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Monday, December 18, 2023
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8 modern Pinoy Christmas songs to add to your holiday playlists
By: Andrei Yuvallos - @inquirerdotnet
While many of the most popular Filipino Christmas songs we listen to today were made in the 20th century and the early ’00s, that doesn’t mean Pinoy artists aren’t coming out with new holiday tunes every year.
The local Filipino music scene is alive and thriving, and the holiday season is another source of inspiration for these artists. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with listening to the same nostalgic Christmas music as our parents, but if you’re looking for something new (both to you and in general), here are a few newer Christmas tracks that can help you expand your OPM listening horizons.
“Bibingka” by Ben&Ben
If you really want to feel the Filipino Christmas spirit, this love song by Ben&Ben will do just the trick. What could be more romantic and Filipino at the same time than offering your crush some bibingka after Simbang Gabi? Probably next to nothing.
“Ligaya” by SB19
P-pop group SB19 is on their way to world domination, but they’re stopping by the holiday music genre on their way there with a heartfelt song about the true joy of Christmas.
“No Snow” by Reese Lansangan
Reese Lansangan’s “No Snow” perfectly encapsulates the hurdles of being in a tropical country (while being very in love) during Christmas time. It’s sometimes too warm to cuddle, but you’ll still want to anyway.
“Baby, Merry Christmas” by Keiko Necesario
“Baby, Merry Christmas” is another addition to the cozy, romantic song genre. Necesario’s jazzy vocals fill the room with warm and fuzzy feelings that’ll make you want to cuddle up to someone (even if that someone is your family pet) this Christmas.
“Xmas Lights” by Ang Bandang Shirley
Longing is another common theme in Pinoy Christmas music, and “Xmas Lights” by Ang Bandang Shirley has the capability to make you miss someone who’s right next to you. It’s a light and nostalgic Filipino rock song that’s perfect if you’re a bit of a grinch because of a long distance relationship.
“Tayong Dalawa sa Pasko” by NOBITA
In another entry to the nostalgic, longing category, “Tayong Dalawa sa Pasko” by NOBITA is a grand, Christmassy love letter to someone you wish was in your arms instead of somewhere else this Christmas. Someone please get me some tissues and a cup of hot chocolate.
“Christmas Party” by Eraserheads
Local rock legends Eraserheads’ entry to the Christmas song genre is a funky, uplifting, celebratory song that talks about making a change, uniting, and enjoying Christmas as a community. It’s a good change-up if you’re getting too bummed by all the longing.
“Wish Ko sa Pasko” by The Sexbomb Girls
What would a modern Christmas song list be without a song from the Philippines’ original national girl group, The Sexbomb Girls? It’s a light, cheery track filled with all our favorite Sexbomb Girl sighs and adlibs. There’s some longing, but it’s still a fun track.
Ryan Cayabyab’s one-man 1991 Christmas album now streaming
By: Allan Policarpio - Reporter
After years of physical and digital unavailability, “One Christmas,” the landmark a cappella holiday album by National Artist Ryan Cayabyab, is now officially up for streaming on various music-streaming platforms.
The 10-track collection was produced by Telesis Records in 1991 and stayed in the market for years, before curiously disappearing from the shelves. But with Viva Music’s recent acquisition of Ivory Records—the original distributor of the said album—“One Christmas” can now be enjoyed by everyone and provide some much-needed variety to Filipino revelers’ Christmas playlists.
“This year, the album resurfaced through Viva. And although I only know vaguely how it meandered its sway to an online release, it gives me great joy to see it in the market again,” Cayabyab told the Inquirer.
In 1981, Cayabyab put out “One,” a groundbreaking album of original songs and Filipino classics that had the eminent composer weaving together more than a dozen variations of his voice to simulate the sound of a vocal ensemble or a choir singing a cappella. He also served as the arranger and producer.
Ten years later, Cayabyab — together with Telesis’ Margot Gallardo and sound engineer Monching Payumo — used that very same concept for what would have been his first Christmas album.
32-year-old project
“‘One Christmas’ was recorded in 1991, 10 years after ‘One’ was recorded and released… This makes ‘One Christmas’ a 32-year-old project done in analog format without the help of a pitch editor, like Melodyne,” he said.
