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Cagayan de Oro City is known for a lot of things. To date, it is one of Mindanao’s most progressive cities and major tourist destinations. Aside from its blooming socio-economic state, one of the main reasons why tourists flock over to Cagayan de Oro is the overall attitude of the locals. Even as they go on with their everyday routine, the Kagay-anons surely know how to keep themselves entertained.

Whether they’re at home, in the office or elsewhere, people are often tuned in to their favorite radio stations. And in Cagayan de Oro, people never run out of choices. The city is home to a wide range of radio stations.

One of the oldest existing radio broadcast stations in Mindanao, the Radio Mindanao Network (RMN), also known as DXCC, is found almost within the center of the city. This radio station has been around since 1952. It is acknowledged as the 2nd broadcasting facility built in Mindanao.

Several of the city’s broadcast facilities (AM stations) are affiliated with the country’s major broadcast networks. A few of these include DXIM Radio ng Bayan, DXIF Bombo Radyo, and DXCO Radio Pilipino Corp.

Ten of the city’s FM stations are also affiliated with major broadcasting networks. Some of these FM stations are DXKB Killer Bee, DXKS Love Radio, DXBL Mellow Touch, Home Radio, and DXLX Campus Radio. All of these radio stations are broadcasted with a power of 10KW.

In addition to these radio stations, the city also has four of television stations under major broadcasting networks. These stations are the RPN TV 5, ABS-CBN, RMNTV, and the ABC TV. DXDD, a local television station, is managed and operated by the COC-Phinma group.

-by Mara Tismo-
(Photo taken from skyscrapercity.com)

According to one of its members, the name Ecru La Dacapo came to them in the most random fashion. One day, they picked up a dictionary and looked for words that captured their interest. Words like “ecru,” which means light brown in French and “da capo,” a musical term in Italian that means from the beginning, sounded appealing to the group at that time. Since then, they have called the band as such, without even caring what those combined words meant in English.

Ecru currently consists of singer and lyricist Gabriel “Gibb” Gabe, drummer Mark “Tonton” Daposala, guitarist Francis Ramos, rhythm guitarist Marion Go and bassist John “J5” Cinco. The musical quintet have actually been friends for several years now, but the band itself did not emerge until they reached high school. These Corpus Christi alumni decided to put up a band in search of relief from the pressures of school life and in search of their own sound, as the emergence of rap metal at that time became rampant. To this day, they still do not incorporate themselves into one genre. Ecru La Dacapo is Ecru La Dacapo.

After graduating from CCS, they took separate courses in college, but they constantly looked for shows they could get into with the help of fellow friends and musicians. Through Xavier University’s Soundtable, an organization initiated by Switch frontman IQ and other local musicians in the 90s, and an independent music troupe Corridor Music Group, formed by Rage and Jay-r Calixto, they had more than enough gigs to make their college life an unforgettable one.

Apart from Ecru La Dacapo, Ramos, who is studying medicine at XU, is also one of the original members of the two-tone ska outfit The Superflirts and is currently the guitarist for emerging two-piece electronic project inQue. Daposala, now working as a writer, was likewise in a band called Polly and Freebie, both of which fell short and only performed in a couple of shows. Cinco is a full-time banker and a father to son Marcus, while Go is still studying Computer Science at Xavier University.

With the release of their demo, “The Weight,” which can be heard on www.purevolume.com/ecruladacapo, Ecru is set to record more songs and probably work on an album this year.

-by RQ-

From the many Cagayan de Oro City acts that attempted to break through the Manila music scene, Nuncyspungen came out as one of the most successful ones for a time. Named after Sex Pistols bassist Sid Vicious’ infamous girlfriend, Nancy Spungen, the band was one of the few groups that paved the way for other musicians to follow. Primarily composed of Philipp Coufal (vocals), Chuck Bollozos (bass), Ludwig Sombajon (guitar), Lourd Magto (guitar) and Abe Billano (drums), they set out to make themselves known in the Vis-Min scene before venturing into the cutthroat Metro Manila music world.

Best known for their eclectic performance on stage, Nuncyspungen spent years before they finally released their self-titled album in 2002, which had rerecorded tracks of their first release such as the hit song Goa. Clearly a huge influence to those who were fans of independent music, they have been invited to countless shows in and outside of the city, reaching as far as Cebu, where there they met the former independent outfit Urbandub. Later on, they were featured in Manila’s NU107’s In the Raw show and caught the ears of some listeners. Gradually gaining exposure in the north, PULP magazine highlighted them on its homegrown segment and they even got the chance to perform at the PULP Summer Slam, the biggest rock show in the country that happens every year. Moreover, they did an interview as well as a live performance at MTV Philippines’ Siesta and MYX Live.

After touring, they finally came to a halt and came back to Cagayan de Oro. Personal priorities and responsibilities started to arise. They eventually went on an indefinite hiatus until such time that a new lineup of members – drummer Jedi dela Cruz (Red Whiskey), bassist Jonah Booc (Ruska) and guitarist Jan Geroy (Swerve) - came up with a set of songs recorded in Coufal’s home studio. The effort proved a success as they named the 6-track extended play EXIT MUSIC, which spoke about loss, betrayal, courage, anger and all other sentiments that reflect the departure and the circumstances the members went through.

Fast forward to 2010, the band reunited for a show in celebration of the New Year in Cagayan de Oro. Both original and new members shared the stage, performing Exit songs and the all-time favorite Goa. Music mates like Ruska, K9 and Switch also performed at the gig.

Ian Quirante

On April 24th 2009, a rising industrial rock band called Switch had their first album launch at Saguijo, Makati City, Philippines. The 15-track LP is called Visceral. It has received acclaim from various local and international music magazines. Currently under Sonic Shape Records, the band performed at the event alongside acts like Cebu’s The Ambassadors and Faspitch and Manila’s Intolerant and Nyctinasty.

Formerly based in Cagayan de Oro City, Switch started out as a solo and experimental project by musician and professional artist Ian “IQ” Quirante in 1998. The band played a few local gigs here and there, inviting fellow musicians to play as sessionists. He then recorded his heavily electronic-influenced tracks at local and home studios. A song called “For You Only,” which was rerecorded and included in Visceral, is still being played over the radio.

When IQ decided to move to Manila to study Fine Arts at UP Diliman, he continued his music ventures there as well. By saving up money from paintings he sold, he was gradually raising a band of keyboard synthesizers and other electronic gadgets that proved to be very significant, as Switch became one of the most unique, and probably the loudest, electronic act in the Metro music scene.

Following some disagreements with the band’s guitarist, Sidney Acurantes, IQ replaced the latter with a fellow Kagay-anon, guitarist and lyricist Wilbert Tan, who is currently playing guitar for the Ram Chaves band. Due to a physical condition, Neil Pagulayan, who plays the synthesizers and adds samples to their live performances, was temporarily replaced by Yna Amparo.

Since then, Switch has reintroduced the Pinoy music scene with the industrial genre, equipped with an electronic setup (Macbooks and keyboard synths included) and openly political/religious/social issues-influenced lyrics.

At present, the band is aiming to have a full live setup, taking a shot at recruiting a drummer and bass player, as Quirante did a test drive of the effort in his hometown last January 2, 2010 at a small show at Mandex bar. Because of the absence of Tan, he invited emo-ambient group K9’s Bam Roa to play guitar, together with drummer Jedi Dela Cruz, and this writer as the bassist.

-by Rose Ann Quirante