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THE BEATLES: The Fab Four of the 60s

The Beatles is the most celebrated music act in the 20th century with their best-selling albums and singles, numerous awards and recognitions, and distinct influence and legacy in the music industry.

The band’s journey started with John Lennon in Liverpool, England when he formed a skiffle group called the Blackjacks with his friends from Quarry Bank School in March 1957. But they changed their name to The Quarrymen after discovering a respected group was already using the name. Then Paul McCartney joined the group after he and Lennon met in July 1957.

The following year, McCartney’s friend, George Harrison, auditioned to Lennon. Although Harrison was only 14 at that time, he became the group’s lead guitarist after about a month of persistence. Two years later, Lennon’s school friends left the group to pursue schooling at the Liverpool College of Art. Lennon’s art school friend Sutcliffe became part of the band in January 1960, who suggested of changing the band’s name to “The Beetles,” until they changed their name to “The Silver Beatles,” and to “The Beatles” in the middle of August.

The all-male rock, composed of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals), and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals), had their first performance on 17 December 1960 at the Casbah Coffee Club in Liverpool. They auditioned for Decca records but were rejected because “groups of guitars are way out.” Later, record shop owner Brian Epstein became their manager. Their first single, Love Me Do, made it to the British chart and reached number 17. Most of The Beatles songs were written by Lennon and McCartney.

One of the highlights in their career is their 1st appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show where the said show garnered over 70 million people viewing. Another is their performance at Shea Stadium in 1965. They’ve set new world record of having 55,600 concert audience and revenue, a first time in the history of popular music anyone had played in a proper stadium as opposed to a theater or concert hall.

For a decade of being active in the music industry, The Beatles has done 27 studio albums, 4 live albums, 57 compilation albums, 21 extended plays, 55 singles, 10 video albums, and 37 music videos. They are tagged as the best-selling musical group of all time with over one billion units sold worldwide, as estimated by EMI.

The Beatles became notable for their songs “Yesterday”, “In My Life”, “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude”.

Aside from these, they have sold more albums in the United States than any other artists, as certified by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). They got 7 Grammy Awards from the American National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, 15 Ivor Novello Awards from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors.

During their stint as an all-male rock band, they were awarded with 6 Diamond albums, as well as 24 Multi-Platinum albums, 39 Platinum albums and 45 Gold albums in the United States; and 4 Multi-Platinum albums, 4 Platinum albums, 8 Gold albums and 1 Silver album. Also, they have received the following recognitions: Appointed as Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II in 1965; 1971 Academy Award for Best Original Song Score for the film Let It Be; inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988; included in Billboard’s list of the all-time top-selling Hot 100 artists, in line with the US single charts’ 50th anniversary celebration where the band ranked first; and being part of Time magazine’s compilation of the 20th century’s 100 most influential people in its December 1999 issue.

Like any other artists, there were still The Beatles songs unreleased including Carnival of Light, an experimental piece recorded on 5 January 1967 for The Million Volt Light and Sound Rave; a 27-minute jam of Helter Skelter; and Grow Old with Me, a Lennon’s composition the three Beatles worked on in the early ‘90s prior to the Anthology release.

They may have disbanded in 1970, but the “Beatlemania” that Lennon, McCartney, Harrison, and Starr started still lives on.

Jordeene Sheex Lagare

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Anthony Taberna: Fears death threats but take it as a challenge

TV and radio broadcaster Anthony Taberna never imagined getting to where he is now for he entered the media industry just to sustain his Mass Communication studies at New Era University at the age of 17.

  His dad suffered a mild stroke in September 1992 and the 37-year-old TV and radio personality needed to find a job to help his parents. He planned to work in Jollibee but chose to work as part time writer when he heard of a job opening in DZEC, operated by Eagle Broadcasting Corporation. He was first asked to translate to Filipino an editorial published by Inquirer. Good thing he came from Nueva Ecija, and writes and speaks Tagalog profoundly. Two days after his application, the news manager of the station asked him to come back.

  Anthony, or more popularly known as Ka Tunying (his father’s nickname that he chose to use after his father’s death in 2002), got his job in DZEC as a part-time news writer, then he became a news producer, and later on a station’s field reporter. He transferred to DZMM in 1997, ABS-CBN’s radio station and became its field reporter. Three years after, he joined Gerry Baja in the radio program Ito ang Radyo Patrol, which led to their current tandem program Dos por Dos that airs every Monday-Friday from 5:00-6:00AM and 5:30-6:30PM.

  Aside from Dos por Dos, he is part of Umaga kay Ganda (UKG) where he had a Punto por Punto segment; XXX (Exklusibong, Explosibong, Exposé), an investigative program with Julius Babao and Pinky Webb; and Ako ang Simula, a weekly show that aims to bring long-term change to people with Karen Davila and Atty. Pochoy Labog. He anchors Iba-Balita ni Anthony Taberna, a weeknight on Studio 23 that delivers latest news around the Philippines and airs his opinions at the same time. In addition to his daily programs, he does exclusive interviews and reports in TV Patrol and Bandila.

