Rakenrol

You know how they say in movies, "This is where it all began?"

As if your whole life is based on one moment?

But that’s nonsense. Life's not really like that.

There's no one single moment that defines my life.

There are memories.

Like my parents dancing to Eddie Peregrina.

Or my punk cousin Ron, who would lock me in a room

so we could rock out to classic punk tunes during Christmas parties.

Or my dad's fascination with Philippine classic rock.

Rock music has always been in my life,

but I still remember the first band that really converted me.

Teeth. "Shooting Star."

The first rock song I loved to death.

And that was it. I became an addict.

Every day, every hour, I'd listen to the radio.

I would list the countdown,

collect local albums, especially the old ones and the rare finds,

and read up on my favorite bands.

At school, they were all either into metal or teenybopper pop bands.

It's no surprise that I was quite the outsider.

But there was one other person who I could relate to.

Irene.

You'd think a lot of people would find Irene cute.

Thing is…

What?

Who here knows the Tydings-Mcduffie Law?

What?

What?

Nothing.

But I got her, and she got me.

From then on, I had a partner in crime.

We'd fight about the silliest things.

But Rico's a musical genius!

Did you know he can play all the instruments?

And even when Bamboo was vocalist, Rico wrote the songs!

Whatever! I knew that.

But Bamboo is the ultimate performer. I saw him once at the mall,

and he got everyone dancing. Even the grandparents!

Besides, he's cuter!

We'd talk on the phone until sunrise.

Wow. Coincidence. They're all handsome.

Yeah!

What? Jacci Rocha?! He looks like a foot.

But most of all, we enjoyed music immensely.

We also went to gigs of our favorite bands, like

Sandwich,

Gorgoro,

the Camerawalls,

Peryodiko,

and, of course, the reunion concert of our favorite band, the Eraserheads,

where my favorite musician Ely Buendia sings and plays guitar.

But the most memorable gig we've ever gone to

was this small performance of Urbandub at Mayric's.

Is this your first time?

Is it obvious?

Kind of.

I'm just warning you folks, it might get a little wild in here.

Wild? What do you--?

Irene.

Irene!

And at that moment, I fell in love with Irene.

And you know what the funny thing is?

This is where it all began.

College. A totally different world from high school.

Everyone was so different.

But I guess some things will never change.

What are you looking at, retard?

What are you looking at, retard?

Irene changed.

Irene became a Jackson.

There are a number of uses of the word Jackson.

They mean similar but different things.

Wow, dude! Look at her! I want to Jackson her!

Jackson. Verb. Have sex with. Root word, molest.

Came from Michael Jackson.

Wow, dude! Look at her! She's a Jackson!

Or Jackson. Noun. A sexy lady.

During summer break, Irene changed.

She's now transformed into a…

Other cool things happened.

My parents gave me an electric guitar as a graduation gift.

I couldn't stop after that. I bought a second-hand amp,

then pedals, then, before you knew it I had a mini-studio in my room.

And I'd write and record my own songs.

Okay! Something else!

What else can we listen to here?

SFI. What is this?

Oh no.

A local version of AFI? Are you being EMO?

No, no. That stands for, uhm… Sonic Funk Independence. Give it here.

-Irene. -You're so corny. Here.

No!

Nah. Let's give it a listen!

No, no, forget it. Let's listen to Ang Bandang Shirley instead. Come on.

What's this?

Let's listen to this. It's in already.

Odie, is this you?

It's really good.

Yeah!

Odie, we have to form a band.

What are you talking about? Come on.

I'm serious!

I can't even talk in Professor Lutero's class.

You expect me to perform in front of an audience?

Come on! I'll be there, giving moral support.

How can this fail?

What would you know how to play anyway?

The tambourine?

Dumbass!

No, it's… I can manage you.

No matter what happens, people have to hear this.

Forget it.

Listen to this.

It'd be a shame for people not to hear this.

Come on, Odie. Let's do it!

Ok, fine. But you sing.

I thought you said that the song was good and that people should hear it.

Yeah, but… your songs are for guys.

Of course not.

You know I love female vocalists. And I think the song suits you.

Well… I guess.

Let's try it.

Sounds fun.

Yeah, right. You want it.

Oh, I plan to tell even before…

Wait.

You're serious.

We're going to look for bandmates. Do you know any?

-No, but… -But?

That guy should join a Christian Fellowship.

Oh, wait! I thought of a band name. Love Extravaganza.

Love Extravaganza. Nice.

Stop being polite.

No, really, it's quite nice. Let's think of something else.

Hello. Hey, what's up? It's for you!

-Really? -Yeah!

-One more! Sexy Circus! -Bye!

Why don't you think of your own band name?

Titik O?

Titik O? What's wrong with you? Someone already has that name.

No! Titik O!

It's the vocalist of Titik O!

Oh my God, you're right!

It's the guy from Titik O!

They used to be my favorite!

Oh yeah, right.

Hey! We were there at your farewell gig.

Goddamn, you were so drunk!

Cancer! Cancer! Cancer to society!

Cancer! Cancer! Cancer to society!

Cancer! Cancer! Cancer to society!

Cancer! Cancer! Cancer to society!

Cancer! Cancer! Cancer to society!

Destroy the society!

Wait up.

Let's take it outside.

Yup. It's done.

I got so sick of everything.

Bands today,

what are they so mad about?

Their lives are fine, they have money.

Yeah.

Stop screaming.

There's no point. You’re all just posing, idiots.

Yeah! Not like your songs.

"Screw That" and "Hey, Tramp! Eat my Gossip!"

Titik O forever!

So, what? You don't want to be in a band anymore?

Forget it.

It's too bad. We're forming one, and we need bandmates.

Irene!

Really?

Yeah. Here's the demo. Want to listen?

Why not?

Give it here.

Why did you tell him we were looking for a guitarist?

What if he thinks we suck?

Quit it, drama queen. He'll like it.

This is cool. Who is this?

Them.

Nice.

It's nice!

You guys still looking for a guitarist?

Really?

Hell, yeah.

Rock 'n' roll!

Hell, Odie, we’re so lucky.

Imagine, we got Cancer himself.

Yeah.

That's it, Odie.

We're really going to have a band.

Well, we're just three. We don't have a drummer yet.

You stupid idiot! Are you trying to escape?

Oh, I know now. Crescendo.

Not that.

Then what?

Not bad.

And then that jerk can be our drummer.

He's got a lot of anger to vent.

You're right!