It’s a Brave New World

so long howlin’ dave, have a safe flight.

buti na lang umuwi ako a few weeks ago. sinasabi ko kay jet na ayoko talagang bumalik sa pilipinas pero parang may nagpilit sa akin na ituloy ang byahe. at least nagkita kami bago siya nag sign off.

i’ve always looked up to dante. he was so full of talent, so intelligent, so full of charisma. kayang kaya niyang sakyan, kahit sinong tao. bata pa lang ako ay sinundan ko na ang ang career niya and was really happy when he became famous like our dad, whose footsteps he followed.

nabuhay ako vicariously through his exploits. he lived a full life and had it all – pinoy rock pioneer, rock jock, punk rocker, lover boy, painter, singer and everything in between.

a day before i left the philippines, nagpunta kami sa tagaytay for a family gathering. it was our last meeting – masaya na rin ako kahit papaano dahil nagkasama kami sa isang masayang pagtitipon.

umalis ako sa bahay the next day ng alas dos ng madaling araw dahil maaga ang flight ko. he woke up early just to say goodbye. i’ll miss you dante. rock the fucking angels off their perch.

113 thoughts on “It’s a Brave New World

  1. unkyel and anti jet, im sorry to hear about your brother….our thoughts are with you and your loved ones during this difficult time.

  2. my deep condolences. I often hear of your brother not that I am in rock and roll and punk music person…my seatmate in college was. Yep, he’s an icon!

  3. Condolence bro. I know you love your brother so much. Good thing you were able to see him the last time you went home. We’ll go to his wake.
    We’ll definitely miss him in the airwaves.

  4. salamat sir.

    oo nga, tamang tama ang pag-uwi ko lang month. at least nagkasama kami at nakapag-usap. naka attend din si dante sa book launch ko at nakapag outing pa kami sa tagaytay. naiyak nga ako kanina nung biglang tumama na wala na siya.

    kayo na bahala sa mommy ko.
    jay

  5. condolence sir batjay. i just read and congratulated you for your anniversary and lo and behold, sad news agad. buhay nga naman…

  6. Hi Tito Jay,

    Ate Meng texted me a while ago that Tito Dante passed away…kaya pala these past few days ay d ako mapakali like the feeling i had when Mama was in the hospital at lagi ko naiisip na baka may nangyari sa bahay. Takot ako tumawag kahapon at inintay ko na lang txt ni Ate or ni Kuya…Lo and behold, may nangyari nga at sabi sakin ni Ate na tinakbo nga si Tito Dante sa ospital…kinabahan ako nung tinext ako ni Ate Meng 2 hours ago and somehow i knew what happened…Tumawag agad ako nung pagdating namin sa bahay at narinig ni Mum na naginginig na ang boses ko (Cristi was also crying) at pinasa agad kay Tj…She didn’t say much kasi alam nya mababaw talaga luha ko…so sinabihan ko na lang sya na alagaan ang katawan nila ni Aunty at iwas sa mga bawal at ingatan ang diet nila..
    Nung mother’s day ay tumawag ako sa bahay at wala sila mum …nilibre sila ni Ate Ling at kumain ata sa labas, anyhow, si Tito Dante ang sumagot ng phone at nagkwentuhan kami at sabi nga nya na nasa NU107 na daw sya ng 6-7pm…Little did i know na last conversation ko na sa kanya yun.
    Uwi sana kami ni Cristi ngayon sa Pinas para kay Tito Dante pero nabudget kami at di uubra…I think Adam is taking care of everything. Di pa alam ni Kuya Den kasi may interview ata sya for abroad at ayaw pa paAlam ni Ate Meng…

    We lit a candle for Tito Dante and i’ll pray for him too…I will definitely miss him kasi i always learn something from him when we talk and he was a good uncle to me too..K ingat Tito Jay…

  7. Yes, d ko nga sya nakilala kaagad sa book launching mo dahil tumaba sya. Malamang di rin nya rin ako natandaan kaagad ng binati ko sya. Nagkausap rin sila ni Vhaya at naalala pa nya nuong inoperhan sya.

