(Photo by Bernice de Leon: Waterboarding in Lago de Oro in Calatagan, Batangas — 2-3 hour drive from Manila)
Water sport parks, in close proximity to urban centers, have proven to be a big hit among young urbanites and families who want to cool off from the heat, and stress of the city. But the man-made lakes and their extreme sport amenities have not only brought in ordinary visitors, but also top wakeboarders from around the world.
(Photo by Denise Tolentino)
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. As I follow the teacher’s voice, there’s a sense of calmness as I become more aware of my breathing. What started out as mere curiosity has now become weekly practice. Read More
(via skateofthenation)
Because of the boom in surfing and wakeboarding in the country, and because most surf spots require long hours on the road, others have sought alternatives to their restlessness. Instead of just waiting for the weekend to draw near before hitting surf spots like La Union or Zambales, or to Lago, Batangas for wakeboarding, there is always the option of Manila’s streets for some longboarding or skating with the use of longboards. Read More
Exercise will never be the same again. Nintendo’s newest exercise video game, “Wii Fit” is an amazing creation with its selection of yoga, strength training, aerobics, and balance games.
(Photo by Nicky Sering)
Having discovered surf schools in the provinces of La Union and Zambales, a six-hour drive from the city, a multitude of young urbanites started flocking there to try to catch some of their perfect waves. A few years back, a handful of foreigners (lugging their own boards) and locals (with their borrowed boards or boards bought outside of the country) were already riding those very same waves. Then, more resorts and surf schools were sprouting up here and there. Eventually, hordes of friends of friends of friends took that long ride for a weekend trip. Today, it’s grown into this massive craze, especially for city dwellers. There are enough students to fill every inch of space in the water. Read More
Late last year, I remember a friend of mine inviting me to watch a friend of a friend’s show at Greenhill Theater. It was in fact a pole-dancing show. But no strippers were here from the red light district. They were students, housewives and corporate women. Okay, now didn’t they almost ban Demi Moore’s movie, Strip Tease, because of the whole pole-dancing thing? Read More
We’ve pretty much heard about Mag:Net Cafe, saGuijo, Route 196 (new!), Penguin Cafe Malate, and 6underground. Of course this venue is not entirely new on the scene. It has been aggressively promoting up and coming local bands in 2004 (at their former venue in Makati City), and continues to do so in their new location at Pasig City (right beside Makati City). Read More
Musicians who play under the banner of Pinoy Soul can be found and heard on Odyssey Live. Odyssey Live (Beta) showcases original Filipino/Pinoy music (OPM). This is where you can discover new bands and download MP3s (a feature coming soon). Read More
It’s a badge of pride and a declaration of support for the kind of music bands produce. And it’s also cool and fashionable merchandise that will help promote the musicians. For independent musicians, they usually sell their CDs and other merchandise at their venue gigs. Read More
Just looking at the poster announcing the album launch of UpDharmaDown, you can see that the independent band is clearly poised to hit it big with sponsorships and support from Adidas, Team Manila (local graphic design studio), radio stations: NU.107 (for independent and rock bands) and 88.3, local music video channels: MTV Philippines and MYX, and PhilMusic.com (the leading website for the local music scene). Read More
Television commercials work well if the soundtracks fit with the visuals, branding, and target audience (young, hip, and creative). Definitely. And behind the soundtracks are one of the most popular bands emerging from the independent scene. Read More
(via Mag:Net Boni Multiply)
Bands have to thank the people who pour into their gigs, sometimes to the point where there’s no breathing room in the cafes and bars. The venues that are considered hot spots for these events are Mag:Net Cafe in Katipunan on Bonifacio High Street, SaGuijo in Makati, Route 196 in Katipunan, 6underground in Ortigas, and Penguin Cafe in Malate, Manila. Read More
Electronica as a genre was coined in the early 1990s in Europe and the United States. The term is used to encompass a wide range of musical styles and fusions such as trip hop, down tempo, and ambient. Musical instruments used are synthesizers, sequencers, keyboard samplers, and drum machines. Influences often cited are British bands Portishead and Zero 7. Read More
For a community and scene that is just growing and really strengthening as a network, often times venues are scarce. But GreenPapaya Art Projects, an art space run by artist, Peewee Roldan, and contemporary dancer, Donna Miranda, has been supportive and dedicated to the experimental music and art scene. This also applies to Mag:net Galleries, which has venues in 3 cities in Metro Manila. Read More
