EK!

Dahon at Aposento '05

Watch my younger brother Mark play bass with his band Dahon. Their lady drummer's using my red musicmate drumkit (except for her own snare). The place is called Aposento Restaurant, at the base of Manhattan Square Condominium (one of Megaworld's project where me and my wife previously worked at, it was still under construction back then) in Makati. The place is restaurant by day and yuppies chillout bar at night. Bands needed to bring their own equipments, only the PA system is provided.

Part-2
Part-3

Chuck Mangione - Feels So Good

Work in progress...

See you all back tomorrow!

Wish we could have joined you but Eve's still recuperating and I'm rushing for deadlines. Anyways see you all back in SG tomorrow!

Photo Essay

The day has ended, I'll play again tomorrow.

Attack of the clones

Time to wake up...time for lunch

Who shrunk the donuts?

I thought only Big Macs and Quarter Pounders have shrunked over the years. 8yrs ago these donuts were double its current size: Thanks mom for granting Stefi's wishes! This time we didn't have to queue at Raffles City basement's donut shop. Dunkin's still the best!

Bamboo is back in OC Singapore!

Click here for details!

Have A Laff!

A New Paint Job?

The most sought after tennis racket in Singapore has been revamped with a paintjob. It even looks head-bigger than the previous "nCode six one tour" model. While Robert and Pat whine about it, we'll see tonight if this revamped look is still Fed-Ex's magic wand on his road to defend his crown at the Australian Open. The challenger--Andy Roddick.

Prior to AusOpen Andy's beaten Roger at the Kooyong Classic Invitation. Must be luck? Yes 'coz grandslam is just another story, and Fed-ex just won't loose on this. So in my opinion, this semi-final will be the end of the road for Andy. My prediction: Federer to meet Gonzales (who just beaten Nadal) in the finals.

MOSAIC 2007 PICKS!

In the world of sessionist jazz musicians, anyone who has session-played with Chik Corea is considered a class-performer. I have seen Akira Jimbo (former Chik drummer) and really marveled his skills. I'll do what it takes to find my way into this show.

It's a pity she's abandoned her 'cradle.' Barbie's Cradle songs were like Bamboo's with unconventional grooves. When I was in Manila back Nov 2005, the first time I heard a BC song was a rockin "feel-good for the drummer" song. I never thought a year after that I'd be sessioning with Launchbox and Backwater playing the song Independence Day. I felt good indeed. We'll see if her charisma alone will be good enough to pull off this acoustic gig. Will she rock? Let's find out...

James Daniel Is Born, 20th January 2007

What's that song on the radio?

Did it ever occured to you, in the middle of something at work the radio plays a catchy tune, then you started wondering what's the title and the artist? If only you knew it then it'd be easier to get it from your favorite online music store or download site? Here in Singapore, Class 95FM has a website feature where you can check every song's title/artist being aired. You have to be fast though because soon as the song stopped, the info's changed to the next song and there's no way to track it back. The next song in queue though is also posted. Cool ya dunchatink?

This afternoon one old song's catched my attention, 'Fastball - Out Of My Head.' Happy listening!

From Virtual to Reality

I feel priviledged to have worked with colleagues Bong and Quianling and WOHA Architects (the best arch'l firm in SG), on this. Here's just a mock-up model unit, abt 40% in progress:

Now here's my 3d rendition, about a year and a half ago:

Above image was also featured in Autodesk's website,(VMW - pdf, 192kb). Above is just one of the many marketing visuals created for www.alilahotels.com by VMW (Singapore's best Arch'l. Media Firm).

What Happened to the X-mas Tree?

The trees are gone for now, but those decor mirror balls have become a common desktop item in our office recently. Peeps in the 3d industry knows why, its a tool for creating HDRI images.

No tks, I don't need another mirror yet.

Tech Resource: Dig deeper and learn about creating HDRI's here, from the father of HDRI himself, Paul Debevec:

Daniel Libeskind in Singapore

Here's one 2006 project worth cherishing:

Iconic condo development promises to put Singapore waterfront living on world map
4 January to 15 January 2007

The Singapore Art Museum, in association with Keppel Land, will present an exhibition of architectural prints, renderings and drawings of the works of New York-based master architect, Daniel Libeskind.

other article/s here:
Keppel unveils spectacular seafront homes in architect Daniel Libeskind’s first Asian residential show piece

Pirelli Calendar

Does anyone still post calendar on their walls nowadays? Thanks to technology, gone are the year-ends where people beg for free calendar from their favourite stores. Most have access to computers, PDA's and mobile phones with built-in calendars to keep them organized. So who still needs printed calendars? I guess the good old desktop flip types will still be there but those wall mounted ones are already fading or maybe not in the countryside. One particular calendar that won't go obsolete for me is the Pirelli Calendar. What's interesting about this is not the calendar itself, but the images created from shear artistry in the field of photography. Its not literally about the 'calendar,' so to speak.

