What I’m optimistic about
In the 2007 book, What Are You Optimistic About?, the aforementioned question was posed to the world’s leading thinkers (i.e. scientists, journalists, Brian Eno…) and their answers — ranging from the future of string theory, techno-optimism, the shifting of benefit and cost, neuroscience, mathematics education and the final debunking of all religion — are fascinating, intriguing to say the least. Of course, given the qualifications of each respondent asked by John Brockman’s “Third Culture” website Edge, we were not asked to participate.
But that doesn’t leave us glum in the least. Why, just to show them intellectual snobs, we’re going to be optimistic anyway and use this corner to enlighten everyone else about what we’re optimistic about. And damn plentiful they are, too. Everything from the therapeutic benefits of listening to music that may be too loud, reading way into the night in low light and some movies that made us giggle.
The cynical among you might make the charge that we’re merely cobbling together stuff that we haven’t been able to write too much at length about. Nonsense! That very attitude is the kind of negative attitudes that bedevil our world today. It just makes you want to subscribe to those amulets Ramon Revilla brandished in the most loved films of his oeuvre. Or perhaps listen to Sigur Ros? Well, we haven’t become that disillusioned about the rest of humanity just yet. As proven below, there really are still loads to look forward to.
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For some reason, I’ve come to the conclusion that as we grow older, the noisier I like my tunes. There was a time when those older thumbed at the music of those younger, descrying it as an “awful racket” or question if it was actually music at all. Some would even go as far as to put it down to a phase, concluding with the alarming insinuation that we’d be listening to Engelbert Humperdink soon enough. No!
These days my iTunes is as rowdier than ever. Maybe this is due that the only music that seems to stimulate me during work is death metal — the more brutal the better. And since I work all the time, or think about it most of my waking hours, it’s something I can’t help feel anything but uplifted about. Believe me, listening to Carcass is better for the soul than chill-out or that Loss Of Control is way more fun than 6 Cycle Mind. Why? Because the latter is produced to make you consume it without question, to put you to sleep. Even at its most base level, metal always produces a reaction; jolt you out of your slumber.
Perhaps that’s why the fact that two nice Catholic school-educated girls putting up something like Princess Batugan to push and promote the “devil’s music” makes my heart flutter with gladness. The two culprits, Aimee and Gabbie, don’t sport tails or pitchforks; instead they boast discriminating tastes and the balls to declare it.
Among others, they’ve handled and promoted groups like Monkeyspank, Severo, Reklamo, TOI, Sultans of Snap, Matilda, Shotgun Lola, Black Tooth Grin, El Mercurio, INKK, Glorious Masai Mara and Salamin as well done gigs with established acts such as Pupil, Razorback, Kapatid, Greyhoundz, Queso, Sponge Cola, Valley of Chrome, Up Dharma Down in various live music establishments like Saguijo Café and Bar, Big Sky Mind, Mag:net Café and the new Club Dredd.
According to the two, they were “inspired by a common love for music with a predilection for the heavier or more intense side of all music genres,” and “to do away with the misconception that ‘crab mentality’ is an inherent Filipino trait” by promoting the “wealth of original musical talent the Philippines has to offer.”
Well said.
On March 14, Princess Batugan will be holding “Maximo Libido: A Reunion Gif” at Saguijo featuring bands like Monkeyspank, Salamin and Reklamo to name a few. Brought to you by Odysseylive and Rogue Magazine, it starts at 9:30 p.m. Entrance is P150. In the words of one of them (can’t remember who actually): “Kemonndown!”
To be continued
