iNSOYMADA » cebuano http://insoymada.com mga awit ug yawit sa kasingkasing bisaya Tue, 23 Aug 2011 06:25:49 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Sinugbang Sugbo http://insoymada.com/archives/sinugbang-sugbo/ http://insoymada.com/archives/sinugbang-sugbo/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:14:35 +0000 insoy http://insoymada.com/?p=1639 TWO news stories caught my attention last month because they involved two of my favorite funny Cebuanos, Esteban Escudero, who is Provincial Board Member Julian Daan when he tries to be serious, and Max Surban. Of course we know Max Surban. He popularized the song “Billionaire” written by Bruno Mars.
Last May 16, a man barged into Teban’s house in Talisay City, held him up at knifepoint and ran off with P1 million worth of jewelry, the news said. Teban was working on an episode for his regular drama show when...]]> TWO news stories caught my attention last month because they involved two of my favorite funny Cebuanos, Esteban Escudero, who is Provincial Board Member Julian Daan when he tries to be serious, and Max Surban. Of course we know Max Surban. He popularized the song “Billionaire” written by Bruno Mars.
Last May 16, a man barged into Teban’s house in Talisay City, held him up at knifepoint and ran off with P1 million worth of jewelry, the news said. Teban was working on an episode for his regular drama show when the robber demanded money from our funny man. Teban only had P300 in his pocket and the vintage manual typewriter in front of him, so he led the robber to the master bedroom where the jewelry was kept.
The news said that at first Teban thought a prank was being played on him. We can imagine him telling the robber, “Dong, wa man ni labot sa eksena, HAHAHA.” (In English: Dude, this is not part of the scene, LOL.) But that moment, Bisaya humor seemed to fail, even if the robber was arrested the next day.
Few days later, novelty music icon Max Surban made it to Page 10 when he sued his long-time record label over unpaid royalties. He filed the complaint against Bayanihan Music Inc., accusing the music label of duping him into assigning to the company the rights to ten of his popular songs for only P1 back in the 1980s. He demanded close to P1 million in damages and litigation expenses.
The case is pending, so we will not discuss it here. There’s this legal term called sub-judice, which is Latin for “don’t discuss it here or the court will whop you with more Latin words.”
I grew up listening to Teban’s radio shows and Surban’s songs. From them I learned that the Cebuano language can be a powerful creative tool to make people laugh and forget about their wives, I mean, worries.
I was reminded of Teban and Surban and Bisaya humor while tweeting last week. I keep a Twitter account to amuse myself at how people behave online in 140 characters. How to make a fool or a philosopher of yourself in such limited space is the challenge that makes Twitter popular.
What I didn’t expect to see in Twitter is Bisaya humor kept alive by a group of young people with Esteban Escudero and a Max Surban in their blood. I’m referring to the Twitter account “Sinugbang Sugbo.” Instead of tweeting about how boring their day was and how life is empty without the Azkals, blah blah blah, the group makes fun of just about anything they think is worth making fun of, in 140 characters, and in Bisaya.
And Bisaya tweeters appreciated the fun. In less than a week, Sinugbang Sugbo attracted 80 “followers,” actually a speck of dust in a network of millions of stalkers. But if you’re familiar with Twitter, you have to be Lady the Gaga or Justin the Bieber to attract followers without trying.
The account employs dialogue as device, between a boy named Gorio and his mother, simply known as Mama, in poking fun at pop culture.
Take this on Manny Pacquiao:
Mama: Dong Gorio, datoa na anang Dionesia no? Unsa ra tawn na sila sa una. Gorio: Unya? Mama: Aw, wa man, naa ra gyud na nimo kung mag-boxer ka.
Some English lines made it into the posts, but always with a distinct Cebuano taste to it:
Gorio: Unsay sud-an ma? Mama: Fish with vinegar, salt, seasoning, bell pepper, bulb onions, garlic cloves and ginger. Gorio: Unsa na? Mama: Inun-unan.
Just check them out for a good Bisaya laugh at Twitter.com/Sinugbang Sugbo. I seriously doubt if Teban and Surban are not behind this account.
MONKEY11

TWO news stories caught my attention last month because they involved two of my favorite funny Cebuanos, Esteban Escudero, who is Provincial Board Member Julian Daan when he tries to be serious, and Max Surban. Of course we know Max Surban. He popularized the song “Billionaire” written by Bruno Mars.

