However, the best part of this particular station was that they were playing Filipino songs that were quite unlike what I've been hearing at the time and even before. They were playing these beautiful songs that had remarkable Filipino ethnic character like Grace Nono's "Salidumay", Joey Ayala's "Kung Kaya Mong Isipin", Grupong Pendong's "Bagyo-Bagyo" and Susan Fernandez Magno's "Nais Ko".  I was quite sure that these songs were around for a while but this was the very first time a lot of these songs and a lot of these artists were getting played on the air.  One of the songs that stood out to me was "Anting-Anting" by this folk singer who called himself Cholo Paz. His songs have an undeniable "Bob Dylan" feel to them but Cholo's originality shines through and he gives us songs that are both thought provoking and enjoyable.  "Anting-Anting" is one of the very few songs that has actually driven me to pick up a guitar, figure out the chords and sing it myself. 

I have looked for a long time for a cassette of Cholo's work and I'm glad to say I have finally met him, if only on the internet, and our correspondence brought him to send me a copy of "Balik Sa Carriedo" , in exchage for a copy of my book Wasted.  This cassette really looks like a labor of love and it's quite plain that he himself recorded, produced and distributed this thing.  And Cholo's effort shows. The songs are all wonderful, honest and undeniably Filipino. 

"Balik Sa Carriedo" simply means "Return to Carriedo". I don't know if this is the same place Cholo is talking about but there is a place in downtown Manila called "Carriedo" just beside Quiapo. It is one of the oldest places in Manila and it has seen a lot of history.   

Cholo has his own website. Check it out if you want to listen to  some of his songs which are downloadable there.