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M16 is back at your service bai! Iconic Cebuano reggae band Junior Kilat returns with the single release of ‘Missing Mr. Marley’ with their friends from the Selah Dub Warriors. The song is a new original version of a previously unreleased track ‘Missin’ Mr. Marley’ by folk musician and songwriter Colin Scot as a tribute to Bob Marley. After Bob Marley’s passing in 1981, Jens Peter Jensen and Finn produced the song and recorded it with Colin Scot at the Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen in 1982. The song was never publicly released and even though it was sold  to an American in Cannes circa 1983, the song remains unreleased. A copy of the master track was kept by Jensen. In 1984, Sue Chaloner through CNR in Holland released a cover that was produced by Barry Finch, arranged by Steel Pulse, Sue Chaloner and Brasil Gabidon. The cover single record was released in 6 countries and featured in numerous reggae compilations. From Jamaica to Copenhagen to Holland in a span of 4 decades, the song finally arrived in Cebu last 2023 when Christina Brandt Jensen, daughter of Jens Peter Jensen, approached Budoy Marabiles to collaborate and create a new original version of the track. Budoy shared that while this new song uses Colin Scot’s lyrics, the version, which was recorded at Villas Musika Studios in Cebu, has a completely unique musical arrangement. This Saturday, February 17, One Love Productions presents the launching of 'Missing Mr. Marley' by Junior Kilat featuring Selah Dub Warriors at One Love Bar & Grill in Sitio Ma-Aslom, Cebu City along Busay-Cebu Trancentral Highway. The gig will have special performances by Uncle Skank, Busking Side Project, PitchMelba, Domestic Grass, High Times, Peace of Mind, Lumbuds, and BlackZillah. Admission is Free! While the song is a single release only from Junior Kilat, we got up close and personal with Budoy himself to ask some questions about the band and what we can expect from them in the future. The fans want to know, where were you guys and what have you been up to the past years... Budoy: Naa ra man ang Junior Kilat ever since. Nipahulay lang kadyot kay ang uban myembro change career man…but if naa gihapon ko, dili mawala ang Junior Kilat.  What has changed, who is Junior Kilat now? Budoy: Sa last full-length album namo (Gugma Biga) dili na to ang original line up. The players of instruments are also members of Selah Dub Warriors. Ang horns (trumpet and sax) used to be with Bambu Spliff. Tungod kai lisod man ang income to be in a band, dili mapugngan nga mangita gyud lain work with higher wages ang uban. So dawat na nako ang reality nga mag usab-usab gyud ang myembro. When the pandemic happened, I was in Moalboal with two current members of Junior Kilat, GK and Jairus during the start of lockdown until the middle of 2021. Didto nako naukayan ang old live recordings of Kilat nga dili ako ang nagkanta. We have a friend named Mikeypax, a poet from Dumaguete who used to jam with us whenever we play there. The one performance with Mikeypax that we captured was good enough to be released as Junior Kilat ft Mikeypax. Didto nako na realize not to limit Junior Kilat with always me as the singer. Daghan pud bitaw mi instrumentals nga gi release..but ang kasagaran dili pa ka sabot sa concept. Music is music. From the start, Junior Kilat have always been about concept and message. Thank you kayo sa oras Budoy! While Missing Mr. Marley is just a single release, we surely haven’t heard the last of Junior Kilat. We can definitely expect new music and more performances in the months to come. Until that time, check out the song streaming in Spotify and Apple Music.