True to form, the one-man multitrack a cappella album is a colorful mix of well-loved carols and new compositions, which vacillated from joyous and festive anthems to more haunting, sentimental pieces.
“Like ‘One,’ I went for traditional Filipino songs — this time, with Christmas as the theme, and added a couple of original songs such as: ‘Heto Na Naman,’ ‘Ano’ng Gagawin Mo Ngayong Pasko?’ and ‘Kumukutikutitap’ (written with Jose Javier Reyes),” Cayabyab said.
National Artist Felipe de Leon’s “Pasko Na Naman” was used as a binder music for the album, which also includes “Ang Aking Pamasko” by Antonio Velarde and National Artist Levi Celerio; “Maligayang Pasko at Masaganang Bagong Taon” (Vicente Rubi and Celerio); “Himig Pasko” by Serapio Ramos; and “Payapang Daigdig” (De Leon).
Sprinkling of pop
There’s also a sprinkling of contemporary pop tunes like “Miss Kita Kung Christmas” (Hermie Uy and Fe Ayala) and “Pasko Na Sinta Ko” (Francis Dandan and Aurelio Estanislao).
Some of the recordings of the traditional tracks in the said album, Cayabyab pointed out, would later serve as the basis of orchestrations and arrangements of his subsequent Christmas albums, “Pasko 1” and “Pasko 2” (San Miguel Foundation for the Performing Arts) in the mid-2000s.
Unfortunately, these two albums aren’t officially available on digital platforms. “I’m still praying that they get released in the market, too, in observance of the unique Filipino Christmas celebrations during this season of love!” Cayabyab said.
Sunday, December 17, 2023
Handel - 〈Messiah〉 oratorio, HWV 56 / "For unto us a Child is born"
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Saturday, December 16, 2023
Symphonic Youth: How The Makati City Youth Orchestra Resonates Hope
BY Lala Singian
Through music, the Makati City Youth Orchestra plays toward hope and harmony.
Under white tinsel and blue Christmas lights, children bustle through the marbled halls of the Makati City Hall. Few are on their cell phones. Instead, they’re playing a mini-game of tag-you’re-it. A couple of kids are looking off into corners. They are singing—practicing melodies through their vocal cords.
Without a doubt, the shoot is not without a sense of chaos. The LIFESTYLE.INQ team, teachers, parents, city hall staff, and orchestra director run in circles scrambling to organize the 40-odd children.
This is the Makati City Youth Orchestra, where the feelings of young life resonate through the strings of violins, cellos, and violas. In a throng of youthful energy, there is a sense of happiness found in the shuffling footsteps and the sound of high-pitched voices
Makati City Youth Orchestra
The Makati City Youth Orchestra. On the cello: Katrina Moredo, Sabrina Raval, Lindsey Acosta, Daniel Miguel Llamera, Jonah Noelle Gazmen, John Kyle Fernandez, On the viola: Christian Decio, Carissa Breis, Angelito Miro, Kerbie Nite, Paola Reyes, Rachelle Caysasay, Alexandra Cabrera, Nathaniel Flores, Hannah Leah Favis, On the violin: Angel Valdez, AJ Obcial, Rey Villaverde, Jharice Cardova, Mark Anthony Osorio, Knight Madrinan, Eyllilyn Tabo, Ellysiah Davantes, Cristina Tayag, Donne Nieva, Kendra Eranes, Lexter Arceo, Princess Lopez, Lionel Santua, Lourd Lintan, Yumi Querubin, Shannon Acosta, Janah Andag, Czarina Nangit, Quanyin Acosta, Christle-Jean Bunao, Cyshie Verga, Yoa Nathea Linaban, Aaliyah Gabrielle Del Rosario, Sebynna Pria Lauren Parada, Zhaine Elizah O. Lavega, Rebimo Ylize Sarmiento On the bass: John Fernandez.
The Orchestra Prelude
It all began before the pandemic, with a vision to find an intersecting point of both passion and community. Mayor Abby Binay, inspired by the late arts patron Washington Sycip’s affinity for music, imagined a transformative project: a youth orchestra for Makati City.
After procuring a slew of classical string instruments, the City Hall reached out to Jeffrey Solares, Executive Director of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Associate Conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and now Project Director and Conductor of the Makati City Youth Orchestra.
