BUHAWI MENESIS'S GETS LOW WITH BASE TALKS

At this juncture, it's Buhawi Menesis of Parokya Ni Edgar on board on my record. Meeting him for the second time so close, wrapping up few questions and few more answers won't seems so strange. He wasn't so comically gesturing this time, though few moments from now or after this record, it wouldn't be as true as we are seriously talking of things along the way.

Comfortably cautioned on sits, I've posited how he happened to be hitting low notes rather than anything else. He commenced, “may banda ako dati. Bali yung bahista ng banda ko dati, parang nakatambay lang yung base nya sa bahay. Eh, parang hilig ko lang 'din sya.” 'Till he finally became the member of Parokya Ni Edgar from then and for this long.

It's going so practical about life when assessing that being part of the band, particularly being a bassist also and not bad, makes a good living, “actually, sa part ko, nag-click kami siguro sa tao at may demand. Sa part ko yes, I have sent my two sons in school. As of now, basta i-continue ko lang yung ginagawa namin. Tapus marami 'din akong nakikilala na sa sobrang galing nila sa base at ok naman sila at nag kakahanap buhay sila.” For him it's more on skill and acumen that brings you to a level up of a career with a pinch of luck, “at saka, swertehan 'din. Pero kung magaling na magaling ka, medyo kaya eh, kaya maging hanap buhay to eh.” And he's one of the rests who made it to that point.

Like anybody else who tries to figure out every piece of a song, Buwi is making a point that practice really makes perfect. He testifies, “once na na-practice mo, first practice medyo mahirap, lalo na pag bago yung mga songs. Tapus, sa sobrang dami mo nang practices, like five practices a night. Paulit-ulit lang mahahasa ka. Lalo na kung every day halos yun lang tinutugtog mo, masasanay ka.” It's only this that matters to him, “but when you do other projects and a new song, doon na parang naghihirap. Mahirap lang s'ya kapag bago lang.”

Of all band members the bassist maybe is the less visible if we have to talk about the rest. With Buwi's philosophical epitome, not at all, “dami ngang nagtatanong sa akin, yung mga walang alam sa music. “Anong ginagawa ng base?” “Anong importance ng base?” Sinasabi ko lang yung gaya ng pag bibili ka ng sound system, yung surround. And daming speakers na maliliit nakakalat dyan, pero bakit may isang malaking sub-woofer na importanting kasama mo, na 'di mo rin napapansin pero nasa ilalim mo, nasa tabi mo pero s'ya yung nagbubuo ng sounds. Then kunti lang yung nakakaalam na yung base yung pinakaimportante sa banda na nagbibigay ng groove.” Nonetheless, it's alright for him having a band devoid of bassist, “Oo, ok din kahit walang base ok lang.”

Now we're soaring high on a question, musicians are made or born, more in particular a bassist. Clearing up his thoughts for some moments and digging up clarity he made it to both of the them giving fistfuls of justifications, “oo, nga ano. (Thinking long). I think, bassists are born. Minsan kasi cosmic 'din yan. But not necessarily on my part. Kasi nag-research ako on how to be a good bassist practically and physically. Bassists are really born. Yung mga iniidulo ko, they were born. Actually, destiny lang 'din eh on my part. Napunta lang 'din sa kamay ko, then nahiligan ko lang din.”

Despite the agility and the considerable time spent in playing base, he admits that there are some unexplored horizons on base playing. He's on for some technical improvements, “unang-una siguro technicalities gusto ko rin matutunan yung lumawak yung styles of playing.” But the simplier, her gets more, “pero ok lang na simply lang yun paglalaro ko. Pero never ending talaga ang pag-bibase. I'm still a learner up until now . I'm still a very hungry learner,” and learn more from it. It's all about jazz that he's targeting to play and professionals to play with. Lastly, creativity gives him further ado by creating newer sounds.


TICK TACK TALK

How many base guitars you personally owned since your life?
And from whom they came from? Sa ngayon, currently ten yung nasa bahay ko ngayon, iba't-iba. Each guitar has its own story. Mayroon akong four (strings), five and six, fretless saka upright base. Kumbaga hilig ng bassist na malaro yung iba't-ibang bases. Ang kulang ko na lang is yung mga tipong 12-strings na base na gusto kung magkaroon. Lahat naman yan hindi mahal yung base ko. Kumbaga hilig ko lang, saka na-diskartehan, (nagkaroon ng) discount.

Yung unang-una kung base na nagkaroon ako, galing kay Romel Dela Cruz. Yung unang base ni Romel of Barbie's Cradle. Yung unang-una nyang base beninta nya, tapus ako yun nakakuha.

Ngayon subrang galing na n'ya. He's one of the top bassists, so parang proud ako na wow yung unang base ko yun (galing sa kanya).