Art in Argao wouldn't have been possible without Studio 201 Gallery and it's founder - one of Cebu's low-key but very prolific contemporary visual artists, Wyndelle Remonde. After a recent group exhibit called Purgatoryo at the Cebu Making Space, we caught up with Wyndelle to talk about the struggles of keeping a gallery afloat while also continuing to create art. His Studio 2021 Gallery journey goes back to when he returned to his hometown of Argao during the pandemic. Wyndelle started building up the local art community by participating in town activities like judging art contests, mentoring young kids, and just collaborating with the LGU who support the growth and development of art in Argao. In 2022 he built Studio 201 Gallery, which started his half-joke, half-truth, "ANTI-ROI MOVEMENT". The gallery has moved several times to different locations including an old abandoned structure and now a former beach resort, and they all come with wild stories of punk shows, trashed doors and town gossip about cults. Ask him about it at the next exhibit. With the help of his Ar+gaw (Art Ta Gaw) Crew, a non-profit organization focused on empowering the municipality's art scene, Wyndelle has created numerous events, exhibits, and workshops at Studio 201 Gallery including an Art Residency open to all local artists. There have been some visitors who drove all the way down to Argao including art students from UP and USC and even some art enthusiasts and tourists but getting more awareness and serious art collectors for the gallery have been extremely challenging. While the struggle is real, it definitely hasn't stopped Wyndelle. Even though 2024 just started, Wyndelle and his Argao crew - Binsoy, Yookey, and Jyaryd, have already been a part of numerous group shows and exhibits including: 'Underground Screams Vol 3.' at the Gallery in Cebu Making Space, 'Conversations' at the Orange Project in Bacolod, 'And Kalayo Kumalatkat Sa Bulongbong' at Studio 201 in Argao (you should read this with the distinct Southern Cebu lilt IYKYK), Arté Art Fair in Dumaguete plus more to come. Some advice from Wyndelle before we leave him be, "Don't stop. Keep going despite the hindrances, struggles and challenges. Keep going and of course, work for it. Ayaw pag tinapulan. Apili ug paningkamot imong mga damgo." Daghang Salamat Bai Wyndelle! Here's to more art shows, exhibits and ROI in the future.

From late night recording sessions at Backyard Studio Projects (R.I.P. Sir Junx Muaña) to celebrating 20 years of influence with a limited-edition Vinyl record , Urbandub's got a lot of reasons to feel on top of the world right now. 20 years since Influence is a milestone that every Cebuano can be proud of, and we're here for it (unless you're too young then it's a case of IYKYK). Lalay Lim-Geronimo, Gabby Alipe, John Dinopol and Jerros Dolino back in 2004. Photos from band's FB. Many stories and interviews have come out in the last weeks documenting the musical journey, the history, the transfer to Manila, and the spread of the sound of the giant south across the entire Philippines. If you haven't read these awesome articles and interviews head on down to https://pulp.ph/2023/11/22/influential/  and https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/urbandub-influence-track-by-track-guide-20-years-later-interview-soul-searching-a-new-tattoo-2023. We hit up our fellow Bisayas: Russell, Gabby, Lalay, and John for a lightning round of questions while preparing for their anniversary gig last November 25 at 123 Block in Mandaluyong City. Photos by Kris Rocha from FB | @krisrochaaa on Instagram. How much have you grown since Influence? Gab: Definitely a lot older, maybe a little wiser. We’re at the point now where we know what we want. We have nothing to prove but continue to learn. We take things a day at a time. We are more in tune about our timing. We still continue to enjoy this music thing. John: When writing songs, i pressure myself to be calm and mature and so far it feels good. Lalay: I haven't grown much... only a few centimeters. Hahaha! Kidding aside, twenty years of learning and amazing experiences have passed. From trying to figure out where we fit into the music industry to continuing to develop as musicians every single day. What counts most, though, is that we experienced it. Over time, we have gained independence — not from our past but rather from the choices we make to lead fulfilling lives. As a friend and fan who later became a member of the band, Russell had an awesome story to tell and experiences to share. Russell: Grabi noh? 20 years definitely feels like a lifetime ago jud! Who would have thought that Urbandub would still be around today! Siguro, in terms of growth, I would consider myself to have been one lucky kid to have been given the opportunity to fill in for John in my late teens. So I guess, from a fan's perspective, it was truly an honor and a privilege to have been given that. I couldn't say no, and I took it as a challenge and as an opportunity to gain knowledge and experience while learning the ropes in this whole music thing and what better mentor to have than Urbandub, right? The pressure was real! Like, I had to be on the same level and same page sa mga kuya ug kang achee from the get go, kay pila ra ka weeks, tukar na dayon, and I never wanted to let them down so, I practiced my ass off jud, and continuosly learned as we went on, until today! I'm still constantly learning through experiences and not only in the band life and music, but also in other aspects in life as I go. As a friend, whenever I had to session for them, I had to keep up and be on the same page and same mindset with them. Respect is key! I've always looked up to them like my older brothers and older sister, and they've somehow became a role model sa akua, not just in music, but also as a person, trying to become a human and trying to make sense of life, most especially nga dako na ang mga kids, sila Jacob, Abbey ug Oli. I've seen the changes, and I've seen the growth. So far, so good! The kids are alright! Sometimes, it makes me think to myself "I wonder how fatherhood feels like?" 