Jun 7, '08 12:13 PM
"manhid na pusong nagdurugo, sabik sa yakap at pag-suyo,
manhid na pusong umaasa, kailan kaya ako liligaya..."
~Manhid na Puso, Ultimate Ube
(Article from a brother band of mine. Napasa ko na yo sa PULP mag, kaso wala pang balita, shemai... oh well, at least na-publish siya sa isang online zine ^_^)
Bulacan-based slapsticks ULTIMATE UBE share their boons and endeavors… all for the love of music.
By Rima Santos
“Oh, buhay pa kayo?!” I heard while arguing with someone, “May contest pa tayo… vagina eating contest!” I turned around stammered finding out who uttered those words. It was Cyruss, all drunk and woozy. He took my place as host coz I was talking to some band that was complaining why they’ll be performing last when they didn’t even reached the ticket quota. Then someone approached me and murmured, “Kupow, si Cy nagsalita na naman… banal dito.” It’s forgiven when you tell these green and dirty jokes while you’re in the spirit of booze – except you’re saying it in a sacred place and the gig is for the benefit of something consecrated. Finally, someone approached him and whispered something, he smiled and said, “Ay, sorry…. Oo nga pala, lahat ng malilikom dito mapupunta lahat sa chapel natin.” Everyone clapped and made noises whil the staff and I smirked on the side.
I caught myself smiling on that thought while waiting for the Ube boys. It was a year ago when that happened, and now this small town band Ultimate Ube is now making a difference in Manila. My band jammed with them a couple of times in and out of our hometown. And although they’re still playing on some underground production, they’re making this unusual variety of noises – even one of them was ironically called ‘emo-comedy’.
Arman Macarasig (vocals) and Cyruss Malanga (lead guitars) arrived at our meeting place somewhere inside SM Marilao minus the presence of Gian Silva (bass) and Paolo Gojocco (drums) who were busy with their other affiliations, while rhythm guitarist Arin Manzano’s still in his way. The place also gave birth to their band name, which came from a waffle flavor, and luckily didn’t let their name down with their distinct tinge of genre. It’s a better name than Pakito Roofguard or Uncle Bob Lucky 7, no?
But what really is their genre? At first they describe it as comedy, nonsense or slapstick, but still can’t settle on a category.
“Di namin malaman kung anong genre ang nagagawa naming. Basta kwela. Kung ano kami, ina-apply namin sa tugtugan.” Cyruss answered. They pondered for a while, then answered again as if it was rehearsed before the interview, “Maraming nagsasabi, ‘parang wala kayong genre.’ Question mark, naguguluhan,” Arman told me while tracing a big question mark in thin air, “kasi ‘pag magse-stay kami sa isang genre parang ang boring. Kaya ‘pag tinatanong kami kung anong tugtugan niyo, ang sinasabi namin ‘Ube’, kasi lumalabas na Ube pa rin.”
“Kahit hardcore, jazz, emo (tinutugtog namin), comedy pa rin. Lumalabas na nakakatawa,” says Cyruss who was observing every people who pass by out seat – or just can’t look at me straight in the eye “Ano genre? Ube.” They both smiled, I nodded at that thought.
It has been a year also since I’ve hanged-out with these guys. So we catch things up, discussed some updates on their status as musicians, and how they are all doing after another break-up of a band member and the return of an old one. “Family, problem, financial problem, getting married… yun ang parating dahilan kung bakit umaalis ang iba. Nagma-mature, naiiba ang priority.” Cy tells me in a serious tone. “So hindi kayo nagma-mature?” I asked him beaming my sweetest, inoffensive smile, “Hindi naman sa ganon… ‘paglalaban naming ‘to kahit anong mangyari. ‘Di kami magta-trabaho para dito.” He grins.
