Mon David: A jazz genius catching our imagination

By Prosy AbArquez-DelAcruz, J.D. AnD Ann DAviD

JAZZ critic Roger Crane writes: “Like Mark Murphy whose singing he at times resembles, [Mon] David can swing you into bad health and then, turn around and break your heart with a ballad.”

“Mon David is no ordinary singer. He is an artist with the command of music theory, as well as an understanding of the larger socio-cultural/historical milieu that shape the songs he sings. And he’s humble and down to earth.” – Nonoy Alsaybar, Ph.D., retired teacher of music and a former violinist for the Manila Symphony Orchestra These quotes describe the interior alignment of Mon David, synchronized within, to give his best to the decades-long craft of composing, making music, and singing jazz, a fusion of music theory and practice. But not without personal cost to his family time.

“When our four kids were toddlers, Mon was busy earning a living, doing shows with Apo Hiking Society, as their vocal coach, drummer and music arranger. They did shows around the Philippines and travelled around the world for a decade. He wasn’t able to devote as much time to the kids as he does now to our grandchildren. Mon is such a loving, caring and a very patient grandpa. ’Every child should feel the love and warmth of a grandparent,’” Mon’s wife Ann wrote to me.

David’s genius nurtured by parental harmony and by a caring ecosystem There is no dissonance in what Mon does, as the Holy Angel University‘s vetting process, which included the university’s trustees, concluded how in early decades, Kapampangan songs were casually sung prior in school programs, in church hymns, liturgies, novena festivals, karaoke parties, and played in radios and streets and in pirated CDs.

Enter Mon David, “The Kapampangan equivalent of Elvis Presley,” who elevated the Kapampangan music to national and international stages of Japan, London and the United States, with high quality and sustained excellence. He was granted the Juan D. Nepomuceno Award for Cultural Award for Kapampangan Arts on March 8, 2023, the day after International Women’s Day, celebrated for and to elevate women’s rights around the world with Andy Alviz receiving the award on Mon’s behalf.

The award was named after Juan D. Nepomuceno, the Old Man Nepomuceno who literally built Pampanga, its electric plant, its subdivisions and even served as one of the presidents of Holy Angel University.

To be recognized in the same light as the award was named for, should guide one’s awareness that Mon David’s excellence is considered a strong pillar of cultural development in Pampanga, but also in the U.S. and around the world.

Today, Holy Angel University serves as a training incubator of academic excellence in Aseanbased universities and has used technology and appropriate infrastructural building changes to provide current realities and simulations in different industries like hospitality, animation, digital arts, communications and more to prepare their thousands of students to be highly competitive in the real world.

Every human talent is influenced by both genes and experiences, writes Angela Duckworth, Ph.D., in “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.” much like Mon David. He grew up listening to his parents sing together.

“I did not see them fight,” Mon said. “Iinstead, I heard them sing a lot, I remember as early as five years old.”

Beyond ancestral genes and a caring ecosystem, Grit’s author describes 67 traits of geniuses, but synthesized grit as the combination of persistence of motive: working actively towards a definite goal, without seeking change, nor the tendency to abandon tasks from changeability, instead a degree of will and perseverance to stay the course and the passion to not abandon the task, in the face of obstacles and of course, the power of experiences, where grit is learned from overcoming struggles of climbing the mountain and after ascent of the summit after struggling, a confidence is gained to try something harder, something new.

Who other than his caring and loving spouse, Ann, would witness this evolution of grit through several decades in Pampanga, Manila, London and several countries in the world?

Ann described to me in a message at early dawn:

”Mon recorded ‘Himno Ning Capampangan’ which is considered the Kapampangan national anthem sung in schools and government institutions after the Philippine National Anthem, ‘Lupang Hinirang.’ He also recorded the now iconic ‘Kapampangan Ku!’ with the musical theater group ‘ArtiStaRita’ founded and directed by kabalen and friend Andy Alviz who wrote it and was one of the past recipients of this excellence award. Mon has also recorded several anthems like ‘Himno Ning Sto. Tomas’ (his hometown at Himno Ning Candaba. Three Kapampangan albums were made by Mon. This is while immersing himself in different genres (classics and jazz pop), all while nurturing his love for the Kapampangan language, songs, poetry which explains his latest CD, ‘Tagimpan’, poems that he transformed into songs.”

Mon’s jazz CD, “DNA (David Nelson Agreement),” released August 7, 2020, at the height of the pandemic, was a beautiful

Eraserheads rocks live at Pechanga Resort Casino on May 28

ALTERNATIVE rock band “Eraserheads,” one of the most successful and sought-after groups in the history of Filipino music, performs live in Pechanga Resort Casino on Sunday, May 28 at 6 p.m., in a series of world concert tours for the entire year.

Pechanga Resort Casino, conveniently located off Highway I-15 in Temecula Valley, referred to as Southern California wine county, is wellknown for hosting only the best and the brightest Filipino entertainers and performers aimed to provide the ultimate experience especially to its Filipino-American patrons.

Led by Ely Buendia, Rayms Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro, the Eraserheads is best known for its 1995 hit song “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” that landed an International Viewer’s Choice Award for MTV Asia in 1997 and Awit (Song) Award for most downloaded song while also being nominated for best musical arrangement.

Ely is the lead vocals and rhythm guitarist, Rayms beats the drums, Buddy plays the bass, and Marcus is lead guitarist. Rayms, Buddy and Marcus also do backup vocals.

Ang Huling El Bimbo (The Last Attractive Unintelligent Woman),” depicts an unreciprocated love story between childhood friends who grew up and grew apart, and only headed to a tragic end.

Often dubbed as “The Beatles” of the Philippines, the decades-old rock band formed in 1989 are credited for spearheading a second wave of Manila band invasions.

Four other soundtracks became successive hits – “Kailan (When),” “Magasin (Magazine),” Alapaap (High Clouds),” and “With Smile” – turned gold in a span of 30 days with 20,000 copies sold then later earned quintuple platinum with 220,000 copies sold.

The pop band went global performing concerts from Sentosa Pop Festival in Singapore to the United States at the Palace in Hollywood. At the

Radio City Music Hall in New York, the group received the coveted “Moon Man” trophy for bagging the 1997 MTV Asia Viewer’s Choice Award, making Eraserheads the first-ever Filipino artists to win the award.

Eraserheads also performed live in Tokyo, Japan and from Oakland to Los Angeles, California, and as far as Dubai, HongKong, Sydney, Chicago, United Arab Emirates and London.

The band has also performed alongside the country’s top-notch rap singer the late Francis Magalona and famed singer Gary Valenciano.

The Eraserheads concert may only strike once! Buy your tickets now from the Pechanga Box Office, or by calling 888-810-8871, or visit www. pechnga.com.

Pechanga Summit features a 40,000-square foot area for entertainers, concerts, live sporting events, trade shows, weddings, or any large groups to book. In total, Pechanga now offers 274,500 square feet of indoor/outdoor contemporary meeting and event space, which significantly enhanced the amenities, space and visibility of Pechanga’s event offerings.

Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Voted the number one casino in the country by USA Today and rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,400 of hottest slots, 152 table games, a 1,100 room and suite hotel, dining, luxury spa, and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination that meets and exceeds the needs of its guests and the community. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 711-2946 or visit www.pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook and on Twitter @PechangaCasino.

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