Goodbye to an Audiophile (President)

Goodbye to an Audiophile (President)

There are many details: tall, stooped,

demanding chain smoker with

a bullet in the neck. But, out of

all the little revelations that have

emerged, there’s one thing

that has stuck. How you

loved to listen.

I imagine you, closing your

eyes, nodding to “It’s the

motherf***in D-O-double-G”

at top volume, before meeting

the Pope, no less, or you

waking up in the morning

feeling like P Diddy,

or borne on the wings

of Regine Velasquez’

high notes.

Your singular pleasure

ties together my daughter’s

rapid fire, “not throwing away

my shot,” and a boy from

Seoul waxing lyrical about

the wings of Icarus. Anger,

passion, joy,

hope.

You haven’t left

us empty handed. We’ll

go on tomorrow,

really

listening.

June 27, 2021

Image from Reuters/Dondi Tawatao

Here Comes The Sun: Beach Stories to Brighten Your Day, A Review of Sola Musica

Sola Musica by Mina V. Esguerra
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Disclosure: I am friends with the authors.

I pre-ordered Sola Musica last August but only got the chance to read it recently. I really loved it. It's set in a fictional beach music festival in Anilao, Batangas. Each author contributes a story to the setting. The first story is Spectators by Chinggay Labrador, the second is Georgia Lost and Found by Mina V. Esguerra, followed by A Captured Dream by Ines Bautista-Yao, and the last story is Break by Marla Miniano. But feel free to read in any order, depending on what strikes your fancy.

Four very different perspectives but all so inspiring. I loved how little details from one story would randomly show up in another story.  Also, don't miss the playlists in the appendix of the book. They replace the regular "about the author" and give a new perspective to each author. Each story features songs and the bands, adding texture to your reading experience.  With Spectators I listened to Coldplay right when the band was mentioned in the story (Song: Amsterdam). It's well-researched. I loved all the little details about bands setting up! Mina's average-Georgia has a surprise waiting for her in the story. It's so relatable (ex. Awkward silence in a car with a guy that you’re not sure likes you back. Familiar situation. At least, for me). Plus there's this giant balloon. Memorable metaphor. Watch for it. Ines' A Captured Dream is all about girl power, but with a twist! What can I say? It's about literally taking one's power back. Now, who wouldn't want that? Marla's Break was so charming. I loved the unconventional-modern-family of Nat. Also, it's full of insights on teenage angst and finding out who you really are.

So, all in all, it was a gift of stories and music to me. And since we're on the topic of music, if I could pick a song to describe the book, it would be "Here Comes The Sun," the Nina Simone cover.

All in all, I treasured my reading time with this book of short stories. It made me want to look for tickets to the festival. Haha!


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Sad Song at The MRT Station

Sad Song at The MRT Station

Suspend the speed at which people walk, 

watch them float on the concrete, 
watch the drops of rain slant in the air. 
Listen to the first tinny note
of the electric guitar.
It seems as if it is coming from nowhere. 
A woman's voice blends with the guitar.
It's a song from five decades ago
filling the space, her voice is so close.
It comes back to you, 
your grandfather singing the song,
"Kailangan kita" to your grandmother
who waves away his earnestness.
Your remember his eyes
bright with tears that will not fall,
his wavering voice. 
You think he was alone at that moment. 
But he wasn't. He is here, now, with you. 


- Justine C. Tajonera 




Image of MRT Station from Wikimedia Commons, by Mike Gonzalez

Listening In the Heart of Silence

by Justine C. Tajonera

I have been hungry for tranquility
for some time,
searching in the noise, in the crowd,
wondering sometimes
why I cannot move away
from the traps
around my feet.

When I sit for a few moments
in meditation,
I begin to see the many illusions
around me:
time, success, material
things, obligation,
stress.

I have never really listened
before.
I have always talked,
requested, demanded,
shared, pined,
questioned.

But I have never really
listened.

And the listening is
difficult,
elusive, strained.
The listening is full of
my own voice
asking, wondering,
talking.

But there has been
a clearing
sometimes,
a fountain of light
and love

and the answer
that my mind
can never
comprehend.

The answer is
the music
and the silence
and being
in the heart
of it.

(Feb. 12, 2010)
Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/_brilho-de-conta/344394465/

Dancing in the Morning

By Justine C. Tajonera

I had no idea that
I would dance
today.

I woke up,
struggling,
sleepily pulling myself
together
to take my
morning swim.

When I sat down
to breakfast,
my son rushes to me,
with a swing CD
in his hands.

We play it

and the world is
transformed.
Something in me
wants to twirl
and laugh
and not care
about anything
but the joy
in his face.

When you play
the music,
you set yourself up
for dancing.

(Jan. 14, 2010)
Image of a turntable from http://xdem.free.fr/uploaded_images/DJShadow_MidnightInAPerfectWorldVideo-769866.jpg