[I Am Next!]

Last night was the first time I went to Saguijo, expecting nothing out of the ordinary as we are supposed to play a 5 song set. It was alright that I didn’t expect anything, cause seeing the place and the crowd just blew my mind! The music scene is alive here! Whether it may just be Chicosci fans who came there, music lovers, or just bar gig regulars, I am convinced that the local music scene is alive. It feels good to know this and it pushes me more to do what I do best! This is something worth putting down. Now I’m hoping that this scene be brought closer to all of us! I’ll definitely come back and visit this place.

Tanya Markova at Saguijo

A band playing a set in Guijo

*The bar is actually located at a street called “Guijo St.” in Makati which might be why it was referred to as Sa Guijo or Saguijo.

+Saguijo Website

+Saguijo Gig Schedule for the month of February

Saving February 19 for Terno Inferno!

I just finished reading Madeline L’Engle’s sci-fi book called “A Wrinkle In Time”. And of course, I’m putting this down cause for me, it is worth noting. This particular story I’d have to say is one of the most epic I’ve ever imagined. And I mean it has stretched and refurbished my imagination over its limits, and and when that happens, for me is very much noteworthy.

Here are some lines from the book that made wowed me and made me thinking.

—-

“We do not know what things look like, as you say,” the beast said. “We know what things are like. It must be a very limiting thing, this seeing.”

—-

“We look not at the things which are what you would call seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are not seen are temporal. But the things which not seen are eternal.”

(Then the kid who was being told this changed the subject. WTH.)

—

Great book, great concept, great storytelling.

We don’t need to document everything and anything that we think at every moment. That’s just silly, and though it might catch someone’s attention once in a while, it doesn’t really matter most of the time. Not unless you’re the most famous person in the whole universe such that we have to know every single thing that you’re doing. But even that is creepy and is nonsense cause we have our own lives to live with.

Don’t get me wrong. This is not a hate blog. It’s actually one that appraises those things in life that are really awesome that needs to be documented! Thu, starting now, I’m going to document and write down every good and amazing thing that I see in my everyday life. Cause I believe that there are these amazing things that exist in this world and it is our duty to take it down and remember those things that make life beautiful and worth living.

Just this afternoon, I was music shopping, buying myself new headphones, earphones, straps, picks, and strings. Then when I was on my way to Ace Hardware to buy myself an extension cord, I heard at the back of my head a voice over saying that the concert will start in a few minutes. And when I looked for where it was coming from, there it is! There was a stage set-up nicely that looked like one for orchestras. Perfect timing! I was yearning for some good music.

I’ve heard of Gerard Salonga’s FILMharmoniKA orchestra from before, but I’ve never had the chance to see them. Actually, I’ve never had a chance to see any orchestras in my life, except for when they perform as the music for stage plays. Anyway, it was a really perfect timing. This is the stage in my life where I’m really starting to get myself back in the music. And I didn’t expect anything before the show started. This was the first time I’m really gonna see something like this.

There first song was their arrangement of the Christmas song, “We Three Kings Carol of the Bells.” And when the first notes of the strings appeared to me, I knew I was in for something special. They were insane! They were just awesome! Their arrangement was really different, and they made it look really good and much more lively than the original for me. Well that’s for me of course, cause this is how I see it. I noticed that the bass sounds were played not in its normal syncopation with the other instruments. It had a different arrangement that I’m guessing musician’s would notice and not ordinary viewers. And that really struck me like that. Like you can really play with the groove and timing of the instruments to enhance the song. 

So apparently they were also the music behind the first ever digital animated film by Filipinos which is RPG Metanoia. And they played a few samples of the soundtrack that they made and it was really nice and intense. I could actually feel the song fitting the movie’s adventure scene perfectly. They did a good job there. Then they also played movie theme songs from James Bond, Pink Panther, and some western movie. Apparently, they called the latter ‘spaghetti western’ music because there had been a time in the past wherein western movies were directed, produced, or even acted by Italians, thus spaghetti. Pretty interesting.

I’ve also just recently started listening to L’arc-en-ciel and I was really hooked into the melodic notes of the bass lines of their bassist, Tetsuya. So I then tried downloading one of their albums, and before I knew it, I was downloading and listening to their other albums. When I looked at their history as a band, it turned out they’ve been playing since 1990 and they’ve already had 11 albums! The best part about it, is that all of them are really what they call MUSICIANS, since all of them contribute in composing and writing lyrics for the band (though most lyrics are still written by their lead vocals, Hyde).

Anyway, I was blown away by their history and music playing. I learned that Tetsuya’s playing style was called counter melody, wherein his bass lines can stand out even without the rest of the instruments, but altogether, it fits the song well and still maintains its groove with the drums and the guitar. Man this band is awesome. Even though I don’t understand the lyrics, I still appreciate the music they make.

Anyways, I really believe I’ve seen something special today. These kinds of music live on here with us today, and they are not something to be ignored. I realized there’s really more of these good stuff out there, and it’s definitely pushing me forward and keeping my eyes wide open.

This week, I went home late thrice already. One was around 2:30am and this was one of those weekdays. Blame it on the music scene! All these good bands! But this was fun. These days I’d never forget, especially that very first Jazz Fest I’ve been to featuring some triumvirate trio I’m not really sure who. :)) Yes, they were insane but they were really good. Like they were some gods making music. But they’re just like us of course. 

And of course, Tanya Markova, the night after. One word, SIMPLY AWESOME. Ok that was two words but really, they make me do that. These guys changed how I viewed the music scene right now. It’s like they were telling me that its never too late, and there is always something. These guys rock!

Anyways, right now, I’m not so sure, but I think I’m in some kind of dilemma. I just want to live my life and have fun. And have fun. AND HAVE FUN. With the company of others would be best of course.

I better talk to someone about this. I’m such a busy person. I love my life, and I really hope that I go to the place I most want to go. And of course, to go to the place where I’m most needed.

Norman Black said, “I will not criticize you for missing the shot. I will criticize you for not taking the shot.” 

I need to move on, take those shots as well.

Come on, come on!