Pagmahal sa Bisaya series

(INTRO) New school of music connects with old school novelty songs espoused by the King of Sugbuano novelty music, Maximo "Max" Surban.

Seventeen Bisrock bands groomed by dyWF- 93.1 Smash FM are to sing their original compositions and do a cover of the songs popularized by Max Surban this coming Saturday, February 24. Station Avenue picks "Kurdapya", Retdem takes "Vendors Boogie", Circle of Willis chooses "Diskoral", Koolerah and the Digital Boochitongs is up with "Pasayawa Ko 'Day", Fervent with "Igo na 'Day", What's the Frequency with "Libakera", Ossified with "Sa 14 Pa Ako", Wet Slipperz with "Tambok ug Niwang", and Glass of Dirt with "Pastilan Kanimo No. 1". "Apir" will be covered by Indephums, Aggressive Audio is up with "Opaw" while Missing Filemon picks "I Love My Teacher".

Meanwhile, Agadiers will cover "Baleleng", Kabobo with "Pamilyang Yonik", Agipo with "Bibingka ug Budbod", and two of my favorite picks "Sa Unang Pagtan-aw Ko'g Sine" will be delivered by Assembly Language while "Gihidlaw na Intawon Ako (aka Mitulo Na) will experience an emo-punk arrangement by Republika.

"Among style gyud paningkamoton namo molutaw ani sa among rendition for Pasayawa ko 'Day. Basin amo ra segurong style malahi gani ani. Gi-jazz namo," says Regene "Ejing" Vilvestre, guitarist of KDB.

For almost two years, I have been waiting for this kind of development to happen to the Bisrock scene. The project excites me for this only comes to show that after all of these years we've been bombarded with foreign sound, we prove to have loved Max and his wit; admired his sense of humor; listened to the satirical undertones in some of his lyrics, and appreciated even his green jokes.

Max was born May 15 (year unspecified for obvious reason hee hee) and raised in Cebu City. He finished high school at the University of Southern Philippines and then took a course in machinery at what was then Cebu College of Arts and Trade. Max then worked for six months at the Visayan Electric Company. Since singing was his first love, he started joining singing contests, until eventually it became a career.

It was learned that he first sang ballad songs in big night spots here in Cebu in the 60s until he decided to move to Manila. He sang at the Olongapo US naval base for one year and then at the "Seafront" in the US Embassy Family Club for two years. He also joined a band as vocalist and travelled to Vietnam and Japan.

Also, it is interesting to note that he was not at first interested in singing novelty songs because he was a balladeer. But his curiosity about recording prevailed. So he decided to record "Lolang Kunot" (Wrinkled Granny), his first song, released by Vicor Music Corporation. It became an instant hit.

As a schoolchild of the "Dekada Ochenta", I first learned how a novelty song sounds like via "Ang Manok ni San Pedro". And it goes a little something like this: "Si Esteban intawon/gi-murder sa mga goons, pagsaka niya's langit/si San Pedro nahibulong/kay wala pa sa panahon/gipabalik gipa-I shall return/May manok pang gipabalon/si San Pedro nga bungoton."

"Nahibalik sa kalibotan/ang sugarol nga Esteban/may dala nga hiniktan/nga ugis kahibulongan/Ug didto sa bulangan/si Ugis gikaintapan/gibuno, gi one by one/mga kontra way dag-anan."

My! I miss those nights when the world was so much younger and the only thing that holds you from hitting the sack early is a half-hour religious attention to "Esteban Escudero" aired over dyHP on an early evening slot.

"Manok ni San Pedro" became so popular that the story of Esteban ended up being made into a hit comedy TV series in the early 80s with the same title starring Lito Pimentel on the lead. So from there, Max became very busy recording and then began to make a name for himself as an established composer and singer, and as a novelty icon in the Visayan music industry today.

He has travelled to countries like Norway and Austria. His recording career continues to flourish to date. He has never run out of compositions, writing his own songs compiled in 33 albums (whew!) - Komedya Karambola, Max Surban Super Medley Reissue, Kinabuhing Driver, Ang Harana ni Max Surban, Magparetoki, Nabali ang Krismas Tri, Ballroom to the Max, La Isla Banana, Mad Max, Mt. Diwalwal and Ang Trato Ko, to name a few.

Bisrock to the Max is organized by the Sangguniang Kabataan of barangay Pusok, Lapu-Lapu City in coordination with its barangay council and in cooperation with the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants-5th years, and Junior Financial Executives of the University of San Carlos. This will also serve as a competition among bands to be held at the Millennium Park, below the Marcelo Fernan bridge.

"The competition featuring 17 of today's most promising Bisrock bands will promote independent new bands and inspire the youth in their interest in music. It would also be an avenue for the youth to express their artistic talents. This will also serve as a tribute concert to one of the leading artists in the Visayan music industry, Max Surban," Hon. Mhealler Ycong, SK chairman of barangay Pusok and Anne Lalaine Chua, fund raising committee chairperson of the USC-JFINEX, said.

For more information on the cost and where to purchase tickets, please contact Mhealler at 09162787934 or email [email protected]. Concert starts at 6 p.m. till momentum reaches maximum level.



Blurb: "Bisrock to the Max will feature 17 of the most promising Bisrock bands that will inspire the youth in their interest in music…This will also serve as a tribute concert to one of the leading artists in the Visayan music industry, Max Surban."