panget

LJ panget is pretty much forgotten but but but:

from hellobebe:
"can you go old school and post something here? i just want to see panget in my feed, i never had that kilig before. mwah"

so here's something worth posting.



Mwah!

Official video for the new single "My Emptiness". Directed by Pancho Esguerra. DOP: Greg Garcia.

AC: Neil Sayno
PM: Erik Malaya
Production Design: Nina Torres
Stylist: Mei Bastes and Laurie Maravilla
Post: Blue Rain Multimedia

Enjoy!

From Wikipedia (on Joey Santiago, guitarist of the Pixies):

"Joey Santiago was born in Manila, Philippines, on June 10, 1965, the third of six sons of an anesthesiologist. The Santiago family was one of the wealthiest and most powerful in the Philippines. In 1972, however, when President Marcos declared martial law, the family immigrated to the United States."

So if Marcos hadn't declared Martial Law, Joey's family never would have immigrated to the US. Joey wouldn't have met Charles Thompson (Black Francis) in college and influenced him to rock music and form a band with him. The Pixies never would have happened. It's a fact that "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is Nirvana shamelessly ripping off the Pixies. "Smells Like Teen Spirit" wouldn't have been written, and would never have spearheaded the whole alternative rock movement in the 90s, that would later spawn the indie rock movement of the present.

Oddly amazing

Was browsing through the local FHM's 100th issue earlier, and they had a series of top 100 lists. Among them was "100 albums that rocked our shores from 2000-2008." I was casually running through the list when I saw this:

"52. Is That Ciudad? Yes Son It's Me. - Ciudad"

It made me go wow! How could it have "rocked our shores" when it's one of the hardest albums to find around? But thanks FHM guys! That boosted my confidence quite a bit. haha. I still have a handful of copies in a box underneath my bed, and a couple of boxes hidden somewhere in Quark's house. So if you still don't own it, go send me a message. (Oh come on boys and girls! It's the #52 album that "rocked our shores in the past 8 years yaww! So says FHM Philippines!) Hahaha. Selling them at a discounted price. (And if you're really lucky, you might get it for free. MIGHT. So be nice. hehe.)

I suddenly have an idea to pitch it to our distributor (Locked Down Records) to re-release it as "Is That A Deluxe Expanded Edition Reissue? Yes, Son, It Sure Is!" with additional tracks, 32-page booklet with commentaries, and all that shit, to commemorate it's 5th year anniversary of release. (Although if it does materialize, it would be way past the 5th year anniversary already, but who cares?)

That would be great. And it wouldn't be that hard to find anymore, at least for some time. So what do you think of that?



Mikey

P.S.
In the meantime, "Bring Your Friends" is still our very recent release. It's available at Odyssey records nationwide, and also O Music Stores!

A substantial number of people have been telling me lately that my latest set of songs (namely the album "Bring Your Friends" and a few scattered unreleased demos) are really sad and depressing.

Now I'm actually concerned that their perception of Mikey circa 2006-present is a depressed person.

The answer is no. Haha. I'm generally a happy person. And I couldn't be in a happier state right now, thanks to all the fortunate events and boundless love I'm getting lately. (Hi Marian. I love you! yikee...)

It's just that I have this love for beautiful/sad songs, and you don't have to be literallly sad to enjoy or create those kind of songs. I don't know, maybe it started with Ben Folds or Elliott Smith (whose 5th Death Anniversary is today). But beautiful/sad songs stir something unique inside your heart and mind that no happy song could ever do.

I mean "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang could be as equally good as let's say, "Everything Means Nothing To Me" by Elliott Smith. But the high feeling you get from listening to the former is nothing compared to the plethora of emotions you suddenly gush out with when listening to a really beautifully-executed sad song like the latter. Call that a sadness-induced high, if there's such a thing. Hahaha.

I used to write happy songs, with lyrics like "Snot is for the supermen, they use it for their specimens." or "My teacher's a monster, she is a wanker." Nowadays I write things that go like "Silence will not give me back answers, it's just always complicating matters." or "Come out in circles because I love you more than I should." Hahaha. I don't know, you be the judge on which is more meaningful and has more substance.

But anyway, so there. I'm not sad. However though, those "sad" songs I wrote still remain true and honest and sincere even if they came from a "generally happy person."

