00:26.2
Meron akong kanta na pinresent sa kanila.
00:29.0
Tapos nagustuhan naman nila.
00:30.6
So it's called Judas Belt.
00:32.5
Which is really really punk.
00:34.1
We got a chance to play Knott's Berry Farm.
00:36.4
I got to sing Judas Belt.
00:38.5
Tapos nagmosh pit yung mga kaibigan namin.
00:40.6
Knott's Berry Farm!
00:41.6
Bawal yung mga ganun man.
00:42.7
Like it's family oriented.
00:44.3
Pumasok yung security.
00:45.9
Called my friends out.
00:47.0
Kind of embarrassing but you know what?
00:48.6
Si Finest Summer is also high energy.
00:51.1
It's dance music.
00:54.6
Welcome to the Paco's Place Podcast.
00:59.0
Visit abateservices.com for fast medical transcription service.
01:04.6
This podcast episode is brought to you by AB Music Creative.
01:08.2
And the podcast will begin in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.
01:13.0
Ladies and gentlemen, live at Paco's Place.
01:21.6
Finest Summer's in the house!
01:28.2
Magkakilala tayo.
01:28.9
Magkakilala tayo for over 3 decades.
01:36.1
You're like my little brother.
01:41.8
Lapit mo yung mic sa'yo.
01:42.9
Kasi kaklasiko si, yeah.
01:45.0
Oo, barkada mo si Lou.
01:48.6
Best pals, you know like.
01:52.1
Lasalle, Green Hills!
01:56.0
I mean hindi lahat ng tao perfect pero butin lang.
01:58.9
Hindi lang tayo taga-atin na yun.
02:03.4
Sa lahat ng mga atinista, mahal namin kayo.
02:12.7
Who came up with that name?
02:13.8
Pakita mo yung sticker.
02:14.3
Ganda nung sticker.
02:15.0
Oo, yeah yeah yeah.
02:16.6
Para sa inyong lahat, hello.
02:19.1
My name is Finest Summer.
02:21.6
Legal name na ba yan?
02:23.0
First name, finest, last name, Summer.
02:26.0
Not James Gonzales po.
02:28.7
Sa Pilipinas at saka sa buong mundo.
02:31.0
James Gonzales with a Zed.
02:34.4
Oo nga kasi yung mga iba with an S.
02:37.2
Nagagalit ang tatay ko pag na-misspell yung pangalan namin.
02:42.6
Kasi pag Pinoy, S.
02:46.6
Tapos pag Espangol, Gonzales with a Z.
02:51.6
Now, kaya alam mo naisip.
02:53.7
Before Finest Summer, nagulat ako eh.
02:58.7
Because there was a time na wala lang, naglalaro lang tayong lahat.
03:03.8
Una akong dumampot ng instrumento bago ikaw.
03:07.0
And then nagulat na lang ako, magkakasama muna kayo ni na Ponchi.
03:14.2
Like naalala ko pag tinatawag ka ni Toklets Mateo, Jimmo Nick Nick.
03:20.4
Those were the days.
03:21.8
And then later on, oh my God.
03:23.4
Nagkaroon ng time na hindi pa akong maalis ng intro voice.
03:27.4
But I wanted to try out the project.
03:30.5
And you were my first bass player for Mystery.
03:37.9
So, from what I recall, I think nag-class pa tayo nun.
03:45.5
It was a rainy day.
03:47.0
Tapos sabi mo, tara James, jam tayo.
03:50.2
Tapos yun nga, sa bahay niyo sa horseshoe.
03:53.0
Walang practice ang intro voice.
03:55.4
Actually, hindi alam ni J.J. yun.
03:56.6
Binistrong ka nito yung studio ng intro voice.
04:00.4
Tapos yun, bass player talaga ako eh.
04:06.4
It's always been my first love.
04:08.4
Yun yung first instrument na natuto ako.
04:10.4
Tapos from bass, guitar, drums, keyboard, and all that stuff.
04:15.4
Pero talaga, bass talaga.
04:18.3
This was sa Philippines, right?
04:20.6
Philippines ka lang ito.
04:21.4
Yeah, sa Philippines.
04:22.0
It was in the Philippines.
04:27.0
Gusto ko magtayo ng project.
04:29.8
Tapos, I don't know if the whole world knows this, pero yung real name mo is Enrico.
04:35.3
So, ang sabi mo sa akin, tatawagin yung project na Mr. E. Okay?
04:42.3
So, Mr. E., Mr. Enrico.
04:44.6
Pero the way people are going to pronounce it, Mr. E.
04:49.5
Ayan, Levan, alam mo na ah.
04:52.7
Ako yung first na na-recruit for that.
04:56.0
For that project.
04:57.0
Tapos, nag-jam tayo, tumugtog tayo ng mga new wave deities and stuff, right?
05:04.2
And then, sabi mo, ano kaya para hindi ma-confuse yung tao, okay?
05:11.4
Drama ako ng intro voice, pag-mystery ako.
05:17.3
Parang ano, phantom or something like that.
05:21.6
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:25.1
So, yun yung answer.
05:26.4
You know what ang nakakatawa?
05:29.3
Natuloy yung bandang yun five years after nating ginawa.
05:37.0
With sina G3 Misa.
05:39.0
Sila G3, of course.
05:40.1
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:43.4
Hindi, si Tergie yun eh.
05:52.3
Nakita mo na lang si G3 sa Benilde.
