It has been recorded that karaoke originated in Kobe, Japan. But do you know that the Karaoke Sing Along System (SAS) as in the practical, versatile compact machine which slots in an amplifier speaker, one or two tape devices, optional radio tuner and microphone mixer with elements to augment one’s voice, like the echo or reverberation to build up an opera hall or a studio sound (ok breathe…) with the entire system enclosed in one cabinet casing, is invented by a Filipino? Yes Pinoys, the Karaoke Sing Along System is patented under Roberto del Rosario, a Filipino prodigy.

Bert del Rosario is an acknowledged inventor with more than twenty inventions patented to his name. Some of his noted patents include the Trebel Voice Color Coded (VCC) Sing Along CDs, the piano tuner’s guide, the piano keyboard stressing device, the voice color tape and the one-man-band (OMB). This one-man-band was later built up as the Sing-Along-System (SAS). The Karaoke Sing Along System was patented on 1975. His other inventions include the Golf car trailer and No look-up Device, which shows his leisure pursuit with golf.

Besides being a productive inventor, Bert is also a flourishing businessman and a gifted musician. He is the president of the Trebel Music Corporation and plays various instruments. He learned to play musical instruments without formal lessons, like the piano, accordion and drums. He’s actually a management graduate at the Far Eastern University, which strikes us remarkable that he has made more than twenty inventions without a degree in engineering or even a science course. Talk about born talent!

I read about him saying, “Be observant. Be creative. Most of all, work hard.” It takes a passion for something to create something out of nothing. Like his passion for music which allowed him to learn instruments solely on his own, and later create things that would be of benefit to other music enthusiasts and experts alike.

See? That’s Roberto del Rosario. Way to go Bert!

Pacquiao sends Barrera packing
Posted on Mon, Oct. 08, 2007
BY SANTOS PEREZ
sperez@MiamiHerald.com

ERIC JAMISON / AP
Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, connects with a right to Marco Antonio Barrera of Mexico, during the seventh round of their super featherweight boxing match, on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007 at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Pacquiao won by unanimous decision.Despite lacking a fight-finishing arsenal, Manny Pacquiao again proved his skills can dominate a bout.

Blessed with superior hand and foot speed, Pacquiao never allowed Marco Antonio Barrera to mount a fight-altering attack and won a lopsided unanimous decision in their 12-round super-featherweight bout late Saturday in Las Vegas.

”I tried to give a good show tonight,” Pacquiao said. “I hope people liked it.”

Pacquiao (45-3-2) repeatedly frustrated Barrera throughout the bout with quick combinations to the head. Even when Barrera (63-6) landed a solid right to the head, Pacquiao often countered with a left.

Keeping Barrera on the defensive allowed Pacquiao to build a substantial advantage through the early and middle rounds. Barrera landed rights to Pacquiao’s head, but the shots never had Pacquiao in trouble.

Pacquiao’s dominance was confirmed by the scorecards from judges Jerry Roth and Glenn Trowbridge, each of whom had Pacquiao winning 118-109. Judge Tom Schrek had it 115-112 for Pacquiao.

”I was still careful in the fight because he is still a good fighter,” said Pacquiao, who stopped Barrera in 11 rounds four years ago. “He is not an easy opponent.”

Barrera, who spent nearly two years campaigning for Saturday’s rematch, said he will retire.

”I trained hard for this fight and proved wrong the so-called experts who predicted he would finish me in three or four rounds,” said Barrera, 33. “I am happy because it’s my last fight.”

KTVs, meaning karaoke television, are popular forms of entertainment in the east area of Asia, including the Philippines. They are very much widespread from Taiwan to China, South Korea to Hongkong, and Japan to the Philippines. That only proves how Filipinos and Asians by and large love to sing.

KTVs are also called karaoke bars, karaoke lounges, and karaoke boxes. It is usually a bar featuring small private rooms with karaoke equipments. The exclusive rooms can be rented for a specific time and can accommodate a certain number of people for their singing amusement. These KTVs also offer food and drinks along with other services. KTVs can have a minimum of ten to twenty rooms to a maximum of hundreds of rooms for large-scale karaoke bars.

KTV is usually the term used in Taiwan and China. In the Philippines, it is commonly called a videoke bar. In Hongkong and Japan, it’s called karaoke box and in South Korea, they call it Noraebang meaning song (norae) room (bang).

Usually in these Asian countries, businessmen and corporate people go to KTVs after work to release their stress. Or in certain occasions, they go to karaoke bars to strike business deals, besides the usual choice of setting like in a restaurant or a hotel. KTVs are also frequented by the youth customers, especially groups of friends who enjoy singing and having fun. KTV also is a place for family fun, serving as a venue of entertainment for the whole family. In the Philippines, there are a lot of FAMILY KTVs existing in different areas all over the country.

But KTVs are not only found in Asia. Though in the Western countries karaoke is not common, in New York and San Francisco Bay Area, KTVs have become popular since the last decade. Of course, the presence of Asians in these places makes way for more KTVs in the US, where Asian communities open up karaoke bars for their fellow lovers of karaoke and of course of singing.

Most of us wonder how pros fight anxiety or what is mostly called stagefreight. Your confidence carries your song, and so as your emotion. A single flaw on your expression ruins the whole performance.

It’s important to get your advice from the professionals. I asked few of my friends who worked in a band.

Jo: The problem with that is quite simple. It starts with the mind; starts with the performer himself. It’s not about the crowd, because the crowd won’t judge unless you sing.  And most of us experience stagefreight even if we haven’t sung yet. The mind itself is a very stubborn thing. But we should take note that we are the one who controls our mind, it’s not our mind that’s controlling us. I got it from my grandpa’s statement: “What the subconscious mind perceives to be the truth, becomes the truth.”

Joym: Anxiety itself is not an attitude, it’s a feeling (read that again). And just like any other feelings, it changed. Like how happiness turns to sadness or vice versa. You can fight anxiety by being positive. Anxiety is there even if your performance will be weeks later. It’s because you thought you couldn’t make it. And unfortunately, most of our thoughts come true.Anxiety itself is not an attitude, it’s a feeling (read that again). And just like any other feelings, it changed. Like how happiness turns to sadness or vice versa. You can fight anxiety by being positive. Anxiety is there even if your performance will be weeks later. It’s because you thought you couldn’t make it. And unfortunately, most of our thoughts come true.

Kath: Like businessmen, pros also need a mentor. If you can’t make it by your own, try to ask from a pro. Anxiety can’t just be treated by alcohol or drugs. Alcohol itself increases your anxiety by the way you depend on it. You don’t need to apply to therapies. Just take note, practice. If you want to sing well, practice singing. If you want to fight anxiety, fight it by singing infront of a crowd. That’s what I did before.

Those were the words from our pros. The word there is PRACTICE. Next week, I’ll post the Part II of my Be A Pro Kit. It will be about Songwriting. This is just the start of my Be A Pro Kit. See you next week for another lessons from our pros.