Sometimes he rants, sometimes he smiles. Sometimes he jokes, sometimes he sighs. Sometimes he's happy, sometimes he's sad. Sometimes he's good, sometimes he's bad. Sometimes he's there, sometimes he's gone. Sometimes he stalls, sometimes he's done. But whatever Marcelle says, whatever he'd do, you can be sure, it's true! It's true!
Andster is one of those rare gems of magicians who writes in a very disarming manner about the art form. Whether it be his self-deprecating style or his massive range of experience in different aspects of magic, or just his many different attempts at taking his show on the road, Andster’s blog has always been an entertaining read, and I don’t even remember anymore how I came across his blog over three years ago, to begin with.
In any case, I do heartily recommend that you check his blog out, even if he rarely updates it nowadays. His insights into magic are not only unique, but very much the work of someone who is a big fan of magic, even if real-life obligations can get in the way of his semi-professional ways. As a former teacher, I can definitely relate with his being a professor who likes doing magic for his students every now and then. That’s cool, to say the least.
Check the blog out. It’s great, it’s light, it’s interesting, and you can’t go wrong with Andster’s writing.
.:244/365: September Is Recommended Reading Month:.
Hey, guys! Hope you enjoyed August, as it was certainly a labor of love from me to the Philippine magic industry.
Having said that, this month will be a month where I take it a bit easy, and I’ll be doing a month focusing on recommended reading for magic. I’ve already brought up a couple of books in the past, such as Carter Beats The Devil or Hiding The Elephant, but there are so many other books out there on magic that would do you very well to read.
On top of books to read about magic or mentalism, there are also some blogs or websites about magic that I personally check out and highly recommend because of how invaluable they are for magicians, or how insanely funny they can be.
So this month, I’m going to let other people’s writings dominate Project 365. Given that a lot of the people behind these great works have met great success in their respective careers, I think that isn’t a bad move at all.
I saved Mr. Bing Lim-It for last because he is the man I consider to be my mentor through the years I’ve been doing magic. He has had a very storied career in magic, and his story serves both as an inspiration and a cautionary tale in the mercurial world of magic.
A magic hobbyist since he was seven years old, Bing Lim-It was always fond of the art thanks to the inspiration of his idol, Lou Hilario, whom he saw many times on television back in the day. As he grew in magic, it took him almost two decades before he donned the tuxedo and top hat and became a professional magician, when he became a professional magician in 1987.
In 1998, he opened up a magic shop in Virra Mall, which eventually supplanted his professional magic career. The shop can currently be found in the third floor of Shoppesville, and is very popular because of his wide range of merchandise, from magic items to instructional videos to... ahem, marital aids.
Bing was practically as old school as can be: nearly every stereotype you could come up with for the traditional stage/parlor magician, he exemplified it, be his very deliberate but graceful movements, or his look and costume. As one of the country’s top performers, his experiences have gone far and wide, and earned him a lot of accolades along the way.
Through his long career, he has had countless performances, highlights among them being the time that he performed for Cardinal Sin and his card manipulation routine was hailed as “a miracle” by the late archbishop; as well as the stage show he had at the NAIA Tarmac. He became known for his specialty of fire production and fire-related effects, which allowed him to stand out among his contemporaries, as well as his patented “70 tricks in 30 minutes,” replete with rapid-fire productions, manipulations, vanishes, and all other manners of magical routines. Choosing Lance Burton (And particularly, his candle act.) as his international source of inspiration, Bing exuded elegance and skill when performing routines, and had a distinct look that made him seem larger than life. Over the years, he has created or redesigned numerous effects, the secrets of which are probably lost with him or the lucky persons who would purchase the item in question he himself actually used to accomplish such effects.
Eventually, after his wife was injured in 2005, Bing contemplated retiring on his 20th anniversary as a magician, but ended up retiring a year earlier, having his last show on October 1, 2006. He wanted a definite end to his magic career, going out still at the top of his game, well before his star power as a premiere performer waned, and leaving many others clamouring for more from the man. For the past four years, it’s hard to count how many people begged him for “one last show,” and it seemed like no price could possibly make him don his suit and top hat again. As far as he is concerned, his professional magic days are behind him, but one can see that his skills are still sharp despite four years outside the limelight, whenever he teaches his customers magic routines after they purchase from him.
