Bound And Gagged!

.:DK-Oke!!!:.

Wotta night, wotta night!

Thursday night last week was a historic night for the Disenchanted Kingdom and the rest of 99.5 RT as they took over 121 Bar and Grill in Pasong Tamo extension to bring to their friends and listeners “DK-Oke,” an awesome night of music and drinking, where you get to go onstage and perform with a live band and you on lead vocals.

I got there fairly early, fully prepared to sing one song and only one song: “Nobody,” by the Wondergirls. Prior to that, though, seeing Lou Skywalker, Anna Q5, Marf, Cleo, and of course, King DJ Logan, was quite a sight for sore eyes. Everyone was in a festive mood, and this was going to be quite a night for the show, its listeners, and the station as a whole.

I sang first, and lowered the bar sufficiently for the rest of the night, but with Cleo singing “Alone” at top form, it was rather difficult to keep the bar low, although Ms. Nancy Jane and her friend CJ did have fun singing “Torn” and “I Touch Myself.” Overall, it was an insane night, and hearing Logan belt out “With Or Without You” and Marf sing “I’ll Be” with gusto definitely drew a lot of reactions.

At some point, the King asked me over onstage to perform a bit and entertain the audience with my magic and mentalism act, and I happily obliged. I decided that doing the Michael Finney classic, the Lady and the Rope, would be most suited for a wonderful volunteer as Ms. Nancy Jane herself…

I love this routine.

Overall, I must say this was a pretty awesome night, and I can’t complain about how things turned out. With the DK hoping to do this on a monthly basis, and with the show just firing on all cylinders as of late, and the couple of days a week I’ve been guesting with them, I must say that the Disenchanted Kingdom is looking towards exciting times en route to its first anniversary.

It was pretty hilarious what happened last week, though…

KDL: So, if we guys all ended up trapped in the Amazon, and we had no choice, who would we be gay for among the four of us?

Lou Skywalker: Kel looks like a softie. I think I can take him. I ain’t gonna be a pitcher.

Marf: I think I’d go for Lou. He’s hairy.

Cleo: Marf, you’re Chinito! I guess that means Kel will go for you!

KDL: Wait, dammit! Why is nobody gay for me?!?

Uh-huh…

.:For The Lulz:.

Remember this infamous picture from when Facebook controversially deleted Alodia Gosiengfiao’s accounts?

Gasp! How could they?!?

This was always why I believed in Friendster far more than Facebook, no matter what everybody else says. After all, they’d never delete an account for no reason at all, would they?

Would they?

Double gasp! How could they?!?

Project 365 comedy, disenchanted kingdom, friends, karaoke, radio, randomicity

.:235/365: Richard “Trycks” Gutierrez:.

Richard Gutierrez (Not to be confused, again, with the douchebag actor.) is not a legend in the strictest sense of the word. Neither is he a pillar of Philippine magic.

But I’ll be damned if anybody could say he isn’t one of the best at technical execution anyone has ever seen.

Trycks, as he’s fondly called by his friends, is often regarded as a machine. The things the man can do with his hands are simply jaw-dropping, and nobody can deny that his technical execution is always on top form. I’ve known Trycks for about four years already, and every single time I see him, I can’t help but respect his skill and dedication to his craft. Hands as adept as his cannot be human hands. They just can’t.

He’s been doing magic on and off for twelve years. He started learning magic through books from bookstores in Manila. Cheapskate that he was at the time, he couldn’t afford the books and read them in the bookstore. Then again, he chose his influences well, as he patterns himself after Dai Vernon and Ed Marlo, and he is a big fan of pure sleight of hand magic, especially with cards and coins. He practices rigorously, and through his practice, he manages to master amazing feats of sleight of hand over time, and his tenacity at mastering sleights is nothing short of amazing.

While many would notice that Richard’s weakest suit would have to be his patter, he can get away with it because he’s really a sleight of hand expert. This is the kind of guy Penn would kill for if he didn’t already have Teller: someone who is a master of sleights, and has the physical attributes necessary for telling a story without using words. He is also an excellent instructor of magic, and this is why he dreams of having his own magic book or video published when the time comes.

Trycks has a lot of faith in the Filipino’s ability to compete in magic, especially in the close-up world. With guys like Jeffrey Tam tearing it up in the international circles, Trycks’s observation about our capabilities is spot-on and betrays his familiarity with our local community.

