IT WAS 1991 at the Apo View's Penec bar. At that time, the Philippine Basketball Association or PBA had an out-of-town game in Davao City featuring the Ginebra San Miguel team.

After the game, some of the players, which included legendary Robert Jaworski, went to Penec Bar to unwind.

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The playing-coach noticed the large, hulking piano player and blurted out, "Bakit naglalaro yan ng piano? Dapat sa kanya magbasketbal, bumaba ka na dyan," he said.

That big guy named Jay Durias didn't mind Big J's friendly taunt.

In a basketball-crazy country where every tall, big boy is urged to play and pursue the sport, he would stay on his passion that is playing and making music later he would carve out a name for him and his band.

For 17 years, South Border began as a Davao-based pop jazz band, with gigs at Penec Bar at the Apo View Hotel.

Jay Durias was just 16 when he formed the band along with Tata Balane (bass), Ric Junasa (sax) and Paul Benitez (drums).

He said that during that time in the early 1990s there was no R&B band yet.

It began to venture into R&B when vocalist Brix Ferraris came on board and according to Jay; it was a major shift for him since he was into jazz.

The band subsequently went to Manila and in 1996 came into prominence with the release of their debut album which included the year's number 1 hit song Kahit Kailan. And the rest is perhaps history.

South Border became the country's top pop R&B band.

I got a chance to talk to South Border's Jay Durias and ask him updates about the band.

As to benefit the countless of fans in the provinces who have been wondering what has happened to South Border.

Jay says, the band has evolved, describing it as "aging gracefully".

Despite the numerous line-up changes Jay says one thing remains constant- whoever the members are, the band consistently has come out doing its best. Jay says he has been very thankful to its members the past and the present.

His appreciation defined in the phrase "once a South Border, always a South Border," which he posted in his Facebook shoutout.

"It's all about music," Jay tells me."It's been 16 to 17 years we feel so blessed that people still listened to our music,"

As for the current South Border, Jay says that this period is critical for the band as they are making new songs for their upcoming album.

The band is also busy making rounds in Manila's performing circuit this time with a new line-up.

Aside from Jay Durias who does keyboard and vocals along with original member Ric Junasa who does tenor saxophone, the new band members include Marlowe Mata- bass guitar and vocals, Benjie Mendez- drums and vocals, Rancis De Leon- alto saxophone, Kell Gatdula- lead vocals and Mackie Ricafort- guitars and vocals.