Join with the people of Rapu Rapu and tell the banks backing this toxic mine to stop funding destruction.

During its few months of operation cyanide and other contaminants from the Australian-owned mine on Rapu Rapu Island, Philippines, spilled into the sea, resulting in massive fish kills.

The Lafayette Project is financed through a syndicate of banks including ANZ Investment Bank and ABN AMRO Bank NV (Australian Branch) in clear breach of their environmental policies.

Tell ANZ & ABN AMRO to withdraw funding for the Rapu Rapu mine.
Go to the links below and sign the petition:
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/44
http://write-a-letter.greenpeace.org/46

Gig photos

(from left to right: I'm the Bridge Band, Sundae School, Ginseng, Amistad)



(From left to right: I'm the Bridge Band, Sundae School, Ginseng)


(From left to right: Amistad, DeathToPuberty)


(From left to right: DeathToPuberty, All Wound Up)


(From left to right: All Wound Up)

DeathToPuberty

It's quite late now here in the office, and its also quite late also to be writing about Slumber Army's Let Us All Rise gig. But heck its DeathToPuberty's first gig I think it is worth writing about.

To sum up the gig was quite ecstatic for me because I haven't been able to play live ever since PayItForward's last gig at Slam Demockracy's production in Freedom Bar. Whereupon I was temporarily put into exile at Thailand all well enough to miss a lot of major punk events that we're supposed to be a part of. And then there's this thing where it was decided to temporarily put PayItForward in the shelf since it wasn't quite everybody's priority at the moment. Thus DeathToPuberty was given form and the rest is recent history.

So it started with me going to Purple Haze with xAll Wound Upx's drummer Joel but apparently I forgot my camera at the office so I went back to pick it and there I met up with Alvin and got him to join me in going to Haze.

As most of you know I'm not really into watching gigs, in fact the only time that I get to see them is when PayItForward has a performance. But since I'm one of the last bands to perform Alvin and I decided to watch and it was quite cool to see I'm the Bridge Band playing Alkaline Trio's All on Black.

Since I have my camera I also used it to take pictures of other bands whereupon I by chance got a good picture of the next band, Sundae School.

Later on Arthur and Abi arrived and a good portion of the time awaiting my set, taking photos of people there who'd like to participate on the 'Stop the mine' picture protest.

I return to watch and take pictures as soon as Ginseng took the stage.

Later on I did my set to an astounded crowd that was either dumbfounded or laughing at me as I stand there on the stage alone with the electric guitar that I borrowed from Jay.

Later I also got the chance to talk about Greenpeace and its campaign to Defend Our Oceans. And invited them to sign up as Ocean Defenders.

Too bad though that Jeanie, wasn't there, whom most of the songs I performed there was about her. Also DeathToPuberty's other half Tina who's to play drums on the coming days, wasn't there along with Jenny and the rest. Also there was Mark of PayItForward who sent me an sms before the gig wishing me well and Laix who I have no idea why he wasn't there.

All in all it was a great gig and hopefully there'll be more.

Slumber Army's: Let us all rise...

purge

"What did the comrade say?"

I asked as I thought of how my brother in arm told me of his account of the purge.

There was just silence and the empathizing tear, that trickled down the comrade's cheeks like an old fountain that's about to dry up.

Does this mean that a vague vision of we want tomorrow to be like transcends beyond love and the kindred spirit that was forged when we once linked arms for the proletariat?

I don not know.
Sometimes I believe the Cause.
Sometimes I don't.

I am still enraged by State-fascism.
But at the same time I also find no redeeming value for the working class that only lives for the present.

Shout I then count myself worthy of the purge?

Pain

" I feel it when I sorrow most:

It’s better to have loved and lost

Than to have never loved at all."

- Alfred Lord Tennyson

To be honest I fear life right now.

I fear it because it makes me realize that its not all about me.

I fear it because others seem to hate me.

Wanting to hurt me, waiting there eager to pounce.

At that moment when they strike.

Again I fall.

Hurt.

Bleeding.

Scarred.

It has been going on since I realize that there is such a thing called life, and learned to value it.

I might not have known it, should I have chosen to wallow in the delusion of myself.

Does it mean that life cant be realized until you feel pain?

Because in a way pain reminds you that you are alive.

And feeling pain makes you realize that it is better that you feel it.

For the absence of feeling is the overwhelming presence of death.

Notebook

November 6, 1987

There is a storm blowing today. But there has been no rains yet, only strong winds. Strong winds uprooted the narra tree in front of our home and it cut loose some electrical wires.

Sometimes, find myself longing for a storm. A full-blown storm that changes the landscape. The trees will wail, sending leaves reeling all over the street. The rain will wash away the rubbish left by men and the roof tops - there'll be pounding on the roof tops. But you know it is really God playing music up in the heavens. He's doing some cleansing too. Some re-touching . He wants to change some things.

After the storm you'll be glad to find your home still in place. The strong trees still standing. The landscape changed and you, yourself changed. You made it through a full-blown storm. You can start things all over again.

Benjie Baclagon

Notebook

November 6, 1987

There is a storm blowing today. But there has been no rains yet, only strong winds. Strong winds uprooted the narra tree in front of our home and it cut loose some electrical wires.

Sometimes, find myself longing for a storm. A full-blown storm that changes the landscape. The trees will wail, sending leaves reeling all over the street. The rain will wash away the rubbish left by men and the roof tops - there'll be pounding on the roof tops. But you know it is really God playing music up in the heavens. He's doing some cleansing too. Some re-touching . He wants to change some things.

After the storm you'll be glad to find your home still in place. The strong trees still standing. The landscape changed and you, yourself changed. You made it through a full-blown storm. You can start things all over again.

Benjie Baclagon