It's a crazy OPM night last August 9, 2017 in 12 Monkeys Music Hall and Pub as Brisom launched the music video of their newest sick track, Balewala.

Brisom is an indie-electro-rock band from Manila. They play synth like of 80's with clarity in lyrics. The first song I heard from them was in English, Pride, so I really thought they were a foreign act, but nope, the band is composed of all Filipino talent.

Joining the night was other bands such as Spongecola, Silent Sanctuary, Kjwan, Lunar Lights and Kissling. All of them sang their hits and crowd favorites.





Brisom and Silent Sanctuary played a song together also. I just don't have a video for that. (I'm sorry, my phone got empty batt, so no video) But here is a FB live for Brisom performance:



Talking about the song, you will love the intro (intro pa lang, pag-ibig na) as it progresses to the lyrics. The song talks about being in love with someone but in doubt to reveal it. But the music video is about being fearless about the feelings you want to tell. The vibe of the video has a strong San Junipero feels (Netflix Original series, Black Mirror episode) where the two characters meet in a bar, one being unsure of how to go with her attraction to another girl and the opposite is just being sure with it. The whole scene was shot in Unit 27, one of my fave spots in BGC. You would recognize the yellow neon callout-shape on wall. Which is so perfect to the video.

Here is the lyrics of the song:
Damdamin kong nakatago pa rin




Congratulations to Brisom! Mabuhay ang Lokal indie. <3

Tinipak River is one of the travel gems in Tanay, Rizal. Flowing along the boundary of Rizal and Quezon Province, this river has been popular to mountain climbers as it is next to Mt. Daraitan. It is one of the personal choices for nature break with friends. It's rock formation, good landscape of land and water and relaxing sound of river flow never fail me in bringing good escape to stressful city living. One weekend, I got lucky and had a chance to visit the place again. Let me share you my lakwatsa.

GETTING THERE

Landing your feet in Tinipak River is easy but may cost you a bit. So, if you plan to visit the place, it will help you to join a group for less expense and more convenience (I suppose, organize tours usually have van service).

EDSA side of Starmall Shaw is your starting point. There is UV Express bound to Tanay, Rizal. It usually has long queuing and might put you waiting for 15 minutes. Depending on the demand of commuters. The travel may take 1 hour and 30 minutes at least, good enough to have a great catch up with your travel buddy or big time nap.

UV Express should take you to Jollibee Tanay. Nearby is 7-11 store so you can still purchase your pahabol needs in your camping checklist. From this point, you can take a tricyle ride to Barangay Daratian. This it the most painful part of journey, budget wise. There is no jeep going to your next point, so you don't have a choice. But, you may enjoy the view passing another Rizal famous, Pililla Wind Farm. This will add another 1 hour to your travel time.

After the long tricycle adventure, you will reach the "not so" Barangay Daraitan yet. You have to cross the river via floatee or via hanging bridge and have another tricycle ride to Daraitan Barangay Hall, and finally, the "real" Brgy. Daraitan. Have a guide that will cost you Php 1,250 (good for 5 pax, overnight rate), have safety briefing and another tricycle to jump-off. And brace for 30-minute walk to Daraitan Camp Site.

Guide fee Php 1,250 may give you a shock but it is standard rate for an overnight activity in Tanay. I really hope it is not this pricy. But, you can maximize tour guides by getting water for your group in water source nearby the camp site. Here is the matrix of the commute cost to help you budget on your trip:


If you can't view the matrix properly, you may click this link.

CAVING IN

It was raining when we arrived our spot, but luckily, we selected the rocky part so we have cave to shelter our bonding. So after mounting our tents we literally cave in to cook our dinner and finally socialize with others. The rain didn't stop us having a good Tinipak moment! Thanks for the rock formation that got us covered.

I highly recommend the spot where we did camping. It is the "mini" cave part near bridge to Tinipak Cave. The rock formation (formed into sort of cave) helped us to get through the rainy night, and it is a great cover to rising morning sunshine on day after your drunken night. Hahahaha! You may also sleep also in that area if you don't have your tent with you. Just bring your blanket and or sleeping bag with you.

This mini cave that house our kitchen and inuman session.

CLOSE TO NATURE

If you don't want to go climbing mountains just to have a good camping experience, I would definitely recommend Tinipak River camping. Surrounding you is a majestic nature scenery: rich trees, rock formation and the Tinipak River itself. Imagine hanging out with your friends, under a cave and the natural sound of flowing river blends harmoniously with the chirping birds and crickets.

Our tents in camping site near bridge to cave.

Near our camp site is the bridge to cave, so as the day goes in, many passers by are on route to the cave. This is a chance also to meet new friends. And, the view there is just wonderful.