'Corny, but full of love'

"Our songs may seem corny, but these are songs that encourage people to never give up on love. We want to put across the message that faith in the power of love shouldn't falter despite being ahente sa busted," says Mark Cabaluna, the 22-year-old vocalist of Bisdak punk band-newbie "Observe".

Along with Reguns Godinez who dabbles as drummer for KDB or Koolerah and d Digital Buchitoongs, Alden Pacilan on guitars and Edilson Tampus on bass, Observe eventually saw birth. This after Alden and Edilson grouped and regrouped as "One Fine Day" with KDB guitarist Rogene "Ejing" Vilvestre.

Mark was yet with a band named "Trinomial" who had about two to three gigs before they split ways. He then managed to find his way to Edilson, Alden and Reguns. Thus, Observe was conceived.

On the second week of September, the group roared over the Smash airplay given to "Ahente sa Busted", a street expression for somebody who has repeatedly been turned down, for any special involvement, by the girls he had wooed. Mark along with Edilson said they could not relate to said song in its entirety, but they did have their share of being turned down by the apples of their eyes. Mark also made it clear that though "ahente sa busted" is just a phrase coined to allow for heavy hearts to consider the comic side of the experience - say, walang dibdiban - the situation could happen to any man.

Observe found a driving force to seriously hone craft in the vocals of New Found Glory, drums of Blink182, feelings and emotions embedded in the works of The Used, and all three elements combined in the song sheets of Starting Line, Simple Plan, Greenday, and My Chemical Romance, among others.

Observe said it is proud of its drum play. "We bank on the strength of our drums. Gahi gyud siya paminawon as well as the bass. Ang vocals ra ang nipis."

Such is evident in all of their songs with love as theme - Dughang Samaran, Sorry Na, Ako Karon, Kaugmaon, and Cross My Heart. Their comic side heats up in Linugaw.

The pack had their first gig at Handuraw Events Café last week of October for the Orig All Stars event with KDB (Small World, Estong), Flirt (Nailad), Ossified (Deep Pressed, Problem Solving), and Medias (Free). "Funny though because we were thinking we would be part of the First Timers event, but we were mixed with these bands for the Orig All Stars. It was an honor to be "cast" with them. We have high respect for KDB too. The jamming gave us that high feeling we are not up only to watch or clap at performers," Mark said. "That we are bound to play, in equal footing with them, as well," he added.

Why Observe? "We were once contented observing other bands. Merely spectators. Then we decided to follow suit. Up until now, we still observe their moves. We learn from their mistakes and we share in their achievements. But we do feel that at least we have moved a level higher by not merely looking up at them. We have learned to be part of the playing field," Mark explained.

Shoutouts. Observe will forever be grateful to DJ Ram, Bré, and all of Smash FM staff, Vann Aznar of Vannz Studio, KDB, Flirt, Republika, Trinomial, Bisrock Solid Clan, neighbors, many other bands, to all clans who support Bisrock, Birth Control, to CIT College of Commerce, BSA students, to our parents who support us, and to all true-blue Bisrockers. Mark who hails from barangay Quiot (Pardo) would like to thank his friends at Japer School, 2neth, Cyril of La Mer and Zarah Smith of Handuraw.

Email [email protected]. Contact Mark @ 09103578370, Aldo @ 09198559725 and Reguns @ 09192641861.