IF Vocal Solo: GARY PIKE/LETTERMEN

It was the time when Bruce Lee emerged as the only true Asian Martial Arts Superstar with his Kung-Fu exploits of "The Big Boss", "The Fist Of Fury" and "The Way Of The Dragon". The most tragic incident was his sudden death (July 20, 1973) at the early age of 32 and sadly at the time Hollywood stardom was just around the corner, He failed to witness and savor the sensational success of his blockbuster movie "Enter The Dragon".


It was also the era of the Beatles last hurrah, because the members John Lennon, Paul MaCartney and George Harrison failed to settle their differences. On their twelfth and final studio album, "Let It Be" which was released on May 8, 1970 the most famous band announced break-up. And then after a year, an American singer-songwriter David Gates popularized "If" with his group named "Bread". This song is one of the many "Love Song" cards I have given to my one and only "Secret Love" at that time. A girl so simple, so elegant, so mysterious but so beautiful. How I admire her beauty, so inspiring and so lovable.


Those we're the days when almost all the hippie guys in our place are looking forward to see and know her. Passing through that big old house once owned by Dr. Baisas, is just enough to satisfy their dreams and their admiration to a city girl named Gina. Lot of guys talking about her, on how they can know her personally. A lot of Paetenians even serenade her with the mellow tunes of that time. She's really a gem of a lady, a pillar of strength for someone who can only express his feelings through his art. Unfortunately, all my "Love Letters" and all my efforts goes pffttttt as all my hard work didn't even reached the hands of the girl I've longed and cherished.


Almost every morning and noontime I've been waiting for her to pass by when she goes to school (Maryknoll Academy, Pakil, Laguna) or come back home in the afternoon. I used to louden our mono turntable while playing Lettermen albums such as "Alive Again (Naturally)" and "Feelings" and in the evening before midnight, we used to to play full volume radio in front of their house with the tunes of yesterday. But mostly, a bunch of corks would only reach our place. Maybe sometimes, cap of alcohol, just so they could throw something but with no intention to hurt someone. They probably couldn't stand the noise or they find it hard to sleep because of it. At that time 60's sounds are mere oldies for year 70's sound trippers.


It's so good to reminisce about the past, "Imagine", courting someone in secret, not knowing that my Love Letters we're read by the man assigned to deliver them instead of the person which it is designated for. There are two things that came into my mind back then, it was either that guy also has his interest for Gina or he has his interest in me (Joke) Hahaha! It did happen way back and we have to move forward. I just happened to be inspired again , so I was able to update my Blogspot. I do hope you enjoy the music that features Gary Pike (Lettermen) under Capitol Records.


Got so many stories to tell. Keep tuning in. You'll surely be entertained! Happy Mother's Day to all and to you ... Insan Gina Adea Del Rosario.

Morning Girl - Tony Butala/Lettermen

Requested by my Elementary Batchmate Mrs. Rosaida Cagandahan Dulay, "Miss Morning Girl"of SSHS. May this song revived the undying memories of our generations, the bulislisan gentry, the Lettermen's "Warm" moment of going back to memory lanes. Happy 40th reunion to all 69rs.

The later version was not as beautiful as the version of Jim Pike, though it was revived in a different ways and rendition. The concert last January 27, 2006 was held at the Araneta Coliseum, when and where I approached Tony Butala for an autograph while he's singing the said song. Unfortunately, he didn't sign up, instead he show my "I Will Love You" visuals to all the audiences watching the concert and even show it in front of a television camera. What a night? There are so many celebrities I've seen that very night, Sam Milby, Troy Montero, Pitoy Moreno and Mel Tiangco of GMA 7. All of them, enjoy the night of fun , nostalgia and classics repertoire of voice blending ability, only The Lettermen can do performed. I was at the six rows in front of The Lettermen, and I was the first who goes up for picture taking when they welcome everybody to take a pictures with them. It was really a good night, although my wife choose to be in the rafters of the coliseum, because she's not that fond of the said group. The only song she likes is Darren Dowler's "Go The Distance" and from the time she seen the Lettermen performed she begins to swooned on Donovan Scott Tea. From then on, every time The Lettermen had a concert she's always been with me carrying her Canon HD Camera and she's providing me with clips which I am featuring in all my Blogspot and Youtube upload.