Guided by Binay’s vision, Solares crafted a proposal that laid the groundwork for the symphonic group.
At the time it was the tail-end of 2019. The project got revving, but as the new year rolled in, so did the pandemic. Of thirty children, only ten have stayed on, named the resilient “batch one.” The orchestra powered through by adapting, to online training till finally, face-to-face sessions that have steadily expanded into a larger, fresh ensemble of precious violins, violas, and cellos.
Jeffrey Solares
Jeffrey Solares, Executive Director of the Manila Symphony Orchestra Foundation, Associate Conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and now Project Director and Conductor of the Makati City Youth Orchestra.
I have watched Solares in a rush-hour concert before at the Ayala Museum. Sometimes, in between songs, he pauses to involve the audience, giving a briefer on the composition. In a world where classical music concerts can exclude people, this pause for a little music lesson creates ripples that make it more accessible, increasing cultural and musical literacy in the Philippines. It then comes as no surprise that he has taken on this project to teach music to the youth in Makati.
A luminary born in Bicol, Solares has dedicated over 20 years to music in both the form of performing and teaching. As conductor of the MSO, the first orchestra in Asia founded 98 years ago, he tells us how it has grown, “We want the orchestra to be a means of livelihood. And has it achieved this?” Currently, about 40 of the senior members are on salary, becoming a source of viable income, while giving MSO members additional projects like teaching the Makati City Youth Orchestra.
Orchestrating Dreams for All
In a world where classical music is often reserved for the privileged, the Makati City Youth Orchestra is a rare beacon of light that allows opportunities for those who wouldn’t normally be able to learn music. Normally, training is accessible only to families who can afford the exorbitant fees of expensive instruments and 1000-pesos-per-hour lessons. Rarely do children appreciate it, and instead see it as a chore.
This project, supported by the city, opens doors for every child. Since none of the children can initially play, they are selected by musical aptitude tests—singing. The tone of a voice can uncover sensitive ears and mindful speech, nurturing potential that others may not see. “Out of probably twenty, five will be in tune,” Solares says.
Under the tutelage of Jeffrey Solares and a seasoned MSO team of seven to eight teachers, these specially chosen young musicians flourish. The teacher says,
“I’ve seen it in the first batch. They look different. They move differently…. You can see how it changed them to grow. Even in school, they’re more developed. Normally, the valedictorians and the top kids play music. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are at the top of their class dynamics.”
A Rhapsody of Growth
Solares teaches through the Suzuki method, a gentle yet disciplined philosophy that believes everyone can learn to play music. The sequence takes the same steps as learning a language with daily listening, constant repetition, praise, and encouragement. This nurtures a child’s natural, innate talent. The director tells us the kids practice pieces he wrote himself, as well as Filipino folk songs—although keeping classical music as the core of their studies.
As the children evolve in learning musical notes, they enrich not just their talents, but their character. Outside time in the classroom, the children spend hours working on their craft, fine-tuning the brain’s development, and cultivating a sense of discipline.
One student, Lindsey, stands with her cello. She tells us how she is part of the second batch. At only eleven years old, she is not in the least bit shy, but full of confidence and calm. As we move through the cobblestones of Makati City Hall, she is careful to take care of her instrument.
As the children journey from their homes in the winding streets of Makati or PEMBO, these educational after-school programs incubate holistic development beyond the classroom.
“Musical training like this develops not only music. It develops basic discipline, attention, learning habits, and then of course, character. It’s persistence, really.”
Ode to Tomorrow
In the complex tapestry of Makati City, the Youth Orchestra represents not just a symbol of musical excellence, but a catalyst of change. Beyond melodies, the children show that regardless of circumstance, the power of art and community can crescendo life into a better reality. It carries the collective aspiration of a city, echoing the belief that every child, regardless of their station, deserves the chance to compose a harmonious future. Director Solares shares how it changes the children’s daily life,
“They get to travel. It’s not their routine. You don’t get this in the normal school environment. And really, I think they feel empowered to have this talent and skill.”
The journey of the Makati City Youth Orchestra is a symphony of hope, a testament to the profound impact of nurturing talent through opportunities. Their future brims with promise, marked by excited performances and a plan to grace the Samsung Performing Arts Theater on December 20—a testament to their burgeoning talent.
