ELY BUENDIA THE GREATEST HITS LIVE IN CHICAGO ON OCTOBER 6

By: Jovie Calma

 

In celebration of Filipino American History Month, the front man of the famous group, Eraserheads, and Philippines’’rock icon, Ely Buendia, is set to perform on Thursday, October 6th at the Bombay Hall, 2448 W. Devon in Chicago, Illinois; doors open at 6pm and show starts at 7pm. This is in line with his Greatest Hits Live US Tour 2016.

After successful series of concerts in the Philippines, Ely decided to bring this concert in tour and Chicagoans are thrilled to have our city as one of the stops. Ely Buendia was a couple of units shy of a degree in filmmaking when he formed what was going to be the most popular rock band in the annals of Filipino Music: The Eraserheads. The group cut seven best-selling albums, called it a day, and splintered into new bands, with Buendia’s group Pupil, arguably among the most successful.

When the Eraserheads reunited for two shows in 2008 and 2009, previous attendance records (counting those of international acts) were shattered. Barely in his forties, Ely Buendia’s material has inspired copycat acts, tribute albums, books and films bearing his song titles, and so on. However, to describe him as a mere Filipino pop-culture icon would be a limit to him terribly. While much of his stature has been cemented by association with Eraserheads, whose creative shadow continues to loom over the current crop of local musicians, his true calling perhaps is as a storyteller in any medium.

His best-known work as a songwriter are complex, sprawling narratives, that are tragically over by the end of a cigarette break (“Ang Huling El Bimbo”): his most tasteful musical arrangements involve established verse-chorus-verse cycles that are violently jolted by a heartbreaking turn of phrase or chord change (“Spolarium”): and his literary output curiously straddles cyberpunk and Lewis Carroll (Fruitcake). The short of it is that Ely– musician, lyricist, author, and filmmaker has a waywith stories. Not merely words, musical hues, or clever phraseology, but glorious, imaginative stories.

Ely Buendia will be joined onstage by local featured performers in the likes of Princess Santos, Jamie Llenares, Ricshel Santa Maria, Carlo Escalona, Ghostin the Backseat, Lucid Blur and Abakus. This one concert you wouldn’t want to miss is apresentation of Diamonds Productions in cooperation with Jason Dela Cruz. Come and support Ely Buendia as he’s coming to show Chicago his passion for music, love of OPM and love of country. Please see ad on VIA Times for tickets and more information of this concert!

ERIK SANTOS AND ANGELINE QUINTO: KINGAND QUEEN OF HEARTS LIVE IN CHICAGO: A BIG HIT!

Two of this generation’s highly recognized and established singers are set to come as one to the USA and Canada in a series of concerts that promises to deliver the goods–and they DID. Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto, their shining stars intertwined by virtue of their stellar record as familiar voices to local movie and teleserye (soap opera) theme songs, joined hands once again as they share their music with Filipinos who have made their songs a part of their everyday lives. On Friday, September 23, the red carpet was rolled at the Pickwick theatre as we welcomed Erik Santos and Angeline Quinto, King and Queen of Hearts who shared the stage at the Pickwick Theater on a successful concert to welcome the beautiful season of fall!

Rhoderick Ramos Santos, better known as Erik Santos, was born on October 10, 1982. He’s a multi-platinum recording artist and his ticket to fame was when he joined ABS-CBN’s “Star In AMillion” and bagged the title. It was indeed a huge opportunity that opened many doors for him. I can recall my first encounter with Erik when he cameto Chicago and staged a concert along with his fellow singing champions from the Philippines. He shared during my interview for CPRTV that his passion for singing started when he was four years old. He participated in various singing competitions until he landed that opportunity to fight the chance to break into music career.

