Wow!

buhay pa pala ang blog na ito! will post soon..

Conspiracy June Sked

Conspiracy classmates: Gary, Mike, Yna, Noel, Bayang, Tina, Cynthia, Darleen, Tita, Cooky

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
59 Visayas Ave., QC (across Sgell Gas Station)
tel. no. 4532170 / 9206517

June

1 (F)- Joey Ayala
2 (S)- Susan Fernandez/ Lester Demetillo
4 (M)- Rica Arambulo
5 (T)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
6 (W)- Michael Angelo
7 (Th)- Toto Sorioso
8 (F)- Joey Ayala
9 (S)- Team Mike Unson w/ Reklamo Band
11 (M)- Saxophoro Sax Quintet
12 (T)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
13 (W)- Noel Cabangon
14 (Th) Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan ni Jess Santiago
15 (F)- Girl Valencia sings Ella by Starlight: A Tribute to
Ella Fitzgerald
16 (S)- Cynthia Alexander
18 (M)- Time Machine: Art Exhibit and Collective
Spontaneous Music featuring Bob Balingit,
Lirio Salvador & Noli Aurillo
19 (T)- Musikalusugan (PCTAM Fundraiser)
20 (W)- Noel Cabangon
21 (Th)- Butong Isda Productions
22 (F)- Joey Ayala
23 (S)- Bayang Barrios & Mike Villegas
25 (M)- Julianne & Nino
26 (T)- Banyuhay ni Heber Bartolome
27 (W)- Noel Cabangon
28 (Th)- Paolo Santos
29 (F)- Joey Ayala
30 (S)- Cynthia Alexander

Conspiracy's January Sked

CONSPIRACY
59 Visayas Avenue, QC (across Shell Gas Station)
9206517 4532170

photo: Conrad and his famous Acoustic Papa impression during

Conspiracy's 3rd Anniversary last December 8.

January
1 M- (Closed)
2 T- Dindo/ Hi-fi Indios
3 W- Noel Cabangon
4 Th- World Music Night feat. Makiling Ensemble
5 F- The Spaceflower Show
6 S- Bayang Barrios/Cooky Chua/Susan Fernandez
8 M- Julianne/ Michael Angelo
9 T- Joey Ayala
10 W- Noel Cabangon
11 Th- "Jammin' Reggae" with Brownman Revival
12 F- "Blues Nyt Unplugged" feat. Jook Jam, Snakecharmer,
BluemenStreet and more
13 S- "Acoustic Comedy" with Mike Unson & Jimmy Bondoc
hosted by Stanley Chi
15 M- Updharmadown/ Paramita/ Swissy
16 T- Cocojam
17 W- Noel Cabangon
18 Th- Orange & Lemons
19 F- Joey Ayala
20 S- Project Mayhem
22 M- Parokya ni Edgar
23 T- sessiOnroad
24 W- Noel Cabangon
25 Th- "Jammin Reggae" with Brownman Revival
26 F- Sayawan sa Conspi
27 S- Cynthia Alexander
29 M- Kamikazee/ Moonstar 88
30 T- Gabi ng mga Awiting Bayan
31 W- Noel Cabangon


* To download Conspiracy's weekly sked on your mobile phone, text CONSPIRACY and send to 2948 for Globe, Sun and Touchmobile, or 3940 for Smart, Talk 'n Txt and Addict Mobile. (P2.50 per download, powered by TxtDomain)

AGOS: Tubig Para sa Buhay

September 12, 2006

Conspirators: Cooky, Joey, Noel, Bayang, Gary and Yna (a.k.a. Cynthia not Alexander). Hehe...

This was taken while we were having dinner at the Pavilion of the Araneta Coliseum backstage area. One of the production assistants said " Pili po kayo, Italian or Filipino," referring to the two buffet spreads on opposite ends of the pavilion. I chose Italian, Gary chose Filipino. Pagbalik sa table, pareho din naman ang itsura ng pagkain namin.. Hehe..

We were there for the taping of the ABS-CBN special entitled Agos: Tubig para sa Buhay. The La Mesa Watershed is the primary source of water for about 12 million Metro Manila residents. This TV special aims to stop a housing project set to be built near the La Mesa Dam, threatening to contaminate our water supply. Right before the show Gina Lopez met with all the participating artists and gave a powerful power point presentation (yan ang totoong POWER point) which fired up everyone's desire to save the La Mesa Watershed. Someone asked why I had my back turned on Gina Lopez the whole time she was talking. The truth was I was watching her through her reflection on the glass window. Di ko lang nga mabasa yung mga words sa slides niya kasi mirror image. Hehe...