05:57.3
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
05:59.2
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:02.9
Ex ni Vanessa ng Prettier Than Pink.
06:06.4
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:06.8
He's a pretty boy.
06:09.4
He's a pretty boy, ah.
06:14.3
Conyo boy, right?
06:18.4
So, ikaw naman kailangan magpunta ng States.
06:20.7
At bakit kailangan magpunta ng States?
06:24.9
Gumraduate tayo sa Lazal.
06:27.7
And then, um, my dad gifted me to travel the States.
06:33.0
Ah, low-income family lang kami.
06:35.4
Pero, you know, like, he saved up for that kasi he was so proud.
06:40.2
Pupunta ko ng States 94, if I remember right.
06:45.8
Tapos, ah, my life was forever changed.
06:49.0
Hindi ka na bumalik?
06:51.8
Tumira ulit ako sa Philippines.
06:54.9
nung nagpunta ako ng, ah, L.A.,
06:59.2
mga homeboys are here.
07:04.6
Happy box in the house!
07:10.0
Ah, sila yung unang naging kaibigan ko.
07:12.6
Tapos, ah, Benjie from PBJ.
07:21.4
Yung degree of separation, ah, oh.
07:24.0
So, si Benjie, ah, nakilala ko through Andrew.
07:27.8
And you formed a band.
07:29.7
And we did form a band with this drummer from, ah, who's now in New York, Barnard.
07:34.9
And we were called, CESUSVALE!
07:40.3
Ang dami kong ano, ah, ang dami kong episodes na yun.
07:42.5
Ang suot ko yung t-shirt na yun, ah.
07:46.1
I still have the LP.
07:47.2
May LP ako ng CESUS.
07:48.8
So, bumuha mo yung band na CESUSVALE.
07:52.0
Ikaw ang kong band na CESUSVALE.
07:53.7
Ikaw ang original na bass player.
07:54.9
Ikaw ang original na bass player.
07:56.5
Tapos, ah, I kinda sang for the group.
07:59.1
Ah, si Benjie was the lead singer.
08:01.1
Paano ka nagkakilala?
08:03.8
Paano mo nakilala si na Levan, si na Bongski, yan?
08:06.6
Okay, ah, so, two answers I'll give you.
08:09.7
So, si Lauren Orendine.
08:12.6
So, batchmate, right?
08:13.8
From LaSalle Green Hills, right?
08:15.5
Is Lauren related to Ian Orendine?
08:19.0
I don't think so.
08:20.3
So, sila magkapitbay ni Andrew.
08:22.8
Sa, like, Azusa or somewhere, right?
08:26.5
Tapos, ah, sabi niya, oh, meron akong bagong batchmate na, you know, like, yeah, marunong mag-bass.
08:33.5
Pinakalala niya ako kay Andrew through, dude, mobile phone or whatever, right?
08:38.9
So, I got in touch.
08:40.3
Tapos sabi ni Andrew, ah, okay, gigimi kami.
08:43.8
Punta kami ng Palas.
08:46.0
Not knowing that I was gonna meet everyone.
08:47.9
Wait, Palas sa LA?
08:51.0
Kung saan tumog ito ganda doon?
08:52.5
Just a few weeks ago.
08:54.6
So, I finally got to meet, ah, Skitzo, si Levan, and everybody else, right?
09:00.8
Hindi pa kami nagja-jam.
09:04.3
Andun din si Benjie?
09:08.7
Nakilala ko si Benjie during our first rehearsals.
09:11.7
So, nandun si Drew, nandun si Barnard, tapos si Benjie came.
09:17.5
Sisasville na to o jamming lang?
09:22.2
Knowing Benjie, ah, you know, he's always been the forefront, right?
09:28.6
Kaya, ah, new wave-ish yung background, right?
09:34.2
Ah, I come from a…
09:38.4
Yeah, my genre's a little bit different.
09:40.1
You know, like, yeah.
09:41.4
So, punk na yung trip ko, eh.
09:43.9
Talaga yung mga dread days natin.
09:46.1
Yup, yup, yup, yeah.
09:47.2
So, yun na yung trip kong gawin.
09:49.3
Ah, to si Andrew, medyo inclined siya sa akin.
09:52.6
Si Barnard was neutral.
09:54.5
Dahil si Benjie yung songwriter, yung main songwriter, so, of course, siya yung, you
09:59.6
know, like, yeah, we, you know, we accompanied yung music, you know?
10:03.6
Ah, tapos meron akong kanta na pinresent sa kanila, tapos nagustuhan naman nila, so
10:11.3
it's called Judas Belt.
10:13.1
Which is really, really punk.
10:14.6
So, ah, we got a chance to play Knott's Berry Farm.
10:18.7
So, sa Knott's Berry Farm, ah, I got to sing, ah,
10:22.2
Judas Belt, tapos nag-mosh pit yung mga kaibigan namin, Knott's Berry Farm, you know,
10:27.3
like, yeah, nagbawal yung mga ganun, man, like, it's, ah, it's family-oriented, so.
10:33.6
So, pumasok yung security, called my friends out, you know, like, yeah, kind of embarrassing,
10:38.6
but you know what?
10:41.5
So, within, within Caesars Vale, may, may tension, and, and healthy, healthy tension,
10:47.6
kasi yung isa gusto mag-new wave, yung isa gusto mag-punk.
