Chat with JULIANNE; New Artist on the Block

Some people say
that artists are a dime a dozen. But if you are lucky some dimes just shine
more brightly than others. Such is the case for me when I recently interviewed
Julianne on my shift at Dream FM, 106.7

She came in towards my 2^nd hour and having
to both interview her and prepare for the materials for the next day’s segment
show, “Soul Candy”, my nerves were frazzled. But being the trooper that I am, I
rose to the occasion and met with her.

What immediately drew me to Julianne is her immediate
and truthful sense of self; from her early days of singing in bands, doing
session work for artists like Gary Valenciano, Jay-R to traveling to Japan to perform for fellow Filipinos and Japanese
nationals alike. Julianne is one person who didn’t have any airs and comes from
the space of simply an artist who wanted to share her views and music to the
world.

Among her musical influences she cites are Jill Scott,
India Arie, Eryka Badu, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and Incognito. There are more artists that have truly caught her musical ear but this has only
contributed to the richness of her own music.

She also shares the same views as I did about how the
local music industry as thriving as it is, still needed new blood and new
singer/songwriters, for the scene seemed to be dominated by bands once more and
some times a single, solitary voice espousing their own form of realization of
truth through music can be heard as effectively or even much more loudly than a rock
band.

There is a fine line that an artist treads in
addressing both what they feel from the wellspring of themselves and what they
see around them as a member of society. Julianne is also incongruence to this
fine line and hopes that thru her music, she would be able to do just that.
Truly a breath of fresh air, not to mention, soul coming to breathe anew in the
local music scene. One artist we would want to see evolve as she goes on
perfecting her craft.

Anne Rice Philippines February 3, 2007 -Gathering Report

    2-21-07

 

And lo and behold there were 3.

 

3 for the standard number of meals a day an average human consumes; 3 for the Divine Trinity espoused by Catholicism and other religious dogmas; 3 for the sides of an Isosceles triangle; 3 for the fictitious and yet interesting bond of magically gifted siblings destined to protect and world. But in our case, 3 for the very successful 3rd Gathering we had recently on February 3, 2007 at the activity center of Powerbooks Megamall which featured the 3^rd book in the Vampire Chronicles, Queen of the Damned.

 

 There were of course more than 3 Vampires in attendance, which accounted for its success. I arrived close to the designated time of 6pm at the central activity area with Rubymae, my colleague at DWIZ in tow. Having come from the talk show we do together, we were rushing and fearing at the same time that we wouldn’t have ample time to have the tables set and the mandatory props all in place before other members arrive.

 

We were pleased however, and much to our delight and surprise, to find that upon arriving, the center table was already laid with a basic white cloth on it and a similarly red cloth for accent and contrast. Anne’s books on loan from Powerbooks that day were also placed on the table. We quickly started putting on the additional props that I brought, from votive candles to incense to my Vampire Companion book along with my Athame and Vampire goblet, which became the objects of covetousness for the entire duration of the Gathering.

 

Jermaine, better known on the boards as Jestat was the first to arrive along with his girlfriend Marilyn. Almost immediately he quickly shared his impassioned declaration about Anne and his association with a local group that unfortunately had disbanded called The Talamasca, named after Anne’s fictional Order of Psychic Detectives that figure prominently in the Lives of the Mayfair Witches. In the midst of sharing, a girl strolled along the table and looked at the books quizzically and politely inquired about the purpose of this assembly. I told her that it was a gathering of our group and we were expecting the others to arrive. I invited her to join and like Jestat, Maria quickly expressed her gladness at having come to the bookstore and merely browse and chanced upon our Gathering.

 

Maria already saw the arrangements earlier and was curious to see what the fuss was all about and simply returned when she saw people seated. She was a UP graduate of Creative writing and started reading Anne when she saw a copy of The Vampire Lestat in the school library. She added that it was recommended to her by friends earlier but didn’t want to be pushed to reading recommended books up until she felt she was ready for it. Shortly, our Vampire Bianca in the person of Lynn arrived in pure Vampiric fashion with laced white blouse and a trench coat at that. She equally shared that she didn’t read the Vampire Chronicles in their written order but started with the 5^th Chronicle, Memnoch the Devil, and after that was hooked and devoured the Chronicles as a hungry Immortal would at the sight of blood. Her hardcover of Queen was equally worthy of attention.

 

Abby, a fellow member from the resident Megamall Powerbooks Book club also happened to stroll along the area and subsequently joined us. Boots, our Vampire Jesse, soon came afterward and I felt that slowly the Gathering of Immortals was starting to take shape as each member took turns introducing themselves and how they began with Anne. The same cycle continued when Beng, Boots sister came shortly afterwards.

