Khimo and Kice

Typhoon Paeng signaled that I should stay home for at least 2 days over this long holiday weekend.

This gave me a chance to update my playlist and list of artists on YouTube leading me to Idol Philippines Season 2.

Two young male finalists captured the netizen’s approval, the grand winner Khimo Gumatay, a pure Filipino residing in Makati City and Kice So, a Guimaras-based fun-loving maverick Ilonggo beach lover claiming to be a bohemian.

Khimo, my choice as a stereotyped winner with a wide vocal range and trained technique that amazes, and stuns provides him the versality to sing any dramatic, big performance song.

Kice on the other hand has a distinct singing voice and projection that captivates and communicates; he is more daring and experimental with preferred genres still maintaining his own distinct signature statement. He has Chinese and Swedish DNA imbibing the endearing Ilonggo culture speaking in English most of the time.

From their interviews, Khimo is more seasoned and has peaked as a performer having participated in several grand singing competition before although young at 22.

While Kice, practically a novice with limited signing engagements with a band or a solo acoustic artist, in the beach, in Boracay in regional events is as he claimed still learning the craft, open to try new techniques yet firm with his charming distinct refreshing signature style.

Khimo won the hearts of the judges and the voting audience with his rendition of “End of the World” by Boyz II Men https://youtu.be/YDO6uXW1BZs

Kice is firm in owning his style putting drama to “Basket Case” by Green Day acknowledging his uniqueness, unconventional approach relating to the message of the song https://youtu.be/faNlWfs-XUQ

As he prepares to execute his interpretation, it is clear he is an artist, knows what he wants, his current limitations yet open to what professional coaches suggest enhancing. He does not need coaching anymore on how to charm and mesmerize his audience.

Khimo per my appreciation is destined to take the male path of Dulce. He owned the song “Find One Hundred Ways” by James Ingram in a duet with Martin on ASAP after winning the championship https://youtu.be/QKKNcUKIDB8 and “One Sweet Day” of Mariah Carey with Regine Velasquez, another contest favorite. https://youtu.be/bI4jmbCKjIo

Kice is articulate. He says he owes it to his fan base and to the network for landing in top 3. What I appreciate about him is his statement of respect for Khimo, “Khimo deserves the spot more than anyone else, this is for you man!” 1:95 https://youtu.be/S266eUCn_io

The landscape has changed. Singers are getting younger. The world is getting more competitive. Cycle of ups and downs is more pervasive.

May the two get the big breaks they earned and excel in their fields using their talents to express thoughts, emotions, sentiments not captured by other art forms.

We eagerly watch the progress of their career paths. Good luck to the 22-year-olds Khimo and Kice.

Take 1 Netflix Series

 “Kung bilang na ang buhay ko, ano ang gusto mong gawin na ikasasaya mo na maitatatak sa iyo?”

To the Korean musical artists on Take 1, “If you were to create one dream performance, what will it be, what single song and for whom do you want to perform it and in what stage?”

Netflix presented these questions to 7 Korean artists. First, they should be exemplary in their field with multiple hit songs They can define their dream and can execute. They must accept the challenge.

Sky is the limit; without any constraints, the artists dreamt big!

The brainstorming process was documented in One Take and the performance to be completed within a short time frame measured in hours of about 1 month.

The artists presented their grand dreams meaningful to them, grand in terms of intentions, setting and production, emotion, complexity, innovation, scale.

Created from the 7 Korean singers of different genres and their chosen stage were:

1. Sumi Jo. “Not one to back down from a challenge, Sumi Jo combines classical music with Korean sounds and aesthetics for her performance of a whimsical aria.”. Opera-Theater

2. AKMU. “The sibling duo AKMU overcome many technical difficulties while preparing an ambitious production that involves skydivers and a multitude of dancers.” Pop-Airstrip

3. Yim Jae-beum. “Yim Jae-beum returns to the stage after a six-year hiatus with a bare-bones performance that lets music do what it does best — heal and comfort.” Ballad-Open air roof deck 

4. Rain (Jung Ji-hoon). “Jung Ji-hoon, also known by the stage name RAIN, pours his heart into an elaborate spectacle as the first to perform at an iconic house.” Rock-Korean President The Blue House

5. Lena Park. “Lena Park reflects on her life as she tackles a song she once deemed too difficult. With special guests in attendance, she's in for an emotional ride.” Diva-Open air barge docked beside an iconic park

6. You Hee-yul. “You Hee-yul comes back to the humble venue where he and his band first got their start. The fans share their memories of growing up with his music.” Hesitant Composer/Producer-Concert Hall

7. MAMAMOO. “After two years of building separate careers, the four members of MAMAMOO come together to bring forth a mashup of their team’s hit songs.” K-Pop-street level outdoors with 2 stages accessed through a tunnel outside of Seoul

Watch the episodes on Netflix. As the production team sets up the stage which has turned out to be logistical nightmares, the artists master their craft to deliver their performance of the lifetime.

