Sunday, August 12, 2012

Original Demo: Body Language

(photo by Alejandro Rivera)



A little personal take on "jazz hiphop"
** Quality comes out best with earphones; original lyrics and vocal arrangement, with many thanks to Justin De Guzman @DeeperManila for creating the beat.

BODY LANGUAGE

What more can you say, that I can’t hear, in your eyes,
When your words push me away, it’s that fear that I despise.

Your ears digest the sorrow in the sentences I sew,
As your lips punch out the painful words that you have “got to go.”

Your feet, they take you places, but they also stop to think,
If your lungs could hold the aftermath, my heart would cease to blink,

So you so spin in my direction, hold me closely with your stare,
Let your hands do all the talking while my head comes up for air.

Your fingers taste the saltiness that trickles down my spine
As I’m towed by a familiar pull, the scent that you’re still mine.

Mmmm still mine
Mmmm still mine

We could dance in this dilemma, throw all caution to the wind,
Let human nature take its course and tell the father we have sinned,

But you, of us, the wiser, know from ready we are far,
And you couldn’t bear the thought of leaving my heart with a scar;

So our bodies mirror images of ghostly lullabies,
As we sift through all our memories in search of compromise.

As I inhale all the worry that is drawn across your face,
You say perfect is a far-off dream, a dream you wish to chase.

(break)

Baby, I don’t need no perfection
I just need to see you smile,
We can sit here, sober,
knowing things are okay
Okay for a while.

The mind’s unrest, unrest, uneasy
having not heard that you care,
Though your body language says it,
what’s the point of this affair?

If you never drop that armor, say those words and say them pure,
Then we’ll find ourselves right back here again and never know for sure.

When your candor breaks the silence in a whisper so divine,
Then I’m pulled by that familiar tow,
the scent that you are mine.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Original Demo: Kundiman

My first attempt at an original song in the native tongue of my motherland, the Philippines. I thought it appropriate to write a simple kundiman.
             
KUNDIMAN is a genre of traditional Filipino love songs. The lyrics of the Kundiman are written in Tagalog. The melody is characterized by a smooth, flowing and gentle rhythm with dramatic intervals. Kundiman was the traditional means of serenade in the Philippines. (source: Wikipedia)






KUNDIMAN / Ikaw Lamang
       
Ikaw lamang
Ikaw lang ang may kaalaman 
Ng tunay na
Dahilan kung b’at narito ako,
Narito ako
Nakaharap sa ‘yo.
   
Ikaw lamang
Ikaw lamang may karapatang
Hawakan ang
Aking puso at maramdaman,
maramdaman
Ang nararamdaman ko
        
Minsan, pag tayo’y magkasama
Hindi ako makahinga
Dahil alam ko ang iniisip mo
Nababasa sa iyong mata
      
Ikaw lamang
Ikaw lang ang may kaalaman
Ng tunay na
Dahilan kung b’at narito ako.
Narito ako
Nagmamahal sa ‘yo.
          
Minsan pag tayo’y magkasama
Hindi ako makahinga
Dahil di ko makapaniwala
Na minamahal mo rin ako
      
Ikaw lamang
Ikaw lang, aking inaasam,    
Sa ‘yo lamang
Ako’y susulat ng kundiman
Isang kundiman
Para lamang sa yo.
    
Lyrics and vocal arrangement: Cara Manglapus
Melody: Francis Manglapus

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Original Demo: Song For Peace


*** Listen with earphones for better quality ***

Is It Possible

Is it possible,
After you’ve slapped your neighbor,
To offer him your hand?

Is it possible,
After you’ve knocked him down,
To pull him back to stand?
        
Is it possible,
After you’ve slapped your neighbor,
His hurt you may regret
Or you may have knocked him down so hard
His own Good he may forget;

You can cure his body
Change his mind or stir it,
But what are we to do about his spirit?

Is it possible
To stop and understand
Instead of striking high?
There is really nothing much left for us to do
But try  
But try

(blues guitar solo)

You can cure his body
Change his mind or stir it,
But what are we to do about his spirit?

Is it possible
To start to understand
And ask your neighbor why
There is really nothing much left for us to do
But try
But try

Is it possible? 

Original Composition by Francis Manglapus
Vocal Arrangement by Cara Manglapus
Lyrics rewritten by Cara Manglapus as inspired by Raul Manglapus's original play "Yanky Panky'

Friday, July 27, 2012

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Home Movies 1: Summer Lovin'

Those of you who've checked out my humble blog once or twice before may have noticed that my posts are broken down into categories, i.e. Short Stories, Influence & Inspiration, and Travel Tidbits. Introducing a new series on my blog labeled "Home Movies," a little window into the possibly less exciting but equally enriching and certainly entertaining facet of my life. 

Exhibit A: singing along to Grease's Summer Lovin' with some old friends, Macy Yap and Marco Lobregat. 

Sometimes you have to let loose, be silly, and sing along. 



Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Influence & Inspiration 8: My Tribute to Etta James

I had the great pleasure of paying tribute to one of the most influential and legendary female artists of all time, the late Etta James, with this humble rendition of her timeless song "At Last."

In this video, I am accompanied by The Executives Big Band, as performed at the opening of the Citi-Rustans French Film Festival at Shangri-La Plaza on June 7, 2012.


*** Thanks to tita GR Rodis for the photos!




Sunday, May 27, 2012

Travel Tidbits 5: Malaysian Photoset

I had the opportunity to squeeze in a day of touring the city of Kuala Lumpur while on a business trip to Malaysia earlier this month. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised with what the city had to offer!
Putrajaya Mosque
With Katrina, snapping a shot by a government office
Visiting Beryl's Chocolate Factory - Can you spot the NOT?
Visiting a batik center, all hand painted artwork
The royal thrones of the King and Queen
Jumping for joy outside the old royal palace
Making friends with local students
Jumping... again!
I think it's safe to say, I need a tan...
Making a connection
This fellow just landed on my head!
Angry Birds? A very heavy hornbill and a hootin' owl
Strolling the streets of Kuala Lumpur
Another government building... and more jumping!
At the 500-year-old Batu caves
Climbing over 200 steps to see the temple inside
"Cara the Explorer"
The Petronas Towers
Evidently, I like "jumping pictures."

***Thanks to Katrina Bantug and Dennis Rejoy for the photos.