Erik evolved from unassuming contestant to becoming a Star In AMillion Singing Champion and sold-out concert performer with numerous hit albums under his belt. A young balladeer known for his soulful voice, Erik is widely known as the Philippines’ Prince of Pop. Erik has captured the hearts of many through his numerous hits and sold-out concerts. He also received accolades from Awit Awards, Star Awards, Aliw Awards and Myx Music Awards for his accomplishments as a Performing Artist. Erik was in demand for corporate shows and recorded theme songs for radio stations, TV shows and movies, which earned him an exceptional popularity. He was crowned as the King of Theme Songs. One of the highlights of his career was when he performed at the closing events of Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Erik has also pursued acting where he starred in several episodes with ABSCBN’s Maalaala Mo Kaya (MMK) and some movie cameos. He portrayed Prince Eric in the musical, “The Little Mermaid”, produced by AtlantisProductions.

Erik received the Best Crossover Artist Award from Broadway World Philippines post this role. Amidst all of these, Erik remains one of the most humble performing artists in the Philippines. It’s just right fitting that his winning song for Star In AMillion, “This is the Moment” shows that Erik’s moment has indeed come after more than a decade with his career and still has a lot to offer to his fans and followers who truly admire and love him. ******

If there will be an interesting “Cinderella” or rags -to – riches story, Angeline Quinto’s real life story, is inspiring and worth celebrating. Angelina is a Filipino singer, actress, and winner of Star Power: Sharon’s Search For The Next Female Pop Superstar in 2011. Her story was one of those that moved me. Angeline shared with CPRTV back in 2012 that her biological mother tried to abort her. It was her grandmother who stopped it and her paternal aunt along with the former, took care of Angeline growing up. She stayed in touch with her biological father and only reconnected with her biological mother after 23 years.

Growing up, she was aware that she’s adopted but her reality didn’t stop her to dream of being successful. She vowed never to let poverty destroy her and her aspirations to succeed. At a young age, she discovered her passion for singing.

Angeline cited various artists as influences to her musical style but she grew up listening to Regine Velasquez and shared that the latter is her idol and motivated her as an inspiration to pursue a career in music. Like other singing champions, Angeline also joined several singing competitions but emerged only as a finalist, which include ”Starfor A Night,” where Sarah Geronimo was declared as the winner. She shared that she didn’t win in majority of the singing competitions that she participated in.

Her disappointments fueled her desire to improve her craft and succeed. Finally, the wheel of life turned in her favor when she won ABS-CBN’s “Star Power: Sharon’s Search for the next Female Pop Superstar”. She considered winning the title as a rebound from all her past failures and a beginning of a wonderful and colorful journey ahead of her. And itwas!

Angeline Quinto’s singing and acting career progressed and flourished with various platinum hits, soldout and SRO concerts, box-office movies and recognitions from major award-giving bodies in the Philippines, such as Awit Awards, PMPC StarAwards, Catholic Mass Media Awards and Golden Screen TV Awards.

She also shared the stage with the biggest performers in the industry, which include Erik Santos, her rumored boyfriend. Angeline’s performance with Erik was undoubtedly successful and their rapport onstage was undeniably stellar. Having her performed in two of the largestconcert venues in the Philippines and has sung numerous theme songs of top-rated drama programs on TV, earned her the title of “Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs.”

On a personal note, my special birthday wishes to Tita Toni Angeles and MaricarGarcia (Sept. 4), Leah Pili (Sept. 5), Kuya Butch Zamora (Sept. 6), Eurice Calma (Sept.13), Tita Kiss Garcia (Sept. 20), Jessielle Campo (Sept. 20), and Maricris Garcia (Sept.27). Happy Wedding Anniversary to my Dad Ricky and Mom Connie Calma (Sept. 20) as well as to Ditche Jennifer and Kuya Butch Zamora (Sept. 5). I would like to take this opportunity to invite everyone as we salute and recognize our distinguished awardees for the 22nd Annual Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 29, 2016 to be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, 9300 Bryn Mawr AvenueRosemont, IL. 60018. For reservation and more information, please call: 773-866-0811.To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, thank you for your continued support.Until the next issue of Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE! God Bless Us All!##