 My name is Emmie Ortega Anderson, your host for Pinoy Power Hawaii here on ThinkTech Hawaii. We come to you live every Tuesday at 12 noon. We want to thank again the staff and the support of ThinkTech Hawaii for giving us the opportunity to empower our Kababayans. We aim to enrich, enlighten, educate, entertain, and the big picture for us is we hope to empower. Today we're going to do just that with our guest who is a close family member. In fact, he is a nephew. He is a pride of the Ilocanos because of his way of serving not only our Filipino community but our community here in Hawaii for all of the wonderful services that he provides. And without further ado, I'd like to introduce Joel Tolentino. Welcome to Pinoy Power Hawaii. Thank you very much, auntie, and thanks for having me over here at ThinkTech Hawaii. Of course, our Pinoy Power radio program for you guys, and I'm so blessed that you gave me an opportunity to feature our show today and our incoming album, and thank you very much. It's a pleasure. That's what we do is to let everyone know what's coming up and what our young people, young leaders, emerging leaders like you are doing to preserve our culture and also share our blessings with others. And with all of the recognition, the services, the award that you have received, you certainly is a pride, a symbol of our Ilocano pride. So let me start. I know you've got, you started your company, JT Sounds Productions, along with your wonderful wife, who is my niece, Jane, and you have your children supporting you in this venue. Would you kindly mention their name and greet them? Yeah, I have my three children. So this one is Jeno Tolentino, and second one is Jade Tolentino, and the third one is Moe, and that's really kind of a crazy baby, is Javen Tolentino. All right. The three Js, right? Yes, the three Js. Of course, we have five Js. Five Js all together. He said that wonderful. Let's go now to talking about how you started. I know that you work for Bank of Hawaii for many, many years now without giving your age away. You're only 25, right? Yes, before coming to Hawaii or in America, I used to already deal in the entertainment business in the Philippines when I was young. So I joined a lot of contests and joined those singing contests in the Channel 30 Club, ABC 13, the TV station in the Philippines, which is they have branches in Ilocos, Nore, and we have contests every week, as you call it, Channel 30 Club by ABC 13 Channel or something like that. So I used to join every week. If you win for that week, you need to compete again to the next week. So you won. Yes. Oh. I'm so blessed that, you know. My age is like Tawag ng Tanghada, right? So I know you're born in Baduk. Yes. Okay. So make the people from Baduk pride. Tell them exactly where you're from and of course, coming back. Yes. Yeah, I'm coming. I came from Brangayphorby, Aring, Baduk, Ilocos, Nore. And that's our first part of Ilocos, Nore TV coming from Manila to Ilocos. And I've been blessed that they all supported me throughout the years and especially when we used to join the contest and they always listened to the radio. And we're loving it. We're loving it. We really had that. Well, back then, before any of the social media or the cell phone technology came into play, radio was the main entertainment because not too many of us could afford to have television. Yes. And that was a different story. You can watch the world in the palm of your hand by just viewing what you have on your cell phone. Yes. And yeah, I joined after doing the singing or music entertainment in business or not business but activities. I joined baseball and I'm blessed that I'm part of that Philippine team before that came over here. But unfortunately, I didn't get included in the time because something good happened. Something they insured it or something. Okay. That did not be blessed. And then after that, I went to high school and colleagues were playing baseball. Then I stopped singing in the time, I think, because I concentrated on the sport. I'm a birthday player in high school, so I concentrated on playing baseball, baseball, baseball but I still singing some of the functions in time. Right. Then I went to college. I went to college in Manila for four years and after that, then I finally came over here. Wow. So, how do you recognize your DJ, Rangtaimung Emae Ditoi Hawa? How did you come about? Yes, the regular immigration system and my parents petition us to come away from for a better living. Did it start with a grandfather or who was Sakata? My brother married to one citizen and he petitioned my parents and my parents petitioned us. I see. So, that's where Sakata rules through marriage. Okay. How do you like living in America? It's really good. And yes, it's a good opportunity. As long as you work hard, you get a better living. You're going to survive, right? Yes, you're going to survive. Any kind of work, any kind of job, and it's up to your individual, like you, right? I know. Joel, millions of people are dying to have the opportunity to immigrate, you know, to live the American dream. And through the lack of faith, you finally made it here. We made it here. Yes. We have my Sakata story and it is through marriage also, so we're grateful for those that paved the way. Yes. That's where we came from. Yes. That's where we came from. Yes. Yes. In that case, the grass is always greener, especially in Hawaii. Yes. Okay. So, let's move on. When you got here, you got through college, you kind of dabbled with playing