The Emotional True Story Behind the Itchyworm’s Latest MV “Di Na Muli”

Published on June 25, 2018July 2, 2018 by Gurezu5 Comments

Long before Itchyworms became mainstream popular, I have already adored this band because of the usual funny attack to emotional songs. Their song entitled “Happy Birthday” is one of my all-time favorites. The melody is happy and festive but the lyrics narrates a story about a birthday celebration of a man whom no one remembers. Whey they had big break in OPM scene, I was really happy because this band deserves it.

And now, I just saw their latest music video for their song “Di Na Muli” and I could not contain the overwhelming emotions it gives me. Moreover, it comes with a true to life story that is both romantic and melancholic.

Di Na Muli was written in 2016 by long-time friends Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola. They entered the song into the 5th Philippine Popular (PhilPop) Music Festival, performed by The Itchyworms, where it won the grand prize. Now, in 2018, the song has been given new life in the official soundtrack of the hit film Sid & Aya (Not A Love Story) (Viva Films, starring Dingdong Dantes and Anne Curtis, directed by Irene Villamor). ‘

The music video, however, tells another story that is different from the movie. I will directly quote the narration of music video “co-director Juno Oebanda” on how he came up with the idea of this music video. This is also shared in the comment section in youtube.

“WHO IS THE LADY IN THE VIDEO”

By co-director Juno Oebanda

Rosky Balahadia Hilado, widow of the late Teodoro “Teddy” Hilado to whom the video is dedicated to. When I first heard DI NA MULI after The Itchyworms bagged grand prize at PhilPop 2016 it moved me to tears like no other. Having known the band for quite some time I called them and expressed the desire to do a music video – I felt the song written by Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola was so powerful it needed a proper one. But how? What treatment?

The light bulb came close to Teddy Hilado’s first death anniversary in 2016 and so the story goes …. Teddy in his younger years was the first technical and lighting director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Bayanihan Dance Group , this is where he met the young Rosky at that time one of the principal dancers of the Bayanihan. At the CCP is where their love story started – Teddy designing the lights over dances that Rosky did on stage.

I presented the story line to the Worms and they liked it and proceeded to talk to the CCP if we could film in and around the theater. We were given a venue grant easily since Teddy is one of CCP’s pioneers. By this time, I had to look for a partner to do this with, not being a film director I called up Direk Paolo Abella an expert in film to help me execute this project. Support in the form equipment came from the LIVE entertainment industry as well. So the music video story goes… Rosky comes back to the CCP stage after more than 20 years and reminisces how and where her love story with Teddy started. This is where Rosky takes over and owns the song, how she walked, how she smiled, how she cried and how she gracefully danced were all real emotions. The young Rosky was played by Kare Adea who was equally wonderful.

In this photo, I was giving Tita Rosky blocking instructions when she whispered to me smiling but with tears in her eyes, “I haven’t been on this stage for more than 20 years.” I said, “TIta this last sequence is where you will dance with Tito Teddy, dance with the light Tita, dance with Tito Teddy”. What happened next was magical, her poise – her grace was that of a woman dancing with her love again, there was no acting here. The beautiful, emotional lighting execution was by Shakira Villa Symes who for a time was mentored by Teddy Hilado himself, I could not think of any other current Lighting Director more worthy of doing this but Shari. The video ends with Rosky with a solo top light. Go figure.

Di Na Muli – is a gem of a song that comes around not too often. It’s a song that becomes yours, you own it. Any other story would have made a wonderful narrative, this one just has a setting that all of us can relate to, who does not love the beauty that is the CCP anyway.”

Watch the music video itself and be mesmerized by the stunning performance of Itchyworms and Mrs. Rosky Hilardo. I also copied the lyrics below.

