This Week's Playlist...

Another week of LOUD MUSIC in my ROOM !!!

Hoping For Nothing (live @ House of Indies garage)

Thanks to JR of Streets of May, this was taken during the Sinulog Indiefest.



song written by Michael Anthony Curan
video courtesy of House of Indies

It's a little awkward cause i am the only one who did acoustic during this event...

UNO International Corporation.. They're Not Just Salesmen, They are Money Evangelist Preaching and Sharing About How Much Money YOu Can Earn...

"Have you heard about UNO International Corporation? If not let me introduce it.

Unlimited Network of Opportunities International Corporation is the most awaited union of the finest network marketers in the country as they welcome new challenges, new opportunities and new partners in this splendid and yet generous way of extending help to hundreds of thousands of Filipinos here and abroad.

UNO Int'l Corp. is a dynamic marketing company engaged in the distribution of life enhancing natural products for lasting health and wellness and other services that address the needs of modern livingl. It is run by top network industry leaders whose credibility has been years in the making. Forefronted by top caliber professional network marketers with a combined 30 years experience in leverage marketing, UNO Int'l Corp. takes to deliver a performance breakthrough.

It is definite that UNO Int'l Corp. is poised to be among the major players in the industry of network marketing. All the vital elements to drive in a new curve of new markets and technologies are present. It would help out every netwrok marketer about the convenience of simultaneously marketing fast-moving health and wellness product categories and providing educational-services hub in the form of online college review class and mobile phone loading system.

It is very much in the interest of UNO Int'l Corp. leaders that today's challenge be fulfilled without divisions and delays. And that is to SERVE THE NEW CONSUMER."

I have nothing against networking but i just don't like it!

I think it's a sham having your money just goes around the circle.

And i was actually approached by a friend who shared to me her "gospel" of becoming rich... fast... without much sweat than just to invite more people to your network. And she even claimed to be a christian!

The thing about networking is it becomes your little god. You share it, preach it, talks about it... All for the sake of getting rich and earning much..

She was so passionate in sharing it yet when confronted about Jesus, she cant even say a thing straight. And she dare call herself in a relationship with Jesus. No babe, you're in relationship with greed...


Proverbs13:11
"Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows."

Proverbs 16:9
"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps."

Proverbs 21:5
"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty."

Mind you! nothing's wrong with money or getting rich but if it consumes your heart and everything within you, then that's what God condemns. Remember it is not the never ending lust of things that can make us happy. Lust for riches, power, sex, etc, all makes you miserable. How did i know? I've been there.

True joy comes from serving God and others with the things God has given us.

New Song for Free Download

TWELVE HOURS AWAY (home made demo)
written by michael anthony curan
The Difficult Stranger


sitting in my room
waiting for your call
trying to figure out
this stirring in my soul

when i hear your voice
can't help but leap with joy
this smile i can't suppress
your presence is my bliss

PRE-CHORUS:
is this really love
or just misguided feelings
arising from my soul
or am i just a fool

CHORUS:
is your kindness sign of care for me
does your care means that you love me
will you be willing to wait for me
will you sacrifice your life for me

if i'll push you away will you fight for the love
you have for me
i wanna know what will this be
cause im in your future
and you're twelve hours away

from me

frozen and confused
heart's been abducted
walking above cloud nine
can't wait to make you mine..

2009 michael anthony curan

download it here:
Twelve Hours Away by The Difficult Stranger

Who'z Rockin' @ My Apartment

They are.... on CD atleast...

THE FIRST TAGIK SESSION...

Markuz of Rescue A Hero


Isn't she beautiful?


Master Jude

Alphecca


Michael Anthony Curan w/ Mary Anne Alicaba


Chris Vince Sayson


TAGIK


I didn't have a digital camera yet so i don't have much photos to share other than those i grabbed from friends last night. Anyways, last night was the first TAGIK Session, TAGIK is the name of a union of Cebu's songwriters- may it indie or pop. serious or crazy, for as long as they write tunes and it's unique!

And Andy Calope invited me again. Or I invited Andy Calope to invite me again. Or I invited myself to his show again. Whatever whichever which. And as expected, i did some crazy stuff... Really crazy... Someone should post that in You Tube hahahaha (feeler!).

He opened the show with some Dave Matthewsque type of music. It was fun seeing his hand moved across the fretboard every second while not missing a beat (and notes too) in singing... Plus he wrote that awesome song too. I believe it's a gospel sort of song and its beautiful.

Next was Mr Chris Vince Sayson, lead guitarist and one of the songwriters of one of my favorite local band Undercover Grasshoppers. He graced us with his breezy rendition of some UG songs and it's beachy... Really listening to his voice is like bathing in the sunshine across the ocean on a cruise ship. Awesome indeed!

Alphecca grabbed Andy's guitar next and played some jazzy rock tune. She's a member of a band Sefyla which is by the way featured on the Dobbie Nights Cd of Jam FM in Manila.

