Public Service For Now: The Wrath of Typhoon Ketsana/Ondoy (and more to come?!) PLUS Benefit Gig Tonight For The Victims Of Typhoon Ondoy At Ten02 Bar

Indulgence please. Public service first before the playlists and gig updates. I have written about the havoc wrecked by Typhoon Ketsana/Ondoy and the means for you guys to help in my other blog and I am reprinting it here.

PUBLIC SERVICE: A TYPHOON NAMED KETSANA/ONDOY (and many more typhoons to come?!)

Ketsana (PAGASA name: Ondoy) : the proper name for the typhoon that left Metro Manila (National Capital region, Republic of the Philippines) and its surrounding areas practically underwater, creating what is now said to be the worst flood to have hit Manila in 50 years.


The winds started rushing in late in the morning of Saturday, September 26, and soon after the rains were pouring in. Perhaps I underestimated this outburst of Mother Nature, because I was still bent on walking from my house to Powerplant Mall to get some groceries.

Many hours later, I found out that I was one lucky lucky bastard.



Lucky because, I live in a high place and my area was one of the very few parts of the metro which was not hit by floods: all I had to deal with along the way that fateful Saturday was numerous puddles and temporarily lost cable and connection services. SMS were coming in from friends, mainly checking on one another's safety, and then reality gripped me. More than 80% of Metro Manila was flooded, leaving 246 people dead (as of the latest count) and many more homeless, without electricity, food, and water,



This is just an example of how the typhoon has affected the lives of even the people I know. Fortunately for my friend Jan, the floods receded and her family was alright. (You can read about her own account here and see some other photos courtesy of Maren Mae here.) As of this time, there are still people left stranded on the rooftops and in buildings, and as such boats and divers' services were being solicited. Many homeless families in Marikina, one of the places hardest hit by the storm, are cramped in classrooms, babies still covered with mud, and many with wounds. There is no electricity nor water for the most part of the area. It is likely indeed that an epidemic will break soon.

It also does not help to know that another typhoon is about to come in on Thursday, tomorrow .... (yep, Parma is not just another name for ham nor the Italian city anymore :( )

It is disheartening, to say to the least. TIME asks succinctly, why wasn't Manila prepared? Indeed, when disasters like this hit our city, we often find ourselves huddled, fending for ourselves, helping one another, cursing tragedy and thanking the heavens at the same time ... and the government, until 3 to 4 days later, was hardly in sight...and that's another (bad) story.

Eventually it is just about us, and the people who care, the people we care for, and the people who need our care.

There are many ways to help, and a list can be found here. A good friend forwarded me this link which will take you to a spreadsheet containing a good number of places where goods and monetary help can be donated. This is sufficient information for the moment. Do take time in going over the list, that alone can give you many ideas on how to help out. No one should pressure you to give beyond your means, for no effort is too small nor insignificant, as long as it comes from the heart. Another very useful link here on ML Quezon III's blogsite. Check it out.

[I will be going back to my usual self-indulgent posts next time when it is more appropriate. *grins* See you later, friends.]

I am aware that most of our musicians may have suffered the same fate, getting affected by floods at various degrees. I hereby am opening this particular post for comments, fora, and suggestions on how and where and who will need help in the community. Also please check out the chatbox. To those hard hit by the floods (Albert of TBOD, Nomer of Shuffle Union, etc), is it possible to get updates about their present situation?

In the light of this tragedy, a benefit gig will be held tonight at Ten02 Bar at Timog Avenue, Quezon City...if you have time to spare, please check it out. Juan Pablo Dream will be playing, as well as Alak Pa, Skarlett of course, probably Pink Cow, and 2 more bands that escape me at the moment.

And for the friggin' powers that be, did you have Dead Kennedys' "Kill The Poor" in mind when millions of people in Manila and the surrounding areas were being hit by the storm?!

!!!!!

[playing right now: Dead Kennedys' Kill The Poor]

T.S.A. Fest This Weekend!

Our Pinoy hardcore friends from Singapore will be playing on Friday, September 18, at the Leprechaun Bar and on Saturday, September 19, at Ten02 bar. This is a rare chance for you guys to see Bimboi, Pedro, and Ojie play together in Manila because, for you to see T.S.A. play, you have to be living or flying over to Singapore, where the boys are currently based.

We here at Trash Radio Manila have always raved at how T.S.A. play, for a good reason. These guys are fast and fierce, yet melodic at the same time. Just to let you know what to expect this weekend, do listen to these tracks off their Break The Silence album.

1. Abusive Authorities - T.S.A.
2. Lie To You - T.S.A.
3. Wala Nang Mura - T.S.A.

Want more? Here's a video clip from YouTube showing T.S.A. captured live at The Guiness Theatre in Singapore. Really steady playing there. T.S.A. will be supported by equally able and larger-than-life bands such as Throw. (Check out the posters.) See you guys at the gigs this weekend.