Verse:

Nung araw kay tamis ng ating buhay

Puno ng saya at ng kulay

Di mauulit muli

Ang oras kapag hinayaang lumipas

Madarama mo hanggang bukas

Di mababawi muli

Chorus:

Ang dami daming bagay na hindi naman kailangan

Kung pwede lang bawasan natin ang mga tampuhan

Hindi mo lang alam hindi mo pa nararanasan

Kahapon sana natin di mo na pinahirapan

Patawad muli

Di na muli

Verse:

Ang oras kapag hinayaang lumipas

Madarama mo hanggang bukas

Di mababawi muli

(Instrumental)

Bridge:

At natapos ang himas ng sandal

Di kukubli aking tinig

Nang lumipas na’t di man lang nasabi

Salamat hanggang sa muli

Chorus:

Ang dami daming bagay na hindi naman kailangan

Kung pwede lang bawasan natin ang mga tampuhan

Hindi mo lang alam hindi mo pa nararanasan

Kahapon sana natin di mo na pinahirapan

Patawad muli

Di na muli

Binawi buhay mo ng walang sabi

Binubulong ko sa sarili

Mahal kita hanggang sa huli

Mahal ko hanggang sa huli

I shared this music video with a close friend and of course, noted him to read the story behind it in youtube. Here is his reaction.

My friend is now in ugly crying mode. Mission Accomplished!

Thank you Itchyworms! You are a gem in OPM scene. Please don’t disband ever!

And to Direk Juno for being the mastermind of this touching music video.

Have you watched the video? What did you feel about it? I would love to hear your thoughts!

Other links to listen this song and credits.

Youtube link for Di Na Muli official music video: https://youtu.be/rgHHJkzn5TU

For updates about The Itchyworms, you can follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Listen to the music of The Itchyworms on Spotify, Deezer and iTunes.

Check out their music videos: Official Youtube channel
Video Credits

Di Na Muli
Words and Music by Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola

Starring
Rosky Balahadia Hilado
Carissa Adea
and The Itchyworms

Executive Producers: Juno Oebanda and The Itchyworms
Directors: Paolo Abella and Juno Oebanda
Director of Photography: Arvin Viola
Lighting Director: Shakira Villa-Symes
Drone Pilot: Paolo Jaminola
Editor: PJ Corpuz
Colorist: Marilen Magsaysay

Special Thanks to:
Audio Video Solutions Corporation
Soundcheck Inc.
Forerunner Technologies Inc.
JB Music
Forscink Inc.
Digital Fusion Productions
Aero 360 International
Creative Control Group

The administration and staff of the Cultural Center of the Philippines

Day 7 of Portrait Challenge And My Favorite Lightroom Presets For Portraits

Published on June 20, 2018June 20, 2018 by Gurezu4 Comments

This is Day 7 and the final day of the challenge. Aside from showcasing these portraits I captured during Camerahaus Photo Festival, I also present to you some of my favorite Lightroom presets I use which I also used in this portrait challenge series. But first, let’s have an overview what presets are.

What are Lightroom Presets?

Lightroom is a mobile editing app just like Snapseed, VSCO and Instagram. Lightroom presets are actually filters but way more advance because you can adjust the settings, hue, tone curve and other things. You can actually make your own Presets. People who are good in it can share or even sell it.

I’ve been addicted with Lightroom editing recently since you can edit a lot of pictures in batches. While I do manually edits, I truly love to use presets that I got online. In this blog post I am going to share my favorites especially in portraits.

2. Where did I get this Lightroom presets?

I got this all from a Facebook community Lightroom Classroom PH . If you want to have this presets, you have to be a member of this Facebook group. Talented creators are frequently having giveaways there. They are pretty generous.

So that’s it. Off we go. Some of my favorite presets.

1.Creamy Beach

Creator : Klein Conejos a.k.a NoobGFX. The creator has his own fb page: NoobGFX.

I consider this as my most favorite preset. I actually raped it haha! And if you have been following my blog for a while, you will notice that I use it for most of my blog posts. I just love how it brings out the colors of the picture. It also gives skin a pinkish glow. Although sometimes, it is way too much pink. But for that, I just tweak saturation a little..

Before Vs After-Edit

With Preset

Other samples

See my other blog posts using this preset: Drown in Flowers in Northern Blossom Atoc, Benguet

2. Peach Perfect

Creator: Steph Villanueva

I just discovered this recently and it became my instant favorite because it looks subtle and natural. It does not change the skin tone too much. It is also extremely good in underexposed photos.

Before Vs After-Edit

Other samples

See my other blog posts using this preset: Day 1 of Portrait Challenge

3. Creamy Fade Light

Creator: Klein Conejos aka. NoobGFX.

