ROGUE: The Archivist
One of the 14 Women Who Rock: I am featured as one of the Archivists (Photo by Joseph Pascual)
Rogue Magazine asked me last November if I could be featured as one of the women in OPM and they said that I would be called one of the Archivists. It was flattering actually and never thought that I would be called such, because there’s so much happening day to day that I barely actually get to look back at my archives. I just know that I have photos, but only time will tell how important they are.
I realized that when I was asked if I had a photo of the late Francis Magalona and I sadly had only THREE photographs of him taken at one event, during the Cinemalaya opening in CCP in 2006. I don’t know why I didn’t have more of him, I actually regret not having more photos of a lot of musicians which I’m making up for right now. Maybe 6 years ago my old self wasn’t confident enough: my world was relatively larger than I’d imagine it to be, but it was still not large enough for me to grasp that I was about to take on this kind of work.
Then when I opened the magazine, I saw this article on Francis Magalona and the photo that I took which spanned two pages wide.
I honestly thought that this was never going to be of any use because when you grow as a photographer, there are times you reason with technicality and I keep comparing my works then to my works now — but you simply can’t. Moments and subjects still outweigh technicality.
Thank God for minimalism LOL: I was far away from the stage, but I took whatever I could (Francis Magalona, CCP, 2006)
Aldus Santos (the only writer who can interview Ely Buendia the best) in an article on Pulse.ph about the Rivermaya jamming with Bamboo: wrote that I was a gatekeeper. It was flattering but it also gave me a reality check on what I do. I don’t think I assess and look at what I do so thank you to these writers and magazines for actually seeing it when I don’t, or when I actually forget why I’m here in the first place.
I share a write up alongside director Marie Jamora in the field of video, as an Archivist, written by the brilliant Jason Caballa (my former boss in PULP, who trusted me enough that I could actually write a monthly column that lasted three years!) Also thank you to Joseph Pascual for the lovely photo, you rock!
Lovely friends, Barbie Almalbis, Kitchie Nadal, Myrene Academia, Aia De Leon, Armi Millare, Camyl Besinga & Sarah Marco are on the list as well. Each of us having write-ups describing our contribution to the music scene. Sampaguita, Mei Bastes, Anna Sobrepena Ong, Pat Sarabia and Micaela Benedicto are also featured.
I kind of love how Rogue Magazine wrote a teaser on the table of contents page quoting Penny Lane in Almost Famous:
“Groupies sleep with rock stars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music.” But for some women it’s not enough to be the object of affection. Some girls want to rock. (Rogue Magazine, Jan-Feb 2012)
Damn right we do!
Rogue Magazine January-February 2012 issue is out now. It’s a music issue with a retrospective feature on The Dawn and the story I’ve been longing to hear: THE BEATLES IN MANILA (the photos are to die for).
And also even if it’s unrelated to music actually I can relate to KC Concepcion in some ways even if I used to not like her, I’m liking her now! LOL! So get a copy!
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