Lampara Books hopes to promote spiritual formation and values education through its Guiding Light imprint

 

The new Philippine imprint offers inspiring stories centered on Christ’s teachings and fun, purpose-driven storytelling

Lampara Books has recently launched Guiding Light, a new Philippine imprint that hopes to encourage parents and families to be a good influence on their children’s journey to life.

 The family-oriented and faith-based imprint aims to promote spiritual formation, values education, emotional growth, and community development through highly entertaining but transformative books written and designed by some of the world’s most promising and award-winning writers, illustrators, and personalities.

 “It has always been our goal to inspire adult readers, most especially parents, to engage with their children on stories of inspiration, joy, and life lessons within a framework of Christ-centered beliefs and teachings,” says Segundo D. Matias Jr., the Chief Publisher of Lampara Books. “Our activity books create bonding moments between mom and dad with their kids through storytelling that put good values at the forefront of its principles, while inspiring everyone to become a better human being.”

 For its premiere offering, Guiding Light has recently released its ‘Little Life Lessons on’ series—a collection of fun activity books that parents and their children can color, play around with, and use as a medium for purpose-driven instruction. Written in both English and Filipino, the series is made for childhood care providers and parents to help their kids learn important values in life. The ‘Little Life Lessons on’ catalog contains inspirational stories that depict kindness, obedience, respect, and love, among many others.

 The motivational imprint also takes pride of its Family Bible Illustrated edition, which has 365 pages of bible stories, meditations, and prayers for the whole family to reflect on together, and The Comic Book Bible, which offers a treasury of stories, known and loved by generations of readers.

 For readers who are looking for a refreshing spin to the familiar narrative, there is Classic Bible Stories, illustrated for pictures-and-words format by talented young artist Tommaso d' Incalei. Bringing stories to life for a new generation of readers, this timeless collection will inspire people discover the meaning behind the teachings of God in an exciting and easy-to-read way. Another significant title under its banner is The Classic Children’s Bible, which is beautifully illustrated and presented to cater to a younger readership.

 Other titles that are currently available at the Guiding Light website are Rhona Davies’ The Life Of Christ, strikingly illustrated to chronicle the important life events that Jesus Christ went through from his days in Galilee to joining God in heaven, and Angela M. Burrin’s Welcome To The Mass, a beautifully illustrated book that ‘explains the Mass by linking the liturgy to scenes from the Gospels.’

 The classic and new titles are available at the Guiding Light official website, https://www.guidinglight.com.ph.

 

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Ben&Ben to push the boundaries of concert production on a scale that’s never been done before with ‘Kuwaderno’

Different forms of art intertwine on the nine-piece band’s most ambitious concert so 

Ben&Ben are redefining the virtual concert-going experience with the biggest headline show of their career.

Aptly titled Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, the Filipino nine-piece collective are pushing the boundaries of music shows in the new normal setting by integrating creative disciplines such as drama, dance, orchestra, and technology with a live performance. Their highly anticipated major concert will be staged at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, and will be streamed live on December 5, 2021, from 8pm to 11pm via digital streaming platform, KTX.ph.

“We can’t deny the fact that it’s the biggest project we’ve undertaken so far, and I think you just somehow know that it’s a leap of faith when the streams of guidance and providence lead you to the right people who believe in the same vision you have: To bring the music and the messages they carry to life,” the award-winning group said. “This spirit of collaboration was one of the defining themes of our album ‘Pebble House Volume One: Kuwaderno’ and it was only by natural desire that we brought the same spirit and attitude when we began working on the concert. As for the play between grand and intimate, we really wanted our listeners to relish in the grandiosity of what their support means to us. Doing a concert on this scale and bringing them closer into that bigger picture is our way of expressing immense gratitude to them as well.”

The audio-visual spectacle promises to bring the immense joy of experiencing live music and give an impression of conceptual grandness that are at par with the most memorable concerts in recent history. From mounting multiple-stage setups to performing in one of the biggest live music venues in the country, Kuwaderno aims to open new possibilities despite the limitations of the platform, and intimately build a connection with the audience all over the world.

The awe-inspiring creativity and ambition that Kuwaderno dares to achieve, wouldn’t be possible without the collaborators that painstakingly put their heart and soul into the project. Concert director Paolo Valenciano, along with co-director Maribel Legarda, Philippine Theater Association (PETA), and veteran light designer Shakira Villa-Symes—to name a few, understood Ben&Ben’s unique vision and translated them so clearly to create a cohesive piece of work. Ben&Ben attest to how significant their contributions are, not only in turning the concert into a reality, but in making sure that they are able to nurture a creative environment that promotes healthy exchange of ideas. “Working closely with them on this concert only made it clearer to us why they are the biggest names in the industry. The flow of ideas and creative energies really went on naturally because of their openness, and their generosity to share with us their thoughts, but what makes them more admirable is their skill to work within the limitations that we have and to adapt when faced with challenges. We definitely learned a lot from their work ethic.”

