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Nostalgia: Chai Fonacier and Womb

While others her age sing what everyone else is singing, Chai Fonacier searches for other artists. She refuses to conform to the popular playlists on the radio, with her search for the atypical leading her to the likes of Cynthia Alexander, Dave Matthews, Fiona Apple and Bjork. Considering herself a late bloomer, Chai admits to finding out she could sing when she was nine, but waiting until her senior year of high school to pick up a guitar and find her own voice.

Going in, she knew it wasn’t easy to live the life of an artist, but Chai says music is not a hobby but a worldview. To advance her creative endeavors, she quit a high-paying job and gave up on others things that pulled her away from her passion. And like life’s sweet reward, she now reaps a sense of fulfillment as the vocalist of the band Womb, where she is able to do what she does best. Technically, Womb’s music is electronic down tempo, but Chai and band members Anthony and Fender fondly call it “sleepy music.”

Who are the Cebuano artists you want to work with?

I’m not one to easily work with other people because that requires chemistry—it’s all or nothing. A lot of it is also my insecurity over having relatively limited skills. Also, liking another act or artist doesn’t necessarily mean you can work well with them. But I like a number of the local acts here in Cebu; I even bought their albums. Apart from Womb, I am currently able to work with a number of artists and writers whose work I like under the 22 Tango Records label, as well as the writers’ group I started.

What do you love about the Cebu music scene?

The fact that I think it has begun to wake up again. I hope it stays awake forever and does not drift back to sleep like in the past years. That takes a lot from the local community though—both artists and audiences.

What’s your most memorable performance?

We haven’t had too many performances (not too many places have sound systems that accommodate our set-up) but the one at Cattski’s Zero album launch in Harold’s Hotel was awesome. Everyone was chilling and sitting with us on the floor, silent and listening.

What is your dream job?
To be able to live on the things I do best—music, acting, writing, and not having to wake up in the morning to work!

What do you love about writing?
It’s a sandbox. I can’t animate, so I write them. I can’t draw, so I write them. I can’t dance, so I write them. I don’t know how to make actual sand castles or climb trees, but I can write about them. I want a sentient paper crane, so I write it. Some friends need some form of closure, so I write their stories for them. Also, reading and writing teach me empathy, tolerance, and understanding. It’s also brain exercise.

Where do you usually hang out?

A kooky little spot called Turtle’s Nest along Gorordo Avenue. It’s my home base of sorts.

Are you in a “happy” place?
Yes and no. With music, I’m still working very hard to get where I think I should be. But I like it that I am fighting my way out of being lost and being led further away from my personal creative endeavors.

Describe Chai Fonacier as a friend.

I’d fight for a friend and go to random beach trips with them.

What keeps you busy when you are not performing?
My day job and finding money for music, theater-related endeavors and side projects for rent and meals. The chores and meetings. Also, cat responsibilities since I have two cats that I kidnapped off the street when they were little. They’re currently very happy and lazy. Aimlessly wandering in search of books or dirty ice cream, too.

What’s the greatest sacrifice you’ve made for music?

Acceptance of the fact that I had denied my very self by allowing all these debts-to-self to grow out of proportion. So after a work-related trigger made me say ‘I’ve had enough of these toxins,’ I quit and suffered a financial crisis in the process. I strained a few relationships and am crawling through this long ordeal so I can clear my head, recharge and produce material using the tools that I’d been given, or that I’d acquired. I can’t do anything about what I was given—I could have been given math, but I quite naturally possess no genes for it. Music to me isn’t happy; it shapes my worldview. I communicate with it when talking no longer suffices.

Some people misunderstand this. I can have a day job and various companies on my resume, but music is a constant and not just some minor thing that I do during my leisure time. It’s even given me skills that I use in my day jobs, so for some to consider my music as a side dish is an insult.

