Jam at Pete's Place - July 27, 2018 - Joyce & Jessica Reyes (Zombie)

JULY 27,2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS

It is always gratifying and heartwarming to host reunions with good old work colleagues and acquaintances from our very distant past. Almost 3 decades ago to be exact. Seeing and being with them after such a long time, reminiscing good and fun memories literally transports you to a virtual time warp that turns back time. Last night, indeed, was one of those priceless moments.

Roberto “Obet “ Reyes, a former workmate from Reed Fitness Center back in the 90’s ( i was a young fitness trainer then) was to be the guest of honor. Obet who had since migrated to the US and had raised a family was back in Manila for a short visit. He contacted me through facebook to inform me that he was in town and to ask if he could bring over his family (his two daughters loves to sing) to see and experience the music room. Upon learning about his intention to visit, i thought it fitting to invite some of our old gym contemporaries to make his sojourn more timely and meaningful. With such short notice, I was fortunate enough to able to round up 4 guys as most are already indisposed and unavailable. Surely, better than none at all. My utmost gratitude to Dres and Sammy Saprid, Mako, and Lisa Bisnar for making it over despite the very short notice. The group was later set to converge before midnight.

The evening started at past 9pm with teen guitar prodigy and youngest Fender endorser Joko Reantaso and his co-musicians arriving first and heading the list. With him were his school mate and bassist Matt Marasigan, elderly Mr. Jun Dizon who played drums and his daughter Basia who sang a few songs. The band completed 2 quick sets as they had to leave before midnight having early commitments the next day. Right before Joko and his band packed up, a new set of musicians timely arrived to take over. Welcome back to the music room Diesel Band.

Busy from their Friday gig commitments, more than a month had already past since this young rock band last came to the room to perform. Their timely presence ensured that there will be a band on stage performing when our special guests arrive later on.

Finally our balikbayan guests of honor arrived close to midnight along with his family and some other relatives who tagged along with them as traffic condition was bad all around. At that time, the band had already taken a break and the stage free for the taking. It was perfect timing for Obet’s daughters, Jessica and Joyce to take over.

With just them, Jessica and Joyce had to sing karaoke as back up with their choice songs I had to queue in the sound booth. At times the siblings took turns playing the piano while they sang along with it. Towards the end of their stint, the band even joined in impromptu while Joyce was singing and playing the keyboards. It was later on did i realize that Joyce was actually singing her own original composition. Good job Joyce!
Much later, Monotones’ honcho Ryan Nacino arrived and caught up with the rest of the guys to jam a final set before finally calling it a night. Bassist Rick Trinidad who was the solitary personality from the House Band lineup who showed up had his stage time as well. The jam’s conclusion ensued at about 4am.

As usual, some of the guys stayed a bit longer to finish up their drinks and just hang out to chill before going home. By 4:45am it was closing time. Mission accomplished!

Another evening of blessings, bonding and good music is now history. We excitedly look forward to what the upcoming month of August will bring. I bet that it’s going to be another great month ahead of us. Praise God.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Jam at Pete's Place - July 20, 2018 - Monchie Henares, Tosh Murayama, Vincent Garrucho & Pete Lapeña (Don't Stop Believin')

JULY 20, 2018 - JAM AT PETE'S PLACE & PHOTOS

With consecutive storms (more coming) battering through our shores this past week combined with heavy relentless torrential rains causing flooding and chaos all around the metropolis, it was quite expected that our Friday jam’s turnout and spirit would somehow be literally and figuratively dampened and affected. Thank God that last night’s weather cleared up and calmed a bit giving everyone respite from its fury and calamitous onslaught.

Even the music room was not spared of trouble when a busted gutter leaked a heavy volume of accumulated rain water through the ceiling and caused a bit of flooding inside the room. With the problem already addressed and mended in time for the weekend jam, we were good and ready to get back to normal.

As anticipated, only a few friends and musicians arrived at our venue. It was around 10pm when the festivity began. Ever loyal friend, house band honcho and all around guy Vincent Garrucho was the very first to show up. Similarly to last week, my wife Vicky, sis-in-law Ana Mara and her daughter Tina along with good friend Raul Julian (who stayed around till closing time) all came for some night cap and kept us company coming straight from their usual Friday cocktails at their favorite café nearby. Soon, kumpadre and house band vocalist Monchie Henares along with Arabelle Jimenez walks in to join.

It was a pleasant surprise to see Shanghai based Tosh Murayama back in the room. Straight from the airport, Tosh never fails to make it a point to show up to jam every time he is in town. It’s amusing how his travelling back and forth to Manila makes it seem like China is just on the other side of town. I definitely have no complaints though. Welcome back to Manila Tosh.

Clearly short on the list but not to be denied, Vincent, Tosh, Monchie and myself will have to do the jamming for starters. As always, the effort exerted by the band was fun and sweet, definitely good enough to get us through the yearning. Vincent played guitar, sang and played drums on some occasions. Tosh took turns playing the guitar, vocals and played drums too, while I played bass. Monchie was at his usual element doing vocals.

Before closing time, about half an hour after Monchie and Tosh had left, guitarist Reynald Perez made a preannounced appearance via his fb messenger and eventually making it at around 3am. Despite just Vincent, Reynald and myself around on stage, we were still able to enjoy and continue playing till 4:30am. Who says we can’t have fun and pull it off? As resilient as we normally are, we just have to manage and make the most of what limited resources we have available.

