SEND SENDONG CHILDREN BACK TO SCHOOL CONCERT in GENSAN

Hands down to the local bands of General Santos City for coming together and do a show for a great cause. After the much participated and successful concert for a cause for the Sendong Victims last December 23, 2011 at the Robinson's Place Gensan, here is another round of concert for a cause, proving that the Generals really care.

Dubbed as RAKRAKAN Para sa CDO at Iligan, this second series Concert for a Cause objective is to raise funds and help Sendong Children back to school. Not less than fourteen bands will be performing on January 14, 2012 (SATURDAY) at the Football Field of Notre Dame of Dadiangas University. The guilt-free ROCK PARTY will start at 5pm for the price of fifty pesos only (Php50). Featured artist are Centerpoint Band, Kuerdas, Krystina Louise, Input Band, DOTFB Band, Anekdota, Full Tank Band among others.

Inspired by the Sending Sendong Kids Back to School Project, funds raised will be purchased with School Kits that includes: School Bags, notebooks, papers, pencils, etc...

RAKRAKAN Para sa CDO at Iligan is brought to us by NDDU Alumni '94, Katribu Musikalilangan, Nature's Spring Water and Robinsons Mall of Gensan. Tickets are available at the venue!

Have fun with Gensan's Local Bands and help at the same time!

GENSAN TRULY CARES!

Concert Series: Tanduay's First 5 rocked GENSAN!

Here is a quick round-up of the very first visit of Tanduay First 5 to the City of the Generals last July 30, 2011 at the Taps and Kokay (formerly known Anchor Driving Range).


As early as Four o'clock in the afternoon people started to came in groups at the concert grounds, even watching the bands do the sound check.


5:00pm - crowd inside the venue grew in significant numbers. People who came in during this time got a near and clear view of the stage


6:00pm - A traffic of people seems to be a little bit manageable. People lining up are still relaxed.


7:00pm - Crowd starts to fill the streets causing heavy traffic to the passersby. Good thing that the organizers thought of this kind of problem in advance and hired people to manage the traffic problem just in case. The singled line entrance for male audience turned into five lines while for the girls just two. Thus proving my theory that there are still more men who loves the noise a rock band brings.


8:00pm - The first band to perform was the young and vibrant CHICOSCI. I was still lining-up at the female entrance when they started there first song for the night.

"Ang galing niyo Gensan" - Miggy Chavez

Originally called Chico Science, the group won an inter school Battle of the Bands representing Ateneo de Manila University that led them to a slow rise stardom. As they hurdled there way to the rock scene success, Miguel "Miggy" Chavez, Miguel "Mong" Alcaraz, Carlos "Calde" Calderon, Jan Kevin Santos and Joel Salvador together with Sonny Baquisal and long-time friend Eugene "Yug" Esquivias - the group reinvented themselves seeking help from the able rock scene professionals like that of Raymond Marasigan thus shreiking girls know them as CHICOSCI! 

The group was pretty generous with there performance and gained a number of screamers - hands down to Miggy and Mong! It was a good way of starting a rock concert - stretching and flexing everyone's muscle for the next bands to come. It was the first time of the group to perform for the GENERALS and they left a mark of AWESOMENESS which surely adds to their fan based in General Santos City.


9:30pm - Then comes SANDWICH on stage! Another group of CONYO band that made the crowd a bit crazy! Not a first timer, T5 tour in gensan for the band is there 3rd in General Santos City. I remembered the group's first time in the city when they front-acted for the then popular ALAMID, when only a few of the audience appreciate the genre of the band. But gone are those days when people does not know the lines of Sandwich's popular singles. Today, some of their hits such as SUGOD can instigate a MOSH during live performances. 

"When you go home, form a band" - Raymond Marasigan

Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon (of The Teeth) to play drums and Myrene Academia (of Imago) to handle bass duties. Sandwich was searching for a vocalist when music video director Marie Jamora recommended her friend Marc Abaya. A few years earlier, Marasigan was a judge at a contest where Marc Abaya jammed to a Beastie Boys song with his high-school band, Shirley Beans. Abaya then joined Sandwich, but was later replaced by Mong Alcaraz of the band Chicosci.

