01.14.2008
REKLAMO PARA SA PAGBABAGO
NO SILLY NONSENSE. NO OVER-THE-TOP DRAMA. IT’S ALL ABOUT ORDINARY EXPERIENCES, ORDINARY INDIVIDUALS ENCOUNTER EVERY DAY – JUST ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO COMPLAIN AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT. INDIE BAND REKLAMO VENTS OUT ITS GRIEVANCES AND HOPES FOR A POSITIVE CHANGE.
Do you think Pinoy bands nowadays are all identical -- everyone feeling sorry for their own unrequited love, crying their hearts out for the one that got away, or just utterly jaded and blue? Do you feel that they have exploited the theme of romantic love and have escalated the subject of solitude to a whole, new, sorry level? Are you afraid that the Philippine rock scene now had become too monotonous and hopelessly emo for your taste? Hold that generalization. Making waves and heaping rave remarks for their blatant and no-frills way of tackling life’s everyday issues is Reklamo, a group dedicated to vent out frustrations and disgust towards anything and everything in the form of music. This three-piece band composed of LC de Leon on guitar and vocals, Mig Dayanghirang on bass, and Ciro de Leon on drums, is basically rock with a few twists and turns cornering certain areas like funk, jazz, and country, mixing them altogether, and ultimately creating their own sound.
However, Reklamo isn’t just rock and roll. “We’re not selling music alone. We are not just a band; what we have is an idea,” passionately declares LC, “‘B!+(# for change,’ that’s our mantra!” It was a call that has somehow been heeded, as the group was recently given the “In The Raw” artist of the year honor at the 2007 NU107 Rock Awards. “It’s just wonderful (being recognized). It was a great deal for us,” evoked the vocalist.
Not only that, Reklamo has likewise been chosen to represent the country in the World Battle of the Bands (WBOB) to be held in Singapore this year. Everyone in the group agrees that winning in the Philippine leg of the said musical competition is one of their best accomplishments and one of the most unforgettable experiences so far. LC recounts, “Imagine the process we had to go through because there was votation involved eh. We had to campaign on our own. Every gig meron kaming banner na ang ipinansulat, pentel pen lang. We had a jar, tapos dun sila naghulog ng mga barya. Yun ang ginamit namin for the text votes. We had to think of ways to generate funds.” Thankfully, everything turned out well for them, seeing that joining the WBOB spurred awareness for their songs.
A HAYSTACK OF GRIEVANCES
Ang hilig ko kasing magreklamo eh,” quips LC as he tries to explain how he came up with the band’s name. “I wanted something that’s easy to remember. Eh ang tawag naman sa akin ‘reklamador,’ so I decided to just use it.” The trio was formed in early 2007, when LC dug up old notes that were actual criticisms snared on paper about his uncle Pat who does nothing with his life. LC then turned his little grumbles into a song, which eventually became their first single, Pat’s Problem. “Dun ko na-realize na puwede palang lyrics ‘to; just straightforward complaints. You can’t get any purer than that. I want it straight eh. I want it true – as simple and as plain as possible,” he continues. Realizing the natural side of influence and honest-to-goodness truth of rants, he wrote more songs on the context of his personal and social objections. “Also, that was the time na sawa na rin ako (sa mga naririnig ko). I’m a music lover. I love watching local bands. Pero dumating na sa point na pare-pareho na (yung mga banda) for me. And I still believe that some people are hungry for something new, some sort of a breakaway from the trend that has governed the scene,” LC describes. It was then that he felt the need for him to form his own band.
Reklamo’s line-up currently consists of only three members – siblings LC and Ciro and their buddy Mig, and they have no intentions of getting a fourth one since they want to maintain the group’s core. Moreover, to really concentrate on the band, all of them quit their jobs: LC used to be an editor-in-chief for a magazine; Ciro used to work for a website; and Mig used to be an English teacher and was involved in their family business.
