Jam sessions and events for a cause were no longer staged. Efforts and talents of young aspiring musicians were taken for granted by persons who organized fund-raising events; closed down the entire venue, sold out tickets and made these aspiring fellows perform, who in turn, got nothing but empty promises. Feeling that they were just being used and were challenged if they could organize gigs on t
heir own, Kirby Navela, front man of Testing, together with his hordes and brethrens of musicians diverted and formed the group of their own. And Mogpog Punk Movement was born. Challenged as they were, and eager to prove their worth, these fellow punks at heart collaborated and pushed through with their brainchild gig. Knowing that punks are anti-politics, they had no choice but to approach these people to solicit for them to have fund for their project. But after they made use of the resources that they got, these politicians in turn, got lashing set-back lyrics from them. Ironic though it was, the point is, they had succeeded in proving their worth, thus launching their first gig titled ‘Back to Old School’ on November 1, 2007, featuring local but promising bands spearheaded by testing, Ramonsito, Solve and Skala among others.
'Back to Old' school had been a success and it had been followed by subsequent jam sessions. . In the summer of 2008 they had the ‘Tugtugan Para Sa Katotohanan’ and was followed by their first ever ‘Holloween Holocaust’ in November which also happened to be a tribute to their departed member, Renan Rosario. What followed as their gig titled ‘War Against the Machine’ on April 13, 2009, which at first I thought was a sort of campaign against the re-opening of the mining industry in our province, but I was wrong. It was intended for the outbreak of wars during that time. It was November again and Mogpog punk Movement was in its second year. Holloween Holocaust raised the curtains again. Event like this isn’t only intended for what the name suggests of it, but it’s more on bringing back the local band scene in Mogpog because as what Bhorams Luna puts it, ‘Mogpog is lifeless during sembreaks and vacations, where most people, are expected to unwind and have fun. ’ I agree and it seemed to be a much-awaited event in Mogpog every November because ‘it had been a trend that people look forward to’, he adds. Even I myself am looking forward to the annual holocaust. I’m always happy to see these fellows in their black tight pants, plaid shirts, patches, some in their chest-length hair, and others in mohawks and spikes, singing and slam-dancing in tune with their foreign repertoires such as S*x Pistols, Ramones and Rancid and even local influences like the Wuds, G. and the Idiots, and Katrina’s Live! among others. And since their stint in 2007, Holloween Holocaust had its brood; from the 2008’s ‘Prevent Poverty Increase’ up to 2009’s ‘Peace and Unite’, who’s to say that these guys couldn’t be any better? Mogpog Punk Movement couldn’t be any prouder. Since the rise of punks, they had been mistaken for being drug addicts. Maybe because of the way they were: their music, their attitude, their lifestyle. People look at them in seeming incomprehension because of their bold and daring acts. Kirby is right; people couldn’t understand them because they just couldn’t grasp the idea that punks have a lot to say. And what these guys were doing were not just for pure entertainment of their followers and non-followers alike, but it’s more on their drive to persuade everyone to be aware of what’s happening; of what’s with the society that we’re thriving in. You just have to hear between the lyrics that they’re singing. And despite the flaks that they got from those who couldn’t appreciate their craft, still, few brave souls will remain to continue to struggle and carry on with what the movement had begun and stood for. And that’s a fact that we can’t get away, that Mogpog Punk Movement is here to stay!
-chi.cher.chyr
This is the article that I wrote way back Mar 6, '11 2:19 AM about Mogpog Punk Movement days after the interview as our final academic output, and I've been thinking a lot about this article for the past few days. I'm just so glad I found it again after so many attempts of retrieving it from here --> http://tropaganda2010.multiply.com/journal/item/3
:))