SECRETS OF ASWANG by: JUN B. DAYO

PROSE
Chapter 1

IT WAS A DARK NIGHT as the freezing air grips the flesh of the body from the shores not from where the couple Danilo and Monina lives. The man tossed and turned through out the night, as if the night has plans on unveiling a dark secret during that time. As is his eerie surroundings was dying to find out what that secret is. A secret that Danilo knows all to well. He knows that something interesting will happen that night and such thoughts where the ones bothering him since the day started. He was wide awake that time, even though he did tried to fall asleep. He had several sleepless nights, only because of his suspicions regarding his very own wife Monina.

It wasn't long until he felt his wife awaken from her slumber. She rushed out of bed as if she was chasing somebody, as she fiercely shut the door behind her. The next thing he heard was the loud and distinct sound of wings flapping, only that this sound seems to come from a huge bird. Danilo hurriedly went out the house to see what just happened. He searched everywhere but found no trace of his wife Monina

“Where could she be? How did she disappear so quickly. She couldn't possibly have wings and fly like a bird.” he asked himself.
As he was still thinking to himself of what happened, he noticed something in the bushes, not far from their front door.
“Huh!? W-What a huge shadow of an animal. Looks like a wolf” he exclaimed.
He quickly chased after the beast, as it started to flee. He started to pick up the pace but it seems that the beast he was after suddenly disappeared.
“What a waste of energy. But that animal was beyond ordinary. With that size, it could surely swallow me whole!” he said as he still tries to catch his breath.
Feeling tired, he decided to go back in the house. He had no choice but to wait for his wife to come back home.

It's only been months since they started living together, which leaves him clueless of the secrets his wife has been keeping from him all this time. All he knows is that it all started when she was invited by a close friend to celebrate a feast on Capiz. He knew it was his fault for allowing her to travel on her own
It didn't just happened once, but it kept happening over and over again. She would usually leave the house in a full moon. So this is what came to his mind. He is about to believe that his wife had become one of the "aswang". A transformation that would surely affect the lives of their future children.

Danilo waited several hours for her return. His slumber left him unconscious of the fly attempting to enter his ear. He then started to drive away the pest that has been bothering him, like a helpless cow from their blood thirsty instincts .
It wasn't long until he felt the sun rise up in the early morning, along with the loud crow of the rooster that seemed to serve its purpose of waking the whole neighborhood. Danilo knows that the sun would soon consume the darkness and turn everything into light. From there, he saw his wife come out of the forest who seem to be very tired, as if she had journeyed from a distant place
“What happened to you Monina? Where have you been?” as Danilo hurriedly went to her.
“I am tired. I want to have some rest!” she replied.
He assisted her inside and gently placed her on the bed. It was just in a few minutes when Monina had completely fallen asleep. That gave her husband a chance to observe her. Just doing so led him to many questions and thoughts. Thoughts still looking for an answer.
“What secret have you been keeping from me? I am certain you are no longer the Monina I have known and loved. And you are most certainly no longer the woman I have married in front of the altar!’ he asked and insisted to himself.
It was in the late afternoon when she had already woke up. That is when Danilo took the advantage of discussing with her.
“You have changed a lot. You are always so quiet. What really happened to you? Why was it that ever since you went to Capiz, you started being distant from me?” he asked.
Monina turned her gaze away from the man as if she couldn't bear the questions she was being asked. As if her secrets were that deep to be kept from her husband.
“I don't even know where you go during the nights. You've made me suffer for so long!’ he continued
The man sighed, as he kept on pushing his wife to tell him something, but she intends not to. She can't even look straight into her husband's eyes.
“I know you are feeling something different. I know you've been keeping secrets from me. As your husband, allow me to help you in what you are facing right now!’ Danilo cried.
“I keep no secrets from you Danilo!” she exclaimed.
“I will ask Impong Tasyo to help us. I know he is the only one who could help us solve this matter !” the man insisted.
The woman was surprised to hear her husband's words. Enraged, she was like a wild dog as she screamed, “GRAAAH!” Don't you dare do that Danilo! Don't you dare!”
The husband was shocked with her actions. He only had one thought as he turned his back from her.
“Whether you like it or now, I'll pick up Impong Tasyo. I'll let him remove that evil spirit that has been inhabiting your body all this time!”, he said confidently.

