Puso at Isip ni Jess Santiago (Jess Santiago's Hearts & Minds)

Fifteen years since the release of Obando, Filipino poet and singer-songwriter Jess Santiago is now back in the recording studio putting together his third full length album of original songs.

Puso at Isip (or Hearts & Minds) – the working title of the album in the making, offers us a sampling of some of the best songs in Santiago's rich collection of unrecorded tunes written from 2001-2008.

Like his first two gems, Halina (1991) and Obando (1994), the new album promises to be yet another rich tapestry of words and images woven together by simple yet soulful melodies, a trademark of Jess Santiago's music.

Around 13 songs have been hand-picked by Santiago to be included in the collection. These songs cover a whole range of themes and topics. There are expressions of the Filipino psyche and culture (Onli in the Pilipins) and the richness of the Filipino language (Loob).

There are overtly 'political' songs like Panginoon for example, based on a poem that came out of his Usapang Kanto column in Pinoy Weekly, a stinging commentary against George W. Bush's War on Terror. The song was written eight months before the US invasion of Iraq. Santiago's activism through his music manifests further in compositions like Daloy, a song written as part of a river rehabilitation campaign and Salot, a song with a strong anti-corruption message. The 'anthemic' quality of Santiago's songwriting is perhaps most evident in the songs bayan muna, his tribute to our country's martyrs and heroes and Pagbabago, written for and originally recorded by ASIN, a contemplative song about the struggle for change in this country.

Santiago's songwriting has also drawn inspiration from works of other artists and musicians. Included in the album are Eksenang tahimik, a 3-part poem inspired by a study made by the painter Antipas Delotavo, and Hamog sa Umaga, tagalog version of "achim iseul" (morning dew), a well-loved Korean song made popular by legendary South Korean singer-songwriter Kim Min'gi.

On a personal level, two songs stand out in the collection. 18, a beautiful song about a father's recollections on his daughter’s 18^th birthday; and Palatandaan, his tribute to veteran activists. These songs were originally conceived to be part of a concept album of "occasional songs" chronicling the different stages and moments in one's life.

Then there is Laging Ikaw, a masterfully crafted modern Filipino love song; and Pagsapit ng Dilim, a solemn ballad of love and longing.

As in previous efforts, the new album features Jess Santiago collaborating with friends. Ronnie Quesada, Dodjie Fernandez, Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, Popong Landero and Gary Granada, Noel Cabangon and the Radioactive Sago Project all contribute their talents to the album along with very talented session musicians and singers including Simon Tan on Bass and Rene "chong" Tengasantos on percussions.

Pusot at Isip is yet another "labor of love" album by Santiago produced on a shoe-string budget. In order to augment the limited funds for this album and to produce a companion EP of Asian Peoples Music, we are soliciting the support of friends and 'friendly' organizations and network who have loved and supported Jess Santiago's music over the years.

Those who wish to support the project may write to koyangprojects@gmail.com or get in touch with Jess at 09292520120 or Joseph at 09173874531.

Musicians lend voice to the search for missing activist Jonas Burgos

New recording of songs for the disappeared released

Adding their voice to the growing campaign against enforced disappearances, local Filipino musicians released today Huling Balita: Songs for the Disappeared, a collection of songs confronting the very serious issue of enforced disappearances in the country.

The album launching today (April 28, 2008) at Newsdesk Bar in Quezon City coincides with the first anniversary of the disappearance of activist Jonas Burgos, son of the late journalist and press freedom icon Jose Burgos.

“This project came about because musicians, who have heard about the disappearance not just of Jonas but many other political activists over the years, wanted to make a collective stand on the issue. We wanted to make a contribution to the campaign on the desaparecidos and we realized that the best way we can help is in communicating the issue of the disappearances, the stories of the disappeared and their families, in ways that are more accessible to the public” says poet and singer-songwriter Jess Santiago, one of the coordinators of the project.

“We wanted people to make the issue of the disappearances a personal issue, and the search for them a personal crusade” adds Santiago.

Produced on a shoe-string budget by the Free Jonas Burgos Movement (FJBM), Huling Balita, features ten songs that draw inspiration and offer insights into the issue of enforced disappearances. Eight of the songs featured in the album were recorded live during the Huling Balita Concert in UP Diliman in December 2007. Two bonus tracks were recorded in the studio.