Each episode shows the challenges and struggles to realize their one single dream concept in Take 1 of the vision the artists owned.

See perfection driving the talented artists and their support captured cinematically and audally with Korea's state-of-the-art equipment.

Imagine what would have been the outcome if these supports were provided to our talented Pinoy artists!

https://www.netflix.com/ph/title/81536826

https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/korean-music-variety-show-take-1-coming-to-netflix-in-october-2022/

Netflix drops trailer for Korean music reality show 'Take 1', starring MAMAMOO, AKMU and more (nme.com)

https://youtu.be/vzU5XTjkP6o

https://fb.watch/gdCFD-stHn/

Home2Home Biking Around the World

 “To see the world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour.” -William Blake

By chance, I viewed in full on Netflix, a subject of interest, biking globally around the world. “Besser Welt als Nie”, the German title translated as “Home2Home” is a documentary of Dennis Kailing released in 2020 about his biking around the world not just in a day or multi day or even months but for two years and 1 month covering 7 continents.

This was triggered by his boredom of doing repetitive routine daily, the desire to take a big break. Even with limited biking proficiency, he embarked on a bold extreme adventure to experience the diverse world in landscape, culture, weather, conditions, people, plants, and animals outside of his comfort German zone.

After about two hours completing the semi-docu/movie joining Dennis in his journey:

• Infinity at the palm of your hand. I saw the world at a glance-41 countries 7 continents 43,600 kilometers 295,000 meters of elevation gain. 

• Eternity in an hour-761 days, 2,353 hours of cycling time, 515 different sleeping places

• Heaven in a wildflower-the thrill of the uncertainty, the joy of interacting with all types of people, the appreciation for hospitality, the understanding of culture, the universality of being human, the return home to family

Dennis started his journey with a sendoff by his family, a leisure chill ride in Europe his home continent, crossing to Asia, the Western part with a distinct Asian culture (Turkey and United Arab Emirates), the Southern part (Iran, Nepal, India), and the exotic Southern-Eastern side (Myanmar, Timor-Leste, Indonesia). Asia was his gateway to a small landlocked continent Australia his takeoff point to North and South America (USA and Latin America) and his enroute back to Europe.

Dennis learned the universal language of being human despite the language differences to understand a diverse culture through body language, gestures, emotion, appreciation, hunger and even pain. He enjoyed the freedom of solo riding but at times longed for the joy of a company to share the burden and to double the fun. He is no superman, getting sick from fatigue and food in Asia, almost giving up in the endless pedaling in Australia crossing from the deserted Western side to progressive urbanized Eastern and Southern part.

His bike equipped with panniers both front and back for his basic stuff go through breakdown from the usual flat tires (63 per his count), parts replacement (bottom bracket, crankset, cassette, brakes, inner and outer tires etc.) and temporary fixes from unexpected accidents. Not proficient at bike repairs, he eventually learned how doing them faster and smarter eventually.

He brags of the versatility of traveling globally in a bike when he shows how it is packed for a flight, stored inside the tent, used to flirt in Iran’s “dordor”. He stacks it when hitchhiking in trucks. It performs in ascents flowing fluidly in descents. It can take all types of weather and winds. Bike repairs can be done easily as parts and fixes are readily available anywhere.

When going through low moments, Dennis would get boosted recharging from the locals who host him, fellow bikers who share his crazy drive, his visualized target of the next destination and at times the thoughts of home and the time and event-based targets as Christmas, birthday, preset meet up with friends. Frustrations at not getting permits, visas, interception at checkpoints, uncooperative weather, dwindling resources, bike breakdowns are overcome by his determination to cross and face the adventure of a different situation he set out to see each day.

His memories of the exciting, at times unpredictable experiences, the beauty of the places, landscapes he has seen, exposure to the biodiversity of flora and fauna and the kindness he received from people across seven continents are enough drives for him to complete the journey he set.