COMPLAINING AND COMPOSING FOR A CAUSE
LC usually composes the group’s songs inspired by their own day-to-day experiences. He furthers, “Yung second single naming 3 for 100, nabuo yan kasi mahilig kaming bumili ng mga 3 for 100 na damit, tapos ang dali namang mabutas. We’re also adamant about upholding human rights. It’s not even about politics eh; just basic things like consumer rights, things that people tend to overlook. Kung walang magrereklamo, walang magbabago.”
Also, aside from Pat’s Problem, their song Katas ni Ungas is about another one of his uncles, who collects dogs and just locks them in a cage until the course of their lives. “Ang hilig niyang kumuha ng mga pure breed na aso, tapos after a while, magsasawa, pababayaan na lang niya. Ang dami ring ganyang Pinoy, di ba? So gumawa kami ng kanta. And we also thought of doing a campaign about it,” LC details. Reklamo band manager Amy Rosalyn lays out their plans. “Of course we all want do something for a cause, as well. One common thing among us is we are passionate about dogs. And we plan to raise funds and coordinate with other companies or a vet clinic to help save those dogs that aren’t being taken care of. And hopefully, we’d be able to build a foundation or something bigger.”
Even in the music industry, Reklamo also has a number of rants to reveal. Amy delves into this deeper: “Kunyari, porket artista, puwede nang maging musikero. Minsan kasi sumisikat lang dahil sa commercial hype eh. Just because may looks, okay na? Talent should be the main thing. Minsan naman, talent and looks are there, pero yung drive nila, wala dun. They’re just there for the fame. So that’s another thing we’re trying to change. It’s supposed to be more intelligent and influential than that.”
Idealistic as they may seem, Reklamo admits they are not perfect, either. “We also have a lot of shortcomings, and we want to improve ourselves,” confesses LC, “We never rest on our laurels. Hindi kami nagiging kampante. If we did something good, we try to top it with something twice or thrice better.”
WARM WELCOME
The audiences’ response and support for the group have been rousing so far. They’ve had the chance to play at various television and radio shows, events, and venues – and yes, schools included. And much to their surprise, parents and youngsters alike appreciate their songs. “At first, I was actually worried that only a certain group of people with a certain level of maturity would be keen on their music. But I noticed that they are not a niche market band. Their supporters come from different crowds, different ages. Even little girls scream for them and bop to their sound,” says Amy. “I guess people can very much relate to our music or to the message of our songs,” concurs LC.
According to them, the people usually compare Reklamo to Primus, which apparently has a big influence on the three members, as well. Others also assert that listening to the group is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin and Jimi Hendrix, too. “In our gigs, we also do covers, especially from the 70’s. But we try to make it our own. And while it’s nice to be compared with such talented acts like them, ultimately, we hope to be able to establish our own kind of music. Gusto ko may Reklamo genre! That would be a dream-come-true.”
OUT TO CONQUER MORE
2007 was undeniably remarkable for Reklamo. However, 2008 appears to be bigger and better. The trio’s much-anticipated debut album will finally be made available. “We’re very excited about it,” LC shares. “Probably, there will be 12 tracks, all original compositions. As of now, we’re still thinking of how to market the album, though. We plan to release it during the first quarter of the year.” And although the band isn’t signed under any label, they guarantee that this won’t be a hindrance for them to release their CD. “It’s actually to our advantage. We get to take our time, work without restraints, and be involved in every part of the album’s production,” justifies Amy.
For now, Reklamo vows to continue campaigning for their ideologies. “Sana lumaki pa ang market namin. (We hope) that more people would take our brand of music, and be influenced by it. We hope more people would jump into our cause,” pray LC, Mig, and Ciro. They also wish to further develop their skills and get better in doing their craft as musicians. Certainly more songs and videos, and perhaps a film about the band are likewise in store for their fellow advocates for change. Looking forward, Reklamo has one essential goal to pursue: to go international. “In the Philippines, there’s so much to complain about, and I think there’s more to complain about outside the country. And as long as there’s something to complain about, we’re there,” LC assures.
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