Scout: 2017 November-December

NOVEM B ER - DECEMBER 2017

GABBI GARC IA

game on S CO U T M AG . P H

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FREE MA GAZINE!

I S S U E NO . 2 9

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contents

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music i

4 - FOO D pop-up food stalls

spad

20

of

v

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p of s ade

PHOTO BY EDWARD JOSON

music i s

6 - FICTION holiday stories

14 - FOO D celebrity comfort food 18 - SC EN E scout creative talks 24 - FA SH IO N the great indoors 30 - ESSAY staying home is okay 32 - MUSIC mellow fellow 34 - ON TH E COVER gabbi garcia 42 - FA SH IO N northern style 48 - ART + DESI GN collage artists

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what do you like to do when you’re at home?

W W W . S C O U T M A G . P H

GROUP PUBLISHER

BEA J. LEDESMA

EDITOR IN CHIEF

LEX CELERA

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Nimu Muallam

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Denise Fernandez

SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST

Grace de Luna

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

Celene Sakurako

COPY EDITOR

Patricia Romualdez

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chise, Nielli Martinez, Anthea Reyes, Andrea V. Tubig

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS

Danica Condez, Karla Espiritu

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Miguel Alomajan, Koji Arboleda, Cru Camara, Edward Joson, Artu Nepomuceno, Andrei Suleik, Kris Villano

CONTRIBUTING VIDEOGRAPHERS

MV Isip, Richard Webb

CONTRIBUTING STYLISTS

Vince Crisostomo, Jill de Leon, Meg Manzano

CONTRIBUTING HAIR & MAKEUP ARTISTS

Janica Balasolla, Monique Señeres, Jason delos Reyes, Mark Rosales

INTERNS

Kathrina Crisostomo, Poj Gaerlan, Gian Latorre, Riza Malolos, Bryan Sochayseng, Alexa Sumulong

BOARD CHAIRPERSON

Alexandra Prieto-Romualdez

CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

J. Ferdinand De Luzuriaga

DEPUTY CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER

Atty. Rudyard Arbolado

VP/GROUP HR HEAD

Raymund Soberano

VP & CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER

Imelda C. Alcantara

SENIOR HR MANAGER

Ma. Leonisa L. Gabrieles

HR SPECIALIST

Reynalyn S. Fernandez

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/ EDITORIAL CONTENT PLANNER

Jullia Pecayo

HEAD OF OPERATIONS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Lurisa Ann Villanueva

SVP & GROUP SALES HEAD,

Felipe R. Olarte

AVP FOR SALES

Ma. Katrina Garcia-Dalusong

KEY ACCOUNT SUPERVISOR

Angelita Tan-Ibañez

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Thea Ordiales, Abby Ginaga, Charm Banzuelo, Liza Jison

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Mikaela Paula Alcause, Andie Zuñiga

SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Rechelle Nicdao

MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER

Jellic Tapia

EVENTS SUPERVISOR

Bianca Dalumpines

BRAND MARKETING SUPERVISOR

Ina Rodriguez

EVENTS ASSISTANT

Merjorie May Young

BRAND MARKETING ASSISTANT

Nicole Uson

MARKETING ASSISTANT

Carmina Anunciacion

MARKETING SENIOR GRAPHIC ARTIST

Roi De Castro

MARKETING GRAPHIC ARTIST

Janina David

PRODUCTION & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Jan Cariquitan

PRODUCTION ASSISTANT

Maricel Gavino

FINAL ART SUPERVISOR

Dennis Cruz

FINAL ART ASSISTANT

Argyl Leones

DISTRIBUTION SPECIALIST

Arnulfo Naron

DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANT

Angela Carlos-Quiambao

SUBSCRIPTION ASSISTANT

Blue Infante

LIASON ASSOCIATE

Rosito Subang

INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES

INQUIRER GROUP OF COMPANIES

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“Spend time with the dogs, cook, and sleep.”

ARTU NEPOMUCENO Fire Walk with Me (p. 42)

“Take all the naps I missed as a child. Or I slap on a face mask and pretend that’ll fix everything.”

NIELLI MARTINEZ She’s All That (p. 34)

“Reading Chuck Palahniuk. I like getting new styling concepts from outrageous novels.”

JILL DE LEON Woke Up Like This (p. 24)

“Sleeping. I never really valued sleep this much until late last year, so I’m doing all my catching up now.”

POJ GAERLAN Food for Thought (p. 14)

“Listen to music when I wake up.”

ANDREI SULEIK In the Comforts of the Internet (p. 32)

“Other than sleeping, I like sitting and sipping tea the most. Best for daydreaming for writing.”

ANTHEA REYES Deadbeat Holiday (p. 6)

@scout m a gp h s c o u t m a g p h@g m ail.c o m

4F Media Resource Plaza, Mola cor. Pasong Tirad Sts., Brgy. La Paz Makati City

03/11/2017 1:44 PM

Letter from the Editor

Me living life to the fullest in Baguio, circa 1999. We recently went up to shoot a Twin Peaksinspired fashion editorial (p.42) for this issue.

B

ecause I was born into a non-Catholic family, the Yuletide magic is lost on me. I felt like I was (and in a way, still am) part of the minority left behind when everyone else joined the national migration towards a particular Christmas feeling by the third quarter of the year.

When the morning TV shows announced x number of days until Dec. 25, I blinked and continued eating my breakfast.

When the Christmas lights were up during early October, I did not feel anything while gazing at these bright colorful things. I received presents on New Year’s Day. On Dec. 25, our family would just stay up late and have a better-than-usual dinner.

Even when my mother happily caved in and put up Christmas decorations in our Cavite home, where the houses of our neighbors in the suburb are far from each other and found in between the carabao grass, I felt nothing. That said, the feeling of Christmas for me is felt through Western films, good food, and the now-rounded corners of the internet. In other words, I’ve found my own definition of the holidays by going straight to the bottom line: comfort. When the days get shorter, the nights get longer, and the festivities occur more often, I believe that I’m participating in the holiday spirit through the collective pursuit of everything that is comfortable.

Scout’s 29th issue is all about the pursuit of comfort and finding people at their most comfortable. We asked our celebrity friends for their favorite comfort food and headed to cool Baguio for a Twin Peaks-inspired fashion editorial (plus a short weekend getaway) (p. 42). We did a profile on IV OF SPADES (p. 20) and Mellow Fellow (p. 32), two musical

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outfits whose sounds make us feel pretty great. We invited young writers to write fiction based on the prompt “holiday,” (p. 6) and we asked collagists to complete a tableau that, for me, resembles comfort. (p. 18) One thing that the idea of comfort and Christmas have in common is that both are best enjoyed with people you like. I’m glad that this issue is a product of collaborative effort, and more importantly, a fun project for everyone involved.

That said, comfort doesn’t necessarily equate to effortlessness, and this issue is a real doozy. When I find myself caught in the crossfire of deadlines, I tend to withdraw and get antsy. But there are some events, or experiences, or little memories that catch you by surprise in a good way, and help you get back into a good mood.

