by Clarice Os taco and Max Rempillo
Ludology Reliving childhood games as an escape to the timebound world we live in today has never gotten this interesting. Located at Tomas Morato, Ludo: Board Game Bar and CafĂŠ can serve you the opportunity to go back in time through their board games and enjoy the company of your friends and relatives while enjoying good food. The place is filled with video game soundtracks, lined with red leather couches, brick walls, and, the aura of home. Laughter fills the whole area as people, ranging from teenagers to senior citizens, gather to play their favorite board games. The staff will assist you the moment you enter the cafĂŠ. From there, they will give you the menu, which consists of pica-pica, rice meals, desserts, alcoholic drinks, and juices. We ordered their best sellers namely Katsudon, Cheese Gyoza, Carbonara, and Brownie Ă la mode. Their menu does not have a main theme of a specific cuisine however despite its variety, they were able to serve best quality of each. After ordering, they will lead you to their collection of board games. They will recommend board games according the number of players, age, and level of difficulty that the customer would like to play. Most of the board games are not sold in local stores, which is why the owner and the staff would gladly help and assist if there are parts of the game that is not clear to you. When the game starts, as competitiveness of each member of the game starts to arise, and as good food and meaningful conversations combine in the atmosphere, Ludo serves as a haven for those seeking to get another chance to experience their childhood, all over again.
Bananarhama; Evolving manila Just like how old Manila evolved to the way it is now – tall buildings, traffic, and the presence of technology, anything culturally Filipino such as our food is gradually infused with something contemporary, something 21st century. Mang Tootz’s bananarhama is living proof of such a combination. Unobtrusively located along P. Noval street opposite the University of Santo Tomas is Mang Tootz. On the exterior, it looks like your regular street-side cafeteria. It does not have any fancy decorations, painting, or restaurant sign. The restaurant does not yearn or demand for attention for passers-by. But despite the low profile of the eatery, it is what it offers, particularly this certain sweet dish that continuously gains curious diners from various places and walks of life. Close your eyes and imagine. You are reaching out for this specific sweet dish that everyone has been going crazy about but you cannot see it. You reach out and you can feel the crispy and slightly sticky egg roll wrapping. “Oh. This dish is deep fried!” You realize as you hear the gentle crunch when you grabbed it. Learning this, you grab it with a gentler touch and put it under your nostrils. You smell a hint of cinnamon, sugar, and banana. You take a bite into the wrapping with a loud crunch. Different textures enter your mouth. There is the crispy wrapping. There is the sticky, caramelized brown sugar that was coated on the wrapping as well as the powdery sugar sprinkled on the wrapping. Apart from these, there is also the soft and chewy, sweet banana that was protected by the egg roll wrapping before you bit into it. This heavenly dish that you are devouring in your imaginations is call bananarhama, our traditional Filipino turon with a modern, experimental twist. Who knew turon can evolved to this dessert? Perhaps old meets new is not always a terrifying evolution after all.
by Claric
Roads are uncertain, the air is humid, and different noises fill the surroundings. Being immersed in that kind of environment, I thought to myself, this is going to be an adventure. Ready or not, I have to finish this assignment. First stop: Baclaran.
food, to religious relics, gadgets, and clothes.
It was around 9 in the morning when I got dropped off the car with my camera in front of a stand of assorted rice cakes. I looked around and decided to start walking in the narrow paths that lead to the Baclaran Church. Going there I saw a lot of things for sale, from street
Going past the Church, I saw the main street of Baclaran filled with tiangge stores located right beside each other. There were more people than I have seen before going there. Tiangge is not just limited to clothing but it also includes accessories, bags, shoes, balisong, kitchenwares,
I stopped in the front of the Church to observe those who are solemnly lighting candles, feeling the warmth of the place even more. After a few minutes, I went on.
