Pulso ng Bansa

  Bands have always been susceptible to the ravages of time. Nobody is immune. After all, the only constant, as they say, is change. Yes, some bands are considered "immortals," for good reason, but only in the realm of legacy. There are 'firsts' in musical history who stand out and will forever stand out. That's absolute! Whether it's a band or, by extension, its members, there's 'that difference. ' That distinction. However, even tonal timbres that we thought were unique to one can have a twin and thus be replicated in some way or form, as in the case of Queen's Freddie Mercury in Marc Martel or Arnel Pineda of Journey sounding eerily similar to Steve Perry. While this may hold true, a trained ear can never replicate the subtleties. Simply put, divergence is a rarity, but 'resemblance ' is prevalent. Unique inflections, such as modulation, stress, and cadence, are as distinctive to a person as their fingerprints. For a fan, subtletie...

  Noel Palomo has one of the most recognizable voices of the 90s as far as OPM is concerned. A double whammy, as he is also a prolific songwriter. In only a span of 20 years or so, Noel had already written 150 songs and counting, scores of which are still in the woodwork, some being recorded and the others for distribution, and will be available soon on digital platforms. That’s how productive this gentleman is! On the other hand, as lead vocalist for Siakol , Noel and the band have already conquered audiences all over the world where Filipinos congregated. Who could ever forget Lakas Tama when it first hit the airwaves in the 90s? Its punk-rock stylings in tandem with Noel’s down-to-earth usage of street lingo, the same lingo he’s accustomed to growing up, were more than enough to elicit favorable responses from sizable audiences all over Metro Manila and the provinces, albeit turning the song into an anthem of sorts. The masses really related to it big-time. Understandably s...

  The Story of Joel Torre’s Legacy in Flame-Grilled Chicken In the heart of every Negrense is a fierce love for chicken inasal —smoky, savory, and drenched in sinamak and chicken oil. And when film icon Joel Torre decided to channel this deep-rooted love into a business, the result was JT’s Manukan Grille . What started as a modest venture quickly grew into one of the country’s most beloved chains specializing in authentic Bacolod-style inasal. But the story of JT’s Manukan goes beyond chicken—it’s a tale of family, heritage, entrepreneurial grit, and the fusion of showbiz glamour with street-level culinary tradition. With the support of his wife, Christy Azcona Torre, Joel opened the first JT’s Manukan Grille in 2003 along Granada Street in Quezon City, in a modest location with plastic chairs and monobloc tables.  Though Joel Torre’s name is front and center, JT’s Manukan is very much a family-run enterprise. Christy Torre plays a vital role as managing partner, fo...