After several hours of shooting late into the night, I find myself escorting our go-getter cover girl Gabbi Garcia (p. 34) to the lobby of our office building. I bid her goodbye, not knowing whether I should hug her or shake her hands, and she raises her hand for a high five and says, “Uy, maraming salamat orbskie!” She promptly enters the van approaching the runway.

“Salamat rin, lodi,” I say. We wave good bye to each other again, this time both of us smiling.

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food

4

By CELENE SAKURAKO Photography by CRU CAMARA Illustrations by DANICA CONDEZ

Pop-up street food stalls are known to come and go; we’ve picked four game changers we hope are here to stay

takeout, please!

TAE KWON DOPE white bread, Korean BBQ, gochujang mayo, bean sprouts, spring onions, sesame

@po.ma nil

PO

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An Asian food stop serving tasty buns and noodles with gentleness, grit, and coziness in mind

@idiotsandwich_ph

IDIOT SANDWICH

CUMIN BEEF NOODLES dry wheat noodles, stewed beef with cumin, homemade chili sauce, cilantro

This anti-sandwich pop-up concept has creative and hefty sandwiches with quirky names

Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira-inspired chicken joint also dabbles in events, merchandising, and branding

ial @tetsuo.offic

TETSUO

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KARAAGE overnight marinated, boneless fried chicken, rice, three spices

FRIED CHICKEN eight-hour marinated fried chicken, rice, three spices

SABAW DUMPLINGS

ng @sabawdumpli

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Dumpling shop offers slow-cooked handmade xiao long bao and potstickers with a Filipino twist

XIAO LONG BAO SAMPLER Bula Long Bao, Tino Long Bao, Tablea Xiao Long Bao, Leche Flan Xiao Long Bao

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6

fiction

deadbeat holiday The prompt was simple enough: Write about the year-end holidays in a couple of hundred words. The result is a strange brew of short fiction that reflects our outlook towards this year’s supposedly merry festivities Featuring photographs by PATRICK L. JAMORA

everything will fall into place

By LEX CELERA IN THE BREEZY sala with the old rectangular narra table, the usual suspects are there. Tita Beth has brought her famous binagoongan, and her husband Tito Boy also has his Lucky Strike to curb his equally famous smoking habit. Their son, my cousin Anton, is there, with his red eyes and awfully quiet demeanor. Yaya Rose is in her usual spot in the kitchen. Lola sits at one end of the table, where Lolo used to sit. My sister Liza is now old enough to sit with the grown-ups, and is now sitting in my Lola’s old seat, beside her.

But there’s still one unoccupied chair, and save for my Mom, everyone’s realization fills the room as soon as we raise our hands to pray. The seat at the opposite end was Kuya Marcus’—always the ideal kuya, who usually led the same prayer during our family dinners since we were young enough to remember these things, and without him, we were lost on what to do. It was Lolo who taught us how to pray before each meal.

Our usual prayers felt mechanical and sounded the same, because they were. But Kuya Marcus took these family dinner prayers seriously. After much prodding, Liza begrudgingly prays, her eyes locked on Dad’s lips, mouthing the whole thing. It was the same usual prayer except for one sentence.

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Please spare us from harm and danger. Except for those who hurt Kuya. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

The conversation after dinner feels empty. Tito Boy leaves for the veranda more often than normal to smoke. No one is laughing. Lola and Mom don’t even touch their food. My father leaves to turn on the TV as soon as he finishes his plate. After everyone finishes their dinner, no one stays in the sala.

I am about to return to my room when I hear an all too familiar, hushed, but still piercing cry coming from my parents’ room. I take a look inside and see my mother clutching Marcus’ college graduation picture, the light from outside the room reaching only to her neck. “Parang awa ng Diyos, umuwi ka na, anak…”

The first time I saw Mom like this was the night we found out.

Liza and I weren’t allowed to see the body when it happened.

But we both saw it when a local news station showed the CCTV footage of what happened to Kuya on Facebook. “I pray for the soul of this young one,” one comment read. “Everything will fall into place through God’s will.”

I look at my computer screen and blink. The screen blinks back. n

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the best reason to get up for school (after class, of course)

Nov 20, Mon, 12nn - 6pm UST Baseball Field Talk on Publication by Scout Editorial Team #ScoutCampusTour #SCOUTxUST

POWERED BY

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WITH

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN COOPERATION WITH

MEDIA PARTNERS:

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8

fiction

spell tongue

By ANDREA V. TUBIG WHAT I REMEMBER about being seven years old is how I couldn’t spell the word “tongue.”

So when I ran into my seven-year-old self at the underpass connecting Rufino and Paseo de Roxas, I wasn’t surprised when she made me spell “tongue.” She had on the purple dress I wore for my seventh birthday and she carried a yellow plastic bag. She tiptoed to kiss me on the lips, with exactly 20 minutes left before the year ended. She smelled like drugstore cologne and fruity shampoo. I smelled like seafood cup noodles and corporate slavery. She said, wow you’re fatter than I imagined you to be. We laughed. Her eyes said where are you going, why aren’t you home. But I know she hated confrontation and afternoon naps and sayote. She asked if I still liked kissing my pillows and pretending they’re Aladdin’s shoulders and Bembol Roco. I said yes but these days I imagine they’re married history professors and sweet boys from Isabela and Lou Salvador, Jr. And I do more than just kissing. She said, aah, which translates to what the hell does that even mean and seriously, Lou Salvador, Jr.? From the yellow plastic bag, she took out a pirated DVD copy of Kama Sutra I found in Grandpa’s bookshelf 14 years ago. I saw the curiosity and confusion in her huge Bambi eyes and I wanted to tell her that a few months from now, she’ll walk in on our parents watching that DVD. They won’t even notice her but their sighs will play in her head for the next two weeks. Fourteen years later, she’ll end up pointing a gun at Dad because she’ll catch him watching that same DVD with a stranger.

She’ll be kicked out on New Year’s Eve by Mom, who will continue being idiotically in love with a cheating scumbag. I opened my mouth to say something but the sound of fireworks and the future and the angry rumbling of buses from above filled the hollowed underpass.

I wanted to tell her that things will change. That Bembol Roco will stop being hot in the next couple of years because his jawline will remind her of someone else’s. That she’ll start liking sayote. That the word tongue will be the least of her worries. That only her eyes will remain. n

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10 fiction

an excerpt from xian mercado’s autobiography, chapter 2, the real xander ford

By CHISE THE DATE was Oct. 8, 2017, the start of my filmmaking career.

50 years ago, I posted two videos of our late great president ng Republic of the Panis at ang aking super close beshie-friend na si Xander Ford. Not bragging, but many would agree that those videos were the catalysts kung paano nagbago yung tingin ng mga tao kay Xander, which led him to become the people’s champion later on.

Naaalala ko like it was yesterday. There were Christmas lights in the office, puno ng mistletoes yung kwarto ni Xander, and gifts from prepubescent fangirls were abundant. We were chillin’ like villains sa office when nag-aya si Xander bumaba bigla from our comfortable, air-conditioned rooms to make salamuha with the lesser beings of the streets. I was hesitant at first, afraid of getting our sponsored Balenciaga sneaks dirty, and of not knowing why he was so eager to go, but I eventually gave in to Xander’s puppy dog eyes.

