DAUG

POST UR GIG  SKEDS

MINDANAO TIMES and SAMADHI are reviving
the regular weekly gig sked of Davao
artists at Mindanao Times (and will be
posted in all possible sites in the net).
Please post message if you want to be
included (make it weekly basis, pls
indicate if its regular gig, put the
artist, bar, place, time.

Here’s the gigs for the week

Amanak
(Cinti & Twinkle Fabella w/ Lu and Craig)
regular gig
Tues - Club 10, Apo View (9pm-12m)
Wed & Sat - Brueggers Cafe, Autoshop
(9pm-1am)
Fri - Casino Filipino, Regal Hotel
(9:30-1am)
-0-
Manny Pacaldo
regular gig
Yantis KTV, Matina, fronting NCCC Mall
every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
(6:30-10pm)
-0-
Twilight Dawn ft. Randy Avila
regular gig
2k Family Retro Bar, Piedad, Toril
Fri, Sat & Sun (9pm-1am)
-0-
3rd Level Band
Idol Grill
Wed night
-0-
Noli Bencio and Positive Madness
Fri - Mantex
Sat - Toyota / Rizal Park
Sun - Cynthia’s Victoria
-0-
Popong Landero
Fri - People’ Park (10am)
Sat - Garbo sa Davao, People’ Park (6pm)
Sun - NCCC Mall (2pm)
-0-
Nonoy Bentor
regular gig
Mon - Pacific Harbor (9pm-12am)
Tue - Cynthia’s Victoria (8:30pm-9:30pm)
Wed - Idol Grill (7:45pm-8:45pm)
Thu - Jackridge (8:30pm-12 am)
Fri - Geo Joe’s resto Bar 8pm-12am)
Sat - Dencio’s Bonifacio (7pm-10pm)
Every other Sunday - MTS (6:30pm-8:30om)
-0-
Mebuyan Peace Project
Wed - Taboan, MTS (9pm)
-0-
Dodong Pasagad
regular gig
Tue - Stone House, Rodriguez Ave. Quezon
City (9:30pm)
-0-
SAMADHI show
March 15 (4pm to 6pm - Rizal Park_
featuring Ragged, Amanak, Positive Madness, Friendz A, Extreme Rock, Arangkagan, Chosen Few, Lito Arlan, Romeo "Nonoy" Bentor, 3rd Level
-0-
Joey Ayala music fest

SM City Daao

March 16 (afternoon)
ft. various Davao acts performing Ayala songs. Ayala is scheduled to appear.

-0-

NCCC’s 30 year of musikahan at sayawan
featuring Popong Landero, Ragged, Stars
of Davao — Anne Quitoriano, April
Borres, Lycel Millan, Juliet Bahala,
Voice Box, Rhythmic Illusion, and Groove
Unlimited.
NCCC Mall - March 16 starting 2 pm.

========

If you have gigs or any special event
that should be in the list, e-mail it at
daug_davao@yahoo.com or send it to
Mindanao Times, Ponciano Street, Davao
City. Please send it on or before Sunday.

(MYMP female vox is Davaoena Juris Fernandez, while Hale frontman Champ is a son of Davaoeno Nonoy Tan.)

HAVING the right song spells all the difference in the world. Perhaps no other brand knows this better than NESCAFÉ.

From Zsa Zsa Padilla’s mesmerizing “One World of NESCAFÉ” to MYMP and
Hale’s catchy “One Moment, One NESCAFÉ,” the country’s leading coffee
brand has been giving its audience a jingle it can hum and sing along
with.

For its 70th year, NESCAFÉ once again gives Filipinos a jingle that is
as unforgettable as the moments shared over a cup of coffee. Aptly
titled “Kwento,” it captures a whole generation’s love for good music,
warm conversation and delectable coffee.

Of kwentuhan and recording sessions
“Ituloy na ang kwentuhan…Ibulong man o isigaw…Umulan man o umaraw…”

It was a remarkable feat that only NESCAFÉ can pull off—gathering
high profile artists and bands as Zsa Zsa Padilla, Parokya ni Edgar,
Hale and Barbie Almalbis—to record what could be the catchiest jingle
to hit the airwaves in recent memory.

“It’s such an honor to record a NESCAFÉ song,” Zsa Zsa says, whose
soulful rendition of the original NESCAFÉ jingle still resonates in the
public’s consciousness to this day. “Additional treat for me, of
course, is that I’m in such great company. I’ve always wanted to work
with these guys, so I’m grateful that I’ve been given this chance.”

