Almost a year :)

 

the marginals there is a light that never goes out

the marginals @ D-SIDE, RIGZ MUSIC HALL 111519

Ang aking alaala sa skalawags

Noong late 80s, ako ay guro sa St. Scholastica’s College at nakatira sa isang maliit na boarding house sa Leon Guinto. Nakilala ko ang isang kapwa Lasalista na si Edwin Aguilar na nakatira sa katabing boarding house at kami ay naging magkaibigan. Siya ang nagpakilala sa akin sa tropa nila Bonglennon, Raymond Sanchez, Ompong at Nonong at nagkaisa kaming bumuo ng banda.

Noong  panahon na iyon, ang banda ko na Insurgency ay nagkahiwalay hiwalay na dahil sa aming mga kanya kanyang trabaho. Sa totoo lang, wala akong alam noon sa ska at punk music lang naman talaga madalas kong pakinggan, pero sila nag orient sa akin sa ska. So nakita ko na hindi masasayang ang mga sinulat kong mga kanta para sa insurgency dahil sa skalawags na ito mapupunta. (Although as fate would have it, magkakahiwahiwalay rin naman pala kami dahil magiging Tropical Depression sila lahat, hahaha, pero at least na irecord naming ang Thank you America under Musika)

Masakit yung yugto na iyon at di kami nag usap usap ng matagal. Si Domeng, two years mahigit bago ko kinausap at si Chikoy pinangaralan ako na ang banda ay hindi kasal. Hehe

So immediately after the break up, pinorma ko ang Marginals at tumagal kami ng mahigit limang taon on and off…. Ang unang album na insecurities ay na release under Aquarius records and Tapes at ang pangalawang album na Balang Araw ay unreleased. Nakaikot pa rin naman kami sa eksena… sa dredd at mayric’s pero never kaming nagkakatagpo ng mga dating skalawags sa tugtugan.  Ika nga nila ay iniiwasan ako noon ni Domeng. Hehe  Naging active din ang Marginals sa local punk scene… dun sa rock a punk series and Angry Young bands compilation tapes.

I would move on to normal jobs and even odd jobs para suportahan ang nanay kong may sakit noon, pero di ko iniwan ang paggawa ng mga kanta… later nung maulila ako, nahilig ako sa tech side ng music para makapag produce ng mga kanta, nagtayo ng studyo-istudyuhan at nag produce ng walong album na personal, isa para sa kaibigang producer para sa bandang PRAXIS at tatlong album ng tatlong bandang alaga ko (Ang Bandang Alamat, Back Pipe, Asherdash) under sunset records. 128 songs total. hahaha

Paminsan minsan, pag may pagkakataon… nakakasalang sa mga tugtugan pero yun lang. Wala sa eksena, walang plano… 5 years ago, napadalas punta sa akin ni Domeng sa opisina … kasama si Edwin, minsan kasama si nonong at lennon. Later sya na lang… 3 years ago sinilip ko sng Jerks sa Tiendesitas and that’s it.

Sabi ko, this year is significant kasi mag 50 na ako so ano kaya magandang alaala bago ako matigok at nakita ko sa youtube ang reunion ng specials. Sabi ko it would be nice to reunite with skalawags… the band who was almost there… hahaha. And alas… isang araw, may bagong chat room sa messenger ko na skalawags ang name at binuo ni Edwin… so eto na. Wish it and it just might come true!

Ang skalawags, unlike other bands nowadays, wala kaming masyadong footprint… ang mayroon lang ay ang mga alaala ng mga nakapanuod sa amin sa marami naming mga nagging tugutugan. At iyon ang nakakatuwa, buhay pa ang mga lolo. Hahaha

So sa June 2, dalhin ang mga maintenance pills at tumungo sa B-side Makati para manuod sa mga Pilipinas Ska Bands… kasama syempre ang the SKALAWAGS.

IKAW NA! Congratulations Mica!

You make living this career nightmare worth it! Congratulations my dear daughter for your 2nd , Jose Rizal Second Honors Certificate. May this not be the last!

Happy Birthday to the Batman!

P/SSupt. Melchor Reyes, fondly called Batman celebrated his 50th Birthday as well as the Blessing of the Pasay Police Headquarters, the Pasay Police Station 65th Anniversary and their Christmas Party.

21 Years...

Happy Anniversary, Me...

I'm 44...

and I am happy... despite everything, I am.

Amazing Show 10th Anniversary Homecoming Party

To the PIONEER employees who attended this event.... CHEERS!



for the full photo set; https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.221379034587471.58180.197213173670724

Alex Cortez
Ambo Delos Santos
Beejay Vergara
Eugene Barona
Janice Gonzales
Gee Damian
Dimple Carpina
Ailyn Cuenco
Elmir Castillo
Gilgreg Arnaldo
JohnRey Hingo
Dixie Mendrozo
Eduardo Datuin
Andy Dionisio
Carlo Doma
Cris Capispisan
Dennis Reyes
Michael Reginaldo
Dinah Rezaba
Nelson Aluag
Eric Agas
Randy Balatan
Romeo Gustillo
Laurie Laurel
Jean Llaneza
Jose Fortin
TL Temporosa
Carlos Cunanan
Nap daquioag
Rodel Gordola
Mikee Allas
Jamby Lim
Anna Marie Gauten
Jhay-Ar Santos
Richmond Cruz
Collene
Ronnie Bonghanoy
Hazel Dator
Ian Cuenco
Donny Cervantes
Casie Villarosa
Donnie Ray Belles
Marvin Pascual
Ruel Raymundo
Vodka Orura
Joy Flor
Ronald Gallardo
Rodel Gallardo
Dindi Piano
Wawi Callejo
Anthony Agana
Warla Piano
Larry Flores
Ayu Manaog
Ivory Sytangco
Ivan Sytangco
Pauline Miranda
Joey DelaVega
Robert Santiago
Cris Arnaldo
Angel Almario

Thanks you all...

Amazing Show 10th Year Anniversary Party

Nasugbu, Batangas -- the videos

i miss the therapeutic value of a live jam

@ pier39 jamming with Black Pipe

Nicotina Garden Pavillion bids farewell to its loyal patrons a couple of months back... this is a place full of wonderful memories for me. I loved jamming with the bands Unysis and Circle of Five as well as playing the piano late nights after hours...

jamming with Black Pipe

jamming with alamat

photography by Jerry Santos and Joey dela Vega

the MFC Bar memories

It broke my heart upon hearing that the MFC Bar would be shut down early this year. I simply told my Korean manager that it's up to you guys simply because I knew that that was part of my sanction at the time.

The MFC Bar was originally conceived so that our performers and staff could have a hang out and unwind place after work. We have so many fond memories at the MFC Bar and the bottom line is that we never lost money operating the place. Only that our Korean manager in-charge of running the place left for Japan and that left no one wanting to run the bar.

These days, no one stays after work. Everyone just heads out for home or hangs somewhere else... that's a bit sad. So I asked the Chairman if I could give it a shot to re-open the place and have someone operate it for us and he said yes.

Soon enough I hope, the MFC Bar will be back... better than before, bringing life back to the Manila Film Center.

Images from my Sony Alpha230... photography (mostly) by Casie Villarosa



photography by Jerry Santos













photography by Santos Soriano






photography by Santos Soriano

photography by Santos Soriano

photography by Santos Soriano

















photography by Santos Soriano

photography by Santos Soriano