Flirt-ing with 'Scrap and Metal'

"Nailad (Nanghambog)" is what made Flirt click over Smash-ing airwaves as it lambasts a two-timer chick "niadto ko's inyoha nagtan-aw og teevee/nagstorya mong duha/nangilad ka, nanghambog ka/namutbot pa gyud ka..."

Such is the collaboration of Julius "Edoy" Balbuena (vocals), Armin "Mong" Yaun (lead guitar), Carl "Car-car" Geverola (bass), Pedro "Junie" Querubin (drummer) and Jovanny "Gogo" Trinidad (guitar, vocals). The first three are students of the Philippine State College of Aeronautics in Lapu-Lapu City with Avionics, Aircraft Maintenance and Computer Science for fields, respectively. The other two are Information Technology students at the University of Cebu (Lapu-Lapu-Mandaue campus).

These Lapu rocking studs formed Flirt June of last year which means "easy to get, easy to form and easy on the eardrums too when it comes to the audio appeal of their songs". This was based on easy-to-win friendship that dates back when Carl and Mong were just young boys in same neighborhood. Junie was pitched into the picture after one of their previous members got stuck with issues about his marriage to a Muslim chick (details off the record). Since Junie and Mong were baseball players back then, they already shared a rapport that convinced the former to dabble playing with "Flirt" on drums aside from his beating-bashing stint on the high hat of another band, "Restless".

Flirt has already written four songs, but they are not solved with the idea of coming up with an Extended Play album. Instead, they would concentrate on completing six other song materials to be able to launch an album to the theme of "Scrap and Metals".

This is very interesting because the given working title reflects on the efforts they have undertaken just to be able to record their songs.

"Kinahanglan pa mi manimbang og scrap para lang makatigom para matuman among damgo nga maka-record," says Carl which was seconded by Mong who showed scars on the base of his left index finger, "mao ni proof na sige og panit og bronse para naay ikapatimbang, para naay money kay mga pobre intawon mi nga gusto maka-album."

"Scrap and Metal" is set to be released early next year and will contain two songs delivered in acoustic. Other songs are expected to mirror the musical influences of Kamikazee, Incubus, Sandwich, Mayonnaise, Urbandub, Blink182, Typecast and Eraserheads.

In the "Jam Ta Bai!" Battle of Bands held during the Lapu-Lapu city fiesta celebration, Flirt was adjudged first runner-up among 21 other top bands there.

"Naka-P2,000 mi nya nindot kaayo to kay naka-record gyud mi. Mao nang among na-pass sa Smash ang Nailad for screening," Carl said.

But it was also learned by this writer that before "Nailad" struck the lanes with its dissing, bashing, bumming content, there was already "Somewhere" written by Mong and is laden with grief for the loss of loved ones.

When listened to for the first time, one would get a feel that this song is dedicated to a sweetheart. "My friend, I lost my girl/I don't know why she's going away/I send this letter and after all/there's no reply for me/I miss you so much..."

He related that the song is about his mother who passed away July of last year, few months ahead of his brother who also succumbed to cancer in December.

"Nailad" was followed by "Change" which obviously is about the many variations and deviations that we go through life as we tread paths and directions that ramify from time to time, in chapters, in episodes, in segments.

Flirt underlined that "Palaaway" was already submitted at Smash FM last Saturday night for screening. This is about the inevitable existence of war freaks, of people who prefer spats, quick to pick a fight, rather than uphold tolerance. And that they are hoping characters utilized in its storyline wouldn't only be reflective of certain individuals in our midst, but also of leaders and ideologies, systems of government and religions, as well as unfair economic policies and labor practices that trigger conflict. Bottomline is: There can never be peace in this topsy-turvy world, but there is room for maximum tolerance.

For bookings, email [email protected] or contact Carl at 3424568 or 09169095939. Visit purevolume.com/flirts. Don't worry rockers, despite "Nailad", these flirts wouldn't deceive you to clicking on a nasty site. Flirt is just a name that represents something so easy on the ears.

"In short, easy ra among songs masakyan," a flirty vow dropped by the group to close the interview with thanks that go all the way to Smash, DJ Ram and Bré Ambungan, and to all Bisrockers of Cebu most especially those in Pajo and Sangi, Lapu-Lapu.

More shoutouts: to God Almighty, family and friends of Edoy, Noemi, and Mateo Degamo. Also to family of Gogo most especially to Joey and guard Cosme, to Mong, neighbors and friends, Roosevelt Custodio, Mark Cordero and Nacionales, Abelardo and Yaun families, to Audrey; Restless band, to Junie's dog Harry and Junie's family, Alen Primacio, PSCA students, Joan and Carl's family.