Considered a hermit by many, Bing Lim-It is a controversial figure: someone who preferred to work alone, rather than to belong to any particular group of magicians. To this day, I honor his request of never officially taking part in a magic group, and I certainly see the wisdom behind it. As a performer on the outside looking in and extending nothing but goodwill towards the magic community, my perception of magic groups has always been positive, and I have continued to be insulated from all the pitfalls and horror stories that others may have felt compelled to bring up over the years.
While a man as complex and as nuanced as Bing Lim-It may prove to be an individual who will always perplex and polarize those who know him or even just know of him, those who have taken the time to take a close look at the man know that behind the apparent veneer of jadedness lies a human being who has seen it all and done it all, and the wisdom that he imparts, whether or not you may agree with it, is born from the many experiences he has had that has shaped him to become the person that he is today. With this in mind, it becomes rather clear why I continue to honor and respect him, because while it’s so easy to focus on the idiosyncracies, the firebrand demeanor, and the self-assured opinions, there is an inner gentleness to Bing Lim-It: a kind soul longing to see the spark of magic continue in all the right ways, for all the right reasons. A longing that repeatedly gets extinguished yet keeps on reigniting, each time fainter than the last.
He is a walking paradox: on one hand, an accomplished magician; on the other, one who would rather leave those days behind him. Despite this, all the while, he runs a shop that reminds him of what he would rather leave behind on a daily basis. When one sees the full breadth of the human condition in him, one begins to see the many lessons he has to teach, without him ever having to utter a single word.
For that, I choose to honor him today, a day removed from National Heroes day, to commemorate everything he has put forth for the sake of the industry, then and now. To you, Bing Lim-It may be controversial, but to me, Bing Lim-It is my mentor.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the king of Philippine magic as we know it.
Whenever Filipinos talk about magic, only one name transcends generations, and is revered and acknowledged as a pillar of magic both within and without the brotherhood of magicians. Indeed, Lou Hilario is the true household name for Philippine magic, and a veritable living legend because of his unique flair and charisma as a performer.
You can’t possibly have a shortlist of the who’s who in Philippine magic and miss out on this man. Earning a reputation through his sheer workrate, Tito Lou is a man who lives and breathes magic with every ounce of his being. From his early beginnings in magic thanks to learning how to do some tricks on television, to the countless guestings he has had on television, to the even more numerous shows he has performed everywhere, there has never been a shortage of demand for this man’s unique act. And I don’t throw the word “unique” around in a cavalier manner: you can search far and wide, but nobody has managed to pull off the combination of magic, ventriloquism, comedy, and trained animals the way Lou Hilario has.
I would have to admit that unlike most of my contemporaries, I was one of the few people living under a rock who saw Lou Hilario in action only a few years ago, when I was the designated street magician during a party, and he was scheduled to take the stage by storm. I just had to stop in my tracks and watch the master at work: there was no way my table-hopping was going to be able to compete with his top-of-the-line act, and besides, I wanted to watch the man perform.
After his show and after my walkaround, I approached him and his assistant, Jason, and they had very kind words for me, particularly since they noticed how I used the Shanghai Shackles as a close-up tool rather than a stage routine. I’ve been exceptionally fond of the Shackles for ages, and to hear such kind words from Tito Lou just a year and a half into my career at that point was truly a great honor.
As most people know, I consider Mr. Bing Lim-It to be my mentor, and lo and behold, the man, to this very day, will never hesitate to say that he idolizes Lou Hilario. And as I got to know him better over time through casual conversations with him, I developed a deeper appreciation for his importance to the industry not only as a performer, but as an inspiration to his contemporaries as well, all the same. The fact that he still joins (And often wins) magic competitions underscores his perfectionist attitude towards his craft, and with decades of experience under his belt, anyone who would just sit with him and listen to his stories on the road would certainly be blessed with his knowledge and wisdom.
And really, if you’re a parent, and you ever considered getting nothing but the best for your kid, if you really, really love your kid, you’d get Tito Lou for the party. If you don’t, then I guess you don’t love your kid enough. :P
.:242/365: Q And A With Lou Hilario:.
