The Dionisio Family--All 10 of them can sing, with 7 that can play at least one musical instrument. The high standard and quality of their music is due to Professor Marcelino 'Ninoy' Dionisio's wizardry in writing songs, playing various musical instruments and humorous attitude in music and in real life.
DIONISIO FAMILY --
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL FAMILY
TO MY MUSIC CAREER
NEVER in my 61 years in life that I met a family of 10 that are musically inclined and bonded through music.
That's why when they joined the nationally televise show "The Family That Sings Together, Stays Together", they easily made it to the Grand Finals in late 60's and early 70's.
There's something strange that happened in the Grand Finals... When they arrive at the studio of ABS-CBN in Quezon City, Professor Ninoy had an argument with the discrimation treatment from security personnel as they are wearing 'provincial' style clothes unlike the other grand finalists from the city.
That argument somehow 'affected' the focus of cameramen during their performance. The security personnel somehow collaborrate with the cameramen not to do their job when the Dionisio family will perform.
The live audience were rooting for the Dionisio family as they didn't see the cameras angles while inside the studio. During their performance, there is only one time that cameramen have a close-up shot of one of the member of Dionisio family -- Pablo or "Ambo".
I have seen their performance on a black and white television and also noticed the 'laziness' of the cameramen in doing close-ups of every member. It seems like they just put a tripod and left the cameras on 'permanent' mode.
While the rich families shots and focus/close-up shots are varying. Inside the studio, the audience is rooting for the Dionisio family. When they announce the winner (rich family), there are groans of disapprove from them.
They are wearing provincial costume because they sang "Tiririt ng Maya" (Twitting of Maya bird) and "Oh Holy Night", where the intro and coda (end) of that song were originally composed by Professor Dionisio.
Every Christmas season, I'm using that intro and end of Oh Holy Night during my performances, whether live or during caroling.
The eldest among the 8 children of Prof. Ninoy and Nana Conching is Loving, who is also one of my guitar teacher. I am the godfather of his only child (daughter) Leonor. He is many times champion of "Hamon sa Kampeon" (Challenge the Champion) using "pito" (pipe/quena). He is also a B flat clarinet player in a marching band. He teaches "Rondalla" or a group of school kids playing banduria, octavina, guitar, bajo de arco, drums and marimba.
When we personally able to make a bamboo flute, that's the start of my rapid progress in guitar.
FOR THE COMPLETE STORY ABOUT THE BAMBOO FLUTE, THIS IS THE LINK:
Celerina, or Ka Rina, is also one of my guitar teacher. I learned from her the instrumental song "Forbidden Games". To be able to use their guitar for practice, I used to fetch water first for their consumption and getting the water from pump well.
Ka Rina used to tease her dad by putting down his pants when he's not looking. The professor dad tolerated this joke as it produces loud laughter not only to me but also to other relatives.
There's a very sad incident that took place while they are in Japan. Prof. Ninoy passed away when they just arrived in Japan for a 6-month music stint as duo. Her mother, brothers and sisters decided not to inform them about the death because they just arrived and they know Ka Rina would never let her dad be buried without her presence.
When they arrived in Philippines after finishing their 6-month contract, Ka Rina's first person to ask for is her dad. When she learned about the passing away, she cried for hours but later understood why they didn't inform him of his passing away.
She and her husband has been a duo in Japan for 17 times. While they are in Japan in late '80's, I teach their 2 daughters piano once a week. I have to travel more than 2 hours to get there.
My experience with Ka Ella (Marcela Clemente Dionisio) was when she, her husband Ka Pong and me were applying for trio position in Japan in late 1980's. They've been to Japan also for many times but not as many as Ka Rina and Ka Rading.
Our prepared song then were "Fernando" by Abba, Hot Stuff and I forgot the others. After the audition, we proceed to their relative nearby. We just walk. To my surprise, there is a piano in the house. Ka Ella and Ka Pong told the old lady there that I am a pianist and she asked me if I know the song "Always". I know 2 "Always" songs, one is from 1925 and the newer one is in the 1990's by Atlantic Starr.
Of course I played the 1925 because she is old enough for that song. Ka Ella and Ka Pong were very much surprise that I know that old song from 1925!
The
Good Thing about Live Music
I still remember in the '70's,
during a party or family reunion, a beautiful lady in good looking dress is
singing while the guests are eating. She's so good that people think that they
are just hearing a stereo music playing. And when she finished singing, few
applauded from the crowd. But when my cousins (Celerina Dionisio-Jumaquio and
Marcela D. Clemente) sing live with only guitars, the guests stop eating and
listen to their music. One of their favorite is "Chiquitita". And there
is a loud applause after they sang. It also happened to me while I'm playing
keyboard then at Image Restaurant here in Palau. Some guests think that I'm
just playing along with a CD but when I finally convinced my boss to buy an acoustic
piano, I really enjoyed playing live music to our guests. Till now at Palau
Royal Resort.
Among my music students in Palau, Philippines, Bahrain and Japan, only Shane Abellera (Filipino-Taiwanese) knew more old songs than all of them combined! This is the result of modern technology of learning old and new songs online.
Sources: Chess Mate by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
December 29, 2002 --April 23, 2017
Chess and Music (Perfect Combination)
The Beginning of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
Soon to be published as a book
Music and Me by Roberto Hernandez
Tia Belau Newspaper
March 15, 2012 -- April 18, 2013
http://palau-chess.blogspot.com
April 25, 2013 -- April 23, 2017
The History of Chess in Palau
By Roberto Hernandez
June 09, 2002 -- April 23, 2017
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