Tagaytay's Enduring Charm

By Yong Chavez
www.FilipinOnline.com

One of the most invigorating things I did last year was visit the Philippines. Though it was only for 10 days, the break did my weary body and mind a lot of good.

In October, I went straight from the airport to One Tagaytay Place, which was highly recommended by my friend and kababayan Manny Ilagan of the Philippine Tourism office in Los Angeles.

Like anyone who's traveled the fatiguing LAX to Manila flight, I was crabby and sore by the time I arrived at the hotel.

But as soon as our group (I was joined by my mom, sister and niece) arrived, the staff starting with the concierge put me at ease with the kind of hospitality that us Filipinos are known for.

Juday Aniceto, my contact at the hotel, greeted me like a long-lost friend even though we've only met through email when I was making the reservation back in Los Angeles.

Chatting with her reminded me why we Filipinos make it anywhere we go: we're naturally friendly and supportive of every kababayan we meet. In America,no matter where I am, I break into the widest smile whenever I hear someone speaking Tagalog or talking about anything remotely Filipino.

When we got into our room, a basket filled with local fruits and pineapple drinks artfully stored in the fruit itself were waiting for us. As a kid, I had enough warnings about not eating different fruits at the same time. Fruits sold in U.S. stores taste bland in comparison to the kinds grown in the Philippines so I was tempted to inhale the whole basket in one sitting. Thankfully, mom stopped me before a tummy ache could ruin my already too-short trip.

The room was tastefully decorated. It had modern features but the native touches were endearing. I loved the soft bed with pristine white sheets. It was perfect for what I had in mind at that moment: rest my jet lagged body.

After grabbing a two-hour sleep, I was ready for the day's activities. I made arrangements to interview the hotel's general manager to talk about tourism in Tagaytay and visit noteworthy places in the area.

Here's my chat with Karl:

After, Juday took us to a chapel, a zoo, and a bee farm.

At the chapel, I saw a counter where you can write down your prayers and drop it in a box. Putting personal thoughts down on anything that will be read by another person is usually a no-no for me. But there's something so peaceful about the place that allowed my usually cynical self to let go. Faith is a very personal thing to me - I never publicly discuss it. But in the presence of other supplicants, I found myself not just able but liberated to bare my soul. Afterwards, I quietly repeated what I wrote when I kneeled down in front of a Mother Mary statue.

We went to the zoo next. I've been to the Los Angeles zoo and I have to admit, this zoo was very small in comparison. But my visit to the LA zoo was missing a major component: I didn't go there with a child. I experienced the Tagaytay Zoo with my adorable niece, an urban girl whose dealings with animals are limited to cats and dogs. She was so ecstatic to see the animals up close that we jaded adults found ourselves enjoying the visit as well. The monkeys were especially entertaining as they gracefully swung and interacted with each other in their cage as if mounting a choreographed stage production.

Lastly we went to a bee farm where personal care products are made. Entering the simple shop, I'm reminded how much it differed from my favorite Bath and Body Works branch back home, but they share the same vibe and scent. They both offer simple bliss in a bottle. I bought several items and smelled lovely the whole time. I snuck a peek at their back area and saw young women happily chatting away while mixing ingredients.

On our way back to the hotel, I saw an image that for me encapsulates Tagaytay's appeal: an old woman with a makeshift cane casually walking into the woods like she probably has been doing all her life, oblivious to the hustle and noise of passing cars and the modern yet quaint hotels housing busy people just a few feet away from her. Through the years, Tagaytay has managed to retain its old-world charm yet it's able to provide world-class amenities for tourists.

Back at One Tagaytay, the final appointment in my packed arrival day schedule was waiting. I couldn't be happier. All day, as soon as I deplaned, I was aching for this: a full-body massage guaranteed to take away all the stress that I've put my body through.

After an hour of being kneaded by a pair of professional in-house massage therapists, I was boneless and satisfied. And extremely sleepy. The massage knocked me out faster than any sleeping aid I've ever had. But before I nodded off, I remember asking the therapists to come back with me to Los Angeles. We all laughed and I wished wasn't just kidding.

