Bo’s Coffee brings back the art of conversation

WHAT is the state of the homegrown music industry nowadays? What victories has it championed? What are the many challenges in its path? And despite shared efforts by artists, producers and consumers, is there still a stigma that homegrown music is sub-par to its foreign counterpart?

These were just some of the questions posed during Bo’s Coffee’s first Brew PH event held at its concept store in Banilad Town Center last June 17. BrewPH was the first of a series of pocket talks that Bo’s Coffee will be holding in its branches as part of their campaign to bring good conversations and constructive discussions back on the table.

Bo’s Coffee aims to provide a social platform where idealists from different industries – from art and design, business and social enterprises, travel and leisure, food and nutrition, wellness and mindful living, cultural preservation and overall nation building – can spread their ideas with likeminded individuals.

“It has always been a tried and tested formula that coffee and conversations go well together. If you’ve grown tired of living through social networks, and are looking to go back to genuine and more tangible connections, then perhaps this is the platform for you. We hope for this to be more than just an event, but the start of a movement. We’re calling it BrewPH, because we want ideas to be brewed here.” says Johanna Michelle Lim, Bo’s Coffee’s art and music director.

Dubbed as The Sound of Homegrown, the first Brew PH was focused on the state of the homegrown music industry in Cebu. The noted speakers were Cattski Espina of 22 Tango Records and Juli-Anna McGovern of Loudbasstard, Jude Gitamondoc of Offbeat Productions, Jad Bantug of 1032 Recording Studios and Michael Nuesca of the electronica duo, Kaapin.

And what’s a discussion about homegrown music without actual music? The event was capped by a jam session with Vispop finalists Keith and Kaye Dinauto (“Intergalactic Gugma”), Ivy Gallur (“10,000 Hours”), as well as 22 Tango Records artists Cattski (“Rock and Roll”), The Wonggoys (“Chase the Girl and Rule the World”), and Ella Melendez (“When We’re Not Looking”). (PR)