I don’t know who originally said this, but when asked for a quotable quote, Richard volunteered this gem: the greatest pleasure in life is doing what people say is impossible. Another gem he offered up was: practice your material until it becomes boring. Then practice it until it becomes beautiful.

For someone as immensely gifted and skilled as Trycks, this man can definitely go places if given the opportunity to. I’m sure of it.

.:236/365: Q and A With Richard “Trycks” Gutierrez:.

1. Who influenced you to get into magic? How long have you been into it?

I’ve been fascinated with magic since i was 6 years old. I watched Mark Wilson every night on channel 5, and tried to catch any other magic-related shows on TV. The one who really influenced me to get into magic is my cousin when he performed to me a classic trick called the “jack robbers” and a simple card reversal effect. So all in all I’ve been learning magic for 12 years now, I’m 24, going on 25 this September. I await your presents, readers of this blog!

2. What is magic for you?

Magic = Life. My life revolves around magic, so magic is my life.

3. What was your best experience while performing?

My best experience performing magic was when TSC appeared on Drew Arellano’s show, AHA. I performed magic for celebrities like Rhian Ramos and Mark Herras, and even got featured on Chikka Minute after all that!

4. What was your worst experience while performing?

My worst experience performing magic is anytime I perform for my relatives. They’re all hecklers, and they’re uber-suspicious even if you haven’t even moved your hands yet. I bet even David Blaine or David Copperfield would fail to impress my cynical relatives.

5. Which layperson celebrity, local or foreign, do you think would make a great magician?

If by “layman celebrity,” you mean anyone who knows nothing about magic, I’m guessing Angelica Panganiban, Angel Locsin, Heart Evangelista, and Maria Ozawa would all make awesome magicians – but I need to be the one teaching them all. No, really.

6. What is your best advice to everyone reading this who’s interested in getting into magic?

Don’t rush and try to learn everything right away. Start slowly. Let your passion carry you through. If you want to be remembered, pick your favourite routine, and master it. Make it your signature act. Strive to be the best guy out there who can do it.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010, q and a

.:233/365: Jeffrey Tam:.

Jeffrey Tam is one of those rare breeds of performers who can do it all. He can sing, he can rap, he can dance, he can do magic, and he can be funny. Some people often compare him to Bearwin Meily because like Bearwin, Mr. Tam is also quite the comedian. Except unlike Bearwin, Jeffrey Tam is actually good. Except unlike Bearwin, Jeffrey Tam doesn’t have just an extensive filmography to his name, but even several wins in national and international competitions alike. He has an extensive resume that you can check out for yourself in his site.

Jeff’s history as a performer is stuff of legend. With a meteoric rise in magic and a level of skill and presentation that is stuff of legend, he took the magic world by storm with his mastery of close-up performances and his amazing command of language, whether in English or the vernacular. Doing all of this has earned him many accolades, and few people can dispute that Jeffrey Tam is certainly one of the most popular names in Philippine magic today.

Whenever people wonder how comedy and magic could mix, people normally cite Mr. Meily when they really should be citing Mr. Tam as an example. One thing I really appreciate about Jeffrey’s performance style is that while he is unbelievably funny and outrageous, he never lets his comedy overshadow his magic. His magic always remains to be the centrepiece of his act, and he doesn’t distract from his own repertoire while he performs. In doing this, he has managed to do magic, mentalism, and put his unique twist on the act. Even though I also do comedy, magic, and mentalism, one only need look at how we each perform the Russian Roulette routine and automatically see how distinct his style is from mine, putting him in a class all by himself. It also doesn’t hurt that unlike me, Jeffrey can actually sing. I was not blessed with nearly as many talents.

In any case, inasmuch as I try to be an ambassador for Philippine magic in the online world through this blog, Jeffrey Tam has been one of the literal ambassadors because of his many travels abroad as a competing performer. Unless I’m mistaken, only The Boss, Rannie Raymundo, could possibly rival Jeffrey Tam in terms of international exposure, albeit Mr. Raymundo is an established lecturer, rather than a competitor, in most cases. Apples and oranges in that respect.

With youth, talent, and sheer chutzpah on his side, there’s nothing Jeffrey Tam can’t achieve in the magic world. He is limited only by his own imagination, in my estimate.

