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For the past 21 years, The Filipino Express has provided the Filipino American community the best news, arts and entertainment coverage from around the United States and the Philippines.
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This website includes selected articles from this week's edition of the Filipino Express. Not all the stories published in the printed version appear on this site.
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NEW YORK –With the arrival of fall, the Philippine Cultural Society, or PCS, presented works of Philippine artist Erick Lodriga Dator at the South Lobby of the United Nations Headquarters in New York from the 9th to the 19th of October, 2007. The opening was graced by Phil. Ambassador to the UN Hilario Davide Jr. and NY Consul General Cecille Rebong.
Erick is a familiar name to the Fil-Am community particularly on the East Coast USA, as well as to those interested in Filipiniana. This artist is noted for his vibrant works depicting the annual May-time Pahiyas festival and town life of his native Lucban, Quezon, in the Philippines, and employing the distinctive motif of cutouts shaped like the kiping or rice wafers used during the festival.
After taking Fine Arts courses, Erick worked full time as a graphic artist in Manila and then, like many of his countrymen in search of economic opportunity, in the Middle East as an overseas contract worker (OCW), working with people of different nationalities. After six years, he went back to his roots, both artistically and culturally, as he drew on the character and stories of his hometown.
While one can describe his work as experimental folk art, one can also discern hints of modern art, such as cubism, in the very element of the kiping shapes. Interestingly, aside from acrylic, he also uses tempera, more commonly seen in the commercial art setting. His works have included, aside from the Pahiyas festival itself, the Carabao (Bullcart) series, Basket weavers, Still lifes, Flowers, Family, and, next up, Marine life. He maintains an active link to both his province of Quezon (while venturing to Manila when he can), as well as to the USA, particularly the metro New York/ New Jersey area.
The Pahiyas
Pahiyas means 'décor' and this is what the townsfolk of Lucban set out to give their homes and town with great fervor each May at harvest time, in tribute to the farmers' patron saint, San Isidro Labrador (or Saint Isidore the Laborer, also known as Isidore the Farmer). The real kiping is made from ground rice flour & molded as leaves, bursting with color, and then gathered to form flowers or other shapes, and used to decorate homes in Lucban during the Pahiyas harvest feast. The PCS organizes well-attended events throughout the year at the UN, including concerts, art shows and even a pistahan , and publishes a newsletter called Ugnayan. Open to UN staffers, retirees, Member and Observer Missions staff and families, and to the Philippine diplomatic corps, it serves to promote Philippine culture, as well as participate in Fil-Am community events such as those at the Philippine Center.
Erick and his wife were blessed with a child in August 2006, named Aloha. To hear him describe his work, Dator says, "I celebrate the goodness in the common folk, and give thanks for the blessings in our lives." This statement takes on more meaning, coming as it does from this international small-town gentleman. R. P. DeTagle can be reached at robexec@gmail.com.
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THE Cascades were born aboard the U.S.S. Jason AR-8 as a shipboard band and at that time were called The Silver Strands. After a few changes in the members of the group, they changed their name to the Thundernotes and under the leadership of Lenny Green and his "exotic rock" sound, they signed a recording deal with Bob Keene of Del-Fi Records and released their first ever recording of "Thunder Rhythm". By that time though, the group was moving toward becoming, not just an instrumental group, but began to feature more songs in hope of a major label deal with as a full-pledged vocal group, but continuing to back themselves up on stage. Tis lead them to Valiant records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. and the recording of their first album as a vocal group. "Rhythm of the Rain" lept onto Billboard charts in early 1963 at #80 with a bullet! Quite an accomplishment for an unknown group. It climbed up the charts quickly and went on to become the 3rd largest selling record in the world in 1963.
The Cascades, over the last 45 years have performed to sold out crowds throughout the world; from large arena's to more intimate venues and have continued to record for such prestigious labels as RCA Victor Records, London Records, Liberty Records and many more. Almost a half century now and still going strong. The current line-up of Cascades includes the original lead singer and co-founder of the group Mr. John Claude Gummoe who's composition, "Rhythm of the Rain" made the Cascades into one of the most important groups in music history. His song was named by BMI as the 9th most performed song of the last century and has been covered by many major artists throughout the world in many different languages including Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish, Dutch and many more.
Next in our line-up is Mr. Gabriel Lapano, also at one time the lead singer of the Cascades after replacing John Gummoe when John fell ill due to ruptured appendix. Gabe and The Cascades recorded two albums together and the song "Maybe the rain will fall" scurried up for the charts for another Cascade hit. Gabe plays keyboards for the group and enchants audiences with his rendition of Tom Jones songs and other tunes. His clear, high, voice always leaves the audiences standing and cheering.
Tony Grasso, the next member of the group is very close to being original and has been a member of the Cascades since late 1963. Tony does his harmony parts and has been known to sing an occasional country ditty from time to time. He is our resident "cowboy" and delights audiences with his rendition of "Achy Breaky Heart".
Last, but certainly not the least, is our newest member, Mr. Charles Crews who produced our last CD, "All the way to yesterday", but is also our musical director and guitarist. Charles is responsible for our show from sound effects to arranging and conducting and has a rich background in doing exactly that. He also adds his rich tones to that great harmony that makes us who we are.
The group has performed throughout the years all around the world and have done three tours to Asia over the last four years where we managed to sell out the Araneta Coliseum in Manila twice in one year; the only group in the history of that venue to do that. On our last dates in the Philippines, we were presented with "The Key to the City" of Manila by the Mayor and had a party thrown in our honor by former First Lady, Imelda Marcos at her mansion.
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