Favorite part of Sandwich performance: their MASH-UP of Masilungan and Alapaap!  

10 something - Iya Villana joined the local DJs in introducing the next group. And the crowd went WILD! as Chito Miranda of Parokya ni Edgar started to sing their first song! As expected, people sing along with the group as they performed some current and not so old singles.

Naming themselves Comic Relief, the band originally consisted of three vocalists – Chito Miranda, Jeric Estaco, Vinci Montaner, and two guitarists, Miko Yap and Gab Chee Kee. They constantly played through after-school jam session, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This break prompted the band to add a drummer and a bassist – Dindin Moreno and Buwi Meneses respectively. The same performance also marked the change of the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar.^[2] After high school, Miko and Jeric left the band to pursue other interests. As a replacement, the remaining band members invited to their fold, guitarist Darius Semaña (lead guitar). The name Parokya Ni Edgar came from a joke answer Jeric Estaco gave during Philippine History class, when the teacher asked him where Jose Rizal's fictional hero, Crisostomo Ibarra (in the novel Noli Me Tangere), was educated.

Important: it was GAB CHEE KEE's birthday that night! And a sea of people at the venue celebrated it with him!

11 and beyond: The band that most of the tambays waited for - KAMIKAZEE! The naturally comic Jay went up on stage and started their hilarious performance. Only proving that the group is here to stay and their followers are growing in numbers.

Kamikazee is a Filipino rock band formed in 2000. The band is composed of Jay Contreras, Jomal Linao, Led Tuyay, Puto Astete and Bords Burdeos.The band is composed of five members who met in college at the College of Fine Arts of the University of the Philippines, Diliman. Kamikazee's early gigs were mostly on campus events in UP Diliman like the annual UP Fair. Before they were signed in a major label, they went by the name "Kamikazee Cornflakes" (eventually shortened to its current state as "Kamikazee" which they think is easier to remember). Their early shows included renditions of the songs "Mmm Sarap", "Tsinelas", a cover of Ariel Rivera's "Sana Kahit Wolfgang is a Filipino heavy metal, hard rock and grunge band formed around 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country.^[1] The quartet went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2007.Minsan", and Britney Spears' Lucky. They were known for using expletives, suggestive movements, and references to genitalia in their UP Diliman performances.

Highlight: Jay called up three ladies to join the group on stage, let them take a shot of the sponsor drink then ask them which band did they came for. Two girls who answered Parokya ni Edgar got a kiss on the cheek from Chito Miranda while the sole lady who answered Kamikazee got a controversial kiss from a wet Jay! 

Those are surely for the records!

Almost 1 in the morning: The comebacking Wolfgang proved that they are never too old to play their kind of music. It was a nostalgic feeling for the fans of the group upon hearing their favorite songs from them. You can really identify the fanatics from the posers. 

Wolfgang is a Filipino heavy metal, hard rock and grunge band formed around 1992 in Manila, Philippines. Wolfgang is notable for being the only Filipino rock band to release albums in Japan and the United States and for realizing Platinum record sales in their home country.^[1] The quartet went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2007. After the band broke up in 2002, bassist Mon Legaspi took over bass guitar duties from Carlos Balcells of The Dawn. Legaspi stayed with The Dawn from 2002 until 2004. Wolf Gemora, for his part, was part of thesouthern California-based rock quartet, called Lokomotiv, while Basti Artadi became the vocalist for a San Francisco-based group called Kitaan; he later sang for Lokomotiv, actually cutting the band's debut album,Rock N' Roll Death Toll. He left Lokomotiv shortly thereafter, and was replaced by Ryan Hudson. Artadi later worked as a coordinator for the corporate operations department of Gap in San Francisco.^[4] Manuel Legarda formed the band DRT with former Gnash vocalist Jay Ortega, Blue Rats' drummer Miguel Ortigas and bassist Paolo Pacia. Manuel Legarda has since left DRT, and has been replaced by Daniel Crilosogo of the band DC Aftershock. Manuel is now in the process of mixing the next Wolfgang album. Wolf Gemora is presently in the band, 3 Headed Dog with ex-Razorback guitarist David Aguirre and Lokomotiv bassist Danny Gonzalez. They are based in southern California and they toured the Philippines in January 2011.

