NIKE’S GLOBAL celebration of the Air Force 1 sneaker’s 40th anniversary last November was fronted by the “Join Forces” tagline—a call for all creatives to build communities that push their passions forward.

Nike held the Manila leg of the celebration with the help of Manila Community Radio (MCR), an internet-based radio station that also plans physical events and activations.

Together, the two rented out an old building and a stretch of General Luna St. in Poblacion in the City of Makati. Their party featured some of Manila’s finest performers and DJs, music and art workshops, and a lot of sneakerheads.

Since their inception in 2020, MCR has always prided itself in being a platform where creatives are heard; musicians and non-musicians alike can host their own radio sets on the MCR website. In fact, anyone is free to submit their own music curation to be played as a show on the website, even if they aren’t DJs or musicians.

“We wanted to create a digital third space that subverts existing power structures in music by putting artists and their communities at the forefront,” says co-founder Sean Bautista.

One of the radio’s key figures who works to push the voices of these artists and communities is Javier Pimentel, a programmer for MCR. He explains further, “We make sure that these niche, less represented voices get to do what they want. In physical spaces, people have to answer to shareholders, so you can’t always be super artsy or experimental.”

Following that ethos of promoting niche communities, MCR’s curated lineup for Nike’s party covered a slew of scenes and subcultures within Manila. Representing the QC and Mow’s crowd was a DJ set by Mariah Reodica of the Buildings. QC femcee SHNTI also performed as a face for LIAB Studios, while choreographer AC Lalata represented the Manila hip-hop dance scene. Javier explains, “We always try to think about how to make it (every physical lineup) different, how we can give a platform to all these communities. If you look at the Nike lineup, [they’re all from] different scenes.”

In addition to the many performers, MCR also chose six “broadcasters” to join them for Nike’s campaign. Each broadcaster represented a distinct subculture within Manila. Among them was queer DJ Karlo Vicente.

Karlo is not only a DJ, but also a promoter for Elephant Party, one of the biggest queer parties in Manila. “Building a community is always good. I don’t like doing stuff alone, you know what I mean?” says Karlo.

In throwing parties that are safe spaces for queer people, Elephant Party helps connect people in its own right. Their commitment to inclusivity regardless of gender resonates with MCR’s push for collaboration and community.

Another featured broadcaster was Elijah Pareño, the founder of a music blog called The Flying Lugaw (TFL). Elijah curates local alternative music and loves sharing it with a larger audience. He says, “I listened to this stuff when I was younger. How about I cultivate that experience for them now?” TFL has amassed a community of its own and even has its own Discord server where local music fans may interact and get updates for upcoming gigs.

Both Elijah and Karlo are connecting forces in their respective scenes, much akin to the spirit of MCR. It only makes sense that Sean and company decided to tap local movers like them to highlight the vibrancy and connectivity of Manila’s creative scene.

The Air Force 1 anniversary celebration was a melting pot for the countless creative pockets within Metro Manila. DJs, musicians, dancers, and visual artists alike were all given the space to share their craft with one another. With the help of MCR, these different subcultures were given the chance to truly join forces and honor the ever-colorful creative field of the Metro.