The song Huling Balita, from which the album’s title is derived, by Jess Santiago, kicks off the recording and immediately sets the tone for the whole collection. A song written in the late 70’s at the height of Martial law, Huling Balita is a heart wrenching narrative of agony, of a wife’s search for her lost husband and the incessant questioning of a child yearning for her father’s return. The re-telling of the story about the disappearance is meant to spread the news, hoping to jolt people out of their apathy and indifference and inspire and move them to take a stand.

A range of emotions and themes resonate through out the album. Feelings of restlessness and longing are captured in Noel Cabangon’s “Awit ng Naghahanap” (Naghihintay, umaasa, Ika’y aming nadarama, Tibok ng yong puso’t hininga Larawan mo’y sumisilip, sa aming alaala ) and “Nasan Ka” by the Village Idiots (Nasan ka? Nasan ka? Hanap ka ng isip kong balisa, Buo kong katawan, nangungulila, Di masanay sa iyong pagkawala.). Yet feelings are not allowed to sink into despair and hopelessness as the victims transform their sadness into strength and muster the courage to continue the search against all odds, against continuing political repression and threats to their own lives.

Vigilance and defiance is another common message expressed through the songs. Granada’s song “Defiant” calls on the listener to “confront and defy” the forces that “bleed us dry” and attempt to silence the opposition. Einstein Chakras and Radio Active Sago Projects warn those in power of impending retribution and the judgment of history -- (Aagawin ng mga bata ang gobyernong di kanila, tatahiin ang napunit na bahagi ng isa, ang ibay isusumpa nitong yaring kasaysayan, na noong panahon nya’y binaliwala’t pinabayaan, Ayan na! from Ayan Na by Einstein Chakras) (Dahil balang araw, ang nagpapahirap ang pahihirapan Ang agpapakasarap ay kumunoy ang patutunguhan Ang naghahari ay magiging alipin Balang araw, mababasag din ang salamin from Radio Active Sago Project’s "Kung ano ang Meron").

The other contributions are from Bobby Balingit (Entrada), the free-style rap group Tribu, Anak ni Aling Juana (Naglaho), and Ms. Cookie Chua of Color it Red, doing an a capela version of “Saan” a song by Jess Santiago and Rene Villanueva.

“The artists, the songwriters and the singers featured in the recording, as well as the photographers and visual artists, whose works add life to the album, have all been so generous in contributing their talents and their time to this project” says JL Burgos, brother of Jonas and FJBM coordinator.

“We are of course hopeful that one day, and we hope very soon, that Jonas will be re-united with us again. In the meantime, the search continues for Jonas and many other missing activists” adds JL.

Your Fonder Heart

Hi anais mitchell. You've written a beautiful song in Your Fonder Heart. It has been playing constantly in my head ever since i heard it for the first time only a couple of months ago. Good records are hard to come by here in my country where the norm has always leaned towards music of the mindless, soul-less but chart-topping variety. I dont even have your full album. Just this one song and i thank you for it.

My name is Joseph Purugganan from the Philippines. I work as a researcher/campaigner for an activist research organization called Focus on the Global South but am also an aspiring musician and songwriter. I play guitars and harmonica for the band The Village Idiots. We are independent artists hoping to promote and share songs that touch on social realities-issues that shape the lives of ordinary Filipinos. We aspire to be purveyors of what we call People's Music, maybe much in the same vein as perhaps many of the folk singer-songwriters there in America old and new.

In a burst of inspiration driven by melancholia and self doubt, i wrote a translation of your song in Filipino with the help of poet/singer-songwriter Jess Santiago. You may not know the exact meaning of these words but we tried very hard to remain true to at least what we felt was the essence of the song. So here it is. I hope you would appreciate this and view this as another measure of how your music has transcended boundaries.

in solidarity

Joseph

Your Fonder Heart (Taospuso)

Anais Mitchell (salin ni joseph p. sa tulong ni jess Santiago. Mayo 2007)

come out, come on, come outside ( tara, tara na, tara sa labas)
don’t you hide your handsome face from me (huwag mong itago ang ganda ng yong mukha)
I want to see you half-lit in the half-light (gusto kang maaninag sa banayad na liwanag)
laughing with the whites of your dark eyes(ang ngiti ng yong matang )
shining darkly (sa dilim kumikislap)



