Press Release: KZ + TJ Showcase Superb Musicality At Vivo V9 Mall Tour

announcement, press release, music, gadgets + technology
Love birds do make great harmony

Singer KZ Tandingan earned new fans with her powerful performances during her stint on China’s high-rating TV show, Singer 2018. Although she did not make it to the finals, KZ made a mark with the Chinese audience, cementing her title as Asia’s Soul Supreme.

Now back in the Philippines, KZ performed for her fans at the SM Mall of Asia on April 22, Sunday, to support the launch of Vivo’s newest flagship smartphone, the V9 with a 24-megapixel AI selfie camera and more. It was her first public performance in the Philippines following her appearance on Singer 2018.

As the crowd roared in welcome, KZ belted out her signature hits like her cover of Lorde’s “Royals,” which she performed on Singer 2018, and Air Supply’s “Two Less Lonely People in the World.” She also sang her original songs, “Labo” and “Mahal Ko o Mahal Ako.”

Vivo Philippines Brand Director Annie Lim, meanwhile, expressed the global smartphone company’s continuous support for KZ.

“Like the rest of the Filipinos, we are very proud of KZ and her achievements on Singer 2018. She embodies the brand’s personality—young, trendy, and techie. We are very happy that someone as talented as her is part of the Vivo family,” she said.

“We can’t wait to see what she’s going to do next,” Lim added.

The event was even made more special since acoustic balladeer TJ Monterde, KZ’s equally talented boyfriend and fellow Vivo endorser, performed for the event. He sang his own compositions, “Tulad Mo,” “Kahit Kunwari,” and “Ikaw at Ako.”

TJ also had nothing but praises for her girlfriend as she introduced her on stage and encouraged the mallgoers to cheer KZ on.

“KZ deserves a loud crowd,” he said.

After the pair answered questions from the press and gave away a brand new Vivo V9, they sang their hit duet, “Ikaw at Ako Pa Rin,” which made their fans overjoyed with kilig.

KZ and TJ then went around the Perfect Shot, Perfect View Vivo V9 mall tour experience booths and greeted Vivo V9 buyers and their fans after the program. The two also surprised mallgoers when they dropped by the Vivo kiosk at the SM Cyberzone.

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Music: Young Virtuosos Entice New Audience Into Classical Music With Timeless Oeuvres

concerts, events, announcement, concerts in PH, music

For Filipinos, classical music may not have a cult-like following like that of Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift. But young and accomplished performers of classical music are showing that classical music can be appealing, too.

On September 24, winners of the National Music Competitions for Young Artists {NAMCYA}, the country’s most prestigious music competition for the youth for more than 40 years, will be performing with the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra {PPO} to give a sampling of great works of some of the most prodigious composers who ever lived.

Titled “Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang,” this concert of NAMCYA winners together with the PPO introduces the audience to snippets of longer musical works that have defined musical genres throughout history.

“We called it ‘unang hakbang,’ or first step, because we hope the audience will take that first step to appreciate the beauty of classical music. It is also the first step for some of our young musicians on the stage as professional musicians,” says NAMCYA Secretary General Renato Lucas. “It will be a night of magnificent music-making by NAMCYA’s young virtuosos.”

Lucas adds that NAMCYA has chosen five of its most recent winners to help bring their music to younger audiences.

Andrew Constantino, 1st prize & Special Prize winner for Woodwind {Clarinet} in 2015, will explore the leaps and limits of the clarinet range with Allegro from Clarinet Concerto No. 2, Op. 74, of Carl Maria von Weber {1786 – 1826}. Andrew is a 20-year-old clarinetist who was taught by his grandfather to play the clarinet at age 9. He was also a scholar of the Philippine High School for the Arts {PHSA}.

Aaron Rafael Aguila III, 1st prize & Best Interpretation winner in the 2016 Senior Guitar Category, will bring to life a classic guitar piece by performing Adagio from Concerto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo {1901 – 1999}. Aaron started playing classical guitar at the age of 9 under Ivar Fojas. He earned his music degree under the tutelage of Lester Demetillo and has trained with other well-known classical guitarists.