  8. sasabihin ko sana: what do you mean, so long? anyway…condolences to your whole family.

    circle of life, sa kabilang post 17 years niyo ni jet. sa puntong yan, congratulations sa inyong dalawa. i wish you more and more years of happy life together.

  9. A lot of people who touched me in my college days passed away this month. From Ka Bel to your brother.

    My condolence to you and your family. Where ever he is, I’m know he’ll keep on rockin’.

  10. tol,

    our sincerest condolences for your lost. may the good lord welcome his soul to heaven.

    all the best……bong

  11. condolence jay at sa iyong pamilya. di masyadong nag-click sa utak ko na brother mo si howling dave. nadidinig ko lang kasi sya. tapos nung nakita ko yung family name, naalala ko na na-mention mo sya.

    malamang nasa langit na yun at nagpapahead-bang ng mga anghel.

    condolence ulit.

  12. condolence dre a pinoy rock icon has move on to the other side in rock nroll heaven , the last of the singing cowboy has sign off but his legacy continues …i was hoping to seeing him as host of strawberry woodstock on may 31 onwards now it will just be a tribute concert for him i guess .we lost a rock jock who gives rock listeners the x n o’s of the kind of music he preaches ,no other jocks can espoused rock music ,he is irreplaceable man ! from new moon concerts to brave new world ,pinoy woodstock and from rock of manila to rj underground and lately tapsi rock of nu 107 . the list is endless ,no more howlin dave but his dreams will never die! lumipad na ang ibon….

  13. oh. grabe naman, parang kailan lang nakita ko pa siya sa book launch. siya yun, diba? yung lalaki malapit sa upuan ni mommy mo? 😦 i’m so sorry for your loss, unkyel batjay. my condolences to you and your family.

  14. Pingback: Pinoy rock icon Howlin’ Dave dies at Cyberbaguioboy

  15. tribute will be on wednesday at my brother’s mustache with all the artist he help and influence as pepe smith used to say he is the philippines best rock jock ever…magkita kita tayo roon para iparating ang ating pakikiramay kay dante…

  16. Rest in Peace Kuya Dante…thank you sa mga memories lalo na those days dun sa bahay natin sa pasay. share ko lang po…yung bang, uutusan akong ibalik yung tape ni lolita (asin) ‘tas di magbibigay ng pamadyak, lakad lang yun hanggang rizal memorial pero ayus lang naman dahil sinasama naman kami ni sam sa rj.

    minsan sa balkonahe kami natulog dang man, sampaguita at yung lead guitarist nya(gary ata yung pangalan), ginising kami para tawagin si dante tas tugtugan na. first time i met pepe smith, bago kami umalis papuntang new moon concert si dante ang emcee(yung bumagsak yung stage, remember). Pepe…man, nagtusok ng over sized na pardible sa pisngi nya at (parte raw ng costume nya yun) sinabitan ng mga kala mong kwintas. met mike hanopol, florante, mga kasamang dj sa rj at marami pang mga upcoming young bands during those days.

    God, nabawasan na naman kami, unang pumasok sa isip ko nung nabalitaan kong wala na sya. sobra ang lakas ng ulan that day, motorsiklo ang ride ni pinsang dante, nai-semplang nya paglabas ng hotrabs sa rj. Sa dahilang yari sya sa tsong amon (panganay na utol ni epa ko at ema ni batjay) namin pagnakita yung bike at dahil wasak talaga yung tuhod nya man. takbo ako to call my mom para linisin yung sugat…here’s the punch line, para di mahalata yung pagsigaw nya dahil sa hapdi at yari talaga kaming lahat kung mabubuko(yup, kasama ermats ko astig yung unkel namin, lol) imbis na array ang isinigaw eh kinanta ni dante yung rock en roll sa ulan. freaking instant classic, oflmao.
    i will miss you pinsan. thank you sa lahat.

    Trivia:
    1.) sino ang may alam kung bakit howlin’ dave ang naging screen name ni dante???

    2.) Those days itong kanta na ’to ang madalas nya ginigitara…sinong kumanta ng kantang ito?

