March 2009 Archives

If this news is confirmed, then the hordes of Trent Reznor fans in Manila will be glad to hear that Nine Inch Nails is set to play at the Araneta Coliseum on August 5.

NIN head to the Philippines Trent Reznor has just confirmed via twitter that Nine Inch Nails will play the Araneta Coliseum in Manila on the 5th August 2009.

The official online forum of NIN has also the same news, but there are no details. ;-)

Francis Magalona receives a presidential merit. Story from our breaking news:

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit to the late music icon Francis Magalona on Wednesday. Magalona’s widow, Pia, and their eight children attended the awarding ceremonies at the Malacanang reception hall. Magalona, who pioneered rap music in the country and used the genre to promote nationalism, died of complications due to leukemia last March 6. He was 44.

Editor's note: This corrects Jonathan's name from McCain to Cain. By Clarence Yu Contributor ALL roads led to the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) fair grounds as Manila’s mostly upper crust and middle class crowd witnessed rock band Journey’s first Asian date in support of their Revelation album. An announcer mentioned to the audience that the concert was being filmed for a special DVD and asked the crowd to perform two cheers for filming purposes. Led by native son Arnel Pineda on vocals, the band took the stage at approximately 8:50 pm and erupted into “Never Walk Away” off the Revelation album with all cylinders firing, followed by “Only The Young,” a sufficient one-two salvo to keep the crowd on its’ feet. The legendary rockers mixed the old with the new. Instead of trying to please the crowd with a potential wall to wall greatest hits concert, the band admirably dug deep into their newest release, with songs like the rockers “Change For The Better,” “Where Did I Lose Your Love” and the tear-jerking ballad “After All These Years,” intermixed with old gems like “Ask The Lonely,” “Stone In Love” and the ever crowd rousing “Separate Ways.” This brought the crowd on and off their feet; for every hit like “Open Arms,” which had everyone screaming, there was a “Wildest Dream” which kind of flew over the audience’s heads. No matter. The sound was all-professional, solid and tight. The band also added new bits into their old songs. “Separate Ways” had an interlude during Neal Schon’s blistering solo, and “Wheel In The Sky” began with Jonathan Cain on harmonica and Schon on acoustic in a country-honky tonk jam. Bassist Ross Valory was cool and collected, holding down the bottom end while entertaining the audience with his comical facial expressions. Drummer Deen Castronovo sang lead vocals on several songs, the most impressive being “Mother Father” off the Escape album. Castronovo proves not only to be a great drummer but an excellent singer as well. Finally, lead vocalist Arnel Pineda was a ball of fire throughout the whole show, jumping all over the stage and hitting all the high notes with his more than apt voice. Confident and equipped with the obligatory arena rock star charisma and moves, Pineda was visibly charged and emotional in his first concert with Journey in his native land, and dedicated the 1996 ballad “When You Love A Woman” to “all the women out there” and “to my wife”. Understandably, though most of the crowd was there to see Mr. Pineda, Journey proved that collectively they are still a serious band to be reckoned with. This was no sentimental tour. Albeit boring the crowd somewhat with their new songs, the band showed no compromise, proving in the end that they are still firmly entrenched in their roots and are looking forward to a longer career ahead of them.