10:52.2
Ang ganda nun, eh, maganda yung, yung vibe ng ganun, eh, yung energy.
10:56.0
But it, it, it's, it's very fragile, though.
11:00.6
Kasi hindi mo alam, like, sa madadalin, sa pupunta.
11:05.1
So, ano nangyari?
11:06.2
So, yeah, ah, nag-record kami, ah, demo or EP or something like that, tapos, ah, yun nga,
11:16.0
like, it sounded really good.
11:18.3
Ah, wala naman kaming mga pera nung time na yun, diba?
11:21.3
Like, we were just doing, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
11:22.0
We were just doing odd jobs, right?
11:23.8
Ah, si BNG ang main songwriter, of course, of the band, tapos ako, ah, after some point,
11:34.3
I decided to, yeah, back to the Philippines.
11:37.8
Back to the Philippines?
11:38.8
I went back to the Philippines.
11:40.4
Anong ginawa mo sa Philippines when you went back?
11:42.3
Ah, I worked for, um, you know, like, alam mo naman sa Philippines, white collar job.
11:51.1
So, I had to, I had to embrace that.
11:53.6
You know, like, I had to like something that I dislike, right?
11:56.8
So, I stayed there, tapos, ah…
12:00.2
So, Philippines, bago ka nag-America, nagbabanda ka, anong banda mo nun, nung time na yun?
12:08.2
Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah.
12:13.0
Dead toenails, man.
12:14.3
Hahaha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
12:16.7
Dude, so yun yung banda ko sa Lasal, man.
12:18.7
I was with dead toenails.
12:21.0
So, from the very get-go, like, you know, that was grunge days.
12:28.4
Ano eh, yung confidence level ko, tapos, you know, like, bago lang ako, man.
12:32.8
I just wanted to play music, right?
12:34.5
So, meron kami yung si Jason.
12:36.4
Si Jason yung singer.
12:39.1
Tapos, yeah, like, so we formed that band.
12:44.9
Oo, kausuan ng mga Pearl Jam noong mga times na yun.
12:48.4
So, sila Ponchi, Flourish, sila Plato, you know, like, yeah.
12:55.7
Si Russell ba yung batch mo?
12:58.3
I don't think so, Russell.
13:03.4
Russell ang batch ko.
13:05.6
Si Rosmo ang batch mo?
13:08.5
Si Rosmo, si Ponchi.
13:11.1
Yung natutunan ko sa States, right, during the 90s.
13:15.5
During, yeah, yung grunge.
13:18.4
Um, yun yung ideas na dinala ko sa Philippines.
13:22.6
So, then, um, I started a band.
13:25.5
What, ano pangalan ng band na to?
13:28.5
Shark's Fin Shomai.
13:30.3
Huwag siya pala, oy, oy, oy, alam ko yun.
13:31.9
Yan, yan, alam ko yan.
13:33.1
Yeah, so, Shark's Fin Shomai.
13:35.2
Ah, yun, gumawa pa nga kami ng sticker.
13:37.7
Because during this time, nagsisurf na ako.
13:39.5
So, yung shape nung sticker namin, longboard.
13:42.7
Sa'yo nag-isip ng name?
13:44.3
Ah, by chance lang eh.
13:47.7
pag nagja-jam kami, you know, like, merong Kowloon.
13:52.6
Merong Kowloon na malapit dun sa studio.
13:55.0
So, I guess, yung guitar player ordered Shark's Fin Shomai.
13:59.3
Yeah. Parate, like, ah, ah, ah, like, based in my experience,
14:02.5
parate, yung, yung band name, yung artist name always comes last.
14:09.8
Eh, hindi ko alam. I think, focus on the music.
14:12.6
Like, yun, yun, yun talaga yung gusto ko eh.
14:14.6
Like, gumawa lang ng music, magsulat ng kanta.
14:17.7
Ah, present those songs to, you know, to everyone.
14:21.2
So, Dead Toenails, Shark, Shark's Fin, ah...
14:25.7
Shomai, Seasas Vale.
14:27.3
Ang Seasas Vale gained notoriety sa LA.
14:31.0
When it gained notoriety, were you still part of the band o wala ka na sa band?
14:35.4
So, anong feeling nung narinig mong umuugong ang, ang Seasas Vale?
14:41.1
Ah, at the same time, like, you know, yung, yung, ah, Shark's Fin Shomai was gaining popularity in the Philippines.
14:46.6
Yes. Kasi narinig mo yung...
14:47.5
Yes. Kasi narinig mo yung...
14:48.1
Yeah. Like, we had so much shows and, like, si, si Levan, you know, like, kaya, si, like, si Levan kept all the set list na pinapadala ko sa kanya, iniipon ko sa kanya.
14:58.1
You know, so, yeah.
15:00.2
So, kumbaga, tinalikuran mo na talaga yung part na yun?
15:03.3
Yeah. Tapos, ah, alam ko naman eh, na kumuha na sila ng ibang bass player, tapos, you know, like, ah, ah, ibang members na, you know, like, pero, Benji was always a singer, tapos, I was always a big fan.
15:15.2
Tapos, ah, local Pinoy sila, you know.
15:18.7
So, after Sharks Fin, did you decide to go back to the States or Canada na, o ano na?
15:26.8
Bumalik ulit ako sa States.
15:28.9
Further education.
15:31.3
Pero this time around, San Francisco.
