The Maestro Comes to Town: "Musicoveries" at My High School Alma Mater

- September 26, 2015, Saturday.

- Highly-respected conductor Gerard Salonga (Lea Salonga's brother) and ABS-CBN's Philharmonic Orchestra graced my high school alma mater this morning to present a special and educational musical concert called "Musicoveries" ("music" + "discoveries," get it?) This program is targeted to schools and students, so students will have a better understanding and appreciation for orchestral music via different musical genres, and may hopefully spark the students' interest in learning (or continuing to learn) musical instruments. This 45-60 minute program/concert has been going on for around a year, and has visited (or been visited by) many schools and NGOs.

- I come from a high school that is known for being good primarily at math and science; the school has also been making its name in the fields of athletics, singing, and dancing, among others. However, big events that have something to do with classical or orchestral music are quite rare (especially with someone like Gerard Salonga "in the house," and with tickets that cost a mere 200php,) I took the opportunity to watch and learn from Gerard Salonga. As a classically trained violinist and pianist through the Chiang Kai Shek College School of Music, and with some amateur experience in conducting, composing, and musical-score arranging via my long-term involvement with the Moving Actors Society of Chiang Kai Shek (my high school's English theater group,) I was certain that while the program was targeted to younger students, I would still be able to learn a lot and have a worthwhile Saturday morning with Gerard Salonga.

- The concert started around 10:30am, with the orchestra playing a theme from "Harry Potter." Afterwards Gerard introduced himself and the different instruments that make up the orchestra. He noted that the loudest instruments, such as the brasswinds and the percussion instruments, are located at the back, while the softest instruments (all string instruments) are located in front.

Music from Harry Potter.

Why hello Maestro Gerard.

Simplifying music theory for everyone.

Introducing the brasswind section.

He really wants the audience to understand everything.

- Gerard also introduced some principles and characteristics of classical music to the students, such as how pieces are divided into several movements, and how audio motifs are used both overtly and subtly in the pieces. He used Czech composer Smetana's very poetic piece,"The Moldau," to illustrate his point.

Introducing "The Moldau."

Violins.

Cellos and double basses.

 - One of the things I liked about the program was when Gerard introduced the beauty of  Philippine music by contemporary composers to everyone, since I do feel that not many Filipinos know that the country is rich in contemporary musical composers apart from the well-loved Ryan Cayabyab. (And even with Ryan Cayabyab, not a lot of Filipinos know much about his compositions.) Gerard and the orchestra later performed a remixed version of Ryan Cayabyab's "Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika" ("How Beautiful Our Music Is;") I felt that his version had a Beethoven-inspired cadenza in the middle, towards the finale.

Very straightforward.

- Another thing I liked about the program was Gerard allowing students to participate, so the students will be able to experience being on stage with the orchestra. Erika, a fantastic singer and a good friend of mine, was asked to sing "On My Own" from Les Miserables, while later on, some students were asked to hold the conductor's baton and guide the orchestra to a simple march. At this point, Gerard also informed the audience that the terms "maestro" and "conductor" are unisex terms, which means that these terms are to be used regardless of the maestro or conductor's gender.

Erika was not on her own.

Gerard Salonga's conductor's baton.

Teaching students how to use the baton.

- Just before the final number, Gerard caught everyone's attention by playing an orchestral medley version of some famous pop hits from 2013, like Miley Cyrus' "Wrecking Ball," Katy Perry's "Roar," Psy's "Gentleman," Ylvis' "The Fox (What Does the Fox Say,)" David Guetta's "Titanium," and Fruitcake's "Whoops Kiri."

- To cap off the morning, Gerard asked willing audience members to sit anywhere on stage, with the orchestra, so they would know what it feels like to be with an orchestra on stage. Thankfully, despite the big crowd of children that went up the stage, Gerard did not have any difficulty conducting the orchestra to the "Superman" theme.

Tightly-packed stage.

Climax.

- After the tokens of appreciation were given to Maestro Gerard Salonga, I was able to have a photograph with him, as did the other students, teachers, and parents. My piano teacher was also shy at first, but I encouraged her to have a photo with the great maestro (because I knew she wanted to have a photo with him as well. Hehehehe. The photo also served as a simple "belated birthday gift" to my teacher.)

Packing up.

Super selfie skills.

Gerard Salonga with CKSC President, Dr. Dory Poa, School of Music Director, Mrs. Emilia Tan, my teacher, Ms. Julie Ching, and a ton of kids.

