Snippets of Spañul

Spañul was randomly picked as band name the moment Regie Taborada on bass, Ervin Reyes on drums, Jojo Corbeta on vocals and Gilbert Repaso on lead guitars had to compete in a band challenge last year in Minglanilla where their drummer resides.

"Wala gyud mi idea unsa among i-name sa band nya niabot ang time nga mo-compete na mi, mao to nga nahuna-hunaan lang gyud namo ang Spañul, as in spur of the moment gyud to," Jojo recounted.

All band members are in their mid-20s; half of them, namely Ervin and Regie, are students, while the other two are already working. Despite tight schedules, they make it a point to find time to practice and compose songs.

Spañul is more than just a bunch of music fanatics who hang out together and play music. Inspired by Lorenzo "Insoy" Niñal of Bisaya rock pioneering band Missing Filemon, they've now joined the pack of artists propagating Bisrock. However, they shared that they are hell-bent on developing their own style amid this phenomenal upsurge of Bisaya rockers.

One song of theirs is entitled "Ok Ra Nako," which Jojo composed. In the song, snippets of the vocalist's love life have been woven into its poignantly sweet lyrics, thus making the so-called dissection of the anatomy of melancholy. To write "a song of their choice" has been Insoy's foremost advice-and for that they will be forever grateful.

Other than Insoy, the band's primary influences include The Used, who according to them is very inspirational because they survived the streets by panhandling and eventually, emerged big in the punk rock scene. Also, they admire the Beatles who were at the forefront of pop cultural revolution and made music that touched on politics, religion, sex, and fashion; and Jimi Hendrix, who was responsible in influencing modern music in countless aspects with his talent and style.

Music seems to come first for these guys-in each one of them. The passion to make music burns like an eternal flame in their hearts, that I could very much sense. Even though they don't have enough money to produce their own album, they tried their best to record two songs. First was "Ok Ra Nako" and the second one is "Hit and Run".

"Some of the lines have something to do with my lovelife before, mao na nga nakahimo ko ana nga kantaha pero dili gyud na ingon nga ako nang kaagi tanan. Ang 'Hit and Run' nga song is kanta na para sa among amigo nga hilig kaayo og girls, unya kon mapul-an biya-an dayon," Jojo explained.

They are optimistic that Bisaya rock will be here to stay because such has provided Visayan bands the avenue to carve names not only in Visayan-speaking regions, but iin the capital as well.

Jojo said, "Hangtod sa hangtod na unta ni siya kay nakahatag ni'g avenue nga mapalanog ang tingog sa Bisaya. Sa amo'ng nabantayan, samtang nagkadugay, nagkakusog ug nagkadaghan ang Cebuano nga mga banda who are already out of their shells wanting to show off their talents."

To know more about the band, you may text Spañul at 0921-7780459.