15:34.2
Pero yung mindset mo, pag alis mo ng Pilipinas, wala nang balikan to, or?
15:40.5
Philippines will always be my home.
15:42.6
And kaya ako siniset up ng ganito is because I'm trying to see the pattern na...
15:47.7
I know you as a person, as a musician, as a brother, as a friend, diba?
15:56.4
Pero yung pattern ng in and out, States, Philippines, States, Philippines.
15:59.8
Tapos, biglang, pagtanong ko kay Benji, asa na si, ano, si James?
16:06.8
Siguro, I guess I blame my father for this.
16:12.3
Yung tatay ko kasi, you know, like, I did mention earlier, low income.
16:17.7
He had to raise seven kids.
16:21.2
Seven kids. I'm number six of seven.
16:25.2
Tapos, everyone...
16:27.0
So, six boys, one girl.
16:28.8
Pangilang yung girl?
16:32.1
So, six boys, all lasal.
16:34.7
From beginning, all the way to graduation.
16:37.8
Low income nga, mga talagang mahal nun.
16:42.1
Tapos, yung sister ko...
16:49.8
Sino dito yung ASSU?
16:51.4
Pacey in the house!
17:01.2
No offense, guys.
17:10.7
Kayo, pinasasamahan nyo ako rito, eh.
17:17.7
Yeah, yung ma'am ko magdadrive ng Toyota Station Wagon.
17:21.5
Anong feeling na ang dami nyo at pang-anim ka?
17:26.2
May boses ka sa family?
17:29.5
I don't think so.
17:31.2
Pag-usapan nga natin, anong feeling ng number six?
17:37.6
Nakatira kami sa apartment in Santa Ana, Manila.
17:40.1
I'm a proud boy from Santa Ana, Manila.
17:43.2
You know, like...
17:44.5
Kung walang Santa Ana, kung...
17:47.7
If I was somewhere else, I wouldn't be the dreamer that I am now, right?
17:56.3
Si Francis, anyway.
17:59.9
Every breakfast, lunch, and dinner is always a party.
18:04.8
May pagkain ka naman.
18:07.4
Dude, we had a huge dining table, man.
18:09.6
Sabay-sabay kakain.
18:10.3
Tapos in the middle, Lazy Susan.
18:13.8
So, sorry for my siblings.
18:16.6
Pero they all know this.
18:17.7
Uh, akong favorite ng dad ko.
18:20.2
So, I sat right next to my dad.
18:23.1
So, my dad was always served first.
18:25.8
Tapos next to him was skinny boy me.
18:28.3
Alam mo, maghanap ako.
18:29.1
Maghanap talaga ako ng baby, ng little picture nito.
18:31.9
Cute tong bata to dati.
18:40.7
Hindi na siya bata kayo, kaya bata dati.
18:43.4
Oo, ngayon gwapo na, di ba?
18:45.7
Kayo, kayo tatlo.
18:48.2
Okay, okay, okay.
18:55.2
Okay, tapos, ikaw ang favorite.
18:57.2
So, ikaw lang binigyan ng ticket to the States?
18:59.2
Yung sister ko din, yata.
19:01.7
I think yung sister ko din.
19:04.2
So, may favoritism ang tatay mo?
19:05.7
Um, I would say yes.
19:09.7
Kasi, I, I got away with a lot of things.
19:11.7
You and your siblings are all okay?
19:15.2
My, my siblings are far than okay.
19:18.3
No, I mean, okay kayong relationship niyo?
19:20.3
Best family ever.
19:22.3
Like, so, so tight.
19:25.3
Who would you, who would you give credit to kung bakit kayo naging oh so tight?
19:29.3
Ah, yung parents, of course.
19:31.3
Kasi, yun nga, like, wala kami.
19:34.3
Like, we went to Lasalle.
19:35.3
You know, like, yeah.
19:36.3
When my classmates were playing with Star Wars action figures and all that stuff, man.
19:40.3
Like, I didn't have those things.
19:41.3
Mga Nova Fontana, no?
19:44.3
Sa, sa Vira Mall.
19:46.3
Nandun lang ako sa window, man.
19:47.3
Nangarap lang ako, man.
19:48.3
You know, like, pero I, I, yeah.
19:53.3
You know, like, yeah.
19:54.3
Tapos, yung dad ko got his break.
19:57.3
Kasi, si Benny Gonzalez is a really, really smart guy.
20:02.3
So, he worked for ADB.
20:09.3
He was one of the consultants for, for ADB.
20:13.3
Pagka-dream job ko yun.
20:18.3
Yung ADB is World Bank ng Asia.
20:23.3
Naka-travel siya.
20:25.3
Is your dad still around?
20:29.3
Sana he's watching this, no?
20:32.3
Like, kaya nga sabi ko, sabi ko sa LA crew, you know, like, yeah.
20:38.3
Kasi, these are, that's it.
20:39.3
You know, like, yeah.
20:40.3
These are the achievements that I can give them, finally.
20:42.3
You know, like, after that.
20:45.3
So, sinabi mo, your siblings are far better than what's expected.
20:48.3
Anong ginagawa nila?
20:49.3
Like, growing up, how old's your oldest sibling?
20:52.3
I don't think so.
20:53.3
Sasunod-sunod ka yung pinanganak?
20:55.3
Kasi magsasigwenta ka na.
20:56.3
Kung hindi, sigwenta ka na eh.
20:59.3
I thought I was only in the 30s.