It’s offensive to many artists who create work that help audiences approach and understand their own truths when they need to. Simply put, we feel and experience and understand extremes for those who don’t have the time so because my heart is mostly dedicated to my creative endeavors, I would rather say that I am a musician and have a day job on the side. Sorry, I get really rabid about it.

What is your dream project?
Wow, I haven’t really thought about that—we’ve just been concentrating on finishing the album. I guess apart from the current projects, I’d like to be able to publish a book of short stories as soon as I’m sure they’re well-baked, for one. Create installation art pieces that I’ve been talking about forever with one of my best friends Russ Ligats (who is a visual/performance artist) but I must find money first. Gaaah, why is this so hard?

Do you have a mantra?
Not really, but whenever I feel that I need to play cheerleader for myself to get things going, I scream ‘banzai!’ and then I play my mental war drums.

Any plans for future or upcoming projects?

Womb is releasing a single for March, and the album will be out this summer under the Cebuano label 22 Tango Records. Future plans for a solo album, and a second album for Womb. Theatre projects with a few friends that I can’t divulge details as of yet, and more projects with a group called The Really Bad Poets.

Originally published in Zee Lifestyle magazine.

Events

An Ocean of Flavors: The Bada Opens Their Second Branch

A trail of white smoke, along with the scent of roasted pork and the sizzle of the flaming grill will welcome you once you enter the tinted doors of the second branch of The Bada Korean Restaurant.

A trail of white smoke, along with the scent of roasted pork and the sizzle of the flaming grill will welcome you once you enter the tinted doors of the second branch of The Bada Korean Restaurant. Located at A.S Fortuna, Mandaue City, The Bada is sure to leave you with a satisfied appetite and a full stomach.

The name “bada,” which is Korean for ocean, was used since it started out by selling more seafood items than meat. Later on, the restaurant pursued on selling more meaty items on its menu. Although, no different than their first branch, The Bada gives its customers the opportunity to experience Korean food culture at a fair price of P299.00 only per person. With that, you already get an unlimited amount of the coveted samgyeopsal. But what makes the second branch much better than the first one? The A.S Fortuna branch is more spacious, well-ventilated, and vibrant; perfect for when you want to take some selfies or Instagram-worthy photos.

More than that, The Bada offers a round up of your favorite Korean dishes such as gimbap (seaweed rice roll), samgyeopsal (grilled pork), bulgogi (which literally means “fire meat”), bibimbap (mixed rice), and the like. Pair all of that with some soju and you’re good to go!

What makes them different from other Korean restaurants in the metro, owners and brothers Paul, Mason, and Min Ho Kim say that it’s their marinated bulgogi. While other Korean restaurants offer it just as it is, theirs is made with a special Korean marinade sauce; a recipe created by their own mother.

And while the Korean cuisine, in general, may be a bit foreign to our Filipino palate, The Bada’s bulgogi gives a slight familiarity to the taste.

“We’ve got [Korean] food that Filipinos also like,” says Paul.

What to do when you get there

Since the The Bada is an all-you-can-eat restaurant, we recommend you to bring your coworkers, friends, or family since they serve a generous amount of food (remember, they’re unlimited).

Getting there may take you on a few rides should you choose to use public transportation, but all that will be forgiven once you enter the brightly lit and steamy room. You’ll find yourself hungry for a decent amount of meat after taking in the sweet and savory scent of sizzling samgyeopsal. Take your time in choosing from an unlimited choice of Korean food, there’s no need to wait since the friendly staff will serve them almost right away with a smile.

Once the food arrives at your table, you’ll find yourself with an array of side dishes, lettuce wrap, and, of course, the meat. Start off by grilling the meat on the stove to your desired doneness. Once cooked, put one or two pieces on a lettuce wrap, add some side dishes, and wrap them all up. In one big satisfying bite, expect a burst of different flavors will definitely hug your taste buds.

Make sure to also try their bibimbap, gimbap and their authentic seaweed soup, you’ll surely feel satisfied after doing so. And what is Korean food without the famous kimchi, right? The Bada’s kimchi is unforgettable with just the right and balanced blend of fermented vinegar and spice, the perfect pair for your orders.