sports, baseball, and then singing on the side. Singing, yes. Yes. How did your first album come into play? Because I've been playing some of, when I just got here, I've been enjoying playing a band, and I joined a first band that I joined is a Himmick band, and second one is High Frequency Band, and sometimes I play with Nicely Band, and we keep entertaining every weekend. Yes. And then, I really appreciate those, they give me an opportunity to expose myself or showcase my talents, and we really had fun entertaining. And then, entertaining every weekend, because I'm a Filipino. Filipino. Okay. So, when did the love of music, when did you realize that you had that gift, your singing, and your family, who gave you the talent? Usually, my uncle and all my relatives, they're all musicians, and every time they sing and they play during break back then, when they get the, when they did the babasi kamipai, madlo mulatang, mahi likang tumulad, mahi likang kangkanta, kangkanta ka, you know, if they singing, then after that, then you try to sing, and then after that, then all my, mostly my cousin, they join singing contest, I think we have the blood line of, yes. Oh, good. And then, I realized myself that I, into it, then I try to join the contest, and thanks to God, you know. Yeah, you were blessed. Yeah, you were blessed. And they recognized your talent. Yes, and then madlo mulatang, that really, you know, it's in your blood, that feeling. Oh, you got the feeling, yeah. And it's really good, because that's part of my therapy, especially in here, if you work hard, even though you're kind of busy doing little businesses, but if you sing, it's like that's part, you know, a way of therapy or relaxation. That's wonderful that you found your outlet, also your passion, and I know I follow you and I see you singing the car on the way to work or going around the island or whatever it is that you're doing. You're also the main person to go to. When people or famous artists come to visit, especially Hawaii, they come to you for your wonderful collections of lights and sounds to produce a concert. Tell us about that. Well, we started with playing this small DJ, and I remember when I just came from the Philippines, and when I seen a lot of people playing music, so I collected different kind of small, 20-ball, small, or maybe- You experimented. Experimented, and because I didn't have much money to buy good equipment. So I used to rent different equipment just to- Get the feel? Yeah, get the feel, and I had the guts, and that's one thing that, you know, I really, really, to myself that, you know, even though I don't have much money, I rented equipment to go play music, here are the gigs, so I keep renting, renting, because I don't have my own, kind of way, and I started, I remember borrowing some equipment, some of my friends borrowing some equipment just to consolidate it. Put it all together? All together, and go to the gigs, and that's how it started. You pretended. Yes. Yeah. And from that, you planted a small seed that grew, and now when they have a full concert, when anybody's famous, or they're producing a pageant, I know they come to you for the big pageant, or big events in the Filipino community, or the jubilee that we celebrate, and every visiting Filipino artist, I know that they include your sights and sound. Yes, I really appreciate for the support from our community too, especially those organizations, and yes, need a lot of patience to earn or get all this kind of standard to do some concerts, and you need to have a lot of sacrifice, your time, your money, that's why I get scolded every time from my wife, because, oh, you cannot even afford to buy your own shoes, buy your shirt, or buy your clothes, and you can afford to buy equipment. Yes, but I know that you don't forget to treat her well, because she's got a couple of Louis Vuitton bags, right? He always tried to make up for it. Yes, I tried to balance it, especially the first years of getting Visira on the time, and I really sometimes a little bit neglected to my daughter, that's why I'm the first of the world to sign, because, you know, musician every time, there's a lot of important things, it's like they're already at their school, and we play music, I so put things with them, and I feel so bad that I didn't have time joining them, and now I'm trying to make up my time. Finding balance. Yes, balance. We've got to give kudos, and of course credit to your wife. Yes. It takes a lot to support somebody like you. I really appreciate it, because through the years, it's been busy doing a lot of things in our house, but it's still supporting me to carrying my kids, instead of that's my responsibility, and she's doing it for me. She's doing all that. Yes. So could you say she is the wind beneath your wings? Yes, you are the wind beneath my wings, my lovely wife. If you could sing it, you could do that. In fact, I will suffice her because we made a song for her. Oh! You've got to listen for it. For the next album? Yes. That's part of it. All right. We're having a candid conversation with Joel Tolentino. He's an extended part of our family. He's considered the pride of the Ilocanos, because we're going to come back and return and continue our conversation. With you here, I'm Pinoy Power Hawaii after this break. We'll be right back. Aloha, I'm Yukari Kunisue, the host of Konnichiwa Hawaii, Japanese talk show on Think Tech Hawaii. Konnichiwa Hawaii is all Japanese broadcast show and is streamed live on Think Tech at 2 