and herbal medicines. Along the busy streets of the long lines of stores can also be found the soothsayers that stares at you as you walk by, as if they are trying to read what is on your mind. Going deeper into the crowd, the more unusual things surprise me. There I found branded clothing, imitations of wallets and belts, toys, school supplies, and curtains that can be bought at a really cheap price. A leather wallet that costs thousands of pesos in malls can be bought for only Php 250, and if you are good at bargain, you can
ce Os taco
still buy that in a cheaper price. I was in search of an ukay-ukay so I asked an old lady for directions. Unfortunately she said that there is none in Baclaran. All there was are stalls of tiangge, which I have seen. So I decided to go to Quiapo. There’s not much difference except that the temperature is hotter as I got there around noon. The same atmosphere is present. Chaotic, humid, and loud. Under the LRT station, right in front of a small monument I found an ukay-ukay. The moment you enter the store, you
will feel how dusty the place is. It is not well lit and the music is loud. But there you can see a lot of preloved items that has the minimum of php20, some jackets are php50, some bags are a hundred. It’s cheap and they all look good as new. Seeing those I thought, finally I found it. I guess it would not appear if I were not brave enough to keep on moving forward. The kind of fashion that can be found ranges from 80’s to 90’s with jumpers, skate tees, windbreakers, snapbacks, and turtlenecks since only a few of them are sold at a
time, and owners would usually put them on ukay-ukay stores when it is out of fashion date. The brands include Guess, Girbaud, Fila, Reebok, Benetton, Mossimo, etc. However fashion is just continuously evolving, those of what you think of as outdated are now the present fashion picks. It is a great place for availing branded clothes with 6080% off the original price. It is not going to be easy, but it’s surely worth it. These are one of the things you will find in Manila, underground.
photos by max rempillo
by Max Rempillo
Globalization may be creeping in at all directions in the Philippines, but that only makes each unique Filipino experience even more valuable and exhilarating. Furthermore, it is because of globalization and its seemingly merciless killing of local culture including our Original Pilipino Music (OPM) that pushes talented and proud Filipino musicians out of their homes and bring them to places like Route 196 to demonstrate that OPM is not dead, guaranteeing that each Route 196 experience is an exciting, precious and definitely Filipino.
Hidden this OPM home may be, many young people, Filipinos and sometimes, foreigners, can be found in this cozy music safehouse entranced by local rising performers such as the Flying Ipis, Julianne, Brisom, Tom’s Story, Techy Romantics, She’s Only Sixteen, etc., and the way they protect the uniqueness of OPM through each note they strum, each lyric they sing, each song they compose and each original piece they bravely perform. It is in this shelter for our Filipino
musical identity that we are not only reminded of who we really are, we are also pushed to hold onto it, spread it, join their cause as protectors of the Filipino identity and examples of what our identity can become. In other words, come out of Route 196 as a propeller of the modern Filipino identity and bring it forward even more.
by Rendcel Isip
It’s that overwhelming feeling every time you get every time you enter a bookstore--your nostrils inhale the sweet scent of the paper, and you suddenly feel a rush as you flip a book open and scan its contents. You knew, as soon as your fingers laid on it, that it was love at first sight. Just as you are about to bring it to the cashier, you realize that gasp! “It’s too expensive!” Worry not, for we have found two bookstores around the Metro that sell a huge variety of books (both brand new and pre-loved ones) in a much, much lower and affordable price.
Bookay Ukay Located at Maginhawa Street, Teacher’s Village in Diliman, Quezon City, you would almost mistake Bookay Ukay to be just an ordinary store along an ordinary street. Despite the small area it occupies, this bookstore maximizes the space they have, with books occupying the shelf space from ground to ceiling. Customers won’t really get confused when looking for books around since everything is organized based on their respective category. From
Psychology textbooks to Marvel comics, Bookay Ukay sells these gems sealed with plastic to ensure their good condition. Bestselling books are usually placed in the front most parts of the shelves so people could easily see them. However, with a keen eye for good books just like Sherlock’s got for details, you would also be able to find many other undiscovered reads hidden among the piles of books. Aside from books and comics, you could also check out their rack of indie Pinoy music that will surely tickle your knack to discover and relive OPM.
