Monday, November 16, 2009

I guess it's time to strengthen my Facebook Security.

A guy from my province adds me up. So I do my usual routine: message him because I don't know him.

Rob: Do we know each other? You related to ****** *******?

Stranger: I guess we just know each other in this facebook community. I'm not related to ******, but maybe we're cousins in far ties. Hehehe. Thanks for the message. May i know who you are?

Rob: I'm from Calbayog. You added me as a contact though we don't have mutual friends.

Stranger: Sa proper ka ba ng Calbayog? Nag-school ka pa ba? (Are you from Calbayog proper? Do you still go to school?)

Rob: Oo Calbayog proper ak pero adi ak Manila maiha na. Working na, maiha na liwat. Ikaw? (Yes, I'm from Calbayog proper but I'm here in Manila & have been working here for a long time now. How about you?)

Stranger: Working din po sa ***. Anu work mo? (I'm also working, here at ***. What's your work?)

Rob: OK. I work at a call center based here in Manila.

Stranger: San banda sa Manila? May sariling family ka na ba? (Which part of Manila? Do you have your own family?)


Rob: Pasig. Wala pa namang pamilya. (No family yet.) Do you know anyone from Calbayog?

Stranger: Yes but not so much. Why?

Rob: Just curious. Who do you know there?

Stranger: My relatives. The clans of ****-*****, and *******. But I'm living here at ***. My mother is from Calbayog City... I've been there last All Souls' and Saints' Day.

Rob: I see. Proud Samareños, we are! :)

Stranger: Yes!!!! Are you a straight guy? Hehehe. In a relation?

Rob: Yes & Yes. Sorry.

Stranger: Why sorry?

Rob: If you're looking for a guy-guy relationship, I'm not interested.


Stranger: I know. I don't have a plan also. I just want a '1-night'. Hehehehe. Kidding.

_____________

GROSS
Don't get me wrong. I'm not homophobic but picking up people you don't know for your sexual needs is ultimately disgusting. I'll probably just report this guy. Or maybe go to his place with my friends and beat the s*** out of him.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

"Rebirth"

Recorded on August 23, 2009



DOWNLOAD:
1. POSTERIOR
2. REBIRTH


2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

"Oh Dear"

Recorded on August 18, 2009



(Click on cover image to download)

2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

"Out Of Line"

Recorded on August 11, 2009



(Click on cover image to download)

2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

"Reasons/Illusions"

Recorded on July 31, 2009



(Click on cover image to download)

2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

Tracy Tuason - After Hours (The Velvet Underground Cover)





(Click on image to watch video)

Written by Lou Reed
Originally performed by The Velvet Underground

"Houses With No Ceilings"


Recorded on July 30, 2009



(Click on cover image to download)

2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

Friday, August 07, 2009

Freeradio - Walking (Jazzed-Up)






Demo recorded on August 20, 2006.
Words & Music: Rob Equiza / Royce Obong
Inspiration From My Insecurities Music

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

"Ships"



Recorded on July 29, 2009



(Click on cover image to download)

2009 Spotlighting Moon Songs

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Analogous

I've always wanted to get a turntable. After collecting cassette tapes during early college, then CDs after that (& until now), I had this strong feeling that something is still missing.

VINYL was the answer.

I used to enjoy my father's talks about his turntable & the records he had during his childhood. I was fascinated by scenes in movies where a vinyl would be playing - specially 'High Fidelity'. I was curious about this passion Eddie Vedder had when he wrote & sang 'Spin The Black Circle'. It was everywhere but nowhere near me.

I guess my decision to finally buy a turntable was about 3 years ago when I saw some used LPs for sale at a CD store I frequently visit in Quiapo. I bought Sting's 'The Dream of the Blue Turtles' (which I could not find on CD & I only had in cassette) & The Police's 'Synchronicity'. So those were my first records. But I didn't have a turntable yet.

Over the next couple of years, I've been putting off the task of owning one. Getting 5.1 speakers instead for home audio & even an MP3 Player despite my devotion to my Discman. Earlier this year, I almost bought a 'Retro-Classic' Turntable out of sheer impulsiveness. (I'm like that.) Good thing I saw a Technics brand listing on eBay that warned the uninformed of the former's mediocrity. I didn't buy the Technics either though, it was way over my budget.

