Wait. Wait. The title will make sense as you read on.

Yesterday was the book launch for the Tikman ang Langit, an anthology about the Eraserheads (touted to be the last great Filipino band). It was held at 3pm (Why so early?) at the Powerbooks store in Greenbelt. Of course, I was so excited to be there because I’m part of the anthology and it’s my first book launching. So yey!

These people eagerly await performance and perhaps a reunion.

It was a small affair but with an incessant buzz. Will the Eraserheads unite to perform during the launch? The organizers keep on egging everyone it’s a launch not a reunion. But you can see the eager anticipation from the crowd, twirling heads looking for the members of the band, flitters of gossip here and there.

The launch was a success. Free food, great music and there was “almost a reunion” of the Eraserheads.

Almost. Because Ely Buendia, the band’s lead singer did not show up.

Or as Melvin Calimag, the guy responsible for this anthology, told me that Ely was at the doctor for a check-up.

The rest of the Eraserheads band came and played some sets and it was enough for those who dropped by. I heard a whisper in the corner that this is “historic.”

Melvin Calimag, left, is joined by one of the book’s contributors Jing Garcia with (as what Jing calls) green Star trek-like drinks. Garcia’s piece has several interesting anecdotes and photos, he even included some old forms filled out by the band a decade or so ago. Ok, this is your cue to buy the book.

I asked Melvin Calimag some weeks ago how he came upon the idea of collecting essays about the Eraserheads. Melvin stared in space for a bit to recollect his thoughts. He then recounted one night of insomnia. He wanted to read something. He thought of the Eraserheads and realized there is not a book about this great band. Having this embryonic idea in his head, he turns on the television and it was the Oprah Winfrey show.

Oprah was interviewing Brooke Shields for her book recounting her post-partum depression after giving birth. The title of the book is Down Came the Rain. When Melvin heard of the book title, he thought it has a nice ring to it. A ping moment, people! It dawned on him a title so magnificent…..”Tikman ang Langit” (Taste the Heaven, the literal and my clumsy translation) and he decided it was a great title for the anthology.

Melvin finished his explanation with a shrug, a smile and a “Wala lang. Pero ok diba? Down Came the Rain kasi!” (But it’s ok right? It’s because of Down Came the Rain!)

Seriously. that’s what Melvin told Faye and I.

We were dumbfounded for a couple of seconds. We laughed at the situation that from Brooke Shields’s depression came two books: her memoir telling that she wanted to kill her daughter and this anthology. Because of this anthology, there was an “almost a reunion” of the Eraserheads. Lordy, the things that connect us in our life!

So, Eraserheads fans, please thank Brooke Shields, too, for inspiring the book editor at the right place and at the right time. Of course, I didn’t mention this to anyone during the launch, we were too busy enjoying anticipating the moment when the three Eraserheads band members, Marcus Adorno, Buddy Zabala and Raimund Marasigan played together for the first time in years.

It was great that I arrived just in time for Marcus Adoro’s set. I looked around and I saw all these people with wide smiles and frozen arms holding a mobile phone as if they are capturing a deity’s presence. I won’t recount the songs and the performance because I’m sure there are blogs there who will do a better job.

What I was thinking when I situated myself almost right in front of Marcus, thus creating an eclipse at the people behind me is that I like his tattoos. This guy’s cult status is cool. I hear that he gave up the Manila life and is a surfer dude somewhere up north. Whoa.

 

This here is Marcus Adoro. Are you as cool as him? I’m sure as hell not. This is my absolute favortie shot I took for the event.

I wanted to know what shampoo he uses because his hair has a fine yet subtle sheen for a straight man reportedly to surf under the sun. See my priorities? hahaha. Take my word for it, his set was great. I’m sure there will be youtube videos of that.

I have a couple of my own in my multiply site. Watch them here and here. Enjoy them and my apologies if they are abruptly cut and the audio is not ideal. I am not rich and don’t have a snazzy video camera.

A set by Cambio consisting of Sugarfree frontman Ebe Dancel was there and performed with Kris Gorra-Dancel with Marasigan and Zabala. Check out the videos here and here.

 

Buddy Zabala, left, and Raimund Marasigan concentrate.

Kris Gorra-Dancel sings. Love the hair. I wouldn’t pull that off. I’d look like the brunette version of Bruce Vilanch. Love your outfit. Love your voice.

Divisoria is performed by Diego Mapa.

The time came when the band performed the Eraserheads hit Magasin and Marcus Adoro joined the session. Sorry, I couldn’t get a video for that one. It was pointless anyway, the crowd surge with arms raised with mobile phones aimed like periscopes. I know there will be youtube clips for that one in due time.

I could see others glance back. Perhaps they are hoping Ely Buendia will show up? Ick…if that happened that would be too GMA Supershow but I could imagine it will throw the otherwise quiet bookstore into a screaming frenzy.

Nope. Ely didn’t show up. Please.

There were people who rushed into the already compact crowd. I just wanted to stand back and enjoy the moment and it felt like the safe times I had in the 90s all over again. I was smiling as the audience sang in and hooted and swayed.

And it was over. The crowd went wild and they wanted more.

But it was over. Just over.

 

Raimund Marasigan is mobbed and he has his visor on obscuring his eyes from the calcified grins of fans.

The band packed up and everyone scampered for autographs. The people piled up in front of the Eraserheads bandmembers who were off to in their separate gigs. One quipped at the crowd, “shouldn’t we ask the writers’ autographs, too?”

Nah. I don’t mind. I was busy attacking the celery sticks in one corner. Mmmm. Surrounded by books and free celery sticks, for a moment, I was in heaven.

Can’t stop the flood, bitches.

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