Nelson Rivera Show

Here under is the report of Sam on Nelson's NYC exhibit.  The slide photos are also from Sam.  Congratulations to Nelson from the CAFA community.


By Sam Santamaria 

Tau-nauin Photo Exhibit brings Nelson Rivera's friends out of the woodwork.

Nelson Rivera brought his secret passion to the fore in New York, exhibiting some 26 photos that chronicled his decades-long jaunts all over the Philippines. A pioneer photo enthusiast out of the UP College of Fine Arts (and a member of the CAFA Singers), he soon excelled as a photographer in the advertising and publishing fields, garnering several awards for his work and being invited to further his talent in London and Sydney photo studios. Coffeetable books also showcased his skill, including The History of Brewing, Philippine Dance, Philippine Fiesta, and Philippine Christmas: Art and Form. Unbeknownst to his wife Mitos, while doing his bread-and-butter assignments Nelson was also capturing precious and poignant scenes of Philippine life and culture. Traveling to different towns and provinces, he indulged in this guilty pleasure, as it were. These photos are part of his Tau-nauin exhibit. 

Now to the more serious side: 

Personages at Nelson's exhibit reception seemed to capture what singer Jim Croce crooned about in Time in a Bottle, albeit with bionic physiological enhancements. Tong and Sam exhibited sprightly movements with new cobalt chrome alloy knees, as well glistened in their youthful-looking coiffure courtesy of Clairol Just For Men. No more Joe Bush of old Manila days. Nelson, Tito Valbuena, and Rody Picar opted for the venerable look with their salt and pepper pompadours. Dinky, please refrain from calling it "white hair." Sounds like a disease. 

Elaine Robbins, worried about arriving fashionably late Manila style, sashayed in on time with her titanium hips. Noted Tong, the hips are not only working great, but twerking good as well. 

I wonder why Tito Valbuena keeps on working way past his official retirement age. With his Chesire grin, I know wife Lydia keeps him a happy man. I sense no little blue pills are involved whatsoever.

Fiel Zabat, as usual was in her cover girl mode while Wally Rodriguez seemed to be inching steadily toward the inevitable style: Pepito. Ang buhok nya ay pepito na lang. 

On to the younger set. Simone, 15-year-old granddaughter pride of the Salgados is a split pea image of Tong; and even without her mentioning - with Rita's charm and smarts. Don't read anything between these lines, Tong. Extremely likeable, humble, and very eligible Atty. Justin Lim should have parents Nore and DD screening potential daughters-in-law anytime soon, I presume. Not that I am suggesting anything. Nelson and Mitos came with their son and his wife, whose names escape my short-term memory bank. Jokes welcome here. 

Elaine asked about another CAFA reunion. Maybe she's offering her living room as a venue? No problem if she opens to us her Hamptons estate

See slide show for more photos.

One Woman Show

On Feb 11, Nore LIm's one woman show was launched in Altro Mondo Gallery. Altro Mondo is a prestigious art gallery in Greenbelt 5 Makati. They take in only 12 artists a year and Nore has the February slot. The exhibit will be held until Feb. 28. 

The prints were large pieces showcasing a range of the different eras of Nore's work. Her earlier gray toned 'lacework' series were there. Her newer output has brave bold colors and are refreshing to see. I understand from Nore that prospective buyers are making an appointment with her in the coming days. Nore was almost apologetic when she said that this time, the art pieces are relatively pricey since the art gallery requires a share of the sales. 

Nore's family was there in full force. Claire and Alex, Justin, Lyn and Rene were present in the prestigious event. I also spotted classical pianist Raul Sunico among the guests. Among the CAFA family guests were: Tong and Rita, Emi, Oni, Alex, Dero, Myrna, Titus and Bochi, (I'm sure I missed out on some more names since I came through Manila traffic and was late. If you will email me your names I can edit this blog anytime). 

Congratulations Nore and our best wishes on the outcome of the show. 

Bye y'all. 

Onimayo

See slide show for more photos.

February 2016 Activity

The Salgado's are back in Manila for their yearly jaunt there. February also happens to be the birthday month of Nore, Didi, Milu and Alex. Such an opportunity to celebrate was not to be missed by the Manila CAFAs. 

Pearl was an initiator of the event and thus was tasked to prepare and provide the menu. The party was held in Oni and Bili's residence in Greenmeadows, QC. The CAFA merrymakers were: Tong & Rita, Dinky and Milu, Pearl & Vic, Nore & Didi, Oni & Bili, Emi and Alex. Special guests were Ating Salgado and Francis Raquel Santos. 

The Filipino food fare was great. The age of the CAFAs showed when they couldn't finish all the food much less the Johnny Walker bottle. But before you think about wasted fare, the party culminated with many bringing home extra servings of their fancy. 

To top it off, Emi said she had a giant, raw pink Tilapia fish in her car. It was gift from a friend. She said she couldn't eat it all and so she offered most of it to the group. Indeed it was a giant fish, and really deliciously pink! Everyone took home a piece of it as well. I got one fish head which we ultimately made into delicious fish soup. 

Topics of conversation involved Nore's forthcoming art show, the similarity between Trump and Duterte, Philippine elections, etc. Surprisingly, there was not much chismis about the absentees in the party. The group is thus either slowing down (not combative anymore) or have matured into great philosophers.

Ciao for now.
Onimayo


See slide show for more photos.

