The program for this year's event does not include a line up of entertainment. But, be tuned in to this blog and I will get you a line up. Please be informed that Olomwaay will appear on Sunday, April 27 at 12 p.m. Come see us. : )
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Olomwaay Performing at the Flame Tree Arts Festival
The program for this year's event does not include a line up of entertainment. But, be tuned in to this blog and I will get you a line up. Please be informed that Olomwaay will appear on Sunday, April 27 at 12 p.m. Come see us. : )
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Trip to Paradise
Ahhh...today is Sunday of April 13. Tomorrow will be Monday. Next year will be 2009 and we get to celebrate more birthdays. It's an exciting day for me. Just glad to share that Olomwaay is going to be releasing its album this year! The title of this album is "Trip to Paradise." It will feature six (6) original songs, which also include two hits, "She Gave Us Love" and "Ta Baila Na Dos" released back in 1999. We are releasing six this year because that's all we can afford. The more songs added to the album, the more money is required to get it through post production and all. We're hoping that we could get some albums sold before people start burning our CD's. If we sell enough, we would utilize the profit made to release our Christmas album. With the exception of the traditional Christmas songs, Olomwaay will put out all of its original compositions. I'll keep you all posted, so make sure to be checking back and forth on the latest news. Thanks for your patience. For those I promised a long, long time ago, Olomwaay is starting to appear on YouTube. Again, more to come.I wanted to take a ride down to the beach, but after thinking about the increase in gas prices, I changed my mind. Save fuel for more important things. It's still a good day to stay home. Reed Warblers are seen flying in and out of the outside kitchen. Are they still endangered? They're everywhere. It's fun to see these cute, tiny creatures flying so close to where you sit.
Photo taken from this link (click here).No fear. They are wild and untamed. They lay their eggs in the nests they built through openings in the ceiling.
The other day, I saw the tail of a stray cat peeking out from one of the openings. There goes the entire colony...I think. Uuuu! I wish I could climb all the way up there to pull that cat away from the nesting area. The problem is, I don't want to end up hard on the ground. Cats can jump and land on all four, so best I keep safe...best to just forget it. I guess birds are intelligent enough to know that when cats are around, the nesting areas should be moved to a different location. I think they have their own survival manual - used by their leaders, or care takers to help keep the Warbler species going. It goes something like the following:
"MORE STRAY CATS (big & small) APPROACHING THE KAIPAT COMPOUND! Build thy nest elsewhere...go to the neighbor's next door...less cats there. If possible, avoid nesting in the ceiling...preserve the ways of the ancestors...pick a tangantangan tree and hang on to it..." Heheh!
On another subject matter -- power will be shutdown today at 12 p.m. here in Koblerville. What does this mean? It means we don't eat in the dark tonight. The previous outages damaged my AC's. We've managed to get one running again, but it's not cooling the house as much as it used. We used to get this cool breeze from the east. Years and years ago, we had never even dreamt about getting the house air conditioned. But, our next door neighbors sold their property and in a year, we lost the breeze. A commercial building has taken up the entire property sealing off the air with its massive structure. It ain't so bad when the sun is above us. But as soon as it passes over towards the west, it heats up this huge wall next to the house.
The other day, I saw the tail of a stray cat peeking out from one of the openings. There goes the entire colony...I think. Uuuu! I wish I could climb all the way up there to pull that cat away from the nesting area. The problem is, I don't want to end up hard on the ground. Cats can jump and land on all four, so best I keep safe...best to just forget it. I guess birds are intelligent enough to know that when cats are around, the nesting areas should be moved to a different location. I think they have their own survival manual - used by their leaders, or care takers to help keep the Warbler species going. It goes something like the following:
"MORE STRAY CATS (big & small) APPROACHING THE KAIPAT COMPOUND! Build thy nest elsewhere...go to the neighbor's next door...less cats there. If possible, avoid nesting in the ceiling...preserve the ways of the ancestors...pick a tangantangan tree and hang on to it..." Heheh!
On another subject matter -- power will be shutdown today at 12 p.m. here in Koblerville. What does this mean? It means we don't eat in the dark tonight. The previous outages damaged my AC's. We've managed to get one running again, but it's not cooling the house as much as it used. We used to get this cool breeze from the east. Years and years ago, we had never even dreamt about getting the house air conditioned. But, our next door neighbors sold their property and in a year, we lost the breeze. A commercial building has taken up the entire property sealing off the air with its massive structure. It ain't so bad when the sun is above us. But as soon as it passes over towards the west, it heats up this huge wall next to the house.
