Down time in San Jose

San Jose, GMA (General Mariano Alvarez), Cavite, is a small town near the City of San Pedro, set in a hilly landscape within sight of stunning mountains. It is the home of the members of Philippine indie band Playa: Athley Barba Glori, Joan Bonito, Polet Patawaran, Jerry Cajigal, and Zandro Sotto.

Playa: Athley, Joan, (me), Pol, Jerry, Zandro, (Alfie)

Built into a hill, the Patawaran family compound overlooks a stunning view. From the stone balcony outside Pol's room, you can see across a valleys of palm trees and roof tops, and in the distance, Mt. Makiling, inspiration of the legendary hero Jose Rizal, rises among clouds.

Well, the photos don't quite do it justice but the mountain is there.

It being the peak of summer, the weather was so stifling hot I found it sometimes hard to breathe. I will be eternally thankful to Pol - and to his daughter who kindly gave up her room so I could have a place to sleep - with a fan. And I am also eternally thankful to Pol's mother, an incredible woman, for making us feel so welcome!

Alfie and I with the Patawaran family, our kind hosts in San Jose.

That morning I wasn't clear on what our next plan of action was. We needed to practice with Playa to prepare for recording with them at Nolit's studio in Manila. But not everyone was available. And we needed to eat. And Alfie informed Joan and I that we were invited to be guests at a very special dinner that night. Dinner with none other than the members of Modern English, the definitive New Wave band of his generation. Whose concert I had opted out of. Ooops!

With all these things to do, the best plan of attack seemed to relax and enjoy the day and take it as it came. I'm not used to this concept of taking a rest day - but it was actually very enjoyable!

First: food. Off to market.  Live fish jumped on tables awaiting their fates as stoic ladies sold tomatoes and onions across the aisle. Deeper in was tofu and other veggies.

Out under the hot sun we stopped for fresh-out-of the fruit buko juice, shredded coconut meat included.

Back at home I tried buying coconut water in bottles at grocery stores in Canada but it's not the same - full of artificial sweeteners and preservatives - it's undrinkable. I'll wait until I return to the PH to buy it fresh.

We practiced a bit while our market finds were turned into an amazing feast, then enjoyed a last meal with the family. Then Alfie and I had to hurry home - to Pasay City. Seems like everywhere in the Philippines is now my home!

It was the week before the national elections, so candidate parades were happening everywhere. AND it was a special feast day so there were religious parades as well. Right in front of the Aznar family compound, a celebration was in full swing.

A candidate supporter poses as music blasts in a parade on Aurora Street.

Children dressed for Mary's feast day celebrations on Facundo Street.

One of many flowered structures for the feast day.

Off to dinner with Modern English, wending our way through traffic.

We had just enough time to clean up before heading out again. This time to share a meal with the members of another band...

to be continued....

Playing with Playa Inside D' Box: an unforgettable fire

Time won't wait for me so I just have to keep up as best I can. Still determined to finish recording my violin's most recent travels. Looks like I mistakenly added TWO versions of the same story - but that night out with friends at Barbara's in Intramuros, Manila, was doubly memorable!

What I really wanted to tell was the story about travelling to Cavite on May 4th to meet and rehearse with the members of Playa, a local indie band that agreed last minute to back Alfie of Half Life Half Death for a performance that same night at a special showcase of New Wave music.

Organized by Mavitch CL, bassist for indie New Wave band Skeleton Years, this interesting little event was billed as Back to the Edge (Southbound Excursion 2): Dawn Chorus at Inside D' Box (IDB Bar/Studio) in Sucat, Paranaque City just south of Metro Manila.

Bands on the playbill included solo electronica artist Names are for Tombstones (Depeche Mode-like deep velvet voice and a Mac Book), hipsters The Sleepyheads (drum-banging antics by a creative lead singer), epic grungers The Youth (Orange & Lemons / Camerawalls / Clementine producer Robert Javier riffing phenomenally on bass), Morrissey-lovers Pinstriped Rebels, and fine rockers Tey's Revenge.

Capping the evening was Alfie Mella of Half Life Half Death with Playa. Oh and that Canadian fiddler girl standing in the corner with Jyel Tagbo, singer of punk-metal band Sensitivo guesting on guitar.

But first, how did we get there? By taxi, van, tricycle, and another van. I left Tonet's on Saturday morning with all my stuff since I was supposed to move to Alfie's in-laws' place from then on. I left my suitcase at Ramil and Lovelle's place in Pasay (my home-base during last year's visit) and Alf and I caught a cab on Pasay Road (Arnaiz Ave) to Alabang Mall for a flat rate that Alfie negotiated - I did not know you could do that! Good to know.

Playa's singer Joan met us at the Mall and guided us by public van to the town where the band members all lived: San Jose, built on hilly landscape, with some of the houses facing onto beautiful vistas with mountains in the distance.

A shrine to Mary in Alabang shopping mall - you NEVER see that in Canada!

Getting right down to business: Pol & Zandro jamming with Alfie on Pol's balcony.

We ate (yay coffee - Thanks, Pol!) and jammed a bit at Pol's family compound, then went to Athley's rehearsal studio for a proper practice with the whole crew.

The Whole Crew L-R: Athley Barba Glori, Joan Bonito, me, Polet Patawaran, Jerry Cajigal, Zandro Sotto, Alfie Mella

This ancient fellow sat there for a long time staring at....something.

Zandro laughing because he knows I'm trying to take a 'candid' shot.

Jerry's neon bass strings!

Then showers and fruit snacks at Athley's place before piling into the Playa-mobile (a van) and hitting the road for Sucot.

The only tree in San Jose that bears this sweet little fruit grows in Athley's family yard: Rambutan.

I have a reputation for not being able to go anywhere without bumping into someone I know. Manila is now no exception. The first person I saw when I walked into IDB was Achi from Nursery Rhymes who I met last year and am Facebook friends with. Then I had the pleasure of meeting - in person for the first time, another one-year fb friend, renowned indie rocker and Sensitivo frontman, Jyel Tagbo.

I am pleased to have met most of my facebook friends in person! It's just a matter of getting there...
Me, my well-traveled fiddle, and Jyel.

Alfie invited Achi to join us for our cover of Melt with You by Modern English (known as the 'National Anthem of New Wavers Worldwide'). Later an editor of a local indie music magazine was heard to pronounce our cover of that song the best he'd ever heard. Alfie will have to confirm the name of said editor.

Performing the 'best cover ever' of Modern English's "I Melt with You" with Playa, Achi and Jyel.

At the end of the night everyone who was left assembled for a family portrait - and indeed it felt like we were all family. It was a truly great experience to share an epic night of music with all those talented people. 

Family portrait - swiped from Jyel's photos.

As I told Mavitch after the show, I completely enjoyed listening to every single band on the roster - each group was made up of very talented musicians. And the experience was doubly enhanced by the venue's crystal clear sound system - this is quite rare to find. Though it was set too loud most of the night, it was not distorted - the acoustics and sound system were very good.

Next...down time in San Jose.