5 reasons why Iñigo Pascual is a gem in Philippine Showbiz

Hindi naman sa laging may doubt sa anak ng artista, but Iñigo Pascual’s father is the ultimate heartthrob Piolo Pascual. How can he possibly get out of his shadow?  But in my observation, he already did even without trying. The young talented young actor-singer-performer-composer just let his talents prove who he is and what he can offer in the Philippine Showbiz. Here the five unique things about Inigo that let his star shine brighter

1. Inigo Pascual doesn’t follow the saying “if you can’t beat them, join them.”

Well he can act, I saw his Maalaala Mo Kaya episode with his perennial love team Maris Racal. I also watched Jadine (James Reid and Nadine Lustre)’s starrer movie Para sa Hopeless Romantic, where he paired with Julie Barretto.  But in the field of acting, he has to endure love team rivalries, comparison with his male contemporaries, and doubts if he has the same Piolo’s acting prowess.  

Whoever decide for this (him/ management/ destiny?), its superb move that he doesn’t follow the saying “if you can’t beat them, join them.”  He tastefully prioritizes his passion in music, where he’s outstanding, over acting muna.  One proof of  that he's doing good is the record he made in the first ever Billboard Philippines Top 20. He’s the first Filipino singer to place Filipino song (Dahil Sa’yo) in the top spot.   Does that chart similar to local radio countdowns  mechanics? Apparently, no. According to Neilsen Music,  Dahil sa Iyo got the top spot because it has colossal performance in Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and Apple iTunes. 

Gusto ko lang idea na ginawang pang-zumba rin ito

2.  Inigo has distinct qualities to be Alagad ng Sining or OPM

We know that there already renown singers in the genre of Pop, Soul, Ballad, Acoustic, RnB etc.  We also know  a lot of great Filipino performers here and abroad.  But if you ask hundreds of Filipino music artists all they want is basically to have at least one original trademark hit song. That’s easy actually if you are a natural songwriter/ composer like Ogie Alcasid, Rey Valera, Jose Mari Chan, Freddie Aguilar, Rico Blanco, Yeng Constantino, and may I add, Bruno Mars. 

(an international project)

Though Inigo has only few own compositions (oh dahil iilan pa lang alam ko) so far, may good start and indication that he can make more music.  That means this generation has new sound to listen and someone to look up to if they want to become musicians. If that happens, Filipino music and OPM industry will benefit. How?

(His another composition)

•          If people  legally patronize local products, they give jobs and sales to their countrymen
•          If  people loyally patronize local artists it uplift their love for their own arts and culture
•          If people recognize their own true  artists and music, we sincerely “ proud to be Filipino”
•          If Filipinos really proud to be Filipino, we can conquer local and international music scenes.

Furthermore being singer-songwriter/composer have more chance to become immortal music artist ( icon) even if they go hiatus. For example, Ber months/ yuletide season na kapag naririnig mo na si Jose Mari Chan.

3. This boy can sing and dance gracefully

What inspires me to write this post is his Lumang Tugtugin song. I first saw it on Instagram (where he danced with Aaron “Joven Hernando” Villaflor), and then sa Youtube when I searched its music video (featuring Maris Racal). Oh boy, this Inigo Pascual  has good voice quality (smooth ang hagod ng pagkulot ng boses, but still clear ang lyrics).  I also like that this song is in Filipino and the “Lumang Tugtugin” is a pop coined expression of Pinoys. Initially, I thought it is about reminiscing music in the past. Well sort of. But I like the entire music video from the theme to vfx to outfits to acting to dance.

And speaking of dance, he’s an outstanding dancer.  He’s not someone who just copies steps, but he really enjoys and produces cool moves.   Combining this art with singing is hard huh (and only few can do it well), and yet Inigo can.

I am fan of Bruno Mars and I can say, medyo nakikita ko ang pagka-Bruno Mars kay Inigo. However I know Inigo can do his own mark/flavor as a multitalented performer because…

Gustong-gusto ko rin itong positive song na ito 

 Live Brighter ( Go Well) 

4. He’s humble and akin to hone his crafts

I admire personalities who are humble to accept that they need to learn more, even if they’re already good and popular in what they do.  When I watched an interview of Georcelle Dapat, a sought-after choreographer behind G-Force, she shared that Inigo Pascual is a committed student. He always practice.  Eh that time, Inigo is already a good dancer for me, so wow… he has no ego/ attitude problem.