Two years and 1 month after, five months ahead of what his father set as his return date, Dennis returned to Hessen Germany recharged with a different perspective in life. No longer bored and questioning life’s purpose and perhaps having found the formula for happiness.

He ends his Home2Home with these learnings which he would not have realized had he not pursued this bold adventure foremost of which recognizing that the greatest adventure is returning to home.

The magic to happiness is, “Two wheels, time and the freedom to decide where to go next is more than enough”

------------

“What was it all about?
Once again, I’m where I didn’t want to be back then
But I probably won’t stay for long
During my journey, I think I discovered what I need to be happy right now
It’s not the money, an expensive car or the latest smartphone
Two wheels, time and the freedom to decide where to go next is more than enough
And the assertion that the world is so dangerous
My travels gave me a different perspective
The opposite is the true
We human beings stick together
Everywhere I went, strangers helped and supported me on this journey
A conversation at the side of the road, a cup of tea
An invitation for dinner or even to spend the night
And most of the time, the most special thing was something way simpler
What . . . What remains is love
And having an open mind
And what we do not accept is
That they don’t smile
What’s next for me?
I don’t know yet
Because one thing became clear during my journey:
The biggest adventure hides in uncertainty
The world is waiting
It wants to be discovered”

Besser Welt als Nie. Home2Home
Dennis Kailing 2020

https://youtu.be/vIVd-QxC4Bk
https://youtu.be/s5tcJaiKPzo
https://youtu.be/RKfIgg16ZGM
https://youtu.be/-ujQjR276hs

Sculptures of Pinoy Daily Workers in QC

 Sculptures of Pinoy Daily Workers in QC

Statues were installed in QC honoring the contribution and importance of the pinoy daily workers spotted in the streets of QC. 

Initially spotted in February 2021 during the pandemic, a revisit was made this October 2022 walking and biking. The lane is clean, walkable all throughout this upscale district of the city.

Curious initially about the two life sized statues spotted at Mother Ignacia st. corner Scout Borromeo, an inquiry was made with the QC City Administration office via online last year. The QC City Administration office replied stating they were part of a contest as an appreciation to the service done by workers who are mainly daily wage workers and always in the streets.

Winners of the art contest earned recognition in the Department of Budget Management (DBM) national program meriting installation and funding at the QC's Green Open Reclaimed Access Lane (GORA Lane). This is a straight route starting at Mother Ignacia corner Segreant Esquerra Avenue at the back of ABS-CBN ending at Aurora Boulevard and Hemady st.near the back gate of St. Paul University QC.

GORA Lane is a 4-kilometer stretch is a walkable and bikable smooth pedestrian lane that spans several Barangays and one bridge from Barangay South Triangle, Laging Handa, Obrero, Kristong Hari, and Mariana and Tobias-Hemady Bridge Road.

26 statues were erected this 2021 to add visual delight to walkers. Works were done by the artists affiliated with Artalyer. ARTALYER is a Fine Arts and Decorative Arts Workshop Studio dedicated to assist and help broaden the knowledge of anyone interested to learn the Basic and Advance.

Statues spotted in sequence: manggagawa, photographer at babaeng subject, mangtataho at batang customer, street sweeper, visually impaired male, lalaking hawak ang cell phone, senior citizen at caregiver, athleta, ice cream vendor at bata, namamalengkeng ina, lolo at lola, mamang nagbebenta ng sigarilyo, mamang naglalako ng peryodiko, policewoman, security guard, mamang magbebenta ng pandesal, mamang lalake, batang lalake, mangtataho, babaeng naka handbag.

Created before the pandemic, not included in the series are the delivery crew who dominated the roads for almost three years and the health workers who are stationed mainly indoors at the health centers though they should have been honored too.

The city creating them statues gives them recognition as we do to our national heroes though nameless.

View them in the well-maintained pedestrian lane, put face masks on their faces as some did, lay flowers. Just appreciating the works is a way of honoring them for what they have been doing.

Some practical notes:

• Hemady from Aurora Boulevard to E. Rodriquez Avenue is a one way towards Christ the King Mission Seminary

• The short strip from E. Rodriguez Avenue to the Tobias-Hemady Bridge Road has 4 statues

• A bridge connects Hemady to Scout Tobias. Prepare for a sharp descent and a short abrupt ascent

• At the corner of Roces Avenue and Scout Tobias, there is a standee showing the GORA map and some attractions in QC

• There are no seats from the start to end. Enter some food outlets for food and a seat

• There are at least three bakeries along Scout Tobias st.