#hadcorepunkphilippines

Francis David of LOVE FROM HATE RECORDS/DISTRO

(Pampanga, Philippines) 

 March 2015/Believe Fanzine issue #4

[email protected]

https://www.facebook.com/lovefromhatepampanga

Believe: You seem to be very attached to the local Kapampangan Scene and I would say you’re one of the busiest if not, the most Notorious (hehe) guy I know in the Philippine HC-Punk Scene. Tell us how it all started.

Francis: Ahahaha Notorious talaga. It started when I met Marc Liwanag at Pampanga High School back in 1992. I saw his band Holocaust playing “Friday I’m in Love” by the Cure and “God Save the Queen” by the Sex Pistols. My two cousins Jaybee and Jude Pangilinan lend me their new wave and punk rock cassette tapes but Marc opened the door for me to discover the UK Punk, US Hardcore Punk, TRC and early 90’s punk scene in our country. I got interested in searching those aforementioned eras and learned they’ve all done it DIY. I started playing with Istukas Over Disneyland in May 1994; playing cover songs from seminal bands. After reading Oi Banger zine, I decided to make a zine with my friends; covering the active punk bands in San Fernando, interviewed the bands, wrote a scene report, reprinted articles of Punk Scene in the US from magazines until Notorious fanzine reached 10 issues. Now my new fanzine called Eksena Lokal has two issues and currently working on the third issue which is already long overdue ahahaha. You know, I see to it that I will write a scene report of Pampanga every year for you guys to be updated on what’s going on with our scene. I met this French guy Sebastian Gonnot and he encouraged me to run a small distro and share the music of bands from Italy, France, UK, Spain, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hungary, Nepal, Czech Republic since buying them abroad is expensive. That was the time I don’t have my own PC. What I do is record them on my cousin’s desktop and sell them for a cheaper price – the cost of photocopy of lyrics and covers and the CDR. Every records sold will produce new titles from bands abroad. Ah yeah I remember I also distributed dubbed tapes of Brigada Flores Magon and Les Partisans (France) using hi-tech and betamag blank cassette tapes. The name Love from Hate was taken from Klasse Kriminale “Mind Invaders” 7”EP. I’m thinking of writing a newsletter so probably this May for the 21st Anniversary of the Pampanga Notorious Scene, my fingers are crossed.          

Believe: Being that you run a record label/distro, make a zine, organize shows, help out on a radio show, play in 3 bands and you have a job on a graveyard shift; have you ever thought that it’s a bit overwhelming? Why / Why not?

Francis: Indeed it’s overwhelming but of course it takes a lot of patience, effort, responsibility and understanding. I remember this guy asked me “Are you committing suicide?” and I replied no, I just love what I’m doing and no one will do it for me but myself. I always say “Buhay pa tayo, madami pang oras at Bawal mag reklamo sa ginagawa mo na nagpapasaya sayo”.  Let me tell you about my life with these projects; Love from Hate – every release has special memories for me like the Bad Omen LP, I went two times to Cruz Paper Craft to follow up the layout of the Bad Omen LP since Jon was in Indonesia that time and when he came back, the artist has not worked on the layout. Ang comment pa sa akin nung caretaker e masungit daw ako nung nag follow up, I mean we’re meeting deadlines and following up for the second time is too much ahahaha. Jon found an artist to work on the layout of the LP and we always meet in Cartimar, Recto to provide the details of the artwork, record label’s logo, and poster. We then learned Cruz Paper Craft is outsourcing the job of the positives of the layout, cover and poster. Jon and I went to the artist just to fasten the work for Cruz Paper Craft since there are personal issues with the printing press owners. It was a stressful experience but at the same time I discovered and learned about the in and out of printing press business/industry. Cruz Craft Papers is the cheapest printing press in Quezon City if not, the whole Philippines since most of the major label companies print their releases there.  Eksena Lokal fanzine – Dyey Punk is helping me out with the layout, of course we have our misunderstanding in terms of the outcome of the zine but most of the time siya nasusunod ahahaha. Most of the typing are done here in the office when I have spare time then I’ll email the content to Dyey and he’ll run the lay out. It really takes months before I email him the details especially the interview, columns, reviews and other stuffs I wanted to include on the zine. Organizing shows – Marvin Zapata, Ching Pangilinan and Toie Lustre are the current organizers right now in San Fernando. I’ll be responsible for the May 16 (in cooperation with Maximum Rock and Roll) and May 30 (21st year anniversary of the Pampanga Notorious Scene) and I thank Ching for helping me book the venue and the instruments for these shows. In the recent gigs, the budget for the instruments is our main problem. The cheapest sound system/instruments in San Fernando right now is 8 thousand pesos. We’re lucky because we have Popo and Dexter who give us money to pay the instruments and somehow we manage to save money from the tickets but on the previous gigs we have to pay damages like the fly boards the guys of Peste Boys mistakenly used for their vert ramp, we paid the Giant Lantern Committee who owns the fly boards 7 thousand pesos. Ang hirap magpa gig ano? Eksena Lokal Radio – my job is collating the playlist for the month, review the songs, provide information of the songs and the bands and advise the bands we’ll play their songs, review fanzines and gigs, search for upcoming gigs, look for a scene reporter and instruct them on what to report and do on air. My deadline is every Thursday and I send the details to DJ Lia where she then formats the show. Playing with my bands – actually I play for 4 bands but The Holiday is taking time off for now, I play drums for the band and I hope in the coming months they’ll make a comeback and record their new songs. Graveyard Shift – yeah everybody needs to pay the monthly bills.        