Books from the Underground Books from the Underground is a bookstore literally found in the underground – along the Lagusnilad Underpass near Manila City Hall. Open from 3pm to 12mn everyday, you will be able to find almost every kind of book you can think of in this store despite the limitations of its small space. Some of the books found here were also really quite special and valuable. Signed and personally handed by famous personalities when it comes Pinoy literature like Ricky Lee and Budjette Tan, it is cool to think that despite the value that these books hold (because of the autograph), they
still cost a lot less than the books you could find in famous bookstores. You should also talk to AJ Laberinto, the person who mans the store, if you ever have the chance to drop by the bookstore. He knows everything about the place from inside out ,and could probably give you book recommendations whenever you need it. He also memorized the contents of the place by heart, so he could give you the details on what the book you need is about, how much it costs, and where in the store he would be able to find it even if his eyes are closed. Since many bibliophiles, students and working people alike, visit this store very often, their stocks
easily run out. We have already asked him whether or not he’s got the list of books in our head, but he told us that they were all sold out just before we even arrived. So if you have already found the book you really like, we we suggest that you already snag the opportunity that the heaven has bestowed upon you! Once the stocks run out, you will never be assured they’ll have the same titles again. If you want to save up the energy and battling the hassles of commuting, here’s another tip: you could also do online reservations through their Facebook page, and pick up the book at your own leisure.
Masyado pa raw tayong bata.
Ano nga ulit ‘yun? ‘Yung sinabi ng Eraserheads? They tried to tell us we’re
‘to basta rebellious phase na mawawala pagtanda natin. Hindi lang ‘to basta Save The World Complex ng mga tinedyer dahil nasa eskwela pa tayo at hindi pa natin alam ang katotohanan ng mundong ibabaw. Ang nakakatawa, ganito rin ‘yung sinasabi natin kapag may pinipilit tayong manliligaw na ‘di nila gusto. Ma, hindi naman kasi talaga siya ganun! Pa, hindi ko rin alam bakit, pero hindi ko talaga kayang pigilan. Pero hindi ka nila gets. Darating ang puntong feeling mong ikaw lang ang nakaka-gets sa gusto mong mangyari.
in love
Hindi ka nag-iisa.
ni M. Paiso too young……
Too young to really fall (Chen chenen chenchen! Bahaaaay namin-)` Sino bang nagdidikta kung anong tamang edad para ma-in love? Meron bang provision sa Saligang Batas na nagseset ng age standard kung kailan pwede ka nang magmahal, at ng karampatang parusa kapag nilabag mo ‘yun? Meron bang nakalagay sa Bible na tamang anyos para malaman mong omg, love na itu? Come to think of it, bakit walang section sa Student Handbook tungkol sa tamang edad para sa pag-ibig? Ang closest nga lang sa ganung topic eh ‘yung pagbabawal sa PDPI, pero bakit walang kahit anong kasulatan na oh ito, ito na talaga ‘yun. Pwede ka nang ma-in love. Well… Akin lang ‘to ah, pero tingin ko alam ko kung bakit. Kasi wala naman talagang age limit. Ang love ay kasama sa kalikasan ng pagiging tao. Isa itong phenomenon na nakahardwire na talaga sa ‘tin at kailangan lang talagang i-exercise. Bata pa tayo eh nagpapakita na tayo ng sintomas ng love, pero kailan lang nila tayo sinisita at pinagbabawalan? Kapag nagmamahal na tayo ng something na walang assurance na mamahalin tayo pabalik, o ng something na
‘pag minahal natin ay baka saktan lang tayo.
Kapag meron na tayong kras, sasabihin sa ‘ting o, kras lang muna iyan, ah? Bata ka pa. Kapag nanghingi ka ng advice, bata ka pa, hindi pa ‘yan true love. Kapag ipinilit mo, ‘wag kang makulit, hindi mo pa alam ang true love. Ito rin ba ang dahilan kung bakit pinagbabawalan nila tayong mahalin ang bayan? Let’s face it. Ang mga grownups, lagi nilang sinasabi sa ‘tin na kahit anong gawin natin eh mas marami na silang naranasan. Na may gatas pa raw tayo sa labi, o may kakainin pa tayong bigas. Ewan ko sa inyo, pero busog na ako. Kailangan na nilang ma-gets na hindi lang
Wait, hindi ka nag-iisa as in hindi ako nag-iisang nakakaramdam ‘nun, o as in meron pang ibang nakakagets sa mga puntong gusto kong mangyari: na gusto kong baguhin ang sistema, na gusto ko ng pagbabago, ng pagkakapantay-pantay, ng reporma? Swerte ka kasi parehong oo. Nage-
gets mo ba? Hindi naman kasi talaga tayo dapat pigilang mahalin ang bayan. Hindi dapat tayo pagbawalang sabihin kung anong gusto nating mangyari dahil tayo mismo ay mga miyembro ng lipunan. Hindi valid reason ang masyado ka pang bata dahil
WALANG. EDAD. ANG. PAGMAMAHAL.
