For Budoy, music comes first

Fresh from his "Bahay ni Kuya" stint, Budoy of Junior Kilat, even in the face of tempting offers to try showbiz, is back in Cebu to once again promote reggae music - his first love.

This former Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition housemate had the Cebuanos amused with his antics while inside the "house." Those who snobbed this reality television show aired in ABS-CBN had completely changed their viewing habits after it was made known that Cebuano-speaking with a devil-may-care attitude Budoy would be in it. His fame, after lingering for over a month in that show, has extended nationwide.

"Abi nako'g naa ko sa Cebu," said Budoy (Errol Marabiles in real life) of the people's rousing cheers that greeted him on the day he came out from the PBB house.

Budoy made his first appearance to the Cebuano audience after PBB when his band, Junior Kilat performed along with other reggae bands during the 11th Bob Marley Festival in BBQ.com Seafood and Grill Restaurant last April 8. They also launched their "Buwad Suka Sili" album at SM City Cebu last Friday, showing not a trace of stress or strain after a series of gigs all over the country prior to their most recent appearance.

His coming back here, he said, was to make music again with his band, which is the very reason he joined the PBB. Junior Kilat, creator of "Ako si M16" and other reggae Cebuano songs, has already established a name in the music industry here before Budoy hopped in to the PBB house, where a daily exposure is guaranteed. Budoy said he wanted the band to be popular nationwide, that was why he joined.

And he was not disappointed. He said, in an interview, they are already getting offers to play in Manila. However, he has no plans to stay there, and only if there are bookings for gigs or other TV guestings, that they would go there.

He also admitted there are offers for him to appear in comedy shows there, of which, he said, is not a bad idea, but he just could not leave his band yet. The frequency of his appearance in Manila is also a part of the six-month contract he signed with the network to promote PBB. But, he will never leave his band.

"Di ko ganahan mo-base sa Manila," he said, while adding that it is always the entire group that decides.

Meanwhile, Budoy thanked his friends, the UP Cebu-based visual arts group Pusod which also happens to be his choice of charity, who stripped themselves naked while playing in Kayahag Café to support him. This self-confessed Rasta said he would also do the same if it were for a cause.

"Rasta," by the way, is an abbreviation for "Rastafarian," a follower of "Rastafari" and an adherent to the beliefs of "Rastafarianism." There are some rastas that are Christians and some Christians that call themselves rastas.

With regard to his trademark look, his heavily caped dreadlocks (part of being a rasta), he said nothing could ever bring him to remove the cover, which has been there for three years. Not even the promise of fame and money, he said.

"Mawagtang ang point kung tangtangon," said Budoy of his head cover.

Covered or not, Budoy and band are set to rock not only Cebu but the whole country with their original music.