INSIDE BULACAN'S TRIKE SOUNDS SCENE

We arrived at the Malolos Convention Center at around 6 p.m., the grounds already buzzing with food stalls and night joggers.

- LEVI MASULI

Bulacan's bustling trike sounds community Modded-up trikes are a spectacle Funky mod light display

We were looking for Kuya Rex, a tricycle modder I met on Facebook, where he regularly shares his latest modifications and updates on community events. Drawn by a burst of colorful lights and loud budots blaring in front of the gymnasium, we made our way toward a line of parked trikes.

The sounds were menacingly loud, yet the scene we stumbled upon was unexpectedly wholesome. We met three of the trike owners, Aethan Roxas, Erwin John Sayo and Arnold de Leon, relaxing with their friends and families, swapping stories about their newest mods, sharing snacks, and chatting about the latest happenings in the scene. As joggers passed by with hands over their ears and children danced to four different songs playing at once, we took in the lively energy of Bulacan's bustling trike sounds community.

"It's a yearly affair, this gathering of tricycles during the 'ber' months," Kuya Aethan told us. "The capital actually likes us herethe lights make the area more colorful." Like many in the scene, Aethan has been modding trikes for years. Enthusiasts come from all over Bulacan, and even Pampanga, eager to showcase their pride and joy to the public.

Meanwhile, Kuya Arnold explained that although every trike was uniquely designed by its owner, certain visual "styles" reveal where a trike came from. There was the popular "Baliwag" style with its curvy façade, the boxier "Calumpit" style, and even a "Malolos" style similar to the Baliwag design. As a newcomer, I struggled to distinguish them, but what was unmistakable was the sheer variety on display. Some owners printed their names, or their children's, on the panels; others featured favorite pop culture characters. Catholic iconography was also common.