We made our way to the quaint karinderya downstairs where they served local holiday delicacies like ispagheti and hambergers. I’ll never forget what he said to me, “Bes, bilhan natin ng pagkain yung mga bata. Naaawa ako pag

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nanlilimos sila. Nakikita ko yung sarili ko sa kanila. Gusto ko sila tulungan kahit sa maliit na bagay lang, tutal malapit na naman ang Pasko.” I was so touched, as in, grabe, so nice naman niya. That’s when I decided to take the video even though he blatantly said to me, “Wag mo akong kuhanan ng video, ha. As in, wag mo akong kuhanan ng video nang patago para i-post sa social media at maging viral ’tong ginagawa kong kabutihan.”

I posted the video online and the world was shookt because of Xander’s kindness. They couldn’t believe the moments of pure, unadulterated selflessness that I captured.

Many people think that I changed the game of hidden camera videos that day, with my raw, genuine, and in-your-face style of stalker videography (which I did naman talaga), but we can never forget the boy that started it all.

After that, I consistently posted the secret videos of Xander’s good deeds on my social media page against his will.

He was truly the Christmas savior we never had. I may have become a National Artist for film, but a film is nothing without an amazing subject. Sleep, my little prince, fall asleep. n

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PRESENTS

EAT, DRINK & GIVE BACK

A PORTION OF THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO MBY PET RESCUE AND SANCTUARY

DEC 2, SAT, 11AM-9PM LOYOLA GRAND VILLAS

@nolisoliph POWERED BY

@nolisoli.ph

#HingeBYG

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

IN COOPERATION WITH LOYOLA GRAND VILLAS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION

12 fiction

irma and her emmanuels

By ANTHEA REYES THE CLINIC doesn’t close during the holidays.

Maybe on Christmas. Maybe. But for the rest of the holidays? Contrary to what most people think, babies don’t stop dropping until late into Christmas Eve. “Yes, we’re open,” reads the sign on her front door, blatantly welcoming any girl desperate enough to pass by.

A lot of the girls who come to her are students. High school, college, med school, law school. Four times out of five, these girls are probinsyanas who ventured into the city sponsored by their parents or some extended family member in the hope of giving better chances for the rest of the family. The girls usually come right before Christmas break, right before they have to come home.

If their parents didn’t know, if no one knew, then it didn’t happen. And so they look for her, for Ate Irma. All of them doubtful, all of them scared, all of them ungrateful.

The story’s always the same. They got out, they fell in love, they got fucked, and then they wanted out again.

Away from this kind of responsibility, away from that kind of life.

“I just want more out of life,” one of the patients once told her. As if there was more than having another life inside them. As if there was more than this miracle inside their womb.

There’s nothing more than this. There’s nothing “more to life” than that kind of joy. If it was up to her, if she got

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to keep the baby of the only man she had ever cared for, if that child hadn’t been forcefully sucked from her womb by hands that raised her, then she wouldn’t have wanted anything more out of life. Other than the one she would have borne.

So here she is. Taking care of the women who would throw away what she would tear heaven and earth for.

But it’s okay. It’s fine. If these ungrateful bitches don’t want them, if they want to waste their chance, then she’ll be right there to catch it for them. She will take care of the miracle they can so willingly, so callously throw away.

The clock on her wall strikes a minute past midnight.

It’s officially Dec. 25 now. Her last customer has just left, alive if a little unsteady from the surgery. She takes the precious little thing that was just cast out of its home. She glances at the other little bodies carefully preserved in the beautiful jars she cleans at least twice a day. For later.

For now, the little baby in her hands will do.

If their mothers don’t want them, then she will take them and welcome them into her own womb. Make space for them again and again until one catches, until the damage is undone.

The baby twitches. She always reserves the freshest one for her Noche Buena. n

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What inspired you to get into the art form?

I’ve always been a fan of rap and hip-hop. So I guess it was just very natural that rap was the kind of music that helped inspire me and push me to really pursue what I wanted to do rather than what was expected of me.

What pushed you to put your material out there for everyone?

It happened very naturally and organically. It started with just my friends, and then it grew from my friends to a bigger circle, and that circle grew and grew until now. I feel like it’s just a ripple effect that’s just growing and I’m doing everything I can to keep it from stagnating and keep it growing as far and as wide as possible.

Why did you choose this form of expression?

I really didn’t expect any of this to happen because I was really just making music from my bedroom and I was doing it for myself as a form of therapy. It’s only recently that I really understood how big my fan base is.

How does your collaboration with San Miguel Pale Pilsen inspire you as an artist?

My dad really loved it when he was alive. I think it resonates with me because it’s original. I think that the only way that concept was

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keeping it real

PHOTOGRAPHED BY PAOLO CRODUA AS SEEN ON Scout NOVEMBER 2015

SHAKING UP the local music scene is rap artist, Mito Fabie, or more famously known as “Curtismith.” Under relaxing beats, Curtismith’s rhymes pack a lyrical punch, and both his music and personality have caught the attention of many.

In collaboration with San Miguel Pale Pilsen, Curtismith brings another fresh new tune for his fans with his song entitled, Ambition.

Curtismith is known for pouring his heart out into his songs, and he does just that with Ambition. This song talks about his struggles in following his passion and staying true to himself.

We got to hang out with Curtismith to ask him a few questions about his music career and what this song means to him.

advertorial 13

Mito Fabie a.k.a.

CURTISMITH talks about chasing dreams while being true to yourself in his latest single, Ambition

created, with its taste and flavor, was through trying to distinguish itself away from everyone else. Not trying to imitate anyone, being original.

Who is Curtismith? Who is Mito Fabie?

I’m really just a person, a kid who wants to show people that you can succeed from following your passion. As long as you dedicate yourself fully, you don’t slack off, and you make the sacrifices that are necessary. You don’t have to compromise your lifestyle just because you’re following your passion.

What is your favorite line from your new song, Ambition?

The opening line of the second verse—“Sitting on the sand looking at the stars while I’m traveling the lands of Jupiter then to Mars”.

What is your message to all aspiring artists who are just starting to pursue their passion in music?

Put in the work, make sacrifices but try to see things such as your progress in an objective manner. n

Listen to Ambition by Curtismith on Spotify and Soundcloud.

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14 food

“Lasagna. It’s basically a spaghetti-flavored cake made with layers of beef and tomato topped with cheesy icing. x ”

TOMMY ESGUERRA “I love burgers, hotdogs or pizzas! Reminds me of California! This place near our school would have one-dollar specials for students! It was perfect because we were broke!”

