By Geejay Arriola
first printed on M Magazine
http://www.m-mag.com.ph/index.htm
“A vocal powerhouse ….soulful all-female group with their own brand of world music… Rock and roll. Tribal drums. A lilting acapella chorus singing lullabies. Powerful harmonies weaving messages of motherhood, love, the goddess, domestic violence and women’s strength. …They were wonderful.” – Christina Newhard, New Yorkian Afoot
Beginnings
In May 2001, ten women gathered in a beautiful garden somewhere in Matina, Davao City and gave birth to Mebuyan Peace Project (MPP)—a theatre and storytelling group that would tell women’s and children’s stories. The group’s greatest achievement was the dance musicale “Panaw,” hailed as one of the best plays at the Asian Women Director’s Festival in New Delhi, India in January 2003. The play, which portrayed the issue of domestic violence, prompted Wahengbam Tiken of Manipur Mail to write: “The musical presence is so powerful that there are moments when one almost felt as if the whole auditorium is enveloped in musical notes.”
Fastforward to 2007. MPP broke up into two groups—dance and music—in order to achieve artistic focus. But before the year ended, only the music group, which resolved that it would now be a “band” and call itself Mebuyan, remained active. This group is composed of Geejay Arriola (percussion), Gauss Obenza (guitar), Maree Contaoi (percussion), Maan Chua (guitar), and Maia Tampoy (keyboard) who joined the team in 2004.
In between the birth and reorganization, Mebuyan participated in two Mindanao theater productions. Geejay conceived and directed “Salima,” the concert-theater on war and evacuation written by Palanca awardee Arnel Mardoquio in 2003. The musicale brought together music luminaries from various musical persuasions, including Eric Gancio, Popong Landero and Gary Granada, who then formed Earthmusic Foundation. The concert toured several conflict-affected areas in Mindanao advocating for an end to all wars.
In 2006, Mebuyan co-arranged and performed three of the eight music pieces Geejay wrote for Steven Patrick Fernandez’s “Uwahig.” The dance drama on the conflict in post-modern Mindanao was the Mindanao theater network’s (MINDULANI) entry to the International Theater Congress in Manila.
By August, the five women were beginning to work on the music album Mga Kuwentong Bata, a repertoire of songs on the splendor of innocence and children’s rights. After a few debates and introspection, they ventured to bring in male energy into what would otherwise have been an all-female band.
Male energy
Enter multi-instrumentalist and Davao’s hottest bassist Paolo Sisi, and percussionist extraordinaire Chico Zambrano. Mebuyan was never the same. And when Maia Tampoy took a sabbatical, the always-cheerful Lolong Gonzaga lent his own magical energy with the keyboard.
Winners all
Mebuyan musicians have won in reputable local competitions. Maan and Gauss swept the first and second places at the 2007 Mothers for Peace first all-women songwriting competition entitled “Global Cooling;” Maan took the Best Interpretation award. Shiela Labos—one of the original MPP members—won third place. Maan was also Best Solo Artist at the 2007 Musika del Sur Music Awards while Maree reaped the Best Mindanaoan Song award this year. Paolo and Geejay won first and second places, respectively, at this year’s Kadayawan Festival’s 2nd World Music Competition. As a team, Mebuyan got a special citation from Musika del Sur this year for promoting Mindanao music and culture.
The artists speak
“Our music is a fusion of ethnic, pop, and alternative. Some songs are hypnotic. We use indigenous instruments, the vocal arrangements are remarkable, and for every album we (plan to) make there’s a theme,” says Paolo. “Contra-kumpas,” (against the usual beat) Chico avers. While Lolong searches for the word “refreshing.”
“I am inspired to be more passionate with my craft and advocacies as an artist,” says Maree. “I like the idea that we started as an all-women group; even if we now have male recruits, women still make the final decision,” says Gauss. “Mebuyan makes me give the best of myself,” Maan replies. And Paolo reveals, “I’m more of a musician now than a technician (laughs) because I’m technical a lot of times.”
“We’ve always talked about performing our songs with a 60-member orchestra and a prestigious chorale group,” Gauss reveals. “We’d like to go on a Philippine tour, then a world tour.” Chico adds, “We should participate in international festivals. We will definitely be appreciated there.” While Paolo goes local, “I’d like us to do a collaborative show with different Davao bands.”
And their message to the world? “Let peace reign, love and give time to your children and family, respect women’s rights, and save our environment,” a suddenly serious Paolo speaks. “Life can be beautiful, and peace and happiness still exist,” Gauss adds; while Maan announces, “Buy our CD and support Mindanao music!” And a flippant Maree rounds it up with, “Hello world, Mebuyan is coming to you!”