Cooky, Joey, Bayang, Gary and Noel's production number was originally entitled "ASIN Medley" until it was pointed out to the ABSCBN production team that Kanlungan is not an Asin song. Hehe.. Ang galing-galing. They changed the title to "Environmental Medley." Hahaha! They sang a medley of three songs: Kanlungan, Masdan ang Kapaligiran (tama ba title? baka mag ala-Conrad ako, hehe) and Balita. Maganda naman lumabas yung number kaso pagbaba nila sabi nung isang taga ABS-CBN, "Bakit kayo tawa nang tawa?" I'd say it was Mel Villena's fault for opening a bottle of red wine before the show. Hehe..

If you want to help save the La Mesa Watershed, log on to Bantay Kalikasan's website. Paki-Google na lang..

Conspiracy October Sked

Conspiracy is at 59 Visayas Ave. QC (beside Equitable, across Shell Gas Station) tel. # 4532170

October
2 (M) Acoustic Jam:Open Mic Night
3 (T) Writers Night (UP Dakila)/
"Stop the Killings" Bar Tour feat. Gary Granada,
Bayang Barrios,
& Cynthia Alexander
4 (W) Noel Cabangon
5 (Th) "Blues Night" featuring HUKA
6 (F) Dong Abay
7 (S) Badjao Trio
9 (M) KATHA Songwriters Night
10 (T) Writers Night ((Young Artists' Fellowship
for the Environment)/ Paolo Santos
11 (W) Noel Cabangon
12 (Th) Mahilig ka bang Sumayaw?
13 (F) Joey Ayala
14 (S) Cynthia Alexander
16 (M) Itchyworms
17 (T) Writers Night (Kawomenan)/ Gary Granada, Cooky Chua,
Bayang Barrios
18 (W) Noel Cabangon
19 (Th) Conspiracy Jazz Festival
20 (F) Joey Ayala
21 (S) Project Mayhem
23 (M) Parokya ni Edgar
24 (T) Writers Night (Gay & LesbianFestival)/ Susan Fernandez
25 (W) Noel Cabangon
26 (Th) Jammin' Reggae with BROWNMAN REVIVAL
27 (F) World Music Night feat. Makiling Ensemble
28 (S) Cynthia Alexander
30 (M) Rica Arambulo
31 (T) Writers Night (/ Pido

To downloadConspiracy's schdule on your mobile phone, text Conspiracy and send to 2948 for Globe and Sun Subscribers, 3940 for Smart and Talk n Text Subscribers.

Conspiracy Sked

Sorry for not posting our August and September Skeds. Click on this link to view Conspiracy's Calendar. http://garygranada.com/Conspiracy%20Marquee.htm

Defending Our Oceans

August 25, 2006, 7am, Noel, Gary and I flew to Legazpi City, Albay for the Greenpeace Defending Our Oceans Solidarity Concert. Here are a couple of photos. Sayang medyo cloudy, di masyado kita ang Mayon. The photo on the right was taken at the Legazpi Airport. Thank you to Beng, Francis and the rest of the Greenpeace volunteers for taking good care of us and for making sure Noel gets his "pesco-vegetarian," (not "alco-vegetarian") fare.

The Aquinas University Gym where the concert was held is located not far from Mayon. While waiting for the show to start, Noel came into the dressing room excitedly informing us that there was a good view of the volcano from the parking area. I checked it out (Gary wasn’t at all interested in the spectacle) and was amazed to see a faint orange trail of lava flowing down the side of the volcano. I also saw (and heard, can you believe it??) giant orange rocks falling and landing approximately midway down the Mayon slope. I was in total awe of what I was witnessing but I also felt so vulnerable and insignificant standing so close to an erupting volcano. Medyo trite pero ganun pala talaga yun. Hehe..

The concert was held in protest of the continued operation of Lafayette Philippines’ Polymetallic mining facility in Rapu-Rapu Island, Albay. Coastal communities in the Rapu-Rapu area complain of water contamination (cadmium and other metallic pollutants) and Lafayette’s apparent blitheness in addressing their concerns.

This big streamer was the same one used by Greenpeace Volunteers when they snuck into the DENR Building along Visayas Avenue.