1. Who influenced you to get into magic? How long have you been into it?
No one. Magic was one of my many hobbies. I started when I was 7 years old. There was an instructional magic demonstration on TV called "Magic Hands" in between the Popeye cartoons. Just hands with white gloves and a black background and a close up mat. Magician demonstrated a trick, gave a list of materials to get then a commercial break, then the secret.
I am now on my 32nd year of "surviving" from this art.
2. What is magic? In your case specifically, what is mentalism?
Magic is an exploration of knowing the deeper darker secrets of mankind. Mentalism is the magic of the mind. Nowadays, for me, it is a form of entertainment.
3. What was your best experience while performing?
Anytime I have a good audience is the best experience.
4. What was your worst experience while performing?
Worst is when you need to perform without an audience, like working regularly in some venues.
5. Which layperson celebrity, local or foreign, do you think would make a great magician?
Anyone who has a passion for the art.
6. What is your best advice to everyone reading this who's interested in getting into magic or mentalism?
Watch all the shows, buy all the materials you can afford, make friends with magicians, get a mentor, spend all your time, money and effort on it. I guess this applies to everything else.
One of the trinity among mentalists in the country, a comedic genius, also a very active presence for magic online, and a dead ringer for Nur Misuari, the great Leodini attracts quite a crowd wherever he goes by sheer strength of personality and a look nobody could ever forget.
It’s a bit sad that I rarely cross paths with the Great Leodini, because I couldn’t quite tell him often enough how excellent his blog happens to be, as it is an excellent resource for magicians looking to improve their craft. The site is chock full of tips, ideas, and even funny anecdotes, all designed to push magicians into stepping up and becoming better performers overall.
The one time I’ve managed to really observe Leodini in action wasn’t even at one of his many shows. Instead, I caught him during a particular series of lectures about performances for the benefit of The Story Circle, and he discussed how to mix comedy with magic without inadvertently putting down magic along the way. Oh, if only we managed to get Bearwin Meily to sit in on that particular lecture, but that’s wishful thinking on our end.
Nonetheless, despite my lack of exposure to his performances, I have more than a few laymen friends who swear by him. Aileen Apolo, the recent birthday celebrant lady who took the video above, told me how entertaining and exciting Leodini was, and how nobody expected him to be so good because they let his looks fool them, which, in my opinion, should be a great compliment to the man, because it only means that the persona he projects onstage is one that is built upon breaking stereotypes or expectations.
I can’t get into his career in much detail, mainly because all the necessary biographical information can be found here. Nonetheless, I have to mention how important Leodini’s contributions to magic are, not only in being a community leader, having been the president of the IMC; but also in being a very audible voice for the Filipino magicians in the online community. What I try to do in terms of encyclopaedic knowledge about magic, he has been doing for practical applications of magic. Let’s not forget the fact that he also has quite a lot of facts and figures about magic over the many years he has been maintaining his blog as well, and my project lasts for all of only 365 days before I wind down my churning out of magic-related articles.
Personally, I enjoy his very different scripts for mentalism. The way he mixes comedy and mentalism works for him so well because of the character he has successfully mastered to a tee. Whether or not this is a mere extension of the real Leodini, the onstage Leodini’s stage presence and charisma never fails to make people chuckle at every joke and gesture that he makes, all the while casually and deliberately building to a stunning finish, as he catches his audience unawares.
If only for his being a great voice and ambassador for the Philippines in the online world long before I even so much as thought of going professional in magic, Leodini would certainly earn my greatest respect. The fact that he is also a multi-awarded performer who is more than willing to share his wealth of knowledge and experience for the betterment of Philippine (and even international) magic just puts him at a level that very few magicians, Filipino or otherwise, can ever hope to achieve.
In fact, he reminds me of a younger Aldo Colombini. If you've seen Aldo during his younger years, they have very similar hair, and even to this day, Aldo is still incredibly funny but his magic is so good that's not the first thing that comes to mind about him.
Anyways, his blog will be featured again sometime next month here, when we get to “Recommended Reading” month. Still, go ahead and get a leg up on checking out his blog, because there’s just so much useful stuff to find there.
I know you may not know me much, sir Leodini, but I was, and always will be, a huge fan of your work and more so your writing.