😜😆 I wouldn't know, but I guess naay similarities in being a cat dad of 7? 🤷😅 Not sure... We'll see.. 😆 And now, as a full time member, it just feels like home labi na nga we all come from Cebu, well except for Sam... pero kasabot raman pud sad siyag bisaya kay bisaya man iyahang asawa..hahaha! So, all the more nga mura rajud ug at home ang pamati whenever I'm around them, most especially nga kami ni Lalay ug ni John kay based na sa Manila, while Gab moved back to Cebu na. When’s the Cebu Celebration? John: Maayu unta kung naa, it would be amazing... Gab: Maayo unta naa. We'll see... Lalay: Ganahan gyud ko nga mahitabo unta. Haha Russell: Hopefully we could set something up soon. It would be awesome if we could also celebrate 20 years of Influence in Cebu. There's no place like home, as the saying goes...🙂 What's next? For you and the band? Gab: Personally, I just go with the flow. For the band, Hopefully new music and continued opportunities to play and share our music John: To be a better person and to never stop being creative.. :) Lalay: Being a mother of two is the most beautiful blessing, but it is difficult to balance time while playing in a band. Juggling everything led me on a whole new journey of discovering the quality of work I put in as a bassist and continuing to do what I do best. Going forward, I wish to instill in my kids a love and enthusiasm for music while also fostering a respect and support for it—all while hoping we can record an album and keep performing. Russell: Ako, aside from Urbandub, I'm also doing Faspitch ug Wilabaliw and both bands have been cooking up new songs and planning new things, moving forward. Really exciting times ahead. Music is life! Haha 😆 Padayon lang jud hangtud sa makaya. 😁 As for Urbandub, mejo na dry run na ang among creative chemistry sa ReBirth project sa kaning bag-o nga line up, and I'm really excited to actually start writing new material from scratch with the kuyas and achee and excited to see what I can bring into the table, creatively. It's good to know that the epic tracks of Infuence haven't 'fallen on deaf ears' 2 decades later. For a generation of music lovers, this was the soundtrack of our lives. We continue our soul-searching to the sound of Urbandub. As we say back home, grinabe! Grab the limited-edition Influence vinyl from our friends at Pavement Records Cebu (@pavementrecordscebu on IG).

Since its founding in 2013, it has always been part of Strap’s roadmap to reach 10 years. And now, here we are, celebrating their 10th anniversary and the achievement of this milestone envisioned by founder Edel Tribiana, who was crazy enough to start it and even crazier to sustain it. All Edel cared about from the beginning was creating a vehicle that would drive the skate scene in Cebu to places it’s never been. The intention has always been clear since the genesis of the Strap, and this is reflected in Edel’s conviction as the brand custodian, resulting in its success. Edel reflected on how, over the years of Strap, he did not expect for the brand to create this big of an impact on the skating community and the local hip-hop scene, as well, since the two go hand in hand. When I asked him what he would tell his younger 20-something self, Edel replied, “Good job kay wa ka nag duha-duha og sugod. Gi all-in jud ni younger Edel nga bahala’g unsa’y mahitabo, basta, at least, nasugdan gyud. Padayon. (Good job because you did not hesitate to go for it. Young Edel went all in, no matter what. At least, it was started. Keep it up.)” Every entrepreneur knows it’s not easy to launch a business, let alone make it thrive. And like every business owner, Edel has had his fair share of ups and downs—maybe even more of the latter than the former. It takes a village and Edel is not passing the chance to thank his. “My family for the all-out support in my dreams; Cliff Rigor and Kenneth Asprer for holding it down with the visuals, the skate team for always representing, my operations team for being consistent with the quality before we release to the market, and lastly, everyone who believes in us! Thank you!” What has motivated him over the years to grind and overcome the obstacles are his dreams for the skating community. “First, I wanted to have a brick-and-mortar flagship store so that skaters could have a safe space to hang out in, gather, and connect,” Edel shared. Now that has been established, Edel is now working on his several ‘missions.’ This includes building a skate park, which most likely will be in the Mango Avenue area. He and Philippine National Olympic Coach Dani Bautista are already in talks with a retired pro skater affiliated with Tony Hawk to explore the possibility of securing financial support. Another venture that will be announced next year – fingers crossed – is Strap’s collaboration with a major global skate shoe brand. Strap has a big year this 2024, but in the meantime, we can all look forward to their 10th anniversary party on Friday, November 24, 2023 at 7PM in Draft Punk Craft Cafe. Strap has always had dope anniversary parties throughout the years and this will definitely not be an exception. Pre-selling tickets are Php 200 and walk-in tickets are Php 250. Ticket holders will get a chance to win good stuff from Strap, DC Shoes Philippines, Portray Footwear, WIP Caps, Bodega Distribution, Nevoks Philippines, Moonstar Hotel, Homeboy Loud Couture, and IPI. The line-up of performers includes WAIIAN, Hero Tunguia, King Spade, Budoyx, Enrico Reems, Big Blooda Boki, Harcket, Roadkill, Felhony, Kali Hoods, Short, and DYHA. See you there! Find the Strap flagship store at the Century Plaza Complex, Juana Osmeña Street, and follow them on Facebook (brand / flagship store) and Instagram (brand / flagship store).

