the living compilation

“Joe Cruz & The Cruzettes “The Manila Hotel” (1976)

Philippine show band. Latin tinged. Funky lounge. 

Dolphy & Panchito in the mail! #records #vinyl #vinylrecordslabel #filipinovinyl (Taken with instagram)

LAAPFF 2011: The Living Compilation Picks

I’ve been been lucky enough to be one of the features programmers for the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival since 2008 and I think this is one of the strongest festivals since.  Plenty of diverse and overall high quality films all throughout the schedule.  Below are some of my favorites.  I have not seen this year’s opening night film, FAST FIVE, but you pretty much know what your getting there and I’m sure Justin Lin and the gang will bring the high octane (insert more car reference here because that’s all I got) entertainment.  

This may be my last year doing this, so hope you can come through and support a great event and something I’ve been passionate about for the last 4 years.

 
PERSONAL PICKS:

Excellent films that I have some real close connection to and has really struck a chord with me.

1. RAKENROL - I’m a sucker for movies about music,  but a movie about Filipino indie rock music?  No brainer!  Still, a well made and refreshing film.
My Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/rakenrol_2011

2. PINOY SUNDAY - Filipino migrant workers in Taipei.  Subtle and magical.  Plus, my cousin Epy Quizon is in it and he’s fantastic.
My Program Notes: http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/pinoy_sunday_2011

3. RESILIENCE - When you think you know a movie at face value, but the more involved you get the rewards become richer.
My Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/resilience_2011

4. BOY - Set in the 80’s about a Michael Jackson loving wild child and his completely wacky father.  And it’s in New Zealand!  Reminds me of those great John Duigan films from Australia in the late 80’s with a touch of Luhrman and the Coens.
My Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/boy_2011

EXCELLENT FILMS NOT TO BE MISSED:

1. THE LULU SESSIONS - On my short list of the best film I’ve seen this year.
Feng-Mei Heberer’s Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_lulu_sessions_2011

2. HOSPITALITÉ - A complex metaphor is packaged in quirkiness and deranged lunacy.
My Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/hospitalit_2011

3. SEESAW - I like movies about death.  So do the Japanese!
Vera DeVera’s Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/seesaw_2011

4. HEART BREAKS OPEN - Crushing and real.
Dara Kim’s Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/heart_breaks_open_2011

5. THE HOUSE OF SUH - Completely gripping crime doc.
Dara Kim’s Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_house_of_suh_2011

6. LIVING IN SEDUCED CIRCUMSTANCES - Violent and sick.  Couldn’t take my eyes off of it.  Amazing performances.
Vera DeVera’s Program Notes:
http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/living_in_seduced_circumstances_2011

Also:

GLOBAL PINAY STYLE (short film)

Check out homie, Mark Villegas’ latest short film about Hip Hop in the Philippines

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/global_pinay_style_2011

THE TIGER FACTORY

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_tiger_factory_2011

THE FLIP SIDE (10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY SCREENING)

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_flip_side_2011

FINDING FACE

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/finding_face_2011

ENFORCING THE SILENCE

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/enforcing_the_silence_2011

WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME

http://laapff.festpro.com/films/detail/the_flip_side_2011

FOR THE REST OF THE SCHEDULE CHECK THE LAAPFF SITE: 

http://asianfilmfestla.org/2011/

PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE (Philippine Popular Music Revisited):

Anthony Castelo “Kailangan Ba” (1978)

Anointed “The Philippines’ King of Love Songs,” Anthony Castelo began his career as a member of vocal groups from Philippines and eventually in Los Angeles, California.  His pleasing baritone and, most likely, his very agreeable good looks caught the attention of the Philippine recording industry.  Among those was Tito Sotto, who was the executive producer on Castelo’s 1978 self titled LP on Sunshine Records through Vicor Music Corporation.  

I found this record on a thrift store dig.  When I finally had a chance to listen to it I went straight to “Kailangan Ba” because the previous owner had put a check mark next to it.  Good call, previous owner.  I never heard the song before, but something about it I found infectious beyond nostalgia.  1978 was the year I left Philippines for the US.  Maybe I did hear this song as a kid.  Feels like I did.  A muffled jeepney stereo driving through Quezon City?  Piped through the SM PA system, perhaps?

Primarily a crooner of love ballads, Castelo set aside the histrionics and concocted a breezy late 70’s gem.  ”Kailangan Ba” has an easy going melody and airy lyrics that is quintessentially Pinoy Pop elevated by a summery groove and a delectable keyboard break at the 2:10 mark.  Despite the subject matter of a lover leaving one for another, the track has a head out the car window vibe that is undeniable.  

Hope you enjoy.  More music to come.

PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE (Philippine Popular Music Revisited):

Bong Penera “Sa Dako Pa Roon ” (1980)

From 1996 - 2006, Bong Penera, the Philippine’s pre-eminent Jazz/Samba/Bossa Nova purveyor of the late 70’s graced the 88 keys not in some grand hall or national institution, but rather the Nordstroms at Woodfield Mall in Shaumburg, Illinois.  While the oblivious well-to-do shoppers of the high end department store browsed for a new pair of deck shoes or a smart cardigan, an oft forgotten national treasure of the Philippines was playing “One Note Samba” on the Baby Grand by the escalator well in men’s furnishings.  

In Philippines during the late 70’s and early 80’s, Bong was the lone word in Brazillian jazz.  With his band, Batucada, Penera produced essential Philippine jazz records A SAMBA SONG, BATUCADA SA CALESA and BONG PENERA.  His compositions have been re-recorded by many artists and at one point he was considered to be for Philippine music what Lino Brocka was to Philippine movies.