.:234/365: Q and A With Jeffrey Tam:.

1. Who influenced you to get into magic? How long have you been into it?

It was David Copperfield. I’ve been doing magic for almost 21 years. Professionally, for 9 years.

2. What is magic? In your case specifically, what is mentalism?

For me, magic is an art. Mentalism, on the other hand, is a belief that some mental phenomena cannot be explained by physical laws.

3. What was your best experience while performing?

In 2008, in Bristol England. I was the only Asian magician to have performed in UK’s only magic bar, the Illusions magic bar.

4. What was your worst experience while performing?

My worst? When I won the 2009 international magic extravaganza in Malaysia. I won first place, but while performing, I had six mistakes during my routine. Coins fell off the table, my microphone fell down, and I even left my chop cup backstage.

5. Which layperson celebrity, local or foreign, do you think would make a great magician?

Next question, please. Hehehehehehehe.

6. What is your best advice to everyone reading this who’s interested in getting into magic or mentalism?

Three magic words: practice, hard work, and focus. (Okay, make that four, but you know what Jeff means.)

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010, q and a

.:231/365: Jay Mata:.

This bit features Jay and yours truly, but it at least opens with Jay, so it’s a lot more appropriate than any of our other tandem vids online. For some weird reason, I can’t find his old website online, either, but once he reads this, I’m sure he’ll fill you guys in.

Anyways, Jay Mata, who is totally not related to Erik Mana, is a professional mentalist who has recently decided to give up on Children’s Parties and almost all mainstream appearances (Because he refuses to be a sellout like yours truly. LOL.) in his quest to achieve some measure of “street cred” as a serious mentalist. One of the biggest followers of Derren Brown in terms of performing style, he is also one-half of the tandem known as “Kel and Jay” (Mel and Jay are not amused.), having performed multiple times as a tandem in various shows, albeit still maintaining very divergent individual careers.

The reason I’m featuring Jay Mata here despite his ready admittance that he is far from a pillar or magic in the local industry is twofold: one, he was the one who helped me turn pro in 2006 by giving me ideas about routining, and what it means to be a performer rather than just a guy who does tricks; and two, he’s my partner in crime in the magic world, and by writing about him and mentioning myself in the background, I get to avoid the uncomfortable situation of actually making an article about myself here. In not writing an article myself, I thereby underscore the fact that I don’t recognize myself as a pillar of anything in the industry, either.

But enough with the vestigial attempt at modesty. Let’s talk about why I think Jay plays a significant role in the magic industry today, and sneak in some shameless self-promotion along the way.

As a performer, Jay takes after the likes of Derren Brown. He utilizes humor, but acts in a very dry, deadpan manner, providing an immense contrast to most of his contemporaries whenever they also try being funny. This style is wholly British in nature, and he has committed himself to it. Jay’s character is an extension of himself, and his quasi-serious approach at performing often engenders comparisons between him and Erik Mana, especially since they have similar family names. Nonetheless, he has an approach that sets him apart from his contemporaries, and ensures that he never visibly overlaps with anyone else he goes with onstage.

In the tandem of Kel and Jay, many people consider Jay to be the “Teller” of the equation, mainly because of his height, and because he talks significantly less than his more boisterous, overbearing associate. Nonetheless, while they are often called “The Penn and Teller of the Philippines,” such a title is clearly only a hook to help people understand what they’re up to. Very little about their shows scream “Penn and Teller” particularly because they both talk. What keeps their performances very interesting, though, is how their very diverse styles meld together to form a coherent unit. Kel slides back from his mentalist persona and becomes a neo-classical magician with Vaudevillian influences. Jay steps up his serious persona and becomes a curious mix of David Blaine and Derren Brown. From color schemes to vocabulary choices, everything about the tandem is delineated by an invisible line that sets them apart, but also inexplicably holds the act together.

Having said that, I’m especially grateful to Jay because four years ago, he reignited a passion for magic in me that has allowed me to be doing this Project 365 now. Ironically, I’ve been into magic longer than he has, but it only goes to show that when one wants something bad enough, they will work harder at it than most anybody else. One thing Jay has made clear through his professional years is that at the risk of coming off as very haughty, he maintains a dignity as a performer that refuses to allow himself to demean the art form in the same way some unscrupulous performers may have in the past. He loves and respects the magic industry far too much to allow its name to be sullied through him, and as such, if you would liken him to a movie, he is less “Titanic” and more “Memento”. This very indie charm is what holds him in high regard: few performers would look at a lucrative booking and turn their nose up because they believe it is demeaning to the art form, but he does it more for the sake of magic, than for his own sake.

