Life as we knew it

We had a different way of life before. Our generation saw technology evolve. While today, we have seamlessly integrated the virtual into everyday life, from computer games, to telecommuting, e-banking, paperless documentation, online shopping, and other “modern” ways, we can clearly remember playing on the streets with our friends and learning our way around without Google or cable. We were left to our own devices and only our imagination limited us. For many of us, that’s how we learned to dream big dreams and started conquering the world in our own way.

In school, we played patintero and agawan base all the way to high school, until the principal banned it for being to unladylike. I was never good at Chinese Garter, but I did a decent 10-20. At home, our driveways were marked with chalk and broken paso pieces we used to create our for piko boxes.

We had all sorts of games that resulted in tag: tumbang preso, monkey-monkey, langit-lupa. There was also Mother May I Cross the River, and Pepsi-Seven Up.

I remember picking up a songhits magazine (Jingle was on the decline by then) to learn my guitar chords. Many of the lyrics were wrong were wrong in those books, but it was part of the fun. If I wanted a copy of a favorite song, I would wait for it to come on the radio and tape it, hoping that the DJ won’t speak too soon and ruin the ending for me.

Do you remember borrowing Betamax tapes at the corner shop? How strange it felt when the VHS tapes came out? Remember FHN, for those lucky few who had UHF access? Before internet chat, there was two-way radio: CB, then VHF.

It was certainly a different era. The band Sandwich hits a chord and an entire memory bank with this song and video, reminding us very well how things used to be.

Betamax
(Sandwich)

Wala pa nung MYX, wala pa nung MTV
Wala pa nung internet
Wala pa nung iPod at mp3
Wala pa nung cable
Wala pa nung cellphone
Wala pa ring CD or DVD
Meron lang betamax

Sa Jingle magazine
Natutong mag gitara
Sinifra ang mga kanta
Sa cassettte at plaka

Mula sa himig ni Pepe Smith
Mag blues si Wally Gonzales
Lumaki sa layaw ni Mike Hanopol
Bumalik ang kwago ni Bosyo
Kamusta mula sa Maria Cafra
Umistambay si Heber
Sa bahay ni Gary Granada
Nagbago ang lumad ni Joey Ayala

Nagreklamo si Chikoy Pura
Sa balita ng Asin
Ang anak ni ka Freddie
Kinontra ni Edu Abraham
Dumibidoo ang Apo Hiking
Mga kababayan ni Francis M
Beh buti nga sa Hotdog
Nosibalasi Sampaguita

Baby baby Rico J
Musikahan ni Ryan Ryan
Umiskul bukol kay Tito Vic and Joey
Sumayaw sa VST
Humataw kay Gary V
Bumilad sa ballad ni Martin Nievera
Request sa dj ni Sharon Cuneta
Nangako sayo si Rey Valera
Salamat sa the Dawn
Ang tatay ko, si Jack Sikat
Disyembre ni Binky Lampano
Nangarap ang Identity crisis
Wag kalimutan ang Wuds
Namatay sa ingay ng Dead Ends
Never meant to be Betrayed
Sa XB, NU at Club Dredd

Wala pa nung MYX wala pa nung MTV
Wala pa nung internet
Wala pa nung ipod at mp3
Wala pa nung cable
Wala pa nung cellphone
Wala pa ring cd or dvd
Meron lang betamax

Sa jingle magazine
Natutong mag gitara
Sinifra ang mga kanta
Sa cassettte at plaka

Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon
Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon
Ipagpatuloy ang daloy ng alon
Ipagpatuloy

Padayon

Apologies to those who do not speak Tagalog. I do not think that the euphemisms can be translated justly. A lot of the lines refer to the Filipino pop culture in the 70s and the 80s, with whole stanzas paying homage to our musical greats, as well as the other institutions that influenced us growing up. For those who grew up loving music, especially those who ended up living the musican’s life, I imagine that this can be quite a nostalgic trip.