Being Close to Bobby Balingit of The Wuds - Punk Icon of the Philippines

The first close connection I had with my Idol Bobby Balingit front man of the band "The Wuds"  was on August 2014 when he invited me to attend their spiritual kiirtan in Laguna, Chaitanya Mission, which also has an outreach program NGO - Haribol Fiesta. I respect their music because it was spiritual punk, and FYI= before krishna-core got into europe they are already doing such kind of music here in Philippines so they are known in the underground scene also internationally for it.

Photo above is the picture of the Kiirtan / spiritual music chanting, I see Bobby Balingit as a very family oriented and loving to his kids, He is playing the koto instrument with his daughter Sita, the sweet 4 years old youngest child of Bobby.

During our first chitchat we talked much about philosophy and spirituality I experienced closely how he is a brilliant minded composer/musician/writer. weeks passed by and he invited me to work with him to share ideas in the books that he is writing, also to perform collaborative music with him and his band Planeta ng Ngiti. Then September 2014 He invited me to come with him and his band to baguio to attend kidlat tahimiks event in ILilikha Artist Village for Baguio Day.

Photo above shows upfront artist: diyosa doing fire dance. while I'm at the back of bobby balingit doing improvisation vocals.

Above is my photo while I enjoy chalk drawing on the street floor.

We wrote together some excerpts for the book of Bobby Balingit " Way To Bhutto"  we talked about music collaboration and since his book ibana is under Axis Art Baguio, and there's also a lot of reason about the beauty of such name we decided to use the name for the music band we founded, Ibana is composed of Bobby Balingit, Omni Saroca, Yvette Billy and me-Amiya.  We usually bond and record together in Omni's place and in Garaeh Shelter for Art and Music. We had some gigs in an Art Exhibit, Pre Sunrise Festival Event in Intramuros then also in baguio.

Above is a video, of the pre sunrise event in Intramuros manila on September 2014. The video quality is poor sorry it was just from my cousin joana velayo's phone, I cant hunt the guy who did a good quality hehehe...

Some of the performance videos posted by others are really hard to find for now, some are recorded by film maker Raymond Pangan in this link - https://www.facebook.com/108ram/videos/vob.100003962183194/10204063817774659/?type=2&theater

The most amazing noble artist cause that Sir Bobby Balingit is heading is his music therapy session with special children. He is the 1st one to ever do such in the Philippines and reported to give very good cognitive results to children of ALS. photo below shows one of the session, The Children are not to be exposed so this blurred distant photo is just nice to post.

To Age Like Wine - A poetry i contributed in Espasyo Siningdikato

In every tik tok of mi clock, I no longer question who play dice…

For destiny leads people to the inevitable change..

I saw the Old man who is bitter with life,

I read his trauma and his dark vision glassed by past.

I saw how he fought hard for his material attachment,

why go fearful when heart's heavy?

The coin switched in a split second.

I saw another Old man who looks like a hermit.

I wonder how his fearless charm comes out so gentle?

Every gesture and word is wisdom treats..

His open mind dances with the changes.

He's like a gamer and his humour never dries!

his warmth makes me want to listen more and more..

To every experience he had as an alchemist..

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This precious poetry i composed was offered to the 1st volume of ESPASYOZINE  Published by Espasyo Siningdikato, Inc.

Copyright 2010

Espasyo SIningdikato was founded and headed by Lirio Salvador who is currently in his sleeping physical body condition, incident was reported by GMA News. 

yet his inspiration still lives on with all the artists and people he helped and are all waiting for the time he'll be awaken. 

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Hearing different stories from artists who had a close encounter with him are all telling how great he was not just as an artist who can create great art from transformed recycled materials but also a life alchemist... and yes the world needs more of those who can think of recycling rather than the usual culture of filipinos in throwing garbage anywhere.