21:00.3
I thought I was only in the 30s.
21:45.3
Apartment o kadamo.
21:47.0
Three-door apartment, right?
21:49.0
So, inside the three-door apartment,
21:51.8
two bedrooms on the second floor.
21:53.7
So, may natutulog sa sala.
21:55.9
So, two bedrooms.
21:57.1
So, master's bedroom,
21:58.3
tapos malaking bedroom.
22:01.0
So, we have one sister.
22:03.9
So, what does the family do?
22:06.3
They give the bedroom.
22:07.2
We created a room for my sister.
22:10.7
We split the big room.
22:13.4
Dude, plywood, man.
22:15.3
Dude, dude, dude.
22:16.1
So, may sarili siyang kwarto.
22:19.5
Tapos, yung youngest brother ko.
22:22.6
So, yung youngest brother ko,
22:23.9
because he was the youngest,
22:25.5
he had to stay with my sister.
22:32.9
yun, nung lumalaki namin,
22:36.6
So, I'm talking about the big room.
22:39.1
The big room na hinate, ha?
22:41.5
So, ngayon, naging,
22:42.5
yung two bedrooms became three bedrooms.
22:47.1
Tawagin natin yung boys' room.
22:48.2
So, yung boys' room,
22:50.5
for my two oldest siblings.
22:53.9
Tapos, the other four,
22:58.0
That's how we fit, man.
22:59.7
So, anong kwentuhan nyo?
23:01.2
Anong kwentuhan nyo?
23:02.2
Dude, it was always chaos, man.
23:07.5
papasok kami sa lasal.
23:15.8
diba, naalala mo yung uniform natin, right?
23:18.2
white polo shirt,
23:19.2
like, button down,
23:20.4
tapos kaki pants, right?
23:22.2
When it was my turn,
23:28.3
letter J ang pangalan nyo?
23:30.8
yung nickname sila
23:31.8
starts with letter J.
23:34.0
tama lang sa name patch, diba?
23:36.3
Hindi na kailangan palitan, diba?
23:41.0
hand-me-down na rin, right?
23:42.2
Dude, nakasave na yung mommy ko, man.
23:49.6
ang problema yung,
23:50.8
yung showers, man.
23:54.1
ah, dalawa naman yung showers,
23:59.6
hindi ko alam kung yung ibang banyo
24:00.9
sa Philippines are like that,
24:05.6
pagpasok mo sa main door
24:11.0
at saka merong sink
24:11.8
for brushing your teeth
24:13.0
and getting ready.
24:15.5
So, we made it happen.
24:18.5
tatlo sabay-sabay.
24:20.5
Tapos, palit-palit na lang.
24:23.3
meron kaming ano,
24:26.3
what do you call that?
24:30.8
So, dun hinahang yung, ano,
24:33.9
Hinahang dry, right?
24:36.2
I'm one of the youngest ones,
24:38.5
when it was my turn,
24:45.4
Hati-hati na rin sa tuwal niya.
24:47.8
kasi maliit naman ako.
24:49.5
I've always been the skinny guy.
24:51.1
I've always been the tiny.
24:56.8
lahat kami magkakasya dun
24:57.9
sa station wagon.
24:59.5
Hatid yung sister ko
25:01.6
we would go to Lasal.
25:03.7
diretsyo ng Sanlo.
25:05.4
Tapos, diretsyo sa Green Hills.
25:09.7
Hindi mo na magagawa ngayon.
25:11.2
Hindi mo na magagawa ngayon.
25:15.0
Ang sarap na childhood mo, no?
25:24.6
part of your life
25:25.8
to this part of your life now?
25:29.4
Loving family talaga, eh.
25:32.7
here in North America.
25:34.4
I'm a social worker.
25:35.6
So, I hear stories, right?
25:38.7
like all that stuff, right?
25:44.7
I can never relate.
25:47.9
my family's not perfect.
25:49.3
Nothing is perfect, right?
25:52.3
my parents set the standards so high.
25:56.6
Nakita ako talaga sa kanila,
25:58.5
how I want my life to be.
26:00.3
And that's what my siblings did.
26:02.2
That's what I'm doing right now.
26:05.3
the next generation, eh.
26:06.7
You know, like, yeah.
26:07.9
I do have kids now, right?
26:10.6
How many kids do you have?
26:13.3
So, may tatlo pa.
26:19.4
I don't know, man.
26:21.6
How old your eldest?
26:24.8
So, is that your answer to my age?
26:26.6
No, no, no, no, no.
26:28.6
Tinatanong ko lang kasi.
26:29.9
Kaya ako tinatanong.
26:35.5
all the way to your,
26:36.7
all the way to king.
26:37.7
Kasi si king ang youngest, eh.
26:39.1
Your kuya all the way to king.
26:40.7
That's a gamut of experience, eh.
26:45.7
ang swerte mo kasi
26:46.3
andun na siya sa dadaanan mo
26:48.6
in five more steps.
26:53.4
Yung eldest mo, eh.
26:54.6
Pang-anim ka, eh.
26:55.5
So, isa-isan yung dadaanan lahat yun.
26:59.1
Tapos, yung panganay mo, 26.
27:01.7
So, magkakasunod lang kayo
27:02.9
halos na dadaan sa buhay.
27:05.4
And this is all because of Tito Benny
27:07.6
and his principles.
27:10.0
Si Benny and Agnes,
27:11.3
they're super smart
27:12.4
that they took a break.
