Like comets bursting in the sky

Definitely one of the most successful events last year was the World Pyro Olympics. It drew millions of spectators who flocked to the Esplanade (in Pasay City), to watch the most spectacular display of fireworks ever. Traffic was horrendous. The entire stretch of Macapagal Ave. down to Roxas Blvd. and stretching to EDSA was turned into a gigantic parking lot. As early as 4 p.m., traffic was already at a snail’s pace in Roxas Blvd. and Macapagal Ave. Whatever space was left beside every establishment located near the Esplanade was bursting with parked vehicles.

I was a witness to how crowded the streets were as a sea of people marched toward Esplanade. We inched our way towards Roxas Blvd. on our way to Traders Hotel where I nestled myself to get a good view of the fireworks. I had wanted to watch the fireworks display since Day One, but had to content myself on the last day of the event because of my haywire schedule.

The view from the top was good. But I am sure, the fireworks were better up-close. "Tito, is that heaven?" my five-year-old nephew Jake, asked. I nodded to him and said, "It could be, it could be."

It was like seeing the entire cosmos with some stars fading away like giant meteors and comets bursting in the sky. I can hear the collective oh’s and ah’s as fireworks lit up the sky and slowly faded away into the heavens and the seas.

It was like a big New Year’s party at the grounds of Esplanade. Top local bands entertained the promenaders. A fiesta atmosphere permeated the entire area of Esplanade. And, as is always the case when a big event like this is held in an open field, there were announcements of lost boys and girls but who in the end are reunited with their distraught families. Somehow, you had to get lost to be able to appreciate how it is to be in the right place – a lesson we continue to discover in life.

World Pyro Olympics saw the best in fireworks display from Australia (which came out the winner), China, Germany, Korea, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

"The World Pyro Olympics is the medium in which innovations in the international pyrotechnic industry are seen and experienced," says Ricardo Crisostomo, chairman of La Mancha Pyro Productions.

This early, La Mancha Pyro Productions is already making preparations for the World Pyro Olympics in 2006. The company is already starting talks with the Pasay City government for the event.

"As early as now, there have been numerous inquiries in our website from foreign pyrotechnic companies with regards to participating in the next World Pyro Olympics," says Ian Ysip, also of La Mancha.

And most definitely, the next World Pyro Olympics is much larger and grander. And we shall be part of it again!

Jimmy Bondoc goes undercover

Jimmy Bondoc is synonymous to the word acoustic. He is Mr. Musikero and is one of the country’s top acoustic artists. Known for his original compositions, Jimmy surprised everyone when he interpreted the popular Korean song I Believe in the vernacular.

"People think that because I’ve always favored original songs, I would not interpret songs by other artists. It’s refreshing to see the world through the music of other artists," he says.

On his latest record titled Undercovers, Jimmy sings mostly revivals. The album features the songs Grow Old With You, Don’t Give Up On Us, Beauty and Madness, Everyday, Two Solitudes, Reminiscing, Now and Forever, The Way It Is, The Lady Wants to Know, Never Let Her Slip Away, I’d Really Love to See You Tonight, Heart of Mine, Moody’s Mood and the carrier single Out of My League by Stephen Speaks. Undercovers also includes the bonus track I Believe, the phenomenal hit from the Korean movie My Sassy Girl. Undercovers is under Sony BMG Music Entertainment.

Also from Sony BMG Music Entertainment is a new album by 6Cyclemind composed of Ney Dimaculangan (vocals), Chuck Isidro (lead guitars), Rye Sarmiento (back-up vocals and rhythm guitars), Bobby Canamo (bass guitars) Darwin Hernandez (songwriter and manager) and Tutti Caringal (drums), titled Panorama. The album boasts of 13 tracks with themes ranging from friendship, love, heartaches, among others. The carrier single, Sandalan already reached No. 1 in 97.1 DWLS FM and at 99.5 RT and continues to climb up the charts of radio stations and music channels.

Lead guitarist Chuck Isidro says, "Panorama is an album which is more than just a collection of songs but a collection of our personal experiences which we would like to share with our fans." The album which took more than six months to complete also showcases the band’s maturity as songwriters. It features collaborations with artists like Wendell Garcia of Barbie’s Cradle, Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree, Buddy Zabala formerly of the Eraserheads and Francis Magalona.

6Cyclemind made the hit songs Biglaan, Pa Ba?, Nalilito, Wait or Go and Sige.