    Now Rocky R@#$%&n, he fell back in his room
    Only to find Gideon’s bible
    Gideon checked out, and he left it, no doubt
    To help with good Rocky’s revival, yeah, yeah
    Da-n-da-n-da…

    Jay, check your email bro.

    love ‘ya,
    -Imo

  17. Condolence Jay and to the family .

    If you are proud of your brother, he is also proud of you…….During our boardwork at RJ UR, there is no sunday that he will not talk about you and your accomplishments and he always request me to open your blog site for him to get updated about you. Dante is a big loss to the Pinoy Rock Community. The best ever DJ of his generation…….

    Mr. A

  18. thanks allan.

    he is a big loss – parati ko nga siyang naiisip at ang hirap tanggapin na pag-uwi ko sa pilipinas, hindi ko na siya makikita. buti na lang nakadalaw ako bago siya nag sign off.

    ingat.
    jay

  19. Sino ang makakalimot ng Pinoy Rock & Rhythm? Tanghaling tapat kada linggo ( o Sabado kaya). Sa mga lumaki ng dekada 70 buhay na buhay si Howlin Dave. He has always been Pinoy rock ever since. He knew his contribution to the pinoy music industry. As always, nauungkat lang ito dahil wala na siya at naaalala siya. Howlin Dave was part of my growing up and growing old. Mahirap magpaalam sa isang kinalakihan at kinatandaan.

  20. salamat sa lahat ng inyong pakikiramay. here’s a dear kuya letter that i made a while ago. i know dante loved it because he said so. it’s called ALIVE.

    dear kuya,

    naalala mo ba nung bata ako, parati mo akong kinukwentuhan tungkol sa mga iba-ibang animals? nung nasa novaliches tayo, parati mo akong pinapasyal sa ilog para tingnan yung wildlife doon. kahapon kasi, nagpunta kami sa dana point para mag whale watching. ang layo na ng narating ko ano? thirty years ago, magkasama tayo sa tullahan river para panoorin yung mga gurami at isdang kanal na lumangoy doon. ngayon, eto na ako, nakasakay sa isang malaking bangka (’dapor’ ang tawag natin dito nung araw. naalala mo ba?) para panoorin ang mga blue whale sa california coast. migration season nila ngayon at sinuwerte kami kahapon dahil naka ilang sighting kami.

    ibang klase pala ang feeling being side by side with the largest animal in the world. once again, i am a child, filled with wonder and awe at tindig balahibong naka-nganga habang pinagmamamsdan ang balyenang lumangoy sa gilid ng dapor. hindi ito kakaiba sa excitement na naramdaman ko nung first time kong makakita ng buhay na dalag doon sa bakuran natin nung araw.

    bigla ko ngang naalala yung kanta ni john denver na “i want to live“. parati itong pinapatugtog ng daddy nung araw sa show niya. nakakatawa kasi ito yung isa sa mga kinaiinisan kong kanta dahil corny ang lyrics pero gusto ko pa ring pakinggan dahil na-aalala ko ang daddy pag naririnig ko ito kahit matagal na siyang patay.

    “have you gazed out on the ocean
    seen the breaching of a whale?
    have you watched the dolphins frolic in the foam?
    have you heard the song the humpback hears
    five hundred miles away
    telling tales of ancient history
    of passages and home”

    kahapon, while watching the whales nagsenti mode ako and i celebrated life. naisip ko ang daddy, naisip kita. naisip ko ang ganda ng buhay namin ni jet dito sa america. naisip ko rin na ang sarap talagang mabuhay. nagdasal nga ako: diyos ko – sana, sana, sana ay magtagal pa ako rito sa mundo para mas marami pa akong makitang mga isdang kanal, dalag at balyena.

    hanggang dito na lang muna. huwag mong kalimutang ikamusta ako sa mommy.

    ingat,
    jay

  21. Gising, na, RJ na. Of course to pinoy rockers of his generation, Howlin Dave’s wake up call was rockin effin poetic.

    In my case he did not only teach me how to wake up to his voice, he also taught me how to read seriously. I was in high school listening to rj when he played a steely dan song. After that he gave a trivia that the name steely dan was lifted from the book naked lunch, and he gave some great opinions about the book. It piqued my interest, I read the book, and never became an average reader after that.