Highlights: Basti Artadi the vocalists is already wasted as he came on stage even forgetting some of the lyrics of "Anino"!  He also stopped their performace just to remind the audience to behave well and stop fighting or whatever the commotion on the ground is.

The concert was such a big treat for General Santos City and we proved that we are so ready for these kinds of sponsored events. We just hope that they will come back on the next years!

Thanks Tanduay for bringing T5 the power of 5 to Gensan!

Been to: IML Resort & Nature Park

Sarangani Province is indeed working hard for its tourism. The success of the recent Sarangani Bay Festival says it all. But that is just the other side of Sarangani, The other side is also gaining its fair share of popularity as well. If Gumasa, Glan is proud of its white sand beaches, the Municipality Maasim Sarangani got different type of fun to offer.

Slowly drawing crowds from its locality and neighbors, Maasim's Lemlunay already got its regular from the diver community, extreme sports enthusiast also troop there for the Water Tubing adventure and to those who want a serene beach setting on a weekend goes to Susan Beach Resort.

Last April 8, another tourist destination opened at Barangay Lumasal, Maasim Sarangani Province, Philippines.

 Pool 1 - also known as the Kiddie Pool

IML Resort and Nature Park is strategically located on top of a hill just before you reach Kiamba. The place has two big swimming pools. One for the kids with 4 feet as the deepest part plus two slides and the other one for adults which is 8 feet deep. For an adrenaline pumping activity, IML Resort and Nature Park has a 500-meter long Zip line. A firing range is also set-up to those of you who enjoys the thrill of practice shooting. Little children would also enjoy the kiddie playground designed for them. Planning to stay overnight? Fret not for IML Resort and Nature Park got affordable hotel rooms good for the whole group or your family. They also have a restaurant which offer meals for the budget conscious tourists. They also serve different dishes of native chicken. They say they got a function hall but I haven't seen it so I cannot tell you exactly its person capacity. 

 Uphill -Downhill

IML Resort and Nature Park got all the elements of a good place for relaxation. With an easy view of the vast Sarangani Bay, it is like enjoying God's creation at its best. They have an accommodating staff which are mostly from the locality of Barangay Lumasal. Maybe with more trainings and orientation the human resource of the resort will be better. There are few restrictions though, since 1ML got restaurant, bringing of foods is discourage- but if you cannot help it  you'll have to pay for the corkage. You also cannot bring floaters and the likes (e.g.salbabida) - the resort has floaters for rent.

Playground

Rating the resort, 10 as the highest I will give them 6 for now. As we always say there is always a room for improvement. Here are some things that I am not very happy about IML - their open cottages area is so small that you can already rub the elbows of the other people occupying the next cottage. Aside from that, the cottages cannot keep you from getting wet if it rains - the management should do something about that. I would also recommend they assign a standby waiter with a walkie talkie at the open cottage area to take orders and requests of their guests and customers, since going to the restaurant from the pool area is tedious considering the uphill/downhill walk you need to take. Those are just my 10-cent worth for now.


If you wish to visit the resort one of these days, here are some of there rates:
ENTRANCE - Php 50 (Day Rate)
                      - Php 75 (Night Rate)
ZIPLINE       - Php 200/ride
COTTAGES - Php 150 (small)
                     - Php 200 (small)
ROOMS       - Php 1,500 - Php 2,000


Oopps! Before I forget, tell your driver to check your car's brakes if you are planning to go the resort. It is an uphill drive afterall.


For more inquiries or reservation you may 
contact these numbers: 09489757710 & 09077494549.

Un Dadsan Festival 2011

The southern most part of Mindanao is becoming one of the places that travelers both local and foreign would love to visit. With the growing popularity of the Sarangani Bay Fest that is annually staged by the government of Sarangani Province, people considers this part of Mindanao a place to be during Summer Breaks. Check the Schedule of Activities of SarBay Fest here.

