About Us
All Good Music, Wa’y Bad · Davao City, Philippines
Honestly? This whole thing started because I care about the music scene here in Davao… and I just wanted to do whatever small part I could to help it grow.
Chester “Chip” Canonigo · Founder
So Who Am I?
My name is Chester Canonigo… most people just call me Chip.
I’m a father, a farmer of sorts, and a freelancer. I write.
I play guitar (and I used to play bass before my best friend Domz decided he wanted to explore what a bass could really do, which honestly was the best decision for the band).
I cover events.
I take photos.
I ramble on the internet… a lot.
I’m also a proud member of the Davao Bloggers Society, which means I get to be around people who take this whole content-creating thing seriously, and that keeps me honest about what I put out there.
I’m not a music industry insider.
I’m not a promoter with a big budget or a booking agent with connections.
I’m just someone who grew up loving music, got absorbed into the Davao scene, and at some point thought… someone should be writing about this.
Someone should be keeping a record of what’s happening here.
That someone might as well be me.
What Is Musika Wabad?
The name says it all, really. Musika Wabad… “All Good Music, Wa’y Bad.”
No bad music. Just the good stuff.
That’s the whole philosophy in three words.
Musikawabad.com is a music blog based in Davao City that covers the local music scene and everything around it.
We write about gigs, artists, gear, songs, events, and whatever else feels worth talking about.
Sometimes that means a review of a show we attended.
Sometimes it means a deep dive into an OPM classic.
Sometimes it means an honest opinion about a guitar pedal.
Whatever…
What We Cover
- Live gig coverage and event write-ups from around Davao City
- Artist spotlights and features on local and OPM acts
- Gear talk… guitars, bass, pedals, amps, all of it
- Music news and anything happening in the Philippine scene
- Personal essays about music, memory, and why any of this matters
- Spotify playlists and links to support local artists directly
We also have an Artists section where we give dedicated pages to acts we believe in… right now that includes AcidRadius, QuarterLife Crisis, and TrashBunk, with more on the way. And there’s a Shop if you want to support the site by picking up something from our recommendations.
We’re not trying to be the biggest music site in Mindanao. We’re not trying to compete with anyone.
We just want the music scene here in Davao to get the attention and support it deserves… because it does deserve it.
There are incredibly talented people making music in this city, and a lot of them do it with almost no resources and very little recognition. If this site can shine even a small light on that, then it’s doing what it’s supposed to do.
That’s really it.
That’s the whole mission.
Help where we can.
Write what we know.
Show up for the scene.
The Team Behind the Noise
Musikawabad has always been more than just one person. Over the years, a small but passionate group of people from the Davao music scene have come together around this thing… and they’re all here because they genuinely care about the same stuff.
Al / Leaf · Al-khaliif T. Mukarram
Designer · Event Organizer – Trash Bunk Main Man
Al got hooked on the local scene through his band “Wrong Children” at what used to be called Zleaf (now Zero 82). He’s been organizing events and designing for Musika Wabad ever since, driven by what he calls the “Usa Ka Bundakan” spirit… that feeling of community that comes from the local scene. His energy is a big part of what makes this feel like more than just a website.
“The darker the night, the brighter the stars.”
Addy · Adriel Negrido
Events Organizer
Addy started as a scene kid moshing at hardcore and metalcore gigs, eventually fronted the death metal band Remnants of Catacombs out of Tagum City, and built his own production company Crimson Fog together with Zyl Banzuelo. He came into Musika Wabad through that same “Usa Ka Bundakan” event and has been part of the family ever since.
“As a musician, attitude is more important than skills.”
Young · Xynyrd S. Jubay
Agogo Dancer · Local Celebrity · Former TV Host
Young hosted the agricultural show Do U Agri, did videography for D-Tour TV, and managed State of Mind studio. He describes himself as a farmer without a farm. He brings a whole other energy to the team and we honestly don’t know what we’d do without him.
“Stand up and shout.”
Datu / Datdat · Jaypee Jashim Abdilah
Admin · Old Timer in the Scene – the Face of MusikaWabad!
Self-described as the poorest philanthropist you’ll ever meet. Datu started on cover bands, moved into producing his own gigs, and met some of the most colorful minds the Davao scene has to offer along the way. He calls himself the fattest admin. We call him the heart of the group.
“Rest. Don’t quit.”
Nikoy / Marimar · Nikki May Jezrael C. Apa-ap
Communications Officer · Private School Teacher
Nikoy came into this scene as an outsider, not originally from Davao City. But the scene welcomed her anyway, and now she’s one of the ones making sure the communication side of things actually works. Teachers and music people… turns out they’re not so different after all.
· · ·
Other Sites
- Chip Canonigo Father. Farmer. Freelancer. His personal site where he writes about basically everything else.
- Biyernes Fun DIY stuff to do at home on a Friday.
- Jectra Your one stop medical shop.
- Filipino Writers Ph Keep calm and keep writing.
- Hayop Etc Where we love all things with fur, feathers, skin or scales.
Proud member of the Davao Bloggers Society
Want to Work Together?
If you’re an artist, an event organizer, or just someone who wants to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you. You can reach me at:
If you’d like to support the site, you can also donate via PayPal: paypal.me/chipesterkhan