2 hours before Jaya and Jay-R’s concert last Saturday (Oct 22) at TD Pavilion, I did not have a ticket yet. But radio personality Ryan Orlanda who’s identified with singing celebs called me, “You have 2 tickets from me! Ikaw pa!”
So I went! The last time I watched Jaya was 2017 here in Toronto, when she came with Xian Lim and other ABS-CBN headliners. Produced by Marky Hughes, the show started almost on time featuring home-grown talents.
After a brief intermission, the pulsating bass/buzz that my shoes felt on the floor and continued to bounce on the the walls was a herald of main event treat. The younger audience to my right stood up, gyrated and joined in the contagious fever. Ah, Jay-R’s moment! Talk about an entertainer who’s skilled in marketing himself, a kind of branding he seemed to wallow in.
Though I did not know the lyrics, I absorbed the beat. ‘Twas my first time to watch Jay-R doing solo numbers, I previously saw him in 2 ASAP concerts (one in Neew York, 2016 and a second here in Toronto, 2017). Well, I was impressed! I remember in 2015, he had mentioned in an interview that his favorite songs included Di Na Natuto (by Gary Valenciano), Through The Fire (Chaka Khan), and “It was the first R&B song that caught my attention and that introduced me to the genre, andI’ll Make Love To You (BoyzIIMen). That’s when I really fell in love with R&B. I was a young boy when I first heard that song about making love and was feeling the raw sentiments.”
Now on stage, Jay-R did his playlist (Parachute, Ngayo’y Narito, Bakit Pa Ba?, I Got A Girl, No One Else, Just the Way You Are, Uptown Funk, etc), he held his devotees captive. The crowd turned quiet as he introduced Jaya and their duet came out distinct and clear. As the melody progressed, the rabid followers sang along. A lot of voices merged as one beat.
After Jay-R’s exit, Jaya did her soulful numbers, one was a medley of the 70s with a lot of Basil Valdez’s hits. I intercepted though when she announced that the last time she was in Toronto was in 2004 with Basil and company. From my front row seat, I told Jaya it was only 5 years ago, in 2017 which made her say, “Tita Baby! Hello! Nice to see you again!”
Reminded me of some entertainers who would always “make me a part of their show” when they spot me in the audience. Like Rico J – we were very good friends, whether in Manila or outside Pinas, he’d mention my name on stage a couple of times to joke. The last time Martin Nievera was here, he surprised me by directly coming to my seat to let me finish a vocal number with him. Kuh Ledesma (I was her PR in Manila) did the same, she put the mike right there before me as she did Till I Met You – she’s aware I know the song by heart! During the SUPERSTAR days on TV, Nora Aunor always mentioned me.
Back to the concert… it was a dance party as Jaya and Jay-R did a few Michael Jackson’s dance hits, What amused me though was when we were about to go to the backstage to talk to Jaya. As usual, some “strict security guards” who are usually very nice to me when I am at Republika (the same set of secu guys) flexed their muscles to signal a no-entry policy. Huh?!!!! Thanks to Jaya who saw me and announced, “LET HER ENTER, si Tita Baby K ko yan! Friend din sya ng Mother ko!” Syempre, red carpet. Hahahaha. Jaya hugged and kissed me and we reminisced for a while but hurriedly, to give way and time to others who wanted fotos with her and Jay-R.
Jaya was born María Luisa Ramsey, her mother was Elizabeth Ramsey, a Filipina comedian and singer of Jamaican and Spanish-Filipino descent. Jaya’s Dad is Reynaldo Kagahastian, a Filipino. Her parents separated when she was young, and her father migrated to the United States but now resides in Alberta. I met Jaya when she was not yet in showbiz – she used to hang out at the home of Pempe Rodrigo (Bff of Susan Roces, and the daughter of ex-senator Soc Rodrigo) and she’s also close to Pilita Corrales.
Known for being the Philippine music industry’s female record holder of a seven-times platinum album, Jaya was a big hit when Pinoys first heard her soulful voice in 1996. She won the 1996 Metropop Song Festival via Danny Tan’s “Sometimes You Just Know” making her the biggest star on the rise, and her first album under Viva Records hit an all-time high of 9 times platinum.
