Youth And Nation Building, According To Rico Blanco

For musician Rico Blanco, the role of young Filipinos in effecting change does not end after exercising their right to vote in the recent elections.
"Change will not come from a leader, it comes from the people," says Blanco, who used to be the lead singer for Rivermaya and an icon in the local music industry.

Renowned for being a prolific songwriter, he has written songs that are nationalistic in theme including Awit ng Kabataan, a modern-day anthem for the youth, and Posible, which was adopted as theme song by the Philippine team during the 2005 Southeast Asian Games.

While it's good that a lot of young Filipinos show interest in politics, Blanco says very few show interest in nation building. According to reports, the youth comprised almost half of the 50.7 million Filipinos who registered for the country's first ever automated polls.

"You don't just vote for a president and you think you did your part as a good citizen. Nation building is different from just voting (in the elections). But it's good that a lot of them went out to vote and we hope that momentum results in doing their part for nation building," he says.

Asked to comment on incoming set of leaders by June 30, Blanco says everyone should take a pro-active stance in supporting and advocating for government reform regardless of who sits as the country's president down to the local positions.

"I didn't endorse anyone (in the elections). Whoever the leader is, let's help out, huwag na tayong maging pasaway. Let's cooperate but remain vigilant as well. Bantayan natin kung may kalokohan na ginagawa. Kung wala naman, cooperate naman tayo. Yun ang kulang sa atin, sadly," he says.

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Charice Makes It To The Top With "Pyramid"

Charice Is Absolutely At The Top Baby!

Charice is definitely going global after the release of her single “Pyramid” in which her labelmate Iyaz is featured both in the song and music video. And just last April 12 Charice debuted “Pyramid” music video in the U.S. with a 24-hour exclusive on www.oprah.com. Oprah who has been a huge supporter of the 17-year-old, tagging her as one of the most talented girls in the world, has reportedly invited Charice to perform on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” on May 11 to launch her first international album ‘Charice’.

The video was shot at the Orpheum Theatre, in downtown Los Angeles last March 8. The video connects the song through its lyrics not just the title per se. A big part of the video shows Charice taking the mic and starts imagining to be performing before a huge empty theater, after not making it to the audition call-backs. And Iyaz from the audience seat records her performance using his video phone and shows that his support for Charice is forever to stay just like a pyramid no matter what kind of storm or earthquake may come their way.

“Pyramid” is a collaboration with Iyaz, who’s famous for the international smash hit “Replay”—the # 1 song in UK & U.S. in the past months. On the other hand, “Pyramid” currently holds the #1 spot on RX 93.1’s radio chart for three consecutive weeks now. And is constantly climbing other radio charts in the metro. “Pyramid” is one of the newest and hottest songs at the moment; hence it is garnering a lot of airplay all over town! She’s undeniably at the top with all the success she has incurred for the past years, starting from bottom-up, this song can symbolize as her career being built solidly on the ground, just like a pyramid.

Also, Pyramid now has 15 remixes— from notable DJs Barry Harris, Jonathan Peters, and Dave Aude. These are currently available for download on Amazon.com & iTunes.

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Greyhoundz Live In Bohol

Last night April 30, 2009, i was watching this rock band Greyhounndz performed live in Bohol. The event was sponsored by Touch Mobile (TM) in part of Tagbilaran City Fiesta. This four membered band (2 Boholanos, 1 from Part of Mindanao and 1 Ilocano) just rock the Tagbilaran City Port.

It was also a night of surprises like games, free shirts (that unfortunately i did not got one for myself LOLz) and raffles draws of course sponsored by TM. The entrance was only 30 pesos with 1 free raffle coupon and a free TM Sim Card. Their are also local Boholano Bands who did there performance like the Brownbuds and other Boholano uprising bands before the main event of the night.

It was a loud performance and the crowd just bang their there heads to the fullest. The screams, the lights and   the music really make a remarkable feeling watching their performed. Most favorite tracks include "Shoot to Kill", "Alak Pa", "Battle Cry", the Bisayan song "Gunner" and of course the song who completed the night with its remarkable screams "hupaw huhupaw huhupaw" the song "Pigface".

Also the DJs of Local Boholano FM station with their stunning beauty who rule the show added spices on the event.