OPM singer Naldy Padilla got emotional when he called the attention of the 90s band Orient Pearl, which was relaunched in November 2024 without his knowledge.

During a media conference for the "Frontmen Rock & Chix" concert at Borro in Quezon City last Friday, Naldy explained he is the rightful owner of the musical band.

"Gusto ko lang linawin na ako ang may ari ng pangalan ng bandang Orient Pearl. Nagsimula kami ng 1992-1993. At tatlo lang kami. (I just want to clarify that I am the owner of the name of the band Orient Pearl. We started in 1992-1993. And there were only three of us.)

"Ako ang gitarista at singer. And drummer namin ay si Richie Raymundo. Ang bahista namin ay siJix Lacap, pamangkin ko rin. Yung gitarista namin si Leo Awatin. Nakalagay sa ibang online reports si Leo ang founder ng Orient Pearl. Hindi totoo yun! (I am a guitarist and singer. Our drummer is Richie Raymundo. Our bassist is Jix Lacap, also my nephew. Our guitarist is Leo Awatin. Some online reports have stated that Leo is the founder of Orient Pearl. That is not true!)

Naldy recalled the band started with three members, and Leo was his first recruit. He said his friends encouraged him to sue the relaunched band, but he had no plans. 

"Bakit ako mag-aaksaya ng panahon sa mga walang kwentang tao? Hindi ko papansin yun! Bakit hindi ko gagamitin (ang name ng band) ako ang may-ari niyan eh. So magdemanda sila tignan natin kung hanggang saan sila makakarating." (Why would I waste my time on useless people? I won't pay attention to that! Why wouldn't I use the band's name? I own that? So let them sue and see how far they can go.)

"I dare them to sue me. Magdemanda sila for the use of the name. That's what I want them to do. Mawawalan pa sila ng pangalan at magagastusan pa sila. Ang sa akin lang talaga dapat hindi na nila ginamit yung pangalan dapat ni-retiro na nila. (I dare them to sue me. They will sue for the use of the band's name. That's what I want them to do. They will lose their name, and they will still have to pay. They shouldn't have used the name. They should have retired it.)," Naldy said.

In November, Orient Pearl was relaunched with Ney Dimaculangan, former 6CycleMind vocalist, as the band's new lead singer. Naldy said he has no problens with Ney.

"Wala naman akong masamang tinapay kay Ney. Kinuha lang naman siya. Syempre artist din siya kailangan din niyang para mailabas ang talent niya. It just so happened yun ang opportunity sa kanya. Wala akong problema sa kanya. Sa grupo. Doon ako may problema. (I don't have anything against Ney. They just took him. Of course, he's an artist, too; he needs to showcase his talent. It just so happened that this was an opportunity for him. I don't have a problem with him. I have a problem with the group)," Naldy said.

Naldy added: "The whole time nakakausap ko naman yung bassist namin. Sabi ko nagawa na natin yung dapat gawin igarahe na natin ito. (The whole time I was talking to our bassist. I said we've done what we need to do, let's get this done.)

"We started in 1993 or 1994. Nakagawa na kami ng legacy. Let's go ahead and leave it as it is. Lahat ng bagay kagaya ng libro kailangan magtapos. Yung buong libro may katapusan din yan. (We started in 1993 or 1994. We've created a legacy. Let's go ahead and leave it as it is. Everything, like a book, has an end. The whole book has an end too.)

"Look at AfterImage. Binigyan na nila ng closure. We cannot do this forever. Hindi ko naman sinabi ng iiwan natin ang pagtugtog. 90s pa yun. Huwag na natin guluhin. I-retire na natin ito. Eh matitigas ang mga ulo. (Look at AfterImage. The band has a closure. We can't do this forever. I didn't say we were going to leave the music. It's still the 90s. Let's not mess with it anymore. Let's retire it. Some people are stubborn)," Naldy added.

Orient Pearl is the band behind the OPM classic hit "Pagsubok." Their other hits include "Cry In The Rain," "Kung Aaminin Mo," and "Kasalanan."

Naldy joins other OPM icons, Wency Cornejo (AfterImage), Cooky Chua (Color It Red), and Lei Bautista (Prettier Than Pink) in the concert "Frontmen Rock & Chix," which will be held at the Music Museum in Greenhills, San Juan, on Jan. 25.

Jonathan Wee, producer of the concert, said the four OPM icons were part of the Filipino bands who ruled the airwaves in the 90s.

"They delivered chart-topping hits and shaped the musical landscape of the time. Heralded as the most prolific era for bands in the Philippines, the music of that decade continues to bridge generations.

"On Jan. 25, four vocalists of the iconic bands from that era will come together for a one-nightonly concert titled “Frontmen & Rock Chix.” Wency Cornejo of After Image, Naldy Padilla of Orient Pearl, Cooky Chua of Color It Red, and Lei Bautista from Prettier Than Pink will share the stage to perform their greatest hits.

"This special one-night only concert will take place at the Music Museum and promises a nostalgic return, as these vocalists take you on a journey through their timeless music," said Jonathan.