Lalung-lalo na kung pagmamahal ito para sa bansang ginagalawan mo. Tawagin mo na akong malandi pero ‘wag mo akong tatawaging lapastangan dahil lang hindi ako sang-ayon sa kung paano pinapatakbo ang gobyerno. Tawagin mo na akong hangal pero ‘wag mo akong tatawaging bobo
dahil sa tingin mo ay wala rin naman akong makakamit na pagbabago. Dukutin, sunugin, patayin mo man ang mga katulad kong ang tanging hangad lang ay kung anong magpapaganda sa kalagayan ng Pilipinas ay hindi mo mapapatay ang katotohanang may mali at gusto
naming malaman niyo ‘yun. Hindi namamatay mga ideya.
Please lang, ‘wag niyo na kaming pagbawa mahalin ang Pilipinas. Oo, walang assuran mamahalin niya kami pabalik, o assurance n niya kami sasaktan. Pero hindi niyo ba gets? ang essence ng pag-ibig. Kapag tutuloy ka kah mong masasaktan ka? ‘Yun ang true love
At mas nakakakilig at nakakaihi pa ‘yun kesa anong landing makukwento ko sa inyo
ang
alang nce na na hindi ? 窶郎un hit alam e.
a sa kahit o.
refuse to be confined to ANYTHING! (PHOTO NOT BY THE SQUAD)
Ang aking mga lolo’t lola po ang inspirasyon ng Dead Balagtas. Mula ako sa pamilya ng mga mananaysay at lumaki ako sa piling ng aking lolo’t lola. Puno ang kabataan ko ng kwento tungkol sa mga Amerikano at sa mga Hapon, at tuwing ikinukuwento ng aking lolo’t lola ang kanilang buhay, hinahaluan nila ito ng katatawanan. Hinahangaan ko ho nang lubos si Encarnacion Alzona, dakilang mananaysay at sufragista. Tinuturi ko siyang aking anito. Nariyan din ang mga Babaylan — karamihan sa kanila hindi natin alam ang pangalan — pero sila talaga ang the ultimate e. Mula pa noong dumating ang mga Kastila hanggang sa mapalayas natin ang mga Hapon sa lupa natin, hindi yumuko ang mga Babaylan (o Katalonan sa Katagalugan) sa kahit sino. Nakiisa ang mga datu sa mga Kastila at naging mga prinsipales. Ngunit ang mga Babaylan — sila ang tunay na punk rock. DIEGAB! Diego x Gabriela talaga. Built on mutual love and respect ang pagmamahal ni Diego at Gabriela sa isa’t isa, at nagkagustuhan sila dahil sa kanilang pagiging parehong rebolusyonaryo. Bago pa man nakilala ni Diego si Gabriela ay kasapi na ang dalaga sa rebolusyon. Sa katunayan, nakilala niya si Diego noong ipakulong ng mga Kastila ang kaniyang tiyuhin na rebolusyonaryo. Humingi siya kay Diego ng tulong upang mapakawalan ang tito niya, at doon nagsimula ang kanilang pagmamahalan. Comrades in arms talaga sila e.