Belated happy birthday to my teacher.

At the school lobby.

- I think that the audience enjoyed the flexibility of orchestral music, as the orchestra is not limited to classical music, but can also be used to perform movie music, Broadway music, even pop music. I also hope that the audience, especially the younger students, will be inspired and encouraged to hold an instrument and learn it seriously. Learning an instrument (or instruments) is not just a hobby, but it has some benefits to general learning abilities and other psychological processes. Also, I hoped that there will be a better appreciation for classical music, as the master composers of the past were creative and smart enough to explore the infinite complexities, variations, and theories of music. This is why classical pieces and exercises are still being used and performed by classically-trained music students. I really hope that not only my alma mater, but the rest of the Philippine society, will have a better appreciation, understanding, and liking for the arts like orchestral music, and a widespread effort in encouraging and supporting the arts - from theater, music, fine arts (though some definitions would include performing arts in "fine arts,") and even folk art!!      

The Mooncake Dice-Game Reunion - and How the Game Works

- September 18, 2015, Saturday

- My high school classmate Dwight had the wild idea of having a high-school class reunion during this special season for the Southern-Chinese diasporic community. On the 15th day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar (which falls on the 27th of September this year in the Gregorian calendar,) the Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, or fondly called the "Mooncake Festival." Traditionally, people who celebrate this festival appreciate the roundness of the moon, and celebrate this festival with their families. (As for us, having a class reunion is a manifestation of "celebrating with family.") People also eat sweet bean-filled "mooncakes," with various folktales or legends as to how the tradition of eating mooncakes started.

We're in 304.

Dwight spelled his own name wrong. LOL.

Dwight the organizer, and Toni our senior-year class leader

- Our class had a major catching up session during dinner at Binondo's Royal Sharksfin Seafood Restaurant, since we haven't been together for a long time. Our last (Christmas) reunion was way back in 2011, and not everyone gets to talk to everyone on a regular basis. We realized that while there were some little changes here and there, like interests or occupations, many of us did not change a whole lot - including me. Honestly, it felt like high school all over again.

- We had cold cuts, garlic shrimp, Chinese fried chicken, steamed fish, vegetables with fish and squid, sauced pork with buns, wintermelon soup, stir-fried Chinese noodles, and white almond jelly for dessert.

Kim Carmela, Erlyn, and Genevieve.

"Class photo" with plenty of absentees..

- Nellie also surprised the September birthday people with a nice little cake. Since Erlyn and I were the only people who had birthdays in September during dinner, we each got to take home half of the cake. (The cake was the earliest birthday surprise I had this year; am hoping for more nice surprises though. Heehee.)

I was wishing.

Blow!!

My friends and the cake.

I am the selfie king. I took selfies before it was cool.

- After dinner was the most exciting (and stressful) part of the night - the dice game Aside from eating mooncakes, Southern Chinese people also celebrate this auspicious festival with playing the mooncake dice game. No one really knows how this game started, but it is said that this game originated from scholars who invented the game as a way to express their desire to top the civil service exams. Another version states hat generals invented the game to prevent them from being homesick.

Dwight setting up the table.

Dwight distributing the prize guide.

- The dice game required 6 dice, one bowl, and prizes that rank from first to sixth prize. Everyone takes turns in rolling the dice, and the game only ends when there are no more prizes left. Because of this, it is possible to have more than 1 prize. (Example, a person wins a prize this round, and during the second rotation/round, the same person can win another prize, depending on the dice combination that appears on the bowl.) The game can be harder if it was to be done in a tournament manner, such as in bigger dice-game events.

- Traditionally, the prizes are mooncakes of varying sizes and fillings (ex. the first prize would be the biggest mooncake with plenty of salted yolks and lotus seeds inside.) These days, people commonly give usual items as prizes, from appliances, to grocery items, and my favorite - cash. The prizes would correspond to the combination of the 6 dice after a player rolls them in the bowl. Also, the amount of prizes will decrease as the level prize increases (ex. more people can have the chance to win the 6th prize as more, but smaller, items are assigned as the 6th prize, while there is only one first/grand prize and can only be won by one person.) However, when a person rolls a combination, but no more prizes are left for that prize/combination, the person won't be able to get a prize anymore. (Example, 10 items are designated as the 6th prize, but all 10 items were already taken by earlier 6th prize winners, during the earlier rounds, then the next person who rolls out a 6th-prize dice combination won't be able to get a prize anymore, as there are no more items left for that prize.)

