Down, but not out, on Christmas

I was so sick on the 24^th that I couldn’t get out of bed for our Christmas Eve dinner. Considering that for the first time, my daughter wasn’t with us, you’d think that being ill would just put me over the edge of depression. Instead, I was actually ok.

It’s not that I don’t miss her. I do. But here’s why it didn’t get to me…

Over the past weekend I hosted an event where the winners of a contest had their Christmas wish granted. One poor family won a “Noche Buena” feast, while the grand prize went to a boy with cerebral palsy whose family couldn’t afford a wheelchair.

I was on stage when it hit me… my problems, though they may be tough, aren’t nearly the worst in the world. Of course, all of us know that. But when it’s right there in front of your face, there’s a huge impact nonetheless.

I was at the event to earn a talent fee of several thousand pesos. Little did I know, I would leave with a much more valuable reminder of how lucky I am.

Great news!

Fans of a cappella will now get an extra treat! My weekend show "The Blend" (Sat 9am-12nn) now has a sponsor which will be giving away great prizes!

On "The Blend", NY Pizza Express will give gift certificates to lucky listeners! On top of that, they'll also give them once in a while "Hang Out High" on my other show (Mon-Thur 12nn-3pm)!

Supporters of a cappella, let's show how strong our following is by patronizing NY Pizza Express (J. Abad Santos cor. Wilson in San Juan), that has put its faith in the genre.

Good luck on winning the contests, enjoy your pizza, and happy listening! :)

Lots of Prizes on The Blend!

Over the past few weeks, I've been giving out lots of CDs on my Saturday a cappella show The Blend. I didn't want to plug it online via my blogs or our webpage, since I wanted to reward the true listeners of the program.

But next Saturday, I'll have The Caltex Chorale in, to perform live in the booth. They've promised to give a bunch of CDs as part of contests on the show. I hope lots of people tune in to see how good this new group is.

There's also another thing. It's not yet completely finalized, so I won't give all the details yet... I'm working out a contest deal with a sponsor. So look out for your chance to win prizes on The Blend Sat 9am-12nn and on my weekday show Hang Out High 12nn-3pm.

Good luck! May the best a cappella fans win!

Sniff, sniff...

These last several days I've been fighting off illnesses. Over the weekend and early this week it was a sore throat, and recently it somehow it has turned into a very a very bad cold.

I would have loved to take a leave this week, so I wouldn't have to deal with a dry scratchy throat or dripping nose while trying to talk on air, but my operation used up all my leaves for 2007.

It hasn't been a walk in the park, but I'm getting by. One thing that helped was my new segment "The Blend of the Day", where I feature a Jam song performed in contemporary a cappella (a sort of sample of my Saturday show).

Hopefully I can get some quality rest this weekend. I guess it was a blessing in disguise that my hosting gig this Saturday isn't pushing through.

Great News!

I talked to my boss the other day and he approved my proposal to play one contemporary a cappella song once a day during my weekday show. The segment will be called "The Blend of the Day".

I'll play one of a select number of tunes for the segment (of course versions of signature Jam songs). It will give a little variety to my weekday slot, and at the same time help promote my weekend show.

If I'm really lucky, I'll even get a sponsor soon. But right now, I'm just happy that the idea will push through. :)

Look out for it beginning next Monday during my show "Hang Out High" between 12nn and 3pm.