Worth mentioning in the 'Winnipeg Sun'

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March 18, 2010 (Thursday)

My bandmate Robert Villanueva called me a while ago to tell me to check out today's copy of Winnipeg Sun--the second leading newspaper in Manitoba (next to Winnipeg Free Press).

Our friend band Here the World (brothers Johnny and Tyler Holmes) was interviewed in the newspaper's entertainment section. The brothers answered a series of questions, and when the question was "Who's your favorite local band?" the brothers responded with "haLf man haLf eLf."

Yes, that's the name of my current band here in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. To some people that little mention is no big deal; to me, however, having been mentioned by a Canadian band as their favorite in national newspaper is both an honor and a pleasure. It simply meant that my band is worth mentioning. They didn't forget us.

Here the World has just released their debut album, The Ripple Effect, which you can purchase via their Web site.

Johnny and Tyler, thanks as always. What you did--mentioning us--may seem trivial, but I know that it is another door of opportunity opened for us, because that mere mention will surely create curiosity on the part of the readers of Winnipeg Sun who are into music.

And by the time we are ready to come out with our debut CD, our name has already rang a bell in the consciousness of many people.

My gratitude!

Asian Drumming Festival, May 23 '10, The Forks

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March 8, 2010
Monday

The current president of the Asian Heritage Festival Committee of Manitoba contacted me to represent the Filipino culture in the upcoming Asian Drumming Festival (part of the weeklong Asian Heritage Month celebration in May).

I already have a concept of what to perform--something that I thought of even way back I was still a member of Half Life Half Death in the Philippines--something that I once suggested to my former bandmates to be included in our debut album, but which we never pursued.

My concept will be, my current band haLf man haLf eLf will perform our original arrangement of the song "(Ako'y Munting Tinig) I Am Not a Small Voice." Then, the instrumental part will be a drum routine, which will build up into a series of drum patterns to be rendered by several drummers using various kinds of drums and percussion. This 3-minute drum exhibition will be accompanied by a group of female dancers. Afterward, we revert to performing the song. The dancers will then be joining me in the singing of the song's chorus/coda. The drummers will simply continue playing along the song until they simultaneously come to a break. The song will end in a semi-a-capella--vocal choir with a group of guitarists playing 6-string and 12-string acoustic guitars.

A narrator will be voicing over over the drum-exhibition part of the song, talking about the drums as a percussion instrument and its presence in many traditional and modern musical performances and cultural festivals.

This will be the same arrangement that haLf man haLf eLf will record to be include in our CD.

Winnipeg's CitiTV's Breakfast Television

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March 4, 2010
Thursday

Here in Winnipeg, there's a local television network, CitiTV, which features upcoming local bands on the show Breakfast Television. The show usually gives chance to new or unsigned bands. Last Tuesday, Inna and I dropped by at the station, located at The Forks, to submit materials of haLf man haLf eLf--a proposal letter, short band bio, video footage, and demo recording of 2 songs.

I hope that they consider guesting us. If yes, we will perform live at the show, to be aired in the morning. Usually, the guest band plays three original songs.

I'm conjuring the muses of my art and the deities of my mythology to help me grant my wishes. This will be a big break for my band, especially that here where I am, haLf man haLf eLf is the only New Wave and Postpunk-influenced Filipino band.

No, haLf man haLf eLf is among the less-than-five Filipino bands who are active right now outside the Filipino community.

We are still recording at Chill Recording Studio, located on Sargent Ave. We are yet to finish our first single, "For Her Brilliance." This is a rearranged version of a song I originally wrote in 1999 in the Philippines when I was still a member of Dream Kitchen. Another version is one that Half Life Half Death bandmate Rain Paggao and I recorded a few years ago and released independently under the moniker Half Moon Half Rain. I will describe the haLf man haLf eLf version in one word: Majestic! It features brass and wind and other unconventional instruments.

The Return of Brilliance

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March 3, 2010
Wednesday

Hello, I'm a free spirit roaming the physical world for 39 years now. I used to be a member of a half-forgotten, half-remembered New Wave / Postpunk-influenced Filipino band named Half Life Half Death, which was sporadically active in the Philippines from 1988 to 2003. I immigrated to Canada in 2003 to have a better life. After three years of hardship, I finally got back to my normal state--gladly with all my senses intact. I'm working fulltime as a nurse assistant at a hospital and part-time as the editor of Filipino Journal--the leading Filipino newspaper in Manitoba. I'm active in the community, attending and participating in various cultural events. Also, I'm back as an artist and musician--as the bandleader of the band called haLf man haLf eLf. Most of all, I'm back with my brilliant ink, ready once again to indite whatever I think.

This particular blogspot will be solely dedicated to my musical journey--personal activities that have something to do with music.

When I left the Philippines, I thought that performing in a band was finish for me. I was wrong. As soon as my condition in Canada has stabilized, and I met fellow musicians, I got back to forming a band and performing once again.

This blogspot will be the teller of the adventures of haLf man haLf eLf.