- As can be seen in the guide below, players who roll a dice combination with one "4," and with the other 5 dice not showing any other prize-worthy combinations (ex. 4-of-a-kind, or 1-2-3-4-5-6,) can get one of the items designated as the 6th prize. Those with two 4s, can win one of the items designated as the 5th prize, and so on. The combinations highlighted in red are the first-place combinations. Since only one person can win the first or grand prize, everyone waits until the end of the game before giving the grand prize. This is because the grand prize has its own "hierarchy" of combinations. Example, if a person rolls out a combination with four 4s, the four 4s would win the person the grand prize, in theory. However, if during the later rounds, another player rolls out a combination with, for example, a 6-of-a-kind, then the latter person would have rolled a "higher" combination that beats the four 4s. The highest among the first prize combinations would be the one with six 4s. If a person rolls out six 4s, then the person automatically gets the grand prize, since no other dice combination is higher than that. (And again, the game doesn't stop when one wins the grand prize, but the game stops when all the prizes are won by the players.)    

A dice-combination guide. 

- Since this game is based on luck, it might take too long before someone gets the higher prizes. In this case, some people agree on "demoting" the higher prizes, so there will be more chances of people getting them (and to end the game more quickly, especially when the venue of the game is in a restaurant or other places with closing hours.) Fortunately, we were able to end on time since the higher prizes were won by my other former classmates.

People checking if the dice combination rolled out is prize-worthy.

Everyone in intense concentration. Everyone wants moolah.

Selfie with everyone else; they don't seem to know I'm doing this.

Genevieve's turn.

- As a tradition, the grand-prize winner either breaks the bowl where the dice were rolled as a symbol of spreading the winner's good luck. (We could not do this since the restaurant owns the bowl we used.) Other people also let the winner take home the 6-dice set used during the game as a souvenir. Others may do both.

- I did not win the grand prize, but as cheesy as it sounds, being in that small reunion was already a version of the grand prize for me (but yes, the grand prize money in the large red envelope would have made the night better,) since I spent priceless moments with nice people I haven't seen in a long time, with Nellie's surprise to me and Erlyn (and supposedly our other September birthday boys and girls who weren't present) as the night's cherry on top. Small events like these mean more and more as the years go by. (Oh, the woes of getting older.)

Healthy and Tasty: "Deliciously Healthy" Cooking Demo Class in Eastwood Mall

- September 13, 2015, Sunday.

- Healthy food and tasty food don't often go together in most people's minds, but many chefs and amateur cooks around the world have proven otherwise. Today, I was fortunate to have participated in a healthy-food demo cooking class in Eastwood Mall. I was invited by my amazing food-blogger friend, Clarisse (aka "The Tummy Train; click here for blog,) to accompany her to this event. The demo class is the third of the "Food Tastings" demo-cooking class series organized by ABS-CBN's Food Magazine, in celebration of the magazine's 20th anniversary. (Click here and here for the first two "Food Tastings" events.)

Still having a hard time taking selfies with a really heavy SLR.

Our emcee for the afternoon.

Ms. Nana Ozaeta, Food Magazine's editor-in-chief.

- Today's dishes were mostly familiar dishes that were jazzed up, either in manner of preparation or quality of ingredients - or both, to make everyone's comfort dishes healthier, without sacrificing taste. Honestly, I think that some of these even taste uniquely better than the regular (and oilier) version of the dishes.

- The first presenter was fitness coach Anthony Macaraeg, owner of Fit Burger. Coach Macaraeg made a Fit Burger, which tasted like a normal burger, although the bread used was a wheat pita bread instead of the usual burger bun. However, what caught my taste buds' attention was Coach Macaraeg's Breakfast Burger. Apart from the wheat pita bread and the regular beef patty, the burger also has a vegetable omelette and its secret ingredient - double smoked bacon. This kind of bacon is healthier because it is less salty (less cured) as compared to the regular commercial bacon. This type of bacon is leaner, and tastes like real and fresh meat, which meant more natural nutrients. (I liked the burger so much that I asked for the whole burger on display after the event, after everyone else was able to take their photos and when the crew started to pack up; the organizers allowed me to have the burger, so I was able to eat to my heart's content.)

Coach Macaraeg and his assistant.