ikaw ay nagdaramdam / puso ay nagdurugo / hindi mo yata alam kung san ka patungo / ikaw ay naliligaw / isip ay nalilito / ayaw mo ng gumalaw / hindi ka sigurado / ikaw ay napupuwing / minsan nabubulagan / mata ay nakapiring / daan ay kadiliman / ikaw ay nadadapa / napipilayan din / di makapagsalita / anung ibig sabihin? / wala, wala namang... / wala namang perpektong tao / ano ba ang epekto / kung meron kang depekto? / ano ba ang epekto / kung meron kang depekto? / ano ba ang epekto / kung meron kang depekto? / ano ba ang epekto / kung meron kang depekto? / ikaw ay nawawala / minsan ay nawawalan / di ka naniniwala / puno ng alinlangan / ikaw ay nanliliit / ligtas ka ba sa rehas / bakit ka nakapiit? / bakit ka tumatakas? / ikaw ay natatakot / parang walang hangganan / ang kirot ng bangungot / di mo makalimutan / ikaw ay nanlulumo / bilang na ba ang araw? / gusto mo ng sumuko, / mundo ay nagugunaw / ikaw ay inaalon / walang kalaban-laban / tuluyang nalulunod / tungo sa kalaliman / ikaw ay nalulula / agad kang nahuhulog / babagsak sa lupa/ at biglang madudurog. / ikaw ay nagdurusa / kaya pa bang tumagal / hindi na makahinga / lalo pang nasasakal / ikaw ay dumadaing / dala mo ba ay sumpa / para kang ililibing / at ipinagluluksa. / wala... / wala namang... / wala namang...
Ang gerilya ay tulad ng makata / Matalas sa kaluskos ng mga dahon / Sa pagkabali ng mga sanga / Sa mga onda ng ilog Sa amoy ng apoy At sa abo ng paglisan. / Ang gerilya ay tulad ng makata / Nakasanib sa mga puno / Sa mga palumpong at rokas / Nakakaalangan subalit tumpak / Bihasa sa batas ng paggalaw / Pantas sa laksang larawan. Ang gerilya ay tulad ng makata / Karima ng kalikasan / Ng sutlang ritmo ng kaluntian / Katahimikang panloob, kamusmusang panlabas / Aserong tibay ng panatag na loob / Na sumisilo sa kaaway. / Ang gerilya ay tulad ng makata / Kasabay ng luntiang, kayumangging masa / Sa palumpong na pinaliliyab ng mga pulang bulaklak / Na nagkokorona at nagpapaalab sa lahat, / Dumadagsa sa kalupaan tulad ng baha / Nagmamartsa sa wakas laban sa kuta. / Walang hanggang daloy ng lakas, Masdan ang matagalang tema / Ng epikong bayan, / ng digmang bayan.
“That unknown is the known inside you. That’s what I call the sariling duende, the unique espirit inside you. I usually associate it with a naughty spirit, a playful spirit. When I talk to younger filmmakers, they often question like, ‘How does one become a world class artist or filmmaker?’ Not by copying your idol! You can copy Kurosawa’s films shot by shot, but that will not make you an artist. You have to let your sariling duende speak. And the sariling duende is the special combination of what you are. You grew up in a mountain tribe? Or in a plush village here? Your father was an engineer? Or an artist? Or you are a heathen or a staunch Catholic? If you combine all those influences, that is what gives you a special framing of the world around you. That is different even from the sariling duende of your twin brother. The way you frame your film or your painting or your novel—that’s what the world is waiting for. Not for your version of Spielberg’s or Kurosawa’s sariling duendes.”