Despite his less-than-mainstream approach to things, he has still gained a lot of respect and recognition over the years, as his off-the-wall ideas often bear fruit and inevitably spill over into the public consciousness. His glass walking routine has always been a much-talked about performance, to the point that we felt compelled to have him do it again at last year’s “Bound and Gagged”, after already having it in “Laughs and Gasps” the previous year. He has lectured, taught, and overall imparted his knowledge and his rigorous sense of discipline onto other budding magicians, and most of those who heeded his advice have gone on to have respectable careers as performers both in and out of the magic industry.

For that and more, while nowhere near as historic as majority of the other figures we will be talking about this month, Jay Mata surely deserves a spot in Project 365. After all, when one has already written about Criss Angel and Bearwin Meily, anyone else is bound to be a fit in Project 365.

I got into the art after watching David Blaine’s TV specials for the 1st time. I wanted to do able to do what he did.

2. What is your definition of magic? And since you’re also a mentalist, what is mentalism?

Magic is the art of entertaining people by giving the illusion that you have superhuman abilities. I’ve thought a lot about what it means to be mentalist and I realized that it really is no different than magic… Mentalist just re-packaged it to be more intellectual and less… cartoony. It has more basis in Science than it this in smokes and mirrors but the end goal is still the same… entertainment through wonder.

I once performed at a debut in Clark. It was the best reactions I’ve every gotten… lots of gasps and approvals both during and after the performance. It was also the best experience in the sense that that particular gig taught me that the simplest tricks are often the best… I don’t need complicated routines to be the best.

4. What was your worst experience while performing?

You already know that. Guest spot in (TV show that we both guested in recently.). Never have I seen so little regard or respect for a performers art. I’ll leave it at that.

5. Which celebrity do you think would make a good magician?

Most local celebrities are too flashy and “good-looking” to be a magician. Their focus becomes too much selling themselves than the effect that they are supposed to highlight. A magician should have charisma but it shouldn’t overshadow the magic. I’m not that in tune with the local celebrity scene but I would say Vic Sotto back in his prime could do it. Not when he is doing slapstick comedy mind you but when he is subtle like when he hosts noontime shows. The guy manages to exude the right amount of star charisma and humility.

6. What advice can you give to those who want to be magicians?

Know what it means to perform. If you are only getting into it to impress people or be cool you will never get to the deeper levels of the art. It is about the audience not the magician. Also please for the love of god practice the trick a hundred times before you try it on real people… not five minutes after you learn the secret. It is more than just knowing how to do it.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010, q&a

.:230/365: Erik Mana:.

Often drawing comparisons to David Blaine, the man known as “The David Blaine of the Philippines,” (A title he may or may not be happy about, but in my book, that’s a compliment.) Erik Mana is a 38-year old phenomenon who grew up in Canada and then proceeded to take his act to the Philippines, meeting much success and adulation from the public. With his penetrating eyes and his very deliberate way of speaking, very few people don’t take Erik Mana seriously once he hits the stage, or the streets. From his first two TV specials “Stranger” and “Mastermind”, it was very clear that Erik was meant to bring magic to new heights in the mainstream with his practically Western take on the art, and indeed, drawing comparisons to David Blaine himself, who does employ a similar style.

However, all comparisons end once you recognize that Erik Mana is his own man, and that he has a unique flavour all his own whenever he’s performing. He has run the gamut of mentalism, sleight of hand, and grand stage illusions. He has experienced road stories that would make people laugh, cry, and beg for more. He has performed in venues that he probably wishes he has never gone to. And even though he actually does children’s parties at times, I can only imagine how annoying it gets when he gets asked after performing something downright freaky, “Hey, do you do kid’s parties?”

