“Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako” finishes off the weekly Overplay charts at Number One,
for the second time!
It’s also consistently listed as the site’s best-selling song ever since its release. Charity rocks!
To listen to Mistula’s latest track, exclusively released on Overplay.com: CLICK HERE!
Philippines’ first doll band, Mistula, releases their newest track, “Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako” (Thank you, Manikako), a collaboration with Prof Vim Nadera, father of Philippine performance poetry, and the Manikako kids from Cubao.
Click on the image to go to the updated main site.
The song is the band’s gift to Manikako, a charity project that helps less fortunate children rediscover creativity and hope through doll-making. The band is making the song available for download at their UK Overplay site for a donation, all proceeds of which will go directly to Manikako to fund future workshops. “That way, if people liked the song enough to download them, then they’d automatically be donating for a good cause. It’s our most current take on making ‘meaningful music’ ” says Lugosi, Mistula band leader, drummer, and chief songwriter.
Click on the image to go to the Manikako site.
Hints of the song was first heard on the Manikako viral spot “Sock”, the music serving as basis for the ad’s soundtrack, scored and performed by Pinoy rock legend Mike Villegas of Hit Productions.
Click on the screencap to view “Sock” on the official Mistula Youtube Channel, Mistula Visions.
The live version of the song was premiered on 23 February, 2008 at the “Manikako, Future Ko” event. A milestone Manikako exhibit, it was a week-long affair featuring Manikako doll creations by National Artists Anita Magsaysay-Ho, Napoleon Abueva, Abdulmari Imao and other Filipino artists. The limited edition artist dolls were auctioned off to raise proceeds for future doll-making workshops. The event culminated in a concert, where the song was first performed live by the Mistula Tribute band, together with Prof Vim Nadera, and the Manikako kids from Cubao.
Click on the image to read frontman Uno’s chronicle of the event on his online journal.
“Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako” marks the first time virtual artists Mistula has ever done a collaboration for a song. “…and right away, we wanted it to be special. An escape from the virtual page, and into the real world, where the cause is most relevant and felt. And for the message we wanted to convey, we went straight to the voices that mattered. The Manikako kids from Cubao, who were among the first group of kids to participate in a Manikako workshop. And of course, Prof Vim Nadera, the proponent of anything performance poetry in the country.”
Christina, Grace, Jean, Marilou, and Mary Rose were among the first participants of Manikako’s free doll-making workshop in Cambridge Street, Cubao. During the workshops, the kids are encouraged to create their own character. With the help of Manikako volunteers - kuyas and ates who have lent their time to the cause - the kids are then guided to bring their character to life by customizing their blank Manikako dolls. The result: a doll uniquely their own, an original creation that they have breathed life into.
“Magkaroon ng mata nang makakita. At nagkaroon nga!”
(Let there be eyes so you can see. And there were eyes!)- from “Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako”
Considered the father of Philippine performance poetry, Prof Vim Nadera is an award-winning poet, fictionist, playwright, and essayist. He has represented the Philippines in various poetry seminars and conferences across Asia and has won in the National Book Awards, Palanca, and other major writing awards. Sir Vim or Kuya Vim, as his students fondly call him, has recently concluded his tenure as the seventh and the youngest Director of the UP Institute of Creative Writing. In the song, Sir Vim has taken the role of representing the monsters who stifle the power of creativity. Those who would rather do nothing, create nothing, and let their minds’ and their bodies’ potentials go to waste.
“Para s’an ang ulo, kung ang utak ay abo?”
(What use is a head, when the mind has crumbled?)- from “Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako”
Prof Vim Nadera as the monster, as seen during the live performance of the song.
Lugosi explains, “There is nothing more powerful than a mind that creates. This is what Manikako is teaching these kids. The act of creation makes all of us, regardless of social class or economic stature, equally powerful. It was the power of creation that brought life to the universe, and there is no greater achievement for the created than, in turn, creating. It’s the ultimate reason for being. It’s this power that gives hope to these kids, to anyone who is touched by Manikako. The hope that the future couldn’t be as bleak, as long as you have that immense power, that tremendous potential within you, that nobody can ever take away. Seeing the inspiration light up in these kids’ eyes — the sense of joy and fulfillment is unimaginable. And seeing what these kids are capable of now, we shudder in awe of what they’ll be capable of in the future.”
Photo by Krik Liongoren
Crossposted on Uno’s blog, Fully Articulated.
Lent is upon us, and that means ’tis the season for Mistula updates once again!
Here’s a clip from the newest Mistula track, “Salamat sa Iyo, Manikako” (Thank You, Manikako), set to have its world wide web premiere on Easter Sunday, 12 April 2009.
PLAY:
(If you don’t see the Flash player above, let us know!)
Clockwise from top left: Christina, Grace, Marilou and Mary Jean (with Manikako Manx) are from Cambridge Street, Cubao and were among the first participants of a Manikako workshop.
Manikako is a charity project that helps less fortunate children by selling do-it-yourself ragdolls and conducting free art workshops.
The song is a gift from the band, who are loyal advocates of the project and its cause.
Mistula tracks “Pista ng Patay” (Feast Day of the Dead) and “Baptized” (video release version) are now available for download!
Click on the image to go to the updated main site.
Previously an Overplay.com exclusive release, “Pista ng Patay” (Feast Day of the Dead) debuted straight at number 1 on the UK Overplay Charts and Overplay Rock Charts. It has since topped the charts repeatedly on various occasions and has been a consistent chart placer, even to this date.
The almost 8-minute poem/song celebrates the uniqueness of the Filipino Day of the Dead festivities. As bandleader/ chief songwriter/ drummer Lugosi states in a UKEvents.net interview, “… what makes [the feast day of the dead] more unique in the Philippine setting is the powerful contrast of the events that literally bombard your senses. Because amidst the solemnity, and the prayers, and the lighting of candles, you also get the endless food tripping, and the late night karaoke singing, and the gambling with playing cards, and the trips to the beaches… it’s one big party. A time of excess in a time of quiet internal meditation.” And nowhere is the play on contrasts more evident than in the jumpy, constantly-shifting, foot-stomp, hip-swaying, then headbang-inducing arrangement of this epic track.
The now-downloadable version of “Baptized”, on the other hand, was first heard on the band’s second music video, which premiered exclusively on Mistula’s Channel V AMP site.
Click on the image to be redirected to Mistula’s AMP site.
“Baptized”, the music video, was conceptualized and fully animated by Mistula disciples, design director Eric Sanchez and director of photography Mike Fallarme of Lube Studios. The video has since enjoyed airplay on MTV Philippines and local music channel, MYX.
Mistula’s “Pista ng Patay” and “Baptized” — Download! Download kayo diyan!*
*similar to what street hawkers (who swarm cemeteries during the day of the dead) would shout to peddle their goods
…God created Joey.
And He thought she was good.
From the created to the creator, a very happy birthday to our one and only Joey!