The following day, I woke up refreshed and hungry. Before we checked out, my family enjoyed the hotel's sumptuous breakfast buffet. I skipped the Continental breakfast selections and filled my plate with Filipino food. Sarap-to-the-bones. In all my years in the U.S., there's one part of me that will always be 100% Pinay - my tummy still belongs to Philippine food.

After, I said my reluctant goodbyes to the friendly staff. I wish I had a week, at least, to stay in the hotel but I had appointments to get to.

I don't know when I will be going home to the Philippines again, but this I know for sure: when I do, a stay at One Tagaytay Place is a must.

Allison Iraheta: ‘Idol’ finalist talks about ‘firsts’ – including first trip to Manila

By Yong B. Chavez
Philippine News

LOS ANGELES -- She breezed into the interview room all-smiles and with none of the diva attitude that emerging stars seem to wear as a uniform in young Hollywood.


Possessing one of the most unique voices in the recording industry today, Allison Iraheta, American Idol season 8's raspy-voiced rocker, has won the respect and admiration of fans and music industry players alike since taking the Idol stage last year and finishing as the best-performing female contestant in one of the show's most memorable seasons.

With her fierce, emotionally-bare performances and sunny disposition off-stage, Iraheta is a refreshing talent, someone that stands out in an era of auto-tuned and manufactured performers.

Prone to speaking her mind and unwilling to be anyone but herself, the young singer is proud of how much creative control she was able to assert in making her debut album, "Just Like You".

"I had a lot of control, and I was definitely grateful for that. They sent me songs that they thought suited me, and I chose the ones that I could really relate to," she says. During recording, she also gave a lot of feedback on which tracks she thought worked best with her voice and which didn't.

Iraheta says being able to come out with a good debut album contributes to her long-term goal: longevity. "Ten years from now, hopefully, I'll still be singing and will be known for the music I write."

She recently made a stop in the Philippines for a promo tour. "It's my first trip abroad on my own. I'm 18! I'm so stoked," Iraheta said. She turned 18 on April 27, a week before performing to Manila.

In honor of her first international concert as a recording artist and her first trip abroad since turning 18, the singer shared her other firsts in an exclusive interview.

Yong Chavez: What was your first memory of singing?
Allison Iraheta: (At) La Curacao (laughs). It was called Dias delos Ninos. They closed the parking structure. It was a huge stage, and there was a bunch of people. They had me sing “Mi Ranchito, My Little Ranch.” I was 7, I think. I remember my dad recorded it and when we looked back at it, it was shaking so much, and we were like 'What's going on?' And he said, 'I was so nervous.' It was the first time for me and I will never forget it."

What's the first big mistake that you ever made?
Jeez. And this is anything? Eat wasabi. It was so gross! I can't handle it. No, thank you.

What was your first paycheck? How much was it?
Um, La Curacao (laughs). Actual first real good paycheck... Don't remember. The only thing I can remember was the $50 thousand for Telemundo (TV reality show) Quinceañera, the one that I won.

You were supposed to get a recording contract from them, too, right? Didn't happen?
To read the full article: Philippine News

TIMELESS AND TIMELYFormer Tawag ng Tanghalan winner Mar Dureza keeps on singing

By Yong B. Chavez

http://www.filipinonline.com/

As Nelson Doreza, he was "Tawag ng Tanghalan's" undefeated singing champ for 12 weeks. The American Idol-like talent show was the Philippines' most popular in the '60s. His reign as 1968's winningest singer followed then-nascent superstar Nora Aunor's successful run the previous year. They later worked together in the movie "Bahay Kubo Kahit Munti".

The singer now goes by Mar Dureza but neither name-change nor time has dimmed his talent. He has been living in America for more than two decades now. In his early days in America, Mar used his architecture background to work as a draftsman in Chicago for 10 years while singing regularly in local lounges and concert arenas.

