Public service announcement

If one can’t make a good excuse, we’ve always felt that one shouldn’t try and say the truth. Only in this case — being truant in putting out this column for a month without even an arrest warrant as an explanation — the plain truth is a lot more boring than complex. Basically, we’ve been lazy and had nothing to write — but, again, we’ve also been the busiest we’ve ever been. To make amends, we’d like to update you on our goings-on and rant a bit of the way.

First up, we were lucky to be part of the team that’s just made the first issue of Rogue — a newly launched magazine that is — without need of hyperbole — probably the best magazine of its kind in the region.  Honest. No bull.  

Throwing down the gauntlet for every other men’s lifestyle magazine out there, the maiden cover features enigmatic beauty Solenn Heussaff as shot by the equally mercurial Juan Caguicla onboard the M/S Philippines — the biggest ship moored on our shores since the 1960s. The visuals aside, it also promises to be the best-written lifestyle mag in the country. That’s a guarantee.

Like their ilk, Rogue isn’t afraid to get its hands dirty. And for the first issue, we unearth the stories behind newly elected congressman Bongbong Marcos, controversial figure Rene Knecht and the Radioactive Sago Project. Editor in chief Jose Mari Ugarte writes about the irascible Knecht in “I Fought the Law” and tells the story of Manila’s once most eligible bachelor’s spectacular fall — including spending time in prison.

Also, it features 30 pages of Gutsy Tuason’s photographs detailing the underwater life of Raja Ampat, a group of islands that’s somehow remained pristine to this day. To top it off, it’s got a new, original story by Palanca Award-winning writer Yvette Tan that tackles the future of virtual reality while paying tribute to a particularly piracy Valhalla of yesteryear — with accompanying art by Yvonne Quisumbing-Romulo. 

For now, you can get a copy of Rogue at most Mag:net outlets, the Megamall branch of RB Magazine Exchange and Fully Booked. 

As I write this, the boys behind it have just finished the second issue and it’s even more ambitious than the first — featuring, among others, controversial artist Jose Legaspi and an excerpt of this writer’s upcoming biography of Rivermaya.

That last paragraph is correct. As of writing, I’m doing research and writing a book about Rivermaya. With a history that spans the timeline of the reemergence of “alternative” in the Nineties to the present day, the band’s story is that of Pinoy Rock, not to mention the longest-running soap opera in Philippine music. 

As of press-time, co-manager Lizza Nakpil has issued a statement about the upcoming auditions. In a press statement, it reads: “Candidates should be 18 years old and above, male or female, Filipino, single, and have neither management nor recording contracts. Interested parties can e-mail biodata and MP3s to myrivermaya@gmail.com or snail-mail to Circe.Rivermaya at Unit 809, Madrigal Building, 6793 Ayala Avenue, Makati, Metro Manila. For questions, please text 0921-4011480 or 0916-6080417.”

The audition is not limited to vocalists. “Songwriters, guitar or keyboard players — everyone is welcome to come and audition.”

Good luck to the winner. You’ll have two pairs of very large shoes to fill.