Sarangani and General Santos City is gifted with beaches that should be taken care of thus the Barangay Council of Dadiangas South thru the leadership of Punong Barangay Alvin Veneracion- taking cue from its neighbor - conceptualize a Summer Feast that can be likened to the SarBay Fest of Sarangani. Highlighting the improvements of the then Lion's Beach - the Festival would like to promote and develop the Queen Tuna Park into an inexpensive Summer destination.

An addition for the Summer Attraction in SOCSSKSARGEN is the 1st Dadiangas South UN DADSAN Festival. Before you troop to the white beaches of Gumasa, Glan, check out the Dadsan Festival on May 4-7, 2011 at the Queen Tuna Park, General Santos City.

Beach activities includes, Volleyball, Football, Frisbee and other competitions you could think of. See the poster above for the schedule of activities.

It will be a party 

from 

Sun Up to 

Sun Down 

at Queen Tuna Park 

with the 

1st DadSAn Festival!

CONCERT SERIES: Urbandub vs PowerSpoonz: Attack of the South

Its been five days already, yet I cannot still get over Urbandub and Powerspoonz gig at Davao. It still gives me shiver as I think about them. It was ultimately AWESOME! Can't get enough of them since then.


The GENERALS attacked Davao City for the much awaited ATTACK OF THE SOUTH Gig at The Tent-Matina Town Square on March 26, 2011!

Everyones excited as they bought their tickets and lined-up for the entrance. My group was among the Early Birds. We are obviously excited. We wanted to get the best seat and luckily, we did!


GETTING STARTED. The local bands from the Davao never failed to get the ecstatic audiences entertained for Four Long Straight hours. Azimuth started with Three tracks, followed by the fun and young performance of Ten in a Row. Davao Karate Club was also something to watch out for while Spasm and Polar Depth kept the vibe alive before the highlight of the gig that night.

FRONT ACTS

HEATING UP. Then came the funky POWERSPOONZ and the audience went wild. Asked to stand up, the audience instinctively went right in front the stage and started to jump up and down. Instigating a MOSH, boy, it smelled like teen spirit! Its so good to be YOUNG and FREE!

Honestly, I haven't heard of Powerspoonz not until this gig. Oh yeah, they became an instant favorite. I love their songs serendibity, barrio, overflow and more. And Philippines, you better watch out for them, for they are a discovery. Read more about POWERSPOONZ here.

CLIMAX. Everbody came to their climax when Urbandub's Frontman Gabby Alipe joined Powerspoonz for a Sublime Cover. The bouncers can no longer control the crowd when Lalay Lim (bass guitar), John Dinopol(lead guitar) and JanJan Mendoza(drums) joined Gabby on stage. Everybody went crazy wild as they dance and sing along with this NU ROCK AWARDS favorite band. Their 9-Song Playlist that night never allowed the audience to take a breather or sit. They keep their hearts pumping till the last key of GUILLOTINE - one of the fans favorites from Udub's 4th Album Under Southern Lights.

the list

IT WAS ONE HEL'OF,A NIGHT! 


THANK YOU STORMPROOF of DAVAO for bringing them a bit closer to us!


POWERSPOONZ and URBANDUB ROCK!


LET US SUPPORT LOCAL MUSIC SCENE!


Cannot wait for them to COME AND PLAY for GENERAL SANTOS CITY!

TAKBO GENSAN SERIES 9

I remembered waking up very early of October 31, 2011 to join the PNP's Takbo Gensan para sa Kabataan. It was a well attended fund raising activity whose primary objective is to help the Youth of the city and to reach-out to the civil society. Click this for related article. From then on, the PNP continued this program with different objective every other Sunday.

Now for the nth time, the General Santos City Police Office is inviting everyone   to their Takbo Gensan Series entitled 

KAGITINGAN MARCH - "Freedom Run" on April 10, 2011.

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 466, s 1989 declaring the period of April 5 - 11 of every year as the Philippine Veterans Week and Executive Oder No. 203 - 2, 1987, declaring April 9 as "Araw ng Kagitingan",the GSCPO celebrates the historic event with one of the Takbo Gensan Series.