Last May 16, a man barged into Teban’s house in Talisay City, held him up at knifepoint and ran off with P1 million worth of jewelry, the news said. Teban was working on an episode for his regular drama show when the robber demanded money from our funny man. Teban only had P300 in his pocket and the vintage manual typewriter in front of him, so he led the robber to the master bedroom where the jewelry was kept.

The news said that at first Teban thought a prank was being played on him. We can imagine him telling the robber, “Dong, wa man ni labot sa eksena, HAHAHA.” (In English: Dude, this is not part of the scene, LOL.) But that moment, Bisaya humor seemed to fail, even if the robber was arrested the next day.

Few days later, novelty music icon Max Surban made it to Page 10 when he sued his long-time record label over unpaid royalties. He filed the complaint against Bayanihan Music Inc., accusing the music label of duping him into assigning to the company the rights to ten of his popular songs for only P1 back in the 1980s. He demanded close to P1 million in damages and litigation expenses.

The case is pending, so we will not discuss it here. There’s this legal term called sub-judice, which is Latin for “don’t discuss it here or the court will whop you with more Latin words.”

I grew up listening to Teban’s radio shows and Surban’s songs. From them I learned that the Cebuano language can be a powerful creative tool to make people laugh and forget about their wives, I mean, worries.

I was reminded of Teban and Surban and Bisaya humor while tweeting last week. I keep a Twitter account to amuse myself at how people behave online in 140 characters. How to make a fool or a philosopher of yourself in such limited space is the challenge that makes Twitter popular.

What I didn’t expect to see in Twitter is Bisaya humor kept alive by a group of young people with Esteban Escudero and Max Surban in their blood. I’m referring to the Twitter account “Sinugbang Sugbo.” Instead of tweeting about how boring their day was and how life is empty without the Azkals, blah blah blah, the group makes fun of just about anything they think is worth making fun of, in 140 characters, and in Bisaya.

And Bisaya tweeters appreciate the fun. In less than a week, Sinugbang Sugbo attracted 80 “followers,” actually a speck of dust in a network of millions of stalkers. But if you’re familiar with Twitter, you have to be Lady the Gaga or Justin the Bieber to attract followers without trying.

The account employs dialogue as device, between a boy named Gorio and his mother, simply known as Mama, in poking fun at pop culture.

Take this on Manny Pacquiao:

Mama: Dong Gorio, datoa na anang Dionesia no? Unsa ra tawn na sila sa una. Gorio: Unya? Mama: Aw, wa man, naa ra gyud na nimo kung mag-boxer ka.

Some English lines made it into the posts, but always with a distinct Cebuano taste to it:

Gorio: Unsay sud-an ma? Mama: Fish with vinegar, salt, seasoning, bell pepper, bulb onions, garlic cloves and ginger. Gorio: Unsa na? Mama: Inun-unan.

Just check them out for a good Bisaya laugh at Twitter.com/Sinugbang Sugbo. I seriously doubt if Teban and Surban are not behind this account.

(SUN.STAR CEBU, JUNE 7, 2011)

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/sinugbang-sugbo/feed/ 2 Air Supply is safer http://insoymada.com/archives/air-supply-is-safer/ http://insoymada.com/archives/air-supply-is-safer/#comments Tue, 20 Jul 2010 07:58:57 +0000 insoy http://insoymada.com/?p=1314 A NEWS item that came out in this paper last Sunday had me googling the words “videoke” and “killings.” Just when I thought videoke violence is nothing but media exaggeration caused by a dearth of newsworthy events on weekends, this story about a stabbing inside a videoke bar in my hometown of Pinamungajan convinced me the Aquino administration should now create a task force to investigate videoke killings in the country. If it happens in Pinamungajan--or Timbuktu, or Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland--it happens everywhere. The task force should be handled not by policemen or NBI agents but by musicians, particularly lyricists. You call the police or...]]> A NEWS item that came out in this paper last Sunday had me googling the words “videoke” and “killings.” Just when I thought videoke violence is nothing but media exaggeration caused by a dearth of newsworthy events on weekends, this story about a stabbing inside a videoke bar in my hometown of Pinamungajan convinced me the Aquino administration should now create a task force to investigate videoke killings in the country.