Recently I also learned in Magandang Buhay interview of his Mom (Donna Lazaro) that in the beginning, the Iñigo Pascual we know is different.  Straight from his Mom’s mouth, he was not good in singing and yet it’s him who initiated to become artista. She let him had voice lessons to hone his talent, which obviously something he took seriously.

5.  Inigo Pascual has interesting personality that you can relate

• he's collaborative

• he's open-minded ( knows  money management too) 

• he loves his parents

• and...

gusto ko itong tandem ng Marnigo,  both can sing, dance, and compose songs
(photo credit:  Iñigo Pascual /Instagram)  

Reflection, Review of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral Part II

Ano nga  ba ang alam natin kay Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral?  Dapat bang makilala siya at itampok sa isang full length film na gaya ng ginawa nina Jerold Tarog, Artikulo Uno Productions at TBA Studios?  Nabigyan ba ng justice ni Paulo Avelino ang  pagsubok na  maipakilala si Gen. Gregorio Del Pilar?  Narito ang part II ng aking movie review and in addition, reflection sa epic hero Filipino film na ito na produced din ng Globe Studios.

Cont.  Good points of Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

·         Letting characters/ actors to shine –  Nabanggit ko sa part I ng Movie Review na yung pagpili ng actor  to portray a character  ( at hindi paggawa ng character na swak sa artista) ay isang bentahe ng Goyo ( at Heneral Luna). If magaling si Mon Confiado para mag-fit sa big role n'yang si Emilio Aguinaldo, dapat ding palakpakan ang pagpapakilala ni Alvin Anson kay Gen. Jose Alejandrino. Kung tutukan mo ang journey niya sa movie ay malaki at marami kang makukuhang history lessons sa kanya na applicable pa rin hanggang ngayon gaya ng...

o   Pagiging unfit/ unqualified ng mga matataas na sundalong Pilipino noong Philippine-American War.  ( Dito ko na-appreciate ang mataktikang tao gaya nina Gen. Antonio Luna at Apolinario Mabini)

o   Kung anong klaseng pagkilala ang nakukuha ng mga sundalo noon hindi  lamang mula sa mga Amerikano, kundi sa matataas na opisyal na kapwa Filipino

o   At ano ba ang nagtatakda sa iyo bilang matinong opisyal/ sundalo

Hindi lamang maayos ang pagkakalahad sa character kundi maging pagkaka-portray. Ganito rin ang masasabi ko sa mga characters nina Don Mariano Nable José( played by Robert Seña), Remedios Nable José ( Gwen Zamora), Felicidad Aguinaldo (Empress Schuck), Colonel Vicente Enriquez (Carlo Aquino ), Colonel Julian del Pilar (Rafa Siguion-Reyna), Major Manuel Bernal ( Art Acuña),  Major Evaristo Ortiz (Roeder Camañag), General Elwell Otis  (E. A. Rocha), General Arthur MacArthur (Miguel Faustmann)  at iba pa.

·         Investment in the Love Interest.  Alam naman natin na sa movie ay importante ang love interest at kung si Paulo Avelino ang bida ay puwedeng kumuha ng may  chemistry na sa kanya. Then… oops Gwen Zamora and Empress Schuck? Kung usapang chemistry hindi ko masabi, pero kung usapang nagawa ba nila Gwen at Empress ang hinihingi ng kanilang role, big Yes! Nadama ko kay Empress 'yong longing ni Felicidad na sana “ Popoy Goyo ako na lang, ako na lang ulit” :P   Kay Gwen naman, nagpakita siya ng aura na naiiba sa lahat ng napanood kong female characters.  Hindi mataray, pa-choosy,o  pinaplastik kang pahinhin.  Nandoon yung she knows what she wants, though she is not sure.”  Napanood ko na ang ibang acting pieces ni Gwen, pero dito ako nagandahan sa kanya at sa kanyang pagganap.

·        Music – Hindi ko na maalala kung tinablan ako nang matindi sa musical score o OST ng Heneral Luna (  siguro oo pero hindi ko rin nabanggit sa film review ko noon).  Dito sa Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral may nagustuhan akong beat na pang  “preparing for something”  dahil nakaka-set ng mood.  Siempre laki rin ng katok nung Bato sa Buhangin  ( Glaiza De Castro) sabay akyat  sa mountain ni Madam Remedios at yung  closing song na Susi ng  Ben and Ben.