  22. nakikiramay po unkyel batjay. it’s been a pleasure meeting dante in the book launch before he left..sayang naman.i thought he would be in benguet for the rock event of the year for the ofw’s

  23. my condolences, jay. sana magkita sila ng sister ni lenin sa heaven. gustong maging rocker nun eh (she passed away may 3, 2008, was supposed to have her debut sa june 12)… jamming na lang muna sila sa heaven.

  24. bosing, i have always told you how I lived the 70’s listening to your brother. I always remember him singing Neil Young’s song, Birds ata title nun, which he sang in one of the concerts sa Ateneo.

    Imo, Rocky Racoon ng Beatles included in their White Album. paborito ko rin yan. Si Howlin Dave, parating me trivia sa program nya. He is the soul of pinoy rock and the authority in rock per se. He will surely be missed.

    Please accept my sincerest condolences to you and your family.

  25. Paul and I send you our deepest condolences and prayers.

    May eternal light shine on him, and may he rest in peace.

  26. dante loved neil young’s “Birds” – he always sang that at concerts, weddings and family gatherings.

    everytime i hear that song, it’s him that i remember.

  27. condolences to your family. Read what happened in inquirer and immediately naisip ko kuya mo yun. Generation X kasi ako pero alam ko Howlin Dave is a big name sa Pinoy rock. Di ko maimagine ang feeling na mawalan ng kuya kasi may mga kuya din ako..

  28. Condolences po. I’m not sure if you are religious but I always believed that the greatest joy a person can have is to meet his maker. I am sure that you and your family are included in a lot of thoughts and prayers right now.

  29. jay condolence tol,i remember dante sa halos lahat ng concert na napanood ko’minsan nga nilapitan namin siya sa isang concert sa valenzuela para humingi ng yosi’sigurado nasa rock and roll heaven na siya’

  30. Sir, my condolences to you and your family.

    GISING NA RJ NA! … MUSIKANG SARILING ATIN!

    A great man will be missed but not forgotten and I am honorned to have know a great person like him. Our generation is so lucky to have someone like HOWLIN’ DAVE in our lifetime.

  31. dear jay,

    isa akong tagahanga ng kapatid mo. nakikiramay ako sa pamilya niyo sa pagkawala ng mabuting kapatid at anak. nakikiisa rin ako sa pakikiramay sa lahat ng pinoy rockers sa pagkawala ng isa sa matitibay na haligi nito, si howlin’ dave.

    sinong hindi makaka-miss sa malalim na boses ni dante at sa mga impormasyon tungkol sa musika at musikero na parang nasa dulo lang ng daliri niya? hindi ko naman personal na kakilala si howlin’ dave, pero sa haba ng panahong nasubaybayan ang pagiging dj niya, (imagine mula pa noong grade 3 ako noong 1973), parang ko na rin siyang nakilala. nagkaroon lang ako ng pagkakataong makausap siya minsan sa telepono noong nasa rock990 siya.

    sayang talaga. kung kelan pa naman kailangang pasiglahin lalo ang musikang pilipino dahil mukhang dinadagsa na naman tayo ng mga dayuhang mang-aawit na kada linggo yata ay nasa araneta. tsk, tsk.

    pero i’m sure nasaan man si dante, masaya siya. magpapatugtog ang mga anghel ng harp (o pwede ring acoustic guitar), magjajamming sila dante at ang mga nauna sa kanya at mag-eenjoy ang lahat ng makikinig, tulad noong nandito siya sa mundo.

    keep on rockin’ howlin’ dave!

  32. tol batjay, why not play birds at dante’s funeral service i recall sa rj rock of manila nun sunday jam siya ang host feuture niya si neil young oh taped that one then talagang you feel high with the music pag si dante ang host un sex pistols siya rin ang unang nagpatugtog sa dzrj rock n roll machine . i grew up listening to his pinoy rock n rhythm every weekend tanghaling tapat tapos sunday jam he really made my weekend pati mga tropa ko sa ft. bonifacio nun pag week days rock machine 9 pm tapos new wave nights . pag concert siya palagi ang emcee ,pati mga warat sa corex at dilaw kalmado pag siya na ang magtalkies di ka maiinip habang wala pa si peyaps ,huli ko siyang nakita sa edsa shrine year 2000 pa ata nagkausap kmi wala na raw sila ni delilah tapos bigla na lang syang nawala sa ere . up to the very end pinoy rock pa rin ang nasa puso niya, ibang klase talaga ang kuya mo he’s got a rock nroll heart ,its his lifestyle up to the very end pero di siya perwisyo sa lipunan na gaya ng iba na pinangatawanan ang pagiging rocker. the day he died its also the day pinoy rock has stopped…i hope ther will be another jock like him who will continue his dreams …our dreams…

  33. Please accept our condolences, Jay.

    Your brother’s memory will inspire you this Sunday and put wings on your feet, I’m sure.