If it happens in Pinamungajan–or Timbuktu, or Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland–it happens everywhere.

The task force should be handled not by policemen or NBI agents but by musicians, particularly lyricists. You call the police or the NBI when it’s about drugs, or alcohol, or guns, or Joavan Fernandez. But when it’s about videoke violence, call the songwriter. Unless our law enforcement institutions include “Lyrics as Cause of Violence” in their training, drug raids and checkpoints will never solve videoke killings.

This is Google Research I’m talking about, the most reliable source of information for very serious researchers, like college freshmen and humor columnists. My comprehensive Google research told me video killings are intimately linked to the lyrics of the song that caused the fight. Take “My Way” for example.

A dozen articles dissecting the lyrics of “My Way” crop up when you google “videoke killings.” If you think I’m making this up, here’s an excerpt: “The number of killings connected to singing of the song (My Way) may simply reflect its popularity in a violent environment…The song’s ‘triumphalist’ theme might also be a factor.”

“The lyrics of ‘My Way’ increase the violence,” the study continues. “The lyrics evoke feelings of pride and arrogance in the singer, as if you’re somebody when you’re really nobody…It covers up your failures. That’s why it leads to fights.” The typical Filipino irritates.

It makes sense. Remember the last time you went videoke-ing with your friends, and there’s this guy in the next table singing “Making Love Out of Nothing at All” with all the braggadocio he could muster and you were so damn annoyed by it? Of course you don’t blame the lyrics. “I know just how to whisper/ And I know just how to cry/ I know just where to find the answers/ And I know just how to lie” is down pat annoying but only because you hate Air Supply to begin with.

You want to blow Hitchcock and Russell and their legion of fans to smithereens, not that drunk in the next table. And we’re not talking about the Bee Gees yet.

Now, imagine that same guy screaming, “For what is a man? What has he got? If not himself–Then he has naught…The record shows I took the blows. And did it my way.” Man, that guy’s annoying!

In fairness to Sinatra, he didn’t write “My Way.” It was Paul Anka, who re-wrote it from the original French, which he described as “a bad record, but there was something in it.” That “something” is murdering videoke singers all over the country. Creepy.

The Pinamungajan incident offers an additional twist to the videoke rage phenomenon. The song is not “My Way,” thank God, but Fred Berame’s Cebuano classic “Samtang May Kinabuhi.” In the context of the videoke rage in the country, the song sounds equally creepy.

No, we won’t dissect Berame’s lyrics right now. We’re running out of space. Besides, I hear somebody singing “My Way” at the videoke bar outside, and I have a mission to fulfill. Give me that gun now.

By Insoy Niñal
Sun.Star Cebu, July 20, 2010

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/air-supply-is-safer/feed/ 6 Matahum Nga Cebu http://insoymada.com/archives/matahum-nga-cebu/ http://insoymada.com/archives/matahum-nga-cebu/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:23:48 +0000 insoy http://insoymada.com/?p=1245 Hapit na man gyud ang Sinulog, paminawa kuno kung pwede ba ni. (i think i've already posted this before. but this one is the official online release endorsed by the songwriters.)

Matahum Nga Cebu

]]> Hapit na man gyud ang Sinulog, paminawa kuno kung pwede ba ni. (i think i’ve already posted this before. but this one is the official online release endorsed by the songwriters.)