Yes another NoobGFX preset! Creamy Beach and this one is actually part of his creamy presets. It looks like Creamy Beach but this one has slight fade effect. It also more brighter.

Before Vs After-Edit

See other blog post that use this preset: Dessert Museum Adventure

4. Orensie

Creator: JAO

It makes the photo a little bit antique. It’s just harsh on the skin sometimes. It makes the skin looks copper but it looks good if a human subject is far away. This would be my least favorite in this batch if portrait is the issue. But this looks really good in landscapes.

Before Vs After-Edit

5. Lightroom Preset Groove

Creator: Sheantel Claveria

This is my most recent discovery. I love the mood it gives to the photo and it is skin-friendly too. This is the next preset I’ll abuse.

Before Vs After-Edit

Other samples:

That’s all folks. My 7-Day Portrait Challenge is over. I actually haven’t published my Day 6 here in my blog but it’s already in my facebook page: Gurezu Blog.

How about you?! What’s your favorite Lightroom Preset here in this post? Feel free also to suggest any other Lightroom presets that are great in portraiture photography in the comments below. I would love to try them out.

When You Sleep Early, You Wake Up Way Way Too Early

Published on June 12, 2018June 13, 2018 by Gurezu14 Comments

June 13, 2018

Wednesday

5:43 A.M. Pavements are wet. Roads are starting to get busy. No rain but the gloomy sky suggests it is just warming up for another batch of rainfall.

I don’t mean to discourage anyone from sleeping early with the title. It is just this made me remember why I am not fond of sleeping early. I slept at 11:00 pm last night. I considered it early since for the past weeks I am sleeping at 2 am. For the record, I once successfully slept at 9pm but woke up at 12 am. And I was not able to feel sleepy again until hours that I am supposed to be productive at work. I have been attempting to sleep earlier again since last week. I feel sick the whole long weekend due to piled-up exhaustion so I promised that last night, I will do it FOR REAL. As a result, I woke up at 3:50 am. I attempted to sleep again but my hungry stomach wouldn’t let me. So at 4:45 am, I decided to just get up, eat , go to work and if I ever feel sleepy, I might take a nap in the office.

There is a tapsilogan just beside the dormitory. They said they are open 24 hours. They are indeed open but they could not accept orders yet because they were cleaning up. So they are temporarily closed. I felt they lied to me. Haha!

Moving-on, the next plan is to go to 7-11. But wait a minute,the newly-opened Jollibee is operating for 24 hours!!!

The giant Jollibee on it is still creepy.

I’ve been passing this Jollibee when it was still closed. I think it was creepy because the said branch was still dark and there was still no sign of life. But now it is already open, I still think it looks creepy up. He looks like he’s about to jump and tore someone to pieces. Nyahah!

This is what I ordered. Breakfast Chickenjoy because I am a fan of Chickenjoy. But I did not enjoy it. The chicken was too dry.

Anyway by the time it was finished, the sun rose already.

If anything good comes out from waking up too early , it is I was able to find time to blog and write. Although this particular post has crappy underexposed photos from my mobile phone, it made me feel good that i was able to unload my thoughts through writing. Without putting much thought into it, the formatting, the editing of the photos. Letting every words flow spontaneously. This past weeks I’ve been complaining about how I could not able to write unlike I do before. I believe I am a writer but I feel like I am letting myself down. Last week I read my offline diary and felt sad that I could not write like that anymore. It felt its because I tried hard to not feel emotions anymore because of what happened from many moons ago. That in expense of learning how NOT to feel, I could not write anymore. I named it as Writing Paralysis.

But congrats to me. I have written this long post with a tinge of emotions and sarcastic hyperbole’. It is a start I guess. Maybe watching Brooklyn Ninety-Nine during my sickly weekend helped me to somehow let English words flow.

Anyway some updates,

1. I’ll be joining a trip to Marinduque this coming weekend. It means more photoshoot! Yey!

2. I booked my trip to Palawan for August. I actually did not booked it myself. My friends helped me because I am lazy to spot promos. And I don’t have credit card.

I think that’s all for now. I have to rush back to my dorm because I need to occupy the bathroom before my roomies. Xiao!

And oh here’s my honest to goodness selfie