Way over yonder I’m waiting and wondering (Doon, akoy nag-iisip, naghihintay)
wither your fonder heart lies (ang puso mo kaya’y saan humihimlay)

come out, the streets are breathing (tara, mga kalsada ay buhay)
heaving green to red to green (berde’t pulang ilaw nagsasalit-salitan)
come with your nicotine and wine (mag-yosi’t maglasing)
tambourine keeping time (sabayan ang tambourine)
come and find me in the evening (hanapin mo ako ngayong gabi)

way over yonder I’m waiting and wondering (Doon akoy nagiisip, naghihintay)

wither your fonder heart lies (puso mo kaya’y saan humihimlay)
way over yonder I’m waiting and wondering (Doon akoy nagiisip, naghihintay)
whether your fonder heart lies (Puso mo ba’y tunay kung magmahal)



come out, come inspired (tara, lumabas kang puno ng pagasa)
you will not come to harm (walang mangangahas na saktan ka)
if I cannot take you for a liar or a lover (Totoo man o hindi ang iyong pag-ibig)

I’ll take you for my brother in arms (ikaw ay aking kasama at kapatid)



way over yonder I’m waiting and wondering (Doon akoy nagiisip, naghihintay
wither your fonder heart lies (Puso mo kaya’y saan humihimlay)
way over yonder I’m waiting and wondering (Doon akoy nagiisip, naghihintay)
whether your fonder heart lies (Puso mo ba’y tunay kung magmahal)

Anti-Democratic Bank

March 5, 2007. KYOTO, JAPAN - In the heart of the beast. A Japanese protestor lends his voice to the opposition against the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at a march along busy, commercial Shijo Street in Kyoto. Japan is the biggest contributor to the ADB, which turned 40 years old this year. Activists have pointed out that there is no reason to celebrate ADB's 4Oth birthday as its policies and projects have only led to more poverty, environmental destruction, and debt for countries in Asia.

beat photography

May 7, 2007, KYOTO--The website said it is near the north entrance of Doshisya University and the Imperial Palace and close to the Imadegawa Subway Station. I made the pilgrimage to Honyarado upon the gentle persuasion of singer-songwriter/poet Jess Santiago who visited this place last year. The small poster announcing Koyang’s performance here still hangs in the bathroom wall.

Spent the whole afternoon with Japanese Photographer Kai Fusayhoshi. Kai is an interesting individual. He showed me some of his photo books where I got a glimpse of the beauty and character of Kyoto in black and white. His works have drawn references as much to fellow photographers as to poets and intellectuals. Allusions to Charles Bukowski, Kant, Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg as well as to Japanese intellectuals, novelists and artists accompany his photographs providing hints to the ideologies and idiosyncrasies of Kai and Honyarado. His photographs are soulful.

Sitting here in Honyarado looking at the black and white photographs some almost as old as I am, you can feel the history of the place. I feel lucky to be here, to be photographed by Kai and to photograph him. He says that soon this place maybe no more. Some “stupid dispute with the landlord” he says.

In the meantime, let me enjoy my all malt Japanese beer in peace.

The Art of Reinvention

I felt like John Malkovich was screaming at me as I was browsing over dvds and so I decided to pull out the one that had his name from the tightly-packed box holding a mix of big time Hollywood blockbusters, the classics, and never- heard foreign films.

The film turned out to be Colour me Kubrick or Appelez-moi Kubrick! (I got the French version). I cant say im really familiar with the work of Stanley Kubrick but I have seen some of his films. I saw Full Metal Jacket during my Betamax years, and much later A Clockwork Orange on VHS from the library of Tumbang Preso, an old hang out of activists and artists along Visayas Avenue.

The last Kubrick Film I saw was oddly enough the one that catapulted him to fame- Lolita. I also remember watching Eyes Wide Shut, oddly enough again in Paris in 1999. I think Kubrick died soon after the showing of that film and that some other director , I don’t know maybe Steven Spielberg actually put the finishing touches to the film, I cant remember anymore.

I like his films but I don’t know what he looks like. This could be the subtext of Colour me Kubrick, a true…ish story. The film chronicles the life of Alan Conway, brilliantly played by Malkovich, a con-artist who posed as Stanley Kubrick. Conway gets whatever he wants out of life- sex, vodka money, free food, free taxi rides, accommodation in fancy hotels, even prescription medicines by pretending to be this famous legendary American film director that everybody knows yet nobody really knows. Conway gets away with his con-game because people know about Kubrick but they don’t really know shit who he really is, what he looks like, where he’s from.