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Everybody’s got some kind of junk food as either guilty pleasures made for cheat days or snacks that simply make them feel right at home. Yup, this includes your favorite celebrities Compiled by DENISE FERNANDEZ Illustrations by POJ GAERLAN

LA AGUINALDO “Two-piece Jollibee Chickenjoy with Pancake House waffles. Best collab since Snoop Dogg x Martha Stewart. x ”

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PHOTOGRAPHED BY RALPH MENDOZA (TOMMY), AND PAOLO CRODUA (LA, ARYANNA, AND JESS)

ARYANNA EPPERSON

“I’m a self-proclaimed noodle queen and anyone close to me knows that. From instant to gourmet, noodles are my go-to munchies.”

JESS CONNELLY

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16 food

ELMO MAGALONA

“Shawarma and instant ramen! I call them my go-to cheat food. (I eat pizza on the regular because it’s my fave so I did not include it.)

I love shawarma because it’s easy, deliciously greasy, and affordable. I love instant spicy ramen because it’s convenient and I have a special way of eating it— adding peanut butter.”

KAILA ESTRADA

“Salmon sashimi! I’ve always been a fan of Japanese food. I remember tasting my first slice of salmon sashimi and I haven’t stopped loving it since then. ”

“My all-time favorite comfort food is a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak. As soon as it gets in my tummy, I immediately feel positive and relaxed.”

KHALIL RAMOS

ENCHONG DEE

“My childhood was full of chicken dishes. Any kind of preparation was and is a treat for me—fried, steamed, BBQ, roasted, grilled, in soup, etc. We used to have a poultry farm and chicken was a staple food every day.

So now, Peri-Peri Chicken is my comfort food. You can have your chicken any way you want it. ”

“Ramen. I discovered it when comfort was most needed—lots of hungover mornings and sleepless nights from heartbreaks!

Now it’s a treat and a Sunday cheat meal!”

JASMINE CURTIS-SMITH Scout 29.indd 16

JAMESON BLAKE

“I like to eat popcorn when I’m relaxed, especially when watching movies. Oh, and it’s actually one of the healthiest snacks. ”

“Potato Corner because Potato Corner!”

JANINE GUTIERREZ

PHOTOGRAPHED BY ARTU NEPOMUCENO (ELMO), BJ PASCUAL (JANINE), CENON NORIAL III (GABBI), PAOLO CRODUA (ENCHONG), ANDREA BELDUA (KAILA), AND KOJI ARBOLEDA (KHALIL, JASMINE, AND JAMESON)

“My favorite comfort food? Chocolate chip pancakes topped with whipped cream!

The fluffier the pancakes, the more comforting it is. ”

GABBI GARCIA

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18 scene

hey you,

Bea Ledesma

Martine Cajucom

Shaira Luna

PHOTOS BY KRIS VILLANO

Scout EIC Lex Celera with Jorge Wieneke V

thanks for coming I’m glad we got to learn together

I’M NOT really inclined to head outdoors during Saturdays (It’s scientifically proven that Saturdays are the ideal days for staying in, aside from rainy holidays and the Christmas breaks of our childhood), but last Oct. 14 was a different case, for the following reasons: 1) It was sweldo day the day before.

2) It was a beautiful day. The sun was out, but I wasn’t sweltering in the heat.

3) It was Scout Creative Talks!

Let me crunch the numbers: More than a thousand attendees listening to nine speakers discussing eight different topics over more than seven hours, followed by a couple of hours of libations in one afternoon. How crazy is that?

Here are some of my own personal favorite moments leading up to, during, and immediately after this year’s Scout Creative Talks: ● When I got word that tickets were sold out less than two weeks before the event, I felt relief, immediately followed by anxiety. How am I going to face more than a thousand people on stage? ● Me running late and finding myself on stage with no rehearsed opening remarks. I’m sorry.

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● Jorge (Similarobjects) taking some time to just play some of his music. ● Shaira Luna floating away after her talk. Just kidding. But she and her talk were marvelous. I teared up when she teared up. ● The reaction of each speaker after I gave them our thank you gift on stage and shook their hand. Best one goes to Rik and Pat of Proudrace: “Bakit isa lang?” ● When I opened Asch’s set during the afterparty with a Spotify playlist. Horrendous, I know. ● Despite shuffling between the backstage and my own seat, I managed to spend some time listening to the talks beside my sister.

It was her first Scout event! ● I know this cheesy, but all the times when people asked a question, in person and through the #ScoutCreativeTalks hashtag.

If you were one of the people there, thank you, and I wished you learned as much as I did. There’s beauty in people gathering under one roof to learn and openly discuss topics we care about.

If you weren’t there, I’ll take it that you read it this far because you’re interested. See you next year! It’ll be a blast. — LEX

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H G I H S R E L ROL 20 music

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music 21

S Here’s why your tito’s new favorite young band IV OF SPADES is also everyone else’s

By DENISE FERNANDEZ Photography by EDWARD JOSON

IT’S REALLY, really hard to miss the boys of IV OF SPADES the moment they enter a room. Clad in color-coordinated, ’70s-inspired outfits (bandanas, round sunglasses, turtlenecks, checkered blazers—you know, the works), Zild Benitez, Badjao de Castro, Blaster Silonga, and Unique Salonga all look like they exited a time machine from four decades ago and found themselves right smack in the middle of the 2010s. Unsurprisingly, their funky, falsetto-filled songs match their entire getup. A week after releasing their charttopping track Hey Barbara, IV OF SPADES dropped by our office building for an Inq!Pop session livestreamed online.

“I love the new song,” I immediately tell bassist Zild after their set. He smiles with gratitude and points to the rest of the members.

“Thanks, our lolas love it too,” he answers, laughing.

“We’re lolo and lola-approved!”

Once you place a vintage-influenced band into the modern era, there’s no denying that grandparents, titos, and titas everywhere are bound to fall in love with them. But do the kids love these guys just as much?

Fuck yeah.

In an era where both millennials and Gen Z-ers obsess over vinyl, analog photography, old cartoons, and retro aesthetics, IV OF SPADES couldn’t have entered the game at a better time. Playing at this year’s Scout Music Fest, the band emerged as the crowd’s surprise favorite performer, impressing both audiences and veteran musicians alike.

Though some may easily dismiss them as an eccentric and manufactured pop band, the inevitable rise of IV OF SPADES is here and they’ve only just gotten started.

Like most struggling bands in the local music industry, the four-piece group was far from kicking off with a bang.

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IV OF SPADES formed in 2014 when their manager, Allan Silonga, was on a search for band members who could collaborate with his son Blaster, who would become the quartet’s lead guitarist. A musician himself who knew many people in the scene, Allan eventually tapped his friends’ sons who were around Blaster’s age—Zild (bass) and Badjao (drums)—to join the group. Unique came in as lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist not so long after the members remembered that he was already writing his own music.

IV OF SPADES’ first major shot at breaking out into the scene as a band was at Wanderband in 2015. They played their first-ever released song Ilaw Sa Daan, only to be beat out by Oh, Flamingo! to perform in the following year’s Wanderland Music and Arts Festival. This forced the band into a slump for a brief period. Zild says, “After Wanderband, we kind of stopped, because it was really sad for us, with vulnerable hearts, trying to pursue music. For six months, we weren’t writing our own songs. When we played at Scout Music Fest, we were just really surprised that people actually liked who we are while we were being ourselves. It was like, wow, people actually like us now?”

