Woman with a Bisrockin' heart

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Eversince Bisaya rock music had taken its initial surge into the mainstream, 24-year-old Jenicel Bathan Saludar was already an "essential part" of the throng captivated by what she described as "a different blow of music."

"My brothers and I have distinct personalities. And we also have varied outlook in life. But because of Bisaya rock, we have now come a bit closer. Definitely this was triggered by our choice to go for the Bisaya rock sound," she said.

She narrated that "actually, every Sunday, when everybody is at home and we have this get-together, we tune in to 93.1 Smash FM and bang our heads to lyrics spoken in the native tongue, but arranged in the rock genre," she went further.

Jenicel recounted that after a few concerts of which she had to face a "congestion of Bisrock enthusiasts", she found her presence an "essential force that catapulted Bisrock to becoming an astounding phenomenon in the local music industry."

"I then realize that my unceasing support as a woman in the field of local entertainment manifests a heartfelt contribution to the success of bands here nga naa gyu'y character," she shared.

After starting out as a mere spectator in a few Bisrock gigs, she decided to help organize a concert in Canduman, Mandaue City where she is a resident.

"At first I was asking myself how to go about with the project. I am no important person and I don't even have financial resources to help fund the dream concert," she narrated.

It was a good thing that her bestfriend Eva is a councilwoman of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Canduman. "As I discussed with her my plan, she said it was also one of the things she would want to be carried out on SK Night. And so we did bolt in forces and map out plans."

Then, the ordeal began. She had to make sacrifices for a choice by adjusting what time she had for morning subjects in school and experiencing what it was to be lacking in sleep because of a graveyard shift at work. Also, she had to prepare for the task of being co-host to DJ Ram Dizon of 93.1 Smash FM who handles the program "BisrocKabataan" which was then "Tingog Kabataan".

The preparation took a month. She and Eva went through negotiating for talent fees of the bands of their choice, meeting with Eva and the rest of the barangay councilmen, and of course the SK chairperson; the laying out of the project proposal for the barangay captain to peruse and approve; and every little detail thought of as apt to make the concert possible, orderly and successful.

Jenicel pointed out it was Eva who told her disc jock Ram has to have a partner on stage. "It would be hypocrisy if I would tell you now I never craved to be partner-host to him. But even so, their choice for me to do the part still came in as a shock. It so excited me, but at that time I also had those butterflies in my stomach thinking of how I might be able to handle such a demanding task," she shared.

Further she went, "I have no guts to be in front of people. Ermm, of so many people. Introducing fabulous talents and doing ad libs with Ram was one task I thought would have me end up in disaster, shrinking in disgrace. What if I would end up babbling nonsense? Or perhaps buckling endlessly as I go along with my spur-of-the-moment spiels?"

But Jenicel's passion for music prevailed. In fact, it was after all the factor that convinced her to be part of the scene. Not just mere spectator. "I took in the challenge and shivered in imaginary nakedness to what I felt was the freezing wind of challenge when my turn to step on the stage came," she narrated.

Besides she believes it would be of much help to her community if women like her would stand up to express stronger views especially on the music of their choice. "Dako gyud kaayo og ikatampo ang mga babaye sa bag-o nga panahon kon manginlabot sila sa mga advocacies behind Bisrock. Kon positive side ang tan-awon, makita nga kaming mga kababayen-an kaya na namo makipagsabayan sa banda ug mo-jam sa taman," Jenicel stressed.

And so her "big night" came and so was her "baptism of fire" that came to pass in front of other Bisrockers who yelled, and hooted, and banged, and went gaga over Bisrock bands Aggressive Audio, Phylum, Mantequilla, Indephums, Kabobo, Missing Filemon, Ossified and Yield for the SK Night-Canduman event.

As for working with Ram whom she introduced as "Godfather of Bisrock", she said "an exchange of conversation with him backstage helped me stay comfortable. I found him to be a cool person and fun to be with, despite the air of sternness in him, often misconstrued as being strict."

Jenicel said she forgot to grab a bite of her dinner that night. The hunger pangs were drowned by the overwhelming boom of applauses, of the hugs she received and the words of congratulations given to her and company. "Actually the thanks should have been given to the early Visayan musicians and composers who led the way. They are the strongest links on why Bisrock music of this generation has received this huge, tremendous following. Embraced by us, a great number of young people. This only proves that the current genre in music has Bisrocked our damn world," she said.