By the way, to those who are asking about the news that Jaya’s home burned down, here is the update. They have a new home now in Silverdale, Washington. Jaya said, “This is a new beginning and thanked those who showed love and support for their family. Jaya always says it is faith in the Lord that makes her and her entire family whole
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Patrick at the TOP
Bumped into Patrick Alcedo at the recent Ugnayan 2022 at Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre. Patrick is currently a York University professor and Chair of the Department of Dance in the School of the Arts, Media, Performance & Design (AMPD) and has been named one of the Top 25 Canadian Immigrants of 2022. Here’s our brief Q and A:
Are you motivated enough to do a feature film? What type would you like to do?
P: I have already done two feature-length documentary films. These are A Piece of Paradise, a story about lives of three Filipina caregivers who despite the challenges they face in the everyday life found a home in Canada. Next is A Will to Dream, a film that centres on the life of Luther Perez, a former ballet star in Manila who surrendered his US Green Card to teach dance to underprivileged children and youth in urban poor districts. A Piece of Paradise won both “Best Canadian Film” and “Best First Feature Film” at the 2017 Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival. An official selection at the Los Angeles International Film Festival in 2021, A Will To Dream won Asia’s Best Independent Documentary Film at the All Asian Independent Film Festival that same year.
Name 3 Filipino directors who are at the top of your list and why?
P: They are Lino Brocka, Brilliante Mendoza, and Olivia Lamasan. Since I am a documentary filmmaker, who is committed to bringing focus on issues around social inequities, class and cultural conflicts, and the plight of Filipinos in the diaspora, the works of these three directors resonate with me a lot.
Everybody is saying the Korean Film Industry is now the new Hollywood. Do you agree with that and why?
P: I neither agree nor disagree with the statement about the Korean film industry being the new Hollywood. But what I can say, based on the K-drama series I have watched, is that the kind of storytelling—the unexpected weaving of narratives—in these series is both sophisticated, intelligent. The Korean film industry is a force to be reckoned with, especially since their global viewership keeps on growing.
What do Pinoy filmmakers need to be able to compete internationally?
P: Pinoy filmmakers do not only compete internationally but also win at international film festivals. So, they/we are already doing this. The recent awards received by fellow filmmakers in narrative and documentary films that they have directed, written, and produced make me proud to be Pinoy. However, if we want our drama series to reach a global audience, I think their scripts have to be tightened more and their narratives developed in a manner where their twists and endings are unpredictable.
Do you have any plans to go home and help the Pinoy movie industry?
P: All of my holidays and sabbaticals as a professor at York University are spent in the Philippines. My documentary films are anchored in my homeland and in the realities of Filipinos in the Canadian diaspora. Thus, I am helping the Pinoy movie industry—in my case Pinoy independent documentary filmmaking—as we speak. When I eventually retire as a university professor, I intend to go home in extended periods of time in the Philippines, at which point I perhaps could be involved in mentoring emerging Pinoy documentary filmmakers.
Alcedo’s film publications have appeared in The New York Times and are distributed by Alexander Street Press. Gawad Urian (Manila Film Critics Circle) nominated his film, Ati-atihan Lives, for Best Documentary. His research on the folklorization of religion and performance of gender and indigeneity has been published, among others, in the Journal of Southeast Asian Studies (2007) and the anthology Dance Ethnography and Global Perspectives (Palgrave MacMillan, 2014).
Other recent publications include “Emotional and Religious Landscapes: The Making of the Documentary Film A Piece of Paradise” in Theatres of Affect: New Essays on Canadian Theatre (Playwrights Canada Press, 2014) and “States of Presence and Absence: An Introduction to Nanay (Mother): A Testimonial Play” in Once More, With Feeling: Five Affecting Plays (Playwrights Canada Press, 2014).
The Filipino Centre Toronto awarded Alcedo the Young Professional Award in 2012, and the Governor’s Office of his home province of Aklan, Philippines, honoured him as Most Outstanding Aklanon in recognition of his achievements and community contributions.
BRAVO Partrick! We are soooo proud of you!
Congratulations
Grateful and Honored to receive this acknowledgment. Thanks to the Universal Peace Federation of Canada (chaired by Dr. Moonshik Kim) for the title AMBASSADOR FOR PEACE.
The citation reads: The Universal Peace Federation acknowledges as Ambassadors for Peace those individuals whose lives exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others, and who dedicate themselves to practices which promote universal moral values, strong family life, inter-religious cooperation, international harmony, renewal of the United Nations, a responsible public media, and the establishment of a culture of peace.
