Ang Huling El Bimbo

What happens when the songs of one of your favorite band are turned into a musical?

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I never thought that the songs of The Eraserheads can make me cry my heart out. I never thought those songs can be sang in another way that can pierce right within your very core.

Matagal na akong hindi nagba-blog or nagsusulat for that matter. It has been a long time since I last shared my thoughts in the world wide web. Matagal nang inamag sa baul ang mga blogsites ko and, yes, even this “new” one.

But watching Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical made me get up and open my computer and write once again. Kailangan kong isulat ito bago mawala sa isip ko. Kailangan ko lang isiwalat ito. I just need to do this.

The Repertoire

Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical is an original Filipino musical play written by Dingdong Novenario. It was directed and choreographed by Dexter Santos and produced by Resorts World Manila and Full House Theater Company.

The musical was first staged in September of 2018 which, according to some articles, have been tweaked in some parts. Changes in the cast members are also made after several reruns of the musical that has already become a hit.

Hindi ko napanood iyong original run ng musical and to be honest, sa YouTube ko lang ito pinanood because ABS-CBN, together with the show’s producers, have decided to stream the musical free through Facebook and YouTube for a limited time only.

Image Source: https://ent.abs-cbn.com/articles-news

Yes, hindi ito unli. The show will be available online for 48 hours which started midnight of May 8 until May 9, 2020. Kaya sa mga hindi nakakapanood, catch it while you still can. This is a fundraiser for ABS-CBN’s Pantawid Kapamilya program that provides help for our frontliners and to our fellow kapamilya who were going through a difficult time because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You may want to donate a little amount na maluwag sa puso mo at iyong kaya ng bulsa mo bilang tulong na rin sa mga nangangailangan nating mga kababayan. Details of how you can donate are indicated within the online stream. You can do online bank transfers and other online channels.

Para sa mga Eraserheads Fans

If you have a love for theatre and stage plays and musical and a big fan of the Eraserheads, then this is the musical for you.

Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical features the great songs of the phenomenal 90's Pinoy rockband, The Eraserheads. It features some of their most popular hits at kung die-hard fan ka talaga na tipong buong album ay sinusulit mo ang mga kanta nila, you might hear even those cuts na hindi sumikat.

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Pero alam ko. Para sa isang die-hard fan, lahat ng kanta nila, sikat!

Sino ba ang Eraserheads?

Saang kweba ka ba nakatira at hindi mo sila kilala?

Maliban na lang kung kapapanganak mo pa lang nung 90s or ngayon ka pa lang ipinanganak, every 90's kid would know who this four-man band is.

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Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro, and Buddy Zabala started out as an alternative rock band singing their composition during the UP Fair and small gigs around the campus. Years later, their songs became the anthem of every student and every teenager who have suffered heartbreaks, frustrations, failing an exam or even just finding their purpose in life.

Kung totoong E-heads fan ka, alam mong ang bawat kanta nila ay may kwento at punumpuno ng kahulugan. Kwento ito ng buhay mo or ng pinakatago-tago mong damdamin.

Kaya nga siguro bumenta ang mga kanta sa ating lahat. Dahil at one point or another napa-”O Diyos ko!” at “‘T******a!” din tayo.

The E-heads' songs were honest and brave to express what they truly feel. Iyong iba nga naging kontrobersyal pa at minsan pang naging debate sa kongreso.

The song Ang Huling El Bimbo itself, which is the title song of the musical, tells the tale of a young man who fell in love with a girl from his childhood. A tale of love that was expressed with innocence, love, sensuality, which turned darker and sadder as it ends.

Kung iisipin, baka eto ang kwento ng musical. Iyon din ang inisip ko noong una.

Baka kwento ito ng babaeng kamukha ni Paraluman. But I was amazed at how the creators of the musical was able to weave an even bigger story than the pretty girl mentioned in the song. 

Mas malaki, mas buhay at mas makatotohanang kwento ang nabuo gamit ang pinagtahi-tahing kanta ng E-heads. Ang bawat kantang kung tutuusin ay may iba’t ibang tema at kwento ay nahimay at naihiblang buong buo sa bawat karakter ng musical.

Kung paano? Hindi ko rin alam.

I never imagined E-heads song being so sad and so full of soul. I never thought that those songs can be sang in a way that will ignite new emotions.

Alam ko iyong kanta by heart. Saulado ko ang mga lyrics. At maraming beses na sinabayan ko ito sa maraming pagkakataong narinig ko itong tugtugin sa mga bandfest at gigs.

But somehow sa musical na ito, I just kept silent.

I attempted to sing but didn’t. Not just because I was bawling in tears, but because I just wanted to listen. I just wanted to hear how these songs are opening up thoughts and feelings in me in a way it never did before.

E-heads fan ako, eh. Alam ko ang kwento ng kantang to! Alam ko ang ibig nilang sabihin when they sang it. Naramdaman ko iyon sa maraming taon ng pakikinig ko sa mga cassette tapes nila.

Pero pwede pala itong maging musical?

Pwede pala itong magkwento ng isang kwentong makakarelate ako. Naikwento na nito ang buhay ko noon.

