Anniversary Show!

Hi! We’re celebrating our first year anniversary on April 28 at Souk Kafe, a nice place in our hometown! It will be a benefit show for our dear friend and sound artist Lirio Salvador. He is still recovering from a brain injury after being a victim of hit-and-run accident. There will be no entrance fee but we hope that you could come and donate any amount for Lirio. We will pass around a donation box for those who would like to help.

We are preparing a special set for everyone. Two of our favorite groups from Cavite - Lakbay Lahi and Elemento will also perform. In between sets of the performing groups, sound artist Erick Calilan will spin world music records from his vinyl collection.

The first 30 persons to arrive will receive copies of Gentle Universe DVD (special release/limited edition) plus posters & stickers.

Attendees on April 28 will get a chance to win a lovely camera strap from Punchdrunk Panda and surprise items courtesy of Secret Fresh, the premiere vinyl toy shop! There will be a raffle after the set of Gentle Universe. Thank you Punchdrunk Panda and Secret Fresh!

There will also be mini exhibit of gig posters, photos and drawings from Gentle Universe. We also asked some of our friends to create illustrations which will be on exhibit during the event.

Hope to see you! Please share the e-flyers and invite friends! Thank you!

Truly yours,

Cris Garcimo

For Gentle Universe

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Gentle Universe at Anteroom Sessions Two

Hello! We were invited to play at Anteroom Sessions by Punchdrunk Panda and Heima Store last Saturday, March 31. Here is the e-flyer that they designed for us. Thanks to Punchdrunk Panda & Heima!



The photo on the e-flyer was taken during our audio and visuals set at Ayala Museum for Ang Illustrador ng Kabataan's 20th Anniversary exhibit (November 2011).

Our friend Joy Dela Victoria watched the show last Saturday and took some nice photos. Thank you Joy!



Here is a photo of the red toy piano, toy tambourine and melodica.



Stanley on triangle and red toy piano! Behind him is Valerie on light blue toy piano and small casio keyboard.



We put a gentle universe sticker on the big casio keyboard.



Here is a photo by our friend Joan Rodriguez. Visuals by Yen Reville.



Thanks again to everyone who went to the event. Big thanks to Jen Horn, Punchdrunk Panda, Heima Store, Moonleaf Tea Shop and all the pop-up shops. Cheers to all the performers - Tarsius, Love Never Dies, Slow Hello, Ang Bandang Shirley and Techy Romantics. Please visit the Facebook page of Punchdrunk Panda for more photos.

We recorded the live version of Tree House Playroom during our set at Anteroom Sessions. You may download it from our soundcloud page.

You may download the original version as part of SEA Indie Compilation (December 2011) which also features Apple Orchard, Outerhope, Daydream Cycle, Slow Hello, That Lingering Feeling, Cerumentric and many more lovely bands. Thanks to Pierre L'Chat and SEA Indie for including the our track Tree House Playroom!

Happy Easter!

Truly yours,

Cris
For Gentle Universe

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Free MP3: Listen to Gentle Universe on Bandcamp http://gentleuniverse.bandcamp.com

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Learning Shapes Through Musical Instruments

Children can learn shapes through musical instruments! We took photos of some of our musical instruments. Thanks to Joan Rodriguez and Mischa Elman for teaching us how to take close up photos.

Thanks for visiting! Happy weekend!

Cris

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Free MP3: Listen to Gentle Universe on Bandcamp http://gentleuniverse.bandcamp.com

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Vintage Record Player

Saturday reading and listening with our son Dylan. :-) Here are some photos of our old portable phonograph (turntable) and read along books w/ 33 1/3 RPM records.

Thanks to Mama Lou, Dylan's grandmother, for sending these books with records. One of our favorites: Little Boy with a Big Horn by Jack Bechdolt with pictures by Aurelius Battaglia. It was released by Little Golden Book & Record in 1976.

24 page book with lovely illustration in full color and a 7 inch 33 1/3 RPM long playing record.

The story is about a little boy named Ollie who wants to learn how to play the big bass horn, however his mother and everyone in the town can't stand the noise.

Ollie mother said, "Please, NOT in the house, Ollie, I can't think straight about my housework."

So Ollie went to the ocean where he could play the big horn without disturbing anybody. However, something happened which turned him into a town hero. In the end, Ollie was able to play his horn as much as he like. :-)

Until next time. Have a nice weekend!

Gentle Universe at Alliance Française de Manille

Gentle Universe will perform at Alliance Française de Manille on March 15 for Spring of Poets 2012. The theme for Spring of Poets 2012 is "infants, children and beginnings". We were invited by Yanna Verbo Acosta to play ambient music while she recites a poem that she wrote for her dear son IO.

We made a flyer for our gig sched this March. Just click on the photo below. Please share to your loved ones and friends. Hope to see you! :-)

Gentle Universe - Toy Piano

Hi! Sharing a photo of the toy pianos that we use for Gentle Universe.

