On November 20, seminal Pinoy rock band Juan Dela Cruz was inducted at the inaugural Rolling Stone Philippines Hall of Fame. To receive the honor was Mike Hanopol, the last living member of the band (also known as “The Last Juan”), as well as Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzalez’s sons, Beebop Smith and John Gonzalez.
During soundcheck at 3 p.m. inside the Manila Peninsula’s Rigodon Ballroom, the music performances were ripe to partake in history. Hanopol and his band Hanopology worked through Juan Dela Cruz classics like “Beep Beep,” “Project,” “Sarap ng Buhay,” “Balong Malalim,” “Kahit Anong Mangyari,” “Himig Natin,” as well as Hanopol’s “Laki sa Layaw” and “Sa Bayan ni Juan” — each run sharpening the energy that would carry into the night. It felt like the past speaking through the present, with the spirit of Smith and Gonzalez breathing through the ballroom.
Rolling Stone Philippines spoke with Raymond Marasigan of alternative rock band Sandwich and Red Dela Peña of funk rock P.O.T. as they prepared to take the stage for the tribute performance. “It was the mid ‘80s when I was already in bands,” Marasigan tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “I was already exposed to new wave, punk rock, [and], of course, pop at the time. So it was late when I discovered Juan Dela Cruz. It was shocking when they asked me if I was going to play with Kuya Mike. I wanted to do ‘Balong Malalim’ because it’s the first song I learned from them.”
Dela Peña couldn’t agree more with the sentiment that Juan Dela Cruz is one of the greatest rock bands to have ever stepped foot on the Philippines music scene. As he was a bandmate with guitarist Wally Gonzalez, Dela Peña couldn’t believe the fact that he was able to jam with three members on separate occasions.
“Juan de la Cruz is my personal G.O.A.T. band in the Philippines,” Dela Peña tells Rolling Stone Philippines. “It doesn’t matter what genre, they’re my G.O.A.T. I know their catalogue. So, it’s really by heart just because they’re freaking gods, man.” The tribute showed how the past and present of Pinoy rock can meet on equal ground, sharing a stage with someone that shaped the foundations they stand on.
Rolling Stone Philippines Hall of Fame
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and Nordic Spirit
with NUSTAR Online
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