They came in undetected and was able to gain access to the roof area from where they hung this streamer.

This picture is entitled: Gary as Super Langgam. Hehe..

Those who are interested in becoming Ocean Defenders, log on to http://www.greenpeace.org.ph

Conspiracy July Schedule

59 Visayas Ave., QC. tel no. 4532170
http://www.conspiracygardencafe.com/

1 (Sat) – Cynthia Alexander
3 (Mon) - Diyosa
4 (Tues) – Writers Night (Bulacan Artists w/ Heber Bartolome) / JAM AGAINST CHACHA w/ Gary Granada, Cooky Chua,
Bayang Barrios & Chikoy Pura
5 (Wed) – Noel Cabangon
6 (Thu) – BLUES NIGHT a benefit concert for Egay Imperio
8 (Sat) – Cynthia Alexander
10 (Mon) – KATHA Songwriters Night
11 (Tue) - Writers Night (UST Varsitarian)/
Rock Ed presents Book Bigayan,
Gimik ng Bayan featuring The Ronnies
12 (Wed) - Noel Cabangon
13 (Thu) – Hourglass Reunion Show
14 (Fri) - Joey Ayala
15 (Sat) – Girl Valencia
17 (Mon) – BONFIRE FAIRYTALES featuring
Markus Highway and Julianne
18 (Tue) – Writers Night (UP QUILL w/ Yannah Acosta) /
ORANGE & LEMONS
19 (Wed) - Noel Cabangon
20 (Thu) – JAMMIN’ REGGAE with BROWNMAN REVIVAL
21 (Fri) – Joey Ayala
22 (Sat) – Project Mayhem
24 (Mon) – Paolo Santos & Pido
25 (Tue) – Writers Night (Lakbay Lahi) /
Cooky Chua & Mike Villegas
26 (Wed) - Noel Cabangon
27 (Thu) - PAROKYA ni EDGAR
28 (Fri) - Blue Rats
29 (Sat) – Bayang Barrios
31 (Mon) – Gary Granada

Introduction to Hierarchism

Please check this site out. Tell your friends about it, too.
http://garygranada.com

It may be hard to believe that after all his stellar accomplishments in the field of music, Gary Granada considers this piece of non-musical work to be his most important contribution to society. Must-read ito. Isabuhay din sa lalong madaling panahon. Hehe.. Fans of his music need not worry, though. May mga kanta din sa site (yehey!) Of course, the old site can still be accessed (i-Google nyo na lang). That one contains tons of info but no embedded audio. It hasn't been udpated in years but researchers are guaranteed to find it very useful. Nga pala, for bookings, contact his booking manager...me! Hehe..

CONSPIRACY JUNE SKED

CONSPIRACY SCHEDULE FOR JUNE
www.conspiracygardencafe.com tel.no. 4532170

1 Thurs- "BLOOZE NIGHT" featuring The Bronx St. Blues Band (jamming acts include Snakecharmers, Plug & Deltaslim)
2 Friday- Joey Ayala
3 Saturday-Cynthia Alexander
5 Monday-Diyosa
6 Tuesday-Writers' Night (Angelo Suarez)/ Makiling Ensemble
7 Wednesday-Noel Cabangon
8 Thursday-"BALLYHOO NIGHT" featuring Sugar Hiccup, Melody Style Apt. & Prank Sinatra
9 Friday-Joey Ayala
10 Saturday- Project Mayhem
12 Monday-"FREEDOM JAM!" an Independence Day Celebration featuring Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, Noel Cabangon, Bayang Barrios and friends.
13 Tuesday- Writers' Night (Tupada)/ Updharmadown
14 Wednesday- Noel Cabangon
15 Thursday- "PINOY SOUL MOVEMENT" featuring Sino siKat? & Cosmic Love
16 Friday- Joey Ayala
17 Saturday- Cynthia Alexander
19 Monday- Gary Granada
20 Tuesday - Writers' Night (Arrest Gloria)/ Brownman Revival
21 Wednesday-Noel Cabangon
22 Thursday-"BROADWAY NIGHT" featuring Melissa Reyes 0f Miss Saigon Germany

23 Friday- Joey Ayala
24 Saturday - Project Mayhem
26 Monday- Paolo Santos
27 Tuesday- Writers' Night (DLSU Literary Circle)/ Cooky Chua & Mike Villegas
28 Wednesday- Noel Cabangon
29 Thursday - "INDIE JAM!" Indie Bands Open Mic Night
30 Friday- Bridge

