Meinl Day: Drum Clinic 2010 with Benny Greb

Meinl Day @ Miriam College

Junior and I arrived late by an hour or so at the auditorium of Miriam College last July 10. We just came from McDonald’s Philcoa where we were supposed to have met a lot earlier but I think he got caught in traffic coming from his Saturday class in the University of Sto. Tomas. I was quite exhausted already from this morning’s heat and traveling to and from Concepcion, Tarlac where CFC brod Omin del Castillo and I attended a post birthday celebration of Sis. Lyn Meloto (wife of Gawad Kalinga founder and CFC Brother Tony Meloto) at a local GK site.

We arrived during the lively and very instructive open forum

I really didn’t expect much, thinking I would just be spending the time to rest. I didn’t know the guy Meinl brought in to lead the drum clinic. But Junior raved about this drummer’s remarkable talent and really looked forward in attending this clinic.

You know what? Junior was right. This guy is a heck of a drum player! Giving more time to a very lively open forum, he was wittingly very entertaining to an inquisitive crowd.

For those like me who knew more about comedian Benny Hill than Benny Greb, I did a little research on the guy on the internet. Like what he said during the open forum, he started playing the drums at a very early age, at age six then took lessons at the age of 12. Born on June 13, 1980 in Augsburg, Germany, he later took on a diverse variety of music playing rock, jazz, funk, new wave, reggae and even classical music with a number of other accomplished musicians.

Obviously a strong endorser of Meinl cymbals and percussion instruments, he has in fact developed a number of hi-hats and other types of cymbals for that German brand. Greb also promotes Sonor drums, Remo drum heads and Pro-Mark drum sticks (which Junior also likes!).

The participants spill out from the auditorium

Lyric, a local chain of music stores carry the Meinl brand

After the drum clinic, it was good that we were able to get a head start outside the auditorium to queue for Greb’s signature.

Junior gets to have Greb sign a number of Meinl product paraphernalia

Rare photos of two prolific drummers

Of course Junior was overjoyed about the whole event. Me? I’m happy to have learned more about drumming’s technical side – that it’s just not simply hitting the drums and cymbals with your sticks. It is both an art and a science.

One statement that Benny Greb said about drummers continues to ring in my head. He said something like, “We’re lucky bastards…we’re allowed to do this (play the drums)!”

I simply have to agree. Even music enthusiasts with a low threshold for the drums’ relative loudness (to some, bordering on noise) would well appreciate the creative beauty of Greb’s music.

2007 video from a 2005 album of the same title

To know more about Benny Greb and his brand of music, check out his official website @ http://www.bennygreb.de/

Celebrating Sis. Lyn Meloto’s birthday @ GK Concepcion, Tarlac

Celebrating life at GK Concepcion (Tarlac)

Bro. Omin del Castillo and I attended a post-birthday celebration for Sis. Lyn Meloto held at GK Amalia Village in Concepcion, Tarlac last July 10.

The trip to Tarlac gave me another opportunity to meet new friends across the country, some acquaintances even coming from other countries.

The occasion also introduced me to Gawad Kalinga’s Bayan-anihan (BA). GK’s food sufficiency program, BA is a multi-sectoral partnership between Gawad Kalinga, the Department of Agriculture (DA), various local government units (LGUs), Association of Colleges of Agriculture, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) like Couple for Christ (CFC).

Globe Telecom, one of the country’s leaders in telecommunications has been a strong partner in the implementation of GK programs including Bayan-anihan. Working together with community residents they have set up one in GK Amalia, putting up since 2008, no less than 35 Bayan-anihan farms nationwide.

When we arrived at GK Amalia, a fairly good sized GK village of around 150 families, we were warmly met by their Kapitbahayan leaders and CFC brethren who were with Bro. Tony Meloto, Sis. Lyn’s husband and GK founder.

GK friends from France introduce themselves

There were several French nationals at the GK site during the festivities. They readily joined the games and danced to the delight of the village residents. Eena Meloto informed me that they were students who came to the Philippines to learn more about Gawad Kalinga.