Currently, as far as the mainstream is concerned, the first name that comes to mind when they hear the word “magician” is indeed, Erik Mana. Nobody even comes close, simply because he attacked the mainstream in ways nobody else has before, although this could only mean that there would end up being more room in the future for other mainstream magicians, which is precisely what the shows “Talentadong Pinoy” and “Pilipinas Got Talent” are amply demonstrating. What legends like Tamplin, tito Lou Hilario, and Rannie Raymundo have done for magic credibility within the community, Erik Mana has done for the mainstream, and as such, makes him worthy of recognition as one of the movers and shakers of the Philippine industry today.

I’ve known Erik from when I started in WAVE 89.1 as a jock, and I wasn’t really a professional magician yet until towards the end of my tenure there, where I really was just starting off, and nobody cared too much about what I was doing, since, hey, Erik Mana was already in the station. But instead of envying the man, it certainly made me look at what about him makes him command that kind of esteem. Of course, other more veteran magicians also command respect as performers, but more often than not, the respect they command would be among colleagues and a select few people who are not in the industry but in the know. Erik transcends that and commands respect from nearly everyone he comes in contact with.

The moment you see him, there’s just something about his demeanor that screams “legit”. It’s pretty much the same thing with David Blaine, except he doesn’t need to slur his words to seem mysterious (He’s a DJ! He’s not supposed to slur!). He does whatever he fancies to do, talks in the very deliberate but clear tone that he always does, and from there, people just can’t help but feel downright mystified, at times, even intimidated by him.

Personally, I feel that the gravitas Erik Mana possesses is his strongest suit. I can try to duplicate his material if I insisted on doing so, but I will not ever achieve the effect that he does whenever he performs his effects, especially his signature mentalism act, the drawing duplication. I recognize that my character takes my performance in a different direction from his, and as such, I can only watch him in fascination when he is at work, because unlike Penn and Teller or Derren Brown, there is no way I can attempt to emulate his style as he has truly mastered his command over his own reputation in a fashion that only he can.

So Erik, I know we don’t see or hear from each other much lately, but here’s my salute to you! Thanks for being one of the key people who put magic into the mainstream consciousness of this country more than it ever has, and know that in my personal opinion, anyone who has ever criticized you as “boring” clearly has never watched you at work. You are anything but.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010

.:229/365: Q&A With Ony Carcamo:.

For now, I will split up individual profiles and their subsequent Q and A sessions, unless I find the need (for space) to combine the two in one entry due to the sheer number of people I get to interview. That way, in case I feature a personality and their Q and A comes in after they get featured, I can just post the Q and A session with ease afterwards.

If I find the need to have more personalities featured, not to worry, I’ll just jampack a day or two with two or three performers, just so I wouldn’t waste the space.

I wanted to ask “why do magic?” Maybe I’ll ask them all and compile *that* into one post in the future…

For now, here are the questions I asked sir Ony (And the questions I’d be asking everyone else, actually.), and his answers…

1. Who influenced you to become a magician? How long have you been one?

My father was my first influence. He was a magic afficionado. I remember when I was in grade 1, our teacher asked us what we’d like to be when we grow up. I said I wanted to become a magician. That was my first dream. My father gave me a gift when I was 11–a magic set! That started my magical journey. I’ve been doing magic until now.

2. How do you define magic? As you are also a mentalist, how do you define mentalism?

For me magic is an entertainment art form that mixes illusion and reality and puts the audience into a dreamland. Mentalism is a branch of magic that demonstrates the power of the mind.

3. What is your best experience while performing?

My best experience? Everytime I tried a new act and it killed my audience. I feel great when I do something very well the first time.

4. What is your worst experience while performing?

My worst? When I “accidentally” revealed a trick’s secret because of a bad manipulation.

5. Which layman celebrities do you think would make great magicians?

Politicians are great magicians.

6. What advice can you give to those who want to become magicians?

Just do it!

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010, q&a

,.:228/365: Ony Carcamo:.

I was going to feature the bit that sir Ony did for “Bound and Gagged” last 2009, but decided that his award-winning commercials were better highlighted for this particular article.

Now, as sir Ony is not only a magician that I know of, but someone whom I’ve worked with numerous times already, I think that what I would have to say would be less a biographical look into the man, and more about my general experiences involving the guy.

I met sir Ony way back in September, 2008, when I hosted and did magic for a party by Ms. Ayn Monserrate. Immediately, I hit it off with the veteran ventriloquist, as I expressed my wide-eyed admiration for his craft, and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that he actually also happened to be a mentalist.