My goal is not to put people down and make them feel sad and inadequate. (I'll leave that to the emo kids.) I just want people to be able to relate, and then form a thin layer of tears in their eyes, and at the same time, smile, because hopefully they found it unfortunate but beautiful. Believe it or not, there's a tinge of hope in those songs.

So smile! :)

Here's Ciudad's new single, "...Until It's Cool." Off the "Bring Your Friends" album.

Shot in Quezon City and New York City on 24P and Super 8mm.

Starring: Kate Reilly, Mikey Amistoso, Justin Sunico, Mitch Singson

Directed by Marie Jamora
Directors of Photography: Ming Kai Leung, Marie Jamora, & Pong Ignacio
Stylist: Marian Hernandez
Gaffer: Ramon de Veyra
Editing & Color Correction: Marie Jamora

**Guess what's in stores now???!!!





BRING YOUR FRIENDS!




**Oddyssey Outlets

FINALLY!



Ideas and demos for most of the songs on this record came 5-6 years ago (even before the release of our 2nd, and this is now the 4th).

The band's work for this album started 2 years ago, when we had our first recording session for the initial set of songs. Then for a year or so, sessions would come sporadically as we struggled with our busy work schedules to finish an album that should have been released years before. Songs were re-arranged, new songs were written and scrapped, some of them for the first time as a full band.

And then the remaining months was a struggle on what we're going to do with the product, and how we're going to bring it to the people. And I guess doing it independently is really the best way to go nowadays. (But thanks to Kerwin and Jigger for the extra help!)

Finally, after years of anxious waiting, the album will be in retail stores in a couple of weeks! (specifically Odyssey and Astrovision)

But if you can't wait a couple of weeks, you can go to this Saturday's gig, June 14, at Route 196, Katipunan Extension, QC! It's ATTRACTION REACTION: with Eggboy, Gorgoro, Spazzkid, and Ang Bandang Shirley! We'll kickoff the CD selling there! Hope to see you!



Yay! This is the album we've been dreaming to come up with ever since. Hope you get it and like it. :)



P.S. Special thanks and kudos to Hannah Liongoren for the superb album cover and poster design.

1. I have every track they ever put on record in my iPod.. rarities and all that shit.

2. All their CD's are prominent on my CD rack, lined up in order of release.

3. My main copy of Plans is a vinyl copy.

4. I have 7 Death Cab shirts, 3 Barsuk shirts, and 2 Barsuk hoodies

5. In my facebook profile picture, I am wearing one of those shirts.

6. My band covers 6 DCFC songs.

7. Our goal for our latest album is for it to sound and feel like Plans. (Watch out for Bring Your Friends!)

8. I have personal recordings of me covering DCFC songs. (Send me a message if you want to hear. Haha.)

9. I have all their side project releases... Ben Gibbard's solo projects -- All-Time Quarterback, Chris Walla's album, etc.

10. I personally think The Postal Service is a waste of Ben Gibbard's precious time for DCFC.

11. I own a used drumstick from Jason McGerr.

12. The only other thing worth talking about aside from sex... is Death Cab For Cutie.

13. Narrow Stairs is a so-so album in their standards, but I love it all the same.. and they're still my favorite band. :)

JOLLITOWN. Every Sunday, 9:30AM, GMA-7. Will premiere this April 13th, 2008.

So wait..why am I promoting this? Hmmm.. aside from the fact that this is a refreshing change from violence and sex on TV, and it's sort of a first for Philippines, I'd also like to promote the music and score for this project. LiquidPost (where I work) is responsible for the music of each and every episode. I wrote, co-wrote, and arranged a lot of the songs, together with Jazz Nicolas my workroom-mate (and 69-mate haha), and under the direction of Geri Gatchalian-Gil and Dan Gil. Writing music for children is fun as well!

-------------------------------------------------

Wow, I'm really happy with my life right now. A big factor is what I'm doing now. How can writing and arranging music as a job not be fun for me? I feel like there's nothing in my work that I cannot handle. Sana di ako mabulok or magsawa. I'm really proud to be part of LiquidPost right now. A big thanks to Dan and Geri Gil! (I hate to call them my bosses because they don't really look it and I'm sure they'd hate it too, but they are my bosses!)

Happy to be a big part of big projects that are happening right now. One of them is this Jollibee TV thing. I also co-wrote a song/jingle for a very popular beverage (but oops you're not supposed to know that mwahaha so I won't say which beverage) and I think it's very successful right now. As mentioned in my earlier post, I'm on a mission to make Filipino music good music, and I think I'm in the right venue right now to continue that mission.

