Skim with Zymurgy

Zymurgy took notice of men and women, guys and gals and even children who are all in love with the offshore wind. They who head out to sea to "catch their waves" onboard their skimboards (skiffle to Americans, skidboards to Aussies and Kiwis), starting off with an aerial, catching the air off the wave and landing back on the face of the wave.

Rolan "Buknoy" Ong Vaño (lead guitars, vocals), Earl "Kulot" Quiñones (vocals, rhythm), Diosdado "Tuy-od" Baylomo (bass), and Jonathan Louis "Tanxoi" Pelandas (drums) saw those admiring eyes that swoon at a frothy seashore lapped endlessly by the waves; those skimmers who run to pick up the right wave - the very secret of skimming - to be able to make a successful flip or a headstand, an ollie bringing bodies to turnarounds with the skims and skiffles and skidboards and skags (whatchamacallit) glued to soles like iron fillings attracted to a horseshoe magnet.

Zymurgy just loves the subject of skimming - another extreme sports most boys are gaga over at and, in fact, this fondness is very contagious that pushes this paper to back the endeavor for the 2006 Cebu National Skim Open in Lawis Point, Argao for all skim enthusiasts, with competition to happen on August 24 to 26 organized by the municipality of Argao and the Argao Tourism Commission.

The band wrote "Skimbord" and talked of the hardship and failure, and, of course, the joy and reward of the pursuit.

"Skimboard/mao kini ang skimboard/ang uso nga skimboard/ang nindot nga skimboard/sa dagat nagpasikat siya/gipakita niya tanang kaya/dako nga balud gihulat niya/taud-taud mihunat na siya..."

These boys from Cordova (Buknoy from barangay Gabi and Tuy-od from barangay Day-as), and Lutopan (Tanxoi) pointed to Kulot of Talisay as the one responsible for christening the group Zymurgy derived from zymology which is the science of fermentation. Kulot is said to be engrossed in zymology which is occasionally called zymurgy that deals with the biochemical processes involved in fermentation, with yeast selection and physiology, and with the practical issues of brewing.

In coming up with four original compositions, the pack used the influences exemplified by former Rivermaya front man Bamboo, post-grunge group Creed - this despite being slammed by music critics for "formulaic sound derivative of famed Seattle grunge Pearl Jam", and Korn often credited to have created the nu metal genre.

The other two compositions are "Wa ka Yapi" and "Balay-Balay". The former goes a little something like "wa ka yapi/wa baka kuyapi/sa imong kalaki/hubog ka permi/wa ka yapi/wa baka kuyapi/sa imong kalaki/sa imong kalaki standby ka permi...." which describes how friends would gather around, talk things over beer or spirits, sing to heart's content, get drunk, and watch oneself go wasted!

Meanwhile, "Balay-Balay" is a recollection of fond memories shared by playmates simulating a household. Housemates would act as either "nanay" or "tatay" as in the case of Buknoy who wrote the song. "Sa atong balay-balay/didto ko unang nagkagusto nimo/sa atong balay-balay/didto ko unang nahigugma nimo," so did Buknoy find himself falling in love with the girl he paired off as mom when he was to act out as dad.

"Idaran na/tigulang na/ug ako na ang lolo sa atoang balay-balay/ikaw nasab ang lola sa atoang mga apo," Buknoy went, dreaming of the simple life in his twilight days under the one roof of the "balay-balay" - the simulated household.

After these three compositions, the four again burned brows to blow life to "Pungko-Pungko" often called McDo(ko-duko), a street dining trend here.

Now back to Skimbord, I'm glad that there is Zymurgy with a heart to tackle not only topics on romantic love, but also of a sport as extreme as skimming. This opens a way of figuring out this relationship between the art of skimming on waves and the art of skimming the waters of life. Skimming teaches us that the best time to begin running for a wave is right after the wave breaks. One who is in love with his skag must learn to abide by this rule.

And to skim through life, we must be prepared for the waves and learn to inhale the offshore winds. To deal with our skags, we must keep our weight centered over the board, keeping it pointed towards the ocean. Talking of balancing priorities, schedules, decisions, quality time with friends and family. Toward the ocean. Not against it. Toward the sun. Not against it.

Then when the skimboard meets the waters, the riders' weight must be on their back foot so the nose of the board does not catch on the water. If this is applied to how we deal with life, we could be neatly gliding up over the waters of challenges instead of plowing through it.

Zymurgy is steaming with its kind of brew over the waves of local indie music. Skim with them at [email protected]