Nyoy: The performance, not the venue

Some people don’t take the Republic of Malate seriously as a concert venue for it’s not as big as the Folk Arts Theater (FAT) or the 17,000-seater Araneta Coliseum. They feel it is more suited for intimate happenings than it is for grandly-produced concerts.

But Nyoy Volante and His Mannos (Cocoy Aranas on bass; Jerome Nuñez on violin; Maynard Albis on bongos; and Glenn Dalit on k-hon) changed all that when they staged their first concert series, NV&M Salute the Beatles recently.

Designed to introduce the music of the Beatles to the acoustic generation, the concert featured well-loved Beatles songs such as Yesterday, Here There and Everywhere, Here Comes the Sun and Blackbird, among others — re-arranged by Nyoy specially for the show.

NV & M Salute the Beatles proved that the size of the venue shouldn’t limit the scope of the show. It certainly didn’t limit the imagination of Nyoy or of its producer, 7003 Dynamix. For instance, despite the smallness of the venue, Nyoy and Mannos treated the audience to a show that could have been equally at home in a bigger, more spectacular venue–from the lighting to the stage design (which featured a painting of Nyoy and Mannos with the Beatles) to the songs–the overall effect was that of a grand concert.

The audience raved. They applauded every single song and by the end of the show, they insisted for an encore. To make sure they learn enough Beatles songs until the next show, Nyoy and Mannos have decided to add two more: Fool On The Hill and Got to Get You Into My Life. (a Beatles song revived by Earth, Wind and Fire), in addition to other Beatles classics like Drive My Car, Come Together, Because, I Will, And I Love Her, Help, Oh, Darling and Here, There, and Everywhere.

[More shows are scheduled tomorrow, on May 13 and 20 at the Republic of Malate. The concert is for the benefit of the Indigent Patients of East Avenue Medical Center’s Department of Dermatology, and is a production of 7003 Dynamix, Inc. Tickets, priced at P400 and P600, are available at 7003 Dynamix (533-8153/718-0945 or 0917-9340526), Music Museum (721-6726 or 721-0634), Republic of Malate (551-7252 to 55) and at SM Ticketnet outlets (911-5555).]

Rex Gatchalian Has A Mission

Oozing with exuberant character and a perfect smile that would readily pass for a toothpaste commercial, Rex Gatchalian could be the Benjamin of the 13th Congress. Leading the recent survey conducted by the Bureau of Research and Youth Analysis with a significant margin, he is deemed to have a greater chance of winning over political rivals. Coincidentally, Rex is also romantically linked as a persistent suitor to Angelika de la Cruz.

Following in the footsteps of his elder brother, Congressman Sherwin ‘WIN’ Gatchalian, Rex is running for a Congressional seat in the First District of Valenzuela. Born on Jan. 19, 1979, he just passed the minimum age requirement of 25 to be a member of the House of Representatives. He is admired by many for his achievements as a model student. He was a consistent Dean’s Lister and graduated cum laude at George Washington University with a major in Political Science. With the intent to change the system, he was also an activist in Washington D.C. Moreover, he has shown impressive performances as a management expert when he held positions in various companies such as Sales Executive of Air Philippines, member of the Board of Directors of several companies, and Executive Vice-President of Waterfront Hotel.

Rex is confident his experiences as community leader and young businessman have prepared him to be a legislator. Even before his involvement in politics, he was active in charitable activities and public service. Together with his father, Plastic King and former presidential adviser William Gatchalian, he assisted in the negotiations for the freedom and repatriation of OFWs Sarah Balabagan and John Aquino. He is also an adviser of the WIN Youth Club, founder of the organization Batang Rex, and an active church member of Jesus Our Life (JOL).

If elected as Representative of the First District of Valenzuela, he pledges to give priority to education, advance social welfare by providing medical assistance to constituents, develop an infrastructure system that will help alleviate the city’s flood and traffic problems, resolve drug-related problems and address issues on globalization.

Although coming from an affluent family, Rex was brought up with hard work, responsibility and humility instilled in his heart. He is also a God-fearing man who knows how to empathize with the predicament of the masses. We should watch out for the rise of this vibrant individual who may become the young man to watch in the 13th Congress.