MAY 10, 2019 - FRIDAY JAM UPDATE & PHOTOS

Last night turned out to be special with a favorable headcount of musicians and guests showing up to party. I got down to the room early to set up and to get the place spiffy before the action starts. It wasn’t long after the guests had multiplied that we started playing. The jam was a collaboration of the youthful Monotones and the veteran House band musicians along with a couple of talented musician guests who showed up and participated. The music was great and progressive from the very first set to the last culminating with a surprise performance of a respected and accomplished thespian doing a set towards the end. The jam finally concluded at exactly 4:25am.

Earlier, balik-music room Marc de Asis was the first to show up. Ryan Nacino, who had recently launched his identity and stage name in the local scene as “NACI” along with the brilliant Carousel Casualties band bulwark Pau Villanueva were the next guys to arrive. Fresh from his high school graduation just recently, Fonz Cabal was back in circulation after some months in absentia from the Friday jams. Joyrides’ Xyrus Judan , prolific house band drummer Bubui Colico and percussionist Vincent Garrucho were also around to join me on stage.

I was so glad to see JR Oca back in the room after the last time he visited decades ago. A music room neophyte back then and now an accomplished and respected musician in the local music industry, his penchant for the arts started back during his regular stint’s in the music room back in the 90’s. Now a star in his own right, JR is currently active and in-demand performing alongside a wide array of famous artists in the industry. He definitely had gone a long way since. More power to JR.

Another awesome surprise was the presence of Toronto based child hood friend and fellow air force brat Thomas “T.A.” Aquino. T.A. is like family and had been a music room pioneer since its conceptualization way back in 1980. Now an ordained Deacon, he had then migrated to Canada and raised a family decades ago. I hope to see more of him in the coming weekends as he will still be in town till the end of the month.

Let me not forget to thank our ultra thoughtful and generous friend Richard Parcia for the pile of boxes of sumptuous pizzas he provided last night for everyone to devour. I probably ate almost a box full of Hawaiian delight and manager’s choice pizzas combined all by myself…haha!

My gratitude likewise to kumpadre and house band vocalist Monchie Henares, to Gab Villanueva, Deanna Aquino, Luisa Distor and Nikki Segundo for their presence as well.

And so another great Friday night spent well. Already looking forward to next week’s festivities. As always, I thank and praise God for the blessing and opportunity.

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE! GOD BLESS US ALL!