Transcending racial, national and religious barriers, the Ambassadors for Peace contribute to the fulfillment of the hope of all ages, a unified world of peace wherein the spiritual and material dimensions of life are harmonized.
But let me focus on my co-awardee TERESA “Tere” TORRALBA – an over-achiever, a well-respected community leader – she’s behind the success of PLACA (Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance) whose recent project Fun Philippines Street Festival last summer won raves.
2 weeks ago, Teresa was given a plaque of appreciation for the continuous support to the RAM Guardians Alkdan Canada Inc., given on their 5th Founding Anniversary held on October 8 2022 at Montecasssino Hotel.
How would you call yourself in Pinoy communities? How would you like to be addressed? I asked Tere.
T: I am simply a person who finds joy in organizing events and bringing people together in peace and harmony and for everyone to enjoy and go home feeling happy about it. I refer to myself as the quiet workhorse who thrives behind the scene to make everyone else shine. I am very proud of our Filipino race because I believe that our people are God’s gift to mankind who are blessed with unique human qualities that are praised and admired from all corners of the world. We are very passionate in doing the best in every task that we do, we are the most hardworking and resourceful people, most caring of those around us, we are respectful and humble people endowed with extreme talents and most of all, we put God above us and our families before us.
God bless you Teresa, our community is grateful to you.
Happy Birthday BOYET DE LEON!
On Oct 31, Christopher BOYET de Leon turns 66!
The first time I saw Boyet was at a cafe in Makati in the early 70s – he was wearing boggy pants with suspenders. Upon seeing him, I stood up and followed where he was seated. Ang guapo! I said, puedeng artista! Bam! Lino Brocka introduced him in Tinimbang Ka, Ngunit Kulang, 1974, the coming-of-age story of a young man who befriends their small town’s outcasts, a lunatic and a leper played by Lolita Rodriguez and Mario O’Hara. He won the FAMAS Best Actor award for his very first film. Immediately he was the CRUSH ng Bayan.
I was there at the Beach of La Union when he got married to Nora Aunor in January of 1975 and I was also around when the couple finally separated 5 years later.
I asked his son (by Nora Aunor), Kristoffer Ian, “what are the best special moments you’ve had with your Dad?”
1. I can’t forget the time when dad took us to US. That was the time when it was just ate Lot, Dad and I who flew there. We went to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, ate hotdogs and burgers, and didn’t have a place to stay, other than a small hotel at Cali. Our budget was also tight that time. But dad figured out a way to get us by. Those moments stayed in our hearts even up to this day.
2. I won’t forget the times when he will just show up unexpectedly at any random day and just take us with him anywhere, by boat, plane, or even his motorcycle. Places that would give us the most memorable moments we can ever have with him – Baguio, Cebu, Tagaytay, etc. He would also bring us to his tapings of ‘Going Bananas’ – I didn’t fully understand what they were doing, and laughing about – but the way they laughed was just so infectious! I couldn’t even stop laughing myself to the point of tearing up! Lol.
3. Personally, I cannot ever forget those times when we would just talk. I was so young then,(and still like a sponge absorbing what ever it is that’s being taught to me) Dad would then talk to me about the Bible, and how we all should see everything and everyone through the eyes of God. He also taught me about how the digital day would come when computers would have control over humanity and how it would change us, to the point when he would just be like water, pouring out all these informations to me, even conspiracy theories (that on a later age became an interest that I really went deep on) He would talk to me about life, and how I must experience it. A few times, I couldn’t grasp the words he said until I went through those stages in my life that I would remember the exact words he instilled in me.
4. Of course, I will never ever forget the time Dad took priority that I had to go to a 3day retreat with Oasis of Love and became a legit member of Batch21. This was a very profound time in my life, because it was at these particular 3days, that I experienced God’s love, compassion firsthand, and how to finally acknowledge the presence of his Holy Spirit in me! I felt pure overflowing joy and love! As if it’s like the whole entirety of everything is one with me! And that I realized that no matter how insignificant we may all seem to be, we are all ultimately one with our all mighty Papa God! This made me realize and open up to our Lord in the most intimate and personal way… all thanks to Dad!
(dear readers, there’s a part 2 to this in my next issue – a beautiful narrative you must not miss, abangan!). See you in 2 weeks.
