Yugto....the message is clear!

I have now heard Rico Blanco's new song - "Yugto" (Chapter) on the radio several times. It was unique, powerful and full of heart as is the trademark of Rico since his days with Rivermaya. As expected, the songwriting is deep with lots of references to Rico's musical preferences. After a year of absence, the master still hasn't lost his touch. There is still no equal to his songwriting skills among his contemporaries.

I do get the message that he is implying in those deep lyrics and carried by those powerful melodic changes and surprises.....here is what I was able to cull so far (these lyrics are not guaranteed to be 100% accurate)....

Sa gitna ng kagubatan may ahas na hahalik
Tatawagin kang kaibigan na pinka matalik
Pupulupot sa leeg mo sisipsip ng iyong dugo
Ipapako ka sa krus kapag ikaw ay natuyo

Sa gitna ng kaguluhan may kukulong bulkan
Di ma pigil ang yabang at sakdal na kasakiman
Susubukang angkinin ang lahat ng hindi kanya
Kung kaya kang paikutin tiyak paiikutin ka

Ngunit hindi nila kayang baliin ang iyong loob
Ang pag-ibig na hawak mo’y hindi malulubog

Lumiyab ka….

Sa gitna ng kadiliman may buwitre na nagmamasid
May magbabato ng putik ngunit walang mayayanig
Iiyak ang mga batang nahulugan ng candy
Laging mga problema sa iba’y sinisisi

Sa gitna ng kagubatan may ahas na hahalik
Itinuring mong kaibigan na pinka matalik
Feeling mo’y pupugutan dugo mo’y sisipsipin
Kapag wala nang mahanap ang ending mo’y sa bangin
Ngunit hindi nila kayang baliin ang iyong loob
Ang pag-ibig na hawak mo’y hindi malulubog

Lumiyab ka….

Tuwing hating gabi maririnig mo ang huni
Ng mga kaluluwang naliligaw
Lahat ng pera sa mundo hindi kayang gawin ginto
Ang huwad na tao..

Saksi ang langit sa lahat ng naganap
Saksi ang langit sa …

Hanging Out with the Brew

My wife and I together with Francis Reyes (aka Francis Brew at NU107) of The Dawn after the band's performance at the recent "Battle of the Bands" awarding celebration of 88db.com.

NBA Finals - Mixed Feelings

The NBA finals is almost over now. This year's championship pits old rivals the Boston Celtics and the Los Angeles Lakers. In the 80's, I was an avid Celtics fan. Larry Bird and Kevin McHale were my favorite players. Over the years though, I began to just root for the underdogs or the least popular team. The only exception being San Antonio, I never liked them, especially David Robinson. I believe he's one of the most overrated players in basketball.

This year's finals though gives me mixed feelings. On the one hand, I would love to see the Celtics win another championship and regain respectability once more. They have been out of the picture for quite a while since the days of Larry Bird. On the other hand, I have been rooting for Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant lately especially after so many people started some sort of a hate campaign against Kobe. That's just me...I'm always for when everybody is against. I remember way back in college when the hot topic of the time was the presence of US Bases in the Philippines. I can always debate on either side of the argument and still come out on top...in fact, in our english class when there was an exercise to have a debate, nobody would want to go up against me...i was even giving them first choice on whichever side of the issue they are most comfortable defending but to no avail....

Anyway, back to the topic at hand....in the end, It would probably be better if the Celtics win. the Lakers and Kobe are a much younger team and they can still improve a lot and have lots of chances in winning titles. The Green team on the other hand does not have time as their ally. The time for them truly is now!

Red Lions in FilOil Finals

The San Beda Red Lions triumphed over the DLSU Green Archers 87-75, in their semifinal duel in the ongoing FilOil Flying V Pre-Season Invitational Cup. It was the veterans, Sam Ekwe, Ogie Menor, Borgie Hermida and Garvo Lanete who carried the scoring load for the Red Lions. They will be facing the UE Red Warriors in the finals.

For more details please visit the following story from the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Animo!!!!
Halamahinika Bikitira!!!

EURO 2008

It's football fever once more as UEFA EURO 2008™ goes underway in Austria and Switzerland. One of my favorite teams - Germany was surprisingly beaten by an inspired Croatian side. The story below is lifted directly from the games official web site (www.euro2008.uefa.com)

Croatia sealed their place in the quarter-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™ as goals from Darijo Srna and Ivica Olić earned a famous win against Germany that took Slaven Bilić's side three points clear at the top of Group B.

Famous win
With both teams having won their first game on Sunday each knew victory in Klagenfurt would all but secure a ticket to the last eight, and it was Croatia who struck first midway through the first half thanks to the determination of Srna. The points looked safe when Olić tapped in just past the hour, yet Lukas Podolski set up a tense finale with his third goal of the tournament eleven minutes from time. Croatia, whose only previous success against the Mannschaft had come in the quarter-finals of the 1998 FIFA World Cup – a match in which Bilić played – held on with Germany losing Bastian Schweinsteiger to a late red card. Joachim Löw's men were left needing a point from Monday's meeting with Austria to continue in the tournament.

Just to test my photo links...

This is just to test my photo links...

Jakob's 5th!!

Happy 5th Birthday to my youngest son - Jakob Nicolo!!!

When this kid was just 4 years old, he is already singing songs by the rock group "A Perfect Circle"....how many four year olds do you who can sing songs by this rock group....a real rocker this boy is!!!

Currently, he loves to sing "Cochise" by Audioslave.

Rock on my boy!!!

Rico Blanco and Rivermaya

There is a new article in the entertainment section of Philippine Star announcing the upcoming release of Rico Blanco's first solo album of which the carrier single is called "Yugto". That news made me think back to the time when Rico and Rivermaya announced that they are parting ways. Sadly, the other members of the band decided to continue as Rivermaya.

For me, I firmly believe that Rico Blanco is and always will be Rivermaya. He defined its music and was the heart and soul of what their music was all about. Bamboo was simply the charismatic front man who merely carried the message of Rico's music. In fact, if the current members of the so-called "Rivermaya" merely carry the name. I would dare them not to sing any of Rico Blanco's songs for at least five years while carrying the name and come up with a substantial library of songs on their own to really prove themselves (if they are up to this challenge). The blazing anthems such as "Awit ng Kabataan", "Himala" and "214" all rightfully belong to Rico - artistically and morally.

So all hail the return of one of his generation's musicial genius (the other being Ely Buendia)! I eagerly await the release of his new album. No Compromises!!!