Pinoy Rock Legends Rock Houston

By Kokoy Severino

July 17, 2004 - In front of a near-capacity crowd of Filipinos, who drove in from distant corners of the fourth largest metropolis in the US to the southwestern Houston suburb of Stafford, Mike Hanopol delivered a searing set, demonstrating to those of the second-generation Fil-Ams present who had never heard of him (until the week of) not only why he is one of the fathers of Pinoy rock, but why he has had immeasurable influence on countless Pinoy musicians, and why he should be hailed as one of the world's premiere rock guitarists.

Backed by a trio of local players that included expatriated former Manila session-drummer Bobby Gonzales, Mike took us on a ride down the streets of Pinoy rock history, streets he once ruled as he worked to define the genre in the 1970s with Joey Pepe Smith and Wally Gonzalez in the Juan de la Cruz Band. Blasting through a progressive rock symphony, meandering into a rock and roll blues ditty, and crunching out a heavy metal anthem, and then back around over and over, occasionally offering bits of advice like a good father should, Mike pounded out tapestries of rare rock guitar virtuosity that is indeed endangered in the 21st century. Listen and you could hear likenesses to Hendrix, Page, Townsend, Lifeson, Satriani and most definitely Santana. But Mike's originality and creativity is unmatched, even in the company of his legendary contemporaries.

With classic songs that my generation grew up listening to such as the definitive "Laki sa Layaw, Jeproks," the contemplative "Balong Malalim" and of course "Himig Natin," the song that spearheaded the Pinoy rock revolution, Mike Hanopol has already carved his name into the annals of Philippine pop art history, and is a cultural icon Filipinos must treasure. If Mike Hanopol were an Englishman, he would be knighted. In our case, he should be a Datu.

Next, it was Hotdog's turn to take the community on a trip back to Manila in the 1970s. With an ensemble of musicians from Los Angeles, composer-arranger-songwriter Rene Garcia and vocalist Karen Timbol presented a set of Hotdog's classic Tagalog pop hits peppered with American top-40 danceable cover tunes from the era. The result was a scene that could have been taken from a Makati discotheque-a raucous crowd dancing in the aisles to a hot band that transitions from "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko" to Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" as easily as a jeepney-ride to Cubao. Undoubtedly, Hotdog's set inspired not just many a flashback among those who were in Manila during the Pinoy pop rennaissance of the 70's which they lead, but kindled desires of one day returning home to a nation and a culture that awaits to embrace them again.

Mike Hanopol and Hotdog are on their own respective tours - Mike Hanopol on to Aruba, and Hotdog to Canada. We thank and praise the Powers that Be for allowing their paths to converge in Houston, bringing their gift of music, history and memories.


Author's note:
kayumanggi Pinoy rock band would like to express our utmost gratitude to Mike Hanopol for the invitation to perform an opening set for him and Rene Garcia and Hotdog at Stafford Civic Center last Saturday July 17. It was the highest honor to play for the legendary Pinoy rock pioneer who defined the genre in the 1970s, and Hotdog whose modern pop kundiman hits provided the soundtrack to the lives of an entire generation of Filipinos.


The next Pinoy rock event in Houston, lakbay ng pagkaalam 3 ("journey of consciousness 3") takes place at Helios on Friday, August 13, 2004. GET MORE INFORMATION

For more information on Pinoy rock, contact Kokoy Severino at sepoykoy@aol.com.


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