Mondays are never blue at Magnet Cafe

Follow your art and beat the manic Mondays at Magnet Cafe. It offers a cure when the first working day of the week gets you down. Twice a month, Happy Mondays features a lineup of artist performers who take their poetry, song, and dance skills to the stage. Pillows are propped against the aquarium-esque window that overlooks Katipunan avenue to make way for groups like The Batutes, a three-man modern-day balagtasan act, as well as other performers, some famous, some unknown. An open mic session follows the performances lined up for the night. Last March 1, the third anniversary of the longest-running poetry-reading series, among the featured readers for the 72nd installment of the bi-weekly Happy Mondays Poetry Nights was National Artist Virgilio Almario. Monday with The Batutes In one of this year's first Happy Monday installments, Ingenue rendered the unsuspecting crowd speechless with their ten-minute poetry in motion (and action) performance of Para Hindi Mo Ito Maintindihan (Just So You Will Never Understand This). The performance was based on a script written by Jenny Logico, New York job-juggler by day and thespian by night. Performing with Logico were Christine Hogi Cadlum, Opaline Rae Santos, and Betty Uy-Regala in collaboration with Allan Alcantara, Aba Lluch Dalena and Ria Kristina Torrente. The Batutes delivered a much-appreciated debate on the classic dilemma of choosing between suitors, made brand-new with their innovative treatment and sheer word wizardry that caused many a painful stomach in the chuckling audience. The group includes Siege Malvar, possibly the country's best novelist for young adults. There's also Gene Paolo Abrajano, and Dakila Cutab, who are currently working on their own book (or so they say). For a closer look into how these satirists' minds work, they welcome any and all questions on their personal websites. Formerly members of Bigkas Pilipinas Open Jam, The Batutes are disarmingly funny. A recorded interview with the group registered more laughter than conversation, but upon close listening (repeated pause-rewind-play), serious artists were revealed. Named after Huseng Batute, the group creates art that is both elevated and masa at the same time. Apart from being formidable poets, The Batutes have other microphone skills, as you may sometimes catch them rapping about Piolo Pascual. Others who have graced the Happy Mondays stage include Gemino Abad, Lourd De Veyra, Krip Yuson, Marne Kilates, Conchitina Cruz, Mookie Katigbak, Angelo Suarez, Marjorie Evasco, Arnold Molina Azurin, and Mikael Co. Johnoy Danao, who at first appeared to be just another quietly appreciative member of the audience, revealed himself to be an amazing singer onstage. Danao filled the small cafe easily, but with a voice and guitar-playing skills like those, he could conquer a stadium. Aside from a few original songs, Danao earned enthusiastic applause with his rendition of Hallelujah - every soundtrack's favorite song - which was so beautiful, it hurt. If Danao sounds familiar, it's probably because he used to be the the vocalist of the '90s independent band Bridge, which disbanded in 2007. Ivan Theory closed the show with an upbeat and truly happy-making performance. OMG with Rockbato Happy Mondays is the brainchild of Mag:Net owner Rock Drilon and Ateneo poet Andrea Teran, and has been running every first and third Monday of the month since its launch in April 2007. If twice a month isn't enough, OMG (Open Mic Gig) happens every fourth Monday. Hosted by Vim Nadera, OMG runs from 7 to 9 pm. It is followed by Songwriters' Night, where budding composers and frustrated bathroom-singers are welcome to perform, as long as their work is original. January's OMG was not very well-attended, which was a big loss for everyone who was not there. A stripped-down performance from decade-old band Rockbato proved to be well worth the trip. The set had Aba Lluch Dalena on the guitar and mic, and JP Hernandez on percussion. Hernandez had an assortment of curious percussion contraptions, most of which were homemade. Apart from the recognizable rainmaker and drums, Hernandez had what he calls a Thundertube, which can best be explained as a windmaker. Hernandez has been making his own instruments for years. "Ni-research ko lang, kasi wala akong pambili kaya nag d-i-y ako," he shared. He added that the native bunkaka was one of the first instruments he made. Dalena sang originals "Agaperosfeleo" and "Hanggang Dito Na Lamang" as well as a rendition of The Beatles' "Blackbird." "We wanted to remind ourselves that... lahat kami believers. We believe there's a good god despite the chaos in the world. Sana maging matibay kami. Aside from that we were playing rock music. HIndi lang spiritual, environment, political themes. Di lang din rock, so para siyang question, rock ba 'to?" said Dalena of the band's name. Formed in 1998, Rockbato's original vocalist was Carol Bello of Pinikpikan. The complete Rockbato Family aside from the three are Melanio Gregorio “Bammer" Pilar, Kristoffer Bolanos, Ezra Royeca (rhythm & lead guitars), Joshua Royeca (bass), Sonny Lopez (drums), Jovi Reyes-Matilda (drums), Maricor Reyes (violin), and Guidong Reyes (violin). Nadera says OMG is similar to Happy Mondays but jokes that he gets a different set of artists. "Sakin yung Filipino, at yung matatanda," he laughs. But he welcomes any kind of act, explaining that referrals follow other referrals. "Masaya, kasi nanganganak. May magre-refer, tapos magre-refer pa ulit. Iba-iba, kahit anong klase," said Nadera. He mentions Hebert Bartolome (Tumindig Ka, Kung Walang Pag-ibig) and Alitaptap Storytellers Philippines, U.P. Speca, and the Tribu rappers as among the artists that have performed during OMG nights. - YA, GMANews.TV