So long, Handuraw!

Handuraw Events Café takes a bow!

The management of Handuraw Events Café, in a press statement, bids "goodbye, till we meet again" to all of the people who have made the "artists haven" a part of their lives. To those people who come to Handuraw, who are in a way an artist; to those who make music, and some who don't but who appreciate local music and culture.

It's been close to three years when Handuraw in Mabolo first opened its doors with a mind to provide its patrons with good food (pizza!), great company and a homey ambiance. "It was not long before another service was conceived of and acted upon - to support the local band scene," says Zarah Smith, ambient chill musician and owner of Handuraw.

After establishing itself as a significant venue for gigs and album launchings by independent Bisdak musicmakers and indie filmmakers, Handuraw has tried its best to serve its patrons well, and for the most part, it has enjoyed and reciprocated the support of Cebu's up-and-coming artists from all genres, as well as its well-established ones.

Handuraw (Sugbuano for "the power to imagine") served as jump-off point to the realization of a dream - to be heard, and noticed and seen for that "loud and proud sound of the Great South".

"But, it is with great regret that the time has come for us to say goodbye to our patrons and friends as we have decided to close operations in Mabolo as an events café," Zarah expressed.

It was learned from the Smiths that discussions to close operations in Mabolo were triggered last January, of this year when they were informed by Aboitizland, the owner of the Coaco Building of their plans for a commercial high-rise development and that by June 30, all occupants should have vacated the building.

The management of Handuraw searched far and wide, but has not been able to find alternative venues that would meet the primary requirements of an events café - suitable space with reasonable rent and accessibility. There were also financial matters to consider as operating a venue like Handuraw requires high financial costs, Zarah pointed out.

Handuraw would have wanted to close "noisily", so to speak and had planned a month-long series of events of various types and genres; featuring the many bands that have made Handuraw their haven. With this series of events, Handuraw wanted to say grateful thanks to loyal and hardworking supporters in the local band scene as well as members of media. "We wanted to exit as gracefully as we came in," Zarah said.

However, tragedy struck in the early hours of Monday, May 21, and made the management abruptly cancel all scheduled events and close doors earlier than planned. Two unidentified assailants broke into Handuraw as staff were closing down the venue and singled out one of their part-time servers with multiple gunshots. There are no suspects yet, nor was the real motive of the killing established. Or why the server, 21-year-old Amador "Undo" Tabada, a recent college graduate and devoted brother and son, was targeted. The police are still investigating, it was learned.

"Handuraw is greatly saddened by this senseless travesty of life and condole with the victim's family and friends. It is with this feeling of sadness and disquiet that we have to close earlier than May 31," Zarah said.

Handuraw would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been with them these past years - almost three years! It closes its doors with happy memories and a strong sense of pride and fulfillment that it has, on its own way, helped advance to a certain level of vibrancy the local band scene in Cebu.

"We trust that there will be other venues after us who will take on the cause of promoting Visayan talent and music, and we wish them all the best," the statement read.

However, Handuraw Lahug (along Gorordo Avenue) will continue to operate alongside 460 Gaming and Internet Café. There are also plans for Handuraw to open additional pizza outlets in the near future.