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Thursday, November 17, 2005
Chiongbian: The boys in the band
By Edgar R. Chiongbian
Tee time
THE Tomodache golf tournament is on this Saturday and Sunday at Cebu Country Club. Don’t forget to check your tee time and the day you are playing. To get things started, CCC is showcasing a Manila band to play in the club tomorrow night. It’s too good a deal to pass up because there are no hidden charges, dancing is optional and bar chow is free.
Tomadache is on its fifth year and to me, is probably the only real “Japinoy” golf tournament in the country. Only one thing missing to make it 100 percent Japinoy is a supply of tuba or bahal coconut wine during the awarding dinner to go with the sake or rice wine. Kampei, partner!
Unless you are 100-years-old, you probably noticed that live bands have again become very popular so that when you are thinking of celebrating anything, ultimately you will end up hiring a band. This is true in private clubs. I am not sure how to compare this to the ’60s but then it was very passionate and very intense. Everyone belonged to a barkada club and the clubs would affiliate themselves to a band that plays only at their parties. Barkada clubs were social in nature and thus it separated the age and status group. Where you belong is who and what you are. If you’re a band member, you are simply at the head of the class.
Unlike the gangs nowadays, the barkada clubs were lovers and not fighters so they settled the question of who was top gun by having a battle of the bands. Many such battles occurred. The big one was held at the Aznar Coliseum, which was brand new then. I will keep the winner a secret so no one will question the results and bring back old memories. Cannot exactly recall all of them but to name a few, they were the Viscounts, Strams, Firebolts, Intruders, Drifters and Verdels. Some of these guys still play and if you want to know more, ask Viscount Oscar “Jun” Jereza who still sings with his old group.
What would be an excellent idea is to encourage club members to form a band to play during some of the functions or when the ballroom is not being used to have a fellowship among club members. So members have a reason to come to the club in the evenings and spend more time with their buddies. The clubs will surely make money on food and drinks, and that makes it a good business proposition. The PGA Tour has pro golfers playing in the band and when the tour goes to any locale, they play to a full house.
We can start by asking Bruce Chiongbian, Cheling Sala, Muloy Jereza and even Tony Lozada, who want to learn golf, to play the drums.
GOLF TIP: Drill to build power. Improve muscle memory by using a weighted club (maximum of three pounds) in the correct swing positions for 15 seconds. Begin with a full shoulder turn and a wrist hinge to the top of the back swing and hold for 15 seconds. Next, swing the club halfway down and hold. Keep the toe up and the shaft parallel to the target line. Then swing back to the top, making sure that your left wrist nearly lines up with your left arm and your elbows are not separating. The correct position at the top should give you a feeling of balance and stability especially in the right leg.
The second drill is to swing the club halfway back. On the takeaway you want to feel your shoulders, arms, hands and the club working together. Repeat this mini-swing several times. Maintain good knee flex and posture as your weight begins to shift to inside your right leg. Hold that position making sure the shaft is parallel to the target line. Then swing halfway through. Your left side should be firm, not swaying to the left. The position halfway through should be a mirror image of the halfway back; toe of the club facing upwards.
(erc@skyinet.net)
(November 17, 2005 issue)
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