What you’re about to read was written by the 22-year old version of me in my old blog in Livejournal. I think, if you see most entries about Bamboo in this blog, I really give myself away and STOP being professional and start becoming a gushing fan, which I think would make me lose any possibility of working with him (yes, i’ve said that so many times). Also the fact that sometimes I lose so much sense in my sentences because of too much excitement.

I guess you can say it’s an “artistic crush” like how Quentin Tarantino usually refers to it. 

Last night during Bamboo’s first performance in the Philippines in front of almost 80,000 people at the Tanduay Rhum Rock Fest, I remembered that fan in me when I first started working in music and realized that the reason why I am here, is because of people like him.

I saw him the night before they announced the band was breaking up at Mark Escueta’s birthday party. I didn’t understand the meaning of ‘It’s not goodbye’, but last night with an orchestra and awesome musicians to back him up, I saw him perform here for the first time since.

As a photographer, selecting photos require a sense of detachment for you to be able to choose what photographs you get to show the world. To be honest, I am having trouble choosing. I am human after all and a music fan at that, sometimes a little too much. Sometimes maybe I can be a little creepy sounding, but I know what fans feel and every single time I see Bamboo I am reminded of my beginnings as an artist who works for music and I don’t think it’ll ever go away. 

Now let’s travel back in time with an entry I wrote 6 years ago….

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Written 29 September 2005 9:10pm

This afternoon Francis and I were walking in Greenbelt waiting to pick up my new frames, when someone looked at us, stood up and approached us…

It was Bamboo. He was with my cousin Twinkie. They came from a Pepsi press conference earlier at a new restaurant in Greenbelt 2. Twinkie told us to join them.

Francis introduces me to guys that I admire by selling me out. At least he told Bamboo, “This is Niña, she’s always wanted to meet you”. Then Bamboo shook my hand. 

I was trying to stop myself from smiling. I badly needed a drink so I ordered water and Francis ordered coffee.

Anyway, he was really nice. During the conversation he never spoke about himself. He’s just uncannily, refreshingly, admiringly, idealistically normal with a quaint sense of what he and his music is all about. 

Bamboo talked about the recent MTV Asia Awards and how all the Filipino bands there all just got together like a clique. He also said that although doors outside of the country are opening for artists here in the Philippines, he thinks that his band, their music, should be improved more. It’s like when you’re out of the Philippines it’s a really different ballgame.

Twinkie said, “There is no such thing as a small gig.” and Bamboo very much agreed.

I think a lot of people in the industry respect him because of how he thinks, which is only coming out now because he used to be uncannily quiet. Although I thought I’ve already met and worked with the biggest band in the country, meeting Bamboo, I realized that like batteries he gives off a positive charge to anyone he meets.

Well at least I know some stuff about music now so I was able to ride on with the conversation. I told Bamboo he was guwapo. I said that just when Bamboo was about to say something, and he just got dumbfounded… I told him it was true! 

(note: what a way to enter a music conversation)

He seemed like such a great leader for his band because he told us stories of Nathan getting homesick when they were in the US and Nathan would just lock himself up in his room. Bamboo told us that he’d try to cheer up Nathan, or he just wouldn’t stop bugging him. 

I told Bamboo that if he’s part of Pepsi now then he’d have that huge billboard in Megamall, too. Natawa siya. He told me he wanted to do this particular pose, like ala-Michael Jackson, but then the Pepsi people wanted something different because he’s a rockstar and they already have something in mind.

A friend of Twinkie’s joined us and as the gentleman that he is, Bamboo stood up and gladly gave her a seat.

Twinkie brought up the fact that I styled for Rivermaya, and remembered that I owe her a Pepe Smith tshirt. Then she started explaining to Bamboo about Paul Smith and Pepe Smith… Which I gladly repeated… telling him how obsessed I am with Paul Smith in the most subdued way possible… 

I really hope he wasn’t listening during my radio interview in NU when I was calling out to Bamboo saying I would love to style for them for free. :) It’s okay, I’d rather write down in my history book that he wore a shirt I made.

When we left… Sadly…Francis had rehearsals… Bamboo stood up and shook Francis’ hand. So when I also stood up, he took off his cap and then shook my hand, saying it was really nice to meet me. 

Grabe! Sinong lalaki ang tatanggalin ang sumbrero niya para sa iyo, when saying goodbye or when shaking your hand??? It’s one of the ultimate gentlemanly gestures on the list.

Pakiramdam ko tuloy isa akong bandila ng Pilipinas na nasa taas na ng flagpole at winawagayway. 

While we were walking back to the mall I crossed the pedestrian lane without looking and some car almost hit me. Francis told me to be careful, but I told him, it’s okay, I feel like I can die now because I just had coffee with Bamboo.

Then Francis goes, “No you didn’t! I had the coffee! You just had water!”

I said it’s basically the same thing. Haha.

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Several months later….

April 22, 2006 - Photo by Ronnie Ragonton

then in 2007…

I actually was hired to style the band (even though I didn’t think they needed it, but you know, I couldn’t say no)

Photos from his performance last night will be posted soon! This guy deserves his own entry!