Do you know what it feels like to do something you’ve been longing to do? I’ve been in a state of madness this year because I received a lot of gifts from Him and those things were the one that even in my wildest dreams I won’t be doing. Ecstatic, I am!

I’m a big fan of Rivermaya. I completed their albums, half of them carefully downloaded from the internet (full albums). Thankfully, when I had enough money to buy CDs, I had the chance to buy all their albums from ‘Between Stars and Waves’ to present (except the recent ‘Bagong Liwanag’). The idolism for this band continued even when they decided to go in separate ways and later on, old members formed a new group which now called ‘Bamboo the band’ while the others continued the legacy of Rivermaya. Yes, I’m bald for a very long time but Bamboo Maňalac was not the reason why I decided to become one.

Before, I used to attend the band’s album launching gigs to get a fresh copy of their album and get it signed by the members. I even had a chance to have a photo with the band. During those days, I already had a band and those instances made me dream of sharing a stage with them (and the other is with PhilHarmonic Orchestra). Noypi and Mr. Clay were the most used up songs for me because these were our ‘pondos’ in Pablikschul (my band in Philippines).

When I left the Philippines, I told myself that one of the things I will surely miss will be the OPM scene.

Now as for myself, when I left a band here in SG, I was idle for 1 week. And then, another week. And then, after that, Popoy became the centrefold of my music life here in Singapore.

After some sessions, Kapopoy Bergs broke the news – we’ll front act for Bamboo. Ecstatic, that’s what I felt. My first gig with them, God knows how thankful I am.

After weeks of practices, the big day came. Anxious… I am. What if the crowd won’t like us? What if they overpowered our amplifiers with their roaring yell “Bamboo! Bamboo!”. ‘E pano takot ka sa sarili mong multo…’ are the exact phrases I kept on telling to myself. ‘Isa ka kasi dun sa mga gumagawa ng ganun kapag nasa crowd ka’. Thankfully, I was able to calm myself. Acceptance – just play hard and sing hard, that’s all I wanted, that made me calm.

We’re on the band area at the Arena the whole time we’re waiting for our turn, watching other performers do the front-acting for Bamboo. I kept on observing the audience. Behave, they were! So I kept on telling myself, ‘walang groupie, ayus!’. Deep breath, then it’s our time to go to the backstage. Before our turn, candidates of Ms. Earth Singapore were presented. Partially, the crowd went wild. Some were trying to draw some attention so that they can have a chance to be with the ladies. After that, now it’s our turn.

When we’re about to start, people started to rush in front of the stage, partially wilder that before. There was supposedly a barrier there but in a blink of an eye, the front location was crowded by a lot of people. Maybe, we got their attention when I mentioned we prepared songs from Wolfgang, Razorback and Metallica.

Bass lines started. It was ‘Mata ng Diyos’ from Wolfgang. Pretty smooth in the beginning, but as expected, my consistency to sing it powerfully failed. Though, it’s minor, but still a failure. Hehe. ‘Payaso‘ by Razorback was next. Same spirit, same vibes. I really love what I’m seeing. The crowd is with us, headbanging, raising hands with rock on sign, shouting and singing. It’s like the good old days… when rock and roll rules the OPM scene. I love the way people responded to ‘Weightless’ by Wolfgang. And so with our last song, ‘King Nothing’ from Metallica.

I’m a wacko performer; I perform the way I want to. I have a slight touch of stage fright, and being wacko is my way not to mess up. I’ve been doing it before, and I did the same for Popoy. But that was the first time I really felt what a performance should be – connection to the audience. I felt the reception was good, and many affirmed to that even after the gig.

The feeling was great, really great. After our turn, I seated in a table at the backstage, catching up my breath, thinking about the whole thing and smiling while thanking the Lord for a very good night. Bandmates giving a ‘tap on my shoulder’ added up to my reasons to smile. And I kept on smiling. It’s my first time to play music with them. I even wished that this won’t be the last time that we will be given the opportunity to be ecstatic again. And so, I’ll keep on wishing.

We waited for the Bamboo; it’s one of the perks for having an access to backstage. When they came, we immediately grabbed our digicams and tried to have a photo with the band members. I’ve seen them and met them before, and I know that they’re not snob just like what other impressed them to be nor had this angst, rocker attitude. Bamboo himself is even the most eager to have a photo with the fans.

I’ve watched them a lot of times, even the 3 consecutive years that they performed here in Singapore. But even if I heard their songs a hundred times, watching them live still gives a fresh look of what they can offer as one of the mainstream performers of Philippines music industry. I forgot their whole line-up that night, but it was blast, a very good night. With Bamboo, every gig is just like the first and with full of surprises. Awesome! Simply awesome!

That night was the happiest day of my music life. It surpassed my moments of completing 2 songs for all Banda Fantastica series that I’ve written, performed and were rated top-notched. Maybe because it’s Bamboo, everyone’s idol; maybe because it was a dream that became a reality; or maybe because the chance of having us to share the stage with them is a very rare opportunity and God allowed that to happen to us. For sure, the latter one is true.

It’s been a couple of weeks when we did the front-act for Bamboo. I, personally, am really happy when people who watched the band performed keep telling us that we did a great job. Until now, people are still sending messages to us about the gig, sending their kudos for the band. Hearing people say ‘sya ung nagfront act sa Bamboo’ in a public place is sometimes flattering but most of the times, causes me some goosebumps and be wary. Nevertheless, times like these, that we’re getting regards from people who appreciate us, will be the best way to keep our feet on the ground and enkindle the value of gratefulness and humility.

Popoy, becoming your new front man gave me a lot of anxieties and pressures at first coz I know prior to me, you got someone who’s better in many ways. Or maybe I’m just thinking that sometimes we can’t replace the original one. I even saw the tight brotherhood you all have inside the group when I first came in – impressive, I must say. And I may not be vocal about it, but as I have mentioned before we stepped up on stage, deep within me is the feeling of gratitude towards the band, for accepting me to be part of the group and for the opportunity to appreciate music with all of you guys. Thanks! More to come…

I wish I can thank every people who sent us messages of congratulations and kudos. Thank you very much for the support, for appreciating every little thing we’re trying to do and for giving us a ‘tap on our shoulders’ for a job well done. Thank You very much for those who attended the gig and witness the rare opportunity given to us to be with our idol and share the same stage with them. Please continue to pray for us so that we will be guided correctly by Him thru right values and not be troubled by fame (if I am to quote that). Please continue supporting us.

Bamboo the band, you rock!

PinoySunday organizers, you may all have destructors right now, but seeing the brighter side of everything, I am one of those people who keeps on thanking you for bringing OPM scene here in Singapore. Thank you for giving us the chance to perform with Bamboo. Rest assured, my support will be with you all the way.

Filsg, thanks for featuring PoPoY in your web site.

Of course, to our greatest Audience whom we should please. Thank you Father for that big blessing, for the great gift of music and for the guidance. Thank you for hearing our heart’s desires. Amidst the brokenness we may each have in our lives, thru this we learn to see the good side of things and focus more on what we can do to glorify You. You rock, Father! You rock! \m/

For all of these, may God be praised!