DISKORAL 3

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INSIDE: DISCO DISKORAL FEATURED ARTISTS; LIFE IS LIKE A DANCE; 40 DAYS AFTER-ILIGAN/CDO

DANCE FOR MINDANAO, HELP NOW President Benigno ‘Noynoy’ Aquino is embarking on "Bayanihan ng Bayan: Anong Taya Mo Para Sa Bayan" events from 24 to 28 January 2012 including a video-stream to spur the bayanihan spirit to address the situation in Northern Mindanao that was hit by typhoon Sendong that left more than 1,000 dead and has affected 117,665 families. In times of crisis, what a nation needs is leadership, action and generosity.

While Aquino provides the leadership and humanitarian and volunteer groups directly attend to the victims, people from distant places such as New Zealand can provide help through raising of funds for the on-going relief and rehabilitation operations.

Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ), a registered trust, has offered itself as a conduit for those wanting to help through cash donations to impact on those that require assistance. The organisation’s TABANG para sa Typhoon Sendong Victims raised $1,050.00 the amount having been turned-over to the Xavier University that has a continuing programme for victims in Cagayan de Oro City.

On Saturday 28 January 2012, 6pm, KBNZ provides an occasion for those wanting to extend their help to the typhoon victims in the fundraising DISCO DISKORAL, “the biggest Pinoy Dance Party in Auckland”. For $20, donors will be treated to dance music courtesy of the most in-demand Filipino band in Auckland, The Constellation Band, with front acts, New Zealand’s Powerpop girls – KIS and the mixed bag of gentlemen group, OBG! Alvin Soniega, over-all project coordinator, promises to “bring back Saturday Night Fever, what with the superb repertoire of the bands, hi-tech disco lights and a lot of dance aficionados.” He added, “not only will we have fun, we’ll raise funds for our needy brothers and sisters in the Philippines. Let us keep the bayanihan spirit alive as sought by President Noynoy; let’s dance for Mindanao, let’s help now!”

Score your ticket by emailing: rrmenchavez@yahoo.com or at the venue: AMI Netball Centre, 44 Northcote Road, North Shore, Auckland.

DISCO DISKORAL is sponsored by REX YAP/NEW ZEALAND HOME LOANS; WESTERN UNION; PLANET EARTH TRAVEL; Dr Tony & Cora Noblejas; Tita Claudia’s Lechon and Tindahang Pinoy.

CORD International Music Magazine is the official media partner.

DANCE. HELP. WE SHOULD BE DANCING. WE SHOULD BE HELPING. DISCO DISKORAL. HELP THE TYPHOON SENDONG VICTIMS.

$20. TO DANCE. TO HELP.

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DISCO DISKORAL FFE EA ATTU UR RE ED DA AR RTTIIS STTS S CONSTELLATION BAND The most in-demand band in Auckland Has performed in Vietnam, Subic Naval Base, Japan, Australia and New Zealand

OBG! A Mixed Bag of Gents Music in a different angle

KIS: New Zealand’s Powerpop Girls People’s Choice Award Pinoyz Got Talent

BLOTFREE Vol 5

By Bro Mel B Libre* Life is like a Dance “Do you think you can dance, Mr Jeydi?”, I asked my 4-year old grandson, one time when he visited us. Like an adult, he responded confidently, “I don’t dance, Tatay, but I can sing.” That made me immensely happy, as he has inherited my passion for music, but also a bit surprised, since his mother, Jam, choreographs and teaches dancing.

When Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ) decided to join the Feast of the Sto Nino de Cebu on January 15, 2012, Jam who conceptualised the Sinulog presentation, thought of Mr Jeydi to play the role of the sickly young prince who would eventually be healed by the miraculous image of the Holy Child Jesus.

As the 40-member troupe practised, Mr Jeydi would simply run around, if not play; participating only when his mom would call for him, we were worried. When he was asked to lie still, as we drew the tattoo designs on his shirt, he wiggled a lot, but later kept still. We were hopeful.

On the day of our offering, Mr Jeydi seemed at ease with his costume, willingly posing for photographers who found him as an interesting subject. Then there we were in front of the thousands who witnessed our presentation. Mr Jeydi rested on the floor, while we, the natives, acted praying to local deities. When the troupe did the full dance routine, Mr Jeydi stood in attention with an innocent smile on his face. He performed like a professional, through and through.

We were proud.

Surely God must have led Mr Jeydi to such a wonderful performance. I also believe that the child must have observed the efforts that his mother gave in training the dancers and the discipline that the dancers showed all the time. “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:7-9) Jam often talked to Mr Jeydi about the importance of the dance, that it was for the Child Jesus and that it pleased God if we did our very best. Jam’s instruction did not just happen during the practise it was done at all times—at home, in the car, during meals, during play.

Our children follow our example. So parents and adults must at all times be teachers and models in the likeness of Jesus. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) For life is like a dance. The Lord provides the beat and the rhythm that comes from Heaven. God sows His beat in our hearts; imbeds His rhythm in our souls. If we depart from God, we lose focus and fall out from His grace. But for those who listen, they dance through life’s journey, and as we grow from children to adults, the music grows louder and sweeter, until we reach the pearly gates where a symphony of angels welcomes us to God’s everlasting presence. *Bro Mel B Libre is the Lead Servant of TawagAwit, a Catholic Ministry spreading God’s Word through music and other acts of love

40 DAYS AFTER ILIGAN CITY, MINDANAO

40 DAYS AFTER CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY

PRESENTING KBNZ The Katilingbang Bisaya sa New Zealand (KBNZ) is the organization of Bisaya-speaking Filipinos living in New Zealand. Though it has not been too long ago (about three years) since it was formally recognized as a Trust, KBNZ under the leadership of Rosendo “Sendo” Menchavez has embarked on projects in the service of its members and the greater community.

It regularly holds fellowship activities with the intention of strengthening the bond of friendship and camaraderie among members.

It propagates the unique culture of Bisayaspeaking Filipinos through participation in such activities as the Philippine Independence celebrations; and the Sto Nino de Cebu Fiesta where the group’s cultural troupe has performed for the past two consecutive years.

In 2010, the group joined the Auckland International Carnival where it won the grand prize for its Sinulog presentation that bested more than 20 other participants from other ethnic groups.

KBNZ also engages in community-orientated projects including a beach clean-up and in raising funds to help victims of the recent typhoon Sendong that hit Cagayan de Oro and Iligan cities.

To pursue its goal of further assimilating into the New Zealand community, KBNZ has organized DISCO DISKORAL dubbed as the Biggest Pinoy Dance Party in Auckland featuring the popular CONSTELLATION BAND, New Zealand’s Powerpop Girls, KIS, and the mix bag music group, OBG! Everyone is invited to join the event, with $20 entrance fee. The income of the activity will be set aside for the various programs of KBNZ in 2012.