ART, LIFESTYLE AND MUSIC...

THE WONDERFUL LOVE SONGS OF FOLKSINGER HENRY SAMANIEGO- FILIPINO ARTIST 
(Let's give love and take care of our Environment and Mother Nature)
By: Ver M. Garcia (Entertainment Editor) and Teddy Cho (Writer & Photo Journalist)                     
Celebrity Actor and host of the late-night show Jojo Alejar with folksinger Henry Samaniego.

Music created especially to entertain people from all walks of life, whether in high and low places will never be affected by the change in technology nor by digital transformation that's happening now. Why? It's centered on people's aspirations in life - Love, Peace, Harmony, and Prosperity.

Music is the language of the soul and it can also be food for our hearts and mind. We use music to communicate our thoughts and feelings to GOD and to people around us. Music is also a gift from GOD perfected especially when shared and cherished. Filipinos love to create songs and music that comes to the heart and soul, it can be considered a cultural treasure whose primary aim is to promote peace and harmony amongst people, communities, nations and awaken the nurturing spirit within. Filipino music is a mixture of indigenous influences, Asian, American, European and Latin American.

Henz with Singing Icon Freddie Aguilar.


The mellow touch and sounds of the winds, chirping of the birds, bees humming around while at work, even dolphins and whales making mysterious sounds.

The sounds of nature often are incorporated into music made specifically for the relaxation of a restless mind. For example, the sound of water can be soothing for some people. It can help conjure up calming images such as lying beside a mountain stream on a warm day. Birdsong may also be of use as an aid to help your mind calm down and release stressful thoughts. Winds also have a calming effect.

Being a folksinger is not only a challenge nowadays it's also a chance to propagate the good Filipino family traits,  values, our cultural orientations, the nation's aspiration as embodied in his lyrics and ideas. Peace and Prosperity are in our hands so long as we unite and focus our hearts and mind.

We seldom witness people in the music industry swim against the tide of change like Folk Singer Henry R. Samaniego an Original Pilipino Music (OPM) composer, Folksong writer, poet and environmentalist by heart deriving inspirations from our daily struggles in life. He is a survivor, a Hero in the art of Folksinging.

His 40 years of experience as a musician, cultural performer here and in Japan enabled singers and contemporary performers to survive the declining market in the music industry

The meeting took place in the midst of a heavy downpour at Starbucks, Makati in Valero with Henry R. Samaniego (HRS) for an interview on his life as a Folksinger in Japan and How Videoke affected the Folksingers Music industry and created unemployment within the circle of folksingers. Here are some of the excerpts of the interview with the famous cultural performer in Japan way back in 1979 and 1996. 

Henz started from scratch and as a folksinger earns an average of at least P10 from singing eight to ten songs during those heydays. In 1971, the popularity of Karaoke came to be known as an electronic entertainment component invented by a Japanese named Daisuke Inoue. Kara which means "Empty'' and Oke meaning ''Orchestra".Heinz laments this Karaoke craze nearly put the folksinging career out of business, moreover the shift from Karaoke use to Videoke among bar establishment was the main reason Folksinging music industry declined. Since they would just let the client sing on their own thus the need for singers at the bar was reduced and dwindled and owners saw it necessary to cut-off the services of folksingers to reduce the expenses. 

Here's the transcript of our interview with Folk Singer Henry Samaniego with the Bloggers Association Reportorial Team at Starbucks Valero in Ayala, Makati City.

BAP Reportorial team: May we know your booking number?

HRS : For booking purposes, you are welcome and can connect with me at Mobile no. 0926-1875105 or 0912-4680402 or you can like my Facebook Account at Henz Samaniego and Youtube Channel. 

BAP: What’s the name of your band?

HRS : My B-Band, B stands for Brutal elements band, we have performed last January at Rizal open Auditorium. Please like also my Youtube account Henry Samaniego, everything is there.

BAP: What makes you busy all these days?

HRS : As of now, I’m working on a new song called 'OH PAPA' which was sung by Wowowie twins. But, my version will come later, Oh papa is popular music… it’s easy to learn. It's on these magazines (showing a Liwayway Magazine) dated: July 1-15, 2019, at least 3 songs were printed one is: 1.) TXTM8  2.) Bantay Kalikasan  3.) Makabagong Pinay  4.) Super Miss Kita. That’s what’s inside the magazine.

BAP: What made you inspire when you compose the lyrics of the songs?

HRS : Every time I make a new song I see to it that it gives me a lot of inspirational especially when the title speaks for itself like TXTM8 (TextMate) which is a song which you can relate to the person you’d like, enjoy talking to.

HRS : Super Miss Kita is all about the life of OFW, for people which is far from you but you want him/her near to you through this song you can relate on.