Sabi nga ni Masi sa akin, "I found my home."

--------------------------------------------------

There are also other things I'd like to discuss why I'm happy right now, but I have to go. Will meet up with Mitch, we're going to the printing press to have our album sleeves printed. YES WE'RE HAVING OUR NEW ALBUM PRESSED AND PRINTED VERY SOON! Do watch out for it. It's our 4th album and it's gonna be called "Ciudad: Bring Your Friends."

People, tell me honestly... do you like Callalily's music? Do you like the song "Magbalik?" And stop giving me crap about them being nice boys anyway. I already know that. They are nice boys. But we're talking about music here..not attitude.

I'm so tired of hearing people say.."Sagwa ng tugtugan nila noh? Pero mababait naman sila eh. So okay lang yun. Ang sama mo, dinidiss mo sila."

Haaay.

Kaya di umaangat ang OPM eh... kasi dinadaan na lang sa bait? Ganun ba yun? We're all so nice to each other, so we condone bad music for the sake of kindness. Mas gusto ko pa nung araw nung nagsisiraan yung mga artists and bands..pero at least na-chachallenge sila na pagandahin talaga yung work nila.

Hey let's do something different naman for a change.. let's be honest and say this band sucks if their music really sucks. (Hey, you're welcome to say that my band sucks too if you think we really do.)

I'm on a life mission to up the standards of Original Pilipino Music, and a small step for that mission of mine is letting people know that Callalily's songs suck. (And Lito Camo's too.) Whatever it takes, kahit magkabacklash sa sarili kong banda. Come on guys, most of you agree with me. I know it because you said so, you're only scared kasi baka makarma kayo or something.

I'd like to apologize to the people involved kung nadiss kayo. It's just part of my mission. But I'm not taking back what I said.

I'm not asking for each and every one to hate them. I know that tastes of people vary. I'm just asking people to admit that they suck if they really think they do, and express it. Because I think they suck. And I hear that a lot of people also think that way. And every human being has a need to know too if he/she sucks or not to other people, so that they'll be challenged to do better next time.

There... nalabas ko na. It really bothers me... as in naghe-hater mode ako with a passion (as in naninikip talaga dibdib ko). Ang pathetic lang kasi ng sitwasyon eh.

Callalily, I'm challenging you to make better music on your next album. Please, let's do it all for ORIGINAL PILIPINO MUSIC.

P.S. (04/04/08)
Haha my challenge came too late.. may bago na pala silang album released just this March. I'd like to hear it and see if they improved. :)

So I went to the office this morning. When I got there, it was dark and locked. I unlocked the door and went in, turned on the aircon, then texted my officemates.."Uhm may pasok ba? Bat ako lang tao dito?"

Someone replied... "Bukas pa! Hahahaha!"

Potek! April Fool!!!!

So I'm here all by myself, probably with mumo behind me looking over my shoulder. Mumo, say hi!

MUMO: Hello.

Uwi na ba ako?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hello there, Livejournal! I apologize. I think for the entirety of 2007, I didn't post anything substantial. (Not that I’m expected to do so every time.)

But hey! Hello there 2007! You were a good year, and also a bad year, but more a good year than bad. Roller coaster ride! So before I bid you farewell (a few hours to go, lovely), let me recount what you brought into my life.

Mikey Mikey’s 2007 Highlights (and Lowlights)… in no particular order.

1. YAY. New cool places to hangout –

a. TOMATO KICK – great food! winner pasta. A good date place, I must say… with pickupsticks and all, especially if you take the good seats inside -- the sofa… di ba Hannah? :)

b. MOGWAI/SPUTNIK, (and the whole of Cubao Expo on Saturday nights) -- lots of 2007 memories happened here. Great events, great chillout moments, a place for good intelligent conversation, stupid conversations are welcome too! Poker nights and pamorningan despedidas. And cool movies at the small movie theater upstairs (like Perfume, and Dolemite). And shit… sausage and beans! SAUSAGE AND BEANS!

2. YAY. Travelling with someone you love. Cebu and Singapore will be great 2007 memories, no matter what. Hahaha, and diarrhea in a foreign country with no 24-hour botikas is a horrible thing to experience… but a funny thing to recount to your friends later on. Singa-proot!