    Sige, hope to see you and Jet…

  34. imo,howlin dave got his name from a blues singer named howlin wolf..rocky racoon yung song na pinahuhulaan mo,from the beatles WHITE ALBUM,.sigurado ko nasa rock and roll heaven na si dante,malamang magkita sila ni jim morrison at john lennon..rock and roll.

  35. i was one of Howlin’ Dave’s fans when he was with DZRJ. i even have his autograph on a shirt i wore during the Pinoy Woodstock in Amoranto Stadium. those were good times. my deepest condolences to you and your family. Howlin’ Dave will be missed.

    sincerely,
    luna

  36. fafa… nalulungkot ako talaga. 😦 parang di pa rin ako makapaniwala. natuwa pa naman ako nung makita ko sya sa book launching pictures mo. isip ko, “syet, proud siguro si howlin’ dave na book writer na ang bunsoy nila.” parang naiinis ako na wala na sya. bata pa sya eh 😦

    pero ganun ata talaga ang buhay, ‘no? i’m sure tuloy-tuloy ang pag-rock en roll nun sa langit.

    binanggit ko sya sa blog ko, fafa.

  37. howlin dave there will be another one who hover you beneath the sun ,tomorrow see the things that that never come today…when you see me fly away with out you shadow on the things you know .feathers fall around you and show you the way to go….its over … its over…tomorrow see the things that never come today…words and music by neil young

  38. KB – I’m stunned right now; honestly I don’t know what to say. In my mind is the look on your face when you were showing me photos of your trip back home — especially those with your brother and the rest of your family. In my heart is this profound sense of heartbreak since I know how much you loved him and looked up to him. No, let me take that back — I will never know how much; I just know that you did so.

    I am so sorry I didn’t get to express my condolences sooner. I can’t believe that you’re only just a few steps away from me every day and yet I wasn’t around for you. I know it’s late, but I am so sorry for your loss and wish for you eventual peace that will come from knowing that despite his passing, he will live through you every day.

  39. Tol, your borther is a big influence to me! I always win his trivia contest at RJAM, sponsored by Khumbmela, Pepay and other stores at Tandem and Cartimar in Recto. I met many old rockers in the middle East including Israel and Europe, and man, everybody knows Dante !

    I thanked your brother for allowing us to hang out at RJAM booth, with a small ref containing all kinds of drinks. Buti nga di kami pinapupulis ni Dante for smoking pot at taking Ekis there, well with parental guidance nya yun kasi we were still in HS in the late 70s. In the 80s, he still allows us to go there at the booth and helped me having my OJT (as clerk) at RJ under Little Rock as the manager.

    Your brother has an uncompromising playlist of rock and roll. Ibang klase talaga ang dating, hindi baduy kahit na APO ang pinatutugtog nya. I hope to attend to some of the tribute concerts, di kasi ako nakapunta last Wednesday for I have my compre exams this week sa Masters ko.

    We’ll srely miss your brother, and you got a very nice blog site ! Sige tol !

    “Pinoy rock has (still) got a lot of potential going for it, I want to contribute to the music, when the time comes, and you can start right now” (station ID narrated by Basha or Sebatian, is he the same as Duane?)

  40. para kay Allan:

    that voice’d be my brother Basha, not the same as Duane.

    kung sakaling mabasa pala ito ng kahit sino on time, merong tribute ke Howlin Dave sa 105.9 ngayon, 11 hanggang 3, at andun ako nang mga 1, para magsalita, magkuwento, etc etc, tungkol sa tatay ko. ayun. tingnan natin kung ano ang mangyayari!

    at salamat pala sa lahat ng nakiramay dito. salamat talaga.

