Musicians unite to honor colleague in benefit gig

LETTERS  FROM THE AGNO

ART & BUBUT -- Art Mina with lawyer Jose Bubut Olarte Jr. after the "Pine for Pine" concert last February that was organized to drum up support against the cutting of trees at Luneta Hill. - MF 

By March Fianza

Expect a real variety of music at the Amarillo Bar along Legarda Road on November 15, 2012 in a tribute concert to benefit ailing musician colleague Art Mina.    

“The concert's primary aim is to honor a man who has contributed so much to the music scene in Baguio, and the propagation of music as an expression of universal love.”

Tr i-media businessman Rob Ocampo wrote this in his Facebook page on social network as an introduction to an upcoming gig.

But while that is true, what has been surprising even in past gigs is the unexpected participation of musicians, singers and band members who are now busy in their chosen fields and have stopped doing stage acts, but still find time to regroup and perform for a cause.

“Their type of cancer is incurable,” one watering hole fixture of long ago observed, as the singers of recent years get the urge to reunite and perform, especially in benefit shows

Art Mina, a true icon in the Baguio music scene has lugged his guitar since the 60s and 70s, up to the late 90s. He is the younger brother of famed Baguio singer-composer Tito Mina who is based in Germany.

Ocampo said, for Tito Mina who could not make it to the concert, the Germany-based artist has made efforts to coordinate with the Divine Word Fellowship in the city for whatever assistance the group could extend to his brother.

A couple of weeks ago, newshen Lyn Ramo who has been practicing acupuncture for quite a while offered to treat Art to a free session. It was learned that after his first acupuncture treatment, he was able to move around the city, particularly, Session Road – a good sign that physical therapy and medical attention was necessary.

 “After a series of acupuncture sessions, Art walks and talks better now. He is able to play chords on his guitar,” Ocampo said in a text message.

Last Thursday, the ailing musician was also with Ocampo in a mini concert at the Igorot Park organized to sustain the fight of Save 182 Movement against SM’s plan to “kill” trees at the Luneta Hill in place of a commercial parking lot, where the latter observed that Art was able to move better.

Art’s speech deteriorated and could only pronounce garbled words after his 2009 stroke.

But last week, he asked Ocampo if he could jam in the tribute-benefit concert that was organized for him.         

Alfred Dizon, Northern Philippine Times publisher-editor and musician, said the singer-guitarist known by folk, rock, jazz and country singers in the Baguio-Benguet area occasionally performed until late 2009.

He last performed professionally in Thailand but cut short his stint for personal reasons. His kids – Bhuddha and Vita are professional musicians based in Thailand who could not make it to the November gig.

But, the 61 year old Art Mina was forced to stop playing his music as he suffered a stroke in 2009, Ocampo who started coordinating the mini concert confirmed from doctors who diagnosed the musician.

Apparently, Art knew that he needed medical treatment but limitations constrained him to resort to walking up and down Session Road, which he did even after he suffered a stroke.

Lawyer and singer Jose “Bubut” Olarte wrote in his Facebook page on social network in reaction to Ocampo’s statement about Art: yes, let's celebrate our friendship with Arthur. We should do this.. Thank you Rob... this is a must... he was my best friend in 1st year SLU Boys High I-D. to the chagrin of our instructors, we were doing all these ball point pen drawings during classes, of comics characters. naglaing ag drawing ni Art. Just like Tito, the Mina brothers are superb illustrators aside from musical excellence. In boy scouts hikes, we were buddy-buddies. After that he went back to Candon for a while. Next time i saw him, he was the guitarist of Styx Magoos... many more years after, me and his uncle doc Mark Ventura were in the audience when Art, on bass, played a magical rock fusion version of sesame street theme song with 2 high school kids, his kid cousin Ethan Ventura on guitar and my son Jose III, on drums. when we were folksingers, we would walk home, (we were, are neighbors to date) slowly as we regaled each other with tales and yarn about life. Upon reaching aurora hill, at the crossing where we are supposed to part to proceed to our respective homes, we stand under the street light to continue our never ending conversation.. Then we'd decide to walk back to town for coffee and we'd continue our repartee until breakfast.. Every now and then grinning at each other's pale, sleep-deprived faces..

This writer, along with Hec Cruz, former member of Bag-iw and The Blank; doggone businessman Sammy Comiles, PMA professor Bobby Carantes and older brod Reuel Carantes also had fine moments with Art Manila sometime in 1977, particularly at The Hobbit House, the bar where most musicians in the Malate area converged till the wee hours of the next morning.

Later in the early 80s, we were all back in the City of Pines and would occasionally bump into each other at The Fireplace, Cozy Nook, Gingerbread Man where he used to drop by after his act with his band at the Camp John Hay Halfway House.

The concert entitled “Tribute to Art” will play on November 15, 2012; 6PM at the Amarillo Bar, courtesy of Novie Balagew who runs the place. Tickets at P150.00 each are available with Rob Ocampo at cp number 09053679527, or at the Luisa’s Café and Restaurant along Session Road.

The performers for the cause are lawyers Bubut Olarte and Nes Mondok, Alfred Dizon, Yani Trinidad, Liza Noble, Councilor Richard Carino who used to play in a band with Art, the Defeo Sisters, Bobby Go and Igan, Joanie Abubo, Arsen and Topher Marzan, Boy Cacho, Budhie Masadao, fiddler Chad Capuyan, lawyer Kris Donaal and his “Daluyon,” Revelation, Smooth Acoustic with Mabel, Jason and Jessie; Bobby, Reuel and Adon Carantes, Michelle Dos, this writer and many of Art’s friends. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com