So a few months ago, when I had the money again, I knew it was time and finally gave in. I got to know two sellers. Both offers were good brands & not that pricey. But I decided to get the one from the turntable collector. We spent over 2 hours just talking about trivial matters regarding turntable & vinyls. I had to get as much information as I can. And I really enjoyed the conversation.

It's only been 3 weeks since I acquired my TRIO KP-M350 MKII Direct-Drive Turntable. I paired it with a TRIO 90-Watt Amplifier that I bought in Pier for a nice deal. And since I don't have the budget for a pair of decent speakers yet, I'm currently using the ones from an old Hitachi Radio. Surprisingly, it sounds neat. Although half of the time, I plug in the headphones for better listening.

As for records, I was able to find Neil Young's 'After The Goldrush' at Quiapo. And along Kapasigan, I got Prince's 'Purple Rain' & TFF's 'Songs From the Big Chair'. All were 2nd-hand but I noticed that the TFF LP was heavier than the other records. I guess that's what they call the 180-gram LP. So I'm not yet that knowledgeable in this field - but I'm open and ready.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been trying to look for local vinyl stores that offer a wide variety of artists with reasonable prices. I looked everywhere online from eBay.ph to Sulit to Auction.ph to OLX - all to no avail. But today, I think my wishes have been answered. I stumbled upon an Online Forum which is without a doubt the site that fills my heart's desires (well almost. hehe).

The turntable & the vinyl has come a long way. It never died. You see, art should always be considered. In a time when everything is reduced into untouchable files, nothing can compare to the real thing.

In with the old. Out with the new.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Phoebe On A High


REBIRTH SERIES:
Phoebe On A High

Poster Paint on 1/4 Illustration Board
11 May 2009 / Rob Equiza

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Searching my past / 26

My mother was working in a school called Sacred Heart which was run by nuns. She lived in a small rented flat near the public market. Home was an hour and a half away where my father and my first two siblings were. The head nun at the school who was known to be very strict with everyone considered my mother an exception. Nanay was her favorite, seeing in her a good heart & her sacrifice as a pregnant woman travelling alone every now and then for several months for her family to live by.

When it was it time for my mother to give birth to her third child, she was at the rented flat. A midwife came to assist her in the delivery assisted by two working students from the school.

I was born at dawn. April 7, 1983. In Catbalogan, Samar. An old tattered towel was wrapped around me. No hospitals. No fancy baby clothes. Poverty smiled at my birth and I'm sure I smiled back at it in my own way.

Two days after, my father came to accompany us back to Calbayog - the place where I would spend the next 16 years; the city that I will call home all of my days.

_______________________________________________________________

It was a sunny day when I woke up at past 7 in the morning. My parents and my brothers were still asleep save for Ronce, our youngest. With the few coins I had, we bought two candles at the nearest store from our house and walked the five blocks up the street. Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral was still almost empty when we arrived. We lit the candles and said a prayer in silence. I turned thirteen years old that day.
_______________________________________________________________

These are two points in my life that I am fascinated with upon arriving at my twenty-sixth year. One from a memory of my strong courageous mother, the root of how I embraced and accepted the lack of financial stability yet taking joy in life itself; the other a personal vivid view from my adolescence that foretold of the future independence I now possess.

Twenty-six doesn't mean I'm old. But it's not too young of an age either. So let all that has to be learned learnt, let all that hides unfold, and everything that sleeps, awoken.

I may be very far away from home and might still have to walk millions of blocks to where I'm headed. But you see, I am ready. So bring it on!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

i am a ghost wandering in spaces


But when I am down I just listen to the sound
That plays in my head and I know I'll come around


(parts from 'Vomitere' / Spotlighting Moon Songs)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

an e-mail correspondence from a while ago

_______________________________________________________________

11/01/07

My name is Bryan and I am an avid reader of musings of a psychopath and a first-time e-mailer.

Rob, I thought I would bring a favorite band of mine to your attention called Your 33 Black Angels.

A friend turned me on to them about two years ago and I've been a fan ever since.

They independently released (as in self-released) a gem of an album in spring called "Lonely Street".

It went relatively unnoticed until it was reviewed by Senior Editor David Fricke in last month's issue of Rolling Stone.

Hopefully they will start getting the long-deserved attention I think they deserve.

I hope you feel the same.

The Your 33 Black Angels Myspace is www.myspace.com/your33blackangels

Sincerely,
Bryan
_______________________________________________________________

11/13/07

Hi Bryan,

Your first line had done what you intended it to do - it caught my attention.
But I don't really believe you're an avid reader of my blog.
Apart from a few bands we like, I don't think most of my entries appeal to you.