·         Paulo Avelino bilang Gen. Gregorio “Goyo” - Nag-iisip ako kung may iba pang puwedeng gumanap na Goyo.  Mayroon siguro, pero dahil solved na ako  kay Paulo, ba't pa ako mag-iisip?  Slight lang ako naghanap ng pakikipag-espadahan n’ya? Pero okay na okay na ako sa mga pa-charming, kalokohan niya with his Dabarkads, at ang mga oras na nagdududa s’ya sa kanyang ginagawa.  Iyong battlefield ay nasa sarili n’ya rin e. May  multo na nabuo dahil sa pagkagiba ng inaakala niyang pedestal. Mahirap din pala talaga ang mamili ng hero o iidolohin.    Saka mukhang inaral talaga ni Paulo ang pangangabayo at ibang nuances ni Goyo. Pero kung ako ang tatanungin, medyo nakikita ko pa ang pagka-Paulo sa galawan n’ya bilang Goyo.  Puwedeng okay lang naman ‘yon o hindi.

·         Cinematography – Ang daming landscape na kuha na ang gagaganda. Parang gugustuhin mo na rin mamundok at mamuhay noong panahon na iyon... kung walang giyera sa mga babae este bayan. Ini-expect ko rin na kinarir ang setting sa Dagupan dahil wala naman akong napansin na modern things o eyesore. Pinakagusto ko sa cinematography ay noong pagsikat ng araw noong laban sa Tirad Pass at ang malilim na panahon sa bundok na kinatatayuan ni Remedios.

Other comments about Goyo  

 Sa dami ng napuri ko sa Goyo, ang hirap sabihin noong hindi ko nagustuhan sa film. Kung ihahambing ko ito sa ibang Epic Hero Filipino Movie lalo na sa Heneral Luna, may mapapansin ako. Pero hindi ako aabot doon dahil okay ang presentation at buong movie. Kung baga kung babalikan ang sinabi ko sa Part 1,  nagmumula kasi sa subject kung gaano ba s’ya ka-interesante.  Ang iba ko lang napansin ay:

•  Mas kamukha ni  Roeder Camañag si Apolinario Mabini
•  Natawa ako nung nakita ko si Jun “Bayaw’ Sabayton bilang kapatid daw ni Antonio Luna.  Ano, dahil lang ba sa may bigote s’ya? Nakakadalawa na itong bigote n’ya ha (una sa Kusina Kings bilang ama kuno ni Empoy) hahaha.
• Panis ang mga Kano because Filipinos can speak/ understand (Ortiz) Filipino, Spanish, and English wala pa ‘yong mga dialects. Pero oo nga ba’t walang punto (accent) yung mga taga-Bulacan, Dagupan, at iba pa.  
• Maganda ring kunan ng words of wisdom si Lieutenant Pantaleon García na ginagampanan ni Ronnie Lazaro

7 Reflections on Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

·         Ang  babaero parang hindi lang sa puso walang disposisyon, kundi maging sa desisyon at direksyon ng kanyang buhay. Parang ang hirap niyang makahanap ng peace of mind?  

·         Sa iyong pakikidigma (maging ano man o kanino) ay kailangan mong matututo ng  taktika at sa pagkakamali ng iba ( sinabi rin yan ni Miguel Laureano na ginampanan ni Jojit Lorenzo)

·         Maging mapili sa kilalanin mong idolo o bayani at siguraduhin mo na i-admire mo lang s'ya at hindi ka padala sa pagiging panatiko ( still relevant hanggang ngayon). 

·         Huwag kang mabulag sa popularity o imahe mo sa  iba. Hindi mahalaga kung ano tingin nila sa iyo, kundi kung sino ka ba talaga. 

·         Sa aspeto ng pag-ibig o pakikipagrelasyon, agree ako kay Remedios Jose. At feeling ko maaari na may "what if " siya kay Goyo, pero hindi niya  pinanghinayangan ang kanyang desisyon. Mahirap magmahal ng taong pinagduduhan mo at kung may pag-asang mayayakap mo nang matagal

·         Ano ang  panghahawakan mo para maniwala kang mananalo sa gitna ng labang ikaw ang dehado?

Naniniwala ako na totoo na may pagkakataon ( kahit isang saglit na interaction lang) ay siyang babago ng takbo ng iyong pananaw.  Nasa sa iyo kung ipagkikibit mo ng balikat o ituturing na turning point iyon ng  iyong buhay.