In between, Zild and Blaster joined Eat Bulaga’s Music Hero, an eight month-long televised competition among musicians with talent for various instruments. Both competed using their bass and electric guitar respectively, with Blaster eventually coming out as winner and taking home the P500,000 prize—which would help fund the band’s future productions. Zild then figured that they couldn’t stay dormant and directionless forever and shared his ideas for rebranding IV OF SPADES. When Hey Barbara was released, accompanied by a bright and visually striking music video, it paved way for the band to gain more and more traction online. Music-wise, their funk and disco tracks are easy to dance to, thanks to upbeat melodies and contagiously catchy bass and guitar

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22 music

riffs—though the band claims that it wasn’t their initial intention to sonically mirror the ’70s.

“Sa totoo lang ayaw namin ma-label na ’70s band.

Siguro ’yun talaga ’yung first impression sa amin because of the clothes and the music. It’s very strongly influenced by disco, by our parents’ music,” Zild says. “It’s funny, whenever we read comments on social media, there’d be some old people saying that we’re reviving the Manila sound—VST & Co., Hotdog—disco, basically. We’re happy that we’re making them and their kids dance.”

Outside of their music, what makes IV OF SPADES quite literally stand out from other bands is their commitment to style and branding, as well as each member’s meticulous attention to detail. You’re probably never going to watch a gig of theirs where they aren’t all dressed in a similar fashion. In the age of Instagram and YouTube, music is turning out to be not just a listening experience, but a visual one as well. “We’re not just doing music, we’re also making art. And we’re trying to communicate to people through art.

So we want to visualize what they’re hearing. This is what we look like. The way we play our music—this is how you should portray it in your mind. We’re just dictating what we want them to see and feel. And we’re really just experimenting along the way. We’re definitely taking it seriously, but at the same time, we’re being natural about it. Maybe after two years we’d be a different type of band,” elaborates Zild.

For a group that clashed and underwent an identity crisis in the beginning (they even changed their band name to Ecclesia for approximately two weeks), chemistry and songwriting come easy to IV OF SPADES, with various roles shared among members.

“Unique would be the baby. Badjao solves things because I have a lot of ideas scattering everywhere, so he’s always trying to organize our thoughts. He’s the one who goes like, ‘Okay, let’s be realistic…’ I’m the impulsive person who keeps on trying new things and ideas—the perfectionist! Sometimes, that’d be the root of some tension in the studio. But [Unique] is the most committed one! He’d just write the songs and be on time always. Blaster is…” Zild trails off and sighs.

“A funny guy,” Unique chimes in as he chuckles.

Zild tries to compose himself in between laughs. “[Blaster] is the apple among the oranges. He’s a different

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guy! His humor is just out of this world. He’s not from the earth. I mean, he knits and alters his own clothes sometimes. He’s our hairstylist, too. He’s from another world, I’m telling you!”

It’s moments of laughter like this that remind people that despite IV OF SPADES being a Warner Music-signed band prepping for an album release in the first half of 2018, they’re still a bunch of kids who, with no better way to put it, just genuinely love the art of performing and making music.

“You know, we used to be called Chop Suey,” says Zild.

“Imagine 14- and 15-year-olds trying to be cool, trying to be rockstars! Then we realized, you know what? This is not us!

And here we are now—the dorky band IV OF SPADES!” Nearing the end of the interview, I’m down to my last question with Unique and Zild, while Blaster and Badjao are still stuck in Quezon City rush-hour traffic. Future plans?

I ask.

“Let’s ask Blaster; he’s calling,” Zild tells me instead, holding his phone up. He puts Blaster on speakerphone and says, “Anong future plan natin?”

“Ano? Future plan ng IV OF SPADES?” Blaster’s voice replies with earnest confusion. The room bursts into more laughter when he responds like a high school student being asked a math question on the spot. “Paanong future plan?”

Blaster ponders out loud with long uhh’s and umm’s before finally answering, “Eh ’di, mag-Saguijo nang habangbuhay!”

He quickly turns serious amid laughs. “Maglaro sa Lollapalooza, Madison Square Garden, ganun.”

“That’s a little blurry for now, but I believe in this guy if he says it!” adds Zild. “I guess we want to represent Manila and show that we have quality music. There’s a sense of culture in the Philippines that the world should hear. That’s our goal.”

At their gig at Social House before the photo shoot, members of veteran band Cheats compliment IV OF SPADES on their music and knack for performing. By the time they’re back at the office and in front of the camera (with styling by themselves, of course, with some help from Blaster), each member poses so naturally you’d think these 17- to 20-yearolds had been doing this all their lives. Perhaps Zild’s—or who knows, maybe even Blaster’s—vision for IV OF SPADES isn’t so impossible after all. n

PHOTOGRAPHER’ S ASSISTANT RENZ MART REYES SPECIAL THANKS TO GEORGE

“We’re not just doing music, we’re also making art. And we’re trying to communicate to people through art. So we want to visualize what they’re hearing...We’re definitely taking it seriously, but at the same time, we’re being natural about it.”

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We followed IV OF SPADES around for a night! Check out Scout’s Facebook page to watch the video.

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24 fashion

woke up like this A girl explores the great indoors in this cozy-chic fashion editorial

Photography by MIGUEL ALOMAJAN Styling by JILL DE LEON

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Opposite page: CIVIL REGIME jacket, The Nines at Uptown Mall CALL IT SPRING earrings, Greenbelt 3 This page: STUSSY T-shirt, The Nines at Uptown Mall GILIGAN O’MALLEY kimono, target.com ALDO earrings, Greenbelt 5 stylist’s own pants

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JONES NEW YORK button-down shirt, jny.com ALDO accessories, Greenbelt 5 stylist’s own pants

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fashion 27 THE HUNDREDS hoodie, The Nines at Uptown Mall OXYGEN shorts, Glorietta 2 FOREVER 21 earrings, SM Makati

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28 fashion

CALL IT SPRING earrings, Greenbelt 3 OXYGEN top, Glorietta 2

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fashion 29 FOREVER 21 skirt, SM Makati ALDO earrings, Greenbelt 5 HANGDIANPICAO jacket, lazada.com.ph model’s own bralette

feat. UNA and FLUFFY Hair and Makeup by MONIQUE SEÑERES of NARS COSMETICS Photographer’s assistant JET SOLIMAN Stylist’s assistants MATT PANES and GIAN LATORRE

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30 essay

the ar t of st aying home CELENE SAKURAKO falls out of love with the nightlife and finds a new version of herself inside the four walls of her room ILLUSTRATION BY KARLA ESPIRITU

Anyone who knows me well or who watches my Instagram stories knows that I get around. In the two years that I’ve been in Manila since moving out of Tokyo, I’ve gained a reputation for being pretty much everywhere. Art openings, gigs, parties, collection launches—you name it, I’ve probably been there, Instagrammed that. It’s not uncommon for people to come up to me and tell me they’ve seen me here and there.

Truth is, work aside, I used to go out probably at least five times a week, and attend two, three, or sometimes more happenings in just one night. And I never really questioned it.

