Phillip Montano and 'band of geriatrics' keeping ole mas alive

LEGENDARY calypsonian Chalkdust (Hollis Liverpool) sang that in the midst of chaos, you have to learn to laugh.

The sentiment has found accord with Philip Montano, a practitioner of the art of ole mas, which is steeped in satire and picong, and from which he and his audience derive the same pleasure – laughter.

Not only is this form of indigenous mas funny and craftily reflective of serious issues, “We make into jokes, but the cost is not as prohibitive as the bikini-and-beads mas,” says Montano.

“When people putting out thousands for costumes, you know how much it cost to play an ole mas? Not one cent.”

As a graphic artist with ideas, he said the biggest expense is the cost of sheets of cardboards and paint.

“I look at the news, read the newspapers and jot down the ideas when something strikes me as funny. I recently saw on social media a commentary about the heavy presence of the police, which was accompanied by a picture of a fat policeman in uniform.

“I found that to be comical, and it may very well find its way as one of the characters in my 2025 ole mas band.”

Phillip Montano & Friends of Hubert Rance Street, San Fernando, has been making not only ole mas for three decades, but establishing the band as a force to be reckoned with, while having fun.

He believes this integral part of the art form is dying and only older folks, like those who make up his membership, are keeping it alive.

He vows that as long as he and his "band of geriatrics" have life and health, this is a tradition they want to keep alive.

His assessment of the dying art form is based on his annual Carnival competition experience

For Carnival 2024, Montano & Friends made almost a clean sweep in the ole-mas category, in both Port of Spain and San Fernando.

“There were only 18 contenders in this category in Port of Spain. My band had 11 characters.

“You know how many Port of Spain had? Seven. If we did not play, they would not have had an ole-mas competition.”

His kings captured first and third places, and the queens made a clean sweep in the top three positions up for grabs in Port of Spain.

Andre Villarouel was declared King of J’Ouvert with his portrayal of West Indies Force a Win, a parody of the team’s victory by the skin of their teeth.

Montano placed third with a take on the Israel conflict with Hammers (Hamas) pound Israel.

Queen of J’Ouvert was La Verne Smith, portraying I Could Do the Wuk, making a mockery of claims of alleged obeah at Massy stores.

Margaret Montano’s Tight Security for Carnival secured second place, while Claire Boyce, imitating Karen Tesheira’s storming of Basdeo Panday’s funeral, placed third.

To protest against each individual having to pay a registration fee in San Fernando, they only competed in the band category and won.

The band toasted its 2024 success with a small gathering at Montano’s home on August 2.

Convenor of the San Fernando Carnival Committee Dawad Phillip attended on behalf of mayor Robert Parris.

Phillip said, “Ole mas is my passion, and this year, I personally made a decision to revisit the prize structure in terms of how ole mas is treated.

“Modern mas, which is reflective of T-shirts, water and mud, was getting way more than ole mas, although there is no authenticity to that.

“Ole mas is about the true traditions of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival and history. Congratulations on keeping that alive.”

Thanking him, Montano said, “We don’t play for ourselves, we play for the entire TT.”

Originally from Maracas, St Joseph, Montano shared his passion for ole mas from an early age.

“I used to play ole mas in the East. We used to go clubbing at the Arima Tennis Court, Tranquillity Tennis Court, Yacht Club, Port of Spain, Chinese Association, West Indian Club, then Petrotrin. It was simply fun. We need to revive this art form in all of these places that are still existing today.

“I have a bunch of friends who support me, and at any given time we have 12-15 members ready and willing to play.”

While the tradition is not as buoyant as he would like, Montano boasted that his band has personally experienced growth and fame.

“Every year we compete in the Bocas Lit Fest ole mas competition, where we come up against writers, UWI graduates, different audiences, and we have been winning. As a matter of fact, we have been winning for the past five years.”

He boasted that in the past when his group had to call different organisations to get a spot in their event, “now they are the ones calling us to find out if we would be interested in playing at their special occasions.”

Recently, he said, the Carnival Museum invited his band to participate in an event it is hosting at City Hall, Port of Spain in September.

The TT Carnival Museum (TTCM) was created and incorporated in March 2021 through the TT Carnival Bands Association (TTCBA) and the Carnival Institute of TT (CITT).

“We are ready. We are so enthusiastic about this ole mas, we don’t want it to die.

“When you talk about Carnival being the greatest show on earth, it is the picong, that humorous exchange of friendly insults, heckling and mocking politicians, without really being rude, that makes it the way it is.

“Without this, TT Carnival would have lost some meaning.”