DI NA MULI : Neither a love story, nor a happy song

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).

Somewhere in between PhilPop and Sid & Aya, the Itchyworms set out to immortalize the song. The result was a visually stunning and emotional music video directed by Paolo Abella and Juno Oebanda. Being a longtime friend of the Itchyworms, Oebanda had approached the band to present the concept for the video. He sought the generous indulgence of none other than the Cultural Center of the Philippines, citing the video as a tribute to Teddy Hilado (d. 2015), Oebanda's uncle, recognized as the father of lighting design in Philippine theater.

The song's themes of love, loss, and words left unspoken, are embodied in the elegant performances of Rosky Balahadia Hilado (Teddy's widow, formerly of the Bayanihan Philippine Dance Company) and Carissa Adea (Ballet Philippines), and in the video's sweeping visuals, all captured within the hallowed halls of the CCP. The music video seeks to serve as loving tribute to Teddy, whose influence is still felt and recognized to this day.

The Itchyworms are now proud to share what is probably the first-ever music video shot inside the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and extend heartfelt thanks to those who helped bring the music video to fruition.

WHO IS THE LADY IN THE VIDEO by Direk 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.

Salamat uli Teodoro Hilado

Salamat Tita Rosky

Ladies and Gentlemen, once again

The Itchyworms.

Video Credits:

Di Na Muli

Words and Music by Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola

MUSIC VIDEO :​https://youtu.be/rgHHJkzn5TU

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

Di Na Muli

Words and Music by Jazz Nicolas and Wally Acolola Performed by The Itchyworms

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

Guadalupe Farm : An Organic Farm in the City

If you are a local of Cavite, farming would be popular in the landscapes of Amadeo, Indang, ALfonso and Tagaytay. You may not think of a farm in an urban area until I came to know this 2 hectare land residing in the midst of highways and byways of Imus. Unlike any other quaint farm in highlands of Tagaytay, this farm owned by Dr. Bibiano and Dra. Reyes , is an Organic Farm of fruits and medicinal / herbal plants and was opened to public last January of 2017. No entrance fee as of now but fruit picking will cost 100 pesos per kilo.

Fruit drop! Julius and Julian enjoyed organic mango 'pulot' picking.

It was last year when I noticed the signage along the way of Bucandala road going to Patindig Araw. It's been always on my mind to visit any farm since I am fascinated with plants and trees and the thought of fruit picking excites me especially now I have kids. I definitely think of doing it with them to set their mind and body to be enthusiastic and acquainted with natural things and creations and not to be settled enjoying gadgets. So my Tipid mommy instinct strikes again by visiting this farm just a stone away from our house :)

Do n0t forget to bring insect repellant especially for kids. Mine is fr0m trusted products of Chula Organics and IlogNiMaria.

I know that they will both enjoy the farm since it also has playground inside. A playground inside a farm is very nice if you have kids with you. Of course my eldest cannot resist to play in the Playground area. So nauna na siya. Kahit kame lng visitor. By the way, we 've enjoyed it as well!!!

Playground inside the farm

More of its organic plants! I was amazed with INSULIN PLANT for diabetic people. Customers bought this plant and they only chew leaves as treatment for diabetes.

I have only captured few of herbal medicinal plants.

We went there last saturday, however, we only had an hour to spent our time on the farm. We arrived there at around 4pm because we watched a noon time show contest on TV and it ended at around 3pm. :) Although it is very near on where we are residing, we still caught up on a traffic jam along bucandala - patindig road. Oh well, it's saturday! Wala ng pinipiling lugar ang traffic. Pausad usad lng ang andar ng mga trycycle.

Nang makarating na kame, we are surprised for libreng pa-kit ni Ateng caretaker.

GIVE AWAY!!!!Thermometer, pen and notebook in a cute bag!

However, we are not allowed get some fruits. Wala na daw mag a-assist samen so nagtiis na lang kame sa pagpupulot! Sobrang daming nalaglag na mangoes!

We can't help it na lagpas lagpasan lng sila. It's still fruit picking by the way! Pulot nga lang!:)

They're also selling Dried Butterfly pea Flower for only 100pesos. You may put few flowers on a hot water and serve it as hot tea. Or make it as cold beverage. (I actually bought another 4 packs and I sold it for 120php para libre na yung 1 pack for me. Haha!)

After fruit "pulot" picking, we had a few chats with Ateng Caretaker and mentioned that snakes are visible in the farm. The young boy told me the width of the snake or 'sawa' was the size of his legs. So it left me in awe and frozen listening to stories they're telling me, because we went on the farthest part of the farm where you may not be able to see the soil due to dried fallen leaves.

Creepy! If there were snakes around, why they did not warned us to go on that area and they just let us freely explore the farm as far as we can. NO SIGNAGE. NO ANY WARNING. (sad face) Anyhow, kahit na walang 'beware' or 'warning' signs, we have enjoyed our one hour and a half stay. I still commend and promote this Organic farm. The caretakers are accommodating. Siguro nga kung napaaga kame baka may mag assist samen at mag tour. E kaso nga buzzer beater kame. hahahaha!

This recyclable bag was full of mangoes, yung iba bulok na, they charged us 100 pesos. Sabe ni ate, bakit daw maayos yung mangoes! Sigurado ba daw kame na pinulot lang yun! Hahaha. Di nila chinecheck ang farm. Ang dami pong nabubulok lang sa lupa :(

They also have 'KiatKiat' tree. I saw 4 trees pero dry na daw and hindi na season.

Our Lady of Guadalupe farm is located in Patindig Araw, Bayang Luma, Imus Cavite. An organic farm that promotes wellness preservation and herbal farming and medication. Own by Dr. Bibiano and Anelyn Reyes ( Pediatrician). Also,they have space for events that can be rented for only 2000 pesos. They're also have partnership with these services.

The farm is open Monday to Saturday. 8pm- 5pm. You may inquire and contact them to schedule on this number #09287020818 and FB Page : Our Lady of Guadalupe Farm .