Here's a wiki entry if you wanna dig more:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirelli_Calendar

If you're not a VIP or corporate Pirelli customer, just go to this link (my compliment):
http://www.pirellical.com/thecal/calendar.html

Show Respect

I'm not a die hard blues fan but I admit I like 'some' of his songs.

Change The World - I think this is one of the songs that triggered the 'acoustic bands' rennaisance in Manila. When Side-A was just becoming popular, this was 'a must' song in all the gigs that I watched them.

Sunshine of Your Love - Remember Arnold Z's 'Last Action Hero?' That soundtrack was one of the most influencial tunes that inpired me to become a drummer, though I don't know who the dummer was hehe.

Would I spend $85-400 to watch his concert? Nah, I'd rather save it for a Joe Satriani gig. But when?

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!

May the true meaning of Christmas fill our hearts as always and till many many years to come! Peace to all!

Thinking Of Home
24Nov06

when i think of home
i remember the goodtimes
and not a time being alone
how i wish i'm home

moments with my dear ones
funtimes with friends
if there's a chance i'll do it
will hop a flight back home

it feels good to think
my loved ones are waiting
what brings me here
is a pride on its own

surviving is one thing
but how far can one go
when you care for you loved ones
you don't think twice, you just go

when i think of home
i remember the good times
the best is all there is
just wait, for soon i'll be home

moments with my dear ones
funtimes with friends
i won't miss it when i get a chance
next thing you'll know, i'm already home

Time To Write Songs

A good sign that pinoy bands are here to make waves. The bands have agreed to produce a compilation album next year so everyone I guess are stressed up creating their originals. I'm kickstarting with two songs inspired by a new friend (Awit Ni Mikaela) and a girlfriend 10yrs ago (Her Name). These songs may not necessarily be shortlisted (either by MeshP or Mr. Brosnan?) so I'll just cross my fingers for now and write as many songs as possible.

AWIT NI MIKAELA
by G. Ordinario

gusto na kita ngunit parang me kulang pa
sa tagal ng panahong tayo'y naging magkaibigan
bakit kinailangan mong lumisan, mangibang bayan, ako'y iwan
sana'y magpropose ka na, isasagot ko 'i do' so please itanong mo na

__hindi man, di na rin ako aasa
__pagka't ako'y handa na
__hindi man, hwag nalang
__pagka't ang puso ko'y meron nang iba

minsan ay pinakilala mo ang iyong kaibigan
mabait sya, ngiti nya'y di naalis sa aking isipan
minsa'y busy ka at siya'y aking naabutan
sa starbucks nag-iisa ako'y inimbitahan

o ba't kay bilis naglaho ng pag ibig ko sinta
daig ko pa ang isang kisapmata
tulad mo, ngayon andito lang
subalit bukas ako'y iyong lilisan

gusto na kita ngunit parang me kulang pa
sa tagal ng panahong tayo'y naging magkaibigan
bakit kinailangan mong lumisan, mangibang bayan, ako'y iwan
sana'y magpropose ka na, isasagot ko 'i do' so please itanong mo na

__hindi man, di na rin ako aasa
__pagka't ako'y handa na
__hindi man, hwag nalang
__pagka't ang puso ko'y meron nang iba

di na ko aasa pang muli
kung ikaw ay babalik saka na lamang ngingiti



HER NAME
by G. Ordinario

10 years since we parted
Your face was drawn in my head
The girl who used to own my heart
Is a wallpaper in my mind once again

_I tried recalling her name
_But it was vague, its a shame
_The girl who used to own my heart
_Has a name that's now forgotten

All that is clear till now
were happy times and sweet moments
Scenes of caring, giving, loving
The hell, what's her name again?

Those days we were foolish
No worries, no other cares
Time went really fast and guess what
I still can't remember, fuck!

_I tried recalling her name
_But it was vague, its a shame
_The girl who used to own my heart
_Has a name that's now forgotten

__I knew she'll be in good hands
__And my future was unsure
__For sakes we had, we needed to
__Part ways, and never look back anymore
__It's a pact we had to endure
__Time's healed the wounds, I'm sure

Those days we were foolish
No worries, no other cares
Time went really so fast and guess what
I totally forgotten her name.