ni M. Paiso
Pawis. Araw. Kanta. Sigaw. Tahimik ang UP Film Center. Malamig ang bakal sa bawat silya ng sinehan. Mangangatog at maiihi ka sa tindi ng aircon. Bukod sa zhwuuuuuu na tunog ng makina at sa paminsan-minsang ngiwi ng metal mula sa pag-adjust ng pag-upo ay wala kang maririnig ni kimi. Madilim. Absorbed ang audience sa ilaw mula sa pinilakang-tabing. Tahimik. Payapa. Aircon. Pawis. Madilim. Maaraw. Tahimik. Sigaw—Isang malaking paradox ang lahat kung ikukumpara sa mga imaheng pino-project sa screen. Paradox. Ang Pandayang Lino Brocka ay isang taunang film festival na nagbibigay ng pagkakataon sa mga mag-aaral na kwestyunin ang kalagayan ng lipunan at ipaglaban ang pagkakapantay-pantay ng mga boses na pilit pinatatahimik (ang masa). Sa pamamagitan ng midyum na ginamit ng hardcore na alagad ng sining na si Lino Brocka, lumilikha ang mga kalahok ng isang documentary o feature na nagpaparating ng kanilang saloobin at suhestiyon ukol sa mga isyung ito. Kasing liit man ng unibersidad o kasing laki ng buong bansa ang sakop ng paksa, matapang na naikukwento ang nakikitang mali at ang ninanais na pagbabago. Matapang. Sa loob ng limang oras, ipinapalabas ang labing-isang short at docu na nagpapakita ng opresyon at represyon, ng hindi pagkakapantay-pantay, ng nakasisindak na sistemang daig pa ang mga multo sa Shake, Rattle, and Roll. Sila. Mararamdaman ang adrenaline rush sa kasagsagan ng isang rally, ang kabog ng dibdib kapag nagpaulan na ng bala ang militar, ang crisis kung susundin ba ang pagmamahal sa pamilya o sa bayan. Pagaganahin nito ang isang qualifier ng pagpapakatao--ang makaramdam. Bibigyan ka nito ng feelings na magpapaisip at magpapagalaw sa iyo. Sila. Ang mga tao nga lang ba sa films na ito ang biktima ng kawalang-hustisya? Ang mga nagsiganap at nagkwento lamang ba ng kawalang-katarungan ang may responsibilidad
na maghangad ng pagbabago? Tayo rin. Hindi lang sila. Isasama ka ng PLB sa isang biyaheng magpapalawak ng iyong perspektibo at daragdagan nito ang dimension ng existence mo. Ipaparamdam nito sa iyo ang ilang bagay na nakalimutan na dahil sa rigid na sistema at pamumuhay sa bansang-ayun nga, may konsepto pa rin ng bansa. Ng Pilipinas. Ng Pilipino. Ng mga taong dapat ay nagtutulungang maiangat hindi lamang ang sarili kundi ang kanilang kababayan, nang sa gayon ay maiangat ang buong bayan. Tuturuan ka ng PLB na mag-aalala hindi lang para sa sarili mo, kundi para rin sa iba. Mag-alala. Sa iba, ang sining ay isang mababaw na aspeto lamang ng human existence. MaARTe daw, ika nga ng running joke. Ang tugon ko? Manood ka kasi ng mga ganitong tipo ng sining. Oo, hindi perpekto ang Pandayang Lino Brocka, pero anong nilamang nito sa konsepto mo ng ahrt? Una, wala itong bayad. Ikaanim na taon na ng paninilbihan at pagkakasal ng sining at masa. Ikalawa, napakalaki ng potensyal nito for improvement and influence. Inii-strip down nito ang essence ng sining: Sino ba ang lumilikha ng works of art? Ang mga tao. Para kanino pala dapat ang art? E ‘di para sa mga tao. Tao. Simple. Basic. Ako. Ikaw. Pilipino. Pilipinas. Tatlong salitang nakakakilig? Pandayang Lino Brocka.
Mga pelikula (mula sa taas, pababa): Pangarap ko para sa Pilipinas ng Pinoy Media Center, American Home ni Justine Dizon, Holiday Bust ng Pinoy Media Center, Ingay ni Romano alvorez, dapat nang Itakwil! ng Tanghalang Bayan ng kulturang kalye, amot ng d’jet productions (mula sa kaliwa, pakanan): padayon ni kathy molina, tindoga ni nef luczon, 100 days of injustice ng tudla productions, pieta ni herwin cabasal, at barikada ng kilab multimedia
