"I'm On The Outside Looking In" Live - original tune by Lens Manansala

This is me!

Guitar Fantasy

I have always been fascinated with the electric guitar. I just think it's so cool. Growing up, I never learned to dance (not even sweet or slow dance) but I did learn to play the instrument of choice for rock.

My First Instruments

After high school, I was able to persuade my parents to give me money to buy my first electric guitar. I was 17 then. I bought a fake Gibson (the one with the horns) in Raon Street, Quiapo, Manila. The guitar costs around 2 thousand pesos. The guitar was color black and it had metal pickups. It was too heavy and it had high action. It was very difficult to play. But despite of its flaws, I liked that guitar very much. I would use it as props. I would carry it around in my family’s sky blue Volkswagen Beetle. I would place it on top of the back seat speakers so that when friends would ride, they’d know that I’m a rocker. I was so silly back then. I gave that guitar to my cousin on my father's side.

One year later, my parents bought me my second electric guitar using my uncle’s credit card (but my folks did pay the installments). It was a violet Genesis Series, a brand which is now phased out. I got the guitar at Yupangco music store along Buendia Street, Makati City. The guitar came along with a cord which resembles the curly telephone cord from way back when and it was light green. I also got a gadget, a Boss Turbo Distortion which I later returned and exchanged for a Boss Metal Zone (which was borrowed and never returned). Looking back, I shouldn’t have returned the Turbo Distortion. That’s the effect I’d like to buy now. It’s much more expensive now.

My Current Rig

Today I still play my violet Genesis Series but I’ve also added another electric guitar. I bought a red RJ Raven in RJ Guitar Center in MOA. The color was what made me purchase the guitar. The shiny red just stands out among the other guitars on the rack. And it sounds great too! It’s a quality guitar. For gadgets, I have a Digitech Hot Head distortion pedal, a Boss OS-2 Overdrive/Distortion pedal, a Boss DD-3 Digital Delay pedal, and a Behringer Chorus Space-C pedal. I also have a Boss BCB-30 casing for my effects and a 10 -Watt Dean Markley guitar amp.