This is a sentiment shared by all the artists who are part of the
campaign. Parokya ni Edgar frontman, Chito Miranda, says, “The kind of
music that we do is important to us. Kaya talagang pinipili..sinasala
naming yung songs na gagawin namin. It has to appeal di lang sa ‘min
but to our audience as well.”

Champ, vocalist for the band Hale, shares, “It’s such a pleasure to do
this because we get to work with colleagues in the music industry. What
made it even better is that the music was so catchy.”

Barbie, on the other hand, has been looking forward to singing another
NESCAFÉ jingle ever since she and her group did “Good Day.”

“I got really excited when I was told about this project. The first
time was really wonderful because it helped my music reach a wider
audience because the song was after all my kind of music. I got really
excited when I was told about this project because it was an experience
that I’d like to have again,” she says.

An inevitable LSS

“Sa kapihan enjoy tayo noon pa man …Sa kwentuhan, mas okay ang samahan…Tuloy ang kwento with NESCAFÉ…”

With its wistful lyrics and easy rhythm, “Tuloy ang Kwentuhan” is
destined to join the ranks of other NESCAFÉ songs which have become as
memorable as “One World of NESCAFÉ,” “Good Day” by Barbie and
“Sunshine” by Bamboo.

“Cool talaga ‘tong kantang ‘to,” Chito says. “I really like the way it
was written. Very now. Very easy to relate to. Perfect ‘tong theme song
ng mga barkada.”

All four acts have their own versions of “Kwento,” each of which is
used in a particular version of the NESCAFÉ anniversary TV commercial.

