The Sooner the Better - the Sooner Band Story

I had the privilege of seeing for the first time, the Sooner Band perform during the Ely Buendia

concert last October. There was a little bit of hype around this band, when I was asked to have them included in the Filipino Fiesta. But they had previous engagements and plans just fell through. Seeing them perform cemented the fact that there is something distinct with the band, and I set out to learn more about it.

Formed in 2015, the Sooner Band is composed of: Bob Sales - bass, who works as Shipper/Receiver;Clint Nitoral - drummer, works with heavy equipment; Dexter Jumantoc - saxophone, works at Superstore; Donnell Roxas - vocalist, manager at Tim Hortons; Jay Mamaradlo, guitarist, works in a sanitation  company; and Jimmy  Basilan - keyboard, working as a Quality Controller.

Why Sooner Band? They humorously revealed that in the early days of their organization, when members would inquire about timelines on plans, engagements and goals, the optimistic answer would always be “soon”. Since the christening of the band name, they’ve had regular stints at Panciteria de Manila, and engagements for front acts and private functions. Their musical inclination ranges from RnB, pop and OPM (original pilipino music), but are quick to state that they are willing to try any genre to challenge themselves. They do covers but put in their own twist. Not one performance is alike since they improvise on the fly.

The performance of Sooner Band that I saw gave me the impression of a well-oiled machine, a sense of maturity amongst the members in their approach to music, and a confidence derived from a strong technical adeptness. Their music is clean, well-blended and allows each member their moment to shine. And so I was quite surprised to learn that they were all practically self-taught, going about their music instinctively and playing their individual instruments by ear. In fact, the evening I spent with the band in their practice location was full of revelations. For instance, Donnell came from a family of musicians but was such an introvert that he kept his singing a secret even from his family. Clint’s morning ritual includes a round of drum playing to set his day. And by the way, for someone who started with improvised drums and would join bands to be able to handle real drumsticks, his personal drum set is the most kick ass set I’ve ever seen! Dexter was a physical education and music teacher in the Philippines, played tribal instruments and the flute before he was introduced to the saxophone, has skills for magic, and dabbles in photography. Jimmy as a child took piano lessons to avoid household chores. Bob started as a vocalist prior to discovering the bass guitar, which he used to avoid military training in university. He has also done several original compositions. Jay has gained proficiency in the guitar through peer exposure and bonding, and continues to use his music as a way to develop and cement relationships, and as a stress reliever.

Up close, the members of the band are respectively timid, unassuming and self-deprecating.

They evidently change persona when they’re playing. But what is unmistakable is that they are collectively passionate, humble and cognizant of the hand of Divine providence in their lives.

In the nature of the gypsy life of band members, they’ve hopped on and off different bands and now have gravitated together in their respective search for a band that they would connect with. They feel that their current composition is solid, share the same vision, has the right rapport, teamwork and trust that is essential in their collaborative process. Right now their music serves as an outlet, a way of bonding, and a means to make other people happy. But they dream for more regular stints, of dabbling in music out of their comfort zone, and performing and recording their own original songs.

Mulling over my initial impression of the Sooner Band and the perspective I’ve formed upon knowing more about them, my conclusion is that they are really a bunch of nice guys who found some respite and zest in music, who despite a screaming audience when they perform, are modest enough to acknowledge that there is more to learn and achieve with their music. I view a lot of potential for this band, not only based on their individual talents and skills which are still, I believe, unharnessed at this point, but perhaps because of their authenticity to themselves and a love for what they do. This is perhaps what distinguishes them, that it comes from the heart, with no delusions of grandeur.

I mentioned earlier the hype I encountered with this band, and now I know there is some credence to it. The Sooner Band provides good music by good people. Time with one of their performances is well spent and I look forward to more, the sooner the better!

This article was published in the November 2017 issue of the Alberta Filipino Journal.

Arts in a Business Model

The Panciteria de Manila in downtown Edmonton has evolved through the years, from its opening in 2012, from a family run eatery on popular Filipino foods, to a Filipino hang out, and incubator of emerging and suppressed talent. Owned and operated by Bayani Alcantara, together with wife Lorena, they have, wittingly or unwittingly, woven art in a successful business model.

