Init ng Halik, Nicolas B. Pichay

I noticed that someone went searching on my blog for "Init ng Halik, Vim Nadera".  First off, Init ng Halik is not by Nadera but by Nicolas B. Pichay.  Second, this is actually part of a libretto for Pusong Wagas, an all-original contemporary ballet from the Ballet Philippines.  Taken from the Philippine Star (click on this link for complete article):  Set in pre-colonial Manila, Pusong Wagas highlights the exemplary love of Luyong, a gifted carpenter, and Manda, a tribal princess, and their sacrifice in the face of the coming foreign invaders.  


Init ng Halik
(from the Libretto of Pusong Wagas by Nicolas B. Pichay, music by Cynthia Alexander)

Araw-araw, sa lilim ng sanga
Kay lawak ng gubat sa aking mga mata.
Paggising sa umaga, paligid humihinga
Tumitibok, lumilingkis, namumunga.

Ang buhay na payak, aking ninanais.
Umiiwas sa lahat, di naghahanap ng labis.
Pero sa gabi, gumagapang ang lumbay
Sa buong gubat ako lang ang sablay.

Paroo’t parito ang mga paru-paro
Nanghahalina ang mga bulaklak
Sumisitsit ang mga kuliglig
Ang lupang darang, nangangailangan ng dilig.

Alagang punong-kahoy, sa kamay tumatamis
Makatas ang bunga, walang kahati
Buhay na payak, aking ninanais
Mabasag man lang minsan, sa pagdalaw ng kapangis.

Mag-alaga ng buhay, yan ang turo ni Bathala
Halaman, hayop, kapwa.
Ituro mo ang tanim na may samyo ng lambing
At didiligan ko nang walang mintis.

Alagang punong-kahoy, sa kamay tumatamis
Makatas ang bunga, walang kahati
Buhay na payak, aking ninanais
Mabasag man lang minsan, sa pagdalaw ng kapangis.

Ipakilala mo siya, aking Bathala
Ang kahati ng aking buhay
Ang buwan sa aking araw, ang dilig sa aking darang
Kaputol ng hininga. Tanging pagsinta.

At biglang buhay ko’y lalawak sa dalawa
Ang mga araw mamumunga ng wagas
Kamay sa kamay, labi mo sa labi ko
Init ng halik. Init ng halik.


Warmth of Your Kiss
The forest as far as I can see.
Everyday, under the branches
In the morning, everything breathes
Pulsing, entangling,

A simple life, I crave
Avoiding others, not looking for Excess
But at night, loneliness joins me
In the forest, no one is beside me.

The dry earth needs rain.

The hard trees sweeten to my touch
The fruit plump, no one to share
I hope it shatters,
This simple life I crave
come my other half.


Cynthia sang this during her 19 East send-off.  It was a spontaneous request, not included in the original set list.  THAT actually made the moment more special -- it was my most favorite portion of that beautiful, beautiful BEAUTIFUL night.   (Yes yes yes, I'll upload the videos soon.)  Click on this link for Nicolas B. Pichay's own blog entry about Pusong Wagas.

When I travel ...

Everywhere, in everything, there is a story. Even from an old lantern just sitting there on a windowsill, or a piece of candy wrapper thrown carelessly, blown on top of vibrant green grass. There are stories behind these little everyday things. When I travel, I open my mind, not just to the beauty that surrounds me, but to these miniature details that make the moment whole. I have what they call a burning curiosity, a hankering for both fact and myth. Our country is an amazing place full of polarities: crowds and solitude, loud merriment and the silence of mountains, party islands and spiritual isle sanctuaries, urban romps and bucolic wanderings, verifiable raw realities and magical wonders. These disparate elements help fuse a whole, a whole we call home, the Philippines. I want to celebrate those elements, those stories so particular and so diverse that as a collective, they all reinforce the richness and multifariousness of our culture. And in the telling of these stories, I’m hoping that people will not just be enlightened about the many small fascinating aspects of a place, but I’m also hoping that they will be encouraged to protect, preserve, care and nurture. I’m hoping that we will all realize that any action, such as the careless throwing of our personal garbage or the dauntless perseverance to always clean, conserve and nourish, all the choices and actions we make aid in the weakening or strengthening of the whole. I hope that in all the telling and collective sharing, we all come back to that age-old creed of leaving nothing but footprints and that the only thing we can take with us is the story and nothing else.

