Body Talk with The Sabado Boys

Three of them are married and the rest are, well, fancy-free (or so they claim). Find out who is which by and by.

Thank God, it’s Friday? If it’s Saturday (or any day of the week for that matter), it should be a date with the Sabado Boys.

You should know who they are (because they once topbilled their own show on RPN 9 and they’ve been having gigs all over), at random now: Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mejares (formerly with South Border), Paolo Santos, Top Suzara (formerly with Freestyle), DJ Myke and Mike Chan (nephew of Ben Chan of Bench; who produces shows, including Sabado Nights, the group’s show on RPN 9).

Each of them has his own career which they continue to pursue. But together, they make an altogether different sound distinctly their own, far removed from those of, say, the Hagibis of the ’70s and other all-male groups most of which came and went without creating a wave, with not even a whimper.

It was Mike and Jimmy who came up with the brilliant idea of forming a group more than two years ago.

Why Sabado Boys?

“Well,” said Jimmy, “isn’t Sabado gimik day?”

You have to watch them (preferably) live to fully enjoy them, maybe in any of the following dates: Tonight at SM Bicutan; tomorrow, April 4, at Club H2; April 5 at SM Pampanga; April 18 at the Music Museum; April 24 also at the Music Museum, their album launch; April 25 at SM Lucena, Lucena City, Quezon; April 26 at SM Sta. Mesa; and May 1 back at the Music Museum.

They have just been named Asian Star Awardee-2009 Most Outstanding All-Male Performing Group by the 17th Asia-Pacific Excellence Awards (similar to the People’s Choice Seal of Excellence Awards).

How do you take care of your voice?

Jimmy: I avoid cold drinks after a show dahil medyo bugbog ang vocal cords mo and they are sensitive. I have stopped smoking especially since I have started taking up triathlon. Nag-champion ako d’un sa beginners’ category. I make sure that I get eight hours of sleep; otherwise, I’m in a bad mood.

Luke: I get enough sleep, at least six hours, especially before a show. They say that cold drinks are bad for the voice so I avoid them. I don’t smoke; bad for the lungs, bad for the voice.

Paolo: No alcohol. Hydration is important, so I take lots and lots of water especially if I am recording or performing. Cold drinks? Okay lang. I don’t smoke because I believe it affects your breathing. Sleep is important, too. I try to sleep for eight hours per night. Lack of sleep adversely affects your voice.

Top: Late last year, I was diagnosed with vocal nodules so I had to undergo surgery last January. That kind of ailment is common among singers. Taking cold drinks after a performance is bad yata; it’s just like taking a cold shower as soon as you come from the gym. Our vocal cords are also muscles, you know. ‘Yung pagpupuyat is very bad for the voice; I get as much sleep as I can. Drinking lots of water is very good.

Mike: I sleep early. I try not to shout when I’m not singing. I avoid clearing my throat because it puts a strain on the vocal cords. Cold drinks are okay before singing but not after singing. No hard drinks for me. I’m allergic to alcohol. I don’t smoke. Very bad for the voice.

DJ Myke: I make sure that I get enough sleep. Cold drinks? Okay lang. In fact, I have a habit of taking ice bago ako kumanta. It smoothens my vocal cords. I don’t smoke.

How do you take care of your body?

Jimmy: I eat moderately. I take five to six small meals every day. But I don’t deprive myself; I eat what I want. I take Omega-3. I take protein because it helps my vocal cords recover fast. I’m not a gym rat but I work out in the gym regularly. I run, I jumprope.

Luke: I do cardio exercises, brisk walking and biking. I started taking up boxing again recently. I eat rice but not too much. I avoid meat. I have stopped taking hard drinks, not even beer.

Paolo: I play golf and go biking regularly, good for the lungs. Cardio workout. I don’t go on a diet because, as you can see, I’m too thin. My doctor (Agcaoili of Medical City), I should try to avoid nuts; bad for the voice daw, although good for the heart.

Top: I play football and I run. Jimmy (Bondoc) helps me and my kids with our exercise regimen. I take three square meals a day. My regular diet is full of protein drinks in-between meals.

Mike: I go to the gym and do a lot of cardio exercises. I play tennis, I swim and I race (motorcycles). Foods rich in water are good for the voice. And lots of liquid. I stay away from air-conditioners because they dry up your vocal cords.

DJ Myke: I eat mostly fish and vegetables. Hydration is very important. I do it by drinking coffee. I work out every day, usually with Jimmy (Bondoc). We skip-rope, we jog, we lift weights.

How do you cope with stress?

Jimmy: I pray. It has a soothing effect on me. I try not to panic. I would tell myself, “Just relax; everything’s going to turn out okay.” Positive thinking. Nakakawala ng tension. Mind over matter, you know.

Luke: I have two children and spending time with them at home is already relaxing. Magandang pang-tanggal ng stress.

Paolo: I watch movies with my wife. I go to the spa and have a massage.

Top: I get a full-body massage as often as I can. I have my “moment” with my wife, hahahaha! I listen to music (pop, rock, country, instrumentals, all kinds). I pray. It’s not only very relaxing but very reassuring as well.

Mike: I read self-help books. Sports is a good way to relax. For the Sabado Boys, I do mostly pop-rock music and alternative music, mga David Cook and Chris Daughtry. For listening, I prefer the music of Josh Groban.

DJ Myke: I listen to classical music.

What part of your body do you think is the sexiest?

Jimmy: According to my ex-girlfriends, my shoulders daw and my butt.

Luke: Sabi nila, my eyes daw.

Top: My eyes daw...sabi nila.

Mike: My arms and my chest.

DJ Myke: My eyes. Some people think I am masungit; actually, I’m not.

And what part of a girl’s body do you find the sexiest?

Jimmy: The face. The eyes. If the eyes are beautiful, I don’t care how the other parts (of the face) look like. Ilang beses na ako naloko sa girls na magaganda ang mga mata. Hehehehe!

Luke: The butt, ‘yung parang JLo.

Top: The eyes and the boobs.

Mike: The legs.

DJ Myke: Dimples sa butt. For me, that’s the benchmark of a healthy (female) body. Lumalabas ‘yon kapag fit ang babae.

Who are the singers that you look up to?

Jimmy: Stevie Wonder, Kenny Loggins, James Taylor and Sting (of The Police). They sing from the heart. Sa local, I love Gary Granada (especially his Saranggola), Joey Ayala, Cynthia Alexander, Noel Cabangon and a few pop singers.

Luke: Motown singers like Smokey Robinson, Martin Gaye and Michael Jackson. Locally, Ogie Alcasid who is a versatile singer-composer. Gary Valenciano, for his energy level. And Martin Nievera, for his love songs.

Paolo: Of course, Gary Valenciano. Complete package talaga. He can write songs, he can dance, he can sing. Very inspiring siya.

Top: Gary Valenciano... for his music; I watched his recent concert. GaryV@25. Fantastic!

Mike: Chris Daughtry, The Calling and David Cook. Among local singers, sina Gary Valenciano and Alamid.

DJ Myke: The five Sabado boys. Pinapanood ko sila noong high school pa ako. (Note: At 25, DJ Myke is the youngest in the group. He’s not a deejay in the true sense of the word. “I just make feedback and turntable sounds with my voice,” he said. His full name is Myke Salomon.)

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