Sampu't Sari: Japs Sergio ng Rivermaya

JAPS SERGIO

"I'm an ear based musician.. whatever the hell that means.."

Noong Dekada NoBenta, ang Pilipinas ay biniyayaan ni Bro ng mga talentadong musikero.

Nang pumutok ang Grunge sa bansa ni Uncle Sam ay sumabay si Juan Dela Cruz at pinasabog naman ang “Pinoy Rock Movement” kung saan nabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga bagong sibol na maiparinig ang kanilang himig sa madla na noo’y ang alam lang ay mga labsung.

Mula sa mga punkista, mga death metal bands, hanggang sa pop rock, at alternative, namukadkad ang mga istasyon ng radyo sa mga kombo-kombo. Ang dami-dami-dami-dami nila pero ilan lang ang nakilala at tinanggap ng mga tagapakinig. Ang iba ay naghari sa "underground scene" na may mga piling tagasubaybay habang ang iba naman ay pumatok sa masa na parang pang box-office hits.

Mahirap gumawa ng kanta. Sabi nga ni Chito, kapag hindi na totoo, ang awit na natapos mo ay mawawala sa tono. Isang talentong masasabi ang makuha ang panlasa ng karamihan. 'Yung pakiramdam na parang alam na alam mo na ang lyrics ng kanta kahit na ngayon mo lang narinig. 'Yung parang alam ng nagsulat ang nararamdaman mo sa mundo at masasabi mong "Uy, hindi pala ako nag-iisa". 

Ganun ang RIVERMAYA. 

Sa mga klasik albums na nagawa nila noong nineties, ang buong Pilipinas ay nakikanta sa kanilang mga malufet na singles. Sino ba naman ang makakalimot sa mga kantang "Ulan", "Kisap-Mata", "Awit ng Kabataan", "214", "Panahon Na Naman", at napakarami pang iba. Potah, sigurado akong sila ang isa sa mga pinakamaraming kanta sa videoke na para sa akin ay isang makinaryang sumusukat ng kasikatan ng mga kantatero.

Ang orig na line-up ng Rivermaya ay sila Bamboo Mañalac (vocals), Perf de Castro (guitars), Nathan Azarcon (bass), Rico Blanco (guitars, keyboards, backing vocals), at Mark Escueta (drums). Lahat sila ay puro magagaling, mga idol ng isang trying-hard na musikerong tulad ko. Ang problema nga lang, kapag nagsasama-sama ang mga maestro, hindi maiiwasang magkarooon ng "Clash of the Titans". Ang resulta, nagkaroon ng pabago-bagong miyembro sa paglipas ng panahon. Ganun pa man, TULOY ANG LIGAYA.

  L-R: Mark, Mike, Rico, Japs (2006)

Nagsimula ako bilang isang bahista ng banda kong Aneurysm noong 90's kaya naman pinangarap kong sumali sa grupo ni Rico noong magpaalam si Nathan. Magpiprisinta sana ako kaso naunahan ako ng ating bida ngayon na si Sir JOHN PAUL RICAFRANCA SERGIO. Kilala sa mga palayaw na "Japs", "Japsuki", at "JP", siya ang naging bahista, kantatero, at kantatero sa likod ng Rivermaya simula noong 2001. Ilan sa mga kontribusyon niya sa grupo ay ang mga kantang "Bagong Liwanag", "Sunday Driving", "One Good Afternoon", at "Checkmate". Ang pinakapaborito ko sa lahat ng nagawa niya ay ang "Sayang" na inilabas bilang single noong kumalas na si Rico sa grupo. Sa ngayon ay "on hiatus mode" si Japsuki sa Rivermaya.

Bukod sa iconic na banda ay miyembro rin siya ng Daydream Cycle kung saan siya ang gitarista / musical director. Kamakailan ay naglabas din siya ng solo album entitled "Monologue Whispers".

Listen to the Album Here

Order the CD Here

Kung tatanungin mo ako kung paano siya naging isang Batang Nineties, isa lang ang magiging sagot ko: isang taon lang ang tanda ko sa kanya! Sorry sir, buking ang edad natin dito.

Heto na ang kanyang kuwentong-karanasan:


1.What was your school life like during the 90’s?

Pretty much the same as who I am now… a geek with a band.

2. Napster, which started in 1999, was hated and loved by musicians and music lovers. (Un)fortunately, they were shut down due to intellectual property rights. What is your view on music sharing?

I actually loved Napster & in fact, have discovered a lot of artists because of it. For me, it’s okay to download music for discoveries’ sake but not for selling. Of course, if I like it, then I go buy the CD when I get the chance.

3. During the heyday of 90’s Pinoy Alternative Music, Rivermaya and the Eraserheads were often compared with each other in terms of popularity and musical aspects. In your own opinion, what made Rivermaya different from Ely’s group and the other bands of the nineties? Are there songs from Eheads that you like and sometimes wished they were yours?

The difference is, Maya had Rico and the Heads had Ely. Like everyone else, I love a lot of Heads songs. There are too many to mention. Except for the “royalties factor” of the song, “Happy Birthday”, I never really wished any song to be mine other than my own ‘cos it wouldn’t be that awesome for me had I written ‘em.

4. Among the first five studio albums (1994-99) of Rivermaya, which is your favorite and why?

“Trip” and “(It's Not Easy Being)…Green” simply ‘cos they were awesome.

5. During Teeth’s popularity, what were your “privileges” in being Dok’s younger brother?

Free CD’s and entrance to gigs.

6. Can you name some 90’s musicians, both local and foreign, who influenced you “technically”?

Teeth, Heads, Kurt Cobain.

7. If Kurt Cobain did not shoot himself to death, what do you think will become of the music scene in his presence?

Pretty much the same. Music itself is not the only factor that makes the “scene”.

8. What is your most vivid memory of Batibot and who were your favorite characters?

The song, “Alagang, alaga naming si Puti”. Fave characters sila Manang Bola, Sitsiritsit, Alibangbang.

9. Did you watch “Ang TV” when you were a teener? Who is your crush among the girls? What can you say about Jolina and Mark’s love relationship?

Yes I did watch it but I honestly don’t remember the cast. Mark & Jolina just got married so that is awesome!

10. Choose between the two and tell us the first thing that pops into your mind when you hear of them:

          A. Moffatts or Hanson - Hanson. That mmbop girl vocalist 

                            that turned out to be a guy.

          B. Vanilla Ice or MC Hammer -Vanilla Ice. “Ice, ice buko,
                           sagooo, sagooo”

          C. “Beavis & Butt-Head” or “Wayne & Garth” - Beavis &
                           Butt-Head. “Cool”

          D. Eat Bulaga or ‘Sang Linggo nAPO Sila - Eat Bulaga. “Mula
                           Aparri hanggang Jolo”.

          E. UMD or Streetboys - UMD. Cross colors.

          F. Sega or Nintendo - Nintendo. Double Dribble.

          G. SM Megamall or Robinsons Galleria - Galleria. A&W Rootbeer
                          Float + Arcade.

         H. LA105.9 or NU107.5 - I shuffled equally between both. “Your
                          host the ghost”, “hip hop vs. metal”, “NU rock awards”

          I. FVR or Miriam Santiago - FVR. “Cigar”

          J. Club Dredd or Mayric’s - Dredd. Ingat sa humahataw na bus.

Message to all the 90’s kids like us:

Go forth and multiply!

SIR JAPS, MARAMING SALAMAT AT RAKENROL! \m/