p.m. every other Monday. Thank you so much for watching our show. We look forward to seeing you then. I'm Yukari Kunisue. Mahalo. Hi, I'm Rusty Komori, host of Beyond the Lines on Think Tech Hawaii. My show is based on my book, also titled Beyond the Lines, and it's about creating a superior culture of excellence, leadership, and finding greatness. I interview guests who are successful in business, sports, and life, which is sure to inspire you in finding your greatness. Join me every Monday as we go Beyond the Lines at 11 a.m. Aloha. Welcome back to Pinoy Power Hawaii here on Think Tech Hawaii. I am your host, Amy Ortega Anderson, a proud FBI. I should say full blooded Ilocano, but I have two other Lahi in there, and that's Spanish and Chinese, and it's true. I'm not making it up. Ortega comes from my Toledo family all the way from Toledo, Spain. Okay, the other portion is the Chinese side of our family, which is my great great grandmother. Okay, we're going to go back to our conversation. Again, Pinoy Power Hawaii come to you live every Tuesday at 12 noon. Today we're having a kind of conversation with the pride of the Ilocanos. This is Joel Tolentino. So let's come back and talk about the awards and recognitions that you have garnered along the way for providing great service because I have a fashion show coming up or I have an event. Oh, are you going to use full lights and sound? And before I could say it, they said, oh, use Joel. And I said, I know, he's a family member. He's the first one for me to call. So it's almost automatic. It's given because you've developed the reputation. How did you go about that? It's being a lot of patient that, you know, you need to adjust. You need to be flexible what they're requiring to. And you need to, it's like, I have always a model that if you may get a really high ambition in your life, you need to adjust yourself. You need to adjust it. You don't want that, you know, you get high ambition and you don't want to catch it. Have the guts to overtake it or trying to adjust myself to satisfy my clients. And I really appreciate all the support from the community that are trusting me. And just like it's a good organizational skills that you know how to deal with any kind of clients. There's a lot of clients that are really straight and there's a lot of clients that are really, you know, trying to really watch you. You need to... Some people are hard to please. I think why I enjoy working with you, that's what I always call you, is that you have the ability to really listen. You know what I mean, listening. Some people listen but, you know, they listen and they do something else. In your case, you really listen because you do what I ask you to do. And that's really, really important. That adds to the quality of your service. And you go out of your way and do the things that they asked of you to do and you step out of the plate and do it that makes you a real winner. It's like being on the baseball field. Yes. You know? And I'm not afraid of failing sometimes because that's the way you learn. And just give you some... Or some idea to improve. Don't be scared. All the ones that are really trying to do what we imitate, what we're doing. Don't please and try to do your best and just be positive. Yes. You brought that up, the F word. F. Failing. But, you know, it's okay to fail to improve our future. And, you know, you just have a great attitude and I know that that's part of your important recipe in success. I believe in that. Even though you fail, don't give up. Yes. Wow. You sound like the guy who says, never, never, never give up. Yes. And I always thank those people that helped me up, especially for singing because when I already concentrated on the business because I've been doing a lot of businesses under time and I forget about singing because I didn't have a passion already on the singing because, you know, living in Hawaii, you need to work hard. Right, right. So, and I concentrated into production. And remember the first concert of Idle Van Bautista? Well, we produced that. Yes. We were the first one to bring him, you know, power, work with Van at that time at the Philcom Center. Yes. In fact, it was our fifth anniversary for Pinoy Power Radio. It was a great collaboration and you were part of that. Yes. So, we're excited to have him back because I know that Van Bautista is one of the people that you idolize, you look up to when it comes to music and I know that he's had a lot to do with your first CD. Yes. And also he's helped you too with your second CD. Yes. And the reason why I got into this I recall this now situation of recording the CD just because of him because when we used to promote him and I remember you interviewed me and I said, Sara, interview me and can you try to sing a song from him because they want to listen? So, I try because you know, I'm the producer so I need to sing the song and at the time he's listening to and I remember when you interviewed me and so you have some kind of not really good voice but you have you know, some... He saw the potential. Potential. Yes. And at the time so after the concert, successful concert so I went on vacation there in California and I went to their house and he told me Can you try this song? Can you try this song? Hold on. I reject chicken skin about that every time that I think my first try to record a song and I really appreciate it and they've been blessed. You've got the opportunity. He liked it. Uh-huh. Thank you. I don't even know about this stuff but