It is traditional in the Philippines that we use our mother's maiden name as our middle name. It is traditional, not mandatory. But I chose to use my full name as a sign of my devotion to my parents, the late Atty. Remigio T. Ramirez and the late Estelita Savella Ramirez.

Yes, I play live. Currently, I do not have a regular gig. I really enjoy performing for a crowd or just one or two people. My first experience in front of a crowd with a backup band is an experience I will never forget. It happened on the island of Diego Garcia, BIOT(British Indian Ocean Territory). This was in June of 2000, at the Expat Club(Expatriates Club).. The band performing at that time was “Common Ground”,(a Manila show band specializing in 60's and 70's music). During their last set they call on member's of the audience to sing. We became close friends during my stay at Diego Garcia and they knew that I write and sing my own material. They have not heard any of my material. They assured me its going to be alright. After the last bar of the chorus was played, the crowd erupted in a roar and wanted more. But it was getting late and the band had a set to finish. The immediacy and positive energy that the crowd showed, even though most of them did not understand the lyrics, took me by surprise. I thanked the members of the band and went home floating on cloud nine.

Yes, the internet has changed the music industry, not to the extent where it's a level playing field. But its better than the old way, when the only way to be heard is thru the radio.

Yes I would, in the right circumstances. I am currently working with Mr. Joel Martin of Pigboat Records. This is the ideal situation for me right now. It suits the genre and the message of the music that I do. It is not what the major labels are selling right now. But who knows what the future holds.

I started playing ukelele when I was 5 years old. I played for a couple of years until my ukelele broke and coincidentally, my teacher left for the US. Years later I picked up the guitar while I was in Minor Seminary. While there, we sang during mass and religious services almost daily. The repertoire range from 60's folk to inspirational music.

In college, I took classical guitar lessons to improve my picking. I quit after a couple of months just before my first recital. After that I played the guitar on my own for a number of years.

I stopped playing for about 15 years until I was stationed in Diego Garcia. There, I started playing again after my wife's cousin gave me an Ibanez PF10 acoustic electric guitar. With it I wrote several songs, all of which you can listen to on my music page.

Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Neil Young, Freddie Aguilar, Heber Bartolome, Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman, Roy Orbison, Simon and Garfunkel and Jim Croce.

My favorite spot on earth is an isolated beach in my birthplace of Cabugao, Ilocos Sur in the Philippines. It is at a tip of a peninsula that has black sand, and there is big black boulder about 15 feet tall jutting out all by itself in the middle of the beach. It's about a good 30 minute walk to the beach from the nearest road and the only way is by foot. I have only been there once years ago and I still could not forget the experience.

"Tagbilaran" Custom Doubleneck Acoustic Guitar that I designed and commissioned in the Philippines. It was made by Mr. Jun Reputana of Reputana Guitars, Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines.

All were made using simple hand tools and techniques he had learned from his father. Who in turn learned it from his.

He has been making guitars since he was 16. When asked how many guitars he has made. He say's "he does not remember but he has made a lot".

My first studio effort from Pigboat Recording entitled "Ugat at Sanhi ng ating Aba" roughly translated "Root and Cause of our Misery" has been indefinitely shelved until I get back to Washington State to finish it. It is dedicated to Filipinos all over the world.

I have been added to the Singer/Songwriter Directory.

Also check out the website of Mr. Rod Garcia Esq. Rod's Hacienda. He is a singer/songwriter, musician, playwright and novelist who also happens to be a lawyer. Check them out.

Check out the INFAMAS site www.infamas.com. It is an aggrupation of Filipino-American Music Artists in the Mid-Atlantic states of VA,MD,NJ,NY and DC. Visit the website and support the member artists.

I recently went to attend the 2006 Folk Life Festival. They featured the Canadian Province of Alberta this year. One of the artists performing there was Mr. John Wort Hannam. I think he is the next big singer-songwriter from Canada. In the footsteps of the great Neil Young. Check his website at www.johnworthannam.com. By the way he says my music is "pretty good". He likes "Dahil sa Kahirapan" even though he does not understand the lyrics.

I just made a music video of my song "Isang Daang Taon". You can watch it at youtube.com. Click the foll link. www.youtube.com.
Hope you like it. Thank you.