I realized theres another one saved in my palm, I wrote this song in the office today.

TAKE ME TO YOUR ROOM
by G. Ordinario

Take me to your room
Where true freedom lies
Let's break every rule
That hinders our destiny

_Any man that drinks your potion
_Receives a doze of affirmation
_A promise engraved in stone
_Doesn't mean you have to be alone

Entice me, despice me
Pour out your energies and hurt me
After you close your eyes
You will know the pain has died

__We are searching for truth
__Till then we'll realize
__Its not the forbidden fruit

A promise engraved in stone
Doesn't mean you have to be alone

BANDA FANTASTIKA @ GASHAUS

The bayanihan spirit has done wonders once again! Banda Fantastika, featuring 8-pinoy bands had a resounding success. The new bands on the block (3b, Stonecold, De Ja Blue, kernel panic) did showcased very promising performances at par with the more experienced bands (quiverpool, launchbox, backwater, mrbrosnan?, meshpotatoes).

Here are some youtube links:
MeshPotatoes:
Yugyugan Na
Dito Sa Dilim
Beer
Last Goodbye
Santeria
Amber
Two Trick Pony
Aeroplane

Mr. Brosnan?
Banda Fantastika
I'll Go Wherever You Will Go
Push
Plush
High And Dry
Ulan

Launchbox!:
Mikaela
Deliverance
Ligaya
Leaving You
Panalangin

Deja Blue:
I'm Tore DownCome Together - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XWdCr5xeto
Oo
Hootchie Coochie Man
Give Me One Reason
De Ja Blue

Musicmania-3: Meshpotatoes @ Gashaus

Video Links:
Salamat
Last Goodbye
Santeria
Ordertaker
Hallelujah

Musicmania - 3: Backwater & Mr. Brosnan @ Gashaus

Session w/ Backwater:
Independence Day

Mr. Brosnan:
Wherever You Will Go
Push
Plush
All Over You
My Sacrifice

Lecture by FRANK GHERY

"MR. BROSNAN" and "MESH POTATOES" gig invitation

with Launchbox at the Gashaus

It was a totally different gig experience yesterday at Gashaus. I sessioned with Launchbox, we played alternative tunes that were new to me drummingwise. I find those songs challenging as the grooves were really unusual, specially the Barbie's Cradle's "Independence Day" and Sugar Hiccup's "Womb." Really enjoyable stuff for drummers.

My Gashaus experience has cleared skepticisms my former and defunct band 'thewoohoos' had as we thought they had the worst soundsystem setup and room acoustic quality. Not at all, they had brand new Marshall amps for all the guitars, 3-piece mic with boomstands, Tama Starclassic Drumkit with Sabian cymbals (basic hihat, two crash and a ride cymbals, plus a splash and a china crash, and dual iron cobra bass kick), a rare gig treat for drummers. Based on the feedback we received from friends who watched, the soundmix was very good at the audience area. The only setback was there was no monitor speakers for the performers. I was literally deaf to the vocalists but the guitars were good enough for me to hear. Besides that, the given set was only limited to 30-mins. Each band was required to clear at least 15nos of $10-each tickets. If you were to invite friends to watch I'm sure they will feel cheated, unless if the other bands performed similar radio-friendly tunes as we did. The rest played grunge and metal (i could be bias as we left with a few more bands to perform, i guess they played heavy ones too). Ok to me as a musician, but I felt our invited friends did not appreciate the other groups.

We performed around 5:30pm, almost halfway through the 'Musicmania 2' as the event title was. Even if we were not 'in' among all the bands based on the genre that we performed, we did received good applause compared to the others as the crowd had a 30-min break from the usual riffy, grungy, heavy stuffs by the rest of the bands.

Here are some pics (youtube vids will be posted soon):

Braunchbox from left to right (above): Saluyot(session guitar), Ivan(bass guitar), Jolly(session vox), Maureen(main vox), Titan(lead guitar), Tutik(me, session drums). I'm so glad to have been invited by them. Knowing them from the first practice through the gig I felt its not difficult to get along with them (Same with the Brosnans and the Meshes). They are always on their ground and needless to make pa-cute to stand out. That's a good thing abt this group. No wonder they have been playing together for years already, gig after gig.


related blog entries:
jiometry
reesespeanutbuttercups
full vids:
womb
soon
my favourite game
partial vids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FatGG2_dvSM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK1RvPbrcck

HERE'S A HINT FOR SUNDAY'S GIG

...05 Oct...at Gashaus
a song from Fann Wong's band:

another from old forgotten Fil-Am band Moonpools and Caterpillars:

WATTAF_CK!!!

