ERICK SANTOS RELEASES NEW SINGLE ‘BAKIT MAHAL PA RIN KITA’

Erick Santos dubbed as the Philippine music’s Ultimate Serenader will be releasing his new album entitled ‘Bakit Mahal Pa Rin Kita’ that will be distributed nationwide by Star Records Inc. It’s an album with 14 OPM songs, where 9 are original and 5 are cover songs. With its heart-warming and inspiring songs that are included in this album, surely, this new album will go a long long way.

Erick Santos is one of the few balladeers of our time that is making a mark in the music industry. A lot of people know that when Erick sings, he sings from the core of his heart. And to Erick, singing a song is like telling a story to his audience. And his goal is to let his audience understand and feel what he is telling them.
 

During the bloggers event for Erick Santos that was held recently at Kitchen Cakes and Coffee restaurant in Tomas Morato, he (Erick Santos) proudly introduces his new album that according to him is very special. “It is special not just because its my own album, but because in this album there is a song where I personally written all the words from the first stanza to the last of it.” Erick said.  

   

Erick was able to write a song primarily because, he himself loves listening to love songs, and this is where he draws his inspiration in writing a song.

In his journey as a singer, Erick Santos would like to follow the footsteps of Basil Valdez, who as a balladeer has made a lot of timeless songs that are well loved by a lot of Filipinos here and abroad.

Erick Santos has done a lot of concerts in the past, and some of the most memorable ones for him are of course the Power Icon concert where he was able to perform in front of the jam-packed audience at the Music Museum for two consecutive days. Another one is the concert he did five years ago in Araneta coliseum where he did a lot of difficult things on stage like singing while dancing which he is not accustomed to do, nonetheless, he was able to do it with flying colors.....And in doing concerts or just simply performing in a T V show and in other places, Erick Santos makes it sure that he always do his best by preparing and practicing a lot….for he believes in the phrase that says: “A singer is just as good as his or her last performance.” 

Text and Image by Ricky Castillo

PYROMUSICAL @ SM BY THE BAY AT MALL OF ASIA (ITALY AND PHILIPPINES)

At the culmination of the 3^rd International Pyromusical Competition, Italy and our very own country Philippines beautified the sky with its magnificent fireworks of art as it went up in the air together with a music that is synchronically tuned to the movement of the fireworks in the sky. Truly, it’s such an amazing thing that explosives can be controlled and manipulated on the air, not only when it comes to timing, but also as to where it will explode in the air.

During the program proper, the country of Italy first performed and delighted the crowd with their outstanding fireworks display. After Italy’s great performance, the organizer in no time announced the winners of the 3^rd International Pyromusical Competition. And here is the list of winners: The country of Netherlands took the 2^nd runner-up slot, Australia and Finland making a tie on the first runner-up position and just as many of us are expecting, the beautiful country of Canada took home the grand prize and proclaimed as the grand winner of the said competition.    

Just right after the announcement of winners….the moment that all has been waiting for has come…..the grand exhibition of our very own country, the Philippines, with flags raised up and being waived on the air, with shirts worn with the map of the Philippines on it….showing support to our country. The Philippines made its grand entrance in the sky with its fabulous fireworks accompanied by a patriotic song entitled “PILIPINO AKO” sang by no other than the boxing champ “Manny Pacquiao.” With the Philippines grand performance combined with a soul-ringing patriotic song…it just makes every one of us who were there watching the event….proud of being a Filipino.

In wrapping up, with the excitement that the Pyromusical Competition brings, with the beauty of fireworks that it displayed and with the tens of thousands in attendance that it draws/n to witness to see the event, we, together with a lot of people cannot wait to see the next International Pyromusical Competition that will be held next year in the same place that will surely bring more fireworks tricks and attractions to all of the Filipinos and non-Filipinos alike.  

Discovering Your Talent

My Talent Summer Workshop, now on its fifth year, continues to provide teens and adults with the perfect tools to develop their talents, and artistry. My Talent has also found a new home on the 3^rd floor of a new mini-mall called 500 Shaw Boulevard. Classes will run April 10 to May 31.

