24
filipino globe
kultura
April 2008
All systems go for GMA Pinoy TV Hong Kong debut
Next time you turn your TV on, president. “This is the first Filipino
you could be flicking through some channel to be broadcast by Now TV
of the country’s top-rated programs and underscores our commitment
as if you never left home.
to showcase the broadest spectrum
GMA Network is making that
of fine programming to Hong
possible by bringing its flagship
Kong viewers and to the Filipino
international channel, GMA Pinoy
community.
TV, to Hong Kong.
“GMA Pinoy TV will enable the
It all happens on May 7, when
Filipino community to stay close to
GMA Pinoy TV begins broadcasts
current affairs and local culture in
on PCCW’s Now channel, Hong
the Philippines.”
Kong’s most innovative pay-TV
Now TV customers can subscribe
operator.
Mark the spot on your remote
our countrymen in Hong Kong TV is bannered by its flagship
entertainment, bringing high-
to GMA Pinoy TV for HK$78 per
control: Channel 720.
even closer to home” said GMA newscast 24 Oras; the Philippines’
quality world-class TV channels for
month in a 12-month contract.
GMA Pinoy TV is currently
“The launch of GMA Pinoy
Network executive vice-president longest running variety show, Eat
its subscribers round the clock.
available in Japan, Singapore,
TV is cause for excitement and
and chief operating officer Gilberto Bulaga; and the action-adventure
“We are delighted to include
Guam, Papua New Guinea, Saipan,
gratification as the channel enables
R Duavit, Jr. series, Joaquin Bordado.
GMA Pinoy TV in the Now TV
us to offer the finest Filipino
A 24-hour general entertainment Backed by the state-of-the-art
channel lineup,” said Janice Lee, Middle East, North Africa, British
programs available while bringing
network that caters to Filipino facilities of Now TV, GMA Pinoy
PCCW’s TV marketing and content Indian Ocean Territory, Canada and
viewers worldwide, GMA Pinoy TV provides a new form of family
development executive vice- the United States.
Behind the dark glasses, a one-man band
Blind pianist Jez Lucero’s world has been anything but dark. As Gabby Alvarado writes, it’s one filled with the colors of music
H
e is what you might call a
prodigy. At the age of two,
he already knew how to
play the piano. At four years old,
he was performing in clubs in his
native Cebu City – as a paid “guest
performer”.
He could play the long sonatas and
classical compositions of the likes
of Beethoven, but soon got tired of
them and switched to commercial
mainstream music and, by the time
he was seven, began his love affair
with jazz.
Jezrael Lucero was born blind. But
music allowed him to go places and
connect with people.
“Suwerte ako dahil ang tatay ko
tough,” says Jez in-between his sets
at the coffee shop of the Langham
Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui where he one-man band.
performs nightly. Intelligent and gifted with a keen
“Tinuruan niya ako paano maging sense of humor, Jez is fun to be with,
normal. Sabi niya: ‘Di ka naman as Karren and his friends would
abnormal. Bulag ka lang. Paano ang attest. He enjoys playing Playstation
mga kamay mo? Wala bang silbi 2 during his free time. The
‘yan?’” commentary during the computer
So the father, Woodrow, a former games, like boxing or basketball,
military man and strict disciplinarian comes in handy for Jez who is so
who learned music to please his good at this he sometimes beats his
grandmother when he was a kid,
Jez Lucero plays gigs in some of the best
friend Charles. He also joins friends
trained Jez to become a musician
venues in Hong Kong, including the Four
for nights out at places like Ned
and, more importanly, a normal,
Seasons Hotel and Langham Place.
Kelly’s Bar, where Dixie jazz is a
self-respecting individual. He did staple.
it with all the authority of someone “Hindi problema sa akin ang
conducting a boot camp which Jez, makisama sa tao at mag-adjust.
now 22, had never resented but in in Central on Sunday afternoons.
Di ka naman
into the program the Tagalog song Sanay ako,” he says.
fact accepted good-naturedly as part He is also slowly becoming known Dahil sa Isang Bulaklak and a jazz “Lumaki ako na typical na bata.
of the challenge of living in a world among jazz circles in the city for his abnormal. Bulag rendition of the folk song Paru- Naglalaro din ng taguan,” he adds
behind dark-colored glasses. extraordinary talent. parong Bukid. smiling. “Pinaghuhugas ng pinggan
Jez’s introduction to the sound of “Super-galing. Noon pa man
ka lang. Paano
Later he was joined by songbird at pinagsasaing. Normal lang sa akin
music began simply enough – with a kilala na siya sa Cebu,” says
ang mga kamay
Karren Villacorta, who crooned love ang lahat.
toy keyboard his father bought him bassist Charles Cabellon, a fellow songs as well as Sarah McLachlan’s “Kung may proper training, walang
as a gift. Cebuano and talent with the HK-
mo? Wala bang
Angel, accompanied by Jez. mahirap. Ang problema sa atin, pag
“Kapa-kapa, tipa-tipa sa una, tapos based Harmony Production who In his breast pocket is a mobile may kagaya ko, sa sulok inilalagay.
nagkainteres na,” Jez recalls. accompanied him to the Langham silbi ‘yan? phone, which announces the time Kaya paano matututo?”
“Talagang sisipagin kang mag- Hotel on this day in lieu of Jez’s and tells Jez when a performance And so he is forever grateful to
practice. Kasi paso ng sigarilyo sister who was on vacation.
WOODROW LUCERO
should be over. his father, who acted as his mentor,
ang aabutin mo pag nagkamali His small figure hunched on the
Giving a pep talk to son Jez
One might presume he is a big manager and touring partner in
ka. Mahilig siya sa detalyadong black piano, his nimble fingers fan of blind musical geniuses Ray places like Manila and Davao, where
pagtuturo. Sa katagalan skimming the keys, Jez began his Charles and Stevie Wonder, but Jez Jez played in the same bars as the
magugustuhan mo din. Hindi ako first hour with Billy Joel’s She’s actually is an admirer of several original Freestyle band in the 90s.
kailangang pilitin. Natural sa tao na Always a Woman. He played a string musicians from whom he draws Because of him, Jez has never
maghanap ng challenge.” of Beatles compositions, including inspiration. felt out of place or insecure. When
Jez has been living in Hong Kong Ticket To Ride, Let It Be and Hey He learned music mostly by ear, Woodrow died in 2002, Jez’s sisters
for nearly two years. His first gig Jude, whose arrangement would have but his father also read to him and took turns accompanying him on
here was at the Marina Club in made Paul McCartney smile. He also he could follow if someone just gigs. Nowadays he also goes around
Aberdeen, which lasted six months. played A Time for Us, the Righteous described to him the shapes of the with his girlfriend, Love, a singer
Now, apart from his performances at Brothers’ hit Unchained Melody and notes written in a music sheet. Jez whose band performs at Wan Chai.
Langham Hotel, he also plays at The Smokey Robinson’s My Girl. also plays the guitar, drums and the “Dito na kami nagkita,” Jez says
Lounge of the Four Seasons Hotel Jez even managed to squeeze upright bass, making him a kind of smiling, pleased with the irony.
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