Everyday, this house sits next to an oven that cools down late in the evening. I wish I lived up in the hills next to hundreds of trees that give off oxygen. Maybe some day, this wish will come true. Maybe I should go to the beach today. :D
Monday, April 7, 2008
My magical moment with Jun
It was an exciting week. Olomwaay was prepping to open for Jake Shimabukuro's concert, which was scheduled to take place in a matter of days. Every chance I'd get, I would rehearse on my own. Jun was just being his usual happy six year old self - running in and out of the house, making noise here and there. I got my guitar from the storage room to get it all polished up. New strings were bought to replace the old and rusty ones I had on the guitar. Afterwards, I decided to go ahead and set up rehearsal in the living room. I hooked up the guitar into my new guitar amplifier - a gift from a member of Olomwaay now residing in the U.S. Mainland, Mr. Gus Litulumar, and started getting my fingers warmed up. It was a good feeling. It's been a while since Olomwaay's last jam session.
As soon as he heard me playing the intro to the song titled "Won't you listen to me (Ow woloo)", Jun came running into the living room, and went straight for the uke case. With the uke in one hand, Jun turned the guitar amplifier so that the speaker would face where he was going to sit. I was laughing in my head because this was totally unexpected. I had to stop to wait for him. After making adjustments to the amp, he came and sat down next to me. I said, "OK, Jun on the count of three..." I counted, then I started playing the intro. To my amazement, Jun's strumming was pretty good! I repeated the song several times just to see how he would react to changes in the tempo. Every time I'd change the tempo, Jun would go along with the rhythm. I'd speed up the song, or slow it down, but Jun was right on track.
I stopped and asked him, "Jun, would you like to perform with Olomwaay at the benefit concert?" Jun's response was, "Is it OK?" I said, "I think it's OK..." LOL! Anyway, Jun did well that night. You can view his performance with Olomwaay below on this short video I prepared for my sister, Cinta. Please enjoy this magical time with Jun! :D
As soon as he heard me playing the intro to the song titled "Won't you listen to me (Ow woloo)", Jun came running into the living room, and went straight for the uke case. With the uke in one hand, Jun turned the guitar amplifier so that the speaker would face where he was going to sit. I was laughing in my head because this was totally unexpected. I had to stop to wait for him. After making adjustments to the amp, he came and sat down next to me. I said, "OK, Jun on the count of three..." I counted, then I started playing the intro. To my amazement, Jun's strumming was pretty good! I repeated the song several times just to see how he would react to changes in the tempo. Every time I'd change the tempo, Jun would go along with the rhythm. I'd speed up the song, or slow it down, but Jun was right on track.
I stopped and asked him, "Jun, would you like to perform with Olomwaay at the benefit concert?" Jun's response was, "Is it OK?" I said, "I think it's OK..." LOL! Anyway, Jun did well that night. You can view his performance with Olomwaay below on this short video I prepared for my sister, Cinta. Please enjoy this magical time with Jun! :D
Saturday, April 5, 2008
27th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival
April 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2008
Susupe Park on Beach Road
Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
Here's a quick note to all friends that I will not be joining the Committee for this year's Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival. I got other plans, and one of them is to kick back and enjoy this year's event. I know that this year's festival is going to be HUGE, folks, so I am definately looking forward to some fun time.
Join me at the festival. I will be performing with Olomwaay. Please come and support the largest event in the Northern Marianas. If you missed last month's announcements in the paper, click on the links below for more information:
1. Thur., Apr.24, 2008 -- Saipan Tribune: Arts festival expecting 50,000-plus visitors -- Last year's Flame Tree Festival attracted at least 50,000 people to the event, according to the Commonwealth Council for Arts and Culture, and it is hoping that the 27th edition of the annual festival will attract a much bigger turnout...
2. Apr.17, 2008 -- Locl News, Marianas Variety
3. Apr.11, 2008 -- Saipan Tribune
4. Apr.08, 2008 -- Saipan Tribune
5. Mar.27, 2008 -- Local News, Marianas Variety
6. Mar.18, 2008 -- Community, Saipan Tribune
7. Mar.17, 2008 -- Local, Saipan Tribune
Below are links to videos and photos online taken from previous Flame Tree Arts Festivals. Enjoy!
