The Smokey Mountain 2020 Reunion
May school performance ang klase niyo. What song will you perform? Paraiso? Better World? Or The Coconut Nut?
In the aftermath of watching Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical which I reviewed in my previous post, I chanced upon another 90’s nostalgic performance on YouTube.
Their voices blended in harmony and reeks of emotion fitted in our current situation. Though their songs were released several decades ago, every word and every tune still hits a chord in a soul weary and tired of being quarantined.
The singing quartet known as the Smokey Mountain was formed in 1989 by musical director, composer, and National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. The band’s name was based on the infamous landfill in Manila with the same name.
The term Smokey Mountain was coined by those living around that large landfill in Tondo, Manila. Metric tons of garbage collected from thousands of households and establishments in Metro Manila were dumped in the landfill forming a mountainous pile of stinking trash.
The decomposing garbage produced a flammable substance which often caused fires and resulted to deaths of scavengers rummaging the giant trash mountain for hope of finding any items they could sell or, if they are lucky enough, food that they can still turn into “pagpag”
The same fires cause the mountain to emit smoke that can be seen as far as the rest of Manila. If a wind blows towards its direction, the stench of smoke and garbage wafts to nearby barangays posing possible health hazard to people in the area.
In 1995, the landfill was closed and it was transferred to what we now know as Payatas in Quezon City.
Inspired by the tales of poverty of people scavenging and living in the giant pile of trash, the group Smokey Mountain was formed to sing and perform songs with social relevance, environmental advocacy and patriotic theme.
The first batch consisted of Tony Lambino, James Coronel, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Geneva Cruz. Their first hit was the Kailan, a love song that tells of innocent, unrequited love that remains hopeful of being someday reciprocated. In short, hugot!
Yes, sila po ang original na kumanta nito. Bago mauso ang hugot ng mga kabataang millennial, nauna nang binirit ni Geneva ang national anthem ninyong lahat. Fans of Smokey Mountain could attest that no matter how many times this song was sung in a different version and by a different artist, nothing beats the original.
At meron ding itong boy version. Point of view naman ng lalaki. This was sung by the second batch of the quartet which consisted of James Coronel, Chedi Vergara, Shar Santos, and Jayson Angangan.
Smokey Mountain catapulted the solo careers for most of its members. Tony Lambino became more popular in Ang TV and a few movies. Jeffrey Hidalgo also became a hitmaker as well performing in concerts and musical variety shows. He also tried acting as the ever reliable best friends of antagonist in some movies.
And of course, Geneva Cruz, from the famous Cruz clan became one of the 90’s multi-talented celebrity casted in movies, teleseryes, variety shows, and endorsing big brands.
Among their greatest hits were the songs: The Coconut Nut, Mama, Paraiso, Better World, Kahit Habang Buhay, and Can This Be Love?
Kung naalala niyo Sarah Geronimo sang a cover of the song Can This Be Love? which is the soundtrack of a hit movie with the same title and starred by Hero Angeles and Sandara Park released in 2005. Ten years after the group disbanded in 1995.
Marami tayong nalungkot nang mag-disband sila noon. Nasa peak kasi sila ng kasikatan at panay rin ang hakot ng awards and panalo sa mga competitions both in the Philippines and abroad.
Members pursued solo projects in and out of show business. Some went into finishing degrees and entered public service. Some still remained within the industry but have grown to be directors and producers in their own right.
The group have already reunited thrice to perform for a cause. The most recent one was spearheaded by their own founder, Ryan Cayabyab, in an online fundraising event called Bayanihan Musikahin. Performing their hits: The Coconut Nut, Better World, and Paraiso, the reunion performance featured both the first and second batch members.
The performance aims to provide entertainment and motivation to people quarantined in the comforts of their homes to share their blessings to those who are less fortunate and extremely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was in awe as I watched their video over and over again. The group aged like fine wine. Tumanda man ang mga itsura, nag-mature man ang mga boses, pero yung brilliance, yung power, andun pa rin. It brought me back to my childhood days. At the back of my mind, I can still picture them wearing those ripped and ragged clothes. Iyong mga kakaibang hairstyles and accessories nila.
Hearing their songs now that I am older made a significant difference. Iba na iyong emosyon. Iba na iyong pakiramdam na kaakibat. Kapag marami ka na palang napagdaanan buhay, taong nakasalamuha, at mga lugar na kita, hindi mo mapipigilang mapaluha dahil kahit ilang dekada na ang lumipas, tagos pa rin sa puso ang bawat lyrics ng mga kanta nila.
Ramdam mo rin sa pagkanta nila iyong mga emosyon na mas may pinaghuhugutan na. Mas may pinanggagalingan na dahil kagaya ko, marahil ay nagdaan na rin sila sa maraming karanasang mas lalong tumatatak habang kinakanta nila ito.
Ryan Cayabyab is indeed a genius to have composed timeless masterpieces that continue to move, inspire, motivate, and comfort souls that are restless, hopeless and full of uncertainty.
Even after the smoke clears and the dust settles, the powerful singing prowess of the Smokey Mountain will always remind us of a bright tomorrow full of love, full of hope, full of joy. They will always remind us that this tired and hungry land could still expect some truth, and hope and respect from the rest of the world.
We are gonna love you people of the world. We will all respect you people of the world. This will be a better world.
 |
| Image Source: https://www.facebook.com/Smokey-Mountain-456082024469193/ |
In the aftermath of watching Ang Huling El Bimbo The Musical which I reviewed in my previous post, I chanced upon another 90’s nostalgic performance on YouTube.
