RIDING THE STORM A Tribute to The Doors
NEW TAG BOARD
GERARD BUMANGLAG interviews GERARD DE LA ROSA a.k.a. DJ RUNESCHADOW!
HOW MANY YEARS DID IT TAKE FOR THE MANILA GOTH SCENE TO FLOURISH?
Almost ten years. In the 80s, the "GOTH MOVEMENT" was incorporated within the so-called "NEW WAVE" party scene in Manila. A handful of us, whom you would consider true goths, were lost in a black sea of a thousand and one Robert Smith wannabes. But in 1994, the local Goth movement officially started with the fledgeling event called WHISPERED PRAYERS FROM AN OPEN GRAVE held in Makati, consisted primarily of myself, Doi Porras, Danny A., Mike Falcon, Hazel (bass of PROMINENCE OF CATHEDRALS) and the rest being fillers. Then another event (a private one), which is quite legendary by now, followed the next year ('95) called FROZEN IN A COBWEB OF DESPAIR and was held at Trisha's mansion in Dasmarinas Village. There were more of us by then, the very same people that became the foundation of the present goth scene. And the rest is history...
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE LOCAL GOTH SCENE?
I am one of the two, legitimate, GOTH/INDUSTRIAL DJs in the country at the moment (the other being DJ FLESHWOUNDS), the vocalist/songwriter/frontman for the Elektro-Goth outfit APPARITION (which is inactive at the moment). I am onehalf of SUBKULTURE PRODUCTIONS (with Doi Porras). I was the editor of two 90's dark music fanzines KARNAL KOLLAPSE and the MORTUARIUM and I am working on a new one called DEAD TISSUE SAMPLES, I would be a contributing writer and editor for the SUBKULTURE website. I will start a Goth-Fetish fashion design house, along with dearest friend Lady Lyra, called GENOCIDE within the year. etc. etc.
WHAT SIGNIFICANT EVENT/S IN THE FUTURE ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?
We are planning a massive/major event that would take place soon, perhaps even before the end of the year. It would be a first in a series of international events. It will be some sort of an Asia-Pacific goth festival with Manila being the centre. We are also planning to take part in the 2003 WAVE GOTIK TREFFEN in Leipzig, Germany (if Doi would tag me along - hello Doi!)
WHICH FOREIGN COUNTRIES/GOTH SCENE WOULD YOU LIKE TO START AN ALLIANCE WITH?
All nations are welcome to collaborate with the Manila Goth scene. We seek contact from people all over the world. Goth Globalisation is what we are aiming for.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT THE GOTHIC FASHION ISSUE/CONTROVERSY THAT SEEMS TO BE BUGGING SOME PEOPLE IN A MAJOR WAY?
All I can say is, those people who have a big problem concerning others who dress up the part (i.e. dressed to distress), are people who don't feel good about themselves. They are quick to judge certain people just because they are visual and/or concerned about their appearance/image. It is not superficiality, it is a form of expression. Just because these judgemental creatures of misfortune DO NOT dress up "GOTHIC" does not mean they are more "profound" than the rest of us! They better stay in their safe little world (i.e. in front of their computer monitors) and attack all the goth websites they can find. And "the rest of us" wouldn't really care.
HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT GOTHIC MUSIC AS A DJ? ARE THERE GOTH CLUBS IN MANILA?
I try to learn about our beloved music as much as possible. Knowing facts about the music I listen to is as rewarding as hearing it. I don't claim to be an expert on the music because I'm not but I know enough. There is only one Goth Club in Manila and it is called KLUB GARGOYLE. It moves from venue to venue.
WHAT ARE THE FUNCTIONS OF SUBKULTURE PRODUCTIONS? HOW MANY BANDS DOES IT CATER TO AT PRESENT?
SUBKULTURE is a multi-functional entity. We basically organise events for the local goth community but we are branching out into recording our domestic artists in the near future. The bands presently connected/identified with SUBKULTRE so far are DOMINION, FIVE WOUNDS TO ENTER, PROMINENCE OF CATHEDRALS, SKIES OF EMBER, THE LATE ISABEL, FUNERAL FROST, APPARITION, VIOLET DAYS, SLAVE DRUM. Some of the aforementioned artists have already put out recordings on their own.
WHAT HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISHED AS A WRITER SO FAR?
I have a long way to go as far as being a writer is concerned. I've written music reviews for other underground publications as well as for my own fanzines. My poetry are unpublished.