My favorite breakfast burger.

Fit burger.

- The second presenter for the afternoon was Chef Deejay Santos from Tefal Kitchen Appliances. He made a dish called "Mediterranean chicken and couscous." The dish was a bit on the bland side for most people, but it was perfect for my taste. It was a salad-like dish that allowed a person to taste the natural flavors from the bell peppers, chickpeas, olives, tomatoes, zucchini/cucumber slices, and the oregano-marinated chicken breast. The dressing, made of olive oil, lemon/lime juice, cane vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper, added a little bit of acidity to enhance the flavor of the main ingredients.

Chef Deejay Santos.

Couscous.

- Afterwards, Chef Matthew Bates from  the Early Bird Breakfast Club prepared two dishes. First, he made a breakfast sausage tart, which is a savory tart that holds everyone's breakfast favorites in one tender crush - sausages, bacon, onions, tomatoes, fresh cheese, mushrooms, lettuce, and tomatoes. Personally, I am not the biggest tart fan, but because my love for breakfast food is greater than my non-preference for tart, I liked this particular tart, especially since the crust wasn't a choking hazard like many other tarts I've eaten in my life.

Chef Bates, his assistant, and the cameraman.

This fabulous tart is the crowning glory of the salad underneath.

Hungry me.

- Chef Bates' second dish was poached salmon aioli, which has the least amount of ingredients among all the dishes made this afternoon. It only needed slices of toasted whole-grain bread, poached salmon, poached egg, and a lemon wedge. This dish was also on the bland side for most people, but because my tongue is sensitive to taste, I was able to appreciate the simplicity of the dish, particularly the ability of the dish to make me taste the light flavor of the poached salmon.

His poached salmon.

A relatively simple dish.

- Next, Chef Nancy Dizon from The British School Manila (she also appeared during the first "Food Tastings" even in Project Pie; click here) made a similar dish she made during the pizza-and-pasta demo class in Project Pie. She made a seafood past with black ink, but this time, she used sotanghon instead of the regular Italian pasta. She also made a simple mango-graham dessert afterwards.

Chef Nancy's style is to have a volunteer, and the volunteer does the cooking while she instructs the volunteer how.

Plating.

Seafood sotanghon with black ink.

Dessert.

- Finally, Chef Robby Goco from Green Pastures made two dishes. While cooking his two dishes, Chef Goco exemplified his advocacy of supporting local farmers and local crops. As for his dishes, he was the one among all presenters who made the greatest twists to usual food. First he made a pad thai salad, which was like regular Thai pad thai without the noodles and with more veggies. The salad tasted exactly like pad thai, and adds itself to my list of "dishes I can eat all day, everyday."

Chef Robby.

This well-balanced salad.

- To cap off the afternoon, Chef Goco made the most complicated recipe among all the dishes made - mushroom and kale paella. Chef Goco's paella was vegetarian, and used mushroom instead of real meat, and even used deep fried mushroom slices (aka "mushroom fries") to garnish and add texture to the paella. His paella was also not fiery red, but of a brownish color, because of the red rice used (which is red-brown in color,) and the mushroom stock that serves as the main sauce of the paella. This paella had a sweeter-nuttier taste too, probably because of the combination of the mushroom and the rice. Chef Goco also imparted some techniques and secrets to making the perfect paella, such as putting a lot of onion, and his fired-up rosemary stalk (i,e. literally setting fire to a stalk and placing it in the pan.)

Chef Robby and his assistant.

Slightly blurred; it's them using the blowtorch to fire up the rosemary stalk.

Mix mix mix mix.

A very happy chef.

- Clarisse and I finished the food samples and waited for all the other food bloggers and instagrammers to finish taking photos before I mustered up the courage to ask for Coach Macaraeg's burger. All the samples were, of course, smaller in size with less presentation, while the dishes that the presenters cooked were full-sized, and with better presentations. Again, I was happy like a little kid when they allowed me to get ONE FULL BREAKFAST BURGER (I am too happy, and hence, the all caps.)

HAD TO CONTROL MYSELF WHILE HAVING THIS PHOTO TAKEN. Didn't want to waste a second but I just had to have a victory photo.

- Clarisse and I went home after receiving our goodie bags, thanks to the events' sponsors. Although I honestly am questioning the status of some of the dishes as "healthy food," it was another remarkable afternoon with plenty of good food and a good friend (and a good whole breakfast burger!!)