Saturday, November 05, 2005
Libre: Cebu invasion
By Mel Libre
Seriously Now
It was in the early ‘70s that I took an interest in the creative works of Cebu’s modern musicians. Odds & Ends, composed of Gabe Escano, Ralph Ding and composer Alex Lim (later joined by guitarist Teddy Vano, now deceased), took a path that only few musicians did at that time-–record original English compositions that found its way into mainstream radio and Philippine television.
With OPM yet to be born, Odds & Ends brought about a movement among Cebu-based musicians to create their own sounds inspired by their own idols at that time-– Tony & Cacal Blanco (ala Carpenters), Mary Ellen Goyanco (ala Joan Baez and Barbra Streisand), Image & Rhymes (ala America), Ching de la Serna (ala Cat Stevens).
More than thirty years after Odds & Ends, I still follow and support the original works of Cebu musicians. Today, we come to witness the Cebu Invasion (shades of the British Invasion) in the mainstream pop music scene in the Philippines.
The process started in the early ‘90s with Johnny Kawa’s New Cebu Music at Y101. One band formed as the New Cebu Music was on its twilight years was The End. This band, led by Ian Zafra, eventually became Sheila & The Insects (SATI).
As international acts rediscovered New Wave music, SATI has become a sort of a local demigod. For the month of October, it got repetitive plugging on MTV Philippines as local artist of the month. It was a historic moment for Cebu musicians. Sadly, local radio stations didn’t give a damn.
The victory of Urbandub in the NU Rock Awards for the past two years is one for the records, yet only a few stations play its great songs. And who can deny the impact of Jr. Kilat with its “Ako si M-16” and the appearance of frontman Budoy with the legendary Pepe Smith of the Juan de la Cruz Band in a reggae-revival of “Himig Natin”?
Last year, the toast of the rap nation was Dice & K-9. Even with Orange & Lemons gaining instant success with “Pinoy Ako,” the Cebu-band Cueshe has made its mark with two successive hits.
Waiting in the wings are Cattski, Konigs, Kadangyan, Smooth Friction and Hardwood, among others. And needing to be rediscovered are Manny Lapingcao and Rolly Wagas who have never given up their folk music roots.
What makes today’s Cebu Invasion remarkable is that there is no definite description on the music. It’s a bit of everything from new wave, rock, pop, reggae, folk and ethnic. Why that is so is because nobody dictates our artists. They produce songs out of genuine artistry sans commercialism.
Even without much radio support and with the total lack of attention from the local government, our original musicians have remained true to their calling. And as light can never be hidden, Cebu music cannot be denied to the ears of Filipinos and the world.
(November 5, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