CAFAs and the Play Mansyon

Last Tuesday evening, Oni and Bili hosted a bienvenida dinner of sorts at their house. The guest of honor were Nore and Didi who are helping their daughter resettle her family in Hongkong. The CAFAs who came on short notice to see the two were Alice (Jose), Emi and Alex. 

There were other guests however. To make the event more interesting (as well as to avail of a captured audience, heh heh), Oni simultaneously staged a reading of the script for his stage play project - a drama called "Mansyon". The idea was to elicit comments from the guests. Aside from the CAFAs the other guests were theater enthusiasts friends of Oni, sisters of Bili, young musicians (tasked to finalize the music score of the play) and young people who participated in the reading exercise. 

Emi with her theater background is of course the main influence in the implementation of the reading. She knew the English first version of the script and is now ready to critic this latest version.  This time the play dialogue is in Tagalog and more songs were added. While the reading was in raw form (done by amateurs using badly xeroxed material), the participants and the audience seemed to get 'into' the activity anyway.

After the show, constructive comments if not polite (?) comments from the guests were a-plenty. Alex for one was saying he would like to know the musical overture since this would set the mood for the play. I didn't think of that. Emy, Alex and Didi indicated which among the songs is their favorite. Alex advised Oni that the plays best number should be identified and promoted to create awareness for the show. (There are 13 songs in the play). 

The next step is to finalize the music score and the demo vocals for submission to prospective producers. Being an amateur playwright and composer, the whole venture is a learning process for me. Its still a long way to go and where I'm aware that this project may even fail to get produced (no matter what I do).   Be that as it may, I'm experiencing that - for this venture - the joy for me is really in the journey and which is fine with me if that's all it's gonna be. 

Onimayo

It is interesting to observe the success of "Heneral Luna" - an unexpected hit movie in Manila today. This was written 17 years ago but developed for the cinema only now.  Hope I do not have to wait that long for my play to see the light of day.  Heh heh. 

See slide show for more photos.

Saturday Night Fever!

Firstly, thank you to Bobby and Fe Bareiro for the passes to their SNF show. Emi, Cecille, Bernard, Alice, Didi, Francis, Alex, Bili and Oni watched the show at Solaire Theater last Saturday. With the timeless Bee Gees music, the professional acting and singing of the American main stars (from Broadway) and the 70s macho dancing by the troupe (joined by a local cast), the show did not disappoint. And yes Nore, one of the final songs was your favorite (How Deep is Your Love) which the hero and the heroine sang in sentimental duet. 

Right after the show, the energy was carried on by the CAFAs in the lush Solaire lobby. There the group had a heyday taking photo ops with the ad props and celebrities around. Bobby and Fe introduced the celebrities in the crowd to the CAFAs. These included the Director, the stage performers, media and notable show biz people who watched the show such as Aiza Sequerra, Nyoy Volante, Cris Villonco and others. 

The Philippines is the first venue for the show. The SNF show is actually a production of Bobby and Fe that is going to do a round of the Asia Pacific region for several more months I heard. This is the reason that the stage set was ordered from abroad. In order to do the other countries, the sets have to be in dismantable (prefab) form for shipping out. 

The matinee show ended at around 4:30PM. But that was not the end of the day for the CAFAs who still assembled at the food court for coffee and sweets. There they recalled details of the entertaining show and badgered Fe with unsolicited tips on how to improve the show further. The final show in the Philippines for SNF is the next day, Sunday, where Dero, Pearl and other CAFAs are expected to go to the matinee show. 

Til the next production.

See slide show for more photos.

SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER!

Bobby and Fe Bareiro have a new production at the theatre in Solaire. It's "Saturday Night Fever" and the CAFAs are all invited. Complimentary (free) tickets are available for those who will signify that they are going, but Fe will need to know soon. 

Fe recommends that we go as a group so that she can get us the best seats and para masaya! The playdates are July 24, 25 and 26 but the 3PM Matinee show on July 25 Saturday is suggested. 

Emy is OK. Oni and Bili are OK. Please advise me or Fe directly if you can make it (middle of this week at the latest). Oni's number: 09178910722. Fe's number: 09479946678. 

Nore and Rody, are you in town? 

Onimayo

CAFASinger's Non-Concert 2016

Hello Guys, 

Not without a tinge of disappointment, I would like to inform you that we have shelved our idea for a CAFASinger concert in 2016. The production details in the plan were not coming together as expected and time for the preparation is going fast.  As the organization of the show was being initiated by the proponents, just too many uncertainties arose in the requirement for the musical component of the show.  

The major proponents of the project are CAFA Fine Arts alumni who had faith in the ability and market draw still of the CAFASingers.  In behalf of the CAFASingers, I would like to thank Pearl, Fe and the Fine Arts organization for their their bold vision and zeal in initiating the project. Likewise kudos to all other CAFAs (we know them) who particularly helped nurture and promote the idea of a concert project. This includes overseas CAFAs Alice, Bess, Nore and Eileen who inspired by expressing their early commitment and support. 

In the end, the main issue was technical.  For the concert to be memorable and worthy, the unique CAFASinger sound was perceived as crucial to provide. Dero, Dinky and Oni worked to look into options and solutions on how to bring this about at this time but in the end it was deemed better to forego.  In writing this report, I was coming out of a resigned state that  I had thought of captioning this Blog “the day the music died”. But I changed my outlook after Alice wrote to me, “music brought the CAFAs together, and thus CAFA future reunions will never have want for music”. 

She's right.  We will make music together again somehow.  Adieu for now and always keep singing even if it’s only karaoke time with family or even alone in the bath!  Mabuhay!

Onimayo