creative diaries
Thursday, August 6, 2026
If you're just beginning your vinyl journey or looking to expand your growing record collection, PlakaMNL is an online record shop worth bookmarking. Known for its impressive selection of rare and hard-to-find albums, the store caters to both first-time collectors and seasoned audiophiles. Beyond vinyl records, you'll also find quality turntables, speakers, and essential accessories to help you build the perfect listening setup—all at prices that won't break the bank. Whether you're hunting for a beloved classic, an OPM favorite, or the latest reissue, PlakaMNL makes discovering your next treasured record an enjoyable experience. The shop also carries both brand-new and pre-owned vinyl, along with turntables and audio equipment from well-known brands, making it a convenient one-stop destination for music lovers.
Starter recos:
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Fourteen Ilonggo photographers reimagine the gallery experience, inviting visitors to move beyond observation and discover the quiet intimacy of photographs freed from their frames.
There is something quietly refreshing about In Circulation, the latest photography exhibition at the Hulot Gallery of the Iloilo Museum of Contemporary Art (ILOMOCA). Featuring the works of 14 Ilonggo photographers, the exhibit invites visitors to experience photography in a way that feels surprisingly personal, less like walking through a museum and more like wandering into someone's treasured collection of memories.
Unlike conventional photography exhibitions, where images are carefully matted, framed, and kept behind glass, In Circulation embraces an intentionally unguarded presentation. Each photograph, printed on 8-by-10-inch photographic paper, hangs from jute strings and is secured with simple wooden clothespins. The arrangement has an effortless, almost nostalgic charm. It evokes the familiar sight of photographs drying after being developed in a darkroom or snapshots clipped to a bedroom wall, creating an atmosphere that is intimate, relaxed, and warmly inviting.
As you move through the gallery, the experience feels less formal and more conversational. The photographs seem to breathe together, gently swaying as visitors pass by, encouraging lingering glances rather than hurried admiration.
What makes In Circulation particularly compelling is its invitation to engage beyond simply looking. Here, viewers are encouraged to interact with the photographs themselves—a gesture rarely permitted in gallery spaces. The absence of protective frames removes both a physical and symbolic barrier, allowing a closer relationship between the audience and the images.
The exhibit statement beautifully captures this intention:
In Circulation attempts to renew the collective seconds that paused as captured images by transforming the gallery into a living, breathing space of shared experiences. The images do not exist in isolation but rather make sense through the intricate threads they have formed with one another. In the absence of frames, the photographs reveal their naked truths and are liberated from the confinements that hinder connection and co-existence. It mirrors our inherent capacity as ecological beings to form interactions, relationships, and ultimately, our shared contemplation. By allowing physical contact with the photographs, it encourages intimacy and proximity between the viewers and the moments taken amidst this fleeting world.
It is a thoughtful curatorial approach that transforms photography from something merely observed into something experienced. Without rigid frames dictating where one image ends and another begins, the photographs become part of a larger visual conversation. They speak not only through their individual subjects but also through the relationships they form with neighboring images and, ultimately, with every visitor who pauses to engage with them.
In an age when thousands of photographs disappear into endless social media feeds, In Circulation reminds us of the enduring power of a printed image. There is something profoundly human about standing before a photograph, seeing its texture, noticing its imperfections, and recognizing the fleeting moment it preserves.
More than a photography exhibition, In Circulation is an invitation to slow down, to reconnect with the tactile beauty of printed photographs, and to reflect on the invisible threads that bind memories, people, and places together. It quietly proves that some images are not meant to remain behind glass—they are meant to be encountered, shared, and remembered.
Wednesday, July 22, 2026
Three young musicians from Cagayan de Oro are quietly redefining Filipino progressive rock—crafting ambitious, genre-defying music that deserves a place on every serious rock fan's playlist.
There is something thrilling about discovering a band before everyone else does.
Every once in a while, a young act emerges with a sound so assured and distinctive that it reminds us why we fell in love with music in the first place. At a time when playlists are increasingly shaped by algorithms and fleeting trends, Cyber Band stands apart by choosing musicianship over formulas and artistic exploration over instant gratification.
Hailing from Cagayan de Oro City, Cyber Band is a three-piece progressive rock outfit formed in 2019. The band is composed of singer-songwriter and guitarist Andrew Patuasic, guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Isaac Villegas, and drummer, keyboardist and backing vocalist Cermund John Alcantara.
Inspired by progressive rock giants such as Rush, King Crimson, Queen, Mahavishnu Orchestra, and Filipino rock legends Juan Dela Cruz Band, the trio has created a sound that is ambitious without being pretentious. Their music effortlessly fuses progressive rock, jazz fusion, funk, classical influences, and melodic songwriting into compositions that are both intellectually engaging and emotionally rewarding.
What makes Cyber Band remarkable isn't simply technical proficiency, although they possess that in abundance but their remarkable musical maturity. Still in their early twenties, they compose with a confidence and sophistication rarely heard from artists their age. Having started their musical journeys in grade school, they have evolved with astonishing speed, each release revealing greater artistic depth than the last.
