Flow is to "issue or move in a stream; circulate, rise, abound; proceed smoothly and readily; to deform under stress without cracking or rupturing," according to Mr. Webster. But flow is more than just a simple word in the dictionary.
Flow is the future of Pinoy partying here. What started as an organized get-together among Filipinos who share their addiction to house music has rapidly become an eagerly-awaited affair.
Although he loved spinning in what was then one of the hottest spots in town, Mars DJ George Garcia had to leave for greener pastures in 1994; thus putting aside the pursuit of playing music behind the deck. To seek a better and more stable future was at the top of his priorities but music was a close second.
After getting himself established in LA-LA-land working in the operations department of Warner Brothers, producer of the hit comedy series Friends, sci-fi flick Matrix and successful adaptation of Harry Potter, among others, Garcia decided that it was time to resurrect his turntables.
In December 2002, at the prodding of his friends, he conceptualized, produced and promoted an event wherein he could play music again. Little did he know that by satisfying his own craving to spin, he was also addressing the Filipino community’s appetite for parties.
"There are so many Filipinos here in LA. Whether they just got here or they’ve already been here for years, they like to be with other Filipinos. There’s a certain degree of connection," says Bombet Ignacio, a businessman who realized the demand and decided to invest in his good friend’s venture.
Flow debuted in Calibar, Beverly Hills and hit a capacity-crowd of 300. It was more than what Garcia and his friends estimated. The e-mail invites and flyers really went a long way. Plus, of course, the surefire means of promotion, and the most reliable among Filipinos – word of mouth.
"It was a successful night of house music," recalls Garcia. He had also invited DJ Richard Ramos, a fellow Pinoy DJ, to alternate with him on deck.
A tradition was born. Right away, there was clamor for an encore. And only six months later, the group gave in. In June 2003, the event made its way back to Beverly Hills. Summer Flow hit the boiling point with fun-loving Filipinos throughout the West Coast who marked the date on their calendars and flew in for the event. Word always gets around. This time, Calibar hit an over-capacity-crowd, attracting the attention of LA fire marshals who gave orders to end the party 20 minutes before curfew.
The most significant difference (and most lamentable) between Manila nightlife and the California party scene is the 2 a.m. state-mandated curfew. Beyond the hour despised by party-goers here, establishments stop serving booze. Can you visualize dancing to your heart’s content with only OJ (orange juice) as your partner? Can you imagine torturing your feet on the dance floor with no other consolation but Absolute water?
That’s why over here, parties start early. Places get packed between 10:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and are already swinging by midnight … because party-goers know they only have until two. Ticktock, ticktock …
The Flow may have been disrupted; but it couldn’t have been blocked.
The next six months were spent searching for a bigger home for the growing audience of Flow. And the group found it on Sunset.
"Sunset is the Makati of LA," observes Garcia.
The building where Club Lingerie now stands was the home of The Red Velvet, a club from the ‘60s to ‘70s. It became known as Elvis Presley’s favorite club where he was seen weekly in his reserved booth. A who’s who of talent has graced the stage of The Lingerie including Gin Blossoms, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jane’s Addiction, Rikki Lee Jones, Nirvana, Primus and many others. The original Club Lingerie was the hottest rock club in Los Angeles in the ‘80s and early ‘90s. Now Garcia wants it to be the new home of the Flow parties.
Last month, Flow sizzled in the winter. Over 600 people came. The crowd, made up mostly of Filipinos, had fun from the usual dancing, drinking, and hanging out with friends. But the most popular pickup line was: "I didn’t know you were here in the States. When did you move?"
Familiar faces littered the venue. For a long time you kept seeing them in some of Manila’s hotspots. You may have even shared a cocktail or two. You may have bumped into them on the dance floor, too. All of a sudden they’re gone and you wonder where they went? Most of them were at the Flow party.
Actor Epi Quizon who was visiting at the time, and actress Giselle Toengi and musician Paco Arespacochaga who have relocated here for good, came out to "celebrate house music – partying, the Pinoy way," says Ace Hain, the logistics pointman.
After just the third serving, Flow is now surging with more ambitious projects. There are plans to stage the event in San Francisco before the year ends. Back here in the Southlands, people can expect four to six servings of Flow per year, at least one for each of the seasons – winter, spring, summer and fall.