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Manila Bulletin devider Entertainment devider Celebrities devider OPM band Repakol declares: 'Excuse me, hindi kami kumakanta ng cover songs'

OPM band Repakol declares: 'Excuse me, hindi kami kumakanta ng cover songs'

Published Feb 26, 2024 09:56 am

At A Glance

  • Repakol will embark on a coast-to-coast US and Canada "Tropa Tour" beginning April 20 in Maryland, April 26 (Virginia), April 27 (New Jersey), May 3 (North Carolina), May 4 (Georgia), May 11 (Jacksonville, Florida), May 21 (Arlington, Texas), May 24 (Chicago, Illinois), June 1 (Maui) and June 2 (Honolulu, Hawaii).
repakol.jpeg
Repakol

Members of the OPM band Repakol can't wait to meet their fans abroad as they embark on a US and Canada tour from April until June this year.

“Sobra, sobra, sobrang excited kaming lahat dahil makikita namin ang mga kababayan natin sa US. Mabibigyan namin sila ng kasiyahan," said Miniong Cervantes, guitarist, during a media conference in Quezon City recently.

Repakol will embark on a coast-to-coast US and Canada "Tropa Tour" beginning April 20 in Maryland, April 26 (Virginia), April 27 (New Jersey), May 3 (North Carolina), May 4 (Georgia), May 11 (Jacksonville, Florida), May 21 (Arlington, Texas), May 24 (Chicago, Illinois), June 1 (Maui) and June 2 (Honolulu, Hawaii).

Some background on how Repakol came to be. Before Repakol, Miniong was in the band Siakol from 1994 to 2019. Noel Palomo, composer and singer/songwriter of Siakol, also jumped on the Repakol bandwagon. Other band members of Repakol are Raz Itum, bassist; Wilbert Jimenez, rhythm guitarist; Zach Alcasid, drummer; and Alvin Palomo, rhythm guitarist.

The term Repakol is a fond moniker used by the original members of Siakol to refer to their fans. In 2019, Miniong and Noel adopted the band's name Repakol after leaving Siakol.

Miniong and Noel have confirmed that there is an ongoing legal dispute over copyright issues between the bands Siakol and Repakol. However, since Noel was the original composer of the songs for Siakol, the band Repakol is allowed to perform those songs during their gigs. "Lahat ng kanta ng Siakol ay kinakanta ng Repakol."

One of the most recognizable voices of the 90s as far as OPM is concerned, Noel had already written 150 songs and counting, scores of which are still in the woodwork, some being recorded and the others for distribution and will be available soon in digital platforms. 

"Halos lahat ng kanta namin requested songs. Minsan nagugulat kami yung mga bata ngayon kinakanta yung mga kanta namin kahit na mga batang 90s kami. Kaya kahit anong generation, okay pa rin kami," said Miniong.

Some of the hit songs composed by Noel include Peksman, Hindi mo ba Alam, Kanto Gabay, Lakas Tama, Ituloy mo Lang, Gawing Langit ang Mundo, Bunga, Bakit Ba?, Lagim, Akala ko ay Langit., Sige na tuloy Pa, Sa isang bote ng Alak and Tropa.

The band was also thrilled when Coco Martin sang their hit song "Peksman" for the movie "Ang Panday."

Asked what their fans can expect during the US tour this year, Miniong said: "Kakantahin natin ang mga Siakol hits. Bukod doon kakantahin namin ang mga underrated songs. 'Yan po ang mga special namin na isasama sa US tour namin."

Miniong and Noel were asked to share their opinions on lyrics that include curse words. "Noong una meron na kami. Hindi namin sinasarado yung ganun na possibility."

The band, however, has a strict policy of never performing cover songs.

"Excuse me, hindi kami kumakanta ng cover songs. Hindi kami nagko-cover. Puro original songs lang kami. Sa umpisa pa lang usapan na namin yan na ayaw talaga namin mag cover," Miniong said.

He added: "Sa mga gigs katuwaan lang minsan. Pero para seryosohin namin na kantahin ang cover songs, hindi po namin ginagawa yun. Marami na kaming nagawa na piyesa at ilalabas na namin 'yun sa mga darating na araw. May mga pasabog kaming gagawin gagawin ngayong 2024."

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