HRS : We have also Bantay Kalikasan which also saves Mother Earth or care for Mother Nature. You can download all songs from Spotify, I-Tune and other digital stores, Check it out.

What's the advantage of having Karaoke and Videoke in the Folksinging music industry?

Karaoke provides songs, instrumental songs, practice tracks, and backing track downloads. It's an instrumental component that amplified the sounds that give an impact to the singer and more attraction to the listening public. Shifting from karaoke to videoke and now with virtual reality as the latest crazed in town and eventually replaced by another technological advancement.

Videoke  is a Music entertainment system with components such as TV monitor/computer screen, amplifiers, speakers interconnected with songs from different sources stored and programmed by the apps and microphones (with chord or wireless) for the singer to sing while lyrics are displayed on the screen, videos streaming to accompany the song and dance numbers. Singers attempt to follow the tunes with synchronized voice or music. Sometimes the dramatization of the story coincides or runs parallel to the lyrics of the song and dance accompaniment to compliment the story on screen. The efficiency of using videoke was overemphasized but now the advent of virtual reality (VR) the song and dance of the singer and performer highlighted on stage. Anyway, let people decide which of the two have a great advantage over the other.

 

In 1976, Henry Samaniego started his career as a folksinger with contemporaries like Rodel Naval, Marco Sison, Freddie Aguilar, Lolita Carbon of ASIN, Tito Mina and others.....During those days folkhouses were allover Manila like Hobbit house Mabini, El Bodegon bar( owned and built by Joey Cruz) in Ermita, Bodega City, Kola House at T.M. Kalaw, San. Mig.Cubao, La Guarida of Josephine Restaurant Makati, Chatteu Alberto bar Quezon Ave., Circle-A at Welcome Rotonda Q.C., My Father's Moustache, Shakey's in Taft, Mabini and Makati. From lunchtime(12nn) to Happy hours(4pm. -6pm.) Folksingers were busy entertaining people with songs to lift up their spirits. Don't forget also Tin Pan Alley Bar in Eastwood, Pasig City.

Peace is the much sought after gift amongst powerful nations yet it is still elusive. Music can be a tool for promoting peace and used to link together our hopes of peace even when it seems hopeless. Music is a performance, an essential part of its medium so is a memory at any given moment, your mind puts that sound together with the sounds that have come before it so in a way music is unfolding in your memory as much as its unfolding in time itself. The song can dramatize the importance of music as a means for promoting peace even when it's hopeless, sometimes songs bring us a sense of peace that links and connects our hopes of peace. 

The change will be permanent if one refuses to be flexible and adaptable to the effects of constant change. In nature, change is always there in order to give way to new breeds of species to survive. In other words, cooperate or evaporate. In the business community, the advent of digital transformation (4.0 IR) or the industrial revolution placed the Artists, Musicians and Folksingers alike in a precarious employment situation.

The presence of Videoke is not a hindrance to the growth of folksingers and Pop artists, it's just as temporary as the mists in the rain, afterward, the sun must shine after. "Singing in the Rain " a quote from FRED ASTAIRE(1930's) and GENE KELLY(the 1950's) a movie clip at youtube their message is to move on despite all odds, DESIDERATA. (https://mwkworks.com/desiderata.html)

Making cognizance of the traditional media, social media and the advent of the new era of digital transformation opened something larger and worthier than ourselves, that is worth living and dying for, like GOD, Family, and country and science and technology should be the means and medium to propagate such ideas. 

Here are some of the songs composed by Henry Samaniego..

Folksinger Henry Samaniego as a guest singer belting You've Got A Friend, Photographs, Memories, Super Miss Kita and many more in a Radio program 'Entablado at Musika' anchored by Direk Ed Montealegre at the Radio Mindanao Network station (DZXL 558 KHZ) in Guadalupe, Makati City.

TXTM8
By Henry Samaniego

Intro:
Luv mo ba ako
Di ko alam ang tunay na
damdamin mo.
Uh Uh Uh

Saan ka ba ngayon
Txt mo lang "I Luv U"
Miss ko na message mo.

Koro:
Sa umaga pagkagising.
Charge agad ang C.P. ko
Di maka-reply saýo.
Wala na akong pampasa load saýo
Kulang pa ang budget
Wait ka lang
Miss na you.

Mahal mo ba ako.
Di ko alam kung tunay
yang pag-ibig mo.
Uh uh uh uh
Sa txt nalang ba tayo
Ok ba sa'yo na magkita na tayo.
Miss na you.