3. BOO. Heartbreak – the reason 2007 is also counted as a bad year. But hell yeah, without this bad thing, all the other good things wouldn’t have happened. So to her, wherever she is… fuck you… And thank you. :)

4. YAY. Joining LIQUIDPOST – I must have been really heartbroken then, because something compelled me to quit everything and have a major change of environment. And this was it. The best decision I ever made in my life -- taking a risk to work for something I know I’m very interested in and also excel in. Now I’m having the time of my life… plus more spare time to spend with my friends, my family, my band, and myself! Thanks to Dan and Geri Gil for letting me be part of Liquidpost.

5. YAY. Ciudad – this has been a really good year for my band. I think we worked the hardest this year in the whole history of our career. We finished an album,.. as in it’s already complete! Master copies and album cover and all! So far, everyone who we made to listen to the album really loved it. It’s the piece of work that I/we have been proudest so far. Pucha i-release na yan! KERWINNNNNN!!!!

Plus we made a video, and it got heavy airplay in the music video networks.

I swear to God, 2008,.. let this be a great year for Ciudad.

6. YAY. Musical Guesting for various bands: Imago, Cambio, Bandang Shirley, Itchyworms (Cebu escapade!). This has been a great side source of income. Thanks!

7. YAY. New local bands to look forward to!
- US 2 EVIL 0
- Musical O (I think O stands for Orgasm..GANDA!)
- Corporate Lo Fi
- The Ronnies
- Sleepwalk Circus
- Taken By Cars
- The Vince Noir Project

8. YAY. FACEBOOK! The online phenomenon of 2007. Got to meet new people here, as well as catch up with old friends. Move over Text Messaging… Superpoke is here. “Superpoke Is Nothing Compared To True Love” – US 2 EVIL 0 (tama ba Quark?)

9. Ex-girlfriend Drama Extravaganza!!! – woot! Ang kulay ng buhay.
- YAY. Got to communicate with an ex-girlfriend after almost 8 years of not communicating with each other. Kahit facebook lang. See how facebook can do wonders? Whew, it’s such a nice feeling.
- YAY. Got to catch up with another ex-girlfriend, almost 3 years after the breakup. And now we’re good friends with a special fondness for each other. :)
- BOO. Fought with another ex-girlfriend out of the blue and now we aren’t in speaking terms. Hehe ganyan talaga ang buhay.

10. BOO and YAY. Regretting what-could-have-beens, but putting nice endings to them in my own little way. Okay vague ito pero basta. Hehehe.

11. YAY. Meeting new friends – this is THE highlight of the year! Igans! Thanks and hugs and kisses… and har har har pearl necklaces to you all!

12. YAY. Strengthened relationships with old friends – I think this year and the last are the years when I got even closer to my friends. Yes this can still happen even if you’re already friends for 14 or so years. So to Quark, Justin, Mitch, Jeff, Lia, Mark Lavin, S-jay, Pado, Tin, Zab, Bodge, (sorry if I missed some)... I love you, and it’s not gay!

13. YAY. This year has also been the year when old acquaintances suddenly became good friends! Kasama ka dun CD! Thank you!

14. YAY. Discovery of the year: Red Horse is THE beer. Thank you, Wiji!

15. YAY. Got devirginized… to weed. Hohoho yes corrupt my soul!!! (But still yet to get high).

16. YAY. Memorable moments:
a. Death Cab for Cutie Night (October 3 at Route 196) - people in front of me crying and singing along. How surreal.
b. City Light watching night by the Cliffside with Wiji and Hannah. – you see, we don’t need conversation sometimes. Oftentimes, just sharing a magnificent sight together is enough.
c. Kite-flying (kahit di successful) with Wiji and Hannah.
d. Tagaytay songwriting with Mitch, Justin, and Jeff.
e. Tagaytay rooftop conversations with Mitch and Justin.
f. Debbie Singson’s wedding in Tagaytay – we flew lanterns to the black sky! Good thing we didn’t burn Tagaytay overnight.
g. La Union, shooting star hunting – what a way to cap the year. Even though I had to miss the A-boys Christmas party for this. Sorry boys, but I'm sure you'd understand. :)


There. Cool! There are more YAYs than BOOs.

So Happy new year everyone! 2008, here we come!

Love,
Mikey

Check this out... an old Ciudad music video for the demo of "Corina Turina," shot way back in 1999 (December I think), for a College film class.



and yeah, once again... Friday Noon (which is showing already in Myx and MTV. Yahoo!



