside, though, is that a lot of bloggers tend to be irresponsible to post news items, too. And not all of them can really give a shit on the so-called ‘ethics.’
15. We’re growing. The internet is 25 years old, and whoever thought about advancements come in an ‘instant,’ especially lately where phones evolved as well as from desktop to laptops to tablets?
16. There’s a brighter way ahead. Well, if you asked me about the future of blogging…

Say, I already had a lengthy post. Maybe I should go for a Part 4.

Author: slickmaster | © 2014 september twenty-eight productions

The Scene Around: Ellen's Opening Branch at Ermita, Manila

2/22/2014 11:50:20 AM

Here’s what I spotted last month.

It was the near-end of January when I personally strolled around the Ermita area to witness the opening of the Ellen’s aesthetics branch there. See more photos below.

Several bloggers, reporters from the media, and celebrities flocked the third floor of the Silver Oaks hotel for the formal opening of the 37-year beauty business’ 11^th branch. The event was formally slated at three in the afternoon, with Ellen Lising’s nephew organizing the event.

I have to be honest with the guy though. He's a total neophyte in organizing events. Well, let's give him the benefit of the doubt. I do believe he will learn more when it comes on that aspect soon. 

Blogger friends sailorstar catcher and Axl were with me (until I need to do some errands in the eastern side of the metropolis during mid-afternoon and back) during the day. Well, they were actually witnessed more happenings during the inaugural stage than I do.

Ellen’s daughter Janice Lising is also there; so were Sheena Halili, Matet De Leon and several actresses.

In lieu with the even, Ellen herself offered a free facial service to two of the numerous bloggers present at the event. While the others like yours truly managed to avail their gift certificate amounting to five hundred pesos.

So the next asking thing is… will the beauty experiment will work on me? Find out. Don’t worry… I’ll keep you updated anyway.

Author: slickmaster | © 2014 september twenty-eight productions