27:14.3
So, after the first four,
27:16.5
four years after the second batch,
27:20.3
And that's how we always, like, connect.
27:23.0
So, I've always been close to
27:24.7
Jing, who lives in Toronto now, right?
27:28.9
Introduced me to music.
27:31.2
my youngest brother.
27:32.8
So, it's always been us
27:35.7
I'm not trying to advertise Viber,
27:38.6
pero ganun talaga, eh.
27:40.2
sa Viber, meron kaming sarili namin.
27:42.0
Na kayo tatlalag.
27:44.0
Kasi we can only...
27:44.7
Five, six, and seven.
27:49.0
Kapag relate kayong tatlo,
27:50.3
silang apat relate sila.
27:53.0
Anong, ano, ano, ano,
27:54.2
ano ang years apart
27:56.6
ng Old Testament sa New Testament?
28:02.2
Pero, like, yeah,
28:03.3
when we're all together,
28:04.4
like, solid talaga.
28:06.8
Kanina, tinanong mo nga,
28:09.7
it seems like I've been traveling all my life.
28:14.2
tapos sabi ko nga,
28:19.9
Like, he got to travel.
28:21.9
Tapos, he took the family,
28:23.7
you know, like, with him.
28:26.1
kahit na wala kaming pera,
28:27.6
we were traveling.
28:29.2
Tapos, you know how it is,
28:31.5
So, they gave us a nice house.
28:34.9
We had, like, helpers.
28:38.6
there was a point,
28:43.0
Jakarta International School.
28:47.0
the heck, you know, like,
28:48.2
yeah, yung mga kaklase,
28:51.7
paningit lang kami dun sa skwela,
28:53.7
you know, like, yeah.
28:55.5
So, we got to experience that.
28:57.4
So, now, as an adult,
28:59.3
bakit mo naman naisipan
29:00.3
mag-North pa sa North America?
29:03.9
You're based now in Canada
29:04.9
or you're back here?
29:07.7
ang gagawin na strategy,
29:10.2
like, I am trying to promote myself
29:12.2
as fine as summer.
29:13.6
So, I think it's gonna be
29:17.3
going back and forth.
29:18.7
I'm based in Victoria, B.C.
29:22.9
The Hawaii of Canada.
29:25.5
is na sa Vancouver Island,
29:27.2
Yes, Vancouver Island.
29:29.8
ang home base ko for now is,
29:32.6
Victoria or Vancouver
29:34.3
tsaka California.
29:39.7
Okay, bakit inaawin na
29:48.0
sabi niya sa akin,
29:48.7
hey, I heard you have, like,
29:50.7
that you've been composing,
29:57.5
Wait, let's record it.
29:58.6
So, ibig sabi kasama si King dito?
30:01.2
Kasi sa States ako nakatira
30:02.6
nung time na yun.
30:03.5
Tapos umuwi ako ng Philippines.
30:05.3
Sabi niya sa akin,
30:07.2
marami ka ng material,
30:12.5
distribute, right?
30:14.3
So, sabi ko, okay.
30:15.1
Like, I came home,
30:16.1
I came back to the Philippines
30:18.8
and to open a business
30:23.4
Anong business na?
30:25.6
It's still around?
30:27.8
Saan tong business na?
30:30.9
restaurant and carwash
30:40.6
habang nagpapakarwash,
30:46.0
Dude, she offers everything.
30:48.2
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
30:54.4
So, you guys opened it?
30:59.8
Tapos sabi niya lang,
31:00.9
we have this brilliant idea,
31:03.5
why don't we open a carwash?
31:07.7
I'm not good with numbers,
31:09.5
pero I can manage, right?
31:12.5
I did the numbers,
31:13.2
tapos sabi ko, okay,
31:14.5
like, I don't really need,
31:22.3
and then sabi ko kay King,
31:24.0
I'll open a business,
31:27.0
okay, I'll record,
31:30.1
yung priority is surfing.
31:32.1
Because I want to be away,
31:33.4
gusto ko ma-experience
31:36.6
yung countryside.
31:37.4
Saan ang surfing?
31:39.9
Baler yung number one.
31:46.8
who's the counselor now
31:57.3
yung family niya from there.
32:00.2
So, sumama ako sa kanya.
32:04.2
dude, sa countryside,
32:12.5
Binanggit niya sa akin din yan.
32:17.1
pag merong shows.
32:18.8
natapos naman yung recording.
32:25.0
siya yung record sa akin.
32:29.1
he was my producer that time.
32:31.0
Who played all the instruments?
32:39.3
ang dami ko ng material.
32:41.0
we kind of picked yung
32:45.0
anong responsibility ni King,
32:46.7
your youngest brother,
32:47.8
dito sa project na to?
32:50.3
Back in the days,
32:56.2
I've been trying to remember his name.
33:02.9
King Station Manager.
33:06.7
mag-iisip na rin ako.
33:07.9
Sorry, sorry, sorry.
33:09.1
Hindi ko rin alam ko siya.
33:10.5
I'm sorry, buddy.
33:12.0
Hindi ko rin alam.
33:13.3
Tagal ko nang wala sa Pilipinas.
33:15.0
Yeah, ako din, man.
33:16.0
I'm getting older.
33:18.6
Pag-ilagay sa comments.
33:23.1
we landed the meeting with him.
33:25.2
we'll have him listen.