give me an opportunity to go back to my singing again. Yeah. So he did open the door for you. We play a lot of his song because we go way back when we first started Pinoy Power Radio. So you know with open arms we want to welcome him back and that's why we're going to talk about the Honolulu concert coming up and we are inviting people to join us for this concert. Tell us a little bit about the concert and... Yes. Because I've been promoting a lot of artists from the Philippines. Yes. And I know this about Ngakababayan they like listen to the Filipino Ilucano. Ilucano. It's about time again to bring in Ilucano Entertainment and all the working-hard Ngakababayan and Maui. And because of that we're trying to bring again the Honolulu show which is in April 26 at the Philcon Center and we call it Sonata Neat which is I platelet because this is my album release concert we call it Sonata because we have I have one of my composer Loretto Magsanidi composed that song Sonata Neat and that's why I came up with an idea why not just name this concert as Sonata Neat since we are releasing this album and thank you to all my composers anyway and for sharing your talents and to all my lyricists or ranger and of course some of my melody provided by Guy M. Benvalti he's really a very talented gifted person for sharing their talents to me and I really, really appreciate what they're doing. Okay, wonderful. We want to congratulate you on that. Yes. There's also a Maui concert tell us about the Maui concert. Maui concert is going to be in at Binihe at Ani at the Philcon Center on April 28, 2019 at 6 p.m. So let's go to Maui, please. This is your chance now to see a lot of Ilocanos Ilocandias singing sensation and Ilocandias superstars. Okay, who are some of the others that you can expect? Of course Saibam my the Prince of Ilocanos Benvaltista we have Norling Domingo the voice of an angel from Canada which is really good and we have the voice runner up East or West that's really a pump and you can A young energy Yes, a young energy Powerhouse Yes and we have of course the daughter of Benvaltista Mikaela and the son Keanu and they're really a superb singer and we have Diva sensation from Japan is going to be flying from Japan to here to entertain us Auntie Amy Fernandez Emily Fernandez and we have of my niece Ilocano used to be a vocal singer Ilocanias superstars Mrs. Rosana Sarmiento and now we have the great king of Honolulu Mr. Compadre Randy Valencia he's really good and the last one is the super nightshade band they're always supporting me since I started those concerts they always I always tell them open up open up the crowd for a good part of my life warm them up yes and they're really good I always I love the band of course Eddie LaTowen and Marie-Christ they're really good wonderful people yes well it's going to be a great night two nights as a matter of fact one here in Honolulu and of course and Maui so we want to remind you our listeners to come out and support yes it's a great gathering for Ilocanos but to celebrate our culture our music our love our pride of the Ilocanos Ilocanos it's going to be a great wonderful event and the print of it too and we had a meeting with OFCC our community council of Hawaii that there's the incoming pageant that they have and those four contestants they're volunteering there's there's two they're so they wanted part of this that show too so and they want to learn some of the cultures and the Filipino way of entertainment so they said I really appreciate that they've volunteered themselves to come and let the people coming in and share wherever they see it make them comfortable it's a great way for them to be a part of this wonderful venue coming up again the date is the Philcom Center in Maui at Binhie at Ani Philcom Center, April 28th at 6 p.m. Okay, so we appreciate you taking the time to share with us what you do in the community to help empower others in line with our mission. On Pinari Power Hawaii we aim to enrich, enlighten, educate, entertain, and the big picture is to be empowered. Yes, and I really appreciate that, you know, they're giving me an award and which is, you know, I've been really thankful and which is I always telling to everyone that even though a simple person like me has been recognized from, can be recognized, can be recognized from the community. It's like you, the Empowerment Award of 2016 and 2018 from the Grumil and the Kaila Kwan, Pied of Ilocano. Yes. I really appreciate it. And recently you were selected Mr. Barong. Mr. Barong and I gave one of the award to the Philippine Business Women's Club and Foundation, something like that. Yes, yes, yes. To be in entertainment productions achiever award. You got it all. Again, we congratulate you and there are more good things to come up. Joelle Iho, I want to thank you for the time you have afforded us and thank you for the empowerment. Thank you. I'll continue doing what you do as pride of the Ilocano. Yes, and I really appreciate those community council of Hawaii that they give me the opportunity to have board of directors position and I'm kind of newer and that kind of responsibility but I do my best. More things to come. I'm a Ilocano, shout out and I'm serving as a treasure. We're going to give you a chance. You've got a lot to say. You've got a lot to say. I really appreciate your time. Thank you, Auntie. Okay. Time is up. You have to come back. Maraming salamat again for giving us the time to share the empowerment. Thank you again. Mabuhay. Maraming salamat.