After some seriousness, i invaded the stage with another seriousness hahaha even brought Mary Anne Alicaba, my boardmate, to sing. Her voice is awesome and she needs more exposure. Then she left me alone and alone indeed i rocked the mic down and almost broke Andy's guitar.

Hahaha i wrote a song the night before and daringly performed it last night to my dismay cause i forgot the lyrics. But no worry. I can handle it. Infact i did. Or thought I did. Or... As long as i enjoyed it hahaha.. ANyways what i did with that song is i break it down like crazy-if-ya-knu-watta-meiean..

It was supposedly a traditional country song but instead it turned out to be a hiphop song at the second half of it with some mouth beatbox and scratching using my tongue and a lot of saliva here and there.... The audience did cheer (or booed hahaha!). I was having fun that night. I dunno 'bout them hehehe.

And next to me is Markus of Rescue A Hero, He's my friend but even friends don't wanna share each others saliva so he wiped the mic with alcohol first before singing on it... hahaha

He did 2 covers and one original (my favorite Simple Song) and really the guy reminds me a lot of Connor Oberst but his kinda unique cause he put his own signature sound to it. Talented and remarkable.

Then Andy came back on stage with a guess singer who will be leaving for Dubai next month.

Then came the great master Jud Gitamondoc with his 3 pop singers (and one of 'em is my crush hahaha. again? muted mouth. im out of her league so im leaguing with myself nalang), LP Pineda (cool voice. must be related to Arnel Pineda of Journey), June Ong (ahem), and Daryl Leong. Jude's love songs make me wanna fall (or already falling) inlove with his female lead singer. "wink" :-)

And for those uninitiated, Jude is actually the guy who wrote Wait Forever and In Another Lifetime by Gary V, Impossible by KC, and the rest of the pop songs you hear on the radio...

Then after the show i met a guy named Roy who also love the modern side of country music (Rascal Flatts, Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood). He really got this deep voice and they said he's a game show host which i'm gonna watch for the first time maybe this weekend on my friend's TV (too bad i don't have one).

And I then i met a drunk guy who gave me a house music CD. Friendly with a great sense of humor. Like the guy.

Then we ate somewhere in Mabolo with some Ngoyong and Cornbeef.

Then I went home.

And as of this moment I'm finishing the draft for my next song simply titled,

" June ".

A Night Of Beautiful Music, Pizza, But Then There's Me So ...

IAN ZAFRA

ANDY CALOPE

THE LINE DIVIDES


THE DIFFICULT STRANGER


RESCUE A HERO




I just finished three Tuesdays in a row playing at Handuraw Pizza in Gorrodo Avenue, Lahug, Cebu City with Andy Calope and friends, and by friends means us, his guests. I never played much so this is like heaven for me.



Last March 10 was special. The British Council was there so it was like a party. Plus my favorite Cebu band Rescue A Hero also jammed with us.

Rescue A Hero graced the stage first with their indie folk/rock music, a genre not very common here in Cebu.

Then after them I took over. It was ok until i noticed the large crowd and being serious on stage in a crowd like that is like suicide. I don't wanna be reduced to a background music.

So instead of singing the songs i plotted in my setlist, i sidetracked and sing some beat up country songs instead. I forgot the lyrics to some songs but that didn't matter, i would just make them up as i go along.

And this thing i did mostly in my bedroom i tried it for the first time over there. It's using my mouth as an instrument and that night i imitated the sound of harmonica but instead ended up sounding like a goat looking for his mama...

... which brings delight to the foreign guests. hahahaha. I can see some laughing, some taking pictures (i even stopped in the middle of ta song just to raise my hand and pose to this Chinese lady hehehe. That's how weird i am). And a certain aquafire over at istorya even post that my songs are best played with harmonica..

well...

Then just when you think the craziness is over, a band surprised us all. They are called The Line Divides and they play happy music. I forgot the name of their vocalist but i find him entertaining with his dance moves that makes me wanna join him and dance....

And finally it mellowed down when Andy Calope took over with his guitar and his honest down to earth songs that could stop you from your current endeavor and makes you think of greater things than your past heartache..,

But that night he let me down. Why? Because he didn't play my favorite song Gayle, a song he wrote about... hmmm let him tell it here.

And the night was closed by another surprised guest, Mr. Ian Zafra, better known as the long haired guitar player behind Sheila and the Insects. But this time he got short hair.

And the show is over. We wnet home happy and none of us are exhausted.... Well, atleast i ain't. hahaha

Plus i met a girl. Not the kind of met a girl like get to know, oh no not like that. Ask any of my friends and they knew i am torpe. Tameme. Muted Mouth (according to Undercover Grasshoppers). whatever.

I'll tell you all about it next time.

Meanwhile i am gonna go take a bath cause I'm gonna catch the Ocean Jet this 5:30AM, an hour from now...

I'll be going to Bohol for two days


Till next time,
Mike

JEFFREY DAHMER WENT TO HEAVEN.. RAMBLING THOUGHTS ON FORGIVENESS

People just don’t really understand what the Gospel is all about.