33:28.4
punta kami sa office niya.
33:30.4
pinakinggan na amin.
33:34.0
First time na experience ko
33:35.8
being in front of a station manager.
33:43.9
they're busy people.
33:46.1
six songs yung nandun sa CD.
33:51.7
parang beginning,
33:54.3
For all the six songs.
33:56.5
Finding the hook.
33:59.3
I haven't answered your question
34:01.6
about Finest Summer.
34:04.0
ang kineri ko na name.
34:05.9
ang sabi niya sa akin,
34:09.8
I really like your music.
34:14.7
it's electro-pop.
34:16.9
I don't think the Filipinos
34:18.2
are ready for this.
34:22.1
and I did respect that.
34:24.6
station manager sila
34:27.0
you wouldn't be an engineer
34:28.3
kung wala kang alam sa math.
34:30.1
Kung hindi analytical yung mind mo.
34:32.2
station manager siya,
34:35.3
He knew his projections.
34:37.2
alam niya na mangyayari sa music
34:38.7
during that time.
34:44.4
around that time.
34:50.4
and the Filipinos
34:52.6
will be ready for your music.
34:58.6
10 years later na.
34:59.4
tama ang sinabi niya.
35:02.1
kasi whenever I do my shows now,
35:08.5
Kumbaga na-elevate na ang,
35:13.3
ang tenga ng Pinoy.
35:17.5
ganun yung nangyari.
35:20.1
Naging finest summer na si
35:22.9
What's up with the megaphone?
35:32.3
si finest summer po.
35:36.0
ang instrument niya,
35:39.2
kahit Sharks Finchomay pa,
35:42.5
I think natutunan ko to sa
35:45.2
ginagamit ko pa rin.
35:51.6
naging solo artist na si,
35:54.4
hindi na ako naging banda.
35:57.4
I had to think of
35:59.5
na pwedeng gamitin,
36:09.2
Will there be an opportunity na
36:11.2
gagawin mo ulit banda?
36:14.7
instead of si finest summer,
36:15.9
magiging ang finest summer?
36:22.9
yung setup ng banda
36:24.1
will always be in my heart.
36:29.0
using my backing tracks,
36:31.4
professionally done.
36:33.9
the sound of the kick.
36:36.1
I miss the chemistry
36:37.4
of having people on stage.
36:43.6
I just did a tour
36:44.3
with paroke ni Edgar.
36:54.3
there's multiple stories
36:55.3
that I could share with you guys.
36:56.9
This is your episode.
37:07.2
ang nagdala ng paroke ni Edgar.
37:09.2
A few months ago,
37:15.2
kasi base na ako nga ako sa Canada.
37:17.5
Edmonton and Vancouver,
37:20.4
mag-front sa kanila.
37:24.1
a Filipino audience
37:29.2
I've never done it.
37:30.5
In North America?
37:31.5
In North America.
37:33.6
Si Finest Summer,
37:41.3
I'm not trying to,
37:43.2
I'm not trying to diss
37:44.6
wala lang opportunity.
37:47.3
At tas ang Victoria,
37:48.5
predominantly white.
37:50.2
walang Filipino dun.
37:51.6
I go to the supermarket,
37:53.5
everyone knows me.
37:58.2
nabigyan ako ng chance
37:59.5
na mag-open sa paroke.
38:05.2
I became a hype man.
38:07.7
I became that energy.
38:09.2
Before the main band.
38:15.5
before the main act.
38:20.0
nung manager ko na,
38:24.3
you can do whatever.
38:26.9
But it's their show,
38:27.9
so you gotta hype up the crowd.
38:30.3
yun yung ginawa ako.
38:31.1
I played my role.
38:33.3
ngayon meron akong,
38:34.4
I recently released,
38:39.7
You have to plug.
38:41.4
finest summer channel,
38:48.8
finest summer official.
38:51.9
naiba yung game plan namin.
38:54.5
Who's your manager?
39:04.8
wala siyang alam sa Filipino culture.
39:07.4
sabi niya sa akin,
39:08.9
you gotta change the strategy.
39:12.4
nag-list na kami ng,
39:14.0
songs to be recorded.
39:16.3
bigger shows na yung ginagawa ko.
39:19.2
yung backing tracks ko ngayon,
39:20.6
kailangan has to be
39:23.2
to be constructed.
39:25.2
Yung mga ginawa ko na,
39:30.0
cannot be used anymore.
39:34.4
pumasok ulit ako ng studio.
39:37.0
thank you so much,
39:41.9
Sino kinuha mong instrumentalist?
39:44.0
O ikaw na lahat to?
39:45.5
at saka si Lanay.
39:47.6
At saka si Jordan.
39:51.7
kasi walang Pilipino,
39:55.7
itim at saka puti,
39:57.8
Multiracial na yung nangyari dun sa,
39:59.5
sa team ng Fine Summer.
40:16.6
nandun kami ni Brian,
40:17.9
tapos we get a knock from the door,
40:22.3
you're on in 10 minutes.
40:26.3
inawa ako yung gitara,
40:27.5
a bag with all my cables,
40:31.3
iPad for my backing tracks.
40:36.1
he's also a professional videographer,
40:38.0
and photographer,
40:39.6
nag-separate kami,
40:40.9
he went up on stage,
40:42.5
closer to the stage,
40:48.5
it was the slowest
41:00.2
I was trying to entertain myself,
41:01.9
kasi sobrang kabado,
41:04.6
naririnig ko yung,
41:09.2
the crowd loved them,
41:24.2
alternative Filipino music.