Under the directorship of stage veteran Audie Gemora, My Talent offers the freshest staple of courses, which includes classes for Voice (training the ear, learning vocal technique, developing a singing style), Instruments (learning to play piano, guitar, violin or drums), Musical Theater (learning Broadway style performance combining the three disciplines of acting, singing, and dancing), Street Dance (the latest dance grooves taught by today's freshest hip hop dancers), Modeling (Super model Rissa Mananquil mentors aspiring models on grooming, posing, doing the cat walk, giving pointers on the ins and outs of the fashion and commercial modeling industry) and Pop Performance (with Audie as coach, learn song interpretation, mastering live performance, packaging, pointers on pursuing a singing career).

This year, My Talent introduces three exciting new courses – Acoustic (with no less then acoustic prince Jimmy Bondoc sharing first hand how to develop one’s own singing style and performing with a guitar or piano as accompaniment),  Acting for Television and Film (acquire acting techniques in preparation for a career in showbiz), Hosting (discover the basic rudiments of public speaking, hosting for both live events and television).

For inquiries, call 654-7452/ 3845578 or cell phone numbers 0922-5916060 / 0915-7460756.

UN experts invite families of victims of enforced disappearances to submit reports online as they review 400 cases from 40 countries

The United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances* started reviewing about 400 cases of enforced disappearances, including recently submitted information on previously accepted cases, and other communications concerning almost 40 countries.

The independent experts will hold meetings with Government delegations and civil society representatives, including family members of those who have disappeared, to exchange views on individual cases under consideration and on the phenomenon of enforced disappearances in general.

The Working Group will, in addition, examine allegations submitted by sources regarding obstacles encountered in the implementation of the Declaration on the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and hold discussions on past and potential country visits, as well as future activities. 

ICC delivers landmark verdict vs war criminal Lubanga

THE HAGUE -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) today delivered its first verdict, finding African militia leader, Thomas Lubanga Dyilo, guilty of using child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It is the ICC's first verdict since the court was launched in 2002. 

"Today, impunity ends for Thomas Lubanga and those who recruit and use children in armed conflict," the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy said.

Hundreds of children were recruited and trained to kill, plunder, and rape by Thomas Lubanga and his men during the Ituri conflict in the DRC  between 2002 and 2003. The recruitment of children under the age of 15 is a war crime under the Rome Statute of the Court. 

"While Lubanga's victims have had their childhood forever stolen, I am hopeful that with the justice done today, they will be able to move on with their lives," SRSG Coomaraswamy said. 

PYROMUSICAL @ SM BY THE BAY AT MALL OF ASIA (EVERY SATURDAY FROM FEBRUARY 11 TO MARCH 17, 2012 @ 7PM) CANADA AND AUSTRALIA

During the 5^th week of the 3^rd International Pyromusical Competition held last Saturday, March 10 at the SM at the Bay in Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Pyrotech teams from Australia and Canada showed the crowd what their country has to offer when it comes to pyromusical technique and skills. 

Just before the program start, there were cultural dancers and singers who performed in front of the judges, representatives from the two countries and the audience at large that served as a teaser to the much-awaited Pyromusical competition.

During the actual fireworks competition, the country of Australia and Canada mesmerized the crowd by their eye-puffing fireworks display that made the crowd stand on its feet and shout in amazement. It was Australia’s Fireworkx Inc. which first set the skies on fire with its grandiose fireworks. 

Fireworkx Inc. is one of the leading fireworks display provider in Australia and was founded by Ian Reidel, and through his expertise, innovativeness and dedication to his craft, Mr. Reidel was able to manage and put Fireworkx Inc. on an international level of competitiveness.

The second country that sets the skies on fire is Canada’s Fireworks Spectacular, it’s a Calgary based company and regarded as one of the finest and most professional fireworks companies in Canada. Fireworks Spectacular has already performed in well over 100 fireworks display in all major cities in Canada. They were able to performed in different special events like: Canada Day, New Years Eve, Air shows, Conventions and different sporting and corporate events.      

It is such an eye-catching event that you and your families and friends shouldn’t miss! You can be at the SM by the Bay or simply seated comfortably at the various restaurants at the veranda of the mall watching this grandiose event in the skies.

 
For reservation and ticket inquiries you may contact Ticket Net at 911-5555, Ticket World at 891-9999, SM Tickets at 470-2222 or visit wwwpyrophilippines.com     

Volunteering Expo (VSO Bahaginan)

VSO-Bahaginan invites you to the Second Volunteering Expo on March 13, 2012 at Hotel Intercontinental Manila in Makati City. Entitled "Active Communities, Sustainable Future," the Volunteering Expo will serve as a platform for celebrating and inspiring volunteerism in government, non-government, corporate, and academic sectors.