TATAK EDSA - 25 years after

I want to share this article by Ed Sicam I read from Yahoo! Philippines.


This is the first time I am borrowing an article from another writer and I intended nothing but sharing his article for wider dissemination.


February 25, 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the People Power revolution at EDSA that ousted a dictator. To mark the occasion, ABS-CBN has been airing a music video using a rearranged version of Jim Paredes’s composition “Handog ng Pilipino sa Mundo” with Martin Nievera, Gary V, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Vina Morales, Erik Santos, Piolo Pascual, Christian Bautista, Toni Gonzaga, Sam Milby, Juris, Aiza Seguerra, Yeng Constantino and Jovit Baldivino providing the vocals.

It’s interesting to note that aside from the first four names on this list and Piolo, who was already nine years old, the rest were mere toddlers during the EDSA phenomenon. Jovit was not even born yet.

The almost four-minute video is a glossy production that includes stock footage from the 1986 event and scenes specially shot for the occasion. One frame shows a listing of several countries who were influenced by our brand of People Power. The singers perform in front of colorful banners that capture the celebratory mood of the video. Gary V, Martin and Christian easily shone over the others.

I liked the introduction of kids joining the singing in a garden setting. Who knows, 25 years from now, they may still be around to observe the 50th year of EDSA 1. What almost destroyed my appreciation for the Kapamilya project was the use of a few notes from the ABS-CBN jingle at the end of the video. Well, the network spent for this production so let’s give it to them

I spoke to “Handog’s” composer two days ago and asked him to go back in time and recall how this anthem was created. Jim said it took him around three minutes to compose the song sometime in March when the euphoria over the triumph at Edsa was still at its peak. He explained that the idea for the song was probably gestating inside him months before Feb. 25. So when he sat down and played the first few notes on the piano, the melody and the lyrics just started rushing in:

‘Di na 'ko papayag mawala ka muli.
'Di na 'ko papayag na muli mabawi,
Ating kalayaan kay tagal natin mithi.
'Di na papayagang mabawi muli.


All the way to the song’s conclusion:

Mapayapang paraang pagbabago.
Katotohanan, kalayaan, katarungan.
Ay kayang makamit na walang dahas.
Basta't magkaisa tayong lahat!


The lyrics that stood out for me was “Kay sarap palang maging Pilipino.” which was how almost everyone felt back in ’86.

After finishing the song, he brought it to Apo’s recording company, WEA Records, which was putting together an album of patriotic songs. “Handog” was going to be the carrier single. Jim then invited singers who were identified with EDSA--Apo’s Danny Javier and Buboy Garrovillo, CelesteLegaspi, Kuh Ledesma, Ivy Violan, Subas Herrero, Noel Trinidad, Becky Demetillo, Edru Abraham, Lester Demetillo, Joseph Olfindo, Inang Laya, Coritha and Eric -- to record the song. Except for a few names, not exactly a star-studded line-up but it was their convictions that mattered. Kris Aquino, a bubbly teeny-bopper then, surprised everyone when she showed up at the studio.

Jim had also asked respected film director Mike de Leon to shoot a music video. He had worked with Mike before in the movie, “Kung Mangarap Ka’t Magising.” What Mike came up with was a simple low-budget film tracing the Filipino’s struggle for independence against the Spaniards, the Americans, the Japanese and then later the Marcos dictatorship. There were shots of heroes like Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and Apolinario Mabini then later prominent figures who fought Marcos like Jose Diokno, Lorenzo TaƱada, Joker Arroyo, Rene Saguisag Joe Burgos and of course, Ninoy and Cory Aquino.

Jim admits that he was influenced by the music video “We Are the World” by the USA for Africa where several pop singers sang the composition of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The “Handog” music video was played so many times on TV that year and years and decades later, several versions have surfaced on YouTube including the latest one by ABS-CBN.

Standing Right Next To Me - Karla Bonoff

Remember the movie 8 Seconds? I forgot the names of the casts there but the movie was about riding a wild bull inside the arena and one has to stay there for as long as 8 seconds in order to qualify or win. That is how a layperson explains that sport (or is it even a sport?).

So this song was the theme of that movie. Each time I hear this song, I always imagine the main character of the movie riding a wild bull. I have always liked that movie, in fact I bought the soundtrack back then. It was still in cassette tape form, I don't know if it is available in CD form these days.

I love it when I am surrounded with love because it makes my day lighter. I love talking about love, that shouldn't be a wonder. Love creates love right? So when I am so down, really down or sad or confused, I just remember how lucky am I to be loved.

I couldn't believe I used to memorize the lyrics of this song by heart. Must be that I was so full or love back then... full of energy even! Huh! How time flies! How easily I could forget!

Thanks for you time. Til next love blog!

Standing Right Next To Me lyrics

Love is like the wind,
Sometimes it blows your way,
And until now
It missed me somehow.

But when I turned around
I saw you standing there.
The sound of your voice -
I had no choice.

I used to have a wish
One day I'd feel like this.
Now I know love exists
Cause it's standing right next to me.

Beneath the moon tonight
I see it in your eyes -
No more false starts,
No more broken hearts.

I used to have a wish
One day I'd feel like this.
Now I know love exists
Cause it's standing right next to me.

Even in the dark,
Even when you're gone
I feel you in my heart.

I used to have a wish
One day I'd feel like this.
Now I know love exists
Cause it's standing right next to me

Standing right next to me.

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/8seconds/standingrightnexttome.htm

Broken Vow - Lara Fabian

Have you tried listening to this song while you are alone and lonely? I had... just now, while I am in front of my computer, reading for my class.

I am alone and became lonely as soon as I heard the introductory tune of this song.

Love month is here and I thought "what a nice was to start a love blog special this Feb".

Not because the story of the song is sad but because its music is really a masterpiece, it is so pleasing in the ears, really. Anyway, regardless of the story of this song, I think it is still blog-worthy because love always entail sadness and pain, isn't it?

One would never realize the value of love if one hasn't felt pain or hatred or bitterness.

All of us did... unless you'd tell me you haven't had sad experiences in love. If so, please tell me your story. Shoot me an email, and I will wait.



Lyrics of the song Broken Vow by Lara Fabian
(http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Broken-Vow-lyrics-Lara-Fabian/3B7C19A3813A43AE482569610026B5A4)

Tell me her name
I want to know
The way she looks
And where you go
I need to see her face
I need to understand
Why you and I came to an end

Tell me again
I want to hear
Who broke my faith in all these years
Who lays with you at night
When I'm here all alone
Remembering when I was your own

[Chorus:]

I'll let you go
I'll let you fly
Why do I keep asking why
I'll let you go
Now that I found
A way to keep somehow
More than a broken vow

Tell me the words I never said
Show me the tears you never shed
Give me the touch
That one you promised to be mine
Or has it vanished for all time

[Chorus]
I close my eyes
And dream of you and I
And then I realize
There's more to life than only bitterness and lies
I close my eyes
I'd give away my soul
To hold you once again
And never let this promise end
[Chorus]

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