After the jam, Vincent, Reynald and Raul still stayed around to chill a bit before heading back home. At exactly 5am, it was about time to call it a night. All’s well that ends well. Praise be to God!

Hope to see you all next week!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Jam at Pete's Place - July 13, 2018 - Vincent Garrucho (Love Song)

JULY 13, 2018 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS

Friday the 13th, payday and bad weather? Indeed a glaring and dreaded combination if you are one skeptic and superstitious individual. You would think of the worst consequence befalling such a scenario. As i am personally not one to be characterized as both, even if by coincidence, a minor dilemma (freak flooding inside the room after a heavy downpour) had actually occurred untimely just before the gathering, I would not quickly jump and dwell into doomsday conclusions but rather the opposite. I would stay positive, no matter what.

A few hours before the festivity, a thunderstorm, combined with heavy unrelenting torrential rains resulted to an overflow of rain water gushing down from an obstructed gutter right above, leaking heavily from the perimeter wall near the entrance and in through the room flooding the carpet. It would literally dampen the spirits of most when confronted with such a dilemma but instead kept my composure, took it in stride and just acted on an immediate solution. We just had to sponge/mop dry most of the water off from the carpet as best as we could to make it passable just to survive the night, to be taken out to dry under the sun the next day. It is dimly lit on the affected area and so not really very noticeable at all. No worries. The show must go on.

The action started at a little past 10pm with family and close family friends flocking the room coming straight from another gathering. My wife Vicky, my daughter Nisee, Bro Dondon Lambatin Frac, sis-in-law Ana Mara and her daughter Tina, good friends Cali Tiansay and Raul Julian comprised that group. My mom, who habitually comes down to keep me company while waiting for the first guests to arrive was already around to welcome them.

With the stage still free, the gang decidedly took over the entertainment singing karaoke, care of Cali, Ana and Vicky at one point instantly livening up the festivity. As always a riot and a fun group to be around, these bunch of people can definitely swing it.

Since most of the regular jammers did not show up, with the exception of house band honchos Vincent Garrucho and Monchie Henares, we needed to be creative to be able to play. Surprisingly, a new couple who had heard about Pete’s Place timely found their way over and made their maiden visit to the music room to check out the place. With a shortage of musicians around to watch perform, it became an unpremeditated opportunity for the newbies to join in to jam with us as well. We welcome our new music room friends and couple Gary and Rica Alejandrino to Pete’s Place.

On stage, Vincent was all around and in his element playing the guitar, percussions, keyboards and vocals, Dondon played the guitar, balik-music room, architect and drummer Alvin Alvaro Nacino, who had pleasantly surprised us with his presence, took charge of the drum chores while I solely played bass. Struggling and coping, we were handicapped but definitely raring and determined to give it a shot. Incidentally newcomers Gary played drums too while Rica did some vocals of her own. The jam finally concluded at 3am. Mission accomplished.

And so another successful night full of fun and blessings despite setbacks. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel no matter how grim some people perceive things to be. If we stay positive, things will eventually fall into place and work out. That’s a guarantee. God is good!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!

Jam at Pete's Place - July 6, 2018 - The titos mashing up with the Monotones

JULY 6, 2018 – FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS

What was earlier conceived to be just a simple (by standards) extended 42nd birthday celebration for our dear friend Richard Parcia turned into another epic night of surprises and non-stop live music courtesy of two of the country’s promising and dynamic bands providing entertainment.

Exciting bands Mean Jay and music room neophyte Joyride alternately took center stage and blew the house down with a combination of electrifying rock, fusion and heart-pumping party music. A collaboration jam happened in between breaks and towards the finale courtesy of the music room regulars and the other guest musicians capping the evening. Another fun filled musical extravaganza of talents lasting all throughout till sunrise.

Food and drinks were likewise in abundance courtesy of the birthday celebrant. A grand total of 12 party sized boxes of sumptuous pizzas along with liters of sodas and a case of beer were served. A stock of ice cold beers for sale at the bar were also available.

With all the action and frolic going on, it will be of no surprise that at the end of the night everything will be wiped out. And as sure as day, before the night was over, everything was gone.

Subsequently adding another notch to the evening’s festivity will be a timely welcome announcement. At the stroke of midnight, another person, apparently, will also be celebrating a birthday. Just half of Richard’s age today, Monotones’ main man, Ryan Nacino, will be turning 21 years of age.

Undoubtedly having the time of his life, Ryan partied and jammed all night along with his buddy Rj Palma who had kept him company till practically closing time. In fact, at past 5am, already tired and sleepy, i just took a French leave and left them on their own. Happy 21st birthday Ryan.

My utmost gratitude to my wife Vicky, sis-in-law Ana Mara, bro Don Lambatin Frac, house band honchos Joaco Marco, Nitoy Adriano, Rick Trinidad, Bubui Colico and Vincent Garrucho, to Roger Salazar, Xyrus Judan, Nikki Segundo, Raul Julian, to the bands and jammers and all the other guests for their valuable time and presence. Thank you one and all!

Totally a night of fun and blessings. As always, I thank and praise God for the opportunity. Already looking forward to next week’s gathering. And so I say for now… à bientôt.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE ! GOD BLESS US ALL!