Matahum Nga Cebu

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/matahum-nga-cebu/feed/ 8 Rock Your Pride! http://insoymada.com/archives/rock-your-pride/ http://insoymada.com/archives/rock-your-pride/#comments Fri, 05 Jun 2009 11:12:34 +0000 insoymada http://insoymada.com/?p=1096 ]]> Print

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/rock-your-pride/feed/ 0 Unay http://insoymada.com/archives/unay/ http://insoymada.com/archives/unay/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 10:21:47 +0000 insoymada http://insoymada.wordpress.com/?p=395 ... is that you get featured every once in a while. :) insoy insoy1_page_12]]> One good thing about working in a newspaper…

famas1

… is that you get featured every once in a while. :)

insoy

insoy1_page_12

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/unay/feed/ 13 Who’s writing the songs, who’s singing them http://insoymada.com/archives/whos-writing-the-songs-whos-singing-them/ http://insoymada.com/archives/whos-writing-the-songs-whos-singing-them/#comments Fri, 05 Dec 2008 08:08:54 +0000 insoymada http://insoymada.wordpress.com/?p=389 EVERYTIME Mr. Ryan Cayabyab opens his mouth, the country’s music buffs listen. They know that if they don’t, there’s no more reason left to respect each other. “Hey, we just snubbed Ryan Cayabyab. Now let’s snub Levi Celerio, too, and Jose Mari Chan, and Rey Valera.” And so on, and so forth, until the younger generation follows suit and murders Ely Buendia, Vennie Saturno, Ogie Alcasid and Rico Blanco, in that order. It’s going to be the Stupid Noontime Show of the Philippine music industry. Imagine listening to Lito Camo songs all your life.

That’s why it came as a surprise that the Cebu media ignored Cayabyab when he said in a...]]> pilitaEVERYTIME Mr. Ryan Cayabyab opens his mouth, the country’s music buffs listen. They know that if they don’t, there’s no more reason left to respect each other.

“Hey, we just snubbed Ryan Cayabyab. Now let’s snub Levi Celerio, too, and Jose Mari Chan, and Rey Valera.” And so on, and so forth, until the younger generation follows suit and murders Ely Buendia, Vennie Saturno, Ogie Alcasid and Rico Blanco, in that order. It’s going to be the Stupid Noontime Show of the Philippine music industry. Imagine listening to Lito Camo songs all your life.

That’s why it came as a surprise that the Cebu media ignored Cayabyab when he said in a visit to Cebu that the country’s songwriters are found in Manila while the country’s balladeers are found in Cebu. “Yes, OK sir. Sir, how is it working with the Philippine Dream Academy scholars?” Topic changed.

Cebuanos are quick to defend their dignity against the slightest sign of aggression, especially if the attack traces its origin in Manila, be it Cayabyab or “Sakal, Sakali, Saklolo.” Maybe Cayabyab’s gentle manner of speaking prevented the Cebu entertainment press that time from violently insisting that Cebuanos are as gifted in writing songs as in singing them. But then again, maybe it’s because the Maestro was speaking a truth. And the truth was that while Manileños are the better songwriters, Cebuanos are the real belters.

The Cebuanos’ talent for singing, however, may not have happened naturally. They could have developed it over time for lack of choice, maybe they were plain bored. Few pop-crazy Cebuanos would disagree that for the past three decades or so, the radio has been filling the airwaves with nothing but songs made in Manila, so much so that Cebuanos born between 1970 and 2008 virtually share the same musical awareness (which theoretically means that a 38-year-old man and a one-year-old infant can snap up a Christian Bautista-Rachelle Ann Go duet right any minute).

This 1970-2008 generation of Cebuanos may have realized that it won’t get them anywhere if they choose a career in songwriting. The country’s music capital is in Manila. It’s Manila who controls the country’s music industry. It’s the Manila-based music labels that dictate the radio stations in the provinces what songs to play and how often. It’s pure business necessity that the songs have to be written and recorded there.

Cebuano singers could have started out as passive radio listeners until they decided they had enough, and started asking their grandpas to buy them a karaoke set, and include a lyrics sheet, please. By then, their familiarity with all the right notes had been so polished they could tell if their pet dog was barking off key. The rest is musical history with Sharon Magdayao (Vina Morales) as heroine.