By Michael Ebro Dakudao

Thank goodness it is becoming more fashionable and acceptable to
combine Filipino pop and “classic” music with Western classic and
contemporary music in legitimate concerts held these days. It
encourages more lovers of music of varying age groups to attend
performances of our legitimate Filipino performing artists. I am
keeping my fingers crossed that many guests will fill the CAP Grand
Auditorium tomorrow, March 8, at six in the evening for the Four
Pianists on Four Pianos Concert, a fund raising project whose
beneficiary is the Ladies of Charity of Davao City.
The Ladies of Charity of Davao, headed by President Perla Palma Gil,
provides food, education and shelter for poor and abandoned children as
well as the neglected and abandoned elderly people of the city. I am
appealing to the compassion, love and tender care of charitable
individuals of this city to please support the concert for a truly
worthy cause.
According to the fiery and authoritative music maestra Nenita Belda
Azarcon, the concert’s musical director no less, the program will be
divided into two parts. The repertoire for the first part will feature
Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 16, Milhaud’s Scaramouche, Donkey Serenade by
Friml-Stothart and Lecuona’s Ante El Escorial
.The Musikang Pilipino portion will commence with the spirited and
vibrant composition Prelude by maestra Nenita Belda Azarcon. This will
be followed by Estrella’s Ang Maya, Katakataka and Pandangguhan
arranged by Espino, composers De Guzman and Canseco’s Filipinas Medley,
and Ryan Cayabyab’s Ang Ganda ng Ating Musika for the finale.
“It has been more than two years since the four pianists played
together in a concert. The Ladies of Charity of Davao are reuniting
them again for the love of music for a worthy cause,” madam Azarcon
stated as she continued, “The four charming concert pianists have been
practicing diligently. I guarantee the audience will be thrilled with
their inspired performances. At the same time, this concert will
definitely renew the passionate concert pianists’ sense of being
fulfilled artists.”
And when it’s maestra Azarcon telling you, you just got to believe her
every word. She has, after all, two music degrees (Bachelor of Music
Major in Piano and Bachelor of Music major in Music Sciences) from the
pioneering St. Scholastica’s College of Music in Manila. She taught for
21 years at the University of the Immaculate Conception where she
served as Dean of Music for 11 years. She was also honored with a Music
Award twice during the Centennial Celebration of her alma mater;
besides the two Music Awards she earned in the 1970’s. The grand music
diva was also the past President of the Ladies of Charity Davao.
                                                   Davao’s Piano Divas
Davao’s leading concert pianist superstars who are naturally gifted
with their musicality and are renowned for their love for fashion
include (mentioned in alphabetical order so I don’t get myself into
trouble with the billing) Daphne Cabaguio Jocson, Mila Cabaguio Jocson,
Evelyn Abellera Magno and Maria Luisa “Inday” Fucoy Montero.
Daphne Cabaguio Jocson started her training with Ms. Encarnita
Fernandez at the Fernandez Piano School. She then pursued a Bachelor of
Music degree at the St. Scholastica’s College of Manila under the
tutelage of Ms. Alice Araneta Lim and Ms. Virginia Laico Villanueva.
She left for the USA in 1998 to continue her studies at the Mannes
College of Music in New York where she took lessons under music
maestros Vera Berskaya, Dr. Hugo Goldenzweig, Nancy Gameiz, among
others. Daphne has performed in various concerts in Manila and Davao
City. She takes pride in having performed with the Manila Philharmonic
Orchestra in concerts held at the CCP and the Central Bank Auditorium
of Davao.
Mila Cabaguio Jocson is a Bachelor of Music graduate of the Fernandez
Piano School. She taught music at the Ateneo de Davao University,
Philippine Women’s University and the Stella Maris Academy in the past.
She also conducted private piano lessons. She is an original member of
the Davao Piano Quartet along with Celine D. Garcia, Nelly D. Castro,
and Inday F. Montero, which was formed 20 years ago. Ms. Jocson takes
pride in the fact that her daughters Daphne and Gretchen plus her
grandchildren all play the piano.
Evelyn Abellera Magno is a woman of impeccable credentials and has
proven her mettle from the classroom to the corporate boardroom to her
music room.
Her list of academic credentials includes degrees in Piano, Psychology,
and Educational Administration. Her hard work and achievements did not
go unnoticed as she was rewarded with a TOWNS Award, and scholarship
grants from American universities like the Harvard University School of
Education, Indiana University, Stetson University, and the University
of Hawaii. Ms. Magno holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from the
Philippine Women’s University in Manila. She was fortunate to be under
the loving tutelage of great music maestras like Dean Lucresia Kasilag
and Ms. Vilma Santiago Felipe. She also studied music under Ms. Olga
Ifland de Wit at the University of the Philippines.
Last but not the least, Maria Luisa Fucoy Montero is a Bachelor of
Music in Piano and Music Education graduate of the Conservatory of
Music of St. Paul’s College in Manila. She studied piano under Ms.Sony
Lacson, Ms. Carmencita Arambulo and Ms. Stella Golenberg Brimo. Ms.
Montero is also the conductress cum voice coach of such celebrated
choral groups in Davao as the Brothers in Harmony, Davao City Chorale
Ensemble, PC-INP Recon 11, LCB-PAC, and the Marco Polo Hotel
Nightingales. She is also an accomplished stage actress and a committed
dancer.
A special treat during the concert is the special participation of
guest artist Ms. Mee Hai Cho, a Bachelor of Music graduate from Seoul
University, South Korea. Ms. Cho earned her Diploma in Voice from the
St. Cecilia Conservatory in Italy where she lived for 13 years before
settling in Davao City. The talented Korean opera singer has performed
successfully all over the world.
Let us honor our accomplished artists who have helped highlight music
in Davao City through all these years. Let’s celebrate their artistry
as they take center stage tomorrow at the Cap Auditorium.
     My special thanks to Kat Mercado for providing the photos of the artists used on this page.

She also joined in the SCQ (second batch). Pero wala siya kalusot sa audition diri pa lang sa Davao. Nidaug adto si Erich, taga Davao sad. It turned out na mas nisikat pa si Valerie karon kaysa kay Erich. We also wish Erich to get the good projects.

• Saturday launch kicks off 2nd MDS Music Awards

HOME-GROWN artists are set to perform during the launching of a new 24-hour cable TV channel Saturday night.
In the list of performers are 9volts lemonade, Go Larry Go, Mollucas,
Maan Chua, Tifaklong, reyes, escapewheel, 1017, Foursidedcircle, Spasm,
Keyk and Eleven.
The launching of South Spot at the Wheels n More Compound will also kick-off the 2nd Muzika del Sur Music Awards.
South Spot, on Channel 13 over Skycable Davao City, will feature programs spotlighting Mindanao and its different facets.
Among its current shows for airing include the latest season of
Mindanao’s first and only music magazine Muzika del Sur, its spin-off
Music Box which is a taped performance of Mindanao musical artists
performing their own materials, Guerilla Cinema, a showcase of
different short films of the Guerilla Film Festival, and Kabataan
X-Press, a groundbreaking magazine show produced by Pinoy teens from
different parts of the country.
The channel was created in response to a growing need for alternative
TV programming that will cater to the tastes and interests of Mindanao
viewers. With largely Mindanao-based content, South Spot seeks to draw
attention to the beauties and bounties of the region, its local
affairs, people, products and talents.

