When you think about it, all our problems are a bit bourgeois. When we fail, we do not die in the cold and of hunger. If we die young, it will most probably be because of the drink, all the fat, and whatever else is there in excess. Our failure will not be our extinction. We will just live our lives with the stench of a promise left unfulfilled and expectations never met.

So we labor not to feed ourselves, or keep our bodies clothed and sheltered. We hack our way through this life to define ourselves. We take risks, because the alternative, a defeated, embittered way of life, just sucks.

These can be scary times but I know you can do it. I believe in you. That's it. Sorry to have gone Oprah (or Paulo Coelho) on you.

At Outerhope's gig and album launch yesterday:

K: Listening to their music makes me want to run through a field.

M: Or swing from a branch of a tree.

K: Or blow soap bubbles.

M: Pinwheels! Fly a kite, or lie on the grass looking at cloud form bunnies!

K: Yes! Then they hump, multiply and suffocate us all.

M: Yes, Armageddon.

Or something like that. Still, how did we get from a dream pop band to an end-of-the-world scenario?

a day for the absent

I woke up this morning, before 5am, and I found pictures of you. I sometimes forget we have lives of our own, until I see pictures of you.

I remembered that, yesterday, while buying a gift for my dad, and books for myself, that I had also gotten Outerhope's second album, a day for the absent. Quite apt for the morning I'm having, and their music is helping me ease into the day.

And so I'll take this chance to say that Outerhope's launching this new album this weekend. Details here.

+++

Like I was saying, I was getting a gift for my dad yesterday. It was his birthday. My dad says that by May next year, he'll retire from the job he's had for over two decades. I seriously doubt that, but my wish for the man is that he'll find some time for rest and what whatever else this life has for him. So I decided to get him a book. Picking one out was a bit of a task.

I first considered stuff by Dumas or Chabon but thought he might find them frivolous or irrelevant. Then I thought about brainless fun like Tom Clancy or Dan Brown but decided that he might find them too pedestrian even for a former Reader's Digest fan. I considered non-fiction by Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens, but that's really more about me than it is about him. Finally I found Manila, a photography monograph by Ricky Davila. Which is perfect since it's about shared things: photography - my dad used to shoot, gave me my first camera, lent me his old lenses; and Manila, the city we both love.

+++

I woke up this morning, before 5am, and I found pictures of you. I sometimes forget we have lives of our own, until I see pictures of you. But to be honest, I'll be fine.

Last Saturday, I did make it to those two album launches. Right after the Us-2 Evil-0 set finished at Mag:Net, I ran over to Saguijo in time to catch the last opening act pack up their gear, right before Musical O's set. A set which I didn't finish by the way. I was dead tired. Ended up in Hap Chan with bad dim sum but great milk tea and chilled taho.

I'm so happy for Us-2 Evil-0. Half of the band are my friends and I am proud. I don't know the Musical O kids, but they should be proud too.

By the way, look at these awesome album art. Both album art were photographed and designed by the brilliant couple at Everywhere We Shoot. You can say all you want about the Philppines. Yeah, the country is a madhouse ran by madpersons. But we make music and art that kicks serious ass. I don't plan on being any where else (except, maybe Hong Kong or New York, and just for short periods of time).

debutantes

Two bands are launching their first albums this Saturday.

Musical O is launching their debut album at Saguio.


Us -2 Evil-0 is doing theirs at Mag:net High Street.


Do they really have the word, "debutante" on both their albums titles? Try and make it to both!