Makibaka and the Makabayan dancers

Two firsts in our performance of “Makibaka” at the second National Convention of Makabayan. This was our (me, Pol and Tony) first time to perform Makibaka with Ka Tony on drums and not on guitar. Ka Tony by the way played the lead guitar in the recorded version of Makibaka, and in most of the song’s live performance. This was also the first time that a live performance of Makibaka was accompanied by a fiery flag-bearing dance routine courtesy of the Makabayan dance troupe.

This was held at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines gymnasium last September 7, 2012. Video is a combination of footage taken by Marion and Lolo Mon.

Makibaka Live! at the Hard Rock Cafe Makati

Last March 13, 2012 was our first ever performance at Hard Rock Cafe Makati. And though we didn’t win the 2nd qualifying battle of Hard Rock Rising, it was a memorable experience performing Makibaka with great intensity. Salamat sa pagkakaisa at pakikibaka Plagpul & Tony Palis! And while we’re still waiting for Munting Media’s video footage, heto muna po ang kuha ni Lolo Mon.

Check out our songs po at http://www.reverbnation.com/karlramirez and http://www.reverbnation.com/plagpul Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/karlramirezmusic and http://www.facebook.com/plagpul

Hard Rock Cafe Makati, 9PM March 13

After getting shortlisted with song Makibaka, with everyone’s help we got qualified to perform in the second phase of Hard Rock Cafe’s Hard Rock Rising.

This Tuesday March 13, Pol, Jay, Leo, Tony Palis and I will be performing at the second qualifying night of the PH Hard Rock Rising event at Hard Rock Cafe Makati. Fellow Elements camper Danny Estioco won the first qualifying night which was held last Tuesday. Congrats again Danny!

We will be performing with Jason X and Poteyto. Please come and see us perform for the first time at Hard Rock Cafe in Glorietta 3, Makati. Click on the image for details.

Makibaka CD now available at the IBON Bookshop

Grab a copy of the Makibaka CD at the IBON Bookshop, 114 TIMOG Avenue, Quezon City!

Makibaka Music Video Trailer

This music video was produced as a trailer of the limited copy Makibaka CD (with the cover art below painted by Jay Jamoralin). Maraming salamat sa lahat! At yang pasasalamat na yan ay nakasulat dito haha!

Makabayan rock at the first El Pasubat Festival 2011

Wohoo! Watch the video dito. Coverage by Loujaye Sonido. Salamat ulit JM Quiblat and the Villavicencio family for inviting us at the first ever El Pasubat Festival of the historic town of Taal, Batangas.

Electro-Acoustic Makibaka for Higante’t Tutubi, animated feature on environment

I arranged an electronika-acoustic remake of Makibaka for Higante’t Tutubi, a short animated feature about the Philippine environment produced by the Center for Environmental Concerns – Philippines. Animation by Audrey Ang and Karlene Co, with story written by Lisa Ito and Mykel Andrada. Check it out!

Feb 11 at Skarlet’s Jazz Kitchen

I’ll be performing at UP Asterisk’s BASTA! on Feb 11 at Skarlet’s Jazz Kitchen. See you there!

Support Makibaka, help make it #1!

Makibaka landed in #46 today February 3! Moving up 8 positions from yesterday and overtaking about a hundred songs since entering the Reverb Nation charts for the rock genre in the Philippines about two weeks ago. Please support the song and help it land in #1. All you have to do is PLAY or DOWNLOAD the song here http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_6868090 and SHARE it via Facebook, Twitter, or even email using the embedded tools in the site. Support patriotic and progressive OPM!

Makibaka is the first track in my independently produced rock album Makibaka! Rakenrol Tungong Pagbabago. Ayi Muallam of Bulatlat.com wrote a cool review of the album in Makibaka: Music Inspired by the Struggle for Change. Lead guitar riffs in Makibaka were performed by classical guitarist and people’s musician Tony Palis.

And just in case you’re interested in the album, check it out at www.makibakathealbum.com. Thanks!

Makibaka performed with Plagpul

Performing Makibaka at “Alkansya para kay Alex” in an instant full band jam session with Plagpul’s Pol Torrente on bass and Leo Isais on lead and Sinangag’s Peter on drums. Video footage by Loujaye Sonido. The fund raising activity for the publishing of Alex Remollino’s book was held at the Conspiracy Bar at Visayas Avenue, Quezon City. This by the way is the first time that Makibaka was performed publicly in a full band setup. Check out the video at the official Makibaka website.

Performing at the solidarity to free the 43

Tony Palis and I performed at the cathedral hall of the Episcopal Church in E. Rodriguez Avenue during the November 12 solidarity and cultural activity in support of the campaign to the free the 43 health workers. We sang Tony’s new composition “Manggagamot ng Bayan” dedicated to the Morong 43 and all patriotic health workers in the country and Makibaka.

Makibaka

Please update your links! The songs are now at www.facebook.com/karlramirezmusic and you can find lyrics and chords at makibakathealbum.blogspot.com. The songs can also be played at Last.fm, Grooveshark, Soundclick, MySpace, and Rakista. And yes, they’re still free to play, download and share! (December 9, 2011)

Finally, Makibaka live at Mendiola

Finally, we were able to perform Makibaka! at the foot of Mendiola bridge. Performing live at a rally in Mendiola. We missed you Rosel, Loujaye, and Pol! A hundred days of PNoy and nothing has essentially changed. Click here and download the song.

Makibaka! live at Bustillos

Rakenrol para sa Bayan pushed through even after the police dispersed the peaceful vigil of farmers at Mendiola bridge last night Oct 6. Moving a couple of blocks away from Mendiola, the cultural event in support of the struggle for justice and genuine agrarian reform pushed through in Bustillos. Together with Roselle Pineda, Tony Palis, Pol Torrentos, and Loujaye Sonido, we performed Makibaka and Balang Araw. Performers at the solidarity event include Axel Pinpin and the Political Party (pronounced parr-tey hey hey), Jeff Pagaduan, and Sining Bugkos.

Makibaka! rehearsal for Mendiola

Rehearsing Makibaka! for the October 6 free “Battle of Mendiola” concert in Chino Roces bridge in culmination of the hundred days of farmers camp-out and in support of the struggle for genuine agrarian reform. Vocals: Karl Ramirez, Roselle Pineda, Tony Palis; Guitars Tony Palis and Karl Ramirez; Bass: Pol Torrente; Elektronika: Loujaye Sonido. Recorded version of Makibaka here.

Makibaka live at Rhythm and Rhymes

It was fun time jamming Makibaka! with Concerned Artists of the Philippines’ Roselle Pineda at Agham-Youth’s Rhythm and Rhymes for the Environment. Looking forward to performing it again next week, this time with Tony, Roselle, Pol, and Loujaye. We also performed DKK’s Gatan and Balang Araw. Click here for the recorded version of Makibaka and here for Balang Araw. Video by Marion Ramirez.

Makibaka!

Makibaka! is a song for and about the people’s struggle for change! Maraming salamat Tony Palis and Walkie Miraña for helping out with the recording! (Music, lyrics, and arrangement: Karl Ramirez; Lead guitar and lyric consultant: Tony Palis; Supporting vocals: Walkie Miraña) Photo from Arkibong Bayan. You can download the mp3 by right-clicking this link and selecting save as. More songs here. Lyrics after the jump.