Believing in the magic that happens when different forms of art intertwine, the prolific folk-pop asserts that some feelings are best conveyed not just by the music elements alone. This prompted Ben&Ben and their team to include actors and dancers as part of the visual narrative to give the audience a semblance of being physically present with them throughout the concert journey. “Movement and dance and the entire visual narrative of it all woven into our music brought our songs to life,” the band said in a statement. “The talented dancers we’ve worked with, headed by choreographer Gio Gahol, are from different dance groups as well. It is amazing to see how they seem to get along and dance so passionately with each other easily.”

In terms of production design, the team stepped up their game in being more in line with the times, and pushing the envelope in terms of how the music can be represented visually. According to the nine-piece ensemble, each stage has its own purpose, its own symbolisms and visual elements. Even the lighting has its own poignant significance. “We want our listeners to know that each piece of the puzzle was thoughtfully included, and we’re excited to see them piece everything together when they watch the full show.”

The band is confident that Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert will not only deliver unparalleled innovation to local concert productions, but also bring light to a lot of people suffering in silence during the most challenging of times. “Having the opportunity to do so during the pandemic, we also felt such a huge responsibility to be able to inspire more people with stories of humanity and hope. We’ve received a lot of messages from Liwanag (the fan club) telling us how the band has helped them get through the tough times. Hopefully through this concert, we’ll be able to use our platform in making them feel that they’re not alone in this fight.”

 

Ms. Val Guico, the General Manager of Ben&Ben Music Productions, is also equally grateful to the people involved in the production for making strides in pulling off an envelope-pushing event. According to her, one of the main goals of mounting Kuwaderno is to extend help to the production team whose livelihood and work have been greatly affected by the pandemic. “Bulk of the concert earnings will be shared to everyone behind the scenes,” the concert producer reveals. “They are the unsung heroes of the show. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to bring Ben&Ben’s vision to life.”

Tickets to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert can be purchased via the KTX website. The TINATANGI package (priced at PHP 8,000), which gives you access to the online concert, plus an Exclusive 1 on 1 Harana Session with the band on Zoom and a raffle entry to the Exclusive Ben&Ben House Tour, is already SOLD OUT. Other ticket tiers that are still available include KAIBIGAN (priced at PHP 1,000), MAGKA-IBIGAN (priced at PHP 3,500), and MAHIWAGA (priced at PHP 5,500)—all containing different packages and inclusions.

Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert is brought to you by Ben&Ben Music Productions and SMART Telecommunications Inc., and is co-presented by Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Sony Music Philippines, Big Bulb, Chapters, Robinson’s Mall, KTX.ph, Elesi, Cream Silk, Primo, Phirst Park Homes, Novotel, JB Music, Urban Smiles, Summit, Philippine Red Cross, Sennheiser, Verona Audio Design, and Jilla Sara. Special thanks to the media partners: MYX, 96.3 Easy Rock, and Wish 107.5.

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I attended the virtual conference

Ongoing presscon of the concert of Ben& Ben #BenandBenKuwadernoConcert #BenandBen @BenAndBenMusic @sonymusicph pic.twitter.com/7XQVLlciZh

— demuresweetie | lifestyle blogger (@demuresweetie) November 15, 2021

SB19 addresses critics on the arcade game-inspired music video of “Bazinga”

 

The globally renowned pop group takes the visuals to the next level with themes of graffiti, gaming, and superhero noir

Filipino pop supergroup SB19 has officially dropped the music video for “Bazinga,” the third single off their critically acclaimed EP, Pagsibol.

 Set in an underground combat zone, the music video shows the multi-awarded quintet defeating their enemies in an Arcade combat game. In true SB19 fashion, it also doubles as an up-in-arms statement against the unwarranted criticisms hurled at the P-Pop group since the beginning of their music journey.

 The song itself is written as a response to the hostility that is rapidly proliferating on the Internet, and a wakeup call for the band to focus their energy instead on meaningful expressions of art and music, and the love that they’ve been getting from fans all over the world. “One way to lighten the load is by writing a song that proves that we won’t back down to the negative comments and we’ll persevere,” the chart-topping boyband shares in a statement. “As it says from the lyrics, ‘Hate niyo’y gasolina’ - we continue to flourish and emerge as better individuals, despite the hostility.”