Nakapunta ka na ba ng Quiapo? Seryosong tanong ‘to. Hindi kita iniinsulto. Oo? Nakapunta ka na? Ah, cool. Buti naman. Kumusta? Anong experience? Anong dinanas ng five senses mo? Workout ba? Wala nang pa-chicks, please. Alam nating lahat na hindi ka ganu’ng natuwa sa pagpunta mo. Sino ba naman kasing matutuwa sa Quiapo? Real talk. Kung may hotspot siguro ang polusyon sa Maynila, Quiapo na ‘yun. Quiapo na, siya na nga, ahihi. Ubo ubo. At bukod pa sa usok, ayan, parang ang sarap pang isama sa tinuturing na polusyon ‘yung dami ng tao at ‘yung ingay nila. Parang ang sarap humingi ng tulong kay Lord at magsimba sa Quiapo church, kaso pati du’n baka hindi ka rin makakalabas nang buhay. Real talk ulit. Kakapunta namin sa Quiapo nu’ng
lang isang araw. Sa totoo lang, dapat
maghahanap kami ng pwedeng panooran ng pelikula. Kaso habang naglalakad kami dun sa eskinita kung saan marami “raw” mga sinehan, narealize namin na hindi pala pelikula ‘yung mapapanood
Ewan
namin du’n. Huhu. Alam mo ba kung ano yung napanood namin sa halip na mga pelikula Buhay. Life. Ang
Isipin m nam kalag hu pa pagb ka na laha
p
p
a
bilis. Seryoso ‘to, hindi kami nagbibiro. Ikaw mismo ‘yung nasa pelikula. Pelikula siya ng buhay mo. At the same time, ang pelikula ng buhay mo e konektado rin sa pelikula ng buhay ng mga tao. Sanga-sangang prequel at sequel. Kumbaga, ang pelikula ng exis-
tence natin bilang mga tao ay parang ‘yung walang katapusang sequel ng Shake, Rattle and Roll, o kaya ‘yung theory kung paano nagsimula ang lahat sa Kalawakan: INDEFINITE. May simula at katapusan nga ba ang lahat? n. Nakakatakot, pero ang ganda.
mo naman, besh. Lahat nito naramdaman min habang naglalakad sa Quiapo. Sa gitnaan ng dami ng tao, ng mga gustong ulaan ang kapalaran mo, mga gustong agbentahan ka ng mani, mga gustong bentahan ka ng laman…. ng baboy, bigla a lang tatamaang parang bulalakaw. Siyet, at kami dito, mamamatay. Someday. One day.
E ‘di Anong sense ng pag-iingay? Ng polusyon? Ng nakaambang panganib? Ng pawis? Bakit pa tayo magtatagal dito at pagtitiisan ang ating godforsaken country kung lahat tayo ay magiging alikabok lang rin sa huli? Kung lahat tayo ay magiging particles na babalik lang rin sa aspalto at tatapakan ng future generations?
Kasi gusto nating maging masaya. Gusto nating maging significant particles pagbalik natin sa aspalto at tatapakan ng future generations. Iyon ang libreng life lesson na nakuha namin sa Quiapo. Na sa gitna ng lahat ng mga taong iniisip mo e nanakawan ka (mapanghusga kang nilalang, tsk), o manlilimos sa ‘yo, o overall e wala namang pakialam sa iyo kundi sa sari-sarili nilang buhay, pare-pareho kayong tao, parepareho kayong mamamatay, at sa ngayon, pare-pareho niyo lang gustong mabuhay. Nang masaya. Matapos naming maisip ‘yun, okay lang na mabangga kami ng mga nagtatakbuhang kabataan. Okay lang na mabingi kami sa busina ng mga humaharurot na kaskaserong jeep at sa mga sigaw ng nagtitinda ng dibidi. Okay lang na magpahula sa ale sa kanto, kahit na ‘di ka naman talaga naniniwala sa hula. Okay lang, seryoso. Kasi kami, alam na naming kailangan naming tulungan ang iba para kahit papa’no, maging masaya sila. Maging masaya, at hindi lang basta mabuhay.
ni M. Paiso at Rendcel Isip
and I’ll write you
ur political ideologies and beliefs~
listen between the lines by Max Rempillo
Listen. What do you hear? Radioactive Sago Project says, “may baboy na mayor, may baboy na Congressman, may baboy na pulis”. “Hangga’t marami ang lugmok sa kahirapan, at ang hustisya ay para lang sa mayaman, habang may tatsulok at sila ang nasa tuktok”, replies Bamboo. Do you hear their words Piercing through brainwashed minds And fake realities? Listen. Do you hear it? Their sharp comments And our call to action? Typecast is warning us, “As we kill the Earth with greed, we design our own demise. From the start our fate was sealed, now it’s time to pay the price”. Listen between the lines. Be guided by the truth. Listen between the lines. Through their music, we pass on how we feel. Through their music, we assemble and fight on, fight on for our nation.