Woot woot!

New Ciudad video, directed by Wincy Ong,... for the song "Friday Noon" off the upcoming album Bring Your Friends.



Shet gusto ko nang ilabas:

Wow! Come, come!

Ciudad will be playing an all-Death Cab set.

:)

http://www.urbandictionary.com

"Urban Dictionary is a slang dictionary with your definitions. Define your world."



Tangina to ah.

In a few weeks, I'll be leaving my current job to try my luck on a music-related job. Wish me luck.

Some of the things/people I'll miss:

I've noticed that I haven't been posting a lot here lately. I guess I'm really not in the sharing or blogging mood anymore.

But hey! Ramon De Veyra! Thanks for tagging me... here are my answers:

Which bands/artist do you own the most albums by?
Death Cab For Cutie (Everything!), The Lemonheads, Pavement

What was the last song you listened to?
"Back in Your Head" by Tegan and Sara (an amazing song!)

What's in your CD player right now?
Rephrase: what album do you have on heavy rotation in your Ipod now?
The Con, by Tegan and Sara (an amazing album... Chris Walla's production touch is lovely, I wish he can produce an album for us someday.)

What was the last show you attended?
Local -- Do shows where my band gets to play count? If so, then Admit One in Saguijo last Saturday (August 18)
Foreign... Imogen Heap, I think... May 2006.

What was the greatest show you've ever been to?
Death Cab For Cutie, with Mates of State at Bowery Ballroom, NY -- October 2003. Watching 2 of my favorite bands in the world with some of my best friends would be the greatest show I've ever been to. A plus is the fact that we got to meet the band outside the bar right after.

What's the worst show you've ever been to?
NU107 Alternativity 1997 - getting booed by jologs onstage and you're a 16 year old kid thinking you're making clever music would be a traumatic experience for anyone.

What's the most musically involved you have ever been?
Hahaha. hmmm let's see, being a frontman and songwriter for a rock band? Recently quitting an IT job to work for a Sound Production company?

What is your favorite band shirt?
One of my 5 Death Cab for Cutie shirts. (By now it's getting obvious that I really love this band.)

What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
-Chris Walla of DCFC (to learn a thing or two about being a record producer)
-Dave Grohl

Who is one musician or group(s) you wish would make a comeback?
Ben Folds Five

How many music related videos/DVDs do you own?
about 7

Name 4 or MORE flawless albums: (in no particular order)
1. Rubber Soul - The Beatles
2. Plans - Death Cab For Cutie
3. Whatever and Ever Amen - Ben Folds Five
4. Transatlanticism - Death Cab For Cutie (Kutob mo gusto ko sila?)
5. It's a Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads
6. Figure 8 - Elliott Smith
7. Friendly Fire - Sean Lennon

Name 5 of your favorite songs of all time
(in no particular order; and with the knowledge that at any other point in time this whole list would probably change)
1. Into Your Arms - The Lemonheads
2. Hello, Goodbye - The Beatles
3. Expo 86 - Death Cab (Kutob nyo?)
4. Farmer Chords - Ben Gibbard
5. Goods (All in your head ) - Mates of State

What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
Kids in the Hall "Brain Candy"

What was your last musical "phase" before you wisened up?
hmmm.. I don't know. Probably Heavy Metal/Thrash Metal (Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, etc...) when I was 8 or 9. Not that it wasn't wise or anything.

What's your "guilty pleasure" that you hate to admit to liking?
I'm not ashamed of anything I like.

This summer marked the 10th anniversary of acquainting myself with one of my most beloved albums ever, Ben Folds Five's Whatever and Ever Amen. It might be my most favorite album of all time, one I would bring to the desert island with me.


Come celebrate with me, and watch these hilarious videos. Sorry, would have embedded them here, but it wouldn't let me.

Kate - Ben Folds in bed naked with bassist Robert Sledge and drummer Darren Jessee. What a gayness! Beats the licking scene in our very own Fixing the Radio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLkVOvHn-sU

One Angry Dwarf and Two Hundred Solemn Faces - I remember in the young days of Ciudad (when we were more energetic), I had this antic of falling to the floor at the end of each song. I got that antic from bassist Robert Sledge in this video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pWB2N0_TxM

The Battle of Who Could Care Less -- Wala lang.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7-jiEbWUUc