What about the Cebuano songwriter? We have nothing but love and respect for Ben Zubiri (Matud Nila), Nitoy Gonzalez (Usahay), Vicente Rubi (Kasadya), and many others of their era. But for sure they would now want us to move on and write songs that speak of today’s generation. If they were born of this generation, they wouldn’t definitely be writing Balitaw. They would probably be cranking up an electric guitar and smoking grass. (And quit that stupid grin, Mr. Bisrocker, because they would rather shift to ballet than be caught writing the kind of crap that you feed us with today.)

That’s why any songwriting competition that aims to produce the next “Sa Kabukiran” (Manuel Velez) had better escape the time warp because the 1970-2008 Cebuanos are really laughing at them.

Speaking of which, why is it that the songs of the Apo Hiking Society and the Eraserheads seem like they were written just yesterday?

Well… Ok. Can we just talk about our singers? We have Susan Fuentes, we have Pilita Corrales, we have Vernie Varga, we have our call center agents doing videoke on weekends. We have them and they are all in the Capital Manila. Well, except for the call center agents.

(BY LORENZO P. NIÑAL)

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/whos-writing-the-songs-whos-singing-them/feed/ 8 Ahem… FAMAS :) http://insoymada.com/archives/ahem-famas/ http://insoymada.com/archives/ahem-famas/#comments Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:09:18 +0000 insoymada http://insoymada.wordpress.com/?p=382 mf The 2008 FAMAS Awards was held last Saturday, November 29, 2008 at the Manila Hotel. Katas ng Saudigrabbed most of the awards, followed by A Love Story, Ataul for Rent and Resiklo Here are the official list of winners from the 56th FAMAS Awards! Best Picture: Katas ng Saudi (Mavericks Films) Best Director: Maryo J. Delos Reyes (A Love Story) Best Actor: Jinggoy Estrada (Katas Ng Saudi) Best Actress: Lorna Tolentino (Katas ng Saudi) Best Supporting Actor: Mon Confiado (Faces of Love) Best Supporting Actress: Irma Adlawan (Ataul for Rent) Best Child Actor: Keir Segismundo (Foster Child) Best Child Actress: Ella Cruz (Resiklo) Best Story: Neal Buboy Tan/ Anthony Gedang (Ataul for Rent) Best Screenplay: Neal Buboy Tan (Ataul for Rent) Best Cinematography:...]]> mf

The 2008 FAMAS Awards was held last Saturday, November 29, 2008 at the Manila Hotel.

Katas ng Saudigrabbed most of the awards, followed by A Love Story, Ataul for Rent and Resiklo

Here are the official list of winners from the 56th FAMAS Awards!

Best Picture: Katas ng Saudi (Mavericks Films)
Best Director: Maryo J. Delos Reyes (A Love Story)
Best Actor: Jinggoy Estrada (Katas Ng Saudi)
Best Actress: Lorna Tolentino (Katas ng Saudi)
Best Supporting Actor: Mon Confiado (Faces of Love)
Best Supporting Actress: Irma Adlawan (Ataul for Rent)
Best Child Actor: Keir Segismundo (Foster Child)
Best Child Actress: Ella Cruz (Resiklo)
Best Story: Neal Buboy Tan/ Anthony Gedang (Ataul for Rent)
Best Screenplay: Neal Buboy Tan (Ataul for Rent)
Best Cinematography: Ramoncito Redoble (Batanes)
Best Editing: Tara Illenberger (A Love Story)
Best Theme Song: “Sine-Sine” (Confessional)
Best Art Direction: Rodel Cruz (Resiklo)
Best Musical Score: Jesse Lucas (A Love Story)
Best Visual Effects: Ignite Media/ Riot, Inc. (Resiklo)
Best Special Effects: Ignite Media Inc. (Resiklo)
Golden Artist Award: Ogie Alcasid
German Moreno Achievement Awards: Ryan Agoncillo, Marian Rivera
Presidential Award: Maria Eliza “Boots Anson Roa
Lifetime Achievement Award: Paraluman
FPJ Memorial Award: Cesar Montano
Flavio Macaso Award: Wilberto Villamin
Dr. Jose R. Perez Memorial Award: Chit Ramos

]]> http://insoymada.com/archives/ahem-famas/feed/ 14