The Gallery at Cebu Making Space transported viewers into a universe of colors and lines with Cebuano visual artist and graphic designer Uzi Emperado's exhibit "Cartograph of Inner Worlds". Throughout his career, he has explored and expressed his creativity through various forms of media including street art, merch/apparel design, graphic design, digital illustration, and painting, to name a few. His latest body of work, “Cartograph of Inner Worlds” explores ideas around metaphysics, psychedelia, human emotions, and subconscious worlds. How has your artistic style evolved from the last collection? "This current collection is less focused on premeditated visions found in my previous bodies of work. My approach this time is spontaneous, free flowing and dialed into my impulses. I'm exploring and leaning towards the more abstract side of my imagination. The procees feels natural, and why I found myself gravitating towards it." Any specific themes or subjects that you find yourself consistently drawn to lately? "Not really drawn to anything specific these days. i tend to have a wide range of things I'm interested in, and it often changes from time to time. My creative career has evolved over the years too that I can't see myself commiting to a style." Any new technologies, techniques or medium that you're excited to explore in the future? "If I'm being honest, I want to explore making music, just for fun." Are there any dream projects or collaborations you hope to pursue? "What's my dream project? Operate a legal weed farm, I suppose. A man can dream, right?" We're right there with you on the dream project Uzi and hope to hear some music in the future. Catch his works at the Gallery or message Cebu Making Space on IG or FB for an exclusive viewing.

As an avid consumer and advocate of Cebu’s music landscape, I have witnessed its changes: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thankfully, it’s mostly been good thanks to all the singer-songwriters, bands, producers, production crew, listeners, and purveyors who make the community bellow with life. One such champion of independent music is Melt Records. Melt Team: Dexter Sy, PJ Ong, Debb Acebu, Mich Pacalioga, and collaborators Bobbi Olvido and Miguel Lim Within These Four Walls Established in 2018 in the wake of the previous label Bomba Press, Melt Records was born out of the simple desire of four friends to help and support independent artists. Dexter Sy led the way, partnering with PJ Ong of Inodoro, his long-time collaborator on a lot of their most iconic cover artworks, and bringing along Debb Acebu and Mich Pacalioga for the ride, who are two of their most successful artists from the Bomba Press era. Dexter shares, “I think it was just very clear to all of us then that there was still a lot of great music that was getting passed over just because the artists did not have a framework to try getting their music in front of people who care, so we knew there was still space for us to exist as a label. And so we did.” Like with many things, the pandemic was the catalyst for Melt Records. In the wake of being stuck in the four walls of our homes, Dexter observed that everyone started to connect from all over the world within the digital space. “It was clear then that bringing the music to a global audience was the way to go for us,” Dexter reveals. That’s fine and good, right? But like with many things, when it comes to scaling your love for something to greater heights, funding is necessary. It takes money to produce, distribute, promote, and publish music. The scarcity of resources was not lost on Dexter who shares, “We made it a point to try and establish first an ethical model of doing business that respects the rights of the artists and treats them as equal partners, regardless of how practical that would have been for us. Once we’ve figured that out, then we figure out how to make it sustainable financially.” According to Dexter, they are on the way to achieving this model, but there are still many hurdles to overcome. He adds, “I’m not too worried. If our legacy ends up as having tried and failed, I’d still be proud of that outcome. If we succeed, that would be incredible.” Into the Great Wide Open Before signing an artist, it’s important for Melt Records to like their music, that they operate on a similar frequency, and that they’re cool to work with. Dexter puts it more eloquently, “I think the primary thing is that we like their music and that we think that their music will have an audience that intersects with ours or any of our other artists. Maybe just as important to this is that they’re good people and easy to work with. In the end, there are no guarantees in the music business, so if we enjoy working with people, that’s already a win. But we also want to make sure that we get artists who are willing to put in the work.” It’s all about passing the vibe check. In addition, Dexter hopes that their roster of artists entertains and creates a unique impression on listeners—whether that means agitating or delighting them. For him, it’s making that impact that makes a musician’s legacy. It should also follow that Cebu’s music community is certainly filled with agitators and entertainers as Dexter finds it brimming with vitality like a friendly and respectful mosher who smiles all the time. According to him, the people involved are passionate and more willing to spend money on shows. Side note: Totally agree with the latter. This is a huge change for us stingy and senselessly proud Cebuanos, but what a major win for the indie