Not girly girl

I'm never "really" girly. 

I love macho stuff and walk fast with gusto.

I'm rarely feminine and pink is my enemy. 

I'm rowdy, talk with animation, and laugh with action.

I love music loud and noisy, rock and roll baby. 

I curse, I swear, they're all the same. 

I can even be one of the boys. 

But I'm a girl,

And I love being one.

Kikomachine Raks en Rols!

For the most part of it, I'm never really a serious person. How it came to be, I cannot exactly recall. Part of it may be attributed to my ever wacky set of barkadas. Another part of it, even just a little bit, I think, I happened to pick from Manix Abrera's Kikomachine Komix. 

Kikomachine comic strips were first published by the Philippine Daily Inquirer. Then its the first issue, titled Mga Tagpong Mukhang Ewan at Kung Anu-ano pang Kababalaghan" first came out on June 2005. Followed by Mga Tagpong Tila Nagpapaka-Weird, Kunyari Pa-Deep, Sarap Sapakin (Book 2); Die! Die Evil! Die! Ahrrrgh! (Book 3); Kaligayahang Walang Hanggan (Book 4, 2008); Alab ng Puso sa Dibdid Mo'y Buhay (Book 5, 2009); and for this years Book 6 which was only launched in October, Venn Man at iba pang Kalupitan ng Kapalaran, written in Alibata. 

The comics, mostly about tidbits of everyday college life, state university dilemmas (set definitely in UP), turns all these into humorous encounters. 

That's one of the best stuffs Manix does. Kikomachine mirrors how one has journeyed, traversed and grown up in college, whether privatized, public or state colleges and universities. College students gets easily familiar to Kikomachine yeah, but up until now that I'm a graduate, it's already difficult to just eliminate in one's system. 

I can tell for sure because during Saturday's (November 13's) Komikon 2010 at Starmall, Mandaluyong, not only students filed up on a long line for Manix's signature but also those eternally young at hearts. 

There are people whose love for Kikomachine's humor does not grow old. It's a reminder of fond memories. 

Like what I have for myself. I see myself and my set of friends (I miss them so) back in college--not in UP but in another state university, PUP, where progressive minds are as many as the poor rundown facilities. I see the way we would most of the time tease each other. Those meany barahans and all of the kalokohans. It makes me smile thinking that those kinds of--sometimes witty, most of the time nonsensical--banters could actually be a content of a comics that readers will laugh at. 

So it isn't entirely readers picking up Manix's humor. It's Manix picking up humor on our daily advances in this quite boring life making it korni to the bones. Who cares, laughing 

stupidly is a cure!

But more than all of those already mentioned, Kikomachine no matter how korni it gets sometimes, still addresses political suppressions to activist/progressive students, and press freedom and freedom of expression in general. It's a laughing stock that gives a hard beating to societal issues and concerns that continue to plague our country. 

Manix will make readers laugh, almost making political and societal issues sound absurd, and then it hits us. "That is actually happening." Manix surely doesn't only aspire for us to just laugh. He opens our eyes, makes us aware, and hopes that we don't stop at laughing. If you get what I mean. 

:)

And ooh, did you know that I lined up for two hours to get this-

Front cover. 

Inside where I got my sign. Always the fangirl. 

All photos by Rene Dilan. Thanks hepe. :)

The Last of NU

For the second time I broke up with a boyfriend. The first time was when Panic! at the Disco split up. This time, it's NU 107 saying goodbye. 


When I love something, I swear I love it. Who wouldn't if it's NU anyway huh?! Friendly to bands wanting to realize dreams, whether newbies or oldies. Playing 40 minutes if nonstop rock. Playing requests from and for listeners. Playing PATD. Playing Sugarfree. Playing every fucking rocking song in the planet! It was the home of NU rock. 


So don't ask me why I cried when I heard these last words, "NU is now signing off."


The reason why I started listening to NU four years ago was because 103.5 Alt rock, closed over reasons unknown too! That was the first radio station I'd really listen to rock to. But when it did close, it was not as emotional as NU's closing. Maybe because I was assured there's NU to catch my needs. And I swear, NU never failed me. And NU was the light that shaped the rock that i'm listening to right now. It really did. I'd discover artists and songs regardless of what era it first went out in the airwaves. Then I'd find out later on that said artist is already dead. Haha! That's one of the things I'd miss. The discovery of good music. 


I've said this too many times, I can live without television but not without radio. 


And now, my humble abode, it's gone. I'm a lost child. My younger brother asked me, "San na tayo makikinig?" No answer. 


Basta, ang dami ko pang gustong sabihin tulad ng dalampu't tatlong taon sa ere ng NU; ang maiiwan nitong tatak sa puso ng mga tagapakinig na lumaki at naimpluwensyahan sa bawat ikot ng cassete o ng cd; ang tulay na tawiran ng mga gustong maging bahagi ng industriya; sa lahat ng napaligaya; at sa lahat lahat ng musika. 


But all the good stuff ended. NU's sign off song was Huling El Bimbo by Eraseheards, a song that transcends all ages, a song every one surely knows. And as I cry, I sang along ripping my heart out, knowing it was the last time to. Last hums, last snap of fingers to the beat, last head bangs. Good bye. 


NU you are the best radio listeners ever had. Live on!