By Cheekie Albay
Photos by Aidx Paredes
Picture this: a dark, unadorned studio space, its glow coming from a procession of tea candles and Christmas lights that run along the floor’s frame. On one wall, scenes from obscure films flash, a silent dance of color with the sound muted. From one corner, synth-heavy indie electronica blares out from desktop speakers that have seen better days. Sitting Indian-style on the floor or standing in clusters with drinks in hand, sporting T-shirts, sneakers, and unassuming grins, are the movers of Davao’s new alterna-underground creative subculture.
This, ladies and gents, is Hiphouse.
Hiphouse is a community that welcomes creative individuals of all inclinations—writers, musicians, illustrators, filmmakers, photographers, stylists, and variations thereof—who recognize the need for an alternative scene in Davao where young artists can truly feel they belong. Hiphouse is part collaborative outfit, part networking venue, part common interest club, and yes, even part barkada.
The idea for Hiphouse came one Saturday night as indie songstress Jad Montenegro and I sat in a shiny, sedate bar downtown, desperately sticking out like the proverbial sore thumb with our quirky outfits and strongly held opinions on music and film. The desire was mutual: we wanted to build a community of like-minded souls where artists could express themselves without having to explain themselves.
Jad and I let fellow artists in on the idea and were elated at the overwhelming support we immediately gathered. Sure enough, on March 31, young artists and arts supporters marched to the first-ever Hiphouse hangout, itching to be part of this modest revolution.
Besides being a venue for artists to converge, the first Hiphouse hangout was a steady onslaught of novel sights and sounds. Young visionaries Aidx Paredes and JM Santillan shared videos they created under The Haze, their hipster noir photography and film project. Experimental filmmaker Lucille Marnelli screened her breathtakingly shot narrative short Timing Space. Comic artist John Amor, who is also Jad’s husband, streamed a slideshow of comic illustrations that made instant fans out of the people in attendance. Yours truly was the DJ for the evening, armed with five hours’ worth of blog-favorite electronic beats.
Jad and her bandmates Pjoe Sabanpan, Dave Ibao, and Khuko Luzada unveiled the music video for their latest single “Ano” off the upcoming EP Fixed Points and Pendulums, directed by prolific filmmaker-photographer Bagsy Fiola. Later, Jad, Pjoe, and Dave played a stripped down set that calmed the crowd down to hushed admiration.
Far from being smug about it, the Hiphouse experience left the exhibiting artists ecstatic. “Seeing our work projected on a big screen, being appreciated by new, unfamiliar eyes, was a strong motivating force,” Jad shares. “It makes you feel more alive, it makes you want to keep creating more beautiful work, and it makes you just a little bit giddy.”
I admit, I’ve been snotty. I, a Diliman-schooled, Mandaluyong-trained, Cubao-awakened writer, have bemoaned Davao’s lack of a distinct alternative artistic spirit since I moved back here in 2010. So, at that first Hiphouse hangout, surrounded by so much talent spilling out from everyone around me, I actually felt a little shamed.
But most of all, I was inspired. I wanted to become exactly the kind of person these Davao artists would want in their club.
Join us as we advance an alternative artistic movement in Davao! To support or get involved in Hiphouse, email the author at cheekie.albay@gmail.com.
