Noted Artist Al Gatmaitan Releases Self-Titled Album

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Artist Playground proudly announces today the official release of AL GATMAITAN Self-titled 3 tracks - Single CD album which can be downloaded in iTunes and streamed via Spotify.

The links are as follows:

SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/album/5Q39mmgTqJ5IHnJ7tPDatO

ITUNES: https://itun.es/ph/eTW2ib

AL GATMAITAN is a Classical Crossover Artist and a 2-time Aliw Awardee for Best Male Classical Singer. Award-winning composer JESSE LUCAS (2016 Aliw Awardee for Best Musical Director) composed, arranged and produced the following:

1. Perché Ringrazio La Vita
Poem by Rodolfo Chirico
Music Composed and Arranged by Jesse Lucas

*” Perché Ringrazio La Vita” which means “Why I Thank Life”
is a song about gratitude. The poem is written by Al’s Italian professor, the late Prof. Chirico.


2. Bituing Marikit
Lyrics by Servando Angeles
Music by Nicanor Abelardo
Arranged by Jesse Lucas
Guitar: Mark Reese Gelbolingo

*A new rendition with an updated arrangement of the popular and well-loved kundiman.


3. Sa Muling Pagsibol
Poem by National Artist for Literature Bienvenido Lumbera
Music Composed and Arranged by Jesse Lucas

*An inspirational song with the poem written in response to the devastation of the Super-typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban.


RECORDED at the ACOUSTIC UNDERGROUND INC.
RECORDING ENGINEER: JAYMEE RANOA
MIXED BY AJI MANALO

PRODUCED BY ARTIST PLAYGROUND, JESSE LUCAS and AL GATMAITAN.

Books, Roses Abound at Día del Libro

Wazzup Pilipinas!

In celebration of Día del Libro or the International Book Day, Instituto Cervantes, the cultural arm of the Embassy of Spain, will once again be abuzz with cultural and fun activities on April 22, Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Ayala Triangle Gardens.

Thousands of books galore, just like in the previous Día del Libro editions, as top bookstores and publishing houses will be selling a wide array of books at 20% discount. Following the tradition in Spain, every book purchase would entitle one to a free rose.

The Día del Libro tradition, which began in Barcelona, was first introduced in Manila by Instituto Cervantes in 2006. The tradition is commemorated on St. George’s Day (April 23), during which men and women exchange roses and books. This also honors two of history’s greatest writers – Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare – who coincidentally died on the same day, April 23, 1616.

These significant events prompted the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to declare April 23as World Book and Copyright Day to instill love of reading among the youth and to promote respect for authors’ rights over their literary and artistic works.

April is also the birth month of classic Filipino poet Francisco Balagtas, and to honor him the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) declared April the National Literature Month.

FDCP, SM Cinema Launch Cine Lokal

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Film Development Council of the Philippines recently partnered with SM Cinema in its efforts to strengthen its commitment to support Philippine cinema as well as champion independent films.

Cine Lokal, a new cinema line which aims to house award-winning, independent films and FDCP programs in select SM Cinema branches across the country, will be launched this month.

FDCP Chair and CEO Liza Diño and SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. (SMLEI) President Edgar Tejerero recently signed a three-year contract as they formalized the partnership at Cerchio in Tomas Morato.

Diño stressed that Cine Lokal’s goal is two-fold: to provide independent filmmakers with a commercial venue for their films, thereby strengthening their experience and training on film marketing and distribution, and to create a culture of support and viewership among Filipinos nationwide.

FDCP and SM Cinema have signified their commitment to work together from booking, licensing, up to marketing of the films to be shown in Cine Lokal branches to ensure the success of their venture.

“Independent films mirror our society’s milieu in the most meaningful and affective of ways and we are grateful to SM Cinema for this great opportunity for us to bring more choices of these films closer to our people,” Diño added.