Adlib:
Talaga bang sa TXT 
nalang ba tayo

Miss na Miss ko ang
message mo.
Uh uh uh uh

Excited na makita ka
Pakita ka
Kailan kaya ito magkakatotoo.
Nana... nanana nanana
Na nanana na...


This song of Henry portrays his real affection for a lady that he had not seen and just satisfied himself with sending messages through text but not certain of the real feelings of this mademoiselle.

In conclusion, music is the heart and soul that vibrates into the human imagination. It is a universal language bringing love and harmony to each one who listens. Creates genuine friendship to all and lastly, no person on earth who will try to sing even it breaks. (VerGarciaBlogs)

Photo Gallery:

The Admin. of Bloggers Association of the Philippines Entertainment and Lifestyle Blogger Ver Garcia all smiles with Folksinger Henz Samaniego. 

Copy of Liwayway Magazine wherein Henz Samaniego had featured in July 2019 edition.

Henz Samaniego with friends.

Ver and Henry at Starbucks Valero in Makati.

Henry Samaniego showing the July issue of Liwayway Magazine.

Great with friends Blogger Ver Garcia and Folksinger Henry Samaniego at Starbucks Valero.

TXTM8
By Henry Samaniego

Intro:
Luv mo ba ako
Di ko alam ang tunay na
damdamin mo.
Uh Uh Uh

Saan ka ba ngayon
Txt mo lang "I Luv U"
Miss ko na message mo.

Koro:
Sa umaga pagkagising.
Charge agad ang C.P. ko
Di maka-reply saýo.
Wala na akong pampasa load saýo
Kulang pa ang budget
Wait ka lang
Miss na you.

Mahal mo ba ako.
Di ko alam kung tunay
yang pag-ibig mo.
Uh uh uh uh
Sa txt nalang ba tayo
Ok ba sa'yo na magkita na tayo.
Miss na you.

Adlib:
Talaga bang sa TXT 
nalang ba tayo

Miss na Miss ko ang
message mo.
Uh uh uh uh

Excited na makita ka
Pakita ka
Kailan kaya ito magkakatotoo.
Nana... nanana nanana
Na nanana na...
End**

Henz over a cup of coffee with Singing Icon Freddie Aguilar at Freddie Bar & Grill in T. Morato in Quezon City.

Henz very happy besides Singing Idol Victor Wood.

Folk Singer Henz Samaniego in one of his singing stints.

Henz lover of pets and nature.

Henz is photogenic and lovable.

Folk Singer Henz Samaniego in Japan.

Fly me to the moon Henz arrives in Manila, Philippines with OFW's.

Folk Singer Henz Samaniego love of Nature and Mother Earth. Let's protect our environment, the only one we've got.
Bantay Kalikasan
Musika at Titik ni Henry Samaniego

Tahasang ang ating Kabundukan
Malungkot na Katotohanan mahigpit nating bantayan
Gumuguhong kabundukan maraming namamatay
Silang Nakikinabang atin namang kapahamakan

Ang illegal na pagkakahoy mga troso at mina
Bundok dati'y lunti ay ngayon napanot na
Mga ibon walang tahanan, maawa naman kayo
Wag isawalang bahala isigaw natin tigilan na

Rap
Sobra-sobra pagmimina, ilog nalason n'yo
Isda sa ating dagat unti-unting nawawala
Samar, Sibuyan, Cagayan, Agusan
Marami pang mga lugar ginagahasa n'yo

Inang kalikasan ating Bantayan
Tulungan n'yo akong puksain silang lahat
Kami'y mga biktima ng mga gawain n'yo
Palitan kayong mga abusado masasamang 
mga hangarin n'yo
(mga gahaman ooh mga gahaman......)
Maraming umiiyak kami'y dinamay n'yo
Yung totoong salarin kaalyado pa ninyo
Titingin na lang ba tayo tayo'y kumilos na
Wa nating hayaan silang mapagsamantala....
Ako'y nakikiusap sa inyo-tigilan na!

Henry portrayed the song as a  call to stop the abuse of our natural resources and saving our  Mother Earth to avoid the onslaught of disaster. To create an awareness and sense of urgency for each and everyone to make the move and change right now! not tomorrow but NOW!  Help Henry in his advocacy. To help his Group to continue their advocacy to restore and preserve Mother Nature and planting thousands of trees is one of those. For any help, you can possibly extend. Please direct to his account: 
HENRY R. SAMANIEGO, BPI Debit #4409058901. Thanks for your help and God Bless. For details and donation, you can call or text Mobile No. 0926-1875105 or 0912-4680402. (VG)

Bring this flower to those who love and advocate the care for Mother Earth and Nature. This song Faithful Love is dedicated to all Environmentalists and Lovers of Nature.  (VerGarciaBlogs)