The Manila Symphony Orchestra will hold a concert ‘Lisztomania!’ with pianist Michael Cu on December 30, 2023 at the the RCBC Theater. Contact 0962 087 6715 for more details.
The Makati City Youth Orchestra will hold a free public concert ‘Hatid Saya sa Makatizens’ featuring Manila Symphony Junior Orchestra, offered by Mayor Abby Binay on December 20, 2023, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater Circuit Makati. Contact MyMakati for more details.
Produced by Ria Prieto
Grown-Up Christmas List - Cover by - Daryl Ong, Sam Mangubat, Katrina Velarda
37,726 views • Premiered Dec 15, 2023
Friday, December 15, 2023
Our Favorite Funny and Musical Animals
by
Who isn’t fascinated by alligators? But don’t get too close…
Here are two favorite jokes.
“What do you call an alligator that can play the banjo?”
A crock and roll musician.
“Why did the alligator have to sit at the back of the music classroom?”
He didn’t practice his scales.
“Why don’t you see crocodiles in the orchestra?”
Awkward! as you can see.
In music history, the three “B’s loom large. Bach, Beethoven, Brahms.
So, no wonder that B may be a musician’s favorite letter of the alphabet!
The letter also lends itself to lots of jokes, such as:
“Our dog’s Bach is worse than his bite.”
“He’s classically trained.”
A musician for sure, conceived this fable of B’s:
Last night a swarm of Bees showed up in the living room to listen to some music. But picking a genre frustrates them as there is so much to choose from. There’s bee-bop, Bee-thoven, Bee-yonce, the Bee-tles. There’s Amy Beech, the Bee-stie Boys, Cros-bee, Still and Nash, or Justin Bee-ver!
Beavers, though, can be showoffs.
And don’t forget that fabulous foursome, The Beagles!
Let’s make sure cats have equal airtime.
According to this cartoon, Haydn might actually have been inspired by his cat.
The piece of music depicted is the Symphony No. #94 in G Major Surprise 2nd movement, Andante, from 1791. Legend has it that the sudden forte chord and burst in the timpani was meant to wake up members of the audience who’d fallen asleep.
There are some cats who can play puuurfectly.
And other cats that can hold their own on the piano, even fooling your teacher!
Did you hear the one about the lovely flamingo who showed up for a Flamenco audition?
Or when the 8-limbed Octopus took the percussion audition and easily surpassed the other candidates?
We musicians are often plagued by earworms—the tune you cannot get out of your head that repeats and repeats all day long. Birds, I guess, are not immune.
“Chirp! Great… Now I’ll have that stupid song stuck in my head all day.”
And speaking of birds:
“What do birds sing on Halloween?”
Trick or Tweet.
Here’s a handsome performer: Goose Springsteen.
“What do you call the coyote that plays the French horn instead of howling.”
Cornyote!
And if you liked that one, here is an oboe-players version.
Loboe!
Watch out Trombone players. Playing a high-frequency riff might attract the attention of a lovesick elephant who could mistake your sound for a highly stimulated elephant looking for a mate.
Piano jokes with animals are quite plentiful.
Have you ever tried playing hide n’ seek with a zebra?
Please, don’t teach the piano to a woodpecker! You’ll run into trouble.
Snoopy tells us that you never know how a Chopin piano work will affect someone.
I think we agree that we are moved by these lovely Nocturnes, whether in the major or the minor key.
Did you know that the famous “Minute” Waltz in D-Flat Major Op. 64 No. 1, a miniature piece composed in 1847, was originally titled “The Waltz of the Little Dog.” As Chopin composed the music, a little dog was running around the piano chasing its tail. I can picture that. The series of grace notes in the middle section supposedly is to denote the little bell around the dog’s neck!
Now, to be fair, again, we should feature the cat.
What could be more amusing than Rossini’s Duetto Buffo di due Gatti the Cat Duet? The lyrics throughout are simply the word.
Let’s end with a few quick puns.
Percussionists enjoy this one:
“What’s the most musical part of a chicken?”
The Drumstick.
“What kind of music do Santa’s elves listen to?”
Wrap music.
“What music should you listen to while fishing?”
Something catchy!
I hope you found these humorous. To conclude our musical animals feature, did you know that many of our favorite composers have written bird and animal music? Check out one of our previous articles.
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