scene too! On the other side of the coin, Dexter expresses that Cebu still has a lot of work to do as an industry: “It takes a lot of infrastructure and a whole ecosystem of businesses - media, venues, funding, legal assistance, factories, and all of that. I think most of that hasn’t quite been set up in Cebu yet as much as it needs to be. But the community’s support to make all of these available to some extent gives me a lot of hope that it can happen one day, hopefully in our lifetime.” We’re not there yet, but we are definitely doing our best. In the meantime, you can look forward to a lot of new music from Melt Records: Keith Human’s recently launched debut album Boringly Wild; Coloura’s 2nd EP Love and Influence in November; KRNA's debut album Kireina in early 2024; and more music from Vincent Eco and new acts including The Rising Tide, Carlo Mesina, SHVRIKEN, Queen Atia, Turnpike, and more. Dexter also revealed that they have been exploring collaboration possibilities with local and overseas partners, as well as other local record labels in Cebu to create a platform for ethical music business practices to “change what ‘business as usual’ means in music.” Just as their artists have made an impact on the music community through their songs, Melt Records has done the same through their practice. Personally, I am inspired to go to that gig and pay for that gate fee. I hope you are too. Follow Melt Records on Facebook, Instagram, and their official website. Fun fact: PJ Ong came up with the name, as a reference to “face-melting” music.

Last October 21, 2023, as a satellite partner for Design Week Philippines in Cebu, the Makers of Midtown in partnership with White Brick Creative Studio and Cebu Making Space held TALKS AROUND TOWN. Open to artists, designers, entrepreneurs, musicians, all types of creatives and everyone in between, Talks Around Town featured 5 Cebuano personalities and changemakers who have helped build and uplift their respective communities, industries, and professions. MAKING SPACES by Angie Reyes Interior Designer and Design Director for Laraw Luna Studio, Angie talked about co-founding Ahka Sari-Sari Space, an all-around space for community events and how they opened their doors to the first drag shows in the city. MAKING STORIES by Januar Yap Award-winning writer, cinematographer, and educator, Januar shared tips on how to be a good storyteller, escaping Writer’s Block, exploring the Wonderful Wrongness in the process and finding inspiration from the constant “I Don’t Know’s” that creatives encounter everyday. MAKING ART by Wyndelle Remonde Visual artist and founder of Studio 201 Gallery, Wyndelle talked about how his gallery aims to shine the spotlight on art by supporting and fostering local artists within Argao. He showed the exhibits and projects that their art collective have created in the past year and highlighted the importance of providing an outlet for young artists to present their works. MAKING MUSIC by Cookie$ Cebuano rapper and producer Cookie$, government name Job, shared his journey to fame, his creative process and the challenges of making it in the music industry. He also talks about his new venture, The Bakeshop Studios, a production outfit for other, up-and-coming baked goods, I mean, artists. MAKING A SCENE by Willow Hoods The final speaker, Barber, Educator and owner of WWORKSHOP STUDIO, Willow shared his humble beginnings of starting the barbershop business and how he initiated the very successful Molave Community Marketplace. Today the MCM is now a bustling free space for people who explore their passion for entrepreneurship. After the talks, the audience were given a chance to interact with the speakers and ask questions during the Panel where topics like how to ground yourself from fame, how to gain support and trust from the community, how to sustain and manage the community, and what it’s like to build one. While the talks were ongoing, a lot of exciting things awaited the people outside with live DJ sets by Sorry Sue and Libya Montes; interactive pop-up booths including flash tattoos by Subhelic, Tarot & Reiki Reading by Banaag Lovecrafts, Live Portrait & Art by Xena Luzon; food and drinks from The Ape Bar Cafe, Baking Bad, Ahka Sari-Sari Space, Domkatsu, Pastarrific; and arts and crafts booths including Dried Flowers by Elle, Temporary Tattoos and Stickers by Maraschino BB, Postcards and Zines by Jeremiad, Artworks by Studio 201 Gallery Argao, Stickers and Postcards by White Brick Creative Studio. TALKS AROUND TOWN was made possible thanks to 22 Tango Music, Gigsite, John Sy and Reg Onagan, and official Tools and Equipment Partner of Cebu Making Space, Bosch Philippines. The organizers would also like to thank the Design Center of the Philippines for making Talks Around Town a part of Design Week and to DTI for supporting the Makers of Midtown. For updates on upcoming events, follow Makers of Midtown and Cebu Making Space on Facebook and Instagram

