The Story Behind Cubao-X.Com

I like background stories. I like finding out how famous people came to be and how successful businesses started. And I like it because I always learn a thing or two from other’s humble beginnings, being someone who’s still trying to find her place in this world.

So yeah, since this website’s going to be famous and thriving with traffic someday, I’d like to post its monumental humble beginnings, you know, in case you’d be interested to look back and find out how it came to be.

Also, as the first few readers of this site, I’d like to let you in on what the game plan is.

La la la la la la.

Uh, yeah, we don’t have a game plan.

Maybe you can help us come up with one! Lol.

Srsly, the concept is still under development, so we’re inviting all of you Cubao-Xers to watch it unfold with us. The grand idea is to have a place for everything Cubao-X online, like a mini-Clickthecity, only our world revolves around that little artist community in Cubao. Get the picture?

* * *

By the way, that was Xaris who wrote the traditional Hello World post, not ME. (Mixed up login details are part of soft-openings, after all.) Don’t be deceived. Xaris is the one responsible for all the gay-ness in this site, and she’s the better, more fun, half. I, meanwhile, am the one who writes long boring introductions, and abuses commas like crazy.

And yes, I think it’s important that you know the difference between the two of us, if you’re going to frequent this site. (Oh and we bet you’re going to, because we’re confident like that.)

You see, Xaris grew up in Cubao, she knows Cubao-X like the back of her hand, and she calls it her second-home. I, meanwhile, have only been there ONCE in this life of mine (I know, what am I doing co-founding this website huh?), however, I do remember falling in love-at-first-sight with Cubao-X and how being there felt like stepping into a secret, magical place ala Diagon Alley. I remember getting a bunch of accessories from Anak Ng Kwek Kwek, this pretty hand-sewn dress from one of the fashion boutiques, and a pair of pumps from Janilyn. I remember marveling at the awesome galleries, and drooling over all the stuff at Vintage Pop (there was a flood of drool, I can’t believe the news didn’t reach TV Patrol). I remember asking a lot of questions — Is that cute Italian restaurant the one in John Lloyd’s movie? Where do they get all these antique items? Who are these artists? Where have I been all these years?

So yep, this is who we are: One, a Cubao-X groupie by heart; the other, a noob who’s ready to explore everything that Cubao-X has to offer.

Which brings me to how Cubao-X.Com came to be. (I told you I make long introductions).

I was Googl-ing pretty vintage things when some photos of Cubao-x came about. The search immediately shifted from pretty vintage things, to vintage shops in Cubao-X, to simply Cubao-X.

And WHAT THE HELL I CAN’T BELIEVE CUBAO-X DOESN’T HAVE A WEBSITE QUICK I’M GOING TO REGISTER CUBAO-X.COM NOW NOW!

It was destiny. The domain was available, and there was no time to lose.

You see, the SEO in me couldn’t bear the thought that a place as enchanting as Cubao-X did not have its proper place in the search results. Sure, there was a blog that has not been updated since 2006. And there’s Ricky of ProjectManila.Com, who’s got the awesomest Cubao-X photo coverages I’ve ever seen online. And then there’s a multiply account, whose owner, whoever you are, is going to be our new best friend.

Since then, Xaris and I would brainstorm endlessly about how we wanted the site to look like (vintage, artsy, purple&teal); what tagline to go with (X marks the spot — ahh, perfection!); which CMS to use (wordpress what else); do we want to put up a forum (yeah, maybe vanilla, because I don’t know how to operate phpbb); when are we going there (definitely soon); OMG we have to interview the shop owners; OMG maybe we can sell their stuff online; OMG maybe they’ll give us freebies; OMG let’s go to Mogwai, etc, etc.

Finally, we thought of audience participation. There’s a lot about Cubao-X that our mortal bodies and four hands can cover, so mostly we’ll scout the web for brilliant posts and photographs and reviews about Cubao-X, and simply point you there. 

Now, without further ado, it’s time to open our doors. Welcome to Cubao-X.Com!

*Photo Credit: Gel Cruz.