 

 I remember that as more and more people joined, I would have to ask the store personnel to add more chairs to our growing assembly. I found this rather amusing and lost count as to how many times I had to do that. Soon thereafter more members from Lynn’s group, Talamasca started to arrive. There was Rich, our Louis Pointe duLac, a tall and dark brooding figure replete with the Brad Pitt hair and mysterious but alluring charm; Earl, a television segment producer for Studio 23 came; and Art who according to Lynn was the fledgling of another fledgling. I couldn’t be happier at the thought as I was growing ever more ecstatic seeing the gradual increase in our numbers.

 

Soon the discussion took place and everyone on hand pretty much agreed that the Third Chronicle was a quick read and that at the time of its publication and reading, most of the members felt an affirmation for kinship as the Immortals grouped in Maharet’s Sonoma compound as they await and prepare for the cataclysmic confrontation between Akasha & Lestat. Akasha’s plan of eradicating the male species just to liberate the females and to have them rule the world was certainly not agreeable to all. I pointed out that Akasha seem to embody traits of a Nihilist and that she was only acting upon a knee-jerk reaction. In fact most of the vampires in Anne’s books do.

 

Maria added and pointed out, that Akasha being a unique embodiment of that could not find any reason to see the world otherwise, as being uncivilized and deserving to be punished for she was not of this world. She slept for centuries with only Marius taking care of her and so didn’t know how to participate and be existent in the modern times. She was not given the chance to adapt nor did she seek that option out.

 

It was never decided whether it was either an option that Akasha felt she didn’t have or simply the desperation to cling to any form of truth was so dire in the presence of its absence for her and therefore clouded her mind to everything else. And having deemed also of her purpose as her true calling, men to her were regarded as lesser beings. This then allowed Rubymae, our newly christened, Mona Mayfair to quip her famous line for the night, “Men are Dogs.” And she would repeatedly drop her famous line at strategic points in the conversation, which had every vampire at the table laugh to their hearts content and quickly endear her to the group evermore. Truly, Mona in all her glory and precocity.

 

           Akasha like the vampires in Anne’s books are a metaphor for outsiders; for those who felt estranged from life and see no worthy purpose for it. How many of us at one point in our lives felt distant towards a person; a situation; one that clearly defines our participation and yet all we see is our need for detachment. Could it perhaps be an automatic trigger mechanism built in the human psyche that man distances himself almost automatically from situations that he feels he cannot control or simply unpalatable to what he has been predisposed to? If that was the case, then Anne clearly understood perfectly how it meant to be on the outside; for to be on the outside meant, objectivity. It meant seeing the situation for what it can be and not merely for what it is.

 

Lestat, in his own impetuosity and charm, sees his situation for what he wants and any regrets to be made or analysis of the consequences are made after the deed is done. Not before. He wanted to be a shining symbol of evil out to do good in the modern world. It is indeed no surprise why he is called the Brat Prince. And in his impulsiveness to make a name for himself in the public amidst warning from the Elders, clearly demonstrates how much of a human trait that is; to which the group readily and equally agreed. It is a trait that we at one point in our lives exhibited. And more often than not, it has gotten us into trouble. No different than the Brat Prince himself.

 

These ideas and more were at the heart of the discussion as the flow of topics would digress every so now and then but not before finding itself falling into place once more as the Gathering soon reached its climax.

  

In celebration of our recent induction into the New Worlds Alliance, I decided to raffle off some items for the group. Most of the members got the groups newly designed button pins but the luckier ones like Earl got a copy of Anne’s documentary, Birth of the Vampire and Rich, a copy of the audiobook of Interview With The Vampire which incidentally was the book that started his devotion to Anne. After that the group soon knew that the time had come to wrap up the Gathering as Powerbooks started to announce that it would be closing soon for the day. And so a quick Photo op was put together before we concluded the night’s Gathering.

 

It was a success by past standards and by sheer attendance of the Coven members, which totaled 12. But it was also a success from the point of all members giving their time freely by attending, discussing and simply sharing the effect that Anne had on them when they began reading her.

 

This incidentally also coincides with the very purpose on which the group was formed and that is to create and foster awareness for Anne and also for the value of reading, per se. All members of the Coven agree that reading at an early age enriches one’s vocabulary and also one’s sense of self. And if each member is able to embody that, be an unspoken role model for that cause and in turn affect one another and create the very same ripple effect on the next person within radius then we will have been truly successful. Not just for readers of Anne’s work but as individuals striving to create a difference in one’s life and in the lives of other people, through the personification of Anne’s myriad of reflective and flawed characters; the very reflection of the complex human being. 

