Bea Binene, "Urong Sulong" [OPC10 November 2012]

Kris Allen is the overall king on the latest monthly tally with "Better with You". On the Pinoy chart, it's Julie Anne San Jose who takes the bacon home and that's no surprise as "Enough" swept the November weeklies. What's a pleasant surprise though, is Bea Binene. When I first listened to this track, I was ready to dismiss it as just another cover, but she proved it otherwise. I actually liked her version. She nails it as she does a refreshing take on this Regine Velasquez original. Her voice is also well-suited for the song. From the album Hey, It's Me!, here's "Urong Sulong" which finishes at #4 on the Pinoy Picks chart:

OPC10 Overall Picks
November 2012

1. Kris Allen - Better with You
2. Matchbox Twenty - Overjoyed
3. Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Part 2) (feat. Steve Kazee)
4. One Direction - Little Things
5. Matchbox Twenty - Put Your Hands Up
6. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
7. Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
8. Taylor Swift - State of Grace
9. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life
10. tobyMac - Steal My Show

Pinoy Picks

1. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
2. Marié Digby - 3 AM
3. Ney Dimaculangan - Kailan (with Yeng Constantino)
4. Bea Binene - Urong Sulong
5. Moonstar88 - Ligaw
6. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
7. Julie Anne San Jose - I'll Be There
8. Gloc-9 - Bakit Hindi (feat. Billy Crawford)
9. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)
10. Erik Santos - Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka

OPC Recommends: Guitar Master

When my guitar's nut got broken, I started looking for a good quality, yet affordable guitar repair service. After reading good reviews about them online, I've decided to bring my guitar to Guitar Master, a guitar shop in Lapu-Lapu City. They also sell great-sounding acoustic guitars, as well as ukeleles, with very friendly prices.

My guitar with its fresh nut.
Thanks, Guitar Master!

Though Guitar Master is a little bit far if you're from Cebu City, it's quite easy to get there. From SM City Cebu, just take a MEZ-bound V-Hire (fare is P25.00). Once it has crossed the old Mactan Bridge and immediately after it has taken a left turn, you may then get off. With signages indicating where it is, you won't miss it. It's at one of the stalls in the newly-constructed commercial building on that corner. (By the way, I'm told this is their new location. Their old location was a little bit farther on the same street.)

Sir Ronnie, the store's owner/manager, is very accommodating. I handed over my guitar to him, and was told to come back the next day to pick it up. While I was there, I also asked about the guitars on sale. Ordinary acoustic guitars are sold for as low as P1,500, while the ones with pick-up are at P1,800 each. Their premium guitars are at P4,000 and up. At the mall, these guitars are priced at around twice as much for the same quality.

When I returned the next day, my guitar has already been fixed as promised. I tried playing it, and it sounded as good as it did before. And the best part: the repair only cost me P200.00! Without hesitation, I definitely recommend Guitar Master for your guitar needs.

GUITAR MASTER

ML Quezon Highway, Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City

Owner/Manager: Mr. Ronnie Pangatungan

Contact nos. 0939-9079527 (Smart),

0922-8036636 (Sun), 0917-3230151 (Globe)

Click here to find Guitar Master on Google Maps

The Cab, "Endlessly" [OPC10 2012.11.25]

Not much new entries on this week's OPC10, but we do have a new #1 in tobyMac's "Steal My Show". Erik Santos also debuts at #3 on the Pinoy chart with "Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka". Meanwhile, at #8 is a song from American rock band The Cab. This is the third single from their album Symphony Soldier. Here's "Endlessly", followed by this week's rankings:

OPC10 Overall Picks
November 25-December 1, 2012

1. tobyMac - Steal My Show
2. Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Part 2) (feat. Steve Kazee)
3. Kris Allen - Better with You
4. Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
5. Matchbox Twenty - Overjoyed
6. One Direction - Little Things
7. Matchbox Twenty - Put Your Hands Up
8. The Cab - Endlessly
9. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
10. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life

Popout Tracks

1. Pink - Try
2. Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
3. Third Day - I Need a Miracle

Pinoy Picks

1. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
2. Ney Dimaculangan - Kailan (with Yeng Constantino)
3. Erik Santos - Pangarap Ko ang Ibigin Ka
4. Bea Binene - Urong Sulong
5. Moonstar88 - Ligaw
6. Gloc-9 - Bakit Hindi (feat. Billy Crawford)
7. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
8. Marié Digby - 3 AM
9. Julie Anne San Jose - I'll Be There
10. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)

Kelly Clarkson, "Catch My Breath" [OPC10 2012.11.18]

Christina Perri and Steve Kazee hold on to the #1 spot for the second week, as The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 had its opening weekend in theaters, while The Cab debuts at #7. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson catches her breath as she falls slightly to #8 this week.

As posted on her official website, the original American Idol winner says that: "This song represents who I've been, what I've felt, and where I'm headed, as not only an artist but as a 30 year old that is now smart enough to know that it's time to stop, catch my breath, and be proud of not only what has been accomplished but of all the people that have helped me become the woman I am today."

