Up Dharma Down

EXISTENTIAL BLABBER By Kara Ortiga The Philippine Star
November 11, 2011

People fall in love with music for different reasons. The spark between man and melodic composition can never be predicted, nor is it arbitrary. Some vouch for the tune of the song; some its danceability; maybe it’s the exuding charm of a vocalist (or lack thereof); or the purely poetic stringing of lyrics. If a song has all qualities, it’s a rare masterpiece. If it only has one, it’s a pop sensation.

For Chicago-based software technician Tony Rago, the connection with music comes from a personal and emotional sensitivity. Music lovers like him venture far and wide to unearth musical wonders. They would neversettle for the Billboard charts, and while this kind of behavior might be misconstrued as slightly snobbish, it is more a process of discovery.

For Tony, this search has led him all the way from the middle of North America to the South Pacific. Completely infatuated with OPM (Original Pinoy Music), and later on, falling head over heels for local band Up Dharma Down.

In 2010, he spent one week integrating himself with the country and Dharma.

Over time, and in a span of fourteen months, with zero budget, he made a documentary, A Week in Metro Manila: Up Dharma Down.

YOUNG STAR: Where did your love for OPM come from?

TONY RAGO: I’m very open to global music — music that is not in English — so falling in love with OPM came easy. To me, the passion that the artists have for the music and what they are doing has a tangible energy when I listen to it. When I first heard Up Dharma Down, it was unlike anything I had really heard before. And from there I just continued to learn more and more about the scene.

How significant is their music for you that you were so inspired to make a documentary about them?

During the time I started getting into OPM, I sort of became obsessed with getting the music heard, especially for Up Dharma Down. To me the idea that such great music existed in the world and did not have an outlet to get heard outside of the Filipino crowd was mind-boggling. At some point, I made it my mission to help them out.  

The film idea sort of formed as a means to facilitate that, creating a method for me to hopefully recreate why I fell in love with the band.

What will the documentary reveal to the audience?

I do a lot of combination of Manila street photography, overlaying of pictures, live video, even combining live music with music videos. To me this is unique, cause no fan has ever done this, especially a fan who is not even Filipino and who is positioned roughly 7,000 miles away. I hope people will like what’s been put together. The whole film has a sort of “gritty polish.”Well, the film is fan-made, so lots of fans had their hands in contributing photos, videos and interviews about why they like the band. But it was made mainly to entice someone who has no knowledge of the band: the American audience. I’m trying to show a viewer who maybe has a preconceived notion of what they think the Philippines is like, or what they think the music is like, and to hopefully open some eyes.  

What were the hardships you faced?

Definitely coordinating from Chicago on just about everything. Communication at times has been strained, but we’ve been able to get things done.  

How do you feel now that it’s over?

Most recently, the film was selected for the Chicago Filipino-American Film Festival, so that really lit a fire under me to help get to the finish.  

It’s a labor of love. It’s all heart. And it’s my attempt to show the world how music can truly change a person’s perspective on everything. Hopefully the band, fans, and first time viewers will see that on screen.

What do you hope will happen after this documentary is shown to the public?

I hope that the buzz around Up Dharma Down goes up, especially in Chicago. Also, the eventual release of the DVD is designed to hopefully facilitate an effort to raise funds here to put into a tour fund to bring them to the States. Over the past year, I’ve put every ounce of energy I’ve had into this, and have not asked really for anything.  

In the end, all I really want is for people to listen and for them to be truly heard

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Tony Rago’s documentary A Week in Metro Manila: Up Dharma Down will be screened in Capone’s, A-Venue on Nov. 12 along with our usual and much anticipated serving of Terno Night. Tickets are P200 each.

http://www.philstar.com/youngstar/ysarticle.aspx?articleid=746842&publicationsubcategoryid=84