As the new country manager of Nuffnang Philippines brought the team to Makati Shang to try out their dimsum buffet, myself, Patty,Judd,Denise, Trixie, and Anne were all excited over the prospect of hakao, hakao, and more hakao until we couldn’t take it anymore. In fact, Judd and Trixie even had a little wager going on who would eat more, and well, Trixie won it handily.
It was great bonding with the Nuffies, really. Even if they tend to poke fun at me a lot (There’s a rumor going around that I’m gay. Yes. The rumors get pretty unfounded here.) and all, I wouldn’t trade these guys in for the world.
If they threw in a plate full of hakao though, I just might. Nah, I kid, of course.
Last Wednesday was extra amusing because to get over the hump day, we watched “One More Chance”, and I realized that makes two out of three movies from the collection I handed out on June 2, since we watched “500 Days Of Summer” the previous week. Overall, it was pretty fun times, even if the movie does hit a little too close to home, really...
.:Speaking Of Dimsum And Chinese Food...:.
Last Thursday, I was part of an awesome event held by Chow King. Now, I normally don’t go to events anymore due to my unbelievably busy schedule, but I thankfully squeeze this one in, and it was well worth the trip.
As a matter of disclosure, I am a very rabid Kimerald fan. When the invite mentioned they would both be there, wild horses could not have prevented me from getting to the event.
All that aside, though, in the world of marketing, people always tend to ask themselves who the personification of their brand could possibly be, and after some brainstorming, the answer Chow King ended up with was both enlightening and interesting.
You see, every single brand advocate of Chow King just so happens to have a very interesting story to tell. Whether it’s beating the odds for Kim and Gerald, or coming from the wet market for Jericho Rosales, or giving the gift of education for Efren Penaflorida, or the sheer adversity overcome by Bea Alonzo, it’s the taste of victory that is indeed the most delicious.
But really, all niceties aside, I must say that this particular commercial tugs at the heartstrings pretty well:
Seeing Kim Chiu up close and personal as I did, there was no doubt that I was giddy to no end. It was an awesome day all around, and I must emphasize that I especially like their new item, the Chow King Tender Beef Broccoli. Prior to this, their beef dishes were rather limited, and their most notable one was braised beef, so having Tender Beef Broccoli ready in a fast food chain is such a great thing. I kid you not: this is quality stuff we’re talking about, and considering my up frontness about other items and restaurants, when i recommend food, you know I’m not just shilling at this point: it’s good. End of story.
Anyways, I’m still really flabbergasted over Thursday. In the meantime, all you really need to know is that Chow King’s Tender Beef Broccoli is awesome, I am a huge fan of Kim Chiu and Gerald Anderson, and you can be sure that victory can taste even better when coupled with great food.
He has held his tongue and extended his patience for as long as he humanly can.
For the past year and a half, he has been through a living hell, and what everyone saw on the outside has merely been the tip of the iceberg. If there was one thing he tried so hard to do, it was to try to hide every single burden he was carrying within him from plain view. Many people may know or have an inkling that he was going through a lot, but next to nobody had any inkling how deep it went.
When you strip away all the fond nostalgia, it boils down to this: two years of being treated like a doormat, two years of being made to feel that you are absolutely insignificant, and two years of being made to believe that you are a terrible person and your very presence is a source of embarrassment. Brainwashing that does a number to any man’s self-esteem. A pain that ran so deep that he believed it was his fault things fell apart.
Despite that, he kept on keeping on. Smiling in the face of adversity, fighting the pain and the urge to just end it all because the pain, instead of diminishing over time, actually amplifies as the months go by. Nobody said it was easy, but there is merit to be had in triumph over such adversity.
And then, as if calling back to a time where you were worth even less than the most insignificant of insects, they come up with a way to make you feel horrible about yourself again. All your well-meaning, all your niceness, it all becomes twisted around and instead of recognizing that you are actually a good person, all that goodness is looked upon with suspicion. It is looked upon with disdain.
And day after day, you are harshly reminded of it.
Can’t you take a hint? When someone asks you to cut it out, is it just too difficult to stop being a douchebag for ten seconds?
And as if all that weren’t enough, the very reason you went through hell suddenly deigns to remember that you exist! Is this not momentous?
