HERE'S ANOTHER talented Filipina who is gaining popularity on Facebook recently when she sang Karen Carpenter classic, You, in a Public Market in Pasig City.  The blind woman with Karen Carpenter's voice is identified as Anna Terrefiel Gusmos.

In the video, she sings while her baby sits on her lap. She sings to live music by a band composed of his husband, Reynante who plays the guitar, and Jericho Baying on keyboard.

Here's the video and listen closely:


And so you can see the similarity, here is the original version of You by Karen Carpenter




That is pure talent. The band just relies on the loose change people would drop in their can. I hope they can make a better living out of their talent.

The Philippines is indeed awash with talented people. Good luck, Anna, keep singing Karen Carpenter songs! I hope Carpenter's fans will be pleased and help Anna.

CHASTERS HAVE been on missing Charice as she suddenly "disappeared" from the airwaves after her last project on ABS-CBN, The X-Factor Philippines, where she was one of the judges.

She recently created buzz online as photos about her choice of look and rumors about her sexual preference spread about.



Recently, YouTube user Mico Malonzo uploaded a video of Charice singing Kisapmata, which was popularized by Rivermaya in the 90's.

Charice sings Kisapmata

The video was automatically flooded with comments from Chasters expressing how much they miss Charice performing.

Here are few of the comments:

Izi So: Labyo, Cha! I've been waiting to hear your version of Kisapmata since last March's OpSmile. I just stared watching this...gosh, I miss U so much! :'-)

Deck Serena: Charice, don't be stubborn.
Millions of people all over the world adored you because of your talent, the kind of gift and talent that is only given to ONE human being in every generation.
Spiderman's uncle said, with great power comes great responsibility. Your talent is your power, Charice. Think about it. Dang, I really hope you are reading this.

There were also requests for more videos and Mico Malonzo granted their request. Here is another video of Charice singing Lighthouse.

Charice sings Lighthouse

One of the most touching comments I've is this one by jaybals07:

What happened to her?..i couldn't even believed it..where's the most talented girl in the world?..what will happen to those thousand dreams that inspired by this talented girl?..hoping she would come back 

 MusikaCentral has also followed Charice's career and wishes that Charice really will come back.

FOR LOCAL bands out there, here's your chance to let your music be heard as Bodega Resto Bar and Music Lounge launches Battle of the Bands 2013.

Auditions are on May 8 and 9, 2013 from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. For more information on the screening, you may contact 09225458349, 09098969411, and 09177034099 or visit their Facebook Page.

a. Each Group will have a minimum of Three (3) and maximum of six (6) members 
(actual stage performers).
b. The members of the group may be composed of all males or females, or any
combination of both.
c. Each group will perform their choice of music with a time limit of 15 minutes.
d. Each group will perform to any music as there are no obscene, lewd or green
words in the lyrics (note: too much amplification of instruments that will
obscure or overpower the volume of the vocals is not allowed.
e. Medley arrangement of songs is allowed.
f. The use of Pyrotechnic gadgets, smoke or combustive materials as props are
not allowed.
g. During the back-to-back performance, the audience will be obliged to cast their
scores through score cards rated from 1 to 10 (1 as the lowest and 10 as the
highest).

II. Criteria for Judging (Screening) Percentage Points
a. Musicality (harmony, rhythm, sound quality) 40%
b. Performance (stage presence, style) 20%
c. Originality 10%
d. Audience Votes 30%
Total: 100%

The Grand Battle happens on May 28, 2013 at Bodega Resto Bar, San Miguel St., General Santos City, in front of SM City GenSan. Tickets for the Grand Battle are priced at Php120, which comes with free beer and pulutan.

FOR THE seventh time now, music artists from GenSan and its neighbors united to pay tribute to the labor force and this time, with special attention on encouraging the people to exercise their right of suffrage and to cast wise votes.



At the Al Fresco strip of Robinson's Place GenSan, artists of various genres performed in front of a crowd that was composed mainly of the youth.

Kuerdas, a popular reggae band in the south, opened the show with optimistic song, One Day, followed by Bob Marley's hits.



Rap artists from Hymnmagsikan Wrecords, rock, metal, and hardcore bands heated up the night.

Marlon Binarao of Hilig Extreme, the event organizer, thanked the event sponsors, supporters, and performers and echoed the event's purpose.

YOUTUBE SENSATION David DiMuzio recently released a video of him and "Russian girl" Anna Rabtsun singing their version of the Bisrock (Bisaya rock) hit, Bisan Pa.



Although it has gone viral with almost  100 thousand views (as of this writing) on YouTube and thousands of likes and shares on Facebook, DiMuzio noticed that it has not caught national media attention as did his previous feats.

Here is the video entitled,

Pretty Russian Girl Sings BISAYA Song "Bisan Pa" w/David DiMuzio:

:



On his Facebook page, he wrote:

When my last Tagalog cover song went viral starting with 30K views in the first day literally within 24hrs EVERY single major TV news network in the Philippines contacted me and covered/featured the video. ...This time my new Bisaya cover has had 100K views in 2 days which is even way more than my Tagalog cover got and yet not one news channel or newspaper has contacted me about featuring it.

He then pointed out to the unfair treatment and lack of support for music produced in other Filipino dialects.

In the description of the YouTube videos, DiMuzio expressed his amazement that many Tagalog-speaking people he knows can't name Bisaya songs and that most Bisaya people only know Matud Nila (an old Bisaya Kundiman).

