Scout

Laguna’s sturdy heavy punk/ hardcore scene

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Intimidati­ng, loud, and restless— that’s what Laguna hardcore is at and hardcore runs deep. It started as “tugtugang pangkalye” and found its home through the doors of local bars. Until now, it remains the beat that the province moshes to.

Since laying its foundation­s in the ’ 90s, Laguna hardcore has been a solid part of the province’s subcultura­l identity. “I can say have a tight hardcore scene, lots of dedicated individual­s contribute­d to put our place in the hardcore map,” the bassist of Laguna hardcore band

One of those dedicated individual­s is gig organizer and musician Harry Tiu. He has actively organized and participat­ed in the scene since 1994 in Pagsanjan.

Harry shares his theories about why hardcore has remained the sound of the province: “Noong nagsisimul­a pa ang mga grupo na nag- usbungan sa bawat bayan, may mga aktibistan­g pang- kultura na nakatago, para sa akin isa sila sa punks. May rebelyon ang tula at musika. ’ Yun ang esensya ng punks na kaisipan. Hindi siguro ito nanggaling sa Maynila ’tas sinalin sa Laguna. Para sa akin, malaki ang kinalaman ng pakiramdam para yakapin namin ang isang tunog at ang kaisipan nito.”

From its ’90s founding fathers like New Found Heritage to groups like Piledriver keeping the scene alive, Laguna hardcore isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Its relevance will live on as the scene’s sturdy support system continues.

“Nagpapatul­oy at patuloy pang magpapatul­oy ang eksena dahil sa nagkakasal­ubong na sahog ng mga musikero at ang mga sumusuport­a nito, why the scene in Laguna is still

Nagkakasal­ubong ’yung mga interest [ nila kaya nagpapatul­oy, nakakapags­alin ang nauna, at naaalalaya­n ang kasalukuya­n.”

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