EVERYTHING STARTED BECAUSE OF THE WASHING MACHINE…
Cy and Arman continued feeding me details on their discography – on how they all began as skaters who roam around on some places in Bulacan, how they realized that they’re not improving on their chosen ‘field’, and how they all have been called to create music. “Si Aron talaga nagpumilit na bumuo ng banda. Parang siya na rin ang influence namin,” said Arman. They resumed their story narrating from the time they were “making” the group – surprisingly and awkwardly reached into 20 members – to their first gigs in schools and other special occasions, and now having teir EP produced by an underground production where they were referred by a common friend. “Last year pa namin pino-produce yung EP. Kami na lang hinhintay, pero di namin magawa. Kulang kami sa budget.” Arman refers to their budget for transportation. Indeed, it’s really hard to stick to a budget especially when you don’t have a permanent job and all you have is a small production organizing gigs twice or thrice a year. Fortunately, they’ve already produced two singles, Hyperactive Washing Machine and Ang Diary ni Larry, recorded separately in different studios (both can be googled at Purevolume, Imeem, or their accounts on Friendster and Myspace). One’s from a studio whose owner’s a member of Kikomachine, the other from Happy Meals. The Ube boys are hoping that their EP entitled Nora Aunor Wet Dreams will be released anytime this year.
But their budget problem won’t stop them from performing in Manila. Besides, they have already marked their spot on some well-known venues like Freedom Bar, Mayrics, Kolumn, Center for Arts and recently, Club Dredd. “Ok naman kami sa Manila, pero nakaka-miss din tumugtog dito,” says Cy pertaining to his town. Our town. “Dito sa Bulacan mas ok kasi mas masayang mag-perform dito, kasi kahit papano kilala ka. Tsaka kabisado mo kung anong gusto nila, dito ka nagsimula eh. Eh sa Manila, ginagawa pa rin namin ang lahat.” Truly, everyone had experienced and still experiencing to get into the limelight, right?
Finally, Aron arrived right in the middle of the interview. He’s like one of the pioneers why Ultimate Ube came to life. But I knew Aron from a different band and genre. So its kind of confusing why a guy like him came from a happy-jolly band, then was separated before to form an alternative-metal band, and now back again to make some slapstick.
“Open naman ako sa music eh. Good musicpa rin yan kahit saan, kahit ano pa yan, di ba?” Aron explains, “wala namang problem for me shifting from one genre to another. Actually I really didn’t shift naman talaga, even though iba talaga yung type of music both the band and I play. Kaya ako mag-Manica (his former band) kasi nag-give way ako sa first love ko, which is dark music” it shows with his long hair and goatee, but ironically has a clear aura, “Yung aim ko is the same. As I said good music caters no genre. I think Ube Right now shre the same philosophy too. Bumalik din ako ti finish what I once started.” everyone agreed.
NAG-AAWAY, NAGHIHIWALAY, MAY UMAALIS, MAY BUMABALIK…
Now that someone’s back plus two new members (Gian and Paolo), does it affect their genre as “Ube”?
“Naaapektuhan, pero syempre dapat mag-jive lahat. Buti na lang itong last Ube yung chemistry ok na. Kasi ‘pag may problema ang isa, nahihinto kami. Dapat tuloy-tuloy,” Arman brags, then adds, “tsaka yung mga songs namin medyo political na.”
“Speaking of which,” I segued, “describe your songs before and now.”
“Mas matapang.” said Arman, “Dati kasi puro kalokohan, parang wala lang. Ngayon may kalokohan pa rin pero may sense na.” Cy adds. Arman continues, “May improvement. Dun kasi naming inilalabas yung galit namin sa presidente.” It shows in one of their songs strongly and bravely stated “Gobyerno, Impyerno, Pangulo, Demonyo.” Not too poignant, huh?
WALA NA KONG MASABI…
So what will be next for Ultimate Ube after their EP?
“TF” they answered in chorus. And believe it or not, for four years since they started, they have never, EVER received any TF. “Dati maraming nagtatanong kung magkano TF namin,” Arman speaks while covering his mouth, “ang sinasabo namin ok lang. pero habang tumatagal ang hirap.”
Cy adds, “Gawain namin yun eh. Basta may pakain o painom ok na. Pero ngayon sobrang daming line-ups, parang sayang TF. Pandagdag-budget na rin yun.”
“Tsaka focus pa (sa band). Nandyan na yung EP eh, paglalaban na namin ‘to.” A serious remark from the frontman.
Days after the interview, Arman texted me good news for the band, “Rima, may magpo-produce na ng album namin, 10 to 12 tracks ang gagawin. Siguro before Christmas ilalabas. Pakihabol na lang sa article mo, hehe.”
Guess their wit paid off.
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