Bataan Day shall also be celebrated by commemorating those who lost their lives defending the peninsula of Bataan (in the Philippines) against the Japanese in 1941 - 42 and those who subsequently died on the "Bataan Death March". Also called "Day of Valor". Celebrated on April 9th, each year.

TAKBO GENSAN Series 8, KAGITINGAN MARCH - "Freedom Run" will take place on April 10, 201; 5 o'clock in the morning at Oval Plaza Ground, General Santos City.

You register from March 30 - April 9, 2011 by visiting the General Santos City Police Office or by contacting these numbers: 301-6728(landline); 09298725321(mobile) Look for PO2 Lourei-liz S. Framil-Rodriguez, the Takbo Gensan Series Coordinator.

Registartion Fee:
 
Php25.00 - Elementary

Php 50.00 - Adults

Php250.00 - w/ T-Shirt




To those of you who wish to get a shirt make sure to reserve in advance. The first 150 to register can get hold of the Takbo Gensan Series 9 Shirt. Here's a picture of the shirt for those interested.

You may also add the General Santos City Police Office on Facebook by clicking this.

SKIMBOARDIN' @ QUEEN TUNA PARK - GENSAN

Skim Dance

Where in General Santos City, can you spend one summer day or afternoon just lazing and dozing on the sand or swim and soak in the salty waters or learn new water sport with all your might for FREE?


Years after rehabilitating the Lion's Beach Resort, people of General Santos and few of its neighbors started to flock their way to the now known QUEEN TUNA PARK during hot weekends and holidays.Located just at the downtown area, the park is pretty accessible for beach bums everywhere. FACT. It is near the Public Market and a walking distance to a number of restaurants. Plus, rides like tricycles and jeepneys are available on your way out.


QUEEN TUNA PARK is now clean and safe to bum around the place. The Generals who are on tight budget or not, go to the park to meet with friends, bond with love ones or just enjoy the beach. There are those who do more than that!


Introducing a water sport that you might consider learning - SKIMBOARDING!

SKIMBOARDING
- n The sport of riding a skimboard over shallow water on a beach and into oncoming waves close to shore The board is usually tossed ahead and jumped on after a running approach.

SHOW TIME! PLAY TIME!

Since its was introduced in 2000 at Tanauan, Leyte (SkimBoarding Capital of the Philippines), the SKIM fever reached the shores of General Santos City also!At first, young generals usually come together at the Queen Tuna Park to simply enjoy the small waves through skimboarding, until they considered joining friendly competitions and staging Skimboarding Competition as well.  


Considering that  General Santos shores does not have huge waves like those of Hawaii, skimboarding is a good substitute for surfing. No need to go to Leyte to experience SkimBoarding. You just need a skim board and you are good to go!


Interested? Let me know and I'll help look for someone to make a Skim Board specially made for you.


Who says Summer Outing need to be expensive? That I differ! 

Been to: SUSAN's BEACH, Maasim

Relax & Enjoy at Susan's Beach

If you think Gumasa is the only place that offers commercial-free white sand beaches in the district of Representative Manny Pacquiao, then I must say you have not gone to the other side of Sarangani.


Opposite way going to Gumasa in Glan, there is this unassuming place where beach lovers will surely add up to their must-go to lists.


Susan's Beach is a white sand beach in Maasim, Sarangani Province. Going to the place is so easy, cause it is just along the national highway, below the 73rd IB Philippine Army Camp in Maasim. If you are coming from Gensan, it is before another tourist destination Lemlunay. Yes, you can see it from the Highway.


The place is still going through different improvements like additional cottages and other amenities, but the resort has available clean bathroom and shower area. Plus, a weekend treat for your family does not need to be expensive for the entrance for both children and adults is only Fifteen Pesos while the cottages rate is only P300 for medium size and P500 for the large sized cottage. 


The next time you want to get sunburn, check out Susan's Beach! It is worth the long ride!