Born and bred in the city, I’ve always been accustomed to being out and about. If you asked me if it was tiring, I’d quickly refute the question with a resounding “no.” It’s just always how it’s been for me.

That is, until recently. Triggered by a traumatic breakup, I found myself going out less and staying at home more. I went from going out five times a week, to thrice, to twice, to once a week. The four far-too-familiar walls of my room where I’d come home every night for the past two years suddenly seemed cold.

The space where I found solace after a full night of being out had somehow gone from friend to stranger. The queen-sized bed I would crash into, party after party, no longer seemed as welcoming as it used to be. My room abruptly felt different. It was as if it had become stagnant and lifeless. When I stopped going out, it was as if everything else also froze in time.

There were days I would stare at my walls, zoning out, thinking of ways to entertain myself. I’d turn on the television, scroll through random sites on the internet, play games, watch a couple movies...but none of these seemed to give me the same stimulation as it would when I was out. Something as simple as logging onto Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram became something that I dreaded. Seeing others at places I would have been instead of inside became the main source of feelings of #FOMO. By being at home, I felt like I wasn’t doing anything productive. I felt as stagnant and lifeless as the things laid in the confines of my room.

So, I tried to go out again to all the events and places I frequented so often. Instead of heading straight home from

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work, I’d stop by the usual bars and joints where I used to find myself. But somehow something was different. I no longer felt the same. Once again, I experienced feelings of unfamiliarity in familiar places. It was as if the places I’d been, the people I’d met, had all begun to seem like petty phases.

But after driving myself home and being greeted by the once daunting four walls of my room, I would feel a tinge of happiness.

I found that in the weeks I spent holed up alone indoors, I had actually begun to enjoy the new me that stayed at home. My room, once again, was as welcoming as it was before, if not even more so. My place no longer looked like a time portal, where things would stay stagnant and cold.

Time began to move again just the same—maybe even a little faster than before. I found myself planning how I’d spend my newly claimed “me time” that seemed previously non-existent.

Things that were merely chores like fixing my bed, washing my dirty dishes, doing my laundry, vacuuming my floors, somehow felt a little more satisfying now that I was actually taking the time to do them. There was no need to rush, and no pressure to finish, because I didn’t need to be anywhere else. If I wanted to take a break and watch some Netflix, paint my nails, maybe even take a walk, these things were all still at my own disposal.

I didn’t feel the heavy feeling that used to plague me before of “not having enough time.” I scrolled through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and I didn’t feel that fear of missing out anymore, because now, I was choosing to stay at home.

An invite to anything is no longer an instant yes for me because it’s finally easy for me to say no. Staying at home has actually turned into something that I can now say is something to do, somewhere to be. It’s not the last stop at the end of the day, but the first stop, or at least an alternate option. And no, staying in is not the “boring” thing to do. It may not be what others might consider exciting, but excitement is rather subjective, don’t you think? In a world that glorifies extroverts and parties and the latest happenings, there is a place for the many who prefer the spaces of their homes. After all, not everyone is built to constantly be out and about.

Now, when I sit inside the four walls of my room, a calm washes over me that I never felt before—a type of security, a feeling that reassures me and says, “Welcome home.” While one might think it’s a sign of age, or a quiet rebellion of the body that demands me to settle down, I see it as a powerful statement. Staying at home is like a gift of time and space you give to yourself, because sometimes, living fast is moving slow.

And, there’s nothing more powerful than saying no to things that no longer make sense anymore. Although I still find myself out at all the places I frequent before, I no longer feel the need to be anywhere. I now carry a feeling of comfort knowing that I can always just stay at home. n

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Sad crooner MELLOW FELLOW discusses the dynamics of being a self-proclaimed internet artist and why existing solely online is a-okay

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STYLING BY BRYAN SOCHAYSENG STYLIST’S ASSISTANT KATHRINA CRISOSTOMO SHOT AT PURA VIDA MANILA

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Interview by CELENE SAKURAKO Photography by ANDREI SULEIK

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WHEN 22-year-old Ralph Lawrence “Polo” Reyes first enters the office in his basic striped tee, beige shorts, white Adidas kicks, and a fresh new semi-mohawk buzz cut, it’s easy for anyone to dismiss him as a regular dude dropping by to visit a friend. After all, no one really knows the face of this self-taught jizz jazz-infused dream pop artist going by the alias Mellow Fellow, who’s gotten himself quite a following online, as well as hundreds of thousands of views and listens on both YouTube and Spotify. Scour his SoundCloud and you’ll notice that there isn’t a single photo of him in any of his uploads, nor any indication of who or where the voice behind breakout slow tune Dancing is actually from.

Since he first uploaded his instrumental guitar song garage604 six years ago, Polo has somehow managed to conceal his identity throughout all three of his albums—“Mellow Fellow” (2014), “604 DIAMOND STREET” (2015), and most recently “Jazzy Robinson” (2017). He half-jokingly admits that it was a marketing scheme at first, perhaps even a jest that his location reads “Not from the Philippines,” when in fact he’s a Manila native hailing from Sucat, Muntinlupa City.

Polo confides, “You know, I’m not very photogenic. And quite honestly, I’m not really as confident as I should be. I’ve been playing guitar for like 10 years now, but I only started singing three years ago, and I still don’t consider myself a good singer. Plus, music to me is a hobby. It’s not really something I’d do career-wise. Yeah, sure, I’ll make a few bucks here and there, but to earn a living? Not really.

It’s just a question of passion, and I love doing it. I mean who knows, I might not even be making music next year, but right now, it’s what I love.”

Despite the buzz that he’s gained both here and overseas, Polo is satisfied with being called an “internet artist” and remaining so.

He’s found comfort in the shadows of the web behind his melancholic, guitar-driven jams that all stem from a recent breakup after a four-year relationship. For this Mellow Fellow, all he needs is his music, his drive to create, and the sanctuary of the World Wide Web.

Why not?

I don’t really see any labels here that I’d want to be with. I mean if they approached me, I would check them out, but I’m not really into signing labels. I’m an independent artist.

I want to do whatever I want to do. Sure, let’s talk, but if you’re the kind of label that would manipulate my sound, image, and social media, then no. I don’t want to be limited and put into a box or get an image that a record label might want for me.

Is that how you see the local music scene–limited?

I can’t really speak about the local music scene because I feel like I’m a newcomer. I’m not really around much, and with intention that I don’t really like being out. In my opinion, the local music scene is sonically popping out, but I feel like a lot of them are taking music way too seriously by making riffs and scenes.

I mean, sure, okay, if you want to throw shade or your artistic freedom is defined by shade or hate, fine, whatever, but for me, music is just music. You can analyze music as much as you want, but music is such a subjective form of art. I don’t take it seriously at all. I mean, I’m serious enough to care about the quality of my music, but not for me to get stressed about [it], like, I have to get signed to a label, pay my bills, record an album. It’s just a thing for me, and apparently people like it, so thank you.

Are the “riffs and scenes” why you don’t perform live?