I HAVE heard the name Bangs Garcia for years now, but it was only last
night (Monday night ata ito) I realized that the Palos leading lady is my friend.
She is from Davao and was a constant subject in this page (that’s Mindanao Times… oooooops) years back.
I have not watch Palos since it debuted during the ABS-CBN’s ‘G8 shows’
launching last Jan. 28. Despite newspaper controversies tagging her as
the third party in the Jake Cuenca-Roxanne Guinoo affair, I did not
have the chance to see this girl named Bangs Garcia.
Not until last night when ABS-CBN’s TV Patrol featured Bangs in its
Star Patrol segment. The Kapamilya entertainment news program reported
that Bangs did her first sexy pictorial, and this early, she already
received several offers from men’s magazines. The news teaser featured
the face of this young actress named Bangs.
It was then that I realized that this Bangs Garcia was once the petite girl who dreamt of becoming a Mutya ng Dabaw.
Bangs Garcia is Valerie Garcia whose name was first printed in this
paper on August 31, 2004 when she joined the local reality show, Campus
Idols, created by multi-talented event organizer Gatchi Gatchalian. I
was then doing the PR works for the show.
The then 17-year-old freshman student of Ateneo de Davao University
(AdDU) stood up among the applicants, and was immediately signed-up as
one of the 10 girls in the top 24 finalists
In the three-month mall-to-mall show, the girl then known as Val
emerged as the top female winner with Evan Ray Benedicto as top male
counterpart.
The Campus Idol winning eventually gave them guest-hosting job on SBD Jam.
When SBD Jam signed off, the Campus Idol Top 10 went on to a bigger stint as segment host of KSP in 2005.
That year, she was very eager to join in the Mutya ng Dabaw.
But it did not materialize since she joined in the Close-Up To Fame, ABS-CBN’s nationwide search for the next close-up models.
Val was eliminated in the middle of the show but returned as a wild
card. She emerged as one of the Top 6 with three other Davao talents.
She lost to fellow AdDU lady, Katherine "Carine" Cabebe who went on to
catch the modeling contract and an appearance in the Star Cinema’s
Close To You. Carine recently returned to Davao to do hosting job for
GMA7’s Istayl Nato.
Right after the conclusion of Close-Up To Fame, Val then told TIMES
that her defeat would not stop her from pursuing her showbiz dreams. It
was also my last contact with her.
I heard a certain Bangs Garcia, a dimpled girl with hair bangs, making
a wave in the teen-oriented show Let’s Go with then upcoming young
stars like Kim Chiu, Gerald Anderson and other popular Pinoy Big
Brother teen alumni. Bangs was her character’s name on that show in
which she became popular. She dropped the Valerie and uses Bangs as
screen name in her next project, the fantaseries Lastikman.
I did not have any inclination that Bangs was Val.
Bangs recently grabbed showbiz headlines with her alleged link with Sam Milby and Jake Cuenca.
The young star claimed to be exclusively dating Sam before his PBB
fame. The Filipino-American actor who is also a Mindanaoan later denied
the claim.
Despite reports linking her to Palos co-star which prompted Jake’s
squeeze, Roxanne, to call her "That Girl", Bangs denied playing sweet
music with his leading man. Bangs was the second choice to play the
leading lady. The role of Sylvia, Palos’ love interest, was originally
offered to Roxanne but she could not make the project.
“I know where I stand. It’s just a job. I joined the cast of Palos to
work. I didn’t join the cast to have a boyfriend," Bangs said in one
interview.
The girl who once wanted to become famous in the modeling scene said: "I have big dreams and I want them fulfilled.”
Bangs’ former ABS-CBN talents in Davao are very happy with her success.
"(I’m) so proud of her accomplishments. She epitomizes one who dreams
and works hard to realize those dreams," said discoverer Gatchi, also a
former ABS-CBN show host.
DDS host and TIMES columnist Ian Garcia said Val is very down-to-Earth.
"Sa batch nila sa KSP, siya ray dili feeling artista. Ang uban intawon
masking dili sikat, feeling kaayo," Ian said.
While she failed to win in any ABS-CBN reality shows, we considered
Bangs to be in the same league with other Kapuso talents from Davao
like Star Circle grand winner Erich Gonzales and PBB Celebrity grand
winner Ruben Gonzaga.