Netizens shared with DiMuzio's feelings, supported his statement, and shared the video in social networking sites.

MusikaCentral also joins DiMuzio's call. That is why, MusikaCentral has started supporting local talents here in South Central Mindanao (SoCCSKSarGen). The music video we produced for local artist Paolo Araneta,  entitled Kinabuhi is just one of our efforts.

FOR THE first time, Musika Central produced a music video for a local artist and it is called Kinabuhi - A Tribute to Paraguay.



KINABUHI is a song dedicated to Victor Madrazo a.k.a. Paraguay who has become a popular character in the streets of General Santos City and the nearby town of Alabel, where he hails. Because of his popularity, he was commissioned to promote the Tuna Festival in 2011 in a series of videos posted on YouTube. He succumbed to a disease last year.

The song is about the inspiration that Paraguay has given the people. It tells about everyone being equal in the sight of God. It speaks of loving one another. Our social status does not determine the kind of person we are. We all have but one life and that life is not something we can take with us forever.

The rap was written by Paolo Araneta, also known as Kumplikado, a member of Hymnmagsikan Wrecords. Paolo is a 19-year-old resident of General Santos City and has written several other rap songs including Kahapong Kabaliwan.

Kinabuhi - A Tribute to Paraguay

Lyrics by Paolo Araneta a.k.a. Kumplikado
Performed by Paolo Araneta featuring Glenn of Skullgang/Psylent Rhyme
Recorded by Hymnmagsikan Wrecords
Music Video Produced by MusikaCentral




This video was shot in various locations in Alabel and General Santos City. The actor who plays Paraguay in the video is Whilmark "Choy" Ortibano. Choy is an office worker, dance trainer, and a band vocalist. He personally knows Paraguay so it is easy for him to mimic his moves, voice, and manner of speaking.  He impersonates Paraguay for the fun of it, but pays respect to the guy. He says that wherever Paraguay used to go, he never failed to elicit laughter from whoever sees him, and Choy sees it as a good thing, a reason for why the people will not forget him.

The video was shot entirely using a Nikon D5100 using only available light and is the first music video produced by Musika Central. Musika Central looks forward to producing more videos soon in support to local artists.

Meanwhile, Hymnmagsikan Wrecords has slated a show called Verbal Jam on Friday, April 26, 2013 at Hipnose Disco Bar. Tickets are priced at only Php 30.00. Be there! Who knows, you might get the chance to hear this song performed live.

GENERAL SANTOS City has a bottomless reservoir of talents. A kid named LA or Lloyd Aldrich Talonding singing Dance With My Father adds to the long list of local talents that have captured the attention of the country and the world.

LA, with your talent, I'm sure you'd become famous. Thank you for making us proud.

HEAR THE beat and listen to the verses of GenSan's homegrown rap artists as Psylent Rhyme, Skull N' Bones, and Hymnmagsikan Wrecords bring you Verbal Jam  on April 26, 2013 at Hipnose Disco Bar, South Osmeña, General Santos City.


Tickets are priced at Php 30.00 pesos only. The Verbal Jam is powered by Jay Dee, Agarang Paghimig and many more.

Let's support GenSan's homegrown talents! See you there!

MusikaCentral has always supported homegrown talents such as Zendee, who was featured here even before she made it big on national TV after being discovered as random girl who jumps into karaoke shops in malls to belt out a showstopper or two.

Kinabuhi (A Tribute to Paraguay) by Paolo Araneta




This time, we shine the light on Hymnmagsikan Wrecords' Paolo Araneta who also goes by the name of Kumplikado, a local rap artist, who wrote a song as tribute to local sensation Victor Madrazo, a.ka. Paraguay.

Paraguay gained popularity from being ever present in large gatherings, catching the people's attention with the way he dresses and the manner he acts. He is usually seen walking along the streets of General Santos City and, in a joke, he explains why, "My name is Paraguay, product of national highway kay wa'y pamasahe," which means, he's always seen walking because he has no money for his fare.

Paraguay's fame even escalated as videos of him singing his signature songs and throwing his antics were uploaded on the net and gained thousands of views from netizens. When his name was used to complete the internet sensation statement, "Taga-GenSan Ka Kung Kaila Ka ni Paraguay" (You Know You're From GenSan When You Know Paraguay) he became even more famous and was even commissioned to promote the Tuna Festival in 2011, which earned mixed reviews and controversies.



By the middle of the year 2012, news broke that Paraguay was suffering from a disease and was falsely reported to have died. But in October last year, his death was confirmed. A Facebook group has been dedicated to him.



 Here's a teaser I made for the upcoming music video produced by MusikaCentral:




 The Tribute to Paraguay music video will be released soon. Watch out for it.

Lyric Video of Runaway by Zendee

I think Runaway is about the dilemma of a girl who just went out of a relationship, maybe, and is trying to forget the guy. No matter how hard she tries, she finds out that there is really no way to runaway.
Everywhere she looks, she sees the guy. Everywhere she goes, she feels his presence.

Isn't it always like that when you are trying to forget someone who has been so important to you? So, everyone can relate to this song.

Vocally, there is no question that Zendee is amazing. However, I just find some parts of the song, distracting. I dunno, I just don't feel that the song plays smoothly from start to finish. There is something about the editing that bothers me. This record makes me think, Zendee is best heard live. :) Overall, it's a nice song. Congratulations, Zendee! Don't Runaway from your dreams. Soar even higher!