I initially regarded Panciteria de Manila as another one of the sprouting Filipino restaurants in the city, eager to brand it based on which Filipino food/s it would stand out against the others. However, while organizing the entertainment program for last June’s Edmonton Filipino Fiesta, I noticed that there was a circle of performers whose common denominator was the Panciteria de Manila, and Bayani Alcantara. This then made me very curious and eventually impressed with the ongoings at this hive of a place and the person behind this concept. 

Bayani Alcantara hails from V. Luna, Quezon City, studied at the University of the

Philippines and worked at St. Luke’s as a cardiovascular technician. His family arrived in Edmonton in April 2002. Like other immigrant stories, he took on an assortment of jobs in Edmonton all the way up to Fort McMurray. He has a passion for youth causes, so it’s not surprising that the restaurant has become a vehicle for this - to detract them from vices, to develop a sense of belonging in the restaurant’s circle of customers and performers, at the same time providing an opportunity to demonstrate and hone their talents. He also sits as Director for the Clairview Multicultural Centre, under the auspices of the City of Edmonton. 

Belonging to a family in the restaurant business, Bayani conceptualized Panciteria as a fast food type of restaurant (place your order in the counter, no servers type) with an area for karaoke, considered the Filipinos’ favorite past time. Gradually, customers would request for extended time to sing, then a scheduled performance, and later on, suggestions for technical equipment and stage set-up. These would normally be people who belonged in bands and were performers in the Philippines and are wanting to find an outlet for their talents here in Edmonton. Bayani would readily accommodate these requests, eager to nurture and improve their shows. The restaurant now hosts a weekly karaoke and live band night, produces special shows, and functions as a performing venue for veteran performers, and training ground for emerging ones.The acts were no longer confined to karaoke but broadened to acoustic music, improv-comedy, open mic and poetry nights (“Hugot Lines”), bands, variety shows/musicals, art exhibits and fundraisers. 

These opportunities have not only given growth to the individual performers but have also fostered collaborations amongst them. Through his connections with the Clairview Multicultural Centre, he has provided performing engagements for his in-house artists. He dreams that the artists he has been instrumental in developing will find viable careers and gain renown in their chosen fields. 

Some of the products of this performers’ incubator and who have continued to earn engagements elsewhere and developed a following are: The Girls of Crazy Sexy Cool; Sooner Band; Escapo; Dos Diablos; Genghis Rex; Stringed Sessions; Kainos; Diversity; Headcakes; and hosts Ode Mamu, Kriss Diva, Donna M., Emjae, Nelly, Bhelle, Kim JD and TJ. The Panciteria has also featured Enoch Attey, Jamaican singer and guitarist and Music Coordinator of iHuman Society, who was a regular customer, and other Canadian artists of country music, thereby increasing the restaurant’s customer base. 

During his student years, Bayani used to hang out in this folk/pub house where the likes of Lolita Carbon, Heber Bartolome and Noel Cabangon used to play. It is sweet that he has come full circle now, having hosted shows by Lolita and Heber this year at Panciteria. Other produced shows include: Bamboo (2014), Parokya ni Edgar, Ely Buendia (2015) and Klowns Komedy Bar (2016). 

Although the support provided to these performers stemmed from his passion for youth causes, it has generated more income for the business - emphasizing the symbiosis of arts and financial sustainability. The in-house shows have been a vehicle to reinvent the restaurant. This is a model where one aspect of the business markets the other. 

Filipinos normally don’t bond together easily but they bond together through food, drinking, singing. It is not uncommon to have people in different tables, strangers to each other, end up connecting their tables and becoming fast friends. Panciteria revives the atmosphere of a town plaza/square where people commune, congregate to celebrate. A percentage of Filipinos come to the restaurant to celebrate their Canadian citizenship after their oath taking ceremony at the Service Canada a couple of blocks away. It has also been a place where romance has blossomed and a subsequent wedding celebrated. 

Panciteria de Manila has evolved in a way that not even Bayani has envisioned. But this evolution has been organic, stemming from the man’s passion for youth development, and a basic desire to relive what he misses in his life back in the Philippines. He performs the roles of entreprenuer, talent developer, promoter and booker with a humble and cheerful disposition. In Bayani, I found a kindred spirit in aspiring to elevate the profile of the Filipino within a multi-cultural society, and the honing and showcasing of Filipino talent. Kudos to the man who is indeed living up to his name of being a hero and a champion to so many he has helped and is supporting in his endeavours!  

* This article was published in the Alberta Filipino Journal December 2016 issue.