Gary Granada has been saying that he wants to retire from the music scene. But upon learning that his fellow folkie, James Taylor, had his Manila concert, originally scheduled on Feb. 25 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, canceled due to extrajudicial killings (EJKs) resulting from President Duterte’s drug war, Granada took to Facebook and videotaped a loose jam of Taylor classics with friends Bayang Barrios and Cooky Chua singing along.
Inspired further, Granada announced that he will perform in a one-night gig, on the Taylor concert’s canceled date, Feb. 25, at Conspiracy Café, with special guests CNB (Choir ng Bayan) Concert Chorale and Mark Jay Felipe.
Granada, the Filipino singer-songwriter known for his extensive body of work that resonates with artistic excellence and commercial sensibility, is also in the middle of recording new original material that is being facilitated through crowdfunding.
“We needed P68,000 to record our first two songs, ‘Normal’ and ‘Porbida!’—and raised P71,497,” he posted on his Facebook page. “We’ll be laying in the live tracks on the 21st. We’ll do our best to finish within the month.”
Expect the best night out you’ll have in recent memory. But call for reservation and come early.
Conspiracy Café,
59 Visayas Ave., Quezon City;
tel. 4532170
Art meets technology
Art meets technology as Gateway Gallery celebrates the second year of its “SiningSaysay: Philippine History in Art” exhibit by launching a digital interface that utilizes augmented reality (AR) to recount Philippine history and make it more interesting to a digital-savvy generation.
On Feb. 22, the gallery will launch “SiningLakbay: Philippine History in Augmented Reality” in connection with its long-term exhibit that depicts prehistoric Philippines up to the presidency of Benigno Aquino III in 30 large history paintings by artists from the UP College of Fine Arts.
By downloading the free app (on iOS and Android), visitors will see 10 select paintings “come to life” on their WiFi-enabled mobile phones or tablets. Using the app, gallery visitors can point their device to the key paintings to watch the video and hear the narration on chapters of Philippine history. The videos are accurate historical accounts of events depicted in the paintings.
The Gateway Gallery, 5/L, Gateway Tower, Araneta Center, Quezon City. Open Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
More art exhibits
Meanwhile, three artists— Nemesio “Nemi” Miranda, August Santiago Jr. and Romeo “Romi” Mananquil—unveil 30 paintings and sculptures in an exhibition dubbed “Figura Filipina,” which opens on Feb. 24, 5 p.m., at the Activity Area, Level 1 of Robinsons Galleria, Edsa corner Ortigas Ave.
The show is on view until March. 4.
The show opens in time for the annual celebration of the People Power Revolution. NeMiranda, Mananquil and Santiago specifically chose Robinsons Galleria as the venue for their exhibition, which aims to celebrate the body, soul and essence of the Filipino—radiant in times of calm and quietude, defiant in the face of hardships and subjugation—because of the site’s role in the ousting of a dictator.
The three artists continue to show their love of country life in their respective works through the years, spotlighting the contributions of Filipino women with beauty, dignity and quiet strength.
Call 3971888; follow @RobGalleriaOfficial on Facebook