TAGUM's MUSIKAHAN 2011 goes INTERNATIONAL

Tagum City is now my second home. An hour and a half ride from Davao City, Tagum is one of the emerging cities in the South, proving that there is truth to their slogan. INVEST IN ME. I SELL.

the new City Hall of Tagum

Taking place every 3rd week of February, Musikahan sa Tagum comes a long way since its first staging ten years ago. In the year 2000, Musikahan is just a cultural performance component during the celebration of the “Araw ng Tagum”. Now the Musikahan sa Tagum Festival has been institutionalized as a full-blown music festival with a clear vision to engage creativity as an irreversible component in advancing Total Human Development, making it the 
longest-running and all-inclusive Music Festival in the Southern Philippines.

on the streets for the Musikahan 

Aside from the usual inter-school, inter-barangay and inter-City competitions on Rondalla, Brass Band, Choral and other contests, the 10th Musikahan sa Tagum opened its doors for the 3rd International Rondalla Festival.

Tagum City goes International as its opens Musikahan Fest 

Tagum City extends its musical reach globally as it opens the Musikahan Festival with the infusion of the 3rd International Rondalla Festival on February 11 at the New City Hall. 

“Music is a universal language and all countries have the same notes." 

These were the words of Mayor Rey T. Uy as he stressed the importance of developing music among our youth since this will give them better future. 

Tagum City Tourism Council Chairperson Alma Uy said that the festivity welcomes the international community for the glimpse of the common tao at the same time boosting the economy of the city. 

Adding to the festivity were the hoisting of the international flags, choral singing from Magugpo Pilot Central Elementary School and Tagum City National Comprehensive High School, dance number from La Filipina National High School and production number from the performers of various barangays.

City Councilor De Carlo Uy formally opened the Musikahan Festival. Participants to the festivals include two groups from China, two groups from India, Iran, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and speakers and participants from Mexico, South Korea, Brazil, Germany, USA, New Zealand, ASEAN and UNESCO. 

Musikahan Festival features different competitions like choral competition with participants coming from Makati, Manila and Baguio City, rondalla, marching band, drum and bugle corps, MTV Biyaheng Musika with fifteen participants, Raprapan, Battle of the Band and Pasiklaban. 

Among the benefits from the festival cited by Mayor Uy are bonding among family members, presence of musicians in schools and churches who are graduate from the RTU Music Makers, and economic boost for different businesses in Tagum City. 

In fact, the fourteen festivals of Tagum City attracted more investors evident by businessmen who planned to establish eight-storey hotel with one hundred rooms. 

To facilitate those visitors and tourist who wanted to explore Tagum City, the City Tourism Office tapped thirty Department of Tourism (DOT)-trained drivers who can tour participants to the different landmarks of the city for just P100 per head per hour. 

Cultural presentations and tourist destinations will also be featured every night as dinner for participants will be hosted by Tagum Water District, Davao del Norte, Muslim Community, Davao City, Compostela Valley Province, Tagum City and South Cotabato. 

“We are dreaming of peace for Mindanao, perhaps we can achieve it through music and not through arms,” concluded Alma Uy.

clipped from: 

MUSIKAHAN SA TAGUM on its 10th YEAR 

A Story to Share

City Information Office and Music City Gazette Staff

a hair raising Closing Program of the 3rd International Rondalla Festival

Aside from the number of competitions, an Exhibit also took place at the new City Hall, where a display of music culture is open for the public to see for free.

Cuerdas sa Pagkakaysa Exhibit

Another crowd favorite is the Fountain at the center of the unfinished new City Hall of Tagum. You just cannot help but click away your cameras.

dancing of lights

The new City Hall which is still under construction is already a majestic site but another attraction is the stage located at the City Hall ground. Any event director would surely be inspired to mount an event that would surely be a blast. 

the awesome STAGE of Tagum City Hall

The 3rd International Rondalla Festival and the 10th Musikahan sa Tagum was one successful event. Congratulations to the City Government of Tagum lead by their feisty Mayor, Hon. Rey T. Uy, the City Tourism Council and the rest of TAGUMENYOS!

Sox Bloggers! Represent!

Madasigong Pag-salmot sa Musikahan sa Tagum Festival 2011!