When We Danced: Vintage Photos Of Manila’s 90s Rave Scene

In his new book, photographer Eddie Boy Escudero opens up his image archive, shedding new light on the Philippines’ legendary club scene. “Look for the bat signal,” the flyer said. Filipino photographer Eddie Boy Escudero had never been to a rave before, but the piece of paper captured his curiosity. Back then, in 1996 Manila, raves weren’t really a thing – but they were about to spark a new era for the city’s nightlife.

When Escudero pulled up to the location, which was inside the Philippine National Library, there was indeed a bat light on the roof. “I entered and as soon as I heard the beat, I fell in love,” he recalls. “I ended up on the floor with my friends and danced all night.”

That party, thrown by the Consortium collective, is considered the first successful rave in the Philippines. It unleashed a movement that would continue growing for the next decade. Now in his sixties, Escudero captured the era on his trusty Minolta 35mm night after night – much of which has been compiled in a new photo book, When We Danced, released on Archivo 1984. From stylish misfits to weirdos and cool kids, everyone piled together on the dancefloor in warehouses, unfinished malls, and on the beach – all of them caught in the spell of house, techno, and jungle. International stars like Goldie, Derrick May, and Juan Atkins shared bills alongside a rotating cast of local Filipinos. Read more >