Kwentong Kapuso: Pinoy guitarist serenades UAE

AL AIN, Abu Dhabi -- He may not be aware of it, but overseas Filipino worker Tristan Elbert Obor Alintanahin is playing the role of the stereotypical struggling artist.

A 25-year-old aircraft mechanic support at Mubadala Strata, he would always chose the practical over the costly: shawarma priced at Dh6 (P72) over hamburger that is Dh12 (P143); bus with a regular fare of Dh2 (P24) over taxi with its flag down rate of Dh3 (P36). Or he would just walk toward an area where there is a water dispenser than buy bottled water.

As if these are not enough, he also sells pre-packed food in the company he works for to earn extra income.

All because he has a dream -- a dream he has been pursuing since high school in the Philippines.

"Dream ko kasing maging recording artist," Alintanahin, who plays the guitar, says. "But as a member of a band lang talaga."

Even his struggles in his home country to make a mark in the music industry seem perfect for the suffering artist image. He was rejected by a choir group and his school's music ministry, and when later on he fortunately found himself playing bass in a band, his bandmates got rid of him.

"Napaiyak ako nun nung nasa dyip na ako," he says now, recalling the experience. "Ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na hindi na iyon mangyayari. Dun ako nag-start na i-take yung music ng seryoso."

Attracted to music

Alintanahin was just four years old when he realized that he likes music. "Kapag tuwing flag ceremony namin, hindi ako bumibitiw ng tingin sa mga nagdra-drum, nagla-lyre, at nagsa-xylophone sa school namin. Ang attraction ko talaga ay sa music,” he says.

Determined despite the rejections, he went on to form Old School Band -- only it turned out to be another failed experiment. But it was through this group that he met the drummer with whom he got a crack of actually making it to the music industry.

He says it happened one day when he and the drummer were practicing in a studio. "Sa kalagitnaan ng isang kanta, bigla na lang siya tumigil sa pagtugtog. Sinuggest niya na maghanap kami ng iba pang kasama."

A band called Alagad was born, with a female vocalist named Maricar, who is actually Mrs. Alintanahin. The band cites popular Filipino rock groups The Erasherheads, the Dawn, Silent Sanctuary, SugarFree and Bamboo as among its influences.

OFWs

But the real world has a way of messing up with one's dream. Just as when Alagad was gearing for a take-off, it has to disband as the Alintanahin couple had to go here in the UAE for greener pastures.

But that doesn't mean Tristan Alintanahin's dreams of becoming a big-time musician is over. In fact, in the UAE, he found out that chances to make a name for himself as an artist is somewhat bigger.

Together with his wife, they joined a talent search and actually made it until the semifinals. They would also be commissioned in parties and promotions at a standard rate of Dh500 (P5,955).

"Standard kasi sa bar ay three sets. Ang isang set ay 10 songs. Manggagaling sa client iyon tapos yung remaining 20 songs ay sa amin na,” he says.

Describing his audiences here, Alintanahin says: "Appreciative sila dito. Sa mga Egyptians and Pakistanis, karaniwang itinitugtog ko sa kanila ay yung ‘My Heart Will Go On'."

He says he was able to make it in the UAE as the music scene there is not as active as in the Philippines.

“Kakaunti lang kasi ang mga seryosong musikero dito," he says. "Hindi katulad sa Pinas na ang laki ng eksena. Kailangan mo talagang maging mahusay para mapansin ka. Dito, kailangan lang na may sapat kang skill at kahit isang tao na pumalakpak sa iyo, magkakaroon ka na ng break."

Inspired by Neil Armstrong

“Palagi rin naming inaalala yung buhay ni Neil Armstrong," he adds, referring to the first man who stepped on the moon. "Ako, ang dream ko lang naman is marinig ng mga tao. Hindi ang maglakad sa buwan. Ang liit-liit lang ng dream ko kumpara sa kanya."

Despite the good break he's having in a foreign land, Alagad is still in Alintanahin's heart. "Kapag nagpe-perform ako, kahit solo, 'Alagad' pa rin ang sinasabi ko."

And he has big plans for the group, which, at present, is on a semi-hiatus. "We decided na sa ngayon, individual practice muna. Tapos sa September 13, 2016—on our band’s 12th anniversary—magkakaroon kami ng recording project."

"Tapos yun, magtatanong-tanong rin kami kung sinong makakatulong sa amin. Kung hindi pa rin bumenta, magiging okay pa rin kasi at least, nagawa namin yung gusto naming mangyari. Kapag bumenta siya, bonus na lang siguro,” Alintanahin says, although he is confident that this time around, they may probably make it.

"Maganda kasi ngayon, may YouTube at Facebook na. Kaya kahit maging favorite song lang ng mga friends namin yung mga originals namin, okay na kami," he says. -- KBK, GMA News