MEET DOC SHYRA!

UST Returns To Finals After 7-Years

Although in the finals series between UST Tigers and Ateneo Blue Eagles, the latter is leading by winning game 1, this semi-final win by the Tigers is something to be remembered as they did it in style:

http://www.uaapgames.com/recap091906.shtml

Causeway Bay Jam, 25Sep06

Mr. Brosnan set:

Selling the Drama
Angels And Devils
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Wherever You Will Go
High
Here Without You
The Day You said goodnight
Pinoy Ako
Laklak

Mr. Brosnan with George set:

Plush
High and Dry
With Or Without You
Wonderwall
Knockin' On Heaven's Door
She Will Be Loved
Under The Bridge

Video coverage tks and courtesy of Peloy Mike!

Who moved my cheese?

A good reading (now in audio) for someone who wants to understand why people need to make decisions and move on. Its all about positivity, nothing else. Tks for the book Doc Vlad!

Stefi was saddened by today's revelation, that one of her most loved companion is about to migrate to the land of the loonie toonie. It was difficult for her to accept at first but having explained to her the analogy of the "who moved my cheese" story, she realized that it is not too bad at all. Now she understands this could be just a short wait but soon after they will meet each other again. Godspeed!

And yeah, McDonalds has its own version as Stefi's mousepad:

"Launchbox" Gig Invitation!

GasHaus proudly features some of today’s most exciting bands. Just as the establishment is founded on the concept of complete artistic freedom, the musicians are encouraged to experiment with the entire spectrum of sound. Genres are unimportant so long as the music is good, true, and sincere. Despite coming from diverse musical and social backgrounds, artists share a common element of passion. Passion for music!

Check indie-filipino SG based band LaUnchBox! performing at GasHaus on Oct 1 , Sunday@5pm. Tickets sold for 10sgd (inclusive 1 softdrinks] . For ticket reservation, just email me or those in the cc list. Rock on!!!

Refer to the following website for more info and directions:

http://www.gashaus.com/

http://www.gashaus.com/directions.htm

http://soft.com.sg/2006/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=18226&start=0
The Band:

Mau Obciana – vocals/guitars
Ivan Cunanan – bass
Titan Mercado – guitars

Sessioning for this gig are:
Ogie Camat – guitars (from the band Mr. Brosnan?]
Glenn Ordinario – drums (from the band, Mesh Potatoes and Mr. Brosnan?]

The New 'Mr. Brosnan?'

Damn, we are ready to rock!!!

Gig Updates

Mr. Brosnan - 24Sep06, Causeway Bar, 4pm (a Pinoy charitable fund raising project, tickets at $10)
- Set 1 (George on Vocals)
- Set 3 (All Brosnan)

Session w/ Launchbox - 01Oct06, Gashaus


Mesh Potatoes - 15Oct06, Gashaus, (time TBC)

Weekend Break

School break is here, we thought Stefi deserves a movie treat. At first I thought she would be scared but it turned out she loved it, even wanted to watch it over again. She's been frequenting http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/monsterhouse/international/ these days seeing scary but 'not anymore scary' stuffs. To her its all just art creations:




Afterwards we decided to dine at MS deck. Twas their first time there, I was like having lunch everyday there when I was still with DP. (thank goodness food there doesn't suck anymore):


We strolled around MS, wifey had a serious walk-work-out (expecting women needs lots of those), until its time to hit the Cathedral. After the service I thought wifey should have some more w-w-o so we headed to Dhoby Gaut station, instead of City Hall station. On the way we had to pass by th newly renovated Cathay House (one of singapore's oldest moviehouse i guess):


and Stefi was delighted to find:


she finds these creatures fabulous as her very own 'Marlin and Nemo'(as she names them):


on the way back, while waiting for the train we recalled the "Monster House." We thought we'd like to share what we felt (we had a BLAST!):

...now that's too early for a holloween 'T or T'

enjoy the school break, while dad and mom enjoys this every moment, for a week:

Here's something for the tennis buff:

The Very Particular Art of the Racket Stringer

“Ivan Lendl was the first player to change rackets at every ball change; he brought a new level of professionalism,’’ says Prokes. “Now, the most professional player? Agassi. He is the new benchmark.’’

Cute!

Tribute to Andre

You gotta read this for inspiration:

Andre Agassi: A Fan's Man

Blake Pays Tribute to Agassi in Winning Form

“It’s not about my experiences in life as much as it is about creating experiences for others. That’s where I find a lot of joy.”--AA