Memories of the Past Decade

Here's to the ones that we got
Cheers to the wish you were here, but you're not
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
Of everything we've been through
Toast to the ones here today
Toast to the ones that we lost on the way
'Cause the drinks bring back all the memories
And the memories bring back, memories bring back you

Salamat sa inyo mga kaibigan ko

Maroon 5 Memories (of the past decade)

Christmas 2019

Max YouTube Cover Star

Max Schneider sings a lot of cover songs. He can carry a tune, any tune. He sings a lot of songs with angst. 7 years after, he still sings covers, thanks to collaborating with genius musician Kurt Hugo Schneider KHS and fellow vocalists Sam Tsui and Victoria Justice.

His channel Max has a base of over 1.7 million subscribers. Posts have been viewed by billions of YouTube visitors. At age 27, his net worth is estimated to be over $1M. (Kurt at age 29 in 2017 net worth is over $5M).

How he reached that stature is through YouTube.
What can’t Max, the incredible, young and talented singer not sing? What KHS can not play?


In USA Today article published 2014, singing covers paid off for actor Max Schneider "LOS ANGELES — Singing his version of pop hits by Justin Timberlake and Bruno Mars has paid off for actor Max Schneider. His YouTube channel has more than 700,000 subscribers and helped get his name out there. He co-stars in NBC's Crisis TV show, and is about to embark on a 24-city tour singing his own material, thanks to his growing online fan base. He told us about why so many folks start off singing other people's hits in a recent interview at USA TODAY's L.A. offices."

Here are some of his cover songs posted 5-7 years ago many of which are among my favorites.

Max in his Sugar post gives tips on how aspiring musicians can build a career in pop music.

Manila has both talentented vocalists and musicians. Online infrastructure is in place though unstable at times (internet speed of at least 50 Mbps to support 4K quality. 4K LED TVs available at local appliance stores). Studios can be built.

The template for success has been decoded and deconstructed. Can Manila replicate Max's story? Abangan.

Breakeven by The Script
Without You by Usher and David Guetta 
Demons by Imagine Dragons 
Counting Stars by One Republic 
Not Over You by Gavin DeGraw 
Try by Colbie Caillat 
Say Something by A Great Big World 
Love me like you do by Ellie Goulding 
Titanium by David Guetta 
Maroon 5 Medley 
It will Rain by Bruno Mars 
Payphone by Maroon 5 
When I was your man by Bruno Mars 
So Sick by Neyo 
Somebody that I used to know by Gotye 
Stay by Rihanna 
Hold on We’re Going Home by Drake 
Maps by Maroon 5 
How to Save a Life by the Fray 
Problem by Ariana Grande 
Bang Bang 
Bruno Mars Medley 
Give me Love by Ed Sheeran 
Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke 
Hey There Delilah by Plain White T’s 
As Long as You Love Me by Justin Bieber 
Somewhere Only We Know by Keane 
Lean on by Major Lazer 
The Other Side by Jason Derulo 
Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran 
Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri 
Can’t Hold Us by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis 
Take me to Church by Hozier 
Lights Down Low 
She looks so Perfect by 5SOS 
Sugar by Maroon 5 

Flavors Texture and Colors of Christmas

UPSAri-sari: MusicKasaysayan III

The UP Singing Ambassadors capped this academic 2019 year with UPSAri-sari: MusicKasaysayan III their flagship educational workshop with a choral clinic where invited choirs go through a 4-day crash course and workshop on choir history and singing enhancement.

Facilitated by Dr. Eduardo Manguiat, conductor of the UP Singing Ambassadors, 8 choirs were beneficiaries of their advocacy of raising the level of appreciation of music among choir and non-choristers through lectures, vocalization and other voice exercises, one-on-one coaching and demonstration.


Workshop culiminated with a grand concert where choirs presented a signature classical and popular contemporary OPM number with the UP Singing Ambassadors. Participating in this program were: UP Engineering Choir, UP Mania Chorale, UP Serenata, The Iglesia ni Cristo Sanctuary Choir, Lyceum of Alabang Sangtinig Chorale, Muntinlupa Chorus, Tagumpay Chamber Choir and Quiapo Chorale.

Staged at the UP Diliman David Consunji Theater at the Civil Engineering building this 20 December, the two-hour concert was a musical treat with the choirs performing with enhanced singing prowess.

Show ended with an excerpt from Handel's Messiah by the ensemble composed of all participating choirs closing the concert with a theme appropriate for the Christmas season.


The lead choir lived up to its name of promoting the interest of music through its music and unselfish sharing of skills and competency in choir singing execution.

Thank you UP Engineering Choir for the invitation and ticket.

#EnggChoirEncore
#IlangTulogPaba

Bird Watching and Difficult Documenting at a Gated Residential Area

Hope This Christmas

This Christmas, let me interrupt and surprise you with the message of hope

A hope that affirms our humanity with all its glory and brokenness

That we do feel the hope in our hearts and realize it in our actions

May we attain the joy and peace that comes with this hope

Merry Christmas!

