Far From Neutral Notions - Philippine politics, culture and stuff

Halfway through “Akap”, I hear a click, and a whirr. My first roll of film just ran out — I only had 24 exposures on that one. Biting on my cigarette and trying not to fall, I reloaded as fast as I could — not easy considering the sheer number of people jostling me — and I was able to set up just in time for “Taralets”. I just lost myself, merrily taking shot after shot. With the possible exception of Barbie Almalbis, is there a cuter band chick than Imago’s Aia de Leon? Nanggigil ako, sobra.

Anyway, the reason I posted this here instead of my guitar blog — no, I did not forget my password there — is because the organizers are politicians in Malabon and Navotas. Of course, they go on and on about how they’re kontra-trapo, hoping that nobody realizes they’re as trapo as their political rivals.

We (FMD) were set to play there, too, along with our good buddies The Chongkees. I didn’t know it was sponsored by someone running for the May polls, and I certainly was not supporting any candidate there: I didn’t know a thing about them! What got my goat was that they kept saying that the bands and artists were solidly behind them and their cause — and when I approached the guy shouting the most, he couldn’t give a straight answer as to what makes them different from their opposition — kinda like most of the Genuine Opposition, come to think of it.

What’s really ridiculous was the organizer’s apparent stand against trapo politics, while using trapo tricks themselves: it’s a common scene every election, politicians substituting content with entertainment and dumbing down an already apathetic electorate. Something about the whole thing just left a really bad taste in my mouth.

But at least I got pictures of Aia

Full sets are available at my Flickr page.

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