What's your favorite childhood toy or musical instrument?

Have a nice weekend! :-)

Gentle Universe at RONAC Art Center

We played ambient music during the opening of Coffee Bean at RONAC Art Center on Feb 27, 2012. This photo was taken after our set while we were shooting additional footage for our video. We were amazed by the design of RONAC and Coffee Bean! Check it out!

Happy weekend!

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Free MP3: Listen to Gentle Universe on Bandcamp http://gentleuniverse.bandcamp.com

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Personalized birthday cupcakes for Mommy Shey

Last week we planted on recycled boots as a family project. We also restored a vintage-looking bicycle garden table. After planting, Shey took a couple of pictures. She also included our son Dylan and his Gumby stuff toy in the picture.

This week, as a surprise for her birthday, I ordered personalized chocolate cupcakes with toppers similar to the photo that she took! :-)

Happy birthday Shey! Thanks to Rhee Garcia and the Sugar Crew for making these special cupcakes. The toppers are edible and tasted good. This is the third time that I ordered personalized cupcakes from them. It's always fun and memorable for the family.

Thanks for visiting!

Truly yours,

Cris

for Gentle Universe

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Gentle Universe Videos on Vimeo

Free MP3: Listen to Gentle Universe on Bandcamp http://gentleuniverse.bandcamp.com

Flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gentleuniverse

New Family Project: Planting on Recycled Boots

Hello! We finished restoring a tricycle garden table last weekend. We also planted on recycled garden boots. Here are some photos taken by Shey.

w/ Dylan and Gumby.

Thanks for visiting! :-)

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Gentle Universe Handmade Postcards

Hello! Thank you very much again to everyone who joined our handmade postcard giveaway. We just finished sending all the postcards last Friday. We apologize for the delay. It took us some time to finish the postcards.

Special thanks to Shey. Here are some photos that we took while making the postcards.

We used empty milk boxes as board for the postcards. We regularly buy milk for our son Dylanand we set aside the empty milk boxes for our family projects.

Sea waves.

Boat.

We will upload a Gentle Universe handmade postcard video soon.

Until next giveaway! Please bookmark our blog or follow us on twitter for updates. Thank you!

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Gentle Universe at Vargas Museum for Lirio Salvador

Last Thursday, Gentle Universe performed during the opening of “Sandata”, an exhibit of our dear friend Lirio Salvador at UP Vargas Museum.

Lirio was not able to attend the exhibit opening because he’s still confined in the intensive care unit of a hospital. He was a victim of a motorcycle hit-and-run on December 30 in front of his art space in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Aside from our group, sound artist Erick Calilan, Lakbay Lahi and Elemento (the experimental sound group founded by Lirio Salvador) also performed during the exhibit opening.

Erick Calilan

Lakbay Lahi

The highlight of the event was the performance by Elemento with Ma'am Mean Salvador, wife of Lirio Salvador. She read a personal poem for Lirio.

Gentle Universe performed after the set of Elemento. One of the kids who seemed to enjoy our child-friendly sounds stood near the red toy piano while we were performing. (L to R: Stanley Castelo, Valerie Bautista, Cris Garcimo)

Toy Piano, Gentle Universe.

The group of kids playing inside the Museum. This was taken after the sound performances.

Lirio Salvador's exhibit was featured on Philippine Star on January 23. Wilson Lee Flores wrote an article which you can read here. You can also read the essay written by Patrick Flores through the said article.

Here are some pictures of the wonderful book on Sandata. It was published by UP Vargas Museum in cooperation with The Drawing Room.

Lirio Salvador with the rest of Elemento: Jonjie Ayson, Rodrigo "Jon" Romero and Kaloy Olavides.

"Sandata" exhibit will run until 25 February 2012. For more information, please visit the museum’s official website at http://vargasmuseum.upd.edu.ph/.

Fundraising "Sandata ako ni Lirio" T-shirts

We are happy to share the news that Lirio was already transferred from intensive care unit (ICU) to a regular hospital room on January 23, 2012.What a wonderful gift to his wife, Mary Ann! She also celebrated her birthday. Thank you to everyone who is continuously helping and praying for Lirio.

If you would like to help Lirio Salvador, please visit HelpLirioSalvador Facebook Page here. He still needs assistance for his medical expenses.

You may also help Lirio Salvador via ArtisteConnect.com.

For more information about Lirio salvador, please read the article reading by Tad Ermitano entitled "The cyborg in the river: A meditation on the art of Lirio Salvador.

Thank you.

Sandata ako ni Lirio.

Truly yours,

Cris Garcimo
for Gentle Universe
e-mail: csgarcimo@gmail.com

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Hello 2012!

Good morning! Here is a video clip of a toy piano that we use. Sending love and positive thoughts to everyone this new year. May life be gentle to you and your family always.

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Follow Gentle Universe on Twitter
http://twitter.com/GentleUniverse

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http://gentleuniverse.bandcamp.com

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