DAVAO beauty Juliana Palermo stars in a Singaporean horror TV series.
Juliana’s appearance in Incredible Tales is her first outside the Philippines.
Incredible Tales, hosted by MTV VJ Utt, is a hit horror-drama TV series
in Singapore which dramatizes true stories accounts that are normally
categorized as urban legends. The suspense program shifted its focus
from Singaporean urban legends to stories covering its neighboring
Asian countries like, Malaysia, Australia, and now, Philippines.
Incredible Tales is currently in season break, and the Philippine-made episode will open the fifth season in June.
Juliana’s episode, Demon Whip, is directed by Jun Lana. She co-stars
with singer-magician Lance Raymundo and PBB alumna Say Alonzo. Shot in
Los Baños, the episode is in English dialogue.
Juliana was the Hiyas ng Kadayawan 2002, before trying his acting luck
in Manila. She made her big-screen debut with the soft-porn www.XXX.com in which she was awarded by the Golden Screen Awards, Philippines for Breakthrough Performance by an Actress in 2003.
In her follow-up 2004 movie Panaghoy sa Suba, she was nominated for
Best Supporting Actress by Gawad Urian Award. But was short in beating
Iza Calzado who grabbed the award from her role in Sigaw which was
megged by Davaoeno Yam Laranas.
The Davao-born, US-raied morena beauty appeared in nine other movies
like Lisensyadong Kamao, Mourning Girls, Kaleldo, Barang, Seroks, Agent
X44, Faces of Love, Kasal Kasali Kasalo and sequel Sakal Sakali Saklolo.

SM City honors Dabawenyo Artists this Araw ng Dabaw

SM City celebrates the 71st Araw ng Dabaw with a showcase honoring the
Dabawenyo talent. Davao artists and davao-made products will be
featured in a weeklong exhibit and a Joey Ayala music fest.

Proudly Davao, an exhibit of artworks from Dabawenyo artists and a
showcase of Davao-made products will be featured at the Event Centre
from March 11 to 16. Check out high-quality Davao produce under the
Davao Branding project of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and see
what this seal of excellence can bring to your company’s marketing and
sales.

To honor also Dabawenyo artists, Gallery J will gather the paintings of
A. Peña, B. Perez, G. Asuan, G. Bil, J. Tionko, B. Credo, B.
Buenaventura, V. Pepito and L. Pepito. Check out their artistry on
March 11-16 also at the Event Centre.

SM City Davao also organizes an inspiring music fest for Dabawenyo musicians. On March 16, The Joey Ayala music festival, will
bring together Davao musicians for a competition of the best cover
music version of Joey Ayala songs. Reviving Joey Ayala’s music hopes to
inspire artists in the industry and bring back stories of Davao and its
people through its original compositions.

Over 35,000 worth of prizes are at stake. Another screening will be
held on March 11, 3pm at the Event Centre. Finals night will be on
March 16, 4pm with great performances from Joey Ayala himself and his
band at the Event Centre.

Plus, to bring more fun to the celebrations, enjoy great savings at SM
City’s Araw ng Dabaw Sale on March 10-16, 10am-9pm. Check out big
discounts and shop until midnight on March 15. Also, its Celebrity Day
at SM City Davao on March 15 so catch your fave stars at the Event
Centre’.