Believe: What keeps you excited in this Scene that we’re in?

Francis: Discovering punk rock in other places and getting new contacts. It always cracks a smile on my face when learning there are bands, fanzines and distros in obscure places in the Philippines. When Bane came to the Philippines for the second time, I was so happy to meet Pam of Dienasty from Cagayan De Oro, I mean when we discuss punk in the Philippines, Manila comes to mind but punk went regional and I was so glad he handed me their demo and played “Apoy sa Sarili” on air at Eksena Lokal Radio (Bright FM 91.9) last March 6, 2015. On that gig, I was able to meet Siak from Davao who’s going to host the tour of Istukas Over Disneyland, Holy Cow and Monthly Red on March 21, 2015. I got to see again old contacts/friends like Maricar of Plug N’ Play zine, Grey of Thought, Weigner of Shrapnel/Gardo/Left of Center all from Cebu City; Mae of Refuse from Baguio City; Raymond and Neil of Unforce from Pagbilao, Quezon Province; Randy Rayos of Outcry; Papao and Raymond of Feud. We only get to see each other during gigs and catch up with our individual lives. When Bad Omen toured in Santiago City, Isabela, I was so excited learning there are punks in that city while Jayson and Regy of Revolution X Department invited my band to play in their City and nailed it last December 20, 2014. It leads to Love from Hate in releasing “Freedom” split CDR with Revolution X Department and State of Rebellion (Santiago City, Isabela). It’s great to know these people are supporting their own scene and when they organize gigs, they don’t charge at the gate and entrance is free knowing the cost of instruments are expensive. I also met the guys of Death My Hombre from Ilagan, Isabela and got their demo, The Plunders and the people from Nueva Vizcaya and Tuguegarao. Back in 2010, I went to Cebu for vacation to visit my friends and got excited learning Toxic Orgasm, Minority Blocks, One Man Down, The Deviants and Hard Feces are scheduled to tour Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. I was their roadie on that tour ahahaha and met Jedd of Oppressor, Oro of Demos Against and Ricson of Pedro Bruno. It’s nice to have new contacts away from my comfort zone because of punk rock. I then learned Insomyaks from Surigao playing Punk Ska and featured them on Eksena Lokal issue #2 while Egg of Declaration of Purity and Left Hand Path Press handed me over the Domestic Airport Violence demo and learned they’re from Mexico, Pampanga. Kent Cee and Jarred, two awesome hardcore kids from Lubao, Pampanga and the Turnips from Angeles City playing TRC repertoire. My friend Marvin of Provoke once told me Philippine Violators toured San Fernando City, La Union so I hope there are few there who are listening/appreciating punk rock. He also mentioned there is a punk band in Ilocos. If that’s true it will be a killer. I failed to search for local bands in Bohol when I was there last January, I know there are local reggae bands and their songs are played on air. I wonder about that band from Bohol when Piledriver played in Cebu this year. What do they play Gin? Do they have a demo?      

Believe: Doing Record Label over the years, what’s your stand on this digital age with free download of music from the Internet and at the same time Vinyl Records started to increase its demand?