Meet the creative minds and hearts behind Project Tapük, a passion project that aims to bring people together through curated experiences. Through partnerships and collaborations with like-minded individuals, artists, performers, subject-matter experts, and community leaders, the group are able to gather passionate participants who want to learn, share, create and connect. How did you start? We embarked on this journey with a dream, a dash of burnout, and a whole lot of love for hosting parties. My co-founder, Kil, and I were on the lookout for a creative outlet to inject into our already jam-packed lives. While our city saw a surge in new event spaces, we identified a need for workshops and activities that would bring strangers together to share their skills and knowledge in various creative fields within these spaces. Why did you start? We could have waited until we had more funds or saved up for our business venture, but the thought that resonated with us was, "If not now, when?" So, this February, we decided to take the plunge with a vague vision of what we wanted our events to embody. Why the name Project Tapük? Our passion project mirrors Kil and me—constantly evolving and always a work in progress. Besides, we have an unending love for "tapuk," or simply put, getting people together. Who are the founders/proponents, and what are your backgrounds? Kil (Co-founder)- The creative mastermind behind Project Tapük's aesthetic, producing exquisite posters and branding. She holds a product design degree from UP Cebu and boasts a career history collaborating with renowned Cebuano artists, including a year-long stint in NYC. Dez (Co-founder) - The marketer, writer, and budget-savvy sales guru, navigating her way to establish Project Tapük as a legitimate business. Previously worked with the local press and girlbossed her way to handling multiple foreign and local clients doing marketing and logistics work Lor, David, and Marianne - The trio behind the lenses, skillfully capturing heartfelt and genuinely joyful moments during our workshops Victor - The ultimate gear guy and our hype man, always ensuring we have everything we need for our workshops. Ela - Our Gen Z digital content creator, consistently delivering the cutest reels for our page What are your goals and dreams for the future? Our vision is to become the go-to hub for creative experiences in Cebu. We aspire to collaborate with artists from various regions, championing local talent. Our grandest dream is to construct the ultimate creative space commune—a place where we work, create beauty, snap photos, brew coffee, craft cocktails, house a mini-gallery, and host pop-up stores all under one roof. Kwarta na lay kulang, mall na among itukod ani. What tapuks can we expect soon? You name it, and we'll bring it to life! Following one of our most significant workshops, pottery with Reine So, we're confident that we can host any creative workshop you can think of. In the near future, be on the lookout for workshops such as Flower Arranging, Crochet Making, Paint and Sip, Perfume Creation, and many more, which are currently under wraps. See you at the next tapok!

"There are more things in Heaven and Earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." --Hamlet, Act 1 Scene 5 The party leader across the table sends a fireball toward your mage. Great, just when you've assembled your team of misfits into a somewhat disciplined fighting force, someone burns your most important member to a crisp. On the table to your right, Juggernaut just charged into Magneto, sending him flying into what was once a fast food restaurant. Magneto manages to cushion the impact somewhat, but there is still the question of the lumbering mutant still continuing to barrel towards him. On the table behind you, a Kadungganan warrior draws blood from another with his blade. The two, you overhear, are settling a generations-long blood feud the only way they know how. There is almost no hesitation, no staredown for this duel, as the one who drew continues to run toward his combatant. On the stage, two people in full tactical gear stand behind an apparently very important individual, who seems to be writing a letter. He has just been elected city mayor, and citizens have begun to surround him, eager to hear his first announcements. This is Tabletop Fiesta, two-day celebration of all things tabletop. The event, held at the Activity Center, Ayala Malls Central Bloc, from October 14-15, 2023, brought different tabletop hobbyists together to feature all manner of board games and role-playing games for players of all shapes and sizes, gaming veterans and newbies alike. From your first step into the Activity Center, the air is charged with a tingly, almost chaotic energy, one that promises a day filled with all sorts of adventures. A goat-headed demon towers over a tiny warrior figure on a table right beside the entrance. "It has slain countless warriors, but is already badly wounded," someone with a notepad says from across the table, implying you might be the one to slay it. It's totally free, he says, as is everything else in the venue. Your choice of gaming experiences is, thus, only limited by your time and patience for listening to someone explain a couple of rules; otherwise, just walk up to a table, have a seat, and play. If there's one thing the pandemic taught us, it's the value of sitting across other people. Indeed, there's a particular magic that permeates the air around a table surrounded by people indulging in the same collective fantasy: worlds forming, with all manner of personalities inhabiting said worlds, trying to see how their stories play out. Events such as Tabletop Fiesta show that, even with all that digital interaction has given us, people will still sometimes crave the authenticity of sitting face-to-face, pushing little plastic warriors, rolling dice, and telling stories with eyes wide open from the possibilities that emerge. We are, after all, social creatures; sharing space is part of what make us whole. Tabletop Fiesta is hosted by role-playing game event organizer RECCon and board game group Fiddl., and is-- --oh great, another fireball.