TULO KA beauty titlists are in this year’s winning Top 5 of Mutya ng
Dabaw. The other was a finalist in the controversy-laden Hiyas ng
Kadayawan 2006. Only one bet claimed to be a newbie.
Ang lima ka finalists in this year’s search were selected out of the 14
semi-finalists who competed last night at the Event Centre of SM City
Davao. One of the semi-finalists backed out.
Sila mag-compete para sa top spot on March 14 at CAP Auditorium.
Lakip sa Top 5 are Kristabelle Go, Aliah Heitz, Vida Maya Ko, Brigette Anne Lanzanas, and Mary Jane Lastimoso.
Sa upat ka beterana, Davao-born Lanzanas has the most titles. She’s the
Metro Davao next top model grand winner 2006, a TeeNCCClub 2005 grand
finalist, and the regional winner of Ms. Teen Philippines 2005. The
18-year-old Lanzanas, the youngest in the batch, is a freshman BS
Biology student of Ateneo de Davao University (AdDU). This pride of
Barangay 74-A (Matina Crossing) is said to be a cross between Judy Ann
Santos and Angel Locsin. She stands at 5′5".
Go, an AdDu graduate, is a former Mutya ng Cotabato. She won the crown
in 2005. This 22-year-old Midsayap-born beauty, a registered nurse,
resides in Barangay 13-B (Obrero). She stands at 5′6. Go was also named
Best in Talent in last night’s semi-finals. Yesterday, she performed
the peacock dance, the number which she did in the talent presentation
last week.
Twenty-year-old Lastimoso, also of Barangay Matina Crossing, was the
Mutya ng UM (University of Mindanao) in Davao in 2006. That year, she
was also crowned the regional muse of the National Private Schools
Athletic Association (Prisaa) Meet and ended second in the national
competition.
The 5′7" MJ, who looks like a morena Halle Berry, is a BS Computer Engineering of University of Mindanao.
Ko was a finalist in Hiyas sa Kadayawan in 2006. The 23-year-old is
said to be a scion of the Ayala clan in Davao. She is special assistant
to the Chairman of Eden Mountain Resort. She stands at 5′7".
Heitz, adjudged as the Darling of the Press, said the Mutya search is
her first try in joining beauty contest. She’s a daughter of
Maguindanao mother and an American-German father. Standing at petite
5′4", the 21-year-old lady is a human resource assistant in a call
center company.
"THANK YOU LADIES"
Jeorge Peñanuevo, the most controversial contender, failed to make the
cut. Jeorge previously joined in the Mutya ng Dabaw and Hiyas sa
Kadayawan. The 19-year-old 5′8 stunner was the finalist in the
nationally-televised Search for Miss White Castle Girl.
Also failing to make an impression was 21-year-old cutie Vanessa Ruth
Chan, a younger sister of former Pag-Asa ng Dabaw Stephanie Joy Chan
(Mutya ng Dabaw batch 1995).
Event organizer Cheryl Vilog, the oldest at 28, was also a "thank you" lady.
Others in the losers’ circle are Josel Kusain, Lezlie Jean Tik-ing,
April Ann La Paz, Kristel Ann Inigo, Catherine Grace Malabanan, and
Delsea Rain De Guzman.

Another audition on for Joey Ayala music fest

ANOTHER round of screening is set on March 11, 3pm at the Event Centre
of SM City Davao for bands interested to participate in the Joey Ayala
music festival.
The music festival will gather aspiring Davao musicians for a
competition of the best cover music version — in any genre — of Ayala
songs. Joey and his band will attend the event which is set 4pm of
March 16 at the Event Centre.
"Reviving Joey Ayala’s music hopes to inspire artists in the industry
and bring back stories of Davao and its people through its original
compositions," a statement from SM said.
Over 35,000 worth of prizes are at stake.
The competition is open to all amateur and professional bands or music
groups — minimum of four and a maximum of 10 members — which can
render their cover version of Ayala’s music. Participants can be male
& female, 16 to 35 years old only.
The contestants will be performing their own version of two recorded
& popularized songs of Joey, using their own style, arrangement
& interpretation.
Registration is still on going. Interested groups can inquire at the SM Davao, Marketing Department 2/F Admin Office.
The first round of preliminary screening set last March 3 with a number of bands joining in.
Prizes at stake are: grand prize - P15,000, second placer - P10,000 and
third placer - P5,000. There will be a consolidation prize of P1,000.
The Bukidnon-born Jose Iñigo Homer Lacambra Ayala is one of the very Filipino artists identified with Davao.
While he grew up in Manila, he spent his college years (late 70’s) in
Davao where he also started his booming musical career (80’s).
With his band Bagong Lumad, Joey moved back to Manila in 1990.
Since then, he has produced six albums, and won numerous awards.
In 2000, Joey received the Datu Bago, the biggest honor given to a
resident of Davao City, "for being an outstanding
composer-performer-bandleader-lyricist, arranger, writer who has
defined the ethnic character of Mindanao music that he renders
magnificently well using his voice and indigenous instruments resulting
in the consciousness of the Filipino soul of intimations of its moral
values and environmental responsibilities.”
His recent award is the Benigno S. Aquino, Jr. Award for Social
Artistry given in 2007 for he "taught the young generations through his
well-celebrated songs, the essence of communion and community, of
compassion and service, and of human dignity. He exemplified through
his most ordinary actions what it means to be a man of God and a man
for others. His passionate commitment to music in teaching values makes
him a genuine model of social artistry,"
Among his other awards came from Carlos Palanca Memorial Foundation
(Carlos Palanca Award for Literature), The Philippine Jaycees (The
Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) Award), Philippine Association of the
Recording Industry (PARI)-Awit Awards, National Commission for the
Filipino Language, NU 107 (Rock Awards), Katha Award, Metropop
Songwriting Contest.