  He is often heard giving Fookien time checks in his radio program Dos por Dos with Gerry Baja. But Ka Tunying disclosed he doesn’t have a Chinese blood but he learned a bit of Fookien from a Chinese ex-girlfriend.

  This broadcaster received several awards and recognitions. He was the first recipient of the 2005 KBP Golden Dove Award Best Reporter award. Ka Tunying was the first to air the ‘Hello Garci’ recording and the ‘mother of all tapes’. Also, he was awarded as 2010 COMGUILD Best Male Field Reporter of the Year; 2009 Outstanding Radio Anchor by the VACC (Volunteers against Crime and Corruption); 2009 Young Professional Awardee for Broadcasting and Journalism; 25th PMPC Star Awards for Television Best Male Newscaster for Iba-Balita ni Anthony Taberna and Best Morning Show Host for UKG; and 8th USTv Students’ Choice Awards Male News and Current Affairs Host.

  As much as he wanted to celebrate his career’s success, the promising broadcaster admitted his work took its toll on his life as a family man. Having little time for his wife and two kids is the biggest downside of his profession. And to make up for the loss, he devotes his Saturdays and Sundays as sacred time to be with his family. He and his wife took advantage of long vacations like Holy Week or holidays to bond with their kids.

Although Ka Tunying has done several interviews with prominent personalities and people from all walks of life, he wished to interview US President Barack Obama. He would arm himself with much English. And his first question to Obama? “Do you have any regrets running for president?” The strong-willed broadcaster is very fascinated with Obama’s story, from his rise to power

  Just like any journalists, Ka Tunying fears death threats especially for his wife, Rossel Velasco-Taberna, co-owner of Outbox Media; and two beautiful daughters Zoe, 3, and Helga, 1. But he took these as part of his profession. He once thought of giving in to his wife’s plea to quit his job. “Pero naisip ko, ano nalang ang itatawag sa akin, pag nalaman ng mga tao ang pagtiklop ko sa isang challenge?” He added that if he won’t complain about the corruption and other pressing problems in the country, his kids would suffer in the end.

  Amidst the death threats he received through text messages, snail mail, email, and indirectly through common acquaintances, he still stands by his hard-hitting yet humorous commentaries.

Jordeene Sheex Lagare

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Panorama: A must-read magazine

Manila Bulletin is used to be known with its 5-column boxed layout – same thing with its magazine- Philippine Panorama.

The Philippine Panorama is one of the oldest Sunday magazines circulating in the country. It features the Filipino lifestyle, home, agriculture, tourism, travel, society, and important events that happened in the world. It carries the tagline “The Nation’s Leading Weekly Magazine”.

  This is being managed by the Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation, having the six columns/sections: Editorial, Medium Rare by Julie Yap Daza, Going with the Wind by Beth Day Romulo, Agri-Talk by Zac B. Sarian, Our Times by Susan V. Ople, and Crossword. Although most of the articles are for people in high class, it also has some features for people from all walks in life. From time-to-time, Panorama features certain personalities, and places.

  First and foremost, I would like to commend Philippine Panorama for giving us worth reading articles. This magazine reminded us of two things – the significant events that happened in our country and in the world, and founding anniversary of a certain government office, institution, organization, and the like. In their editorial section alone, it discusses the history of a certain event or occasion that took place in our country or in the world. For instance, their editorial talked about People Power Revolution: The Revolution that Surprised the World in their one-page editorial section. To sum up its content, it discussed briefly the bloodless revolution that took place in EDSA Shrine and its impact, not only in the society but in the whole world.

  Second, Philippine Panorama remains to be one of the cheapest Sunday magazines in the country with P20. A little backgrounder: Panorama used to be cheaper than most of the tabloid newspapers circulated in the Philippines. It was P6.00 before until it increased to P20 in 2005. But up to now, Philippine Panorama remains to be part of Manila Bulletin’s Sunday issue.

  People around us may not give us the latest in technology, fashion, and the like. They may not provide us the best places to visit when having a vacation. They may not feature our favorite celebrities or music acts. But Panorama will definitely give us pieces of advices on how to live life to the fullest, speak and act properly, cultivate our natural resources, build and rebuild relationships, be inspired with featured persons’ stories, appreciate even the simplest things that we have, aim high but keep our feet on the ground, and let God take full control of our lives.

  However, most of the readers prefer glossy and sophisticated magazines over classic, old-fashioned layout style and graphics, simply because that’s the trend nowadays. In this note, it’s really about time for Panorama to take a step higher. Actually, there’s no need for Panorama to revamp their concept for they have jam-packed write-ups, which will help us in enrich our lives. But to make it more appealing to the public, they should take a step higher by overhauling its design, just like what Manila Bulletin did. Do some mix and match, and color combination in putting the texts and pictures in the inside. There’s nothing wrong in experimenting, particularly for the material’s betterment.

  Overall, Philippine Panorama is a must-read magazine for all ages and should not be taken for granted by us. Who knows? The write-ups Panorama has might be useful in the future especially if internet is not available.

Jordeene Sheex Lagare