What Flotsam is all about

MANILA, Philippines - Few may argue that iconic band Eraserheads officially disbanded not because frontman Ely Buendia left some 13 years ago, but because guitarist Marcus Adoro relocated to La Union’s surf town. 

Well, E-heads minus Ely continued performing (with a lady vocalist who prefers JC Bonin over Paraluman when singing El Bimbo) up until he went North, practically away from mainstream spotlight.

The effect of Marcus’ decision to “move up” will again be showcased via a full-length movie featuring his music, the town he’s called home, and himself in interesting cameo.

The movie, described as a romantic comedy and set in the town of San Juan, is called Flotsam, starring Solenn Heussaff, Rocco Nacino, Marc Abaya, and a host of indie actors. More interesting are the 10 original songs used to emphasize the surfing community vibe, three of them written and performed by Surfernando Marcus Adoro himself. 

“Marcus’ music opens and closes the movie. He’s been here in La Union longer than he was as a member of Eraserheads,” said Joncy Sumulong who helms (with co-founders Mia Sebastian and Carla Suiza) the stylish artist beach hotel Flotsam and Jetsam from which everything in the movie revolves.     

Flotsam (defined as pieces of ship debris floating in the sea) is a real hangout place boasting the look of Eastern mysticism and lullaby of world music. It is a haven for artists and nature lovers wanting to escape from the stress of metropolis or as the founders put it, “melting pot of people running away or waiting for someone.”

When The Philippine STAR visited the place last summer during La Union’s Sillag Festival of Lights, Joncy quipped that some people residing there decided to stay after a chance visit. That includes Gerard Garcia, who plays the “perfect-guy” engaged to Solenn’s character Kai. He happily declared to have spent seven months in La Union, enjoying the surfing and most likely, the chicks in bikinis.

According to Marcus himself, his sound is “just me and my guitar to a big full band with horn section and all.”

Others credited for Flotsam’s original soundtrack are Kiddo Cosio and Bo Bismark, along with Joncy and Mia.

Directed by Jay Abello, whose work includes last year’s movie Red, starring Jericho Rosales, Flotsam was shot in a few weeks’ time with Solenn recalling having experienced “a fast-paced, two-week fun shoot.”

She noted, “The script is nice and the story has different kinds of love to show.”

Eight love stories to be exact, interwoven through some kilig twists. For one, Solenn’s Kai, a workaholic overachiever, hides at Flotsam three weeks before her wedding to “retreat from a safe bordering sterile relationship.” There she meets local bartender Tisoy, played by Rocco. You probably know what lies ahead.

Joncy added, referring to his now-long time Eraserhead friend, “Marcus is appearing in the movie as a kind of local version of Johnny Depp’s Jack Sparrow. I mean visually and the way he moves. People should watch it to see it for themselves. I am so glad that Marcus shared his talent in the movie.”

Marcus, who has reconnected with the rest of Eraserheads through major reunion concerts and abroad gigs, is known for delighting fans with his wacky album inserts during the heydeys of Eraserheads. He does some quick-talk about bulate fishballs in the album Circus and mentions food oddities like tahong chips ahoy in Cutterpillow. When interviewed on TV about his contribution to the album Natin 99, he mused, “the E chord, E for Eraserheads.” 

Flotsam opens today in cinemas nationwide.   

(For those curious about the place, you may surf the Net: www.flotsamandjetsamhostel.com.)