Kukuk's Nest, formerly Turtle's Nest, was the last standing bastion of creativity on the Gorordo strip. With Koa Treehouse and Handuraw Pizza long gone, Kukuk's was the only haven left on Gorordo for local visual artists, bands, misfits, hiphop heads, graffiti artists, poets, outcasts and everything in between. Sadly, it all came to halt last August 31, 2023. Before that, Kukuk's Nest provided a home for gigs, graffiti events, sticker trades, poetry readings, and various art exhibits. So a series of farewell gigs/art exhibits was the only fitting way for a send-off to this beloved spot. Photos by DeXter Duran The first gig was the two-day Panamilit tribute gig organized by Oldfart Productions, Blaxkbox 6000, Ear Infection Records and Bald Kharma Productions. Bands like Queen City Crew, The Line Divides, Saving Ruth, Grip, Gardo, Kick in da Face, None of the Above, Benderr, Do By Heart, Rogue, Not Following Instructions, Vampire State, UnO, Bombo Pluto Ova, Ramonitos, Shepherd's Plaid, Insulin, The Gospel, Ashtrays to Gaza, Storya, The Stallions of the Burning Church, Chugagkag, Faint Morning, Pipebomb Landmines, Tremors, Smoking Caterpillar and The Wigiws all played during the two-day, all day event. All of the bands featured during Panamilit has played numerous times over the years in Kukuk's, all cutting their teeth and honing their sound within the dusty walls and bookshelves of the venue. Photos by DeXter Duran The second farewell gig was All Flew Over the Kukuk's Nest organized by PAWN Records and Backyard Project Studios. The bands who paid their tributes to the local scene's beloved spot were Deanery, Ala Akhbar, The Pervs, milkmus, Folding Bed, The Spirals, Sunday Sunday, Awkward Dancer, bedtime television and Hollywood Folk Hogan, and with a DJ set from Libya Montes. Venues for the local scene often come and go, Kukuk's Nest was the longest surviving one. Many of its' contemporaries have already fallen years ago, but Kukuk's stayed true and steady and has helped usher bands and artists, new and old, in whatever genre they fit, to a newer crowd of young guns looking for a taste of the local scene. It never discriminated, and it was that magic that bound people to it. We can only hope another place like Kukuk's pops up in this city of ours, but until then, go to other gigs and support your local favorite bands. They need you, and you need them.