So in the first few scenes, you find yourself being amused at how Conway pulled this performance of a lifetime off. How he managed to seduce his willing victims. These people were willing victims because they wanted to believe that they were all talking, sharing drinks, sharing the bed with Kubrick. They all wanted a piece of his fame. They were all consenting adults. So in effect, it was not at all a solitary song and dance number but rather a performance of two, or three people all wanting to be someone they are not; all masters or mistresses of re-invention.

The beginning of the end for Conway comes when a former lover of his (or him as Kubrick) spills the beans and a story appears on the newspapers. The story then turns from a comedy to a tragedy at this stage. And the bright colored tapestry of the film, the glare of the cherry red furniture across bright green walls are replaced by shades of gray. Conway begs his former lover not to leave him saying he only did it (pretend to be Kubrick) because he wanted to escape from being himself. But Conway seemed better at playing Kubrick than playing himself, so his performance flops and his lover leaves him crying. Cut to the next scene where, Conway is walking along the beach, the sea breeze almost shedding his clothes off , bottle in hand, he stumbles and falls to the ground as the main song by Bryan Adams “I am not the man you think I am” plays in the background.

For his final performance, Conway managed to elude conviction when he convinces a do-good psychiatrist that he was in fact a victim himself. That his psychiatric condition actually cost him much of his life’s savings, paying for expensive dinners, staying in fancy hotels, etc. His argument was that it is not really easy being Stanley Kubrick.

Conway died in 1998 and then the real Stanley Kubrick soon followed.

Violent eviction in Goiania

settlement in Goiania, Brazil demolished. Photo courtesy of Indy Media


By HOMELESS 16/02/2005 At 23:57

A large military policy operation with 2,500 men has started this morning (February 16) for the eviction of the land occupation Sonho Real (Real Dream) in the city of Goiânia, Brazil. Two people got killed, over 800 people got arrested and several people are wounded (five were very seriously wounded). Among the arrested, two Indymedia volunteers, one from Goiânia and one from Indymedia New York.

The occupation started in may 2004 in an area which has been abandoned for years and quickly gathered 3,000 families. In January, Justice ordered the eviction of the families and since then police have been terrifying the families with death threats and sudden attacks. In February 11, police showed up suddenly and shot gas and concussion bombs and fired rubber bullets against the people. One child got hit by a concussion bomb. On February 15, in another attack, police shot bombs and fired with guns. Two people got hurt. After pressure from social movements and human rights groups, state of Goiás Governor Marconi Perillo committed himself not to send police to evict people in a violent way (you can hear his commitment in this recorded audio. Today's attack and the so far confirmed death of two people showed he did not stick to his words.
You can pressure authorities for the release of the arrested and for the investigation of the murders:

Marconi Ferreira Perillo JúniorGoias State GovernorPhone # 55 - 62 - 2131456 r.231Fax # 55 - 62 - 2131479 or 2131481E-mail: governador@palacio.go.gov.br
Jonathas SilvaPublic Security SecretaryPhone # 55 - 62 - 2651000 or 2651050Fax # 55 - 62 - 2651001 or 2651002E-mail: Isabela@go.gov.br

Feb 19, Indymedia Report

After the violent eviction suffered this Wednesday, the 16th of February, many of the families from the occupation Sonho Real spent the night at the Catedral of Goiania. Others stayed in a Gym, because no other space was provided for them after their eviction. IMC reporters are now hearing a great number of reports of police violence and authority abuse. Even neightbors from the occupation have made reports about being attacked by the police. Some have sought medical attention. A rally was called for today, the 17th of February at 9 AM in front of the Catedral of Goiania to protest against the violence and to demand punishment for the perpetrators. During the rally the homeless held a funeral for the two 2 militants killed in Wednesday's raid, Pedro Nascimento Silva and Wagner da Silva Moreira. During the demonstration some undercover cops were identified by the squatters while they were trying to arrest of one of the leaders of the Occupation. Trying to avoid prison, the homeless surrounded the police officers who shot many times in the direction of the crowd. In as attempt to escape, they ran to a square near the Military Police who proceeded to set up a police line and protect the undercover cops. Still coming in are many uncomfirmed reports of murders and extreme police violence, in addition to the reports about the missing bodies. A recent post to IMC reports bodies that had been hidden in tanks or burned by the police). At this time, some of the arrested remain in jail and it is estimated at least 50 people missing, based on the various eye witness reports.

Sem Terra

Young girl and her baby sister. MST camp outside Porto Alegre, Brasil. 1 February 2005. Photo by sep


Without land.