He and his wife, Bella, who's his biggest fan and supporter, are currently enjoying their retirement years in Florida but making music is something he says he won't retire from.

"I had a stroke in June of 2005. Now, three years later, I feel alive and kicking once again, although I lost the ability to play guitar because of the effect of the stroke on my left side. However, my voice is as good as ever," he says.

On December 27, 2008, at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, he will be the recipient of the Hall of Fame awards for achievement in music and art from the Chicago Philippine Reports Television.

His biggest project to-date is his recently released CD called "Maalala Mo Kaya" where he covers popular Filipino love songs called kundiman. Songs in the CD include absolute Filipino classics like Saan Ka Man Naroon, Kapantay Ay Langit, Matud Nila, among others.

In a time when current events might be spurring in you a yearning for the good old days, listening to Dureza's soothing voice singing melodious Filipino songs of yesteryears might do the trick. His CD is available for purchase through CDbaby.com.

Here's more on Mar:

TAWAG NG TANGHALAN:
"One Monday night in February of 1968 I defeated the reigning champion and went on for 12 consecutive weeks successfully defending my title. On the 13th week, Patsy & Pugo, who were the regular emcees of the show, advised me to retire to give others a chance on the championship. The truth of the matter was that the regional finals was approaching and they needed more champions to compete. In order to qualify one should have at least won two weeks. Edgar Mortiz had a lot of weeks to his credit earlier that year but was not competing in the finals because he was already fast becoming a star with the growing Vilma-Edgar tandem.

Although I wanted to win some more weeks, I reluctantly retired under the pressure and my 13th appearance in the show was just as a guest relinquishing my crown to whoever won 1st place that particular night."


NAME GAME:
"I hit the nightclubs circuit instead of going into television and performed professionally all over the Philippines and the Far East. Coming home in 1977 I realized I needed to change my name from Nelson Doreza to Mar Dureza which is actually the shortened version of my real name Mariano Nelson Doreza. Filipino sounding Mar Dureza came quite naturally and easily stuck to the minds of the audiences of "Astral Villa" and "The Manila Garden Hotel" where I performed regularly from 1978-1981 before I came to the USA on a petition visa from my father."


ON THE FICKLE HAND OF FAME:
"I was very unfortunate not to land on a recording job for myself in the Philippines...It seemed that the big stars always got the parts before I did. No wonder my greatest passion was to be able to record something. Here in the U.S., I had my chance when I met Warren Kime, a friend who took interest in the idea of doing an album of Filipino music.

First thing that came to my mind was an album of timeless music - the nostalgic [quality] of kundiman that never grows old and stands the test of time. Not having heard of the Filipino sound before, Warren Kime, who happened to be a band leader, great trumpet player and arranger was faced with a challenge of his musical career. But as I tried to explain it, I may have told him to imagine serenading a beautiful lady with guitars and mandolins and whatever he could think of. He well may have gotten the picture as the result of our little labor of love came out to be something simply perfect as I have expected it. We recorded and released the album in cassette and it was played and sold all over Chicagoland for sometime.

Disc Makers got ahold of the cassette that my wife, Bella, secretly sent to them. After listening to it, they decided to digitally enhance and release it on CD to be marketed in the Internet worldwide. I, myself, drew the cover design that impressed them as well."

PLAYING FAVORITES
"The song that I liked the best in the CD is Ay Kalisud, hands down. This song originated from my home province of Iloilo where I was born on April 17, 1945.

Among my favorite singers, which is a whole lot of them, are Sinatra and Tony Bennett. Ruben Tagalog in the olden days always fascinated me. I also enjoy Hajji Alejandro, Basil Valdez, Rico Puno, Jun Polistico, Anthony Castelo."

DRAWING POWER
Apart from singing, Dureza continues to tend to his other talent. His CD's self-drawn portrait is a testament to that. "I also accept commissions for my drawings of portraits in pencil. You can see sample of my works at www.portraitsoflovedones.com."