 

                                                                                               CAZ

                                                                                    Aka. DAVID TALBOT

                                                                                      Scribe of the Coven

Thoughts on ROD-Con 2007

            When I heard last year that there would be a reader’s convention this year, I was ecstatic. I was told that it was going to be the first and therefore for bibliophiles like me it was going to be an “event”. Together with that, I was also in the midst of getting “accreditation” with my own book club, “Anne Rice Philippines”. I didn’t think much of it and so these two situations were moving simultaneously as the 2006 was nearing its end.

 

            Fast forward to now, my group has finally gotten the accreditation that I was working on with its recent induction into the New World Alliance and the Reader’s conference was scheduled on the same day as my vampiric gathering at Powerbooks. I was torn between rescheduling the gathering in order to be there. But crestfallen as I was, I was quickly relieved to know that the Read or Die Convention was a two-day event. This meant that I get to my have my cake and eat it two; which is more than most we at times get to have in this life.

 

            Going with 3 members of my Coven on the 2^nd day, the function room of the Intercon in Makati became a room of readers, publishers, enthusiasts and hopefuls. Some were there to rake on possible discounted finds. Some were there to attend and listen to the insightful words of wisdom if not inspiration and harsh realism from several keynote speakers. Some like me just felt they had to be there regardless what the day’s stay would yield and be present for what the event is. Lucky for me, that worked because I got to listen to Filipino author, F.Sionil Jose talk about the value of Literature, as its presence must once more be felt in the educational system and in local society. I got to boost the presence of my group, by setting up Anne’s books in the Alliance table and had two 2 newbies interested to sign-up. Along with that I got some vindication for my group, just the day after our successful gathering, by answering a question about Anne and her works during a Q& A portion and win a free book as well. And when the host announced over the PA system, “Oh, the Anne Rice people are here”, all fatigue and exhaustion from the day before simply evaporated from my system and I was dazed all day long.

 

            Immediately I forgot my earlier complaint of not having enough sleep the week before (then again, when did I ever) but being in the room with like-minded people whose own level of interest, devotion and fanaticism equals your own just made everything complete for me that Sunday and made me care less about what I was whining about earlier and what would non-enthusiasts say about the time I spend in events like these. (I get my share of those as well)

 

 

But for what its worth, I’m glad that I was there. Not just for the group but also for the purpose I have in creating my group in the first place. That is to foster awareness for the benefits of reading. If you had known me growing up, I was never the person who couldn’t leave the house or go out without a book in tow. Heck, I couldn’t even finish a chapter then. When I would carry one back then it was for show. I knew that I liked having a book in my hands but that’s just about it. It was only after being a given a book on my birthday and committing myself to it, did I find it a surprising and rewarding venture.

 

So is this a mission that I have now; a quest to silence the crying of lambs in the cold winter’s night like detective Clarice Starling as each cry of a lamb represents the unsatisfied hunger of a literature-deprived individual? Or is it also because of being a Trainer, I saw and heard with own eyes and ears the startling result of a compromised education compounded with a lack of confidence and surety?

 

I know that there are equally many out there who feels the same way as I do. That if children these days were given the opportunities that our parents gave us, perhaps the next generation of thinkers would become do-ers. That the principles that they espouse be that which both defines and exemplifies their lives which in turn helps and spurns on others to do the same. Henceforth, a ripple effect is thus established.

 

And being thus characterized, who is to say where it begins and where it ends and in what form does it come and go?

 

And so having come to terms with that and with this event having ended, I’m bracing myself for another whirlwind of focused devotion and attention as the Alliance works its butt off for the upcoming 5^th Annual Sci-Fi & Fantasy Convention this coming July.

 

            The cycle has been finished only to yield another one to complete and take its place, pretty much like the ripples in the water.

 

            In short, the work has not ended as it has only begun.

 

            To the CON, my brothers and sisters…

 

Congragulations to Anne Rice Philippines - We're Inducted!!!

Greetings Fellow Vamps,

Good news!!! We're finally part of the New Worlds Alliance!!! This is 
the alliance of fantasy and sci-fi groups in the country. Among the 
known and veteran groups that we are proud to call brethren are Star 
Wars Philippines, Philippine Tolkien Society, CharmedPinoy, Pinoy 
Harry Potter, Philippine Order of Narnians, Star Trek Philippines, 
CSI Phils, Philippine Highlander Society, among others.

This is great for visibility and accreditation for our coven.

As one of the goals that I ideally envision for our coven group is to 
promote awareness not just for Anne and her works but also for 
reading in general.

