Baguio Storm: Lizzie throws a rockin' party... and Joey "Pepe" Smith delivers the punch lines

I hate reading long, rambling, self-obsessed blogs, so let's keep this short and simple. For now, at least. Just over the weekend (Sept. 30 to October 2, 2007), Baguio turned into a rock star mecca of sorts when JB Music brought its "Musikhero" Music Camp to the sleepy mountain-top city drenched in rain. Even as a portion of Kennon Road literally turned into flowing mud and the weather dropped to a dangerous low, musicians from different age groups--from the budding to the living legend--made the wet "pilgrimage" to the town more famously known by our parents as "the summer capital of the Philippines," and camped out at the brightly-lit lobby of the two-year-old, Mediterranean-inspired Hotel Elizabeth, up at Gibraltar Road.

Gibraltar Road... sounds foreign and romantic. The weather--blistering cold we seldom feel back in Manila these days--even more so. But the gathering of these kindred souls just adds a little more warmth to the heart... even though you wish the night-long blues/rock jam sessions were done in a place less likely to host a corporate seminar on the same weekend. Because when you think of a Joey "Pepe" Smith giving a talk, cracking jokes and making like a cool (albeit slurring) cat on stage, or when you sit with your brewed coffee, bobbing your head to a continuous jam instigated by Pinoy rock titans Chikoy Pura, Jun Lupito and joined in by the likes of Vic Mercado (Bamboo, drums), Rommel dela Cruz, Francis Reyes (The Dawn, guitars) and Mark Escueta (Rivermaya, drums), you're thinking, wait a tick... I should be lighting up here.

But the rated PG trip serves its purpose nonetheless. In all the days of inspirational talks (sort of, where the kuyas of the industry give payong kapatid to kids on the way to becoming bona fide frustrated members of the music industry) and sightreading sessions (where the newbie musicians play appointed music by reading off a music sheet), peppered with the hotel's buffet meals and the occasional "what the heck" look from proper guests, it's the young musicians (a healthy handful chosen from many who auditioned to be part of the first-ever JB Music's Musikhero Music Camp) that go home with the goodies--and we don't mean the strawberry jam. Oh, and to the young guns who stayed up all night partying at the Penthouse (we got invited twice, but we were just too tired to go... thanks for remembering us when the pizzas came, Bel!), this might have been the glimpse of the rock n' roll lifestyle they are dreaming of.

But after the party comes the hard work. See you on your way to the top, kids! And to the 13-year-old drummer who seemed to be the star pupil of the whole show, we're looking forward to hearing more from you soon!