Private videoke at EMR

Koronadal City--My friend Debbie is going back to Cebu, in her work as a call girl, er, call center agent.

In usual Debbie fashion, she bid farewell by inviting us to a hush-hush night-out (and I'm blabbering about it). Six of us had quiet fun in a videoke room at EMR Center.

Inside the Chinese Red room. A giant bagua mirror adorns the ceiling.

Left to right: The Rolly, Ryan C., Debbie, Royal

I’m the official “killjoy.” The microphone never even brushed my fingers.

The price of VIP rooms at EMR starts at a thousand bucks for three hours, inclusive of food and drinks.

EMR has the best french fries I ever tasted. The place and my dorm have the same owner.

Mr. University 2007 belting out “Somewhere down the road”—and countless other songs.

We couldn’t stop him from singing. When our time was up, three waiters had to practically pry the mic from his hands and carry him to the door. (I'm exaggerating, of course.)

Left to right: Royal, Debbie, Ryan A., Mark Anthony

The loo

New Year in the streets of Koronadal

Playing tun-og, waiting for Mark Aethen

Ms Grace, her daughter, and the New Year crashers

KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO—I never thought being “homeless” could be so cool.

Two friends and I spent New Year ’s Eve loitering along Alunan Avenue, one of the busier streets here.

At about 11 pm, Royal and Mark Aethen suggested we dropped by Matchbox, a fast food stall just several meters away from the roundball. The place was no longer serving food, but Miss Grace, the affable owner, treated us to sumptuous servings of oyster valenciana, burger steak, and shrimp salad.

Before long, we were slowly having rounds of Red Horse (still on the house!) as Bob Marley crooned “No woman, no cry” in the karaoke and splendid fireworks illuminated the night sky.

Greeting the New year couldn’t be this languorously fun.

Royal and Mark forcibly took 2/3 of my three-piece tribal bracelet

Lemata's musical journey to the top

KORONADAL City, South Cotabato (December 20, 2007)—Everything evokes gloom and boredom. The stage backdrop is stark black. The lights change color repetitively that I can tell when it will turn red or green. The audience number less than two hundred.

Then Lemata, a five-member band, starts playing—and virtually turns the gymnasium of Notre Dame of Marbel University into a stadium jampacked with rockistas.

The group stands out in all aspects in this finals night of NDMU battle of the Bands. It bests four other finalists to earn the title “Band of the Year”.

Lemata has surely come a long way. Its members show much more confidence and verve compared to their performance last year, when they were proclaimed second runner-up.

They have the winning skills. But, for me, what makes the young musicians truly deserving of the top spot is their winning attitude.

When our organization, the Political Science Society, asked the fab five to play for a benefit concert last semester, they readily agreed (as did seven other bands). It was a proof of their humility and willingness to share their music.

Quick notes on the other contenders:

Martyr’s Brigade—young and a bit high-strung; remix of “My Heart will Go On” draws attention but band doesn’t display energy much

Wasting Moonshine—good compositions (all three they played are original); best line: “If I tell you that I love you would you really care?”

Know Your Mushrooms—good choice of songs but band falls a bit short in handiwork

Agoraphobia—crowd-pleaser (what else to expect when 4/5 are girls and they sing teenage songs); the band to watch out for; My dormmate Cheyserr is the vocalist. Way to go!

My Choice:

1. Lemata
2. Wasting Moonshine
3. Know Your Mushrooms
4. Agoraphobia
5. Martyr’s Brigade

The Judges’ Judgment:

1. Lemata
2. Wasting Moonshine
3. Agoraphobia
4. Know Your Mushrooms
5. Martyr’s Brigade

Note on the Contest: I prefer the format last year, when the bands had to perform two cover songs and an original composition. If we want our bands to be noticed in mainstream media, they must have their own trademarks.

(Pictured: Parakersrakers, 2006 Band of the Year. Some dormmates and I have gone out of the gym when the MC announces the group’s performing. So we rush back, listen from afar, and feel the night’s complete)