Growing With Every Album
Their debut album, In My Dumb Perspective (2020), captures the uncertainty and emotional intensity of youth through melodic, guitar-driven rock songs that remain refreshingly sincere. It is a modest beginning compared to their later work, yet already hints at the band's compositional strengths.
Tracks such as "Puso," "Kulay," "Ako Na Lang," and "Everything" showcase an instinct for memorable melodies and heartfelt storytelling. Among them, Puso remains a personal favorite for its emotional honesty and beautifully restrained vocal performance.
Cyber Band's artistic leap becomes unmistakable in The Light (2022), later released as an analog remaster in 2024.
This is the album where everything comes together.
Sophisticated guitar arrangements intertwine with adventurous harmonic ideas, dynamic rhythm changes, and fearless experimentation, resulting in a record that feels cohesive rather than overwhelming. Every song reveals another layer upon repeated listens, making it one of those rare albums that continues to reward the listener long after the first play.
The recognition was well deserved. The Light received Best Album of the Year at the Indie Musicians Music Awards in 2023, affirming what many listeners had already discovered—that Cyber Band was quietly becoming one of the country's most exciting independent acts.
Favorites include "The Light," "As I Sail," "Where Are You," "Wars," and "A Million Things." Together they form an album that invites uninterrupted listening from beginning to end.
Beyond Genres
Cyber Band's standalone singles further demonstrate the band's refusal to be confined by expectations.
"Don't You Ever Give Up" carries shades of post-punk reminiscent of early U2 while maintaining the band's unmistakable identity. It is instantly memorable, infectious, and the kind of song that quietly becomes your latest last-song syndrome.
Meanwhile, "Kilos Ka Na" proves that an anthem can deliver conviction without sacrificing nuance or musical sophistication.
Through the Passages of Time
Released in 2024, Through the Passages of Time is arguably Cyber Band's most ambitious work to date.
This is progressive rock in its purest form—bold, immersive, technically demanding, yet deeply emotional. Rather than chasing conventional song structures, the album unfolds like a carefully constructed journey, allowing ideas to breathe and evolve naturally.
Listening feels like stepping into an expansive cinematic landscape where every instrument serves the story. The arrangements possess an almost orchestral quality, remarkable considering they are created by only three musicians. Guitar passages soar with elegance, keyboards create rich atmospheric textures, and the rhythm section anchors every transition with remarkable precision.
The album's 23-minute title track is nothing short of extraordinary.
"Through the Passages of Time" is less a song than a musical voyage. It moves through shifting moods, changing tempos, intricate instrumental passages, and moments of breathtaking restraint, inviting listeners into a world where time seems suspended. Every section reveals another dimension of the band's creativity, rewarding careful listening rather than demanding immediate attention.
It is an experience that reminds us why progressive rock continues to endure—not because it is complicated, but because it allows music the freedom to become limitless.
Final Notes
Cyber Band is not merely reviving progressive rock for a new generation. They are quietly redefining what contemporary Filipino rock music can sound like.
Their music asks listeners to slow down, listen closely, and appreciate the craftsmanship behind every note. In an age of disposable singles and shortened attention spans, that commitment to artistry feels almost revolutionary.
If you've been searching for music that challenges, surprises, and rewards with every listen, Cyber Band deserves a place in your rotation. They may still be one of OPM's best-kept secrets—but perhaps not for much longer.
Follow Cyber Band on Spotify to keep tab on their discography and new releases:
Thursday, July 9, 2026
A thoughtfully curated Spotify playlist of indie gems, mellow pop, dreamy acoustics, and feel-good tracks to make every commute a little lighter.
Streaming platforms like Spotify have become the soundtrack to our everyday lives. Whether we’re rushing to work, staring out the window on a bus ride home, or simply trying to quiet a busy mind, there’s always a song that fits the moment. Music has a remarkable way of transforming ordinary routines into experiences worth savoring.
For someone like me who commutes to and from work every day, that daily journey has become a ritual in itself. Instead of letting traffic, crowded rides, and long queues dictate my mood, I reach for my earphones and let music take over. The right playlist doesn’t just make time pass faster—it softens the edges of a hectic day, eases a tired mind, and turns the commute into a welcome pause between responsibilities.
That’s exactly why I created Cool Commute.
Curated for rush-hour mornings, golden-hour drives, and after-work rides home, Cool Commute is a thoughtfully assembled collection of indie gems, mellow pop, dreamy acoustic melodies, ambient textures, pajama-pop, and feel-good tracks. It’s a playlist that balances energy with calm—music that keeps you moving while giving your mind room to breathe.
Rather than demanding your attention, these songs become companions on the road. They color familiar streets with fresh emotion, make ordinary landscapes feel cinematic, and remind us that even the most routine journeys can hold small moments of joy.
So the next time you’re heading to work, catching the train, or simply taking the long way home, press play and let the music carry you.
Because sometimes, the best part of the day isn’t the destination—it’s the soundtrack that gets you there.
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