2 Pinoys vie in USA Songwriting Competition

I am proud that Filipinos have been getting a lot of attention lately in the field of sports and the arts. Just recently, two Pinoys have been given recognition in the field of music.

Early last year, composers Markel Luna and Jay Gomez submitted an entry to the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition, hoping that their composition would at least make it to the finals. The Tagalog song titled Ikaw Ay Ikaw Pa Rin is accompanied by a distinctive Filipino music featuring a fusion of sounds provided by the flute, cello, guitar and ethnic percussions. Arranged by Jomar Ferreria, the song is superbly interpreted by Reuben Laurente of The CompanY.

In 2001, Markel and Jay were finalists in the Unang Pinoy Musika Awards, with Reuben Laurente also as the interpreter. They also made it to the finals of the 2002 USA Songwriting Competition with Markel as lyricist, Reuben Laurente as composer and interpreter and Jay Gomez as flutist.

Markel and Jay have been actively involved in the music industry for many years now. Markel has had song collaborations with Reuben Laurente, which have been included in the CD albums of Regine Velasquez, Ayen Munji-Laurel and Dingdong Avanzado. His latest composition, Ikaw Ang Kailangan Ko, is included in Anna Fegi’s second album Straight Ahead. He is also a freelance architect, a visual/graphic artist and a show producer, and also takes care of their family business, Heritage/MCA Luna Gallery and Café Breton.

Twenty five-year-old Jay Gomez has been a musician for as long as he can remember. He has had solo performances as a flutist and a saxophone player, and is also a band/recording session artist. He has been featured in music festivals and has collaborated with the likes of Myra Beltran (as composer), Joonee Gamboa (as musical scorer), and world-class pianist Cecile Licad (as chamber player).

Markel and Jay believe that wining the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition is not the end of their journey to excellence, but the beginning of their musical crusade to give Filipino music the recognition it deserves.

Bravo!

Topshop In Glorietta 2

UK’s coolest brand, Topshop, has opened another branch in Glorietta 2, with no less than the country’s top corporate honchos and celebrities in attendance.

The ceremony was formally opened by Topshop shopper Kris Aquino, together with Arcadia Group’s Regional Business Manager for the Far East Abigail Stubbs and Visual Manager-International Kellie Lee Clark, Merchandising AVP Hope Gokongwei-Tang and Victoria Licuanan, wife of Ayala Land President Francisco Licuanan III.

Corporate bigwigs who graced the event included Mr. Licuanan, JG Summit Chairman James Go, JG Summit President Lance Gokongwei, Topshop Senior Vice President Robina Gokongwei-Pe and Ayala Land Commercial Centers Group Division Manager Cesar Jose Jesena. Also present were Mons Romulo-Tantoco, Mix and Anonymous’ Ricco and Tina Ocampo, Preview’s Pauline Suaco-Juan, Claire Betita-Samson, eventologist Tim Yap, fashion columnists Ana Kalaw and Jennie Epperson, GP Reyes and Celine Lopez.

Topshop, who counts style icons Beyonce Knowles, Kylie Minogue, Kelly Osbourne and Victoria Beckham along its loyal clients, has always been a favorite label among the fashionable set here and all over the world.

Topshop represents what London fashion or British fashion is all about. The electric mix of street, designer and classics, which can be worn differently by each individual, appeals to an incredibly broad customer base, from age 12 to 45!

Topshop brand director Jane Shepherdon says, "The thing that they all have in common is a love of fashion. In our London store, I often watch the customers and I see fashion journalists carrying designer bags looking for a Topshop piece to mix with them, next to a teenager who wants skater trousers and a muscle back vest."

Jane attributes the store’s success to its knowledge of the market. "Everyone in Topshop is representative of our customers – we know what we want and we assume that our customers will want it too. The designers and buyers in Topshop are the best in the world and can anticipate the next trends even before the catwalk designers show them. We always want to do something new so it’s never boring," she says.

The Glorietta 2 store is Topshop’s fifth in the country. Its other branches are located in Robinsons Place Manila, Robinsons Galleria, Shangri-La Plaza Mall and Robinsons Department Store in Galleria. Soon to open is its branch in Alabang Town Center.