With a following that boasts generations of Pinoy creatives, Instagram page 90s Kabaklaan’s talkability, novelty, and crossover appeal are the kind that today’s brands or content creators could only wish to replicate. Created during the lockdown as a tribute to all things queer and campy in ‘90s media, the content it has published up to this point has served various purposes to its 100K+ followers. Beefcake photos have been passed on from one group chat to another, dated TV and movie clips have been made into memes and deemed applicable to present-day situations, and archival fashion content—think Anna Bayle’s last years on the catwalk or scans of the Cojuangco sisters’ Preview Magazine covers—have become conversation pieces among insiders and fans alike. Scan the comments section of particular editorials or runway shows and you may just read backstories from the actual models, photographers, and editors themselves or see their banter with the younger creatives whose careers they inspired.
Victor, the incognito one-man team behind the page, confides, “Knowing that insiders are following [90s Kabaklaan] adds to the pressure [of creating content]. I feel the need to deliver, but at the same time, I need to keep it fun for myself and for everyone.”
But Victor and his page have been delivering and keeping things fun—a little too well. So much so that starting with the page’s 2000th post on New Year’s Eve, followers have been teased with Y2K content: the sound of a modem connecting to the internet, pre-stardom Piolo Pascual covered in nothing but bubble bath, a classic clip of Assunta de Rossi hurling expletives in the movie Jologs, and VJs such as Donita Rose and Belinda Panelo wearing the day’s trends.
Even more, the page is throwing a party and exhibit aptly called The ‘90s Kabaklaan Show to mark the end of an era. “It’s a nice wrap of the page’s ‘90s content. It’s also an opportunity to marvel at Archivo 1984’s massive movie poster collection,” Victor shares.
Over email, the page’s administrator shared more details about the transition to Y2K content, the kilig of interacting with Philippine fashion’s greats, and his contribution to the LGBTQ community.
An Exclusive Preview Interview with the Creative Behind the "90s Kabaklaan" Instagram Page
What prompted the shift from ‘90s content to Y2K fashion, showbiz, and humor?
"As soon as I started ‘90s Kabaklaan, I knew I had to do Y2K eventually. I also knew that my ‘90s archive (from my baul) was only so much and it couldn't go on forever. I felt that it was only natural to shift to Y2K after exhaustively curating ‘90s Pinoy pop culture for 2.5 years. And I think the timing of it all was just right."
What is your research like these days, seeing that the account—and demand for it—has grown immensely?
"I try not to rush. I feel like I have to establish Y2K firmly and so I’m putting a lot of focus on 2000-2003 content in the first few months. When the page was still ‘90s-heavy, it was a little all over the place—one day I’ll post something from 1999 then from 1991 the next day. With Y2K I try to be more cohesive."
You’ve also changed profile photos from Gabby Concepcion to Diether Ocampo. That does feel like a changing of the guard.
"Changing the default photo to Diether Ocampo wasn’t easy! I remember having an unofficial survey with some of the followers of the page on who should follow Gabby Concepcion. There were Brent Javier, Piolo Pascual, Christian Vasquez, Coco Martin, Cogie Domingo, and a couple more. Ultimately, I went with Diether."
You have the years 2000 to 2009 at your disposal. What elements or aspects of Y2K pop culture are you most excited to explore and showcase?
"Y2K Kabaklaan will cover pop culture references and all the kabaklaan from that era—fantaseryes, Cosmo Hunks, magazine covers, etc. You can also expect more music content & throwbacks to LGBTQ-focused publications and films.
"There will be a lot of content from reality shows [such as Starstruck]. It was new to Pinoys then and it felt like a cultural reset. Also, we have to remember this was a peak moment for tabloid culture (Paris [Hilton], Britney [Spears], Lindsay [Lohan] come to mind). Another one would be music."
In terms of fashion, could you describe your process in sourcing and selecting the imagery for your posts?
"I don’t have an 'eye' for fashion. It’s not my territory to critique clothes or an editorial from the past. But I do know that I like colors and happy photos. When a model is smiling in cute clothes, I know I have to post it. Same rules apply to showbiz content, hunks, and other content buckets. I like it when there’s a lot of 'joy' in the feed."
Have there been any surprises or unexpected discoveries you've made while researching or creating content for the Y2K era?
"Not really—except that I have to be careful with my biases! Hahaha. Sometimes I have to get hold of myself cause I don't want a biased view of Y2K content."
Fashion industry insiders acknowledge and follow the account. What have been your top kilig fashion insider interactions?
"I definitely get kilig whenever editors and models comment and give inside chika about the content. Señoras like Tweetie de Leon and Apples Aberin send DMs showing their appreciation.
"When I posted a Preview cover with the APO girls on cover (Agot Isidro, Amy Perez, Bing Loyzaga, Melissa de Leon, and Michelle Van Eimeren), Preview founding editors Leah Puyat and Myrza Sison and talent manager Biboy Arboleda reminisced about the cover shoot right on the comments section and to read all of that was sooo fun.
"The same thing happened when I posted an iconic Gretchen Barretto-Dawn Zulueta cover of another magazine. Wig Tysmans, who took the image, editors, and other celebrities had a comment party, too.
"Another one is whenever I would do collaborations with one of my fave photographers Ricky Villabona. He would share images with matching inside stories.
"I just finished my December content a few weeks ago and it was massive. It had photos by Raul Teehankee, Pancho Escaler, Ricky Villabona, Jun De Leon, Wig Tysmans, Jacinto Tee, Edwin Tuyay, Raymond Lontok, and Neal Oshima. To bring all of those names together in one month was crazy!"
How does it feel to have them in your network?
"There’s added pressure because I am curating their work from decades ago and mixing it with content from other publications. But at the same time, getting their input and receiving guidance from them makes the content more authentic. I feel happy and assured."
What has been the most heartwarming feedback from fans?
"I get touched whenever I receive messages of support. I remember there was someone who said that he was going through rough times and that the page made him forget his problems. Another one would be from Filipinos living overseas. I get a lot of DMs saying how the page reminds them of home, back when they still lived in the Philippines. That’s really special."
Are there plans to expand and make 90s Kabaklaan a brand? Merch? A podcast? A zine? What are your plans?
"To be able to do something outside Instagram requires a lot of effort but the possibilities are endless. But for now, the job at hand is the show on the 13th and to make it a success."
There is an undercurrent of activism in what you do—and that is to ably represent the LGBTQ community, give it more visibility, and show their contribution through the years. How do you feel about contributing in your own way?
"It is a conscious effort. You have a platform so you should always use it to amplify LGBTQ causes. 90s Kabaklaan has always been vocal on socio-political issues—the pandemic, the elections, SOGIE—and making the messaging witty or humorous as a way for people to pay attention is a good thing."
The 90s Kabaklaan Show will be held at the Archivo 1984 Gallery in La Fuerza on Saturday, January 13, beginning at 4 PM. The one-day exhibit is open to the public.
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