Their voices blended in harmony and reeks of emotion fitted in our current situation. Though their songs were released several decades ago, every word and every tune still hits a chord in a soul weary and tired of being quarantined.
Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
The singing quartet known as the Smokey Mountain was formed in 1989 by musical director, composer, and National Artist for Music Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. The band’s name was based on the infamous landfill in Manila with the same name.
 |
| Image Source: https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/life/11/09/110918-smokey-mountain.jpg |
The term Smokey Mountain was coined by those living around that large landfill in Tondo, Manila. Metric tons of garbage collected from thousands of households and establishments in Metro Manila were dumped in the landfill forming a mountainous pile of stinking trash.
 |
| Image Source: https://stevepetchchurchleaderdotcom.files.wordpress.com |
The decomposing garbage produced a flammable substance which often caused fires and resulted to deaths of scavengers rummaging the giant trash mountain for hope of finding any items they could sell or, if they are lucky enough, food that they can still turn into “pagpag”
The same fires cause the mountain to emit smoke that can be seen as far as the rest of Manila. If a wind blows towards its direction, the stench of smoke and garbage wafts to nearby barangays posing possible health hazard to people in the area.
In 1995, the landfill was closed and it was transferred to what we now know as Payatas in Quezon City.
Smokin’ and Burnin’
Inspired by the tales of poverty of people scavenging and living in the giant pile of trash, the group Smokey Mountain was formed to sing and perform songs with social relevance, environmental advocacy and patriotic theme.
 |
| Image Source: https://aphrodite.gmanetwork.com |
The first batch consisted of Tony Lambino, James Coronel, Jeffrey Hidalgo, and Geneva Cruz. Their first hit was the Kailan, a love song that tells of innocent, unrequited love that remains hopeful of being someday reciprocated. In short, hugot!
Yes, sila po ang original na kumanta nito. Bago mauso ang hugot ng mga kabataang millennial, nauna nang binirit ni Geneva ang national anthem ninyong lahat. Fans of Smokey Mountain could attest that no matter how many times this song was sung in a different version and by a different artist, nothing beats the original.
At meron ding itong boy version. Point of view naman ng lalaki. This was sung by the second batch of the quartet which consisted of James Coronel, Chedi Vergara, Shar Santos, and Jayson Angangan.
Smokey Mountain catapulted the solo careers for most of its members. Tony Lambino became more popular in Ang TV and a few movies. Jeffrey Hidalgo also became a hitmaker as well performing in concerts and musical variety shows. He also tried acting as the ever reliable best friends of antagonist in some movies.
 |
| Image Source: https://livedoor.blogimg.jp/wildday/imgs/a/4/a4acfce1.jpg |
And of course, Geneva Cruz, from the famous Cruz clan became one of the 90’s multi-talented celebrity casted in movies, teleseryes, variety shows, and endorsing big brands.
Among their greatest hits were the songs: The Coconut Nut, Mama, Paraiso, Better World, Kahit Habang Buhay, and Can This Be Love?
Kung naalala niyo Sarah Geronimo sang a cover of the song Can This Be Love? which is the soundtrack of a hit movie with the same title and starred by Hero Angeles and Sandara Park released in 2005. Ten years after the group disbanded in 1995.
 |
| Image Source: https://s.mxmcdn.net/images-storage/albums/2/6/5/4/4/2/27244562_800_800.jpg |
Marami tayong nalungkot nang mag-disband sila noon. Nasa peak kasi sila ng kasikatan at panay rin ang hakot ng awards and panalo sa mga competitions both in the Philippines and abroad.
Members pursued solo projects in and out of show business. Some went into finishing degrees and entered public service. Some still remained within the industry but have grown to be directors and producers in their own right.
Keeping the Fire Burning
The group have already reunited thrice to perform for a cause. The most recent one was spearheaded by their own founder, Ryan Cayabyab, in an online fundraising event called Bayanihan Musikahin. Performing their hits: The Coconut Nut, Better World, and Paraiso, the reunion performance featured both the first and second batch members.
 |
| Image Source: https://entertainment.inquirer.net |
The performance aims to provide entertainment and motivation to people quarantined in the comforts of their homes to share their blessings to those who are less fortunate and extremely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I was in awe as I watched their video over and over again. The group aged like fine wine. Tumanda man ang mga itsura, nag-mature man ang mga boses, pero yung brilliance, yung power, andun pa rin. It brought me back to my childhood days. At the back of my mind, I can still picture them wearing those ripped and ragged clothes. Iyong mga kakaibang hairstyles and accessories nila.
Hearing their songs now that I am older made a significant difference. Iba na iyong emosyon. Iba na iyong pakiramdam na kaakibat. Kapag marami ka na palang napagdaanan buhay, taong nakasalamuha, at mga lugar na kita, hindi mo mapipigilang mapaluha dahil kahit ilang dekada na ang lumipas, tagos pa rin sa puso ang bawat lyrics ng mga kanta nila.
Ramdam mo rin sa pagkanta nila iyong mga emosyon na mas may pinaghuhugutan na. Mas may pinanggagalingan na dahil kagaya ko, marahil ay nagdaan na rin sila sa maraming karanasang mas lalong tumatatak habang kinakanta nila ito.
Ryan Cayabyab is indeed a genius to have composed timeless masterpieces that continue to move, inspire, motivate, and comfort souls that are restless, hopeless and full of uncertainty.
Even after the smoke clears and the dust settles, the powerful singing prowess of the Smokey Mountain will always remind us of a bright tomorrow full of love, full of hope, full of joy. They will always remind us that this tired and hungry land could still expect some truth, and hope and respect from the rest of the world.
We are gonna love you people of the world. We will all respect you people of the world. This will be a better world.
#
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