Yung unang five-string na nakuha ko, galing kay Karylle Honasan. Ang galing-galing 'din nya ngayon. One of the top bassists 'din ng Pilipinas. Natutuwa ako na yung mga bases ko galing sa iniidulong bahista ngayon.

Isa pa, mayroon akong upright base na galing kay Claire Subijana, professor sa UP College of Music.

Are all of those gifts and presents or you bought them personally?
Lahat nabili ko na sobrang baba ng prize. More than half (yung discount). Parang my blessings din sila sa akin. Yung currently hawak ko ngayon is 6-string wireless na sobrang mahal yun talaga then brandnew, pero bininta sa akin like half the prize. Galing kay (Cocoy), mabait na bahista, dahil gusto n'ya ako ang maglaro noon.

How about few of them abroad?
Yung isang galing sa US, dalawa yung base na dala ko na bigay ng JB Music.

Sa US tour namin nanakawan kami. Sa isang van may nagnakaw na taga doon (mga jologs), lahat ng mga gamit namin na wipe-out. So dalawang base ko nanakaw. Kaso yung producer sinagot. Kinagabihan tutugtog kami, wala kaming mga gamit kaya pumasok kami sa isang music store, pinapili kami para ma-compensate. So kumuha ako ng tatlong base guitar. Na-compensate rin yung lose.

Medyo may sentimental value nga lang yun, pero ok naman eh. Dalawa nawala sa akin, kinuha ko tatlo (grin).

How do you care for a base guitar, for posterity and wellness sake?
Actually from the very start natuto na akong mag basa eh, like books, magazines. Natuto akong mag-alaga ng base. Magpalit ng parts nya. Nagpapaturo ako sa mga matatanda rin. So, ako yun nag-aadjust ng neck, ng bridge, lahat-lahat. Pati pintura. Pero bawat galaw kasi nakakasira ng base. Their came a time na pinapaayus ko na lang, pero ngayun ako na lang.

If you could pick and play another instrument, what would that be?
Drums (thinking, wants to add more)...yun lang drums lang siguro.

Who are your greatest influences in this field?
Yung unang-una talaga si Sid Vicious ng Sex Pistols. Kaso, yun nga si Sid Vis 'di pala talaga marunong, parang attitude lang eh. Tapus napunta ako sa Nirvana, Krist Novoselic. Then na-develop then nalaman ko, yung jazz world na si Jacko Pastorious, Victor Woteen. Doon di lumawak yung (kaalaman/influences) ko. Saka si 'Rocco' Prestia ng Tower of Power.

What other guitar-playing technique you know and played already?
Na-encounter ko na lahat ng techniques pero mas gusto ko sigurong sabihin na creativity na lang. Creativity rules.

What brand of base guitar you use? And do you recommend it for bassist and to-be-bassist like you?
Sa akin kasi kahit anong brand ng base. Sabagay, meron ding yung panget, panget talaga. May mga base na panget talaga yung tunog. Pero depende na rin sa humahawak. Minsan kahit cheap lang s'ya, may potential s'yang gumanda kung marunong yung humahawak. Kahit na yung pinakamagaling na bahista dito sa Pilipinas, o kahit na doon sa abroad, kahit na yun na lang yun base na nandoon tapus ang galing n'yang magpatunog, ayus na rin. Kahit na mahal ang bili mo kung hindi ka naman creative, kung gaya-gaya ka lang, wala rin yun. Kaya ok lang rin kahit na St. Mesa mo binili yan, Lumanog yan, ayos lang.

Becoming an award-winning base guitar player affects your career in what way?
Ayus naman. Sa akin sa age group ko, ayus lang naman eh. Kahit na makilala ka na mag kaawards ka parang pantay-pantay kami. Inaalala ko na lang yung mga batang nakikinig sa base playing ko. I give importance to that.

How do you know that the base-line you've made is already beautiful and record worthy, no more no less?
Yung unang decision, nanggagaling sa akin. Pangalawa, I get from my band mates or from the producer. “Ok na ba yan, am I playing too much, kulang pa ba?” I get the opinions of others.

Which is your favorite base-line among your songs with Parokya Ni Edgar?
Silvertoes nga eh, parang laro lang. Kasi unang banat ni Chito parang love song, parang 'di ko masyadong feel yun yung bagay an music doon so ginanahan ko. Pinalaro ko yung base. Pero favorite ko yung sa Berdie.

What practical advice you'd like to share for a bassist-to-be or those who wants to be like you?
If it's your passion to be a bassist, a good bassist, don't let anybody put you down. Hindi naman sa sobrang bilib ka na sa sarili mo, pero you know that you are doing good, tuloy mo lang. Then, live life to the fullest!

♫♫♫