  41. Hello Jay,

    Mine and my family’s heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
    Kuya Dante aka Howlin’ Dave will be surely missed.

  42. adam napakinggan ko yung tribute sa erpat mo kanina,at pati na yung interview sa yo,ok sana’kaya lang maligalig yung mga dj,me itatanong sa yo tapos hindi ka pa nakakasagot,magsasalita agad sila at sabay pa..parang gusto nila sila pa rin ang bida,anyway me konti akong trivia:alam nyo bang sumayaw si howlin dave at si delilah sa eat bulaga noong mga early 80’s,private idaho ng b52’s ang tugtog..nakasama din namin ng utol ko si howlin dave at si delilah sa konsyerto sa huerta alba sa valenzuela.nagkagulo sa concert nun dahil nahinto ang tugtugan,dahil me isang drummer na sinira yung drumset sa lakas ng palo,pero biglang umakyat si howlin dave at nagpasakay sa mga audience.sabay tinira niya yung birds ni neil young.ayun tuloy ang trip,napakinggan ko rin yung version ni batjay ng birds,,ayos plakado!to howlin dave..saan ka man nandoon,keep on rockin!!!

  43. Adam, thnx a lot for your reply ! sorry i missed the tribute yesterday at RJUR, sana maulit! Kaw ba yung sinasama ng erpat mo nun sa BNW concerts? Me banda ka na rin pala. I guessed yr name was taken from the lead singer of Adam and the Ants where your father always play on air together with Bow Wow Wow.

    Kelan kaya ang susunod na tribute concert for him ?

  44. Jun, If i can remember that contest sa eat bulaga was Pogo Dancing contest sponsored by Wea Records ! the people are still shocked to see a mohawk hairdoed lady like delilah that time. Wow, what a fuckin great time of my life !

  45. sayang i missed the tribute yesterday anyway i hope. they have another one ,adam ant is really one of howlin dave’s fave at that time i remember when we are at jnt bldg he narrated adam ant lifestyle , i guess thats why adam is the name of his son

  46. dante is knockin on heaven’s door by now clutching a take out meal of pinoy rock flavor of tapsirock

  47. just dropping by to say condolences to Dave and his family, i never knew he contributed so much in the music industry. i just loved listening to his show, my younger sister would always say what a great voice he had, sounded so happy and upmood all the time. thank you for bringing punk rock, rock en roll and everything else. God Bless

  48. I been reading your blog kahit nasa Pinas pa ako. My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Merong tribute na front page article sa brother mo sa Weekend balita dito sa California written by Rhony Laigo.

    Howlin Dave, ang bato ng Maynila will be missed by the music industry.

  49. hi,
    my condolences to you and your family.

    my brother jaton was the station manager of RJ UR and had so many stories about howling dave that i had to come and see him in action.

    took this photo of him

    Howling Dave

    august last year. wanted to send you a hi res copy if you want it. thanks

  50. read in one of the news dailies friday last week about your brother. my late condolence. di ko man naabutan ang the great pioneering punk rock era ni howlin’ dave, i am sure, my older brothers and uncles had his influences under their sleeves. that’s where ur brother’s memories will live forever.

    pinoy rock just lost a good son. he will be missed.

  51. For those who want to read what I wrote about Howlin’ Dave in the Filipino-American newspaper Weekend Balita where I work as editor, please paste this on your address bar:

    http://www.balita.com/xshell.php?id=2071

    I’m a former neighbor who grew up looking at Dante, who played pusoy (Russian poker) with his siblings at their house, who honed his music skills by listening every week to his program. The moment I learned about the passing of Dante, I immediately contacted Florante (De Leon) here in California for his comments. Our condolences to Dante, his family, his siblings and parents. More power to Pinoy Rock.

  52. hi rhony.

    maraming maraming salamat sa sinulat mo. na touch ako. kung nabasa ito ni dante, siguradong matutuwa yon. ipapadala ko ito sa mommy ko para mabasa nila sa novaliches. doon pa rin sila nakatira sa bahay namin sa looban. tapos, dito na kami ng misis ko sa irvine nakabase.

    sige, dito na lang muna. ingat at kamusta na lang.

    jay

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