Noong college years ko. Noong bata pa ako at matapang. Noong punumpuno pa ako ng pangarap. Noong lahat ng energy ko ay nakatuon sa kung paano ko maaabot ang mga pangarap na iyon.

Pero ngayong iba ang kumakanta...ngayong iba ang areglo at iba ang instrumento...ikinukwento nitong muli ang buhay ko.

Ngayon na nalipasan na ako ng panahon at tumanda na ng maraming taon. Ngayon na ang pangarap ko dati ay binangga na nang mapait na realidad ng buhay. Ngayon na halos ubos na ang energy ko dahil halos dalawang buwan na akong nakakulong sa bahay dahil sa quarantine.

Just Call her Joy

Ano nga ba ang kwento ng musical? Kwento nga ba ito ng babaeng kamukha ni Paraluman?

The musical focuses its story between three young men: Hector, Anthony, and Emman, who came from different social statuses in life and was united by one goal...to achieve their dreams.

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The typical 90s teens na nakapasa sa isang unibersidad at nag-aral. Sabay sabay silang binago ng mga karanasan at kaalamang natutunan nila sa eskwelahan. At dahil din doon nabuo ang isang magandang samahan.

And there was Joy. Isang babaeng mula sa laylayan ng lipunan who only has a small dream in her life. Iyon ay ang makakita ng taong magmamahal sa kanya. She was full of hope, energy and positivity. Just like her name, she is filled with joy which is evident in her smile and bright eyes.

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She fell in love and found friendship with the three until tragedy strikes. The four friends suddenly fell apart and became estranged. Years later, they grew into adults who have already achieved their dreams and were living separate lives. Joy was the most estranged one and her life turned into the darker side as fate seemed to never have tilted towards her favor.

I will not spoil it anymore for those who still haven’t watched it. Basta kwento ito ng buhay mo at buhay ko. Nang kapaligiran natin ngayon.

Brings Back Memories

The first act of the show will bring you back down to memory lane. Nostalgia hits me upon hearing E-heads tunes combined with those ripped jeans, plaid shirts, and 90s pop culture references. Here are some of my favorite scenes:

• Minsan. The song itself already has the sentimental vibe. But the scenes and the banter somehow summarized my college days.It brought me back to the very first day I met my own set of college barkada. Iyong mga pinagdaanan namin noong college. At kung ano na kami ngayon. It was almost 20 years ago. Lakas makatanda ng feeling.

  

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• ROTC. The scene was hilarious. The comedic timing of the actors’ banters are so witty and well orchestrated. It also introduces the antagonist in a subtle tone and humanizes him before he turns totally evil.

  

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• Ligaya. Joy’s introduction to the story was on point as the actress who played the role sings the song where her name was based. The actress personified Joy just as what her name means. Full of joy.
  
• Joyride. The scene is one of the major turning point of the story. Iyong typical graduation getaway na feeling mo malaya ka na. At siyempre doon sa paboritong getaway place ng mga batang 90s -- 0verlooking sa Antipolo!
  
  Kudos to the production and stage design team. Mahirap i-achieve ang treatment sa eksenang ito. To have an almost real car onstage, turn it for 360 degrees, with millions of stars as background and a dazzle of smoke combined with the play of lights, it was so surreal and unbelievable. Para kang nanonood ng pelikula or MTV pero live show iyon at walang computer generated effects maliban na lang sa LED backdrop. And the actors were fantastic. Ang galing ng harmony ng boses at ang expression ng mukha nila. They made the Alapaap feel so real. Ang malupet dun, inulit pa nila ang eksena sa bandang huli with a different treatment. Lupet talaga.
  
• Spoliarium. That part where the adult and young characters were in one scene singing this song showcasing rage. The rage of the adult characters as they realize that they can never escape the past no matter how they try. The rage of the young version as they deal with the confusion and trauma of a tragedy that struck them during that time. Both scenes were essential to define and connect the character from what they were and what they have become.

Pap-parap...pap-pa-rap-pa

There is no better way to share my thoughts about this musical show than this. Back to how I used to be during those times. Back to what I dream to do...write.

Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical will show you how a pure, gentle heart can bleed profusely. It will show you how pain will turn it darker, harder, and bitter.

Ipapakita nito sa iyo ang realidad ng buhay na pwedeng baguhin ka in to the best and the worst version of yourself. That the choices we make no matter how big or small will definitely make a difference in your life and the life of people around you.

It will show you that dreams do come true. Masarap mangarap at lalong hindi masamang pagsikapan mong maabot ang pangarap mo. Pero kung paano mo ito aabutin, iyon ang mahalaga. Kapag naabot mo na ito minsan mapapatanong ka, paano na?

Then you will realize that while you were achieving your dreams, merong kang mga bagay at taong na-overlook. Those that really matter. Those that will really bring you true happiness.

Kaya tuloy minsan pakiramdam mo, naabot mo nga ang pangarap mo pero bakit parang may kulang? It shows us how we can be completely happy and that is to be true to ourselves, accept our failure, and look back along the way to the people who became part of your journey.

Huwag kang matakot na matulog mag-isa. Huwag kang matakot umibig at lumuha. Huwag kang matakot magmukhang tanga. Kasama mo naman Siya.

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