PF is talking me into writing about the radio station that became so popular when we were still in high school. So good that it became our favorite. And everyone else’s, too. Much of our reunion conversations would have a piece on that, and the dj’s; some of them we actually interviewed for our fanzine. The local one closed in 1999. I have left Iloilo already and when I went back I was very surprised to hear my schoolmates, who never had any rock and roll nerve, gushing about the whole NU 107.9 Iloilo's last day event. I heard they even lit candles. Cheese overload.
Not a week ago PF actually mentioned writing about the station. It was when he was eye-ball deep with commitments (okay, I’m just exaggerating—make that armpit-deep) and I never took him seriously on that. I knew he’d never have the time for it. He’s even way behind schedule for his DAtE works. And since NU Main station reprogramming is also not so hot topic for me, I had little to no drive to feel nostalgic about it.
I don’t listen to them anymore.
While Halloween vacationing at my parent’s place we sat with our backs to each other, absorbed by our own little world in cyberspace. I'd glanced and his his eyes are fixed on Form (uninteresting, he said), or an E-book (no El Croquis this time, I think). Or at pirate bay downloading porn for all I know. But this is how I came to know he was actually researching on his write up apart from ogling on architecture books and magazines--their total subscription cost more than our monthly rent.
PF: are you familiar with the band Anathema?
Me: No. what are they?
PF: and the Belly album in 1993.
Me: what? What the hell are you reading there?
(I thought he was asking me about a belly album in 1993 called anathema but before I could google it he said--)
PF: I’m making a list of albums released in 1993.
Me: Wow. You’ve really gone that far now. I’m still stuck to “Why Architects Drink” and you’re way beyond there, you’ve gone to music.
PF: and shakira already had an album released in 1993.
Me: meaning, she’s already old?
PF: because I thought we were of the same age
(who knows she was already bankable at 13?)
Me: is that for the NU thing?
PF: yeah. Why?
Me: wow extensive research you got there.
PF: well, you should write something, too. Then we post them together.
Me: Christ, is that serious?
PF: and you can tell BCG to do the same and we post together.
Me: How do you think we’re gonna proceed with that? We’re going home tomorrow.
(Back to our no-internet-therefore-no-wi-fi home, in these days of google-replacing-the-libraries)
PF: NU is changing programming on the 8th, we still got about a week.
(No comment. Then I opened MS word and started typing, after sending BCG a message. PF turned to me to say something but he instead exclaimed --)
PF: what?! You’re already writing?
Me: well, of course. It’s not like it’s a term paper. And I’m just drafting. Unlike you I don’t abide by the FLW motto.
PF: (Laughs. Snickers. Chuckles. Or something like that.)
(amazed that I remembered that FLW comment. And he’s silent for a while then--)
PF: Help me remember Buffalo Tom.
Me: Summer. Taillights Fade. (as i tapped on my keyboards for youtube search)
PF: Nothing.
Me: Oh, Red Letter Day. That was popular.
PF: God. Still nothing.
(then silence. The dog outside howled. The baby in the room 2 meters away is sleeping like a log, I bet snoring. Then he asked me if I have--)
PF: Violent Femmes.
Me: what about?
PF: do you have violent femmes?
(because I almost played the buffalo tom only to find out that the mp3 is in our OTHER computer, which we left at home)
Me: no. except on mixed tape
(meaning cassette tapes. Where you use a cassette player to listen to it.)
(30 minutes after he asked me to call it a night. i played Buffalo Tom's i'm allowed for him to see, said he remembers now. Sad song, i say to him. Yea, that sounds really like something they'd play in NU in those days. Yea, i said.
and gave my shoulder an assuring squeezed then off he went to sleep.)
More of it laterzzzz. God knows what he’s going to ask me tomorrow.
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