 The “Bazinga” MV is directed by Jonathan Tal Placido, and co-directed by Chapters, the production team behind their post-apocalyptic “What?” video. SB19’s very own Justin de Dios also heavily contributed to the concept of the material, which blends themes of graffiti, gaming, and superhero noir against a chaotic but visually interesting anti-establishment backdrop.

 The release of the music video comes off the heels of SB19’s nomination at the prestigious MTV Europe Music Awards for Best Southeast Asia act. According to SB19, being nominated alongside the region’s biggest names is already an achievement, and makes them work even harder to put the Filipino music on the international map.

 “The BBMA nomination was a big, big thing for us already. Now being nominated for the EMAs, which is another prestigious and well-known award-giving body, has us so overjoyed,” SB19 says. “And being backed up by our loved ones, and A’TIN, further motivates us to keep pushing on. We hope to keep up the traction and to hit our goals of introducing Philippine music globally.”

 Aside from their notable achievements, the envelope-pushing pop ensemble and their label, Sony Music Philippines, will be releasing an exclusive line of merch slated to drop before Christmas. A representative from the label shares that the project stands out in terms of visuals, packaging, and presentation, and is aligned with the group’s global appeal and branding. “This line of merch is different from those previously available, and it went through a lot of revisions and quality checks to ensure that the products are top-notch. The look and feel is premium, plus fans can’t get these items anywhere else.”

 SB19 will also headline Our Zone 2021: Anniversary Concert, featuring performances, games, special guests, and surprises. The special event, which will stream live on 27 Nov 2021 (Sat) 5PM PHT and 28 Nov 2021 (Sun) 5PM PHT, marks the Pinoy boyband’s third anniversary celebration. Tickets are available at ktx.ph and www.sb19ozone.com.

 The ”Bazinga” music video is out now. Watch the music video here.

 

UE Jam Sessions encourage the youth to rock the vote with inspiring new anthem “Pinto”

 

Young artists COSINE, Shareena, and Autumn Tandog deliver a bluesy tune with a compelling message about the upcoming 2022 elections

Promising newcomers COSINE, Shareena, and Autumn Tandog team up for a song that encourages the general public to vote for competent candidates who are willing to take a stand on important social issues and make a significant change.

On the rousing anthem “Pinto,” the artists from UE Jam Sessions call for effective leadership and urge their fellow countrymen, particularly the young ones, to exercise their right to vote.

According to its main songwriter Shareena, who also lend her smooth and smoky vocals on the track, “Pinto” is penned from the perspective of someone convincing the youth to take complete ownership of their destiny and elect someone who cares about welfare of its people.

“By describing what the outside world looks like in a cruel reality, with the struggles of the people who are always overlooked, the character puts the kid in a dilemma of choosing between taking responsibility for making a change and having these people who have been knocking on his door forsaken and left behind,” the 17-year-old singer-songwriter shares the meaning behind their new track. "Hinihintay ka na nila," which means ‘they are waiting for you,’ serves as a reminder that their fate, like yours, is now completely in your control. It is your job to decide and select the finest alternative in this regard. That’s how Pinto was made to be remembered: a song that knocks on everyone’s doors of perceptions, obliging them to make a move.”

With its gothic, bluesy nature and brassy confidence, “Pinto” delivers an unconventional sound by pop standards. Shareena and Autumn Tandog put their ethereal spin on the material, singing as if they’re witnessing history unfold. Paolo Barrado and Marvin Cayosa’s intricate arrangements, on the other hand, turn the retro-inspired, musical motif into a modern torch tune inspired by the likes of Bita and the Botflies and Lana del Rey.

COSINE’s Marvin Cayosa shares that despite limitations that took place during the pandemic, the producers were able to improvise, and the artists were able to record separately from their respective homes. “Given that we are in a pandemic, it’s been challenging for us to record because we are far apart. When I received the demo that Shareena gave to us, I started working on it right away. With the lack of equipment and hours of trial and error in recording my part, we still managed to pull it off.”

“Pinto” is one of the new music projects spearheaded by UE Jam Sessions, with 12 Stone Records’ Tommy Tanchanco and SSG President Nexie Joy Salvador serving as Executive Producers, and Choi Felipe mixing and mastering the entire track. The music video for the track is edited by Cher Manulit.

“Pinto” is out now on all digital music platforms worldwide such as Spotify, Apple Music and Deezer.