CONSPIRACY Schedule for MAY

Here's our MAY Sked.. See you all at Conspiracy
Conspiracy Schedule of Events for May
www.conspiracygardencafe.com
4532170

1 (M) Groove Nation / YAN
2 (T) Writers' Night (Art Casanova)/ Up Dharma Down
3 (W) Noel Cabangon
4 (Th) Pinwheel
5 (F) Joey Ayala
6 (S) Cynthia Alexander
8 (M) Noel Mendez
9 (T) Writers' Night (Ching Ching Barbers..)
/ Makiling Ensemble
10 (W) Rivermaya
11 (Th) Moonstar 88
12 (F) Joey Ayala
13 (S) Project Mayhem
15 (M) Gary Granada
16 (T) Writers' Night (Belai Gruenberg & Friends)
/Cooky Chua with Mike Villegas
17 (W) Noel Cabangon
18 (Th) "Jam for the Rights of Children" featuring
Paul Galang and Friends
19 (F) Bridge
20 (S) Cynthia Alexander
22 (M) Ria & Lionel
23 (T) Writers' Night (Kamakatahan at E-manila)
/ "Jammin' Reggae" with BROWNMAN REVIVAL
24 (W) Noel Cabangon
25 (Th) "LYC: Gimme Shelter" a Benefit Show for Street Children
26 (F) Joey Ayala
27 (S) Project Mayhem
29 (M) "Broadway Night" featuring Melissa Reyes
of Miss Saigon Germany
30 (T) Writers' Night (UP Repertory) / Parokya ni Edgar
31 (W) Noel Cabangon

Happy Birthday Gary Granada!

Today, April 4, my very good friend Gary Granada turns 46. Hehe...okay lang 'yan, own your years sabi nga. This guy is a devoted father, brother and son, an inspiring teacher, a brilliant composer and lyricist (the best, in my opinion), a fantastic singer (naks, aangal yan) and musician, a true friend and above all, a decent human being. "Life is over-rated, sometimes," I remember him telling me during one of our seemingly pointless talks over beer and dilis. Certainly, you don't mean yours. Happy Birthday Ga!

Conspiracy's April Calendar of Events

Conspiracy Garden Cafe
(59 Visayas Ave., tel. # 4532170)
www.conspiracygardencafe.com

(with co-Conspirators: Tina Gary & Arthur)

APRIL
1 DR Productions
3 Paolo Santos
4 Singing Writers' Night/ Johnny Alegre Affinity
5 Noel Cabangon
6 Kuerdas
7 Juan Pablo Dream
8 Cynthia Alexander
10 NEVER AGAIN! Concert for Freedom
Celebration Jam
11 Writers' Night (Yanna Acosta & Friends)/ BROWNMAN REVIVAL
12 Noel Cabangon
17 BRIDGE
18 Writers' Night (Bely Ygot & Friends)/ "BALIKTARAN" An Advanced Earth Day Celebration featuring BAGONG DUGO
19 Noel Cabangon
20 "BLOOZE IT!" Blues Guitar Night
21 Joey Ayala ALAYB!
22 DR Productions
24 "HARANANG BAYAN" featuring POL GALANG
25 Writers' Night (Cesare Syjuco CD Launch & Concert)
/Cooky Chua with Mike Villegas
26 Noel Cabangon
27 ACOUSTIC JAM 2: Open Mic Night
28 Joey Ayala ALAYB!
29 Cynthia Alexander Birthday Show

Never Again! Concert for Freedom

Here is an article that came out in Conrad de Quiros' Inquirer Column. Extra ako. Hehe..