22 Tango Music Group, in partnership with White Brick Creative Studio, the British Council in the Philippines, and Sonik Philippines hosted "Sonik Sessions: Music Export 101," a boutique conference and artist showcase bringing international music experts last August, 18, 2023. Filipino artists and creators talked about music and how we can bring Filipino talents to the forefront of the global market. The event was held at Making Space in Cebu City, the first Sonik event outside Metro Manila. In this 2nd installment of "Sonik Sessions," Filipino creators learned how artists and the music industry can benefit from increased recognition, access to new markets, revenue streams, and cultural exchange. The conference dove deep into 'music export': the process of promoting and distributing music to foreign markets, showcasing and marketing artists to audiences outside their home country. The theme was inspired by Filipino music mavens and the organisers' personal experiences as British Council delegates to the recently concluded Great Escape Music Festival in Brighton, England. "Sonik Sessions: Music Export 101" is led by the talented singer-songwriter and founder of 22 Tango Music Group, Cattski Espina, alongside musician-entrepreneur and founder of Homonym, Mike Constantino. Upon their return after the Great Escape delegation, Cattski and Mike organised the event in hopes of sharing their experiences and knowledge with Filipino artist communities. "I came home re-energized by what I saw and the people I met. After not being able to attend live conferences due to the pandemic, it reminded us that we can do so much more with the EU, especially the UK. We are excited to finally take Sonik outside of Manila and are raring to share what we've learned [in the Great Escape] through Sonik Sessions in Cebu," Mike shares. Cattski adds, "I’m on a mission to learn more about Music Export to pivot my vision towards learning from other cultures and eventually becoming an ambassador in bringing Filipino music to the UK and the world. I am thrilled to have Sonik Session as an opportunity to kick off our work in music export and bring more Filipino artists to the global stage." The British Council's Head of Arts, Mich Dulce, elaborates on how the organisation advocates collaborative growth and art between the UK and the Philippines. "There is so much talent and potential in the Philippines that deserves to be shared with the entire world. We look forward to the exciting future of Filipino artists as we continue to work together and share what the UK has to offer and vice versa," she says. Sonik Sessions served as a venue for experienced and up-and-coming musicians, artists, and creators to share their different inspirations and innovations. The event featured four global and notable artists in their field, sharing industry trends and global practices: Fil-Brit publicist, consultant and international music marketeer from EMPIRE Cat Lazarra elaborated on what music export is. Another Fil-Brit—singer and producer RJ Belo of State is Flow London shared his experiences and dreams of bridging UK Asian artists with other cultures. Founder of SRM Booking and Services and co-founder of AXEAN Music Showcase Festival Satria Ramadhan shared how to grow music and fanbase in foreign markets. FOCUS Wales' co-founder and music programmer Andy Jones talked about applying and participating in music festivals and conferences. Finally, Primavera Pro's head of partnerships and programming Camila Anino discussed how government support fuels the exploration of Filipino music. The event concluded with a singer-songwriter with these musical storytellers: IANO, CRISZZIA, GL, PAULA PAGALAN, and NOMER plus an artist showcase featuring some of the best Cebu-based artists: TREV, DOM GUYOT, JULIA Q, JERICHO STREEGAN, KUBRA COMMANDER, and Indonesia's LOGIC LOST.

Last June 17 - 22, 2023, local artist Giann Alipar, known by his moniker maraschin0.bb, and friends, invited the public to feel and explore the art of pain in AGAY! - a visual art event held at the Cebu Making Space Gallery. Photo by: Neena Fuentes AGAY! Art Show focuses on the common and human experience of pain through different artworks that interpret the piercing emotion. The art show concept started out as a graphic tunok (thorn) pattern designed by maraschin0.bb as a custom typeface. The tunok then became the main element of pain, of which the other 27 artworks were born from. The artist asked his friends to translate pain through red and black artworks that showed their individual examinations of the many forms that pain can take and where pain locates itself within the human psyche - in the mind, all over the body, through memories that span generations, and even through everyday moments that last a lifetime. Photo by: Neena Fuentes According to maraschin0 bb, “I was pleasantly surprised with the amazing artworks my friends made. It really channeled deep pain and childhood trauma. Many of the works were drawn from our own personal experiences with pain; growing up, heartbreak, physical distress, and the tensions of being queer amidst a hostile society.” Photo by: Neena Fuentes Pain is truly a universal experience with everyone having their own interpretations - it changes people. The exhibit gave the artists a safe space to confront and express their innermost sufferings while also giving the audience a glimpse of intense emotions that they can relate to. Photo by: Neena Fuentes Majority of the artworks were made in Cebu Making Space’s Gallery and Makerspace. “As artists just starting out in the scene, we wanted to create our own event that highlights our works. Cebu Making Space is literally making space for young creatives and giving us the opportunity to share our talents to a wider audience,” adds maraschin0 bb. The artists (From left to right): Shari Llamis, Elbert Uba, Xena Luzon, Diane Diana, Maraschin0.bb, Justine Bacareza, Marela Castro, Jeremiah Ablaza, and Subhelic Photo by: Neena Fuentes The artist collective and group of young talented creatives have future goals in mind for their upcoming exhibits and art shows, envisioning a bigger event that features different performers, musicians, drag shows and different kinds of art media coming together. Check out what went on during the Art Show! Photos by: Neena Fuentes Check out the catalogue of artworks here: https://maraschin0bb.cargo.site/AGAY-Art-Show-Catalogue. For bookings and reservations of the Gallery, Studio or Makerspace, visit www.cebumakingspace.com.