#BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy is the official hashtag for an online campaign spearheaded by author Edgar Calabia Samar (Janus Silang), who objective was to promote Filipino-authored pieces of literature. This happens in the month of August, which is also Buwan ng Wika or National Language Month. I was made aware of this campaign last year, and since then, I’ve been making a conscious effort to consume as many Filipino-authored books, movies, songs, and musicals/plays. If you’re looking for a #BuwanNgMgaAkdangPinoy-related media, here are some suggestions:
As August AKA Buwan ng Mga Akdang Pinoy comes to a close, I put together a third and final installment of the #RomanceClass x OPM playlist. Thank you so much to everyone who recommended and submitted songs for this project, and if you missed the first two playlists, don’t fret! Simply click on the links below to get to them.
Click on the Read More button for Playlist #3 and notes about the books they’re “linked” to. For more information on the featured books, simply click on the titles! Hope you find a good read for the coming weekend! <3
Praying with all my might that Heneral Luna will still be in theaters later this afternoon because I’m finally on leave and can watch it in all its majestic glory. Ebe Dancel, you slay me. Always.
Tanging Pag-Asa Ko is one of the entries to this year’s PhilPop competition culminating on Saturday, July 25. I have yet to listen to all the finalists, but I’m posting this because 1) my friend OJ is singing awesomely in it (Happy birthday, by the way!), and; 2) I feel like it’s something I’d listen to while struggling over something, how ever small compared to someone else’s circumstances.
Let’s go give the other song entries a listen! Click here.
As someone who thrives on listening to songs, it’s pretty difficult for me to pinpoint only one (or a few) favorites. So to make this prompt easier for myself, I’ve decided to pick favorites from certain genres or artists every once in a while. And since I’ve had a very theatrical weekend, let me share ten of my favorite songs from theater productions here and abroad.
Also, let me tell you that I’ve tried my best not to pick two songs from the same production, even if I could easily name almost every song in certain musical OSTs as favorites. I’m obsessive, okay? Bear with me.
1. I’ll Cover You (Rent)
I think they meant it when they said you can’t buy love,
Now I know you can rent it, a new lease you are, my love, on life
Rent is a Jonathan Larson penned musical that tells the story of a group of friends (who are also struggling artists) who live under the shadow of HIV/AIDS. It was first staged in 1994, and a motion picture version was released in 2005. I have never seen the musical even as it had been staged here in 2011, but I have almost the entire (film) OST committed to memory because I <3 it so damn much. I’ll Cover You is a love theme between two characters–Angel and Collins, seen above–and I don’t even have some huge explanation why I love this song so much. I just do. I mean, just listen to it.
Okay, let me also add that this song may sound really cute and peachy, but it has one of the saddest fucking reprises ever. Ever.
Other favorite songs in this musical:Seasons of Love, One Song Glory, Life Support, Will I? (basically the entire thing)
2. Lakambini (Rock Supremo)
Another musical I’ve never seen, Rock Supremo is a Ballet Philippines production, a modern retelling of Andres Bonifacio’s life as he experiences love. The first time I heard Lakambini was last year, during the Cultural Center of the Philippines’ Musikal, a celebration of Filipino theater productions, and I fell in love with it just like that. Fact: Ebe Dancel’s songwriting is genius.
