No parking anytime: The rock side of reggae

Reggae music - of intellectual craft, an integral part of a very small country in the Caribbean, in fact a mere dot on the map that amazingly provided the world an anthem serving as a sung commentary on social inequalities, political protest, resistance and motivator of change. It has for a time been embraced here; influential in the formation of local reggae groups, thereby gaining for Cebu the reputation "reggae capital of the Philippines".

In respect for this musical genre that takes its roots from the fusion of Central America's soca and mento, in respect for cultural diversity, in the desired breaking down of hierarchies, and the hope of introducing a design for reciprocity in music interchange in here and in also providing an avenue to understanding Pinoy social fabric, No Parking Anytime of barangay Apas, Cebu City created some other style of reggae, actually a spin-off, based on the influences of ska band Sublime and Black Uhuru for dub, considered as one of the precursors of techno music.

Other influences enumerated by NPA group members are Alpha Blondy, an Ivoirian reggae singer whose lyrics are said to denote strong political attitude and humor. Then there's Bob Marley and the Wailers. Uncle Bob is the most widely known performer of reggae music, and is famous for having popularized the genre outside Jamaica and considered as one of the greatest songwriters of all time. It has been said that in 1963, Bob Marley, Bunny Livingston, Peter McIntosh, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso, and Cherry Smith formed a ska and rocksteady group, calling themselves "The Teenagers", but later changed their name to "The Wailing Rudeboys", then to "The Wailing Wailers", and finally to "The Wailers".

Meanwhile, the group also considers JR Gong, a Grammy-winning reggae artist and is the youngest male child of reggae legend Bob Marley, another potent influence. Damian's nickname is Junior Gong which is derived from his father's nickname of Tuff Gong. The group noted him best for his "deejaying", the Jamaican style of "rapping". Then NPA disclosed they also admire Steel Pulse for pioneering Rockers, a reggae sub-genre. They moved on to embrace the works of Incubus, a five-piece alternative rock band based out of Calabasas, California; as well as 311 (pronounced "three eleven"), a rapcore/punk rock/reggae/funk group who came to prominence in the 1990's.

NPA bassist Edgar Brim "BimBim" Arevalo described their style as "the rock side of reggae" and moves from the usual social commentaries to the more sentimental side of Cebuano reggae artists as they collaborated on an original composition dubbed "Kaibigan".

No Parking Anytime takes the platform at La Mer Café every Friday for the Reggae Jammin' Nite together with fellow NPAs - John Rodrigo "Johnex" Garcia on keyboards, Jules Hechanova on lead guitars, Edzel "Ed" Rubite on rhythm guitars, Antonio "JR" Baran, Jr. on drums and Beni "Jun-jun" Hechanova, Jr. on vocals.

SHOUTOUTS: Thanks Beat Box Studio and Lyts and Sounds. Contact 09165465691. Thanks Papa Jesus, Abraham Arevalo, Arevalo family, Baran family, Garcia family, Hechanova family, Daidee dela Serna, Macuro family, Apas residents especially Hon. Clemente Rosales.

TRIVIA: No Parking Anytime, a road sign, was adopted when the group was hanging outside a concert venue at the Ayala Business District, this was when Parokya ni Edgar was performing. "Wa man gud mi budget para entrance maong nag-agwanta lang mi sa gawas sa venue pero makita og madungog ra man. Wala pa mi mag-recording kay imbis reggae-stylie mi, pobre-stylieee pa gyud!", quips BimBim, which was affirmed by Jules. The rest either groaned, chuckled or shook a head.