By the mid-80’s, Penera hit the international circuit eventually settling in the jazz rich city of Chicago.

His first LP is highly sought after by crate diggers and has brought in upwards of $500.00 on Ebay.  While the Brazilian music craze of the early 2000’s looked towards new output from Brazil as well as its back catalog and new artists coming from US and Japan, the rest of the world seemed to have missed out on a golden chance to re-discover Penera’s music.   Meanwhile, he’s still playing regularly in Chicago.

Look for SAMBA THROUGH LIFE: THE BEST OF BONG PENERA on Penny Rose Records.

Taken from his self-titled third LP, Jazz/Samba/Bossa legend Bong Penera’s “Sa Dako Pa Roon” has a timeless sound.  A cool and steady Bossa/Samba groove with Penera’s Jobim-esque vocals singing in Tagalog.  When that tambourine comes in 1/3 of the way, it’s hard not to dance.  I’ll post the reprise version on my next post.  A darker version with a child (or child like) vocals.  That is also equally irresistible.    

PINOY GROOVE EXPERIENCE: Philippine Popular Music Revisited

Vilma Santos “Ooh, Lonesome Me” (1971)

*Will be attempting to post more music regularly and not over think it.  Just Filipino music that makes me happy.

A dubbed out, psych, Phil Spector-esque version of the Don Gibson country classic by the 1960’s Philippine child star.

Vilma Santos starred in films since the age of 9 and eventually became a matinée idol in her teens.  Although not blessed with the most accomplished singing voice, a recording career soon followed.  500,000 copies of her debut “16” in 1968 made sure more records would follow.  Mostly singing covers of American songs and doing so with her thin heavily accented voice.  Most of her music has long been cast aside as novelty, especially after she established her acclaimed acting career.  The dismissal, however may be largely due to the unfair mockery of anyone who speaks English with a heavy Filipino accent.  This seemingly common reality has been mined for comedic material for years in the Philippines.

True, most of her music is really just fluff, but most are fun fluff.  Jaunty pop concoctions created with some talented musicians and producers of the era.  Utilizing all sorts of genres ranging from Psychedelic Pop to Country & Western while using source materials by Burt Bacharach or Phil Spector.  She also does a great Ska version of the classic “My Boy Lollipop” by way of Barbie Gaye through Millie Small that I will someday post here.

I chose “Ooh, Lonesome Me” first because I just find the barrage of jangly guitars and trippy echo layers along with Ate Vi’s unmistakable vocals to be completely charming and quirky.  Good innocent fun. 

THE MIXTAPE

1. “Ooh, Lonesome Me” - Vilma Santos
2. “My Boy Lollipop” - Vilma Santos
3. 16 - Vilma Santos
4. GUY & PIP - Nora Aunor
5. DJ’S PET - Sharon Cuneta
6. HIGH SCHOOL - Sharon Cuneta

Originally posted on March 3, 2008 on UpsetterSound.com’s Los Relics Radio curated by good friend filmmaker, DJ, musician, urban scholar, neophyte skater and family man Lakandiwa de Leon.  His call out to selector friends to make mixes to share for Los Relics allowed me to share my growing collection of Pinoy (Filipino) centric records.  Not a lot of venues I can play VST or Eva Eugenio, but I can always play Bataan or Barabas though.  Although I once played a Black Opinion (Philippine Funk-Disco band) track at a club but no one noticed or realized it was in tagalog, not even Apl de Ap, who walked in on the empty club as I started my set.  Alas, “Bebot” is not in this mix.

So, one restless night at 2am I started pulling records of varying styles, origins, languages and eras but all had one thing in common, all were made by Filipinos (full blooded or not) whether solo or part of the band.  Whether it was the Morales brothers as part of Spain’s psych-funk band Barabas or Afro-Filipino Joe Bataan from Spanish Harlem, beat music from the Rocky Fellers in the US or Jaime Salazar from Cebu, Philippine dream pop from Rey Valera or blissful 70’s pop from Apo Hiking Society and Cinderella, or from the Bay Area, soul wailer Sugar Pie DeSanto and ethno-funk heavies Dakila, all of them Pinoys and all make up this diasporic mixtape.

Two years after recording this rambling and rather technically flawed mix I have made it somewhat of a mission to help re-introduce Philippine popular music to an audience that would not normally seek them out as well as re-contextualize the music for people to appreciate and enjoy again or for the first time.  A tad grandiose, but I will attempt to, at least.

One funky track at a time if I have to! ;-)

Anyways, hope you check it out and share it with friends.

THE CURRENT AND FUTURE MIXTAPE:

1. BEAT SOUL FUNK: The Pinoy Groove Experience
2. DISCOMANILA
3. PINOY ROCK
4. PINOY LOUNGE
5. PINOY FOLK
6. PINOY JAZZ

1970’s Philippines.  Martial Law.  The Manila Sound.  Making diversions funky and smooth.  Collected and mixed from all vinyl by joel quiz.

HAJJI - Ako Pa Rin 
ABC EXPRESS - Gustong-Gusto Kita 
BLACKBUSTER - Shotgun Shuffle 
VST and COMPANY - Disco Fever 
ELLA DEL ROSARIO - Shake It Baby 
SOLID BAND - Walang Sigla 
YOLLY SAMSON - Inibig Ka 
BOYFRIENDS - Palikero 
HALIK - Suplado Ka 
BLACK OPINION - Bahay Yugyugan 
HANGMEN - Let’s Boogie Now 
BOYFRIENDS - Seksing-Sexy 
HAGIBIS - Katawan 
NANNETTE - Ganyang Lang Ang Pag-Ibig 
RICO J. PUNO - Selos

END

|