just got home from 70's bistro bar at Anonas with jen, rory, auee and kevin. we went to see a samba band and spend time together... but i learned a little more than alternative pinoy music.
the bar, for me is a landmark. its been there since the 70's so it stood strong even after the oppressive regime to Marcos. for me that's culture. that something we should be proud of. now popular bands was heard their even before they were famous. i dont think they cater to a specific type of music... im not sure about the food. but anyway thats not my point.
my point is... it should be one of those places we are aware of because its past. can you imagine that bistro being a haven for suppressed artist during Marcos time? can you imagine young people plotting against the government to get back their right to play which ever music they like? can you imagine a passionate artist standing in the platform where all the greats stood before? can you imagine the philippines past more than our textbook?
thats what i want. a history other than what was previously written. the history that speaks through the walls of the bistro. the history. i remember my paper for histroy 18 with sir tirol, it is when we put history a face (place) do we best understand the symbiosis of memory and hope. when i learned about the bar's past, i felt more filipino. moreover, the more i felt for our country and its current "democratic" problems. we once fought for democracy, even to the point that people power is jaded but going to the place and having a great sense of Filipino history made me want to fight.
though the bistro doesnt show much past like posters on walls, or pictures it still made me feel more filipino. i think they are creating a new history because they just started to put up posters. now that i think about it, that is another thing that made me feel more filipino. i became aware that i am part of something big. that i am creating a story that will be "history" for future generation. i remember a line i memorized a long time ago,
"i am a filipino inheritor of a glorious past, ostage to the uncertain future. as such i prove equal two a twofold task - the task of meeting my responsibility in the past and the task of performing my obligations to the future" - VP Carlos P. Romuloi just find it cool.