Known as the “Premiere Ventriloquist of the Philippines,” sir Ony is a true artist, who has created many different characters over the years, from the ineffable Mr. Parley to the knee-slap inducing Sampaguita, the multi-talented pig. His very unique approach and undeniable charisma has allowed him to perform both for children and for adults, and one could tell the difference between his kid shows and his adult shows, considering the wealth of material he uses.

Out of everything he has done, sir Ony is very popular because of his finale, which involves taping his mouth whilst his puppet demands for more and more tape to be stuck to his mouth, all the while earning a louder and louder applause each time the puppet barks out the order for more tape. It truly is a sight to behold, whenever he does this, and nobody can question the man’s skill at ventriloquism. In my book, when I try to think of American ventriloquists, probably only Terry Fator could be comparable to him as being on a whole differentlevel, as he writes his own material much like Jeff Dunham, and he has a wide variety of ventriloquism “tricks” like Kevin Johnson.

Overall, in the two years I’ve known this man, I’ve had nothing but the deepest respect and admiration for him and his skills as a ventriloquist, and I vividly recall catching his show, “Amagikomedinayt,” featuring himself, Brod Pete, and Jeffrey Tam in 2009. I just sat there, stupefied at how amazing that entire show was, and resolved to have him in “Bound and Gagged” in the same venue in the same year, which certainly made my show even more memorable than it already was.

But then, this is magic month, and while I can sing all the praises I want about his ventriloquism, that’s not officially considered magic. All the more reason why I was simply amazed at the fact that aside from ventriloquism, sir Ony is also a very accomplished mentalist, having performed some really amazing feats of mind-reading, and even incorporating his puppet into his routines, such as when he did a blindfold routine involving his puppet.

As of late, though, I have had the great honor of performing with sir Ony and of course, Stanley Chi, on a monthly basis in Taumbayan, and we consistently get a good crowd and rave reviews of our performance there. I’d be happy to let you know about the next gig once we have a date set for it.

So to sir Ony, here’s a toast to you, for being an excellent performer, and more importantly, an excellent human being! For those who would like to contact or book this man, you may reach him at this website.

Project 365 heroes of mind and magic, magic, magikel, mentalism, philippines, project 365 2010, ventriloquism

.:227/365: Bearwin Meily:.

I wanted to put this first because I mostly wanted to get this out of the way, and given how things are, Mr. Meilly may very well be the only magician from the local magicians I intend to feature whom I might be completely unable to interview.

Now, let me preface this whole thing by saying something honest about the man: I am not a big fan of Bearwin Meilly as a magician. There are many things I could say to explain my stance at this point, but I won’t speak ill of the man, because I personally resolved that outside of Criss Angel, there will be no outright bashing of contemporaries in this Project 365.

Of course, if you really wanted to hear some stories, feel free to ask Mike Unson. I’m sure he has a mouthful to say. As a contemporary, I’d rather focus on what Bearwin has brought to the table and to the overall perception of magic in the Philippines, rather than outright slag the guy.

Anyways, Bearwin Meily has been generally known as a comedian, starting in show business in the late 90’s, and earning a name for himself because of his nice mix of intellectual and slapstick comedy. He wasn’t quite your Dolphy-type comedian, but he was no Tim Tayag, either. This healthy mix allowed him to have crossover appeal for both the masa and the so-called elite audience.

Then, like lightning, he struck, when he started being heavily featured in the TV show “Naks” on GMA-7 around 2004. At this point, he unveiled a side of his that we haven’t seen before, and all throughout, the Bearwin Meilly everyone knew never took a backseat to this new facet of his. He was still his old comedic self, and he managed to win over a lot of people with his abilities as a magician, culminating in two specials, “Stealing Minds” and “Thou Shall Not Blink,” both aired on QTV11, and garnering acclaim, attention, and haters, all in one fell swoop.

It was during “Thou Shall Not Blink” where Bearwin feature The Story Circle, which partially explained the increase of awareness about the fledgling group, although that alliance was short-lived for reasons outside of my privilege to disclose. Needless to say, while Bearwin has earned quite a following because of his magic, he has also earned quite a few detractors at the same time.