This is probably old news but since the movie biopic of Jeffrey Dahmer is coming soon, this issue seems to open up again…

Dahmer is mostly remembered as a serial killer who raped and ate his prey. Yes he’s a cannibal and the new movie is kind of like a horror… and it’s based on real life…

The families of the victims were very happy when Dahmer was arrested back in the 90’s and they eventually jumped for joy when they heard he died. Some family members of the victims were not even contented of the way he died. They wanted him to suffer cause according to them, what he did was unforgivable…

…but unfortunately Dahmer was forgiven by none other than the one who created him… GOD.

Yes God had been knocking on his heart for so long yet he refused to open it but he finally did on prison. He became a born again Christian in prison upon hearing the Gospel through a prison ministry.

Since then, Dahmer started to read the bible and attended in the prison church.

He then asked apology to the victims’ families yet he received forgiveness from no one.

It’s so sad when we think we’re more righteous than a cannibal.

It’s so sad when we elevate ourselves than that of a thief or a loser or a killer.

It’s so sad when we think of our selves superior than others.

It’s so sad when we see ourselves as better than others…

…Yet in the eyes of God murderers and liars are all the same to Him. no one is righteous. We all fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and sin looks all the same to God (look it in Isaiah) no matter who you are. You might be a cannibal or a procrastinator. It’s all the same to God. SIN! And that’s what separated us from Him and that’s the reason He sent Jesus to die on our behalf. Jesus did not die only to murderers. He dies for everyone including you and me because we are all sinners and no one is exempted.

And yet these family members still want revenge. I understand the grief but if only we look at the bigger picture, If only we believe when God said "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD."

Or when He said to "CAST YOUR BURDEN UPON ME". If only we believe on those words "VENGEANCE IS THE LORD", then maybe forgiveness may not be that hard to give and revenge may not be what’s occupying in our minds….

I’m not saying that i don’t have a Jefrey Dahmer in my life. I have. Infact there are a lot. Killing my soul day by day. But thank God by His grace i learn not to hate those people but instead love them because i am just like them in the eyes of God, a sinner….

I don’t know if they accepted God’s gift of salvation. Only God and them know because i don’t see pass their heart. Only the superficial.

But one thing I do know. I keep the word of God in my heart and I have Jesus in me and that no matter how I messed up, if i repent and ask forgiveness, He is willing to forgive me cause He died for me…

Now does it mean I have to continue sinning cause I know God will forgive?

Let me ask you, do you love your parents? Your girlfriend/boyfriend? If your answer is yes, do u intend to continue hurting them knowing they love you so much that they will forgive you???

If your answer is yes, then you must be a miserable man. Love doesn’t operate that way. And same thing applies to the relationship with Jesus.

Hope you got that folks,

Michael

Andy Calope and Friends

I have the privilege of being one of the guests of singer/songwriter Andy Calope and his Songwriter's Night at Handuraw Pizza in Lahug,Cebu City. Much like the local version of Woodsongs but with food and some rockin and folkin"



check out the bands here:
Andy Calope
The Difficult Stranger
Undercover Grasshoppers

unfortunately didnt find a link to Michael John Calo yet...

Malling Church

Here's an interesting blog entry from Jared Wilson


We want to go to a place with ample parking that hands us a latte for free as we enter the doors. We want to sit in a comfortable chair that vibrates. We want a poppin' band. We want to see fog. And a laser light that draws the shape of a cross in the fog. We want a good singer to sing comforting things to us as we listen admiringly. Then we want an energetic speaker to alleviate our fear of the bad economy and inspire us in no more than 20 to 22 minutes. Then we want to leave without being bothered, have our retinas scanned to pick up our kids, and watch them slide down the slide out of the Kidz Playz having heard a lesson from no less than SpongeBob SquarePants himself on obeying parents and not lying. And if we feel like it, we want all that all over again in a week. That's evangelicalism.

That's my paraphrase of a Matt Chandler rant from a recent message to his Village Church.

Element's worship pastor visited a local church yesterday morning, one I have quite a bit of respect for. He said he didn't hear the name Jesus in the message. At all.

We already know that a lot of what passes for evangelicalism has minimal, if any, evangel in it. Is it possible that a lot of what passes for "church" ... isn't?

Borrowing from Jeff Foxworthy, then, here's some signs your church may not actually be a church.

You May Not Be a Church If . . .

Your pastor rarely talks about Jesus. (That's an easy one.)

Your pastor talks about Jesus, but only in the "follow his example" sort of way. (You could be Mormon or even Muslim and preach about Jesus in that way.)

The "worship" songs are mostly about how you feel and what you can do, as opposed to who God is and what He has done.

The extent of nearly everyone's involvement in the church is limited to the weekly service.

Your pastors don't actually pastor anyone face to face but manage "systems" from their office 40 hours a week.

Some of these systems are designed so that the pastor interacts with as few people as possible.

You can't remember the last time you ate the Lord's Supper.

Most of the planning and focus in the organization revolves around designing a killer weekend service.
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