Esremborak. Ukelele rock and roll na pang masa.

Esremborak. Ukelele rock and roll na pang masa.

by rick olivares

Some folks need some exhortation to get up and sway to the beat during a concert. Others?

How about a ukulele driven band and a lead singer wearing a Deadpool shirt and who pogos like a punk rocker then does a Dave Matthews shimmy, and who write lyrics that would do Dong Abay proud?

Well then, that’s Esremborak. A five-piece ukulele band that sings about everyday life with a wit and candor that’s a refreshing change to listen to; a Yano for a new generation. Their lead singer is MC (pronounced “Mac”) Mislan who looks like a college student or someone who should be on the other side of the barricades pogoing and slamming to the music.

However, during the Pepe Smith Rockfest last Saturday 2^nd of June that featured from classic rockers to ska and reggae bands to metal maniacs to punk crews, Esremborak got the Amoranto Stadium crowd and the present media standing up, smiling, and nodding to their upbeat music and heartfelt lyrics. And easily, their short but sweet set was one of the best of the day.

They only sang two songs (they were only allowed to perform two) as the festival featured over 70 bands. But boy, were they attention grabbers.

“Bakit Hindi Mo Na Lang Ako Mahalin” is about Mislan’s best friend who was courting this girl. At first the friend had a chance but one day it all changed. The girl didn’t like him any longer. “Habang naglalakad ako,” related the band’s vocalist, “Naisip ko ang mga salitang, ‘bakit hindi mo na lang ako mahalin? Hindi ba ako guwapo sa 'yo pag ika’y lasing?’ After that linagyan ko ng rhyme tapos nilapatan ng musika.”

The second song, titled, “Seenzoned”, is about Mislan’s true to life courtship of someone on Facebook Messenger. Related Mislan, “Tungkol yun sa isang babaeng gusto ko subalit walang siya gusto sa akin kasi wala naman akong hitsura. Nag-hi ako sa kanya sa Facebook. “Seen” lang yung status at hindi nag-reply. So sinulat ko yung kantang ‘Seenzoned”. At dahil sa kanta, napansin niya ako.”

So did she say yes to his courtship?

“Sinagot niya ako,” smiled a triumphant Mislan after his triumphant courtship of Shiela Intoy. “Three years na kami.”

The band laughed and clapped. There’s nothing like a romantic and true-to-life story to elicit cat calls and jokes. Yes, there’s an innate joy to Esremborak, named after East Rembo in Makati.

“Dinalaw ko ang bahista namin na si John Michael Tamayo na taga-East Rembo,” related Mislan. “Eh, ang dami rin kuwento doon. So yung lugar na iyon ay isang inspirasyon sa mga kanta. Ang tunog namin pang masa – music from the slums. Slum rock. So Esremborak!”

“Bakit mga ukulele,” added ukulele player Leomar Requejo, “Gusto rin namin maiba sa mga ibang banda. Iba rin yung tunog ng ukulele – masaya! Ganyan yung music namin… masaya kahit mga totoong buhay yung mga kuwento.”

The ukulele isn’t the only fascinating thing about Esremborak. All five members – Mislan, Tamayo, Requejo, Nathaniel Panganiban who also plays the ukulele, and drummer Mary Paredes are all teachers. They all have Bachelor of Arts Degrees in Filipinology. Save for Paredes who teaches at Far Eastern University and Panganiban who is an instructor at STI at Sta. Maria, Bulacan, the others all teach in their alma mater.

“Kung makatulong kami sa mga bata ngayon sa edukasyon, malaking bagay ‘to para sa atin bansa,” explained Paredes.

Not bad. Esremborak teaches not only in the classroom but also in the college of hard knocks – the streets of Metro Manila.

“Sakto!” glowed Mislan.

And that’s what makes this band so appealing – there’s an honest to goodness look at life while tickling your funny bone and appealing to the heart, mind, and hips. With an album on the horizon, Esremborak hopes that Filipino music fans will stand up, smile, shimmy, cheer, sing, and well laugh to their offering.

“Fresh off the streets,” summed up Mislan.

Yep. From East Rembo with love.

From left to right: Ryan Cariño (technical manager), John Michael Tamayo (bass), MC Lougin Mislan (vocals), Leomar Requejo (ukelele), Nathaniel Panganiban (ukelele), Mary Paredes (drums).