In terms of technical skill and liveliness, there’s nothing you can say about Bearwin here. He is solid and knows his way around a deck of cards. He talks circles around people, unless you ask him to speak in English, which should be fine, since he’s a Filipino, not an American. He can do excellent magic at the drop of a hat, but there is one honest observation I have of the man that prevents me from fully appreciating him…

You see, because of his comedian background, he inevitably kills his own credibility whenever he performs onstage. His finale in “Thou Shall Not Blink” was supposedly an act of teleportation, and yet, it was the most eye-rolling act in the entire show, pretty much ruining everything he built up throughout the special. There is also the supposed rivalry between him and Erik Mana, and even the inevitable comparison of how “dry” Mr. Mana performs as opposed to the obviously lively banter that Bearwin would bring to the table.

There is no question that Bearwin does great magic when given the opportunity. The burning question is: does his reputation as a comedian get in the way of people appreciating his talents? Unfortunately, based on the number of people I’ve casually polled over the years, the answer is “yes.” And that’s a crying shame, really, seeing how Bearwin is certainly not wanting of skill, variety of effects, or even presentation.

Only time could tell if Mr. Meily could break out of his own shadow.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010

.:226/365: The Story Circle:.

As my mentor requested it of me, I have never joined a magician’s group, although that doesn’t in any way mean I should be hostile or anything towards them. Having said that, if there would only be one group I could ever join, The Story Circle would be among the top three groups I would choose.

The Story Circle, in their own words, took its name from a specific card from the game “Magic: The Gathering”. It’s a bit nerdy that I could actually tell you what the card does, but that’s not really the point of the exercise.

Originally a mix between a Wiccan and magic discussion group, the original founders, Mamot and Lei, came up with The Story Circle in 2003, and initially catered to both aspects, all the while not knowing that through their own efforts, this rag-tag group would become one of the most popular havens and budding grounds for new, up-and-coming magicians. As time went by, and when the Wiccan component of the site became absorbed by the Philippine Wiccan Society, Mamot and Lei began discussing around 2005 the possibility of redirecting the Story Circle Network towards a more close-up magic slant.

When TSC began aggressively pushing itself as a magician’s group, the first members to attend the first meeting were Mamot, Lei, Jiggy Tam (Yep. That’s Jeffrey Tam’s brother.), Rommel, and Richard Gutierrez (Not the same guy as the douchebag actor.). From there, a makeshift charter was set up, and the membership in The Story Circle began to steadily grow as more and more members from fellow group Filipino Street Magicians (FSM) felt the need to meet more often than once a month. From the twice a month meetings TSC had, it blossomed into a weekly gathering, and things started cooking.

Around the second quarter of 2006, key members Carlo and Mike first appeared, and believe it or not, Carlo had zero knowledge of magic at this point. Nomer, mentalist/pick-up artist extraordinaire, also showed up on this year.

The term “crashing” is nowadays a generally accepted term in local magic for doing the David-Blaine style guerrilla street magic on people, especially tables, and was coined by Carlo as it is essentially what the term implies: you crash a table and perform for total strangers. TSC coined this term, and it has been a term that has been used even by non-TSC members over the years.

Ultimately, as the years went by, and as more and more of the movers and shakers of the magic industry have interacted with the members of TSC (A few names that come to mind: Bearwin Meilly, Erik Mana, Anthony Billan Co, Ronnie Moraleta, Leodini, David Elefant, Sonny Minoza.), the group has grown exponentially, and currently enjoys an active membership of around 700 members or so. Most of these members have attended at least one gathering each, and are not limited to merely participating in the forums. In fact, several members practically make a pilgrimage out of going to a TSC gathering, particularly if they are based outside of NCR.

As a group, TSC has been encouraging a lot of younger performers, and has consistently been free of the politics inherent in most groups, for all the good and bad side effects such a setup entails. In doing so, they have allowed for a magician-friendly environment that seeks to hone the appreciation and skill of budding magicians, and has groomed some of these individuals into high-quality performers because of the sheer number of people willing to help and throw ideas at you. Not that these qualities are exclusive to TSC alone, mind you, but they are certainly readily observable. It’s also nice that there’s an ample emphasis on mentalism in TSC, what with key members in the group being mentalists and all.

So to TSC, with over seven years under your belt, here’s to even more success as you guys continue to blaze a trail for the younger magicians of the day. It cannot be emphasized enough how what is a relatively underground group of magicians has come to earn a respectable place in the annals of magic history.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010

.:225/365: August Is Filipino Magic Month:.