1. April 2006, Polynesian magical fire dance
2. April 2007, Jacqueline Hernandez photos
3. April 2007, Refaluwasch maas by Longowofisch (see also Just Relax)
4. April 2007, Set up by CNMI Blogger
5. April 2007, Slide show by Pride Of CNMI
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Pictures from Jake Shimabukuro's Concert
First of all, I would like to thank Jake Shimabukuro for coming to Saipan. I would also like to thank the Concert Committee for having Olomwaay open for Jake. Also, many, many thanks to the hard working volunteers of Beautify CNMI! especially the security, sound and stage crew whose names are listed below:
Security, Sound & Stage Committee:
1. Jacob Lizama, Sound & Stage crew
2. Joe Saures, Sound & Stage crew
3. AJ Kaipat Lizama, Sound & Stage crew
4. Cris Kaipat, Head of Sound Operations
5. Pete Towai, Head of Security (two other recruits ... sorry did not write their names down)
Pete Towai and I helped organize the 25th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival in 2006. I was placed in charge of the Entertainment Committee and only had two months to put together a four-day show for the Commonwealth. Pete's networking abilities helped put the Entertainment Committee in total control of the festival. We had a successful event and went on to receive recognition from the community and the local goverment.
Pete Towai introduced me to Jake Shimabukuro on YouTube back in 2006. My inital reaction when I first saw the video was, "WOW!" I never thought that great things could actually come from a little instrument like the ukulele. Right away, I knew that having him at the Flame Tree Festival would be a MAJOR deal. Unfortunately, timing and budget was not in our favor so the idea was set aside.
When I learned that Beautify CNMI! had teamed up with HANMI this year to bring Jake Shimabukuro to Saipan, I just couldn't believe it. The Committee requested for Olomwaay to open for Jake, so I recruited Pete Towai again to help me oversee security. I introduced Pete to Jake Shimabukuro during our sound check. Jake autographed Pete's uke, so I think that made Pete very happy. : )
I am posting photos taken by my good friend, Hideo Honda of HYS, Inc. a.k.a Photographic Republic (marianas_way2@yahoo.com).
(Olomway - left to right): Benji Limes, 2nd lead guitarist; Dolores Saures, Uke player; Gus Kaipat, Lead vocals & guitarist; Cris Kaipat, Uke player and Miki Lisua, Bassman.
Security, Sound & Stage Committee:
1. Jacob Lizama, Sound & Stage crew
2. Joe Saures, Sound & Stage crew
3. AJ Kaipat Lizama, Sound & Stage crew
4. Cris Kaipat, Head of Sound Operations
5. Pete Towai, Head of Security (two other recruits ... sorry did not write their names down)
Pete Towai and I helped organize the 25th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival in 2006. I was placed in charge of the Entertainment Committee and only had two months to put together a four-day show for the Commonwealth. Pete's networking abilities helped put the Entertainment Committee in total control of the festival. We had a successful event and went on to receive recognition from the community and the local goverment.
Pete Towai introduced me to Jake Shimabukuro on YouTube back in 2006. My inital reaction when I first saw the video was, "WOW!" I never thought that great things could actually come from a little instrument like the ukulele. Right away, I knew that having him at the Flame Tree Festival would be a MAJOR deal. Unfortunately, timing and budget was not in our favor so the idea was set aside.
When I learned that Beautify CNMI! had teamed up with HANMI this year to bring Jake Shimabukuro to Saipan, I just couldn't believe it. The Committee requested for Olomwaay to open for Jake, so I recruited Pete Towai again to help me oversee security. I introduced Pete to Jake Shimabukuro during our sound check. Jake autographed Pete's uke, so I think that made Pete very happy. : )
I am posting photos taken by my good friend, Hideo Honda of HYS, Inc. a.k.a Photographic Republic (marianas_way2@yahoo.com).
(Above Photo) The Jungle Stage, Saipan World Resort.
(Olomway - left to right): Benji Limes, 2nd lead guitarist; Dolores Saures, Uke player; Gus Kaipat, Lead vocals & guitarist; Cris Kaipat, Uke player and Miki Lisua, Bassman.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
