By Nickie Wang
How do you start your day?
Some people prefer to jump-start their day with loads of fun and laughter. Others devote their time focusing on the most important things need to be done. Amid the high rocketing prices of basic commodities, the only way to get by is to smile and throw some chuckles because no matter how we contemplate on every possible way to budget our meager income, it will not solve the problem because higher inflation seems to be a perennial trend.
So, before the problem lingers and turns into a full-scale crisis, let us appreciate the value of laughter by listening to the wacky tandem of Chris Tsuper and Nicole Hyala. Being optimistic, however, is still recommended with sanguine and propelling songs of Bonggo.
Perky road trip
You won’t mind riding an FX with a harum-scarum driver if the radio’s tuned in to 90.7 Love Radio. Commuting has never been so wacky with Chris Tsuper and Nicole Hyala (a.k.a. Tambalang Balasubas at Balahura), tossing out-of-this-world punchlines.
A lot of commuters and even those who just stay at home listening to the popular duo are already familiar with their opening spiel: “Tambalan Na! Si Nicole Hyala po, ang balahurang classmate nyo! Boses ko pa lang pang-almusal nyo na, at si Chris Tsuper, ang balasubas na kambyo king! Sigla ng tawa ko pati bangkay nagigising! Dito sa tambalang pilit na ginagaya ngunit di makuha ang timpla!”
The hilarious duo teams up with Ivory Records in releasing HeyTambalan Na! D’ Nakakalurkei! Na Album. It includes the best of “Tambalagtasan,” a segment in their program in which they put some kind of naughty spin to anything out of the ordinary. The quick-witted duo would use words (from the country’s multi-lingual regions in all possible ways. Like agpapukis (an Ilocano word that means to have a haircut, pukis is the root word); pukiyi (a Chinese word that means not allowed); and keki (a Japanese term for cake).
Aside from the “Tambalagtasan,” they also included the best of Salawikain (proverb) and Kakatukan Stories. To understand these words, better listen to the album, but be cautious enough as Nicole Hyala warns: “Ang mamirata at magdownload, mababaog!”
The album also includes “Kadyot and Kukurukuku” and their chipmunk-sounding spiels that have been a staple sound bite on Love Radio.
The actual tracks that anchor the album—“Biyaheng Jeepney,” “Shala-shala,” “Jowadik,” “Ka-chervahan” and “Nakakalurkei”—are from the campy gay vocabulary, except for the first one.
With “Biyaheng Jeepney,” they are able to depict the real jeepney-riding experience with seats for eight being occupied by nine people, and the reverberating music, not to mention the shouting and the yelling of drivers and passengers.
The thing with their songs, which are actually very few because most of the tracks in the album are just compilation of the best segments of their program, they don’t rhyme lyrically but the essence is there. Nothing musically outstanding, yet most of the messages they convey mirror the peculiarity of Filipino behavior. We will not be surprised if Chris Tsuper and Nicole Hyala would come up with another album where we would hear them recite, or, in their case, sing their heart out.
The album is critiqued as just an extension of the tandem’s radio program but the positive side of it is that if you enjoyed their program, with their CD, you would have all the time in the world listening and laughing with them. Admit it or not, albeit the stereotype that the program is “baduy,” a lot of people enjoy listening to this fantastic pair. After all, everyone has his own little “jologs” inside him.
Bingo Mayor Bonggo
Bonggo is Mayor James “Bong” Gordon Jr. of Olongapo City. The beloved patriarch of the former United States naval base is Fighting for Excellence.
This may sound like his campaign platform, but this is actually the title of an album. Yes you read it right. Mayor Bong Gordon is a musician, a politician and a visionary.
His passion for music started as a member of Ateneo Glee Club and eventually had his talent shared with all other politicians who enjoy music and playing instruments. Thus, the band Houseboys was born. The band was composed of representatives who were also musicians.
But Mayor Bong’s passion for music does not stop with just playing guitar and writing songs, he utilizes the talent to affect people and to mobilize their vast potentials.
Fighting For Excellence is a perfect slogan that heralds the visions of this public servant. The album itself contains seven tracks written by Mayor Bong with the help of his band Bonggo, formed in 1996 to further entertain colleagues and friends that in the long run became a band he uses to educate his constituents through their performances.
The album’s nationalistic approach reflects the willingness of Mayor Bong to bring about change. “Sibit-sibit,” a boat used by old folks for fishing, is a song that narrates the tale of Olongapo’s transition from a simple rural town to a bustling city.
The satiric track “Balimbing” sounds strange because it comes from a politician. It pertains to people in the government who blatantly shift loyalty (another common occurrence in the government).
“May Mga Tao Sa Subic,” is a cry for recognition. It is actually a tribute to the 8,000 volunteers who have unselfishly dedicated their skills and talents in boosting the economy of Central Luzon, yet somehow have now been marginalized.
If you are fond of oldies, “Songs Of Love” is for you. However, it does not have the same impact as the other songs in the album. Similarly, “Pinoy! Check ng Check” falls into the same pit.
Mayor Bong made it contemporary by collaborating with a rapper. We bet, this is the track in the album that even his constituents wouldn’t listen to. Sometimes, no matter how deep the message is, when the melody isn’t too pleasing, the song will remain nothing but a statistics.
Fighting for Excellence, which is also the title of the promotional track, and “Pilipinas Bayan Ko” are the most striking songs in the album. The first recognizes the government thrust to motivate people to fight for excellence, and the latter, which has become the anthem of people who still believe that there is hope in this country, creates a stronger impact in the hearts and in the minds of people who happened to hear the song.
Truly, delivering a message and advocacy can be channeled through different media. Mayor Bong’s strategy is an example. Instead of doing the conventional way, music, as a form of communication, is another effective method to relay a message. Bingo!
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