Watch this video: 11:33 PM: Okay, it's over. That's it folks. Throngs of fans continue to flow out of the concert grounds. 11:30 PM Just before they ended,Ely went down to the pit area, where the stars are. He gave the mic to Tim Yap while singing "Toyang," and Tim Yap sang the wrong lyrics. 11:25 PM Ligaya, Sem break and Toyang were the last 3 songs. When Ely said: "Talon!" Everyone jumped and the ground LITERALLY shook.If you remember this is a reclamation area. 11:24 PM: From afar, we could hear "Ligaya," then "Sembreak" then finally (with finger-crossed) "Toyang." Shoot. It is now difficult to go back. 11:20 PM Ek.They just did an encore.Three more songs. 11:15 PM This is Erwin with Alex Villafania, Lawrence Casiraya, Janie Octia, and Rastle Lozano, signing off.;-) 11:10 PM Thousands of fans walk out of the concert grounds, others who were not able to enter stayed outside and watched from afar, clapping and cheering as the band played one song after another. 11:00 PM The confettis are out.Fireworks are on, as Ely sets the stage ablaze. El Bimbo signals the end of the Final Set. 10:50 PM The band explodes into the "Kaleidescope" as a tribute to Francis M who died Friday after long bout with leukemia. 10:45 PM The band has been playing for more than 2 hours now. Ely then leads the crowd into a modified version of "Alapaap." 10:42 PM "Mabuhay si Francis!" Ely declares. 10;37 "Sumigaw tayo para ke Francis!"Then they start playing "Superproxy." 10:35 PM The cameras start focusing on the crowd, the celebrities in the crowd, and a lovely lady who gives her partner a kiss. 10:32 PM:Ely says goodnite but the crowd refuses to go. 10:30 PM "Magdri-drive ako hanggang Baguio.." (Corrections made on lyrics ;-) ) 10:20 People are grabbing chairs to sit on.Some choose to sit on the grounds.Ely sings Spolarium. 10;14 The people seem to be in a trance,can't seem to find anyone jumping or dancing to the beat. Or are they just tired. 10:10: Crowd gives Ely and Jazz Nicholas (not Raimund as blogged earlier) a well-deserved applause after their piano-only rendition of Kailan. 10:07 Raimund on piano, as Ely starts singing, "Kailan." 10:04: People outside the concert sing to "Pare Ko." 10:02 Pare Ko is on, audience howls. 9:50 PM The next set is on.Acoustic set is on. 9:17 PM Breaktime! Teka lang tama na 'to. Kami naman ang mag-e-enjoy hahahaha! Salamat Erwin, Lawrence, Alex, Janie and Rastle Joy Lozano! 9:15 PM "Torpedo" is now playing. Ely is back on the mic. 9:07 PM They are now singing "Alkohol." 9:06 PM Marcus finally decides to take off his jacket, giving in to the heat. He reveals a red shirt within. Audience starts bouncing, Raimund continues to sing. 9:04 PM Raimund sings slow-mo. It's a country-sounding song with space guitar provided by Marcus. 9:03 PM The crowd howls everytime Raimund takes the mic. 9:01 PM Marcus continues to modify the lyrics of "Huwag mo nang Itanong" while the crowd sings along, swaying. They change the beat to reggae. "Huwag mo nang Itanong...di ko sasabihin sa yo." The crowd laughs. 8:59 PM Marcus takes the mic, Raimund takes a break. 8:57 PM They take off their jackets except for Marcus. Ely shouts: "TY, ang bait nyo! Kayo muna!" The audience goes wild. 8:56 PM The crowd continues to swell. Some people have brought stools to stand on. Alex lifts up his petite girlfriend who is wearing a skirt to get a better view -- I mean the girlfirend, not Alex. 8:53 PM Ely throws his guitar pick to the crowd. What's next? A tooth pick? 8:52 PM They are now singing "Poor Man's Grave." (Corrected title ;-) ) 8:50 PM Ely asks the audience: "Kumusta na kayo?" 8:44 PM "Maskara" is now being sung. 8:43 PM Ely Buendia takes off his black jacket and throws it to the crowd! 8:37 PM Third song is "Maling Akala" 8:36 PM Except for Marasigan, they are all wearing shades. 8:36 PM Eraserheads are now singing their second song, "Walang Nagbago" 8:33 PM Pati pulis nag-vi-video sabi ni Janie Octia! 8:32 PM Despite the ban on cameras, people at the VIP area are shooting away with their digicams and cell phones. Four screens above the stage are showing each of them. 8:30 PM Raimund is wearing a red jacket. The rest are wearing black. We see Director Robert Quilao of Dayo. 8:29 PM All lights are open!!! They are singing "Magasin" -- the first song of the concert. Crowd sings along with them! 8:29 PM The Eraserheads are now onstage! Janie Octia is getting goose bumps!!! 8:27 PM Crowd cheering louder and louder as rehearsal video clips are shown. Countdown starts from Z to A!!! Ay wait, the countdown stops at E!!! 8:25 PM AVP still playing. MTV International Viewers' Choice Award for Asia shows Eraserheads victory. We see Jericho Rosales. 8:20 PM AVP still playing on the big screen with interviews and video clips taken from the '90s. We see Jay Manalo. MOLA at MOA! 8:15 PM Eraserheads AVP and intro to the concert now playing on the big screen. 8:14 PM We see Quark Henares at the VIP section. C'mon let's go, let's go, start na!!! 8:10 PM Concert has yet to start. VIP section is now full, we see Angel Aquino walking around. 7:57 PM Fans are still coming in, lining up. 7:45 PM Droves of fans are going to the concert grounds. 7: 15 PM We just witnessed a dazzling display of fireworks. Is that really meant for the E-heads fans? ;-) 7:11 PM Tip for those looking for parking: The parking areas near the venue are all jammed. While you still can, swing around to the side where SMX is located, there are still lots of parking spaces there, P40 parking fee. However, you need to walk a bit. Work those legs and burn off that fat. Yes, I'm talking to you. 7:07 PM Traffic near the concert grounds is getting crazy. Also, saw some concert goers dropping by cafes to have a quick bite. The concert is scheduled to start at around 8PM. We also saw this poster. 7:04 PM Saw some scalpers selling tickets. Gold A ticket worth P3,000 sold for P1,000 in one minute, according to one of the concert-goers. 7:01 PM: The media briefing is over. There is a designated "media pit" where cameraman and photographers are authorized to shoot. INQUIRER.net reporter Lawrence Casiraya is going to be one of them. 6:54 PM: People are lining up outside of the concert grounds. The VIP section looks empty but the other sections are filling up with fans. 6:09 PM: FILIPINO rock icons the Eraserheads is staging their "Final Set" here at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds. This is a continuation of last year's reunion concert that was cut short when frontman Ely Buendia was rushed to the hospital after suffering from fatigue. Incidentally, Filipino rap king Francis Magalona who died Friday after his long bout with leukemia, was supposed to play with the band. Magalona has been featured in one of the E-heads' songs "Superproxy." Recently, he and Buendia started collaborating on a new album. Fans who have started to line up here at the SM Mall of Asia Grounds are anticipating a tribute to Magalona who is considered one of the country's music icons.