Francis: For me it’s okay as long as the artist and consumer respect copy right. We all know the internet has its pros and cons. For example, I asked help from DJ Lia to download for me the Veills and Nonentities demos and played them last March 06 at Eksena Lokal Radio. I also asked her to download the new album of Brixton Cats (France), RVIVR and Punch (USA). I also wanted her to download the Chin Chin’s “Sound of the Westway and We Don’t Wanna be Prisoners” and Tappi Tikarrass – Bjork’s punk rock band from Iceland. I admit I’m a technophobe and I don’t know much about computers and the internet ahahaha. Emman told me there is this one guy who uploaded the Underground Asia CD on the web and we’re very excited knowing the fact the compilation was sold out from our record labels. He also told me if someone wanted to distribute the compilation he can always send them copies of the covers/layout which is amazing. Me, I love buying original records from labels or bands and even though I have them on MP3 format, I would love to buy a copy for myself. Vinyl and cassette tapes are gaining grounds since CDS have no value anymore in my opinion, I mean the demand of vinyl and cassette tapes is great knowing the fact that people are buying original records but sad to say we don’t have any more pressing plants in the Philippines to produce these records, only compact discs. Let’s just support the bands who have releases may it be on CDR, CD, Vinyl or Cassette Tapes for them to continue releasing new records.  

Believe: It’s always stated that Kapampangan’s cooks the best dishes in our country. So for you, what is Pampanga’s best? (Best in food) Plus, what makes Pampanga’s Scene worth checking out?

Francis:  I would say Pork Sisig and Burong Babi (Tocino). My mother is originally from Orion, Bataan but she cooks good food especially her kakanins and pastries but there are a lot of great cooks/chefs in Pampanga like Aling Lilian of Cucina and the owner of Everybody’s Café who serves exotic foods. Would you like to try our local cuisine like Tinolang Palaka and Fried Kamaro? Funny because I told Maricar of Plug N’ Play if she’s in town, I’ll treat her for a bite of Tinolang Palaka and Kamaro even though I don’t eat these dishes ahahaha. I guess the hospitality; I mean the guys in our scene in Pampanga will treat you like you are in your own home even though they don’t have the money, still they find ways to welcome you in their homes.    

Believe: I get pissed off every time I hear parents telling their kids that boys who cry are gay and that’s not cool or not tough. I keep telling my nephew that it’s okay to cry if he’s hurt and crying will make him feel better. But some kids are too afraid to cry and someday I don’t want my kid to feel that way. Too afraid to express how they feel because of peer pressure. It made me ask you this question, when was the last time you cried and why?

Francis: I knew this question is peer pressure ahaha. I don’t know if you can call it crying or shedding of tears but when I talked to my supervisor last week about what I felt when my team mate who’s also her friend disrespected her position. I mean sometimes it’s easy to say but it’s hard to do and most of the time I shed tears while saying what I really feel. I don’t know, maybe because you don’t want the person to be offended or telling the truth will hit her/him in the face. Filipinos are known to be brave and our elders took the tradition and pass it on to generations. It only meant for the kid to stop crying but deep inside their elders are hurt too when they see their kid crying. There is no harm in bursting out in tears, baka ikamatay mo pa yan kung hindi mo ilalabas  

Believe: I get really excited every time you release in any of your projects! What should we look out in the near future?

Francis: Thank you Rann. I just finished cutting the covers of Holy Cow/Monthly Red/Istukas Over Disneyland “Minda-Now” tour 2015 CDR we’ll be releasing the CDR this coming March 20 & 21 in Polomolok, South Cotabato and Samal Island, Davao. The CDR contains the first demo of Holy Cow, Monthly Red and Istukas Over Disneyland songs taken from their releases. The tour CDR is limited to 35 copies for both gigs, I invite you to purchase it to help us during the tour. I want to take this opportunity to thank Dyey Punk for wasting his time constructing the layout of the Tour CDR, he did not sleep just to finish the lay out, I harass the guy that’s why ahahaha. The split 7”EP of Random Violence/Value Lasts will be available soon in the Philippines, a collaboration from Still Ill Records, Delusion of Terror Records, Aklasan Records, Left Hand Path Press, Get Up and Go Records, Love From Hate and the people from RV and VL. I invite you to purchase a copy and support RV and VL! I personally dedicate this release to Denver of Value Lasts. As of now, I have projects lining up but they’re still on the dark side so I’ll let them stay there for a while before they see the light of the tunnel. I just don’t want to spoil the bean that’s all. Thank you Bram Ibrahim for the logo!          

Believe: Maraming Salamat Kuya Francis! Where can we check out your distro and releases?