Honestly, I don’t perform because I don’t know how to play my songs [live]. I don’t know how to play them exactly how I do from the recording. I used to write songs with a guitar in the park and a notebook—very old fashioned. I used to play a bunch of chords and sing a melody, but right now, I’d just open FL Studios and fuck around with the guitar.

I’d be like “Okay, this is a really good chord progression,” and I put drums, then guitar leads. The music comes first, then the lyrics

come second. Then, two days later, I start to forget. I also believe that the songs put up online are good enough for me. They’re best listened to there.

What do you mean when you say Mellow Fellow is an “intimate” project?

Well, Mellow Fellow is more of a project for me to release sad shit—things that have been tiring me like school, family problems, and being rejected by the ladies. I don’t really write happy stuff. I would, but it’s rare. And if I did, maybe I’d make them for a different project and not this one.

What’s the “sad shit” that’s inspired you to write your latest album “Jazzy Robinson”?

I was in a four-year relationship with someone whom I really, really, really, loved and this year, we broke it off. We’re on good terms, but we were together for four years, basically our whole college life. And that was really painful; you’re with someone for so long and the next day, they’re gone. Almost all of my songs on my SoundCloud are about her. But I’m writing different songs that aren’t about her now. About other people and experiences and shit. A guy’s got to live; guy’s got to move on.

Is that what your upcoming album is going to be about?

Yes. I started writing it this year. It was supposed to be a joint EP with Clairo of three to four songs, but that didn’t work out, so I decided to make an album for myself because, who knows if I’ll still be doing this next year? It’ll include songs Dancing—which yeah, is about my ex—but, other than that, it’ll have How was your day? featuring Clairo, New Year’s Eve, a song I made with Floor Cry, and also a track with Teenage Granny a.k.a Aly Cabral. The album is still unnamed but it’ll have nine to 10 tracks, maybe 12, and hopefully it’ll come out by the end of this year. n

So, “internet artist,” huh? I’d say most musicians would want to get away from that label, whereas you actually want to be called that. Why’s that?

Yeah, I like being called an internet artist.

Without it, I don’t even think I’d be anywhere.

I don’t consider myself “somewhere” per se, but you know, without the internet, I wouldn’t be able to make these songs. I wouldn’t have been able to collaborate with artists like Clairo and Floor Cry, or become friends with Temporex and Bane’s World. Also, record labels would be necessary if there was no internet. I’m really not trying to sign with any record labels, especially here.

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For someone who prefers to keep things spontaneous, GABBI GARCIA sure has a lot planned for the next phase of her career. After only three years in the industry, the young actress is already set to conquer a new stage, proving that she is, as cliché would have it, more than just a pretty face

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By NIELLI MARTINEZ Photography by KOJI ARBOLEDA Styling by VINCE CRISOSTOMO

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36 on the cover

I

n October of this year, Gabbi interrupted her Instagram followers’ regular content viewing by releasing a set of Riverdale-inspired teasers—complete with the whole vintage-themed diner and neon lights shebang—with an objective that was clear and simple: to let everyone know she’s finally dropping her first single.

It’s no secret the girl can sing, what with the number of song covers she’s posted online and all the performances she’s done for her TV guestings and event appearances, so for anyone who’s been keeping an eye on Gabbi, it was only a matter of time before she finally took this sensible step in her career.

Even with her few years of experience, this girl already has her sights set on something bigger.

Exhausted from a long day at work—she had just come from taping and had to brave the rainy payday Friday traffic to make it all the way to Makati—but the teen star, comfortably dressed in a loose, turquoise-hued T-shirt and leggings, her hair bunched up in a ponytail, walked in with a shy smile and a sincere apology that did a commendable job at hiding her weariness.

“I’m so sorry, guys! I got stuck in traffic! Nakakahiya, sorry,” she exclaimed, making a beeline for the hair and makeup area to waste no more time.

It appears no amount of professionally layered makeup can conceal the real Gabbi Garcia. Propped up comfortably in a chair, she begins to pore over her past and describes how much her childhood dreams have changed, and how much they haven’t, since then. “I really wanted to become a pilot, originally, and then showbiz was just really on the side kasi I loved performing. Ever since I was a kid, I loved singing, dancing... I was really a bibo kid. Like, whenever we’d have Christmas parties in school, I would host [or] I would sing, so it [was] not really that impossible that I could enter showbiz,” she says.

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While most people are busy trying to differentiate themselves from everyone else, Gabbi Garcia finds beauty in being— in her own little ways—just like the rest of them. In spite of her blossoming showbiz career, the 18-year-old actress enjoys spending her rare days off being a normal teenager, however out of reach the concept of normality may seem for her. “In my line of work kasi, we barely have time to be normal people. I make sure that I balance everything, that I still get to be Gabbi,” she says.

As it turns out, the TV star has always been immersed in music, only setting it aside to help her establish her footing in the complicated landscape of showbiz. “When I entered showbiz, the first thing that popped into my head was [that] I wanted to enter the music world, but then things didn’t really go as planned. So sabi ko lang, ‘Sige, let’s just go with it.’ The important thing is that I’m

“Life is really short, and there are so many ways to speak your mind and [to] express yourself.

You have to be hungry all the time.

Stay hungry.” in showbiz already and we’ll see what kind of work would get me there in that music industry,” she shares.

Gabbi Garcia’s career began to take off the moment she was packaged as the next generation teenybopper who also stands as one half of a scream-generating, kiliginducing love team. Today, as she and her onscreen partner and good friend, Ruru Madrid, are transitioning out of their teamup to work on their individual careers, she credits their partnership for the lessons— both professional and personal—that she’s picked up along the way.

“At first talaga, the love team really helped me in my career, and I felt like having a love team is also being collaborative with another artist,” she explains. As it turned out, the experience helped her realize how much more she wants to achieve within her own time in the business.

“When I saw that Ruru and I were slowly taking our own paths, sabi ko I would take

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this opportunity to really express and show people who Gabbi Garcia is.” This time, she’s no longer Gabbi Garcia, the ka-love team of someone, but Gabbi Garcia, the artist, as she likes to put it.

Gabbi recalls she had to take different paths before deciding it was ultimately music that was the most natural fit for her. “When I was in high school, uso ’yung mga bands, and I discovered I had a love for The Script, Maroon 5, ganyan... And then, [my friends and I] started putting up a band and we performed in different gigs,” she recounts.

It was at that point that Gabbi, only 14 years young at the time, became her high school band’s lead vocalist, performing at bars like 19 East and Bagaberde. It was the real deal, as real as performing in the local gig circuit could get.

These days, she’s no longer switching back and forth between her passions, claiming with a quiet confidence that she can—and will—pursue them both.

“Whenever I sing, whenever I perform live, I feel like I’m in the safest place because I express myself through music. With acting, it’s not my comfort zone, because I tend to be more out of the box and more challenged when it comes to [that]. I would say my first love is really music, but then I slowly learned to love acting as well,” shares Gabbi. “You can be a multi-talented artist, so I would not pick [between the two]. I don’t have to.”