Thought lifted from the homily of Fr. Nemy Que S.J. delivered on the 3rd Simbang Gabi at the Gesu 17 December 2019

Homily starts at 46:14

Kalel 15 Movie

There is still a gem in Kalel at 15, a character sketched by Elijah Canlas who is a product of a dysfunctional family and a young adult diagnosed with a medical condition. 

Even with the hurdles and normal life's derailers, Kalel manages.

He is a dutiful son to his mother, tender, appealing and responsible to his lover, loyal to his friends. In private, he is adventurous and playful. 

Yet, the circumstances have not been not favorable to him; he is abandoned by his mother and sister and eventually dropped by his father. He gets angry when his mother leaves him and his sister for her married lover, when his girlfriend partners with an athlete for not satisfying her sexually, when a close friend betrays him with a guarded secret. Finally, he despised life when his priest father will not support his step sister.

There are yearnings to recover like getting her sister out of jail, going back home and did  not materialize. Even with these major challenges particularly his medical condition which are not just set backs, Kalel did not escape life.

Kalel will live and survive despite all. He has grit and is resilient. 

Elijah essayed an unconventional, uncertain and difficult young adults' life in this well produced film of Jun Lana.

The final frame registered a mischievous grin foretelling vengeance.

#kalel15

Enjoying You Tube Music Covers

YouTube renewed my interest in music, an interest that dated back to my childhood days (although with no musical heritage) but waned because of schooling and work.

Since the discovery of High Definition transmittal (at least 1080p up to 2260p.4k) and receiving, transmittal matched with a stable wi-fi and received in the comfort of home audiophile set up, music appreciation is enhanced.

Three channels captured my interest for their playlist, diversity of music, quality of production and a deep inventory. All three are US-based: TheSamTsui collaborating with Kurt Hugo Schneider (who also has his own KHS channel) and Scary Pockets.

All three have over 400 covers built over a span of  at least 9 years and dynamically increasing. All have a lead musician, Jack Conte for Scary Pockets, Kurt S. for KHS and Sam Tsui. Jack is backed up by a full band, Kurt is the composer, arrangement, musician and plays all instruments as a one-man band.

Kurt and Sam are in their early 30’s with degrees at Yale University. Kurt majored in Mathematics; Sam earned a degree in Greek. The duo graduated summa cum laude. They creatively create mashups, a mixture of several elements or related songs.

On free channel (with local advertisements), the three gift us with meticulously selected pop pieces popularized by other internationally known singers.

Hearing one piece, leads to the next and to the next as if the playlist is limitless. (Music is best appreciated in a home theater set up.)

Sam, Kurt and Scary are your alter options to Wish 107.5. Warning though that this lead can develop into a new addicting viewing and listening habit because selected cover songs are popular, familiar, compelling and well written and arranged.

Click and listen. Scary Pockets, a cover of "Viva La Vida" by Scary Pockets feat. Maiya Sykes https://youtu.be/JP3nskD7ebU

Kurt Schenieder’s medley of Maroon 5 featuring Max Schnieder and Victoria Justice https://youtu.be/p5eoHHrTKvs

Sam Tsui with a mashup of Let it Go and Let Her Go https://youtu.be/aoBELyv9cgk
and Love the Way You Lie https://youtu.be/HkHJ2-zoSB4

Their production is a delight to watch because the three excel in their field. love music and enjoy performing. When music is engaging, I remember this quote by Friedrich Nietzsche “In music the passions enjoy themselves.”

UP Engineering Choir 2019 "Ilang tulog ba pa?"

"There's a fire starting in my heart," sings Adele. Talking to several choir members of the UP Engineering Choir, that perhaps is the compelling reason for them to memorize, vocalise, practice, sacrifice. Balancing with their academic pursuit, family relations, personal agenda, joining a choir to sing and to blend with a group was an effort.

"Nobody says it was easy," says Coldplay but they pulled it through at the David Consunji Theater at UP Diliman last 5 December 2019 with their Eng' G Choir In Encore "Ilang Tulog Pa Ba?" There is the exam tomorrow, Typhoon Tisoy yesterday, the class suspensions this week; these did not get in the way to mount the concert.

Perfection for a singing and artistic performance was not expected from a group studying a  technical field. But the fact that excellence in performing, the same value that drives them to study well was embedded in them for the fire in their hearts made the night truly memorable particularly for them, their college and to us the audience.

Philippe Freznosa  in accepting the UP EC presidency just this September 2019 had three interests: the choir holds, remaining solid and intact, his leadership learning and personal growth. After the last encore "Munting Sanggol" he perhaps realized he achieved them all.

Thank you for sharing with us your music.

Encore! Hanggang sa susunod.


#EnggChoirEncore

#IlangTulogPaBa