Here's the official music video of "Catch My Breath", followed by this week's OPC10 rankings:

OPC10 Overall Picks
November 18-24, 2012

1. Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Part 2) (feat. Steve Kazee)
2. Kris Allen - Better with You
3. Matchbox Twenty - Overjoyed
4. One Direction - Little Things
5. Matchbox Twenty - Put Your Hands Up
6. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
7. The Cab - Endlessly
8. Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
9. Taylor Swift - State of Grace
10. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life

Popout Tracks

1. Pink - Try
2. Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
3. Third Day - I Need a Miracle

Pinoy Picks

1. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
2. Ney Dimaculangan - Kailan (with Yeng Constantino)
3. Bea Binene - Urong Sulong
4. Gloc-9 - Bakit Hindi (feat. Billy Crawford)
5. Moonstar88 - Ligaw
6. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
7. Julie Anne San Jose - I'll Be There
8. Marié Digby - 3 AM
9. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)
10. Sarah Geronimo - Anak

One Direction, "Little Things" [OPC10 2012.11.11]

One Direction scores their 4th top ten hit on the OPC10 with "Little Things", the follow-up single to "Live While We're Young" which only peaked at #2 on the Popout chart. The song is taken from their album Take Me Home which has just been released and, as of press time, is currently sitting at #2 on the iTunes chart. The English-Irish boy band debuted last year with "What Makes You Beautiful", which topped the OPC10 almost exactly a year ago. 

OPC10 Overall Picks
November 11-17, 2012

1. Christina Perri - A Thousand Years (Part 2) (feat. Steve Kazee)
2. Kris Allen - Better with You
3. Matchbox Twenty - Overjoyed
4. One Direction - Little Things
5. Matchbox Twenty - Put Your Hands Up
6. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
7. Taylor Swift - State of Grace
8. Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
9. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life
10. Mikeschair - You Loved Me First

Popout Tracks

1. Pink - Try
2. Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
3. Third Day - I Need a Miracle

Pinoy Picks

1. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
2. Ney Dimaculangan - Kailan (with Yeng Constantino)
3. Bea Binene - Urong Sulong
4. Moonstar88 - Ligaw
5. Gloc-9 - Bakit Hindi (feat. Billy Crawford)
6. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
7. Julie Anne San Jose - I'll Be There
8. Marié Digby - 3 AM
9. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)
10. Sarah Geronimo - Anak

Matchbox Twenty, "Overjoyed" [2012.11.04]

Their previous song "She's So Mean" only peaked at #6 on the OPC10. But this time around, Matchbox Twenty is back with a vengeance. They debut a total of three tracks on this week's charts! Topping the pop-out tally is "Our Song", while on the main list, "Put Your Hands Up" enters at #4, and "Overjoyed" is the highest new entry of the week at #2. Here's Rob Thomas and the rest of the band with their latest single off the album North:

OPC10 Overall Picks
November 4-10, 2012

1. Kris Allen - Better with You
2. Matchbox Twenty - Overjoyed
3. One Direction - Little Things
4. Matchbox Twenty - Put Your Hands Up
5. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
6. Taylor Swift - State of Grace
7. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life
8. Kelly Clarkson - Catch My Breath
9. Mikeschair - You Loved Me First
10. Taylor Swift - Red

Popping Out Tracks

1. Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
2. Third Day - I Need a Miracle
3. Green Day - The Forgotten

Pinoy Picks

1. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
2. Ney Dimaculangan - Kailan (with Yeng Constantino)
3. Bea Binene - Urong Sulong
4. Moonstar88 - Ligaw
5. Julie Anne San Jose - I'll Be There
6. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
7. Marié Digby - 3 AM
8. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)
9. Noel Cabangon - Tuwing Umuulan at Kapiling Ka
10. She's Only Sixteen - Dying to Meet You

Jeepney Tales

Here are two jeepney tales that I have overheard over time. While the first is rather funny, the second is a sad reality of how some need to conceal the truth just to keep a job so they could provide for their family:

Where Are We Going

Two elementary school girls had this conversation on the jeepney:

Girl 1: Asa diay ta monaog? Sa Lahug?

Girl 2: Dili, sa eskuwelahan.

Girl 1: So sa Lahug lagi?
Girl 2: Kay eskuwelahan diay nang Lahug?

They disembarked at Lahug Elementary School.

A Kid's Question

I was on my ride home one Saturday night and there was this mother and daughter on the jeep with me. The mother, still in her youth, late 20's maybe, was wearing a uniform indicating that she is a saleslady of a certain product brand in a department store. Her daughter was around 3-5 years old. I overheard the kid ask: "Ma, di na ko mag-Até nimo kay wala na man ta sa Ayala?"

A Kid's Question was first published in 359 Degrees, my blog at Yahoo! 360° on May 3, 2006.

Britt Nicole, "Stand" [OPC10 October 2012]

I first learned about Britt Nicole in 2007, when I heard her song "You" (click here to watch). Fast forward to this year, and she's back with a new album called Gold. From that album comes this single which tells us that while all other ground is sinking sand, we can stand firm and secure on God's promises. The song peaked at #4 on the weeklies, and for October, it finishes at #10. Here's an acoustic live performance of "Stand", followed by the complete list of the latest monthly tally:

OPC10 Overall Picks
October 2012

1. Marié Digby - 3 AM
2. Cher Lloyd - Oath (feat. Becky G)
3. Jeremi and Amy Richarson - Ancient Wells
4. Boys Like Girls - Be Your Everything
5. Flo Rida - I Cry
6. Building 429 - Right Beside You (feat. Dawn Michele)
7. Priyanka Chopra - In My City (feat. will.i.am)
8. Daniel Powter - Crazy All My Life
9. Group 1 Crew - His Kind of Love
10. Britt Nicole - Stand

OPC10 Pinoy Picks

1. Marié Digby - 3 AM
2. Julie Anne San Jose - Enough
3. Gloc-9 - Sirena (feat. Ebe Dancel)
4. Emmanuelle - Manong Guard (with Yeng Constantino)
5. She's Only Sixteen - Dying to Meet You
6. Q-York - Dito Na (feat. AMP, Nimbus 9, Pikaso & Knowa Lazarus)
7. Morissette Amon - Up to You
8. Quest - Sige Lang
9. Erik Santos - Hindi na Magbabago
10. Kris Lawrence - It's Not the End