With its promising and delectable menu, The Bada will surely feed the Seoul-ful foodie that’s inside you.

The Bada opens from 11 A.M. to 12 M.N.
Visit them at A.S Fortuna, Mandaue City, right beside Benedicto College.

Featured

Bringing businesses together: Lalamove paves way for SMEs across the globe to “Make a Winning Move”

The local episode #LalamoveItToWinIt to support MSMEs across PH

To inspire businesses around Asia and Latin America, Lalamove has launched a regional branding campaign “Make a Winning Move” to showcase its various B2B services, strong driver-partner network, and wide-ranging fleet for fast and reliable delivery solutions. Locally, the on-demand delivery platform has kicked off the campaign by inviting its patrons, old and new, to #LalamoveItToWinIt.

Now more than ever, businesses are focusing their efforts on an experience-led customer journey. With deliveries as undeniably crucial for businesses to fulfill their services and win over customers, the central creative idea behind the regional campaign revolves around such scenarios where Lalamove’s services and B2B features help entrepreneurs stay ahead of the intense competition.

Lalamove, as the trusted delivery partner, has been servicing businesses of all sizes in the Philippines. Lalamove’s corporate clients can enjoy the on-demand delivery platform’s variety of business solutions, such as multi-stop delivery, API integration, real-time GPS tracking, a wide variety of fleet for on-demand, same-day, long distance, and last-mile delivery, and a dedicated account manager.

“The Philippines has more than 900,000 businesses, over 99% of which are MSMEs. What Lalamove offers businesses of all sizes is faster, easier, and a more seamless delivery experience to help them save time and costs. Our dedicated partner drivers, the economic frontliners of today, are here to deliver to an even wider reach across Luzon and in Cebu. This campaign is the visualization of what we can do to help businesses jump over hurdles – simply put, just ‘Lalamove It to Win It!’” remarked Dannah Majarocon, Lalamove Philippines Managing Director.

First-time users of the Lalamove mobile delivery app can get up to Php 150 off when they sign up and use the code LALAWINIT. New corporate clients, on the other hand, can also receive a welcome bonus of up to Php 1,200 when they sign up and top-up their Lalamove corporate wallet. Moreover, with Lalamove Rewards recently launched, each delivery for every user is now made even more rewarding.

Find out more about what Lalamove offers by visiting www.lalamove.com/lalamoveittowinit, or follow the official Lalamove Facebook page, Instagram account, and TikTok account for more information.

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ABOUT LALAMOVE

Launched in the Philippines in late 2016, Lalamove is an on-demand logistics company that matches drivers with customers and SME businesses to fulfill same-day deliveries. Lalamove’s mission of making local deliveries faster and simpler across North, Central, and South Luzon, and in Cebu is achieved through innovations such as instant order matching, real-time GPS vehicle tracking, 24/7 services, and a driver rating system. Lalamove also allows businesses to scale their deliveries and operations at an accelerated rate. Lalamove now operates in over 30 markets across Asia and Latin America. Visit Lalamove’s website: http://lalamove.com

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King-size Treats Await Dad this Father’s Day at Seda Central Bloc

Misto Restaurant at Seda Central Bloc

King-size Treats for the King!

by Ryan Daniel R. Dablo

Seda Central Bloc celebrates the hardworking hero and steadfast lynchpin of the home with its offerings for Father’s Day weekend.

At the Misto, Seda’s restaurant, Dad gets to sample the delicious international cuisine for free when dining with five full-paying adults. If an evening dine-out is more the family’s speed, the Straight Up bar offers a dinner buffet with a continental menu and mocktails, all enjoyed amid a backdrop of excellent cityscape views from the rooftop. Staycation at the hotel comes packed with perks for the weekend as well, such as complimentary lunch at the Misto, drinks at the Straight Up bar, and breakfast for two.