MISTULA : Revelations

The great Lumanog workshop was a good several-hour drive away from Manila. But the moment Mistula stepped into the shop and beheld these stunning curves, travel fatigue suddenly felt like kilometers away.

They were hooked.

Especially after Mang Dading, master craftsman and Lumanog chief, christened himself a disciple and offered to create Mistula customs exclusively for the band. They couldn’t have been closer to heaven.

Manx, who thrives on thrash riffs, wanted a classic and simple design, very straight-out rock. She chose a Les Paul Standard-inspired body.

Manx named her guitar Cebu, after the Philippine city famous for its guitars, Catholic heritage, and underground music scene. Cebu is also where Mang Dading was born, grew up, and learned his craft. Finished in tobacco sunburst with chrome hardware, Manx’s Cebu’s only accent is the Mistula Cross Mang Dading himself hand-painted on the headstock.

Uno’s bass is an original Mistula design. Despite its shape, Mang Dading graciously accepted the burden of its construction. It was a challenge he ultimately lorded over.

Uno named it Cutud, a place in the Philippines famous for its bloody Holy week traditions – where every year, celebrations would start with the extremely devoted flogging themselves with stiff bamboo sticks down a dusty path, and would end with them being nailed to wooden crosses, all in the name of faith. Uno, during intense recording sessions, also often bleeds for his Cutud.

The band is blessed to have such a skillful and hard-working disciple. For the first time ever, they were granted their instruments of choice.

This definitely won’t be the last.

Uno has also written about Cutud and Cebu on his online journal, Fully Articulated. Please do not re-use the photos without permission.