The Bing Austria Show on a Very Very Wet September Night

The rains had been pouring in torrents the whole day yesterday, which was such a bummer because, really, non-stop rains can put anyone's spirits down the gutter. Especially so perhaps when you live, or have to report to work in one of those places notorious for flooding up at the slightest downpour. España, the location of Sazi's Bar and the current home of The Bing Austria Show, is one of these places.

Thus, it was quite a miracle that the affair was still decently attended. Not jam-packed, it's more like being in a dingy (pardon the term, it was the first term that came to mind when I entered Sazi's last night - their aircon was out of order!) jazz bar with a sizeable crowd of regulars on a weeknight. Except that the music playing on the stage was a combination of ska, rockabilly, hiphop, mod, and punk.

Unfortunately I missed the performances of Bembol Rockers (wow, labo, how could I have possibly missed these guys?) and AMPON (wow, ang labo talaga, isa ko pang na-miss). Also missed Coffinride, which I was told gave a solid performance. Some bands did not show up: Gut Reaction, Tango Bitoy, Steady Movin' Beat, Skies Of Ember. Pity.

Neighbors did perform (haven't seen these lads for so long, though I expected the line-up changes), as well as The GoSignals, who at present have been regularly including their original, "ELISA", in their set. Also saw Life Without Francis (with the Umble Uno horny guys), Earthlings, and Pusakals. Ojie of TSA (occasionally donning the "Pharaoh" look), was likewise present.

Some photos here. [In order: Pusakals, Neighbors, Earthlings, The GoSignals, Life Without Francis]

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Coming Up!

The boys of T.S.A. are playing this weekend: Friday at the Leprechaun Bar, Saturday at Ten02. Something to look forward to. Watch out for updates. have a good week ahead, and don't let the rains get you down.

Ever Wondered What Happened At The Bicolandia Skannection?

Last August 29, Manila contingencies Shuffle Union and Steady Movin' Beat skanked with the rest of the Bicol ska community in a gig titled Bicolandia Skannection. I was not there, apparently, but have scored an account from SU vocalist Jan Bautista, who happily obliged (I hope so, for I am never known to be coercive, hahaha!) and provided me with this post and matching photos. Thank you Jan.

Tales From the Tagalog South
by Jan Bautista


Legazpi City in Albay is not known for its ska scene, not yet anyway.

However, the collective efforts of the organizers who oversaw the Bicolandia Skannection gig last August 29, along with the bands and attendees who participated that night certainly made one thing clear that night- that their scene is a force to reckon with. Although we already knew that there was a collective of bands and folks from the Tagalog south who were into the music, we didn’t realize it was that huge and vibrant--with skinheads, rudeboys, and rudegirls coming from as far north as Daet and Naga as well as from neighboring provinces like CamSur, Daraga, Guinobatan, and many others. I am not even talking about those who came from Legazpi City itself.

Although there was a huge commercial gig held in the city square that same night, over 200 good souls easily packed the venue, Bar 101, which occupied the top floor of the historic Bichara Silver Screen. By, the way, there was free wifi in the venue so were able to broadcast the event via our trusty webcam.


(Above photo: Payirl of Stolen Shots)

First to perform was the punk-oriented Punk O’ Die and Damaged Sidewalk, followed by the reggae vibe of Muchas Grasas. Afterwards, it was an all-ska show with Skamalig and Stolen Shots showing their Manila counterparts how things are done down south. The latter band even had a Prince Buster sound-alike for a vocalist. At this time, this writer gleefully joined the ruckus in front of the stage—their energy is just infectious!


Up next were SMB and Shuffle Union who delivered song after song after song. Playing tracks from the Invincible Live! Album, we were all too happy to realize they did like the songs. Toward the end of the set, the entire horns section of Stolen Shots joined us for a few songs and by that time, random people were going up the stage and grabbing our microphones, singing joyously along and just having a good time (I think Eftri of Mudflow was slinging an open umbrella round about this time :D).


(Above photo: Kaloy de Menudo and Dennis of SMB)

Rather than a special gig for visiting Manila-based bands Shuffle Union and SteadyMovinbeat (Life Without Francis and Exsenadors weren’t able to attend due to some unavoidable circumstances, we were told), it was more of a showcase of what their scene was all about. Aside from enjoying the performances of the Bicol-based bands that night, what we also enjoyed was the scene itself—they were all sharply dressed, behaved well, and seemed to enjoy the whole thing up to the wee hours of the morning.


To all those we have met, the Legazpi organizers-Ben, Les, and crew-and all those who showed up and supported their scene-our hats are off to you! We will definitely be back!

More photos here courtesy of Jan.