So I booked a flight on January 9th. And because the flight had a long layover in Shanghai China, I arrived in the Philippines on January 11th. I had to wait almost 20 hours in the Shanghai city. I wanted to check out the city, because it was my first time in this city.
I took a fast train from the airport to the city centre. And I was flabbergasted at how fast the train was going, I think it was around 300 mp/h or 500 km/h, so that was the fastest train I have ever travelled in.
I was walking around the city for some time, but it was winter, and very cold, probably around 2°C so almost freezing, so I went back to the airport, and just walked around, and the airport had no heating or the heating was not strong so I felt cold there too. So when I grew weary of walking around the airport and trying some Chinese cigarette from a security guy I decided I need to take a rest, after all I will have to wait here for many more hours. So I took some rest and shower in the hotel which was at the airport.
So only a few hours flight and I was in the Philippines, where my wife and her relatives picked me up. I arrived at Clark's airport, and we went to some beach right after I arrived. It was cool, but unfortunately that was the only time I saw a beach (I spent 4 months there this time)
But I still had a great time there. Even though I was depressed a lot, and even suicidal, because of the life conditions there, completely different life than in Europe. I am used to having privacy and there it was impossible to have.
It got to a point when I went out of the house in the midnight, and asked some random people on the street ''do you know how can I kill myself?''
I was happy to be again with my wife and daughter, but the lack of privacy and the insects made it worse, also the fact I had nothing to do there and the house was not ours and blah-de-blah.
Luckily one day, as I was walking to the nearby shop to buy cigarette and mountain dew, I noticed a guy wearing a Black Sabbath T-shirt. His name is Ivan, and I started to talk to him, because I didn't know Filipino people even like Heavy Metal music, and as we spoke we found we have many bands that we both love in Heavy Metal, and Progressive rock as well. And he had actually two bands one was covering Black Sabbath songs, and the other one was a Doom Metal band, his own compositions, it was called ''Too Stoned''. And I think the other band was ''Pot Boiler'', where the singer was Dom, he also became my friend. But in Too Stoned Ivan was both the bassist and vocalist. Also he lived very close to our house, only 1 minutes' walk. So we started hanging out almost every day. Mostly talking about music, about how the world is fucked up and also about spiritual things.
And one day he asked me to go with them to the studio to watch them play and practice. And I was very glad that he also said we might play together, or start a band even, so it made me happy. And we were waiting for the other band members and metalheads to arrive in front of some clothing shop, and I went inside because the insects were bothering me and the heat, and inside was air conditioner. And the people there were friendly, he allowed me to play some TOOL songs on his big speakers, I showed them The Grudge, Ticks and Leeches, and I think they liked it.
And then Ivan's friends arrived, his band member was Keeno, and when I saw him I said your hair looks like Dave Mustaine.. And he said something like putangina. And we laughed. He was the guitarist in Ivan's band. And I met the other guys, from another band called ''Power Abuse'' Their music was Thrash Metal, and they were really good. Gab was the singer and bassist, Ken was the lead guitarist, and Chester was the drummer. They were all cool guys, and I had a great time watching them play in the studio, as well as Ivan's bands. I liked Ken's guitar, he had the one in the style of Megadeth and he allowed me to play for a while, so I played some improv solo, and it seemed they all liked my solo. And it was amazing watching them play some of the classic songs like Reign in Blood from Slayer and Ace of Spades from Motorhead. Also I asked to play the Angel of Death from Slayer, and I tried to do the beginning scream, which was so much fun, and Gabriel the singer had great vocals too, he could scream well. Then we also moved to the studio across the street, which was better, and Ivan's band played there. And hearing them play some of the great songs from Black Sabbath really made me happy. Also I requested if I can sing some song, and they only played the stuff from early albums, so I tried singing the song ''Lord of this World'' and I felt great, because I also love singing. It produces positive energy in me. It was awesome, even just in the studio.
I went with these guys to two festivals. One was in Malolos City near the crossing, and it was a big festival, and the Thrash Metal band Power Abuse played there too. It was pretty good, but I felt like the sun is burning me alive, it was very hot for me.
The other festival was like a charity for children, and it was in Paombong, Bulacan. And I had a great time, maybe one of the best times. I enjoyed the band of my friends, and I was singing along with Ivan's band to some Sabbath's great songs, and headbanging, we all had a great time.
Here is one photo of some of the guys in the festival-
There was a bunch of small kids there too, and they started talking to me, and I displayed some of my Tagalog knowledge, I knew a few words, so it was fun.
However this was a bit far from home, and I arrived at home around 1 AM, so my wife was a bit worried, so after this I wasn't going to any concerts of festivals. But I really enjoyed this one.
But as I mentioned I was depressed and thought about suicide sometimes. Sometimes I smoked two or 3 cigarettes at the same time like this: (Ivan took this photo, I wore my W.A.S.P. T-shirt.) :D
I admired the guys, Ivan and the others to just get on the stage and perform music in front of many people, I had never done that before. I think he is a great bassist and a vocalist too. Here is a photo of Ivan with bass guitar.
And also I got to meet my friend Czaer Est, whom I had known from facebook music chat group for some time, and he lived also near Malolos City so we met one day. I wanted to donate blood because of his father who was very sick, needed some blood donations, but they didn't approve, because the last night I drank a lot of gin.
Also towards the end of my stay I felt like I am not the only one who is depressed, I met a girl called PJoy, and she suffered severe depression, and I met her on the street, she said she is so sad and depressed and is thinking about killing herself. We went to her house balcony and just talked a bit and smoked some cigarettes. Also I offered some pills for anxiety, because even though I know I shouldn't give it to others, when I see someone suffering I wanna help, and this pill is effective so I gave her some, as well as to Ivan, which turned out to be a bad idea, probably.
But one day was memorable to me, as we were just chillin' on PJoy's balcony with Ivan and I had my iPod and I sang for them some part of TOOL vocals, and they seemed to like it, so I was glad to have made them smile at least :)
We also smoked some weed one day, and I felt better after it, even though it was a shitty weed it still helped me. Once with Ivan, and once with PJoy. Ivan told me when he saw my smile after taking little bit of weed, he said it will do me good, and I should try it again.
I really greatly appreciate the friendship we developed, our long discussion about the Gods, or spiritual things as well as Music of course.
I'll never forget also the birthday party of Ivan's friend, where we were all gathered, just drinking some juice with gin, and smoking cigs, and listening to some good Metal music. One of the best moments was when we sang the song Angel of Death, Raining Blood, and also some Megadeth songs, and of course Pantera. Those were the good times! I'll never forget it.
To me it is like a medicine for depression, if used with moderation. Especially to those who suffer severe depression it might help them, us...
Just wanted to share this with you. I miss the people in the Philippines, and the fun. After all they gave me a purse at the airport because I answered some questions with an inscription: ''There is more fun in the Philippines''.
I shall be making another blog post about the fun I had with my wife and the relatives.
Thanks for reading.
Joseph