Please click on the following links to learn more about responsible travel:

The Footprints Project of PhilippineBeaches.org, Save Philippine Seas and Earth Island Philippines 

 A Letter To A Young Mountaineer by Gideon Lasco of PinoyMountaineer.com

 #ThoughtfulTourism by MeetManila.com

The Cynthia Alexander Send Off Series, Conspiracy, 16 June 2012

In hindsight

I went to this gig expecting a more intimate set compared to the one in 19 East. When we got to Conspiracy at about 10pm, the place was already jampacked.  We tried to “swim” our way inside the music room and because I was with two tall big guys (they’ll kill me if ever they find out I called them big) we managed to squeeze in and ended up right outside the comfort rooms.  Since I’m in the “small lady” department I really couldn’t see what was happening on stage.  Aside from the backs of the people in front of me, the doors of the comfort rooms, the ceiling, this light was the only other thing I can see.

After a couple of minutes of trying to squeeze here and there to give way to the people going inside the comfort rooms, I gave up and just decided to meet one of our friends outside.  While I was talking with said friend of ours, I saw my boyfriend waving at us and motioning us to follow him.  Lo and behold, they were able to get chairs in a little corner outside the main entrance and beside the window of the stage.  Sweet spot!  I almost jumped and cart wheeled for joy.  After a few minutes, the window was opened so that the people outside the music room can hear and see what was happening inside.  Hallelujah!  And us outside, even though we all knew Cynthia’s back would be most of the time what we will be seeing, couldn’t ask for more.  I bet all of us felt the same way:  that just to be able to see and hear Cynthia Alexander is the greatest gift the universe can give us at that precise moment. At around 11:45pm, the show began.  Once again, I was enthralled.  Cynthia’s music never fails to grab a hold of me and render me spellbound. 

The Musical Celebration, Conspiracy, 16 June 2012

Set List:

Walk down the road

Wait

U & I

Motorbykle

The Weather Report

Daisy Chain

Knowing There Is Only Now

Insomnia

Hello Baby

Blackbird

Dumaan Ako – Joey Ayala joined Cynthia for this song.  He actually just climbed over the window since it’s easier and more convenient.  Such a tender beautiful moment.  Cynthia actually teared up right after their duet.  A quick background about the song, this is originally a poem, “Berso # 2” written by Maningning Miclat, set to music by Joey Ayala.

Intertwyne – a dance accompanied this song.  The poetry of the lyrics combined with the fluidity and grace of the “dancer” resulted in a moment both raw and surreal.  I felt a tightness in the throat and a leaping of the heart when the song ended.  (I think the “dancer” was Nerissa Del Carmen Guevara, herself a poet.)

No Umbrella

Malaya – I just love how Cynthia’s voice always soars when she sings this song.  Combine this with the music accompaniment of Mlou Matute, Cj Wasu and Jonathan Zuniga Urbano, the experience is always stellar.

Owner of the Sky

Comfort In Your Strangeness

Kabaka

Empty-handed – Kabaka was supposed to be Cynthia’s last song, but Vin Dancel of Peryodiko and Twisted Halo requested for this song.  Others followed suit.  He ended up singing the first part, and Jonathan Zuniga Urbano the second part.  Of course, Cynthia finished the song. 

And just like that, another night of Cynthia Alexander’s awe-inspiring wondrous music was over.  And just like any other of her shows, one is always left with a lushness of spirit and a spring of joy in the heart.  Once again, thank you Cynthia.  The extraordinary light you bring will never go out.  


Kaya kong maghintay sa mga tula mo
makinig sa awit mula sa kabilang dako
At sa paglalakad sa lilim ng mga puno
matutuklasan ang laman ng pusong malayo
(Berso #2 / Dumaan Ako, Maningning Miclat)


Click this link to read about The Cynthia Alexander Send Off Series at 19 East

Here are some of the pictures I took.  (I will upload the videos soon)

I know you can't see his face, but this is Coy Placido of Top Junk and husband of Tuesday Vargas

Tuesday Vargas, actress/vocalist of Top Junk and wife of Coy Placido, enjoying the gig from the side of the stage.  She actually also just climbed up the window (like Joey Ayala) to get to her place here.

We were also treated to Joey Ayala's humor.  

Vin Dancel singing the first part of Empty-handed

Tuesday Vargas "modeling" the plate number of a car that needs to be moved.  Every time she would do this, Cynthia Alexander would introduce her as "Anne Curtis".  Some of the light-hearted moments of the gig.

Cynthia getting ready to sign CDs and have a picture taking with her loyal fans.

Cynthia Alexander with Vin Dancel and friends

My friends and I with TuesdayVargas

A tender brother-sister moment

My friends and I with Cynthia Alexander and Joey Ayala