Sad to say that some of the newer generation feel that the only form 
of media that should be catered to and holds the highest values of 
education and sense of aesthetics are what they see in local 
television. They have lost the appetite for knowledge and information 
as most is spoonfed to the general populace these days.

Let's work together to not only foster that awareness but also be a 
living example to those souls who are on the quest for self 
development and improvement.

And what better guide than us, the Coven of the Articulate. :)

Will keep u all posted on further developments and plans for our 
Coven to thrive and flourish.

Thank you for being patient.

Much love.


Blood & Blessings,

CAZ. aka. David Talbot :)

www.annericephils.com

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/annericephils/

Name Acronym Generator

C	Charming
A	Appealing
Z	Zany

Now I'm just sharing what the site says...this ain't a narcissistic vein rising to the surface.

Take the test and see for yourself...

http://www.go-quiz.com/acronym/acronym.php

 

Another Year..another Entry

Time flies when your having fun as they say. But time flies the fastest when you're not lookin, I'd add in. The year just seem to have whizzed past me when everything was still new; from warming up to a new job from the previous year ahead, keeping up with correspondence with friends that where found and discovered previously, which of course means keeping my own multiply site up to date as others put more info in theirs and at the same time expanding one's ever growing network of friends and acquaintances.

But for what its worth 2006 has not also been short of its challenges and instances that would require more than just maintenance work. Friends rallied up behind me and gave me more than just moral support when I needed it the most and that for me would be the capping glory of 2006; that the good one does all throughout is manifested by the presence and equally helpful acts of friends and contacts nurtured through the years. I shall forever be grateful for them.

So in the eve of 2007, I hold my head up high, proudly and happily knowing that whatever Blessings I have had in 2006 will be carried over to 2007 for opportunities to share and bestow equally good deeds and good words will come to me in the coming year and in the process account for good karma and more abundance that our generous Universe is more than willing to give.

Happy New Year everyone!!! Let's celebrate 2007 with a bang, with open arms and an open heart.

VALIAH ENTERETH!

Love,

CAZ!

 

 

Professional or UN....Part 2

Now remember about my previous rant about being unprofessional? Well, here’s the next part. It’s the official “sequel” to that rant as the day of the event came I was totally unprepared for people trying to pull their own weight having had the previous and past successful experiences of doing that.

 

Anyway, I got to the event at the appointed time of 630pm having been told that it will start early. Then again, we’re here in the Philippines so I should know better than to expect any form of American value for punctuality to be incorporated into the system. Having worked with American bosses was a blast and forced me to be mindful of these habits that we as a people have allowed to creep into the Filipino psyche.

 

The minute I stepped into the venue I was looking for contact person that contracted me for the event and lo and behold came face to face with my co-host; an attorney at that. Perhaps I would account either for her age or for her usual way of barking at people considering her degree and all. She starts pulling me aside and talks about the program and details of a segment that was recently added into the program, in which I was to sing a Christmas song. I told her I knew of that but because of time constraints and was in contact with the coordinator, the band said they couldn’t perform it but I could sing it acapella.

 

Almost immediately she fumed and accosted me for not being able to “require” the band to learn the song when in fact it should have been the coordinators job to do that and not mine. She said that having been informed about it there was ample time. The mere fact that the band guy took a day and a half to respond back accounted for the time lost not to mention the late notification of this segments inclusion. And here I am taking the heat for their ineptitude.

 

Being the outsider I was recovering in shock and felt my narration of the circumstances as my defense was brought in weakly to stand in as evidence. With my facial expression, I let her know that I was peeved at her attitude and relented to be mature about the whole thing as regard it as her frayed nerves at having seeing no one yet at the event and milling about different parts of the floor and equally barking at people who seem to be in her own eyes, incapable and unprofessional. When in fact, it was her who was pegging herself to that classification. Before the event started I avoided her like the plague. And by the end of the event, she tried to warm up to me by saying she enjoyed my singing and that I should pursue a career in theatre.

 

Thank you but no thanks if that was her way in wanting to nullify the effect that she has caused.  Perhaps she knew that she was out of line when she blamed me for whatever imperfections the program had and realized that no program really runs smoothly and as perfectly executed on paper. When asked to relax & smile, she even declared loudly that she couldn’t and there was no time for it.

 

When you think about it, the conditions in our life that gives us lack of sleep, tension, anxiety, are brought about by how we view them and react towards them accordingly. It’s our choice. She chose not to relax and enjoy the evening and considered to be bothered by the whole event. I chose to keep my cool. Rant about it in this blog and release it to the Universe. I’ve said my peace and ready to move along….

 

Although it would be nice to see her trip along the mall carrying her Christmas goodies…heheheh.