MANILA, Philippines — “Si Clemen (Castro)’yung ‘Orange,’ ‘yung magkapatid na Ace and JM (del Mundo)’yung ‘Lemons,’ ako ‘yung ‘and,’” quipped Mcoy Fundales of the membership symbolism in the name of the original alternative band, Orange and Lemons(O&L).
And he’s not joking, “Para maintindihan nila, management, label, at sponsors si Clem, madalas ako nag-bi-bridge.”
I’ve been searching for the O&L ex-crew to quiz why the quartet disbanded not knowing I would meet to my huge startle Mcoy, its composer/vocalist, at the media launch of season three of GMA Network’s Lip Sync Battle Philippines with Michael V. as host and Iya Villania-Arellano as color commentator. His entry position is as a junior writer who proceeded to diversify as actor and songmaker.
I wrote the reformation of O&L, sans Mcoy without quote despite a sincere effort to research what and who triggered the controversial split. My vet is Mcoy as the best to grill as he seemed the most friendly and least affected by the breakup. Clem refused to comment as solicited by Annelle Saavedra Durano of Asosasyong Musikong Pilipino.
“It was Clem who disbanded O&L,” Mcoy identified. And it turned out literally and figuratively. “Ang hindi alam ng marami si Clem pa ang nagpapirma sa aming lahat ng contract dissolving the band.”
LET ME TAKE YOU DOWN. Shades of John Lennon-Paul McCartney of the Beatles’ sweet dream turning from acidic to a toxic nightmare. “‘Yung O&L disbanding was never about music; it wasn’t even about money; sobrang toxic na lang talagang katrabaho si Clem noon,” Mcoy revealed.
“I cannot stand his attitude towards us and the people we were working with. Dumating ako sa point na mas ginustong kaibigan na lang siya at hindi katrabaho para masaya na lang. Kaya lang hindi na rin siya ‘yung Clemen na sickly classmate at kabanda ko since high school.”
“Ayokong isipin na professional jealousy (ang cause). Ace was unang who wanted out because he could not work with Clem anymore. Pero we talked to him na bigyan pa ng chance ‘yung working relationship namin.”
“Dumating sa point sumama ang loob ni Clem sa record label namin (Universal Records) kasi hindi na-re-release as radio singles ‘yung mga kantang siya ang main vocals. I even talked to the label para pakinggan si Clem. That was the reason his song Caught In A Line was given radio play.”
“Until ako na talaga ‘yung bumigay. Namura ako at nasigawan pa ni Clem sa ‘70s Bistro only because I did spiels and engaged the audience during a set. This was the last straw sa akin. I desperately wanted out,” Mcoy bared the ruin.
“Then sumama na ‘yung magkapatid,” he shared.
The cumulative effect blew when management and crew left. “Ang alam ko walang substance bisyo ‘yung mga kabanda ko,” Mcoy dispelled a heady cause of the nasty crumble. “Sa tingin ko control freak si Clem.”
For an update on the progress of the new O&L, Mcoy flashed a grin, “Meron ba?”