Baybayin, Buhayin: Talahib People's Music Lingayen GIG Photo Diary

“Study the past if you would define the future.”

––Confucius 

 

Ali bata. Oh, come on. I just can't believe how reality can destroy all the things you believed in all your life. I agree with the speaker in the First Baybayin Summit when he said that we need to throw all our primary school text books into fire since it teaches us the wrong stuff about our roots. 

How cool can it be to have our very own writing characters? It's like turning this country into a mystery land and have all the outsiders confused in a beautiful way. Maybe, it could have been a better icon of our identity. Maybe, the way I write my name won't be as typical/common as it sounds. Maybe, we can delete those maybes I just said. 

I know and I believe. Our very own Baybayin still have a chance.

Talahib (n) serenaded the Baybayin enthusiasts on the 2nd night of the said event. They are the reason why I was able to join this cause and got my eyes opened. I was lurking at the back of the stage lights as I try to capture the best moments of their set when I saw people dancing and feeling every beat of the music the band makes. They grow wild to a tune the mainstream radio doesn't even recognize. I heard one woman intoxicated by the music say she found her self in Talahib's melody. I was in awe hearing this in a place where you least expect it. Like the Baybayin, the original flavor of our own music also got lost in time. But, I am happy. They are not gone forever. We can still find them. Scarce. Limited. And like a rare gem -priceless. And I belong to the very few who have them.

Monochrome photos c/o Max Celada

This trip maybe short but sweet. New discoveries accompanied by great adventures journeying with a great (very) Filipino band is an experience I know, I will never forget.

Frogs feasted as well in Lingayen.