MANILA, August 21 ------ Iconic OPM rock band Eraserheads was conferred the Gawad Oblation by University of the Philippines (UP), for its “extraordinary service with or in the name of UP.” The UP Gawad Oblation Medal, one of the university’s highest honors, was bestowed on band members Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro, all of whom are UP alumni.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Eraserheads are a pivotal force in the history of Original Pilipino Music. Even now, decades after they first burst into the local music scene, they remain a household name, a cultural icon for the ages,” UP president Angelo Jimenez said at the UP Gawad Oblation awarding ceremony and reception at the UP Executive House in Quezon City. “The Eraserheads gave voice to the real and lived experiences, struggles, social realities and concerns of generations of Filipino youth,” he added.
The Gawad Oblation Medal is the highest honor given by UP to individuals and organizations that have provided "extraordinary service with or in the name of UP." The Eraserheads, esteemed alumni of the university, have long been regarded as trailblazers in the Filipino music industry. Each band member received the award individually and delivered personal speeches reflecting on their time at UP and the journey that brought them to this moment. Ely Buendia, the band’s lead vocalist, took a nostalgic trip down memory lane as he recounted his early days at UP. "In 1987, I was reeling in high school, so I didn’t go in the first semester enrollment. I had no idea what a block was, so I foolishly enrolled a week after. From 7 in the morning to 7 in the evening, I tried to get as many units as possible, lining up and knocking on faculty doors. At the end of the day, I managed to enlist only 3 subjects: History 10, Math 3, and Spanish 2 and 3."
Buendia continued, "My Spanish professor was a terror and only spoke Spanish in class, as did my classmates. At the end of the semester, I barely passed History and Math, but I was definitely going to get a 'singko' in Spanish. I begged my professor for a passing grade. 'Do you have anything that will make me consider passing you? Anything at all?' I said. 'Well, I can write a song,' and so I gave him a demo cassette of 'Pare Ko.' After that, my Spanish professor told me that I passed. They taught me that, for one, my professor can understand Tagalog, and from that point on, music can get me through anything in life." Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro, and Raymund Marasigan also expressed their gratitude to UP, their families, and the experiences that shaped who they are today. "Para ito sa aming mga magulang na di man namin nabigyan ng diploma, patuloy pa rin sumuporta," Marasigan said, dedicating the award to their parents who supported them despite not receiving diplomas.
The Eraserheads are set to continue their influence on the global stage with an upcoming music tour in Singapore on November 23 and Dubai on December 8. In 1989, while its members were still studying at UP Diliman, the Eraserheads was formed and became one of the most iconic bands in the Philippines. The band’s hits such as "Pare Ko," "Toyang," "Ang Huling El Bimbo," Ligaya, "With a Smile," and "Alapaap, have become staples of Filipino pop culture up to this day. In December 2022, Buendia, Marasigan, Zabala, and Adoro got back together for the historic Huling El Bimbo Reunion Concert held in Parañaque.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
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