Except as if she wasn’t done making him feel even more insignificant than he already did, she remembered him because her friends wanted to ask him a favour.
Y’know, the same friends who said he was no good for her? Yeah, those ones.
There. Are. No. Words.
Let’s make it clear: she never loved him. She personified selfishness. True love means accepting someone despite his faults. She never did. She kept on hoping he’d walk this way, he’d be a little less geeky, he’d quit being a magician, he’d change religions, he’d be a little more Chinese, and maybe even lose weight.
In short, if he stopped being who he actually is.
The anger and the hurt, all that he has bottled up for so long, now erupts. He has reached his breaking point. After years of being made to feel insignificant, of being taken for granted, of being remembered only when he’s useful for something, after deluding himself that he was actually loved for so long, the painful truth rears its ugly head.
He deserved better than any of this. And now, he knows it. The breaking point has been reached.
David Elefant is often considered one of the three best mentalists in the Philippines, alongside Rannie Raymundo and Leodini. However, if we had to give awards based on cornering the mentalist market based on looks alone, David Elefant would be the runaway winner, hands down.
Having built a name for himself over three decades of magic and mentalism, David Elefant’s reputations precedes itself. Of Jewish-American descent, David’s intense eyes and striking looks never fail to get the attention of anyone who finds him in their line of sight.
Specializing in a variety of different mentalist phenomenon, but overall placing emphasis on the bizarre and the occult as his visage certainly lends to the effect very well, David Elefant has practically been a household name in the realm of mentalism for so long, it’s pretty hard to imagine this man doing children’s parties. Yet you’d be surprised, because in a rare magazine issue, the man himself has actually been photographed dressed as a clown, complete with makeup. Word has it that he is actually fairly qualified to be one, as shocking as the idea might seem.
Now that you’ve picked your jaw up off the ground over the sheer implausibility of it all, let me tell you that if I ever do find a copy of that picture somewhere, I’ll add it to the Project 365 at some point. I think it’s actually a compliment to say this, but that picture is pure grade nightmare fuel, to say the least.
All the affection for the man’s imposing presence aside, David Elefant’s storied career truly is marked by his devotion to the art form, as well as his unmistakable passion to the image he portrays. His character carries him through, but there is no doubt that his technical skill is remarkable and is often found to be impressive, especially given his wide knowledge base, using various effects and principles that are virtually unused by any of his other contemporaries in the Philippines. The combination of his stage presence, skill, and arsenal make up what is undoubtedly the backbone of one of the most spellbinding mentalism performances anyone can ever watch.
I don’t know about you guys, but I personally find that having Anthony Billan Co as, to date, the only Filipino magician ever featured on Ellusionist or even Theory 11 definitely makes him a very key figure in Philippine magic in this current generation.
Unlike pretty much every other magician I have ever featured in this blog so far, Anthony is different by sheer virtue of never having been a professional performer at all. He is, through and through, a hobbyist, and has managed to create numerous different effects, the most famous of which is the Mindbender, wherein he demonstrates how a card could bend through sheer concentration while right there in his hands. He is passionate about magic, but is also known as a professional photographer, as you can see in his website.
An avid fan of magic since he was ten years old, the first time he ever saw a magician brought him an incredible measure of amazement, wonder, and joy. Admittedly, the pitfall of being a magician is that some of the sheen of the mystery wears off once you know the workings behind the magic, and that explains why not a day goes by that he yearns to feel that sense of awe and wonder a layman can get when watching something magical.
From watching the greats like Henning and Copperfield, he discovered an aptitude for discovering the secrets behind magic through sheer observation. It was with this rare aptitude that he developed a way to perform magic, starting out with his family, then his classmates, and then total strangers. He was practically self-taught in that regard.
Coming from an age where the secrecy behind magic was at an all-time high, it was a true test of patience and resourcefulness for Anthony to gain the magic knowledge that he has now. Scouring bookstores and libraries for books like “Fun With Magic” by Joseph Leeming could not have been an easy thing to do at all. He felt so compelled to uphold the integrity of magic that he borrowed and re-borrowed the book so that others can’t get their hands on it so many times that the librarian had to step in and ban him from ever borrowing the book again! To this day, “Fun With Magic” is still part of his collection.
