The warmth of Agipo brings 'Sikwati' to a boil

The thick, hot chocolate drink "sikwati" from the unadulterated "cacao tabliza" pours out of the musical works of "Agipo", after a vigorous stir with the "batirol" to achieve consistency, from a clay jug that stands for the brown man's life of simplicity flavored by a chocolate-y richness. This is the subject tackled by "Agipo", another very interesting name in a pack of over 40 Bisrock bands here.

In the vernacular, agipo stands for the ember at the tip of the firewood, which the band used as a metaphor for the warmth, the spark, the light, and the glow they would want to provide through their songs.

Agipo also mentioned that the term has had a spiritual significance in the town of Carmen. According to folk tales, an agipo was found to be oddly floating on the seawaters of Carmen. When fishermen took the agipo to shore, it reportedly transformed into the image of the Señor Sto. Niño, the very reason Carmen came up first with the dance-ritual "sinulog" in honor of the child.

Though nobody from the group is from Carmen, they sported the name in homage to the Holy Child for that miraculous transformation of a glowing coal into the icon that is revered today.

Another interesting info is that sikwati is used as an idiomatic expression to mean "got burned" or "got melted by a situation", most probably because while it is not actually giving off much steam on the surface, the temperature lies beneath. So that just when you think it is hot enough to sip, it actually burns like ember. This quality speaks so much of Agipo, with less of its surface steam in the Bisrock scene, but with a boil deep within as it offers heat in the upholding of a culture of poetry here.

Jorge "Bisoy" Tapales (vocalist and composer, AB Mass Communications graduate, Cebu Normal University), Algin John Tirol (lead guitar, Computer Science student of the University of Cebu-Banilad campus), Dennis Raphael "Raphy" Moga (drums, Electronics and Communications Engineering student at UC), Ronnie Bayabos (bass, Electrical Engineering graduate, University of the Visayas) and Joje Cleofas (rhythm, BS Information Management graduate of UC) converged from actually totally different zones and with Red Hot Chili Pepper, punk ska, emo (Chemical Romance), Slipknot and Metallica as musical influences, they have come to propagate the culture of poetry of the Bisdaks using the Bisrock genre.

Unlike other bands that started out making music as barkadas (peers), or neighbors, or college classmates, Bisoy and Ronnie had to deal with the call of the times to work with new members. They too were once total strangers who came to play together after leaving their bands "Igan" and "First Friday", respectively. The two had to announce over 93.1 Smash FM their need for a guitarist and a drummer. In fact, Joje just hopped in as the newest member the moment I conducted this interview.

Ronnie and Raphy see this as an opportunity to test the level of their musicality and scale of their tolerance. "Mas maayo nu-on nga total stranger sa mi kay anha namo makita kon magka-wavelength ba gyud mi when it comes to making music. Anha diha makita kon magka-jam ba gyud mi nga dili gud mi parehas sa uban nga magkabarkada, in the essence of the word."

For lyrics, I would want to recommend the works of Bisoy. In fact, he is only one of a handful I had recognized to have a knack for beautiful Sugbuano lyrics that speak so much of the enlivening culture of poetry here. The other one was Bernard Fario of "Ossified!" which I had written a feature story four Thursdays back.

Bisoy brings the richness of the Bisdak vocab in his "Mutya": Kung ang mobabag sa atong relasyon/bukid, akong katkaton/pastilan ning gugmaha/ikaw mutya akong pag-asa/ang kagahapon nga nagkagidlay/sa huyohoy sa hangin mitalidhay/apan padayong nakigbisog/naglaom nga sa gugma mabusog.

Of course the Bisrock community here has already doffed hats to "Sikwati" - a track that has both gustatory and auditory appeal. "Sayo sa kadlawon si Lolo nibangon/namukaw ni Lola kay siya magpatimpla/sikwati iyang giingon/kay lami kuno higopon/tiyan init na, humot pa gyud ang ginhawa. And though delivered in the double-meaning fashion, I appreciate Sikwati for its call to uphold culinary arts and culture shared by Pinoys.

In the Visayas alone, Cebu shares a predilection with Dumaguete and Bohol for sikwati-drinking. While I was in Dumaguete to arrange for a climb to Mt. Talinis and while in Antequera, Bohol which is notable for its cacao groves, I had sips of sikwati that goes well with either budbod kabog or budbod pilit, or puto using either white or violet rice grains, matched with sliced ripe mangoes.

Agipo, later on in the song, mentioned that however good the sikwati is to the palate, it should not be taken excessively, as if saying a taste of the good things that life is offering should be taken in moderately. Or else, over-indulgence could put a halt to every good thing shaping before you.

Much as the group would want to veer away from novelty, they couldn't hide their admiration for the genius of Yoyoy Villame. "Di sad na lalim iyang gibuhat uy. Kalisud anang magbuhat ug kanta parehas sa iyaha kon wa kay utok ug igong experience," explains Joje.

To date, Agipo is working on the polishing of materials for their album of uncertain title yet, to be released by the last quarter of this year. Tracks would include "Batang Nangka" which is our Sugbuano way of saying "torpe": "Mao na ang batang nangka/magpilit na hinuon ang dila/sa mga chicks tulala/maypa ang latang kara-an/kay bisan basa sa uwan/moaringkil pa kon patiran."

Also, the album will include an acoustic version of the romantic plea "Pag-sure oy": Ambot unsa na ning kinabuhi-a/perming way swerte sa gugma/'yaw pala-uma ang dughan kong makalolooy/Inday, pag-sure oy."

Only four songs have had raw recordings. They are thankful that "Sikwati" has had a considerable number of requests and has been kept on the playlist every Tuesday and Thursday over the program "YourVoice, YourChoice Tingog Kabataan" at Smash FM.

Today Thursday, another composition entitled "Wish Ko Lang" will be submitted to the said program for screening. Bisoy hopes that, like Sikwati, the song will be able to get through the airwaves in a matter of two to three weeks. He said "Wish Ko Lang" takes off with "Narda" for an inspiration, for its creator, Kamikazee, is one of bands in the national musicmaking industry that he looks up to.

"Wish Ko Lang" like "Mutya" brings on the sentimental side of Agipo: "Kanindot sa kagabhi-on/kahayag sa bitoon/siga sa buwan, mogitik ning dughan/dughan nga kanimo nagbangutan/gugmang ti-unay unta matagamtaman/ingon ka, "I will love you tomorrow"/but what if tomorrow never comes?/I love you, isulti nako daan kanimo/if in case di nako kamata, nahibawo naka."

Further, Bisoy mentioned that he did draw inspiration from Pinoy alternative rock bands like Siakol, Eraserheads, Grin Department, and Rivermaya, among a host of OPM bands, when he wrote "Sikwati" and "Batang Nangka", aside from "Wish Ko Lang."

The band is thankful also to Vanz Recording with Vanz Aznar of another Bisrock band "Gangrene"; to DJ Ram and Bré Ambungan and all the Smashers for the requests; Ma'm Marit (Remonde, station manager of Smash), one they call MamiChaka who acts as their manager, and to the all-out support given by the KAPABIS clan. Catch their live interview over dyLA's "OkRyan" later this afternoon at 3-4PM.

Crank up their email box: [email protected]. For inquiries, call 4216315 and look for Ronnie and 09272245571 and look for Bisoy. Give them a check via [email protected] at myspace.com.