(photo: Conrad, Tita and Miguel de Quiros)

There's The Rub : Dreams
First posted 00:50am (Mla time) Mar 20, 2006 By Conrado de Quiros
Inquirer Editor's Note: Published on page A14 of the March 20, 2006 issue of the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

LATER, SOME OF THE MUSICIANS WOULD ask how we swung off the one big party they had that night. Later, too, some of the veterans of rallies and mass actions would wonder how many organizations and how long it took to put it all together. That was the concert "Never Again! Concert for Freedom," which was held last Thursday at the UP Sunken Garden and turned out to be one huge blast.
The second question is the easier to answer. It took a couple of weeks and no organization (in the sense of a mass organization) to put it up. We just had a lot of volunteers. In my columns last week, I repeatedly used the pronoun "I" to refer to the making of the concert. It is a way only of making it a personal account, I by no means want to claim a franchise on it. That was the work of many people, many of them preferring not to be mentioned at all-not out of fear but in the profound belief that a good deed is its own reward.
I will, however, take this opportunity to express my profoundest gratitude
to all the musicians who came to that, well, giant gig. Most of them could easily have commanded a fortune elsewhere, but they did it for free here. All we could offer was transportation money so they would not be set back unduly financially-it's not easy ferrying some of their equipment. My profoundest gratitude also goes to all the volunteers, particularly to the four persons who racked up a huge cell phone bill calling up the musicians and staking their own credibility in the invitations: Cooky Chua of Color It Red, Yna Dalisay of Conspiracy Cafè, Renard Bartolome of 70s Bistro, and Debbie Gaite who manages bands. My profoundest gratitude finally to all who gave to the concert, and I do not just mean money. We got tons of text messages from people who said they had nothing to offer but their prayers. That is not nothing, that is everything. Those prayers were clearly answered.
I was bowled over by the turnout. I half-expected some of the bands to pull out at the last minute. They did not. I half-expected some of our target audience to stay away at the last minute. They did not. Some people, especially the TV reporters, asked me why there were politicians there. I answered: Because I invited them. I did say in my column everyone was welcome whatever their creed, color, or (preferred) gender. Everybody at least that professed to hate dictatorship and love freedom. The invitation extended even to Mike Defensor, though I could not have guaranteed his safety. Someone there told me he remembered Defensor when he was still a student activist exhorting fellow students to rise up against the Marcos dictatorship.
But the throng that gathered there warmed the heart and misted the eyes. Which brings me to the first question: How did we pull it off?
I have no idea. It was just pure magic.
Someone would tell me later it happened because everybody wanted it to happen. Another one would tell me later it happened because it was an idea waiting to happen. Still somebody would tell me later, "Pare, I think you touched a chord with that line, 'I believe in the power of music, I do not believe in the music of power.'" Good to know that even if I'm not a musician, I touch chords.
It began a couple of weeks before the event. I broached the idea to my friend Pancho Lara, who also helped put up our concert for press freedom in 1999 at the Bahay ng Alumni. His friend Oya Arriola suggested June Rodriguez, a veteran organizer who never stopped serving the people. We got in touch with Joel Saracho, the "emcee ng bayan," and held a meeting a couple of days later. From there it took a life of its own.
Everything just conspired to make it possible. If ever there was a conspiracy, divine and human, it was that. I cannot, however, give Raul Gonzalez the exact address of God if he should choose to issue an arrest warrant for Him, I am not in the possession of any such information.
It was enough to make you believe in Providence. People gave freely, and every time we thought we'd fall short of what we needed, something would suddenly turn up. Someone from out of the blue asked us during the concert how much more we needed and plunked down the cash before our flabbergasted eyes. She did not want to be mentioned, she was just an ordinary citizen, she said.
The stage was magnificent, I have to thank the events organizers we hired for it; they did an exceedingly professional job. The sound system was even more magnificent, donated by people who too would like their generosity to be noted only by heaven. Miraculously, I did not get visited by my perpetual scourge, gout, though I had been drinking nearly every night for the last two weeks while meeting with the musicians and volunteers. (That's a very good excuse!) Many more bands wanted to play, except that some of them had out-of-town gigs that day and we cut off the number of participants at a little past 30. As it was, we had an absolute surfeit of talent. I had worried about the weather some days before because it was always raining in late afternoon; but, lo and behold, God even donated a full moon that night.
I've not seen an event like this where I felt no bad vibes altogether. There was no note, or whisper, or shadow, of discord that night. Everybody was happy. The musicians were happy, the organizers were happy, the contributors were happy, the crowd was happy, the UP police and bouncers were happy, even God was happy-or so He had it writ in people's faces. Only the person who claims God put her in Malacañang for a purpose was unhappy.
It was enough to make you believe in Providence or in that line from the movie "Field of Dreams": If you build it, they will come. You have a dream, build it.
They will come-in more ways than one.