UPDATES:

(UPDATE 2) Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona died of leukemia Friday at the Medical City in Mandaluyong, his co-hosts at the GMA Network’s noontime show “Eat Bulaga” said. He was 44. Magalona succumbed to severe sepsis as a complication of leukemia and passed away at 12 noon, said Philippine Daily Inquirer sources who were not authorized to talk to media. Magalona had been undergoing several chemotherapy sessions since he was diagnosed with the disease in August last year but was too weak to fight the infection, sources said.

More news from our breaking news. +++ FILIPINO rapper and host Francis Magalona has died after his fight with leukemia. Members of noontime show "Eat Bulaga" led by Vic Sotto announced Magalona's death. Here's our breaking news story:

MANILA, Philippines—Rapper-TV host Francis Magalona has succumbed to leukemia at the Medical City in Mandaluyong City on Friday. He was 44.

Magalona, 44, was diagnosed with leukemia last year. Members of Eat Bulaga gave a moment of silence during the TV show, but later said that the "show must go on." Magalona has been a co-host on Eat Bulaga. But prior to this, he has established himself as the king of Filipino rap. Recently, he has been collaborating with former Eraserheads lead man Ely Buendia on a project. +++ Twitter is now abuzz with Magalona's death. One user called "thedozenblades" declares: "Francis Magalona RIP. Four hundred years of tears for the brown man still managed to produce you brother." Another user, "juiceee" tweets: "RIP Francis Magalona. My mom and i were so close to crying. While Magalona has kept his condition private, he was very candid in his Multiply blog, as he posted photos of himself, showing the effects of his chemotherapy. He writes:

Good evening people. I am getting prepared for my 4th Chemotherapy cycle, and I will be admitted tonight at The Medical City. I will be doing some tests tomorrow, wish me luck. Friday I begin my 4th cycle which is a Hi-Dose kind, as will be taking 6 grams of Cytarabin a day every other day for 3 days. I will be at the 14th floor of the TMC, as usual. I brought alot reading materials (bible included!) and dvds to keep me company while I do my treatment. I will be doing my radiation treatment by February and my PBSCT (Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplant) will be done by March. I look forward to the pain as I know my journey is on full speed ahead. I will not be bold to say that without asking a favor from you all. PLEASE PRAY for me as I undergo treatment. Your prayers, as always, have sustained me. And am sure the Lord will listen to all our prayers. To His will I submit myself. God bless you, my friend. PS: I will be needing blood donors for blood and platelets. Please go to the lower ground floor of The Medical City and donate blood in my name. For platelets Apheresis you may go have yourself screened at the Phil. Nat'l Red Cross at the Pier in Manila. I am type O positive. Thank you again.