Iligan City, Philippines -- The Melting Pot of Indie Music
Hailing from the southern island of Philippines, Iligan city is a cradle of multicultural people. This beautiful city is know for its majestic waterfalls (E.g. Tinago and Maria Cristina)that are hovering all through out the city. Needless to say the sumptuous cuisines that satisfies every Iliganon's palette.
Actually, I've got first hand experience in this city coz I studied in the said city during my college years (around 2011-2015) and I fell in love with this city. One great thing about Iligan (I think), are the Iliganons. As I observed Iliganons are way more culturally and artistically inclined people compared to neighboring city in the island of Mindanao. I mean not all Iliganons are artist but they give huge support to the artists of the city.
Like YAPIS a non-profit organisation that helps boost the young talents in the city in literary repertoires. IPAG the resident performing theater company in Iligan Institute of Technology and the most renowned theater company in the city. I.C.S.A. (Iligan City Skate Association) the skateboarding team of Iligan that nurtures the young promising skaters that can compete in the Philippines. And Indie Iligan the non-profit group of people that backed the musicians in Iligan to make a name not just in Iligan also through out the archipelago of Philippines.
I mentioned lots of organizations but for this blog I'll showcase the never ending "Indie Iligan", the Independent musicians and the music scene of Iligan.
Way back 2013, I saw a post from a friend of mine about a certain page, this was the page of Indie iligan and thanks to the post I bumped to the sickest independent music scene of the city.
Indie came from the word independent,
contrary to the mainstream artists... indie musicians need an avenue where they can show their talents and people can . I think this is reason why Indie Iligan was born.
One awful truth about Philippines' music industry is, we Filipinos listens a lot to foreign music rather than our own music. So this dilemma gave birth to different independent labels/groups that envisioned to raise the promising artist/musicians that suffered (to have a fanbase) with the monopoly of huge music labels in the Philippines.
Indie Iligan, helps fellow Iligan musicians to initiate gigs so that they can showcase their prowess in music and in stage. And I think this group did not failed with its mission because some of their comrades made a name in the entire music scene in Ph. Personally I attended some of their gigs and to you tell mate, most of the gigs are raaaaaddddd!!!! I mean you can feel the realness of every people and performers. Even some foreigners visits the city just to attend the gigs.
One good thing about the said music scene is, it is not boxed with just one genre, every genre and its listeners/performers are welcome to join to play, jam and enjoy! Horn peoples, hippies and other music enthusiasts worked hand-in-hand to have a good time in the gigs. It also happen everywhere in the city at the bars, pubs, basketball courts and even in schools!!
Here are some photos about the gigs and other stuffs.
And now here are my top handpick bands/musicians in the city.
# 5 - Daddy's Badass Joint A ska band. I really don't know the members but fret not you can always jam to their ferocious ska vibe.
P.S. Oldies but still goodies.
# 4 - For the horde A post - hardcore 4-piece band. Composed of Mike Pacalioga on vocals/guitars, Joseph Quidet on drumsa and im so sorry i didn't know the other two members. All I can say when you're into Coheed and cambria and circa survive stuffs please listen to this band.
# 3 - The World Is Not Round an electronic pop band. Composed of of Ronnie Gravoso and Chase Calderon . To tell you frankly, i saw the progress of this band before they got into the recent line-up and I'm really amazed with the band's progress through out the years. You can always dance with the synths.
# 2 - Inbur A 4-piece rock band. Duly Pestolante - guitar/vocals,Aquel Sususco - Lead guitar,Jong Montecillo - bass guitar ,Joseph Quidet - drums/vocals. A band that is a mixture of Typecast and Urbandub.
# 1 - Loop A pop-rock band. Kim Trinidad - Vocals, GuitarsJP Portado - Bass, JC Arkin - Drums, Mike Pacalioga - Guitars. The angelic voice of Kim is so good to ears. Pride of the City.
Thanks for reading!!
