Teleseryes, Pinoy discoveries continue unabated

One would think that at the rate teleseryes and their ilk dominate our waking hours, there would come a time for most of us to get tired of them. However, this doesn’t seem to be the case, and we are not referring to the regular office worker alone, but professionals, and yes, our colleagues who would excuse themselves to run home to catch ABS-CBN’s Walang Hanggan which seems overwhelmingly the favorite at the moment.

 For some time, The Good Daughter which aired on GMA Afternoon Prime caught our interest as it seemed to be more engaging with less of the irritating coincidences that plague all drama-seryes. Both Kylie Padilla and Rocco Nacino as leads showed signs of developing into important actors, but the one who clearly held the narrative together was Raymond Bagatsing (Kylie’s father) and director Michael Tuviera, acclaimed film and TV director whose firm hand kept the story from going astray.

Which is why we are more than pleased that the newest GMA Afternoon Prime series Faithfully is being megged by Tuviera once again. At least, the soap that brings together the leads Maxene Magalona, Isabel Oli, Michelle Madrigal, Isabelle Daza, Marc Abaya and Mike Tan will be in good hands. We are also happy that the senior roles include Chanda Romero and Timmy Cruz who will always deliver credible performances.

Faithfully director Mike Tuviera addresses the media at a recent presscon

As the serye’s resident contrabida, Chanda is all for her son (Marc’s) love affair with socialite Vaness del Moral, until Maxene Magalona of poorer parentage enters the picture. Musician, VJ and actor Marc is the son of directors Manolo and Marilou Diaz-Abaya and appears to have inherited the interest in the arts. The five women will display their fangs as expected; betrayals become the order of the day. Chanda welcomes being directed again by Tuviera while she counts this as her 10th year with the Kapuso network.

Meanwhile, Pinoys continue being discovered everywhere in most fields of the performing arts. Arnel Pineda found singing with his band on YouTube was asked by Journey to be frontman of the US band in 2007. Then followed 10-year-old Pinoy-Canadian Maria Aragon in 2010 again on YouTube, then Mexican-Filipina Jessica Sanchez who finished second in American Idol this year.

The most recent discovery is full-blooded Filipino electro-acoustic violinist based in Anchorage, Alaska who loops and layers beats with his loopstation device. To get a rhythmic beat, he records a slap to the strings or a tap to the body of the instrument. Named Bryson Andres, he is 20 years old and has been playing the violin since he was 12, often on the streets which he loves, is self-taught and forgoes Vivaldi for tunes from the likes of Beyoncé, One Republic and Lady Gaga. Someone sent his street video to Mr. Kingson Sian, president of Resorts World Manila who was so amazed by his talent, and he immediately offered him a slot at Resorts’ Bar360.

Filipino street violinist Bryson Andres

Bryson will be part of a show in July featuring world-class acrobats and possibly performances across Asia and on a cruise ship. He will also join the Grammy trumpet master in the much-awaited Chris Botti Live in Manila on June 19 at the Resorts World Newport Performing Arts Theater. The best of local session musicians hitting up the night for Chris are Elhmir Sayson on keyboard; Roger Herrera, bass; Mar Dizon, drums; Tots Tolentino, sax; and newcomer Bryson Andres, violinist, with Vernie Varga and Richard Merk on vocals.

We are told that when first informed of the offer from president Sian, Bryson was a bit skeptical having had a recent sad experience with scammers. After his initial performances, however, he tags Filipinos as the most exciting and animated audiences he has ever performed for. He has relatives in Nueva Ecija; has a few independent albums he sells for $10; and is influenced by Imogen Heap and Josh Groban’s violinist Lucia Micarelli.

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