Because this month is known locally as “Buwan Ng Wika”, which roughly translates to “Month Of The (Vernacular) Language,” I figured it would be nice to dedicate an entire month to mostly personalities and organizations that are found locally. As a guy who wants to write about magic online, I think it would be nice to be able to give a few tidbits here and there about the pillars of magic in the Philippines, although as they are certainly going to be among my biggest influences, I must admit that the space I will devote to each personality I write about would probably not be enough, given how much I respect and appreciate everything they have brought to the table for the advancement of the art form.

Whether it be my mentor, Bing Lim-It, or the great Lou Hilario (Whose video I used to start things off this month.), or perhaps the basic details about the origins of the IMC, Magfi, or The Story Circle, my work is cut out for me this month, as I resolved to do an extra bit of legwork and research so I could at least deliver stuff worthy of this blog, especially since I’ve been a tad delinquent with most of my last few entries. This month will unfortunately feature less videos or pictures, as there aren’t as many of them to come along as other acts.

As a country, the Philippines is certainly a bit young when it comes to their understanding of magic. Admittedly, magic is generally derided, but in the Philippines, there isn’t nearly as much professional courtesy extended to magicians as you would find among Vegas headliners or top acts in Japan. With a fairly superstitious population most of the time, you will find a lot of people who will either react to magic with fanatical denunciation of your “demonic allegiance,” or get the typical old, jaded man who tells you “I’ve seen that before.”

Mentalism as an art form is given even less respect here, when contrasted to the kind of impact mentalism has had in other countries. In my most recent TV guesting (Let’s not mention which station this is.), I had the displeasure of being tasked to perform my best mentalism act as though it were a whizz-bang magic trick. Now, I have no problem with magic tricks performed in a flash, but when you are doing something that is, for all intents and purposes, hypnosis, I don’t believe ten seconds is sufficient time for you to perform. That the researchers and people guesting myself and my contemporaries have next to no clue how magic and mentalism are not necessarily the same thing (Especially when you do what my partner, Jay Mata, did, and try to turn someone color blind.) seemed like a massive show of disrespect and ignorance that we would have taken in stride had it not been damaging to our credibility as performers.

Magic in the Philippines has a long way to go. At the very least, in terms of monetary expectations, I think it’s fair to say that magicians abroad command prices in the hundreds of dollars, and even the sum of $100 for your run-of-the-mill magician is certainly a low rate, but it (hopefully) doesn’t get any lower than that. Here, you have people express shock and disappointment when you tell them you charge even higher than $50, expecting to pay the same amount of money they paid for their by-the-numbers “magician”, who charged a paltry $18, since all they really wanted was fare money and the free food.

I’m speaking less of the skill level required, because in reality, I personally believe our local magicians can keep up with other magicians in that department. What I feel necessary to rail against, though is the sheer lack of appreciation there is for the skills of a magician, monetarily, and professionally. Magicians are still regarded as little more than carnival fare, and while there is nothing wrong with being a “carney”, so to speak, it does hurt one’s marketing value if they are forced to conform to that stereotype. The entitlement complex people have towards exposing magic secrets in general doesn’t really help move things along much, either.

Despite that, I see that the Philippines is slowly evolving to be a country much friendlier to magicians than it has been in the past two decades. Although there is still a lot of ridicule involved, magicians are encouraged by the likes of Erik Mana and Jeffrey Tam making it big and becoming very successful with their careers. We’ve had several TV shows and specials locally produced that highlighted magic and did not limit itself to exposing secrets, or making these magicians dance around like trained monkeys. Slowly, the corporate world is also catching on that magicians aren’t always your typical children’s party entertainers, and that they can be so much more versatile than just that.

In fact, that yours truly has been asked to do lectures on elements of NLP and mentalism for corporations and the academe despite only having been an active professional practitioner for four years should be a sign that magic (and by extension, mentalism) is getting some measure of recognition at this point. It can only be hoped that as time goes by, more and more people realize the value of the magic industry and recognize its power as entertainers in the local scene.

This month is dedicated to all the men, women, and organizations who have made that dream a possibility in the Philippines. If none of these people have blazed a trail in their own way, magic in this country would have stagnated and would not show the kind of promise that it shows today.

Project 365 magic, magikel, philippines, project 365 2010