Nikki Zen Obmasca, 1st prize winner in the 2016 Solo Rondalla Category, will delight the audience with her rendition of Moto Perpetuo by Nicolo Paganini {1782-1840}. This piece of Paganini was made for violin but Nikki will play it with her bandurria and infuse her own virtuosic way of playing. She started playing the bandurria when she was only 5 years old and is now a scholar of the PHSA under the tutelage of Nelson Espejo.

Mishael Romano, 1st prize winner in the 2016 Junior Strings {Violin} Category, will attempt to show the innovativeness of Felix Mendelssohn {1809 – 1847} with Allegro molto appassionato from the composer’s Violin Concerto, Op. 64. Mishael is 17-years-old and hails from Dipolog in Mindanao. He started playing the violin when he was only 5-years-old, and because he is homeschooled, he has more time to focus on his music.

Gabriel Allan Paguirigan, a two-time winner of NAMCYA, having won the grand prize in 2011 {Category B} and in 2015 {Senior Category}, will display his artistry and mastery by performing a Hungarian work, Adagio religioso-Allegro vivace from Piano Concerto No. 3, Sz. 119 of Bela Bartok {1881-1945}. Gabriel started his piano lessons at the age of 8 and has finished his Diploma in Creative and Performing Music Arts {DCPMA} Major in Piano, under the tutelage of Prof. Luci Magalit and Prof. Nita Abrogar-Quinto.

The country’s leading orchestra and resident company of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, the PPO will also perform Der Freischuetz Overture by Carl Maria von Weber and L’italiana in Algeri Overture by Gioacchino Rossini. The orchestra will be under the baton of Maestro Herminigildo Ranera.

“We are trying to open up new opportunities for our youth today to explore music from the great composers of the past. We hope NAMCYA’s young artists will help us with that,” says Lucas.

NAMCYA’s Konsyerto: Unang Hakbang is happening this Sunday, 24 September 5pm, at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo {CCP Main Theater}. Tickets are at Php800, Php400, and Php300.  Special discounts apply. To purchase you may call 836.4928 and 0917.750.0107 or buy online at

For more information, please email namcya@gmail.com.

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Of Early Morning Musings + Supermarket Flowers

A heart that’s broke is a heart that’s been loved…

Musing about this new song I heard for the first time today. I guess it is official, motherhood made me soft, allowing a poignant song to reduce me to tears {wait, I have been tearing up on beautiful songs ever since I can remember}.

The ballad sings of someone’s loss – his grandmother, and he sang it from the point of view of his mum. I guess this is why it struck a chord. I remember tearing up like this over his other ode, a song he made for his departed grandfather which reminds me so much of my parents who passed on a decade ago.

I was surprised that it has been that long. I remember the pain like they left yesterday. I feel the longing, the ache, the regrets, the tears, and the sorrow of words left unsaid fresh each time I awake. I remember the naivete of sincerely hoping that it was all a bad dream and they have just been gone for an early morning errand and would come back when we wake up the next day just like they always do.

I guess life has been busy and I somehow have mastered the art of being preoccupied, it was a fail-safe way to temporarily forget the heartbreak. But I guess I can only ignore it for too long. It has an uncanny way of creeping up when I am most vulnerable, like late at night when the world stands still but keeps nocturnals like me up with endless thoughts and generously-flowing creative juices. The loss and void was part and parcel of who I have become. I will carry it for as long as I live. Maybe on some days I can shrug it off, cheer myself, instead, with their fondest memories, but on other days, I guess the kindest thing to do is to let the pain engulf me and just cry it all out. I needed it to vent, I needed the tears to wash away the accumulated pains and hurts of the past 10 years living without the people I never imagined living without. It is unbearable to think that I will never get to see them again or hear their voices again, but I feel blessed that I see a glimpse of them in my siblings. I am thankful that even though I may not see my parents’ face again, I see their smiles in the eyes of my little one.

:film:video is from Ed Sheeran’s Official Youtube Channel

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