The GK site was bubbling with children

The site’s plaza ‘fountain’

The celebrant is joined by me, GK Amalia Project Director and CFC Bro. Arnold Capati, Shawn Raydo UCLA – Public Health Grad student and CFC couple Bro. Nonoy and Sis. Malou Zapanta

The French enjoyably danced and played in the parlor games during the program

Sis. Lyn joins the GK partners from Globe Telecom in a dance

PD Bro. Arnold talked about the fruits of GK in their community

Mabuhay ladies perform a traditional dance….

…then asks the French guests to dance as well

Bro. Tony Meloto, Gawad Kalinga Chairman, spoke to the people

French guy does a handstand

Lunch time!

For a seafood and pasta lover like me, the food was divine

GK advocate and former Dept. of Agriculture Secretary Sito Lorenzo and his family arrived

Globe brought the delicious catered food from the famous restaurant Antonio’s

Photo ops with the Meloto and Lorenzo couples

Belated happy birthday, Sis. Lyn! The weather was extremely humid but the equally warm smiles and hospitality of our GK partners made it a lot more bearable. Our trip to Tarlac was definitely well worth it!

You can call me…the new FG!

Move over, Mike Arroyo….there’s a new FG in town!

No, not as the First Gentleman of the presidential family in Malacanang, but in many ways equally challenging as the husband of Mater Carmeli School’s new Pre-Elementary Department’s Parent-Teacher Association (MCS Pre-Elem. PTA)!!

It all started with our attendance during the General Assembly of the parents of children in the Pre-Elem Dept. It didn’t impress upon me that aside from the usual parents orientation, presentation of the schedule of activities for the school year and explanation of the grading system, that the assembly would include the election of PTA officers. Even when the election for homeroom officers for the Yellow started, it never really occurred to me that we would even be considered.

Then it happened, one of the parents beside me asked whether I would agree to be nominated as homeroom president. I politely declined knowing well that with my present responsibilities, I would simply be spreading myself too thinly. Odette, my wife on the other hand, who time and again had expressed concern over several school related issues, was perfect for the post. She was nominated and subsequently voted unanimously as Yellow room President. As a sign of my unwavering support, I jokingly said to the parents that I most willingly oblige to be the new First Gentleman!

But more was to come. After the homeroom elections, the election for the overall Pre-Elem PTA officers came next. Overall officers were to come from the ranks of the various homeroom officers so everyone was asked to introduce themselves to the teachers and parents. As fate would have it, she also won as overall Pre-Elem President. As they say, the rest is history.

My wife Odette in a case of serendipity gets elected as MCS Pre-Elem PTA President

On the morning of July 7, Odette and the other elected parents took their oath as Pre-Elem PTA officers during the celebration of the Holy Mass along with the Pre-Elementary students. Faith was just very happy to see both of us, her parents present during this event.

Oath taking of Pre-Elem PTA officers

Pre-Elem PTA officers are blessed by the Mass celebrant

Kinder and Prep children offer flowers at the altar

Pre-Elem PTA President Odette M. gave an inspirational message

Kids actively respond

Distribution of brown scapulars

Faith waits for her turn…

…and eventually receives her brown scapular

At the foot of the Cross

Proud parents of Maria Fatima

Last July 11 (Sunday) the school held a counterpart MCS PTA General Assembly for both the Elementary and High School levels. This was to be followed by a meeting of the Council of the elected PTA Presidents from all levels. Among themselves will they chose their own set of over-all officers for the PTA. Faith and I went ahead to SM Fairview as my wife had to attend this council meeting.

On July 25 (Sunday) the MCS-PTA Officers will have their Recollection and Formal Induction as overall PTA Officers.

Evidently, my wife will have her hands full with all the planned activities the PTA has in mind this current school year. The Pre-Elem is scheduled to organize the school year’s first major activity, its annual Family Day. But knowing my wife well, I know she will be able to deliver…and deliver well!

Congratulations, Lovey!

I’m proud to be the new First Gentleman!