Category Archives: Art/Entertainment

Philippine Idol: Ramirr Grepo’s Bed of Roses


Here’s a video of Ramirr Grepo, a contestant from Baguio who made the top 12 [male group] in last year’s Philippine Idol competition. He was well praised in this performance but he didn’t have enough votes to send him to the next round.

It is likely that everyone assumed he will move further in the competition and so voted for other contestants who were perceived to be in danger of being cut. If we’re not mistaken, Ramirr is an Igorot-CaviteƱo mestizo.

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The Noel Sumingwa Story

If you are looking for something to inspire you, this story of Noel Sumingwa dramatized in GMA-7’s Magpakailanman might be the answer. Noel is a gay Igorot karatista who ruled as the regional shotokan-karate champion from 1994-1998.


PART 1: Noel wins a gay beauty title and gets beaten by his dad.


PART 2: Noel tries out for his school’s martial arts team. He makes the team and gets to be his school’s “pambato”.

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Illustrations By Bratkokenka

It’s always interesting to see what our artistic kailiyans are coming up with these days. And its good that they are uploading their masterpieces to the internets so we can appreciate them. The above illustrations are the work of an Igorot/Kankanaey artist who goes by the handle bratkokenka.
You can see more of his work in deviantart, a community devoted to art. [Warning: Some images portray violence.]

IMAGE CREDIT: bratkokenka

US Tour: Ifugao Music and Dance Ensemble of Banaue

Yo! Is this blog becoming US-centric or what? May Kabunian forbid! Anyway, those of you based in the U.S. might want to check out the Ifugao Music and Dance Ensemble of Banaue if, by any chance, they will perform in a place near you. They will be in the U.S. from Sept 24 to October 30, 2007.

We will post the group’s sked when we get a copy. But here’s a description of the group and what they do:

The seven virtuoso tribal artists, ages 24 to 62, invited to participate in the US tour, have committed themselves to the stewardship of the Ifugao people’s dance, music, tribal arts, and indigenous cultural practices as a dynamic relevant part of contemporary life.

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