6/7/12 Arnel Pineda and Ramona Diaz, Filipino Cinema and Music

This week on APEX Express we feature Filipino cinema and musicians.

We are excited to bring on to APEX Arnel Pineda, the lead sing of Bay Area band, Journey, and Ramona Diaz, filmmaker of the documentary  DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’ featuring Arnel Pineda which screened in San Francisco last month as the closing night film of the San Francisco International Film Festival. We share an intimate interview with the two of them as well as tape from the red carpet.

Arnel Pineda, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey Premiere in SF (APEX Promo) from Roldan Lozada on Vimeo.

 

We also welcome Joël Tan from YBCA to talk about the Center’s New Filipino Cinema program which opens on Thursday. This five-day event features 29 films and 24 U.S. premieres from one of the most exciting independent film scenes in the world. It also features the Indie-Pino Underground Music Fest, an afternoon of live music by independent and underground Filipino-American bands from around the nation, programmed by the big papa of PiNoisePop, Jesse Gonzales.

Community Calendar
Friday, June 8 through 10, a new play called Death in San Francisco premieres in San Jose. The dark comedy that explores what it means for an Indian to live and die in America. It  is also a benefit  for Narika, the bay area’s oldest organization working to end domestic violence in the South Asian community. http://narika.org/wp-content/uploads/IC-for-website.jpg

To kick the weekend off with Pinoy independent music, Jesse Gonzales booked a punk show at Submission Gallery in San Francisco on Friday, June 8 starting at 8 p.m. It’s all ages, so bring the kids out, but be sure to pack some earplugs. https://www.facebook.com/events/400749993282717/

The music continues with the Indie-Pino Underground Music Fest at YBCA on Saturday at 1:30 at the YBCA Sculpture Court at 701 Mission at 3rd Street.
http://www.ybca.org/indie-pino

On Saturday, June 9 at 1 p.m. at the Asian Resource Center Gallery in Oakland, the In the Currents exhibition brings together 12 Bay Area-based Iranian/American artists to respond to how artists translate the changing politics of our current time. Meet the artists whose work reflects a shift between the local and the global. https://www.facebook.com/events/301463663278429/

Also on Saturday at 3 p.m. Manilatown Heritage Foundation screens Ramona Diaz’s film The Learning. The Learning is the story of four Filipina teachers facing their first year in Baltimore’s schools. This screening is FREE, but donations are welcome.
https://www.facebook.com/events/388739484511524/

And from 6-10 p.m. catch the Bay Area Hawaiian Arts Gala, an evening of visual art and music showcasing the artisic talents of rising Bay Area artists in the Hawaiian Community https://www.facebook.com/events/107789846025134/

And next week on Thursday, June 14, Bindlestiff Studio’s resident sketch comedy group, Taste Better Wit  come at you, fresh from their appearance with Robin Williams during the SF Sketchfest ! Show is at 8 p.m. and runs for two weeks, Thurs through Saturday at Bindlestiff Studio.
https://www.facebook.com/events/442317302447216/

Arnel Pineda sings “Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever” a capella

During the Bay Area premier of Don’t Stop Believing: Everyman’s Journey at the Castro Theater, an audience member asked Arnel Pineda to sing a capella. He sang a segment of  “Why Can’t This Night Go On Forever” off Raised on Radio, captured by APEX Express contributor Nonogirl.

Tune in to APEX Express May 31 for the interview RJ Lozada and Nonogirl conducted with Arnel Pineda and Filmmaker Ramona Diaz.

4/19/12 Battle of the Bay: Is Oakland Cooler Than SF?

[audio http://archives.kpfa.org/data/20120419-Thu1900.mp3]

This week’s episode is a Battle of the Bay. You may have seen the Bay Guardian’s cover story last week which asked, “Is Oakland cooler than SF?!” and said, “San Francisco is losing much of its diversity, cultural edge, and working class to the East Bay — can anything be done?”

To continue this dialogue, we talk with Michelle Reed who opened a small plant store called Roots in San Francisco’s Mission District.

We also bring into the studio, Saqib Keval with People’s Grocery, an organization whose mission is to  improve the health and economy of West Oakland through the local food system.

We talk with Kearny Street Workshop, a multi-disciplinary arts organization in San Francisco thatis holding a fundraiser called Dumpling Wars at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center.

And we close out with a teaser for the documentary about the lead singer of San Francisco band, Journey. Mr. Arnel Pineda, from the Philippines!

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

• Haven’t seen a good play lately? Tonight, immediately after our show, head straight to Bindlestiff Studio in SF. This show promises to astound. “Thunder above, deeps below” is an imaginative take on Shakespeare’s Pericles featuring three homeless young adults. It’s all about redemption, identity, gender and sexuality and the search for a better life. Tickets are $25 at the door. 185 Sixth @Howard in San Francisco’s South of Market District. The play runs through May 5.
• Friday, April 20 in Oakland, suit up in your favorite digs and head to the Paramount Theater of the Arts for Notes from the Philippines featuring jazz and classical musicians Victor Noriega, Arthur Khu and David Riquero. Promises to be a really beautiful night of music with the best bay area jazz talent. 8pm on Friday, 2025 Broadway in Downtown Oakland.
• And if you haven’t had your fill of music, this Saturday, April 21,  join us at East Side Arts Alliance to celebrate the arrival of the warm weather with a whole lot of music at “spring forward”. Spend the evening listening to experimental jazz ensemble Mutual Aid Project, hip hop/funk/rock collective Bandung 55, and Rachel Lastimosa of the soul/jazz/indie group Dirty Boots. That’s at 8pm this Saturday at East Side Arts Alliance.
• Earlier in the show you got a sneak preview of the kind of excitement waiting for you at Kearny Street Workshop’s first ever Dumpling Wars. Seven teams of amateur chefs compete to create the best hand made dumplings which that’s right, you the audience, then get to eat. Food, competition and music? What better way to spend a Thursday night. The Dumpling Wars take place at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center on April 26th from 6 – 9 pm. Entry $25.
• Finally, May 3 at the Castro Theater is the Closing Night of “Don’t Stop Believing: Everyman’s Journey” about Arnel Pineda’s rise to fame as the newest singer of Journey. 7pm at the Castro Theater. Get your tickets online through the San Francisco International Film Festival.