TO BE CONTINUED

ENTER THE BROWN DRAGON - JUN B. DAYO

The second installment of the most awaited comics from cyberspace will be. Watch out for the colossal battle between Dragon Knight and Lewis Black in the most feared "Arena Of Death".

The breathtaking action will be released on the second week of June 2010. Anticipate the action...only here in
COMusICS!!!

THE SEVENTH DAWN-LETTERMEN/Capitol Records

Seen this movie almost 4x when I was a kid and I began to like the movies of William Holden, like "The Bridge Of The River Kwai." But it was Charlton Heston who dominated the big screen with all his epic saga movies such as "El Cid", "Ben-Hur", "Khartoum", 55 Days At Peking", "Major Dundee","Soylent Green", "Omega Man", "Planet Of The Apes" and "The Ten Commandments." At that time the Philippine airwaves are dominated by Elvis Presley,The Beatles (Rock and Roll) and The Lettermen with all their mellow hits including this piece of inspirational song. Although this is not the original soundtrack of the movie, I decided to incorporate the sounds of the Lettermen to this unforgettable war movie of 1964 because in my own belief, it was tailor fit with the said movie that happened in Southeast Asia after World war II.
Great are those days, that you even go to movie house in Paete just saying "I need to get back in there, I wasn't able to finish the movie last night." or sometimes you will reason out, you'll just look for your mother who's inside the theater that night. And it always happened when there are problems with the projector, everybody will shout out: "Andres, give us our money back. How many times have we told you not to sleep during work time!"
That's how we get back to our past, that's how easy life is before. Gone are those days when we just paid 5 pesos for 2 movies (English/Tagalog). Now. 160 pesos for "Transformer 2" movies, which surely cost a lot. What more if you watch it on IMAX with the rest of your family to watch it with you? P2,000 is not enough, not to mention taking them some place else to eat after. That's probably one of the reasons why reliving the past feels so good. How about you? Will you ever wonder if the good old days will be with you always? Well, just get an mp3 or a cd of your past favorites and play it along with you. Somehow, you can go back to memory lanes, go back with The Lettermen love songs and feel at peace with the world. Try it.

THIS IS YOUR POST

We invite everyone, kids and teeners alike to join us in showing your talent to the world. Just send your drawings to jundayo55@yahoo.com and we will feature your artworks along with all my blogs. Just include your name, address, and age. Be the next komiks greatest illustrator.

Medley: Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't take My Eyes Off You-Lettermen/Capitol Records

Late 1967, The Lettermen brought about, on a 'LIVE' Album, perhaps the group'a most loved and requested hit : the Medley of 'Goin' Out Of My Head / Can't Take My Eyes Off You.' Requested by SACKS, an Ole Navy Vet from Atlanta. Hope you'll enjoy it, Sir!

I am in Grade 5 (Section 10), when this bouncy and lovely song hits the airwaves in 1968. It was the time I was emerged as one of the fastest runner of Paete Elementary School, along with Elesio Palatino (a dear friend). The said school was donated by the late Don Alejandro Roces, father of the late Don Ramon Roces who later became my saviour, my mentor and my future due to a long time stint with FUNNY KOMIKS for CHILDREN. At that time, I'm just a mere listener of the 60's music, I've heard a lot of The Beatles, The Dave Clark Five, The Cascades, Gary Lewis and The Playboys, The Monkees, The Brothers Four, The Bee Gees (to name a few) and so on. I've seen a lot of the Fav 4 movies such as 'A Hard Day's Night', Yellow Submarine' and 'Help!'. Even The Monkees had their own movies which featured all their hit songs such as, 'Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter', but not a single movie of The Lettermen. I had no particular favorite song at that time of years, but I'm hearing Lettermen's 'I Will Love You', 'Warm', 'I Love How You Love Me' and 'The Wonder Of You.' almost simultaneously in AM Radio Stations especially at midnight. I'd like to sleep along with the songs of that era, mild, mellow, sweet and full of meaning. That made the baby boomers generation more compassionate, more obedient than today's youth. Will the song of each era can really build a man's mindset? The more lovely the song is, the more mellow your human outcome will be. And that's what I am with me today. And I'm proud of my era, my generation and my choose of music!