Conspiracy March Sked

Here is Conspiracy's sked for March--

Conspiracy Garden Cafe 59 Visayas Ave., QC.
http://www.conspiracygardencafe.com/
tel. no. 4532170

March 2006 sked
Mondays
6 Paolo Santos
13 Paolo Santos
20 Gary Granada
27 MICHAELANGELO

Tuesdays
7 Writers' Night /
"Finger Dances: Solo Guitar Night" featuring Aya Yuson
and Egay"Koyang" Avenir
14 Writers' Night / Noel Mendez
back-to-back with Ria Mariano
21 Writers' Night / Cooky Chua with Mike Villegas
28 Writers' Night / Jazz Night featuring
Ria Villena-Osorio, Simon Tan & Koko Bermejo

Wednesdays
1 Noel Cabangon
8 "Rock Manny, Rock Manang, Wen Manong"
A Women's Day Celebration
featuring Noel Cabangon & Friends
15 Noel Cabangon
22 Noel Cabangon
29 Noel Cabangon

Thursdays
2 Acoustic Jam: Open Mic Night
9 "Sax & Keys" with Tots Tolentino & Joey Quirino
23 PAROKYA NI EDGAR
30 Digital Alternative Acoustic Launch
featuring Joey Ayala, Gary Granada,
Noel Cabangon & Paolo Santos

Fridays
3 BRIDGE
10 Joey Ayala
17 Joey Ayala
24 Joey Ayala
31 Joey Ayala

Saturdays
4 sessiOnroad
11 Cynthia Alexander
18 DR Productions
25 Cynthia Alexander

Joey at Sea

Right before Christmas 2005, Joey Ayala released his latest album, entitled mga awit ng mandaragat. It has 12 cuts plus 8 minus-ones of some of the songs in the album, (Joey said he put that in for kids to be able to sing the songs in school.) The lyrics to all the 12 songs were written by Joey but he invited a number of his friends to write the music, do the musical arrangement and provide the vocals for most of the 12 cuts.
The first cut, Awit ng Mandaragat, features one of my favorite singers of all time (naks, beer naman dyan), Noel Cabangon on vocals and guitar. Noel also wrote the music for this song. Part of it goes Tinawid ng ninuno ko and karagatan/ Dumaong sa aplaya, nagtatag ng tahanan/ Umibig at inibig at nabuhay ang angkan/ Ng mandaragat/ Magmasid, magbantay/Magpayabong ng buhay/ Ito ang buhay mandaragat. Other guest composers include Joey's equally gifted sister, Cynthia Alexander. Cynthia wrote the music, did the arrangement, played the guitar and sang for Santwaryo and Dagat ay Langit. These two cuts are probably the most melodic of all the songs in the album. Mike Villegas and Bayang Barrios also collaborated on a song entitled Lason, sung by Kevin Roy.
The beautiful, colorful, turquoise-toned album cover was designed and executed by Jaku Ayala, Joey's eldest son. Joey, like a proud stage-dad, showed off the pages with a huge grin on his face saying "Gawa ni Jaku..." I could have sworn, I heard a melody in there, somewhere. He is, after all, first and foremost, a parent. To all parents and would-be parents goes the message of this album. In Joey's own words: Para sa ating mga anak -- isang buhay na dagat.

Aruba

My very good friend Ria Mariano has been performing in Aruba Bar & Restaurant for about three years now and I've only missed a handful of her Monday night gigs. I've been listening to Ria ever since our UP days (that was in the early '90's Hahaha!) where she would sing at Gen-meets and other school activities and comments like "Hayop sa boses!" were all you could hear from our org-mates. I still remember her first acoustic gig in January of 1998 at Freedom Bar. She had master (master?) keyboard player Nikki Cabardo (now with Freestyle and Sino Si-Kat?) backing her up. The stress-filled band scene which she was part of for four years (with bands UsPlus, Souled Out, Odd Man Out and Ybarra, hehe, banggitin ba?) probably tired her out. She has since had several acoustic "partners" namely writer-musician Lionel Valdellon, keyboard wiz Ria Villena-Osorio and Tuloy Pa Rin composer and session guitar player Janu Villanueva. Ria!!! Here's our Aruba picture. That's me on the right singing back-up. At some point, I got tired of watching and wanted in on some action (hahaha!) This picture was taken at Aruba in Metrowalk during one of OUR gigs. Hahaha! Ria and I were probably laughing at guitarman, boy in the mirror, Paolo Tiongson while he was having one of his tantrums.