It was a bit ironic that with the instant fame that came with “Mindbender,” majority of the criticisms that came his way were from fellow Filipinos. As the good book says, “A prophet is not welcome in his own town,” and this realization was in full force. Despite all of the flak he received (Which is probably brought about more by jealousy than anything else, in all honesty.), “Mindbender” is still an amazing routine, and one that I would never hesitate to personally use whenever the opportunity presents itself. Quality mentalist acts are few and far in between, so having Mindbender in your arsenal is definitely an amazing boon.
A true card magic aficionado, Anthony has had a lot of experience in that department under his belt as well. While most magicians use card magic as a stepping stone (Myself included.), he decided to focus on it and his passion for the art form is definitely hard to rival.
With an excellent Philosophy that drives his passion for magic towards goodness, with his willingness to carry on the magical tradition to the next generation through his children, and with a brilliant mind and an eye for detail both in front of and behind the camera lens, Anthony Billan Co is one of the most important figures in magic who has never done a professional show in his entire magical career. And that’s saying a lot.
.:238/365: Q&A With Anthony Billan Co:.
1. Who influenced you to get into magic? how long have you been into it?
I would have to say that they were the TV greats... from Doug Henning to David Copperfield and Mark Wilson. Everything always stopped for me when there was magic to be seen on TV. No DVD, No Internet nor regular live magic shows that time. I would record magic TV specials on Betamax tapes and rewound it over and over again just to analyze the trick and try to decipher the methods. I never really knew if I was right or wrong..just so long as I had a solution. This was my very own learning process.
How long have I been in magic? Probably got bit by the magic bug around my early teens. Greg Wilson’s Magic show was still on Channel 13. So you do the math
2. What is magic? in your case specifically, what is mentalism?
Magic for me is an art... (how many magicians did you actually interview and got this same boring answer? Haha!) Well, to get more into it...for me Magic is more than that... it is the only craft I can think of that uses all kinds of disciplines in life. Be it psychology, public speaking, theater (stage management, audience management, blocking etc), body language, science, mathematics, art and construction (making DIY props because you don't have enough dough to buy expensive “magical items”), music, dance/choreography, ethics and whatever else that I didn't mention that is listed in any typical academic transcript of records. It instills in you virtues like perseverance, temperance, endurance, logic and humility. I can go on and on but I think I am starting to bore your readers. Simply put, after all that has been said...magic for me is life.
There are many types of magic that people watch and enjoy. It may be all the same to them but there are clear divisions between these genres. One of them is Mentalism. It is the kind of magic where, as the word suggests, deals with anything mental or with the mind. Predictions, mind reading and telekinesis are just some of the things that are closely associated to this art form. In my case specifically, since I am 90% a card worker/magician, I always project myself as a card shark, a sleight of hand artist or a cheat, Mentalism is a way for me to get out of that mold and create a more mystical and magical image, transcending from mere dexterity to more of the supernatural.
3. What was your best experience while performing?
When I was a contestant during a close-up magic competition. I was in the zone, everyone was reacting, cheering and applauding throughout the routine. And I could see the judges eyes light up trick after trick. I got to see the score sheets afterwards and saw almost perfect scores. It was a big achievement for me to be able to impress not just laymen but my own peers. I even got a special award that night given to me by one of the few people I look up to in the magic community -- Mr. Rannie Raymundo.
4. What was your worst experience while performing?
When I was a contestant during a close-up magic competition. Basically everything opposite of what happened during my best experience. It was a silent and cold day for me :) Oh! If I may add, anytime I perform for anyone and I don't get any reaction or feel that I wasn't effective enough to bring out amazement and awe in the spectator, would also count as an apt reply to this question.
5. Which layperson celebrity, local or foreign, do you think would make a great magician?
That would have to be...either Ariel Ureta. He has a very distinguished, debonair and quite gentlemanly look on him when he is on stage hosting. He looks and sounds like the formal classy magicians of the old days. I just hinted on my age right? Haha.
