20 years of passion
THE year 2014 marks a new era in the local independent music scene in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga as we pay tribute to twenty years of passion. Passion is such a big word that it is difficult to live up to it and keep it alive, whether in work, life, or relationships. For this I salute the boys and girls of the Pampanga Notorious Scene for keeping it passionate and keeping it real for 20 years.
A lot has changed in the past two decades. We have all grown up while some of us have grown old. Some of us have finished school, taken jobs, got fired and built new ventures from scratch. Some of us have gotten married, raised kids, separated, and made new beginnings. Some of us have shifted from ham radio, beepers, mobile phones to phablets. Some of us have grown thinner or bigger through the years. Some of us left the scene temporarily but now found ourselves coming back. New blood pours in to blend with the old. Still, it is passion that fuels our collective love for the scene.
As a personal project and a contribution to the local scene, I have come up with my very own fanzine entitled Notorious Zine which will be out on May 24. In as much as this zine is a homage to the heritage of the underground in Pampanga, it is also about a new start. On a personal note, I have taken a hiatus from my involvement in the scene for about two to three years since the last Pyestang Tugak and Earth Day Jam which I organized for the City and since I got married and had a baby. But I’m thankful for this new opportunity to breathe and do something that I really love without being harshly judged and without having to explain myself. You can take the girl out of the scene but you cannot take the scene out of the girl.
I’m also quite excited that our first ever radio program EKSENA LOKAL is now on air starting May 23, 2014. The radio program is aired every Friday at 7-8 pm on Bright FM 91.9. It is a trailblazing project in the region since it is very seldom that independently produced records and cds are given airtime in our country. It’s like everything falls into place at the right moments, as long as you give your best always and have faith. Let’s take chances while we can. We wouldn’t really know unless we try. There are times when passion seems to overtake reason for reasons yet unseen, but as the Little Prince says, “It is with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the naked eye.” If I may add, the most important things are the ones you don’t really see on Facebook.
My endless gratitude goes to the people behind the Eksena Lokal radio project: Tito Benny Guinto, DJ Casper (Oji Salamat), DJ Yay (Gerald Marcelo), DJ Bruno Marvz (Marvin Zapata), DJ Toie (Joselito Lustre), DJ Istukas (Francis Jordann David), our researcher Dags Lingat and Technical Director Rog Mangio, Kuya Marly for the gang shouts, and the management and staff of Bright FM 91.9 for letting voices from the underground be heard.
As I embark on these new side projects for the local scene, my sincerest appreciation goes out to my friends and sisters especially Relia Munoz Ong and Michelle Aguilar Ong for putting up with me and my craziness, all the free rides and coffee dates. Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Honey, thanks for the unconditional love and understanding.
I am also helping organize a Mindanao Tour for some Kapampangan bands namely Monthly Red, Holy Cow and Istukas over Disneyland on March 2015 in Cotabato, Davao, Gen. Santos, Tacurong, and Polomolok. This is one way of sharing our passion for music.
To the boys and girls of the local scene, congratulations on your 20th year! Here’s to 20 more years of passion. Let us continue to support our local scene, all the way!