It's probable you saw my blog and saw the 'velvet underground' and some other bands that I love and you thought, 'hey, I can get this guy to like this band'.
Sorry if I seem rude - I'm not, and I know your intentions are good.

About the band, I listened to a couple of songs on their MySpace page.
You and Mr. Fricke are right. Their music's great!
At first I thought 'Your 33 Black Angels' sounds like an emo band's name despite the review.
But I was taken aback, albeit, in a positive way. The Velvets really come to mind but unlike other bands that sounds just like xerox of their influences, Y33BA have their own sound.
I hope to have their CD soon.
Thank you for your suggestion, Bryan.

By the way, are you in any way related to the band?

And how come you sent me an e-mail to this address when the e-mail address I registered on my blog is not this one?


-Rob
_______________________________________________________________

11/13/07

You ask too many questions and are very paranoid.

Do you smoke lots of dope?

Yes, I do enjoy your blog.

No, I do not know the band outside of being a fan.

-B
_______________________________________________________________

11/13/07

Two questions are not too many, Bryan.
I'm just curious rather than paranoid.
No I don't smoke dope as you may do judging from your question.

I have one favor to ask of you though.
If you have time, listen to my band's songs and tell me what you think.
Brutal reviews are accepted.

Our songs are here: www.soundclick.com/freeradio

Thanks!

-Rob
_______________________________________________________________

11/13/07

Rob,

I am vaery picky and a harsh critic but damn its really good.

I enjoy the lo-fi, mellow stuff and the singing is good.

This would definitely be stuff I would buy or steal.

The only criticism that at times too mellow and the music would be even better if you made it more interesting with tempo changes, layering etc.

Good stuff,

-Bry
_______________________________________________________________

11/14/07

Bryan,

Google shows 6 other music blogs you sent your e-mail to.
I'm pretty sure that's just the tip of the iceberg.
I don't mind the promotion but I hate the lying.
I'm still grateful you introduced me to the band but though.

Just as this marketing is important to you, our music is important to me as well.
So I hope you didn't just write your last reply without even listening to our songs.
If you did listen to them and were honest with that opinion, thank you.

Take care.
_______________________________________________________________

11/04/07

Rob,

Lay off the shit man. Its making your brain crazy!

So 6 means everybody asshole!

No, fuck you!

How am I Lying?

If you are so insecure and hurt that you believe you are the only blog I read and corrspond with than I am sorry.

Grow up!!

Thank God (or maybe Gods in your case) and

I did listen to your music faggot!! And unfortunately its good because I really want to hate it like I hate your asummin' falesely accussin' ass!
_______________________________________________________________

11/14/07

There's no need to use profanity here, Bry.
You sound stupid which I know you're not.

Y33BA's music can speak for itself so my point is even if you
admit that you're part of their marketing, people won't push you away.

This is not about insecurity. I don't care what you blogs you read
because I don't even know you. The only issue is the truth.

Oh and I only have one God, I'm Catholic.

Be cool, man.

-Rob
_______________________________________________________________

11/14/07

Well, I am catholic too and embarassed you are too.

I am not a professional marketer by any means and it really pisses me off when someone makes false accusatios.

So, no, I won't "be cool" when some Phillipnio jerkoff is calling me a liar!

The "truth" is something you are "asuuming" and not proving and is the same "truth" of the easter bunny and weapons of mass destruction.

Hey, Im all for the truth and rational thought but not morons who believe and post whatever cokamamey schemes they salivavte ovee sa "truth" really gets my goat.

Be cool in implicating and falsely accusing.

I am sorry really that I read your blog and said hi.

It won't happen ever again. I promise. So go on accuse others.
_______________________________________________________________

11/14/07

I stand corrected then. I apologize for upsetting you.
I just wish you're able to correspond in a mature way.

'Filipino' is the word. I should be taking offense at that but I won't.

Humble thyself and thou shalt be exalted.

Have a nice life.
_______________________________________________________________

Friday, March 13, 2009

Photo Blog

I FOR AN EYE

[ http://RobEquiza.blogspot.com ]



"The reason I do photographs is to help people understand my music, so it's very important that I am the same, emotionally, in the photographs as in the music. Most people's eyes are much better developed than their ears. If they see a certain emotion in the photograph, then they'll understand the music."
Björk, Index Magazine, July 2001

Monday, March 09, 2009