6. What is your best advice to everyone reading this who's interested in getting into magic or mentalism?
Stop! Don’t do it! Imagine the repercussions... hours of alone time practicing with playing cards, coins and what have you. Going through a hardware store/bookstore/stationary store and scouring through everyday items and thinking of "other" ways you can use them. Being looked upon as a freak of nature. Always going out loaded with things that are most unlikely to be found in pockets of almost any regular guy: Playing cards, small red hankies, little red balls, manila envelopes, permanent markers and a lot of loose change. Being asked to do a trick every time you are with your friends. Being asked a lot of time to go to their kid's birthday parties not as a guest! Hear these words every time: "How did you do it?", "Can you do that again?", "Bilis ng kamay mo eh! (You’re hands are too fast)" But most of all, being able to do something you truly love and bring out sheer amazement, pure joy and innocent wonderment to people you hardly even know. Still want to become a magician?
Belated best wishes to Mr. and Mrs. Carlo Ople! The nuptials were a blast, and I'm happy to have been a part of it. I can't gush enough about how amazing that day was, considering how despite the inclement weather, the rain stopped at the moments it had to stop...
.:Gathering My Thoughts:.
There will be jokes about today's Ms. Universe, and tasteless jokes about yesterday's tragedy, but I decided for now that you wouldn't find them here in this blog.
My prayers go out to the affected victims of yesterday's horrible atrocity, and my heartfelt congratulations go out to Ms. Venus Raj, because being 4th runner-up is no mean feat, no matter how you put it.
But I just can't bring myself to go all manic-depressive and write about both topics in this blog just yet. I want to critique, to point out where things went wrong, to play armchair CSI/SWAT.
But I recognize that won't bring those victims back.
I will just simply say that this was indeed a tragedy, but my sympathy for the hostage-taker evaporated the minute he decided to use a bus of innocent people to further his own agenda. The ends never justify the means.
.:236/365: That Magic Shop In Megamall Everyone Has Seen By Now:.
Whether it be Anders or Suzuki or Erna running the store, there’s no denying that out of all the magic shops in the Metro Manila area, this is probably the most popular one, mainly because of its accessibility.
At some point, I’ll take a picture of the shop, but anyone who’s Filipino and reading this knows the place I’m talking about.
In the third floor of SM Megamall, you will find a small kiosk that sells magic items. Obviously, while you can’t expect a venue as small as that to sell full-scale illusions, it’s the perfect place to get close-up and even parlor magic material. That shop has been there for longer than I can remember, and it’s taken on different forms over the years, whether the classic “Macky and Wacky” stuff from A&L, or of course, the legendary Suzuki, who only recently came back into the country, from what I’ve heard, or the current lady running the shop, Erna.
A lot of memories can be found in that magic shop. I remember having purchased the A&L magic set from Home TV Shopping in the mid 90’s, only to discover that the items were actually available for a much cheaper price in SM Megamall. I forgot the white guy’s name, but he sure knew how to hype magic back in the day, and to this very day, I still make sure to swing by and support that shop every now and then, simply because that little kiosk right there has a lot more magic history than I could ever hope to contain in one article.
Known really as one of the hotbeds for the finest minds in magic, The Tavern refers to the place where many great Filipino magicians have come together to share ideas and generally just have a good time on a given night, often on a weekend.
I speak about the Tavern with much fondness simply because I had the honor of going there last Saturday night, and finally having a chance to sit down and pick the brain of The Boss, Rannie Raymundo, in person. That night, many other amazing people were there, including JB dela Cruz and Jeffrey Tam, and a few other people whose names I recall but am afraid of misspelling. I went there, not knowing what to expect, and left with a heightened sense of appreciation for magicians in general, allowing me to once and for all cast off some level of wariness that I have been, well, trained to put up around people in general, and not just contemporaries.
The Boss was very cordial and welcoming as I walked into the Tavern, and when you step in, you just simply feel the magic in the air. This was a place where people really put their heads together to come up with things so brilliant, so impressive, or at times, so downright insane, that they just had to get back together the following week and do it all over again.
The casual atmosphere I was treated to when I entered the Tavern was nothing like I imagined. I visualized, before setting foot there, that the Tavern was literally a Tavern, and I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that I was sorely mistaken. It didn’t take too long for me to feel at ease, particularly because everyone in the room was welcoming of me, considering I felt like a deer in headlights right there, not knowing what to expect, and knowing that I was not a magician’s magician, which is one of the most daunting realizations you will ever have as a magician once you are surrounded by a lot of your contemporaries.