One of the most visible and vocal groups at the Fifth World Social Forum in Porto Alegre was the MST-the Landless Workers Movement in Brazil(http://www.mstbrazil.org/). MST is at the frontlines of the global war against poverty. For years, MST has been reclaiming people’s right to land and development through their radical strategy of land occupation.

With the help of people from Via Campesina, the international network of peasant movements, I together with the other members of the Focus delegation, visted two MST sites outside Porto Alegre. First was the camp where around 80 families live, cramped together in makeshift huts made out of black plastic bags erected on a small piece of occupied land near the highway. The ‘camp’ represents stage one of the occupation. Life in the camp seems harsh and difficult with no electricity, inadequate water, limited food and with the people there exposed to all the elements-the cold breeze at nite, rain, dust and the harassment from both the police and the private para-military guards of the idle property. From camps like these, MST communities launch their campaign to reclaim lands. They engage in dialogue with government, conduct mass mobilizations to make idle lands productive for the benefit of peasant communities.

I have stayed in impoverished communities before and have stared at faces hardened by deprivation and defeated by hopelessness. While the people in the MST camp still do struggle with their own personal demons of alcoholism and violence, what I saw in the faces of the people there, especially the children, was dignity and determination instead of defeat.

The second site we visited, a little farther away from the city, was a community re-named Filho de Sepe (“son of Sepe”). Sepe was a local hero that the community chose to honor by naming their new home after him. In sharp contrast to the camp we visited in the morning, the ‘settlement’ --as they call areas that they have successfully reclaimed—was a picture of a productive and vibrant community where people worked together to accomplish their collective goals. Here, small but decent houses made of concrete have replaced the black-plastic huts we saw in the camp. The settlement still faces a lot of challenges to make it viable and sustainable especially amid the threat of corporate globalization, but to me it represented a symbol of hope for the many who are struggling for dignity.

At the MST settlement we sat down and chatted with Marco, one of the leaders of the community, over a home-cooked meal of rice, potatoes, baked beans, and vegetables—to many of us the best and definitely most satisfying meal we've had during our short stay in Brazil.

The MST flag is hoisted at the opening march of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brasil. 26 January 2005. Photo by sep

two girls inside their make-shift house under the MST flag. outside Porto Alegre, Brasil. 1 February 2005. Photo by sep

Children playing cards at the MST camp outside Porto Alegre, Brasil. 1 February 2005. Photo by sep

Photos from Porto Alegre

Little boy oblivious to the electrifying presence of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who spoke at the WSF

midday at gasometro.

at nite our spirits danced to the rhythm of samba and bossa nova

Resting against the branches. 31 January 2005. Porto Alegre

FDC flag at sunset. 26 January 2005 in Porto Alegre

a korean activist carries their flag.

over a hundred thousand people joined the opening march of the WSF 2005 filling the streets of Gasometro with songs and dances from all over the world.

shouts of "Viva Viva Palestina"! reverberate at the closing march of the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre. 31 January 2005

Senyor Cohen

Dear Heather by Leonard Cohen 2004

January 5 nang huli kaming magjamming ni koyang sa lilim ng talisay. Ibinahagi niya ang kanyang mga bagong awit at sinuklian ko ng mga hiram na kanta mula kay Leonard Cohen. Simula nun ay nasa Leonard Cohen mode na ako. Paguwi ko sa bahay nung gabi na yun, salpak sa CD player: leonard cohen, pagsampa sa my bros. mustache para sa 12-2 set namin ni boy d: leonard cohen, kagabi sa opisina ng grey matter: leonard cohen pa rin. Ngayon sa opis habang pinipilit na habulin ang mga deadline: leonard cohen uli. Ito ang isang kanta mula sa pinaka bago niyang album na Dear Heather.

Pagsaluhan natin.

There for you

When it all went down and the pain came through
I get it now I was there for you
Don't ask me how I know it's true
I get it now I was there for you
I make my plans like I always do
But when I look back I was there for you
I walk the streets like I used to do
And I freeze with fear but I'm there for you
I see my life In full review It was never me It was always you
You sent me here you sent me there, breaking things I can't repair
Making objects out of thoughts, making more by thinking not
Eating food and drinking wine, A body that I thought was mine
Dressed as Arab dressed as Jew, O mask of iron I was there for you
Moods of glory, moods so foul
The world comes through, a bloody towel
And death is old, but it's always new
I freeze with fear And I'm there for you
I see it clear, I always knew
It was never me I was there for you, I was there for you
My darling one, and by your law it all was done