Gabbi may be young, but she knows better than to leave her fate in other people’s hands. Or maybe that’s exactly how we know she’s young—because despite what other people might tell her, she still wants to do things her way.

With the release of her first single, All I Need, Gabbi gives everyone something to talk about. What merits recognition though, is not simply the sound of her voice or the way the track was laid down, but the fact that the entire project was self-produced.

“It started last year, before Encantadia. A long time ago. Kuya Christian [Bautista] saw me singing in one of the noontime shows of GMA. He heard me, and then he asked me, ‘Bakit wala ka pang album? Why are you not singing in GMA?’ Sabi ko, ‘Well, no doors are opening yet, and wala pang opportunities, so I have to wait.’”

And wait she did. When she and her collaborator, crooner Christian Bautista, were both cast in the remake of the highly successful primetime fantasy series Encantadia (which Gabbi identifies as both her dream role and her biggest break) in the first quarter of 2016, their plans to make music had to take a backseat until the show finally reached its end.

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“I’m speaking on behalf of the artists who really want to explore music but [are] scared.

We’re set to have an image, na you’ll [just] be like this, and like this. Now, I want to tell them that no, we could also [do other things].

We could also create music.”

“Mga June or July [of this year], Christian texted me na, ‘Do you want to pursue it?’ [And I said, ‘Okay, tara!’] And then, first he asked me what type of music I want to sing. Sabi ko I want sana R&B, something that my age could relate to, ’cause that’s the biggest market that I have now,” she says.

After writing All I Need with Christian and tapping her sister, Alex, to help with the melody, Gabbi made sure to stay on top of each and every development the track would eventually go through. “We were really all into it. Kada edit nung track, nandoon kami, we were deciding on what to put, how it would [sound], how it would appear,” she adds.

Gabbi is also working with one of her good friends, young actor (and former Scout cover boy) Khalil Ramos, whom she handpicked to direct her breakout music video. She also collaborated creatively with award-winning director Petersen Vargas and his partner Shin Lopez.

It’s easy to package celebrities into two-dimensional figures we could easily remember, compare, and contrast with other two-dimensional figures, but can the same practice be made to the current generation of artists who embrace interdisciplinarity? Today’s up and coming celebrities are not immune to this affinity to be a wunderkind. In fact, they’re the quickest to embrace different levels of artistry without being boxed into any one of their desires; it’s the rest of the industry that needs to catch up.

“I want to make them feel that there are some artistas talaga who really want to try and dive into that artistry, in music.” In the wake of Gabbi’s emergence as one of the local music scene’s latest attractions, she has become even more committed to knocking over any and all stereotypes people seem to have ascribed to the local celebrity.

“I [want to tell them] that I’m more than just a pretty face. I’m speaking on behalf of the artists who really want to

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explore music but [are] scared. We’re set to have an image, na you’ll [just] be like this, and like this. Now, I want to tell them that no, we could also be [something else].”

With no definite plans for the near future, Gabbi is at least sure of one thing—that it doesn’t matter where the road takes her, because she chose, without a shadow of doubt, the right one. “As a person, I’m really unpredictable. I don’t want it super planned. Not naman [that I just] go with the flow, but I want it to be spontaneous. But five years from now, I’ll probably be in the same industry, but I would be creating more pa. [I’ll be creating] more art, I would be performing more,” she says with conviction.

Gabbi also hopes that other young dreamers could learn a thing or two from her experience. “Life is really short, and there are so many ways to speak your mind and [to] express yourself. You have to be hungry all the time. Stay hungry.

You have to be eager, and you [have to] always think beyond.

Think about the future and never, ever settle for [one] level of your dream.”

Afraid she’ll wake up one day no longer feeling the urgency to learn, Gabbi urges everyone to keep exploring. “I feel like millennials and teenagers nowadays should always stay hungry for learning. We’re actually lucky that there are so many means now for us to learn, [so] ’yun lang. Never stop learning,” she says.

Perhaps her own lyrics say it best: Don’t care what you say, I’m gonna do what it takes for me to see that I’m all I need. There will be more dreams for her to dream and even more work for her to put in, but Gabbi Garcia, the go-getter that she is, is poised to take on the challenge head on. And yes, she’s no licensed pilot—at least not yet, who knows—but Gabbi Garcia is certainly in command and in control of her soaring career. n

03/11/2017 1:46 PM

on the cover 41

Fashion by BENCH Makeup by JASON DELOS REYES of NARS COSMETICS Hair by MARK ROSALES Photographer’s assistants DANICA LUKBAN, CALEB MEDINA, and BRYAN NGO Stylist’s assistant PAULO DEOFERIO

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42 fashion

fire walk with me The uncanny, the mysterious, and the campy meet in between the pines and an auspicious lodge Photography by ARTU NEPOMUCENO Styling by MEG MANZANO

ON GABRIEL: UNIQLO turtleneck, SM Megamall, DIORELLE SY jumpsuit, diorellesy@yahoo.com ON ADELYA: BERSHKA robe, Glorietta 2, H&M top, SM North EDSA, CHARLES & KEITH flats, Glorietta 3, MALDITA skirt, Robinsons Galleria

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fashion 43

ON ADELYA: H&M jacket, SM North EDSA, TOPSHOP top, Greenbelt 3 ON GABRIEL: TOPMAN polo, Greenbelt 3, DIORELLE SY suit, diorellesy@yahoo.com

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44 fashion

ON ADELYA: H&M coat, SM North EDSA ON GABRIEL: GAP polo, Glorietta 4, TOPMAN jacket, Greenbelt 3

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03/11/2017 1:46 PM

fashion 45

ON GABRIEL: H&M turtleneck, SM North EDSA, DIORELLE SY trousers, diorellesy@yahoo.com ON ADELYA: FOREVER 21 turtleneck, SM Makati, H&M blazer, SM North EDSA

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46 fashion

ZARA coat, Power Plant Mall, TOPSHOP top and trousers, Greenbelt 3

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fashion 47

feat. ADELYA and GABRIEL of ELITE MANILA Hair and Makeup by JANICA BALASOLLA Photographer’s assistant SELA GONZALES Stylist’s assistants SOPHIA CONCORDIA, GIAN LATORRE, and ALIANAH YEN Shot at THE MANOR AT CAMP JOHN HAY

FOREVER 21 turtleneck, SM Makati, DIORELLE SY waistcoat, diorellesy@yahoo.com

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48 art + design

cut and paste

Four collage artists glue the pieces to a bigger puzzle in this four-part art piece inspired the theme of this issue: comfort. Together, they form a spoon resting on a bowl, representing the warmth of broth on a rainy day Produced by CELENE SAKURAKO

BRISA AMIR @fierydaisy Photos, textures made out of oil, acrylic, charcoal, and graphite, and ants trapped in masking tape

BEEJAY ESBER @proto.pilot Vinyl transfer

JACOB LINDO @future.primitive_ Cutouts from old children’s books

JAN BALQUIN @janblqn Cutouts of paintings from Impressionists and PostImpressionist art books

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PERSISTENCE #NBSat75

75 Years of Inspiring Passions

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