In any case, this room has indeed had its memories and moments, and for last Saturday, I managed to be a part of it. I can’t thank everyone last Saturday night for their kind hospitality, but more importantly, I can’t thank them enough for the hilarious road stories (Imagine acknowledging the presence of Mommy Dionisia, only to find out that the person you acknowledged was not Mommy Dionisia.), and even pointing me in the right direction to learn new effects that fit my persona, or even allow me to rediscover some classics I foolishly ignored for some reason or some other in the past.
For any magician out there who happens to be reading this, consider it nothing short of a great honor for The Boss to actually invite you in the Tavern. As a performer who has nothing but the utmost esteem for fellow performers, it doesn’t matter if I were doing this thing for four years or forty: an honest and genuine invitation from a contemporary just because he wishes to enjoy your company is one of the greatest shots in the arm that could be levied upon you. And for that, I am certainly deeply honoured.
I went home at around four in the morning that night already, and I must say, it was well worth being sleepless on a Saturday night to meet these amazing people, to be able to hear their stories, listen to their ideas, watch their performances, and even just share laughs over anything and everything. Of course, the part where I got lost en route to the Tavern was a tad of an inconvenience, but it wasn't the end of the world...
Sonny Minoza is one of my favourite people in the whole world, and easily makes the top five of my personal list of Filipino mentalists of note.
As a performer, sir Sonny has the chops necessary to be a mentalist, given his ability to communicate clearly and his control over audience members at any given time. I’ve seen the man at work, and I can’t help but appreciate the strides he has taken to establish his credibility as a mentalist, given how the need to set himself apart from the triumvirate of David Elefant, Leodini, and Rannie Raymundo meant that he needed to bring something different to the table.
If I were to look at the great triumvirate and liken each of them to one of the top mentalists in the world, I would say that David Elefant is to Max Maven as Leodini is to Kockov (Or Luke Jermay, if you will.) as Rannie Raymundo is to Derren Brown. While these are admittedly very lose comparisons (Excluding Mr. Elefant, who is every bit as terrifying as Max Maven is onstage.), these comparisons only show the kind of work cut out for Mr. Minoza, as he needed to etch a name for himself without pretty much being a carbon copy of these three luminaries.
So where we have a Maven, a Kockov/Jermay, and a Derren, Mr. Minoza pretty much pegged himself as an Osterlind: that funny uncle you could relate to, but happened to be gifted with mentalist abilities, as opposed to being the demon himself, a shocking and disarming performer who uses humor to his advantage, or suaveness on crack respectively.
Thanks to this, Sonny Minoza has certainly given rise to a kind of mentalism that is every bit as credible as it is “family-friendly” in the way only Sonny could do it. The exercise in contrasts has been nothing short of amazing, as I have certainly tried observing each of these esteemed gentlemen, and the way they wildly vary amongst themselves is a thing to marvel at.
Having said all of that, here’s me tipping my hat to Sonny Minoza: one of the best names in mentalism, a charter member of the Psychic Entertainment Network (Along with David Elefant, Nomer Lasala, Lei Sarmiento, and yours truly.), and a swell guy all-around. His very casual approach to mentalism allows him to just connect with audiences in ways nobody has imagined possible. The fact that he practically avoids an onstage persona and uses the real him to get himself over is just... unique, really.
.:234/365: Q And A With Sonny Minoza:.
By now, you know the six questions I ask, right?
1) Watching the TV series' "Wonderful world of Magic", "Magic of Mark Wilson" & Bill Bixby's "The Magician". All in the 70's...been interested since I was 7 or 8. Couldn't really remember the exact age.
2) Entertaining people by performing psychic/mind power demos/feats.
3) Everytime I see my audience well entertained is always the best experience.
4) When my briefcase (where my whole show is placed) didn't open & I was already on stage. Had to improvise half of the show until my wife was able to force it open backstage.
5) Couldn't think of one right now.
6) Do it for your love of the art & not just because it's the "in" thing right now.
The chronicles of the autobiographical blogger who wears too many hats for his own good.
Professional host, magician, and mentalist. Standup comedian. DJ. Teacher. Philosopher. Blogger. Friend. A chiaroscuro of light and darkness. What more can you ask for?
