SaMaPi's Kwentuhan Sessions

Ten years ago, I was a freshie at Pisay, idolizing the Batch '95 pipol - especially the Samapi folks. SAMAPI - Samahan ng mga Manunugtog ng Pisay - was the school org for student bands and music enthusiasts. I clearly remember the gigs back then, particularly Supernova Jam (Samapi + Astrosoc gig), and bands such as Killer Kamatis and Studfarm.

Today, I am yet again experiencing my first year in Pisay - not as a student anymore, but as a 2nd Year Biology Teacher. What's cool, though, is that I also get to be Adviser of Samapi! ;) And as Samapi adviser, I've taken the liberty of launching some sort of Indie Awareness Campaign - to let the students know more about the indie scene and its many players.

In line with this campaign, Samapi holds a monthly gig called the Kwentuhan Sessions. Kwentuhan is an acoustic gig in a classroom setting, featuring a different indie band every month. The Sessions kicked off last September 6 with one of the indie scene's heroes, Twisted Halo. In fact, the idea for Kwentuhan Sessions was born while yours truly was exchanging emails with Halo's vocalist Vin Dancel, who suggested just that - an acoustic gig in a classroom where the band can just talk to the students about their music and the scene in general.


Kwentuhan Sessions, featuring Twisted Halo (minus Monmon, plus Raimund & Tim) [09/06/04]

So last September, the Kwentuhan Sessions were born, and the students of Pisay got to know a bit more about Twisted Halo and their first full length album, In Loving Memory of the Fearless Exploits of the Bolo Brigade. Not long after (like, the day after), Echo Singson of Boldstar, who heard about Kwentuhan from Halo's Joey Odulio, was already signing up for the next Kwentuhan =D


Kwentuhan Sessions, featuring Boldstar (minus Marie & Justin) [10/29/04]

This month, Samapi's Kwentuhan Session resumed, with none other than Boldstar as our featured indie band. I was impressed by the effort Samapi showed for the 2nd installment of Kwentuhan, lalong lalo na dun sa Boldstar Fact Sheet that they made (thanks to Nikki!). It was a really big poster containing bits and pieces of Boldstar factoids, which Echo and Jazz Nicolas actually wanted to take home. The poster, however, was to remain with Samapi and will be displayed as part of the Samapi archives in upcoming Samapi activities.

Samapi's Kwentuhan with Boldstar was a fun gig. Best question of the day was addressed to Echo: "Totoo ba yang sideburns mo?" =D Panalo din ang tripod-turned-micstand na ginamit for Jazz. Well, when there's a will, there's a way. So when there's a mic, there must be a micstand ;)

All in all, Samapi's Kwentuhan Sessions have been successful events, and we're really looking forward to the November Session. Word has it that it'll be Imago this time - yes, they are now indie, currently under the wing of Guilty Pleasure Records. Not many days ago, they released their long overdue sophomore effort, aptly called "Take Two", which includes "Taning", the current #1 song on the Midnight Countdown. Can't wait to get my hands on that album.

Pics from Samapi's Kwentuhan Sessions can be seen here (Twisted Halo) and here (Boldstar).