41:26.2
Yung skills ng Memoria,
41:31.0
iba na talaga yung kaya nilang gawin.
41:33.8
and I am getting older.
41:38.2
I said my prayers,
41:41.8
I took a picture of myself
41:43.1
to capture that moment.
41:50.4
ito yung first gig,
41:51.3
Vancouver was next,
41:52.3
pero ito yung first Filipino.
41:56.0
narinig ko yung hosts,
41:58.8
let's give it up for Finest Summer.
42:02.4
yun sa side nung stage,
42:04.9
heavy black curtains,
42:07.3
and then finally,
42:08.2
I got to see everybody,
42:10.8
a pool of people,
42:24.6
the last strand of my hair,
42:29.7
Kamusta yung reception?
42:32.6
I dropped my guitar,
42:35.2
backing tracks ako,
42:39.1
I looked at them,
42:42.2
I didn't know them,
42:49.7
wala pang megaphone,
43:03.1
the loudest one ever.
43:05.5
I knew for a fact,
43:06.7
after the 10 seconds,
43:28.6
up until that moment,
43:30.4
kaya walang rule book,
43:32.0
walang user's manual,
43:33.3
you just have to do it.
43:38.1
on digital platforms?
43:40.2
Yung mga tinutug mo sa Edmonton?
43:47.5
Wala pa sa Apple Music,
43:53.5
yung YouTube talaga yung best source for now.
43:56.8
dalawang music videos,
43:59.5
which is a Tagalog song,
44:05.7
Lahat naman tayo,
44:06.7
nagkaroon ng crush,
44:08.4
pero you never had the guts to,
44:16.7
ni-release yung music video,
44:20.1
like a month before the show,
44:21.6
or a month and a half before the show,
44:24.9
I played the guitar for this song.
44:26.6
May backing tracks,
44:27.5
pero I played the guitar,
44:29.6
Nag-i-intro pa lang ako,
44:30.8
narinig ko na sila,
44:35.5
I am an average person,
44:38.1
someone from the audience,
44:48.1
alaki nung stage,
44:51.2
tas two levels pa.
44:52.6
pinapanood ka rin ng parokya,
44:53.7
were they watching you?
44:54.8
They were watching me from the,
44:56.7
from the VIP room,
45:00.7
Jai Monga sa flat screen TV.
45:04.1
nung tinugtog ko,
45:04.9
tas pagdating nung,
45:05.7
meron kasing lyrics,
45:10.8
the way the song goes,
45:12.9
ang aking kapitbahay.
45:19.9
nag-acknowledge na sila.
45:21.5
they all started howling.
45:24.1
Tas yung mga iba,
45:26.1
they were already starting to sing.
45:29.9
dumungaw sa may bintana.
45:33.7
Tas pagdating nung chorus,
45:36.3
kasi yun naman yung trabaho ko,
45:39.2
those catchy hooks,
45:42.9
natin pinagbigyan?
45:47.9
ay laging napapagtripahan.
45:53.3
they were already singing it,
45:56.8
kaya ako alam na,
45:58.6
they did their research,
46:07.5
How many songs did you,
46:08.5
ten minutes lang to eh,
46:14.2
because he's electro-pop,
46:15.5
so his songs are like,
46:17.0
two and a half minutes,
46:21.3
pagka mayroong instruments,
46:23.3
it gets a little longer.
46:32.3
nahanap mo na yung bahay mo,
46:34.6
it's still gonna change.
46:39.4
magkikwita ko sa finest summer,
46:41.5
ikaw lang nang dyan eh.
46:46.3
Ayoko na sa inyo.
46:47.7
Ikaw na nga lang,
46:48.7
natitira dyan eh.
46:50.0
yung bandmates ko,
46:53.1
how can they complain,
47:00.9
I had to fly this morning,
47:07.3
Hindi ka front act dito,
47:09.5
Part of the show,
47:13.5
yun ang difference eh,
47:16.5
Wongski's in the house,
47:18.0
Bernie's in the house,
47:20.1
Peace in the house!
47:22.6
yun nga yung sabi nila kanina,
47:24.4
yung how to maintain that energy.
47:28.8
I've always been a fan.
47:32.9
you guys draw the crowd,
47:35.9
it's going to be a
47:36.8
busy dance floor.
47:41.4
I've been watching your videos,
47:45.5
mahiling mag-sail talagang Filipino.
47:52.8
to the second set,
47:54.6
there's finest summer.
47:58.8
I'm not trying to,
48:02.0
that finest summer
48:06.5
si finest summer is also
48:08.9
it's dance music,
48:10.6
It's so much positivity,
48:14.2
it just so happens
48:19.4
alam mo yung feeling na,
48:20.9
ikaw with parokya,
48:23.1
tapos ang role mo
48:26.3
I think that has to be
48:27.2
the culture now, eh.
48:29.7
established artist
48:34.5
Dapat may mga rules
48:37.4
kahit ikaw nag-open,
48:39.1
I'm not talking about you,
48:40.9
the opener should aspire
48:43.9
before the main act.
48:47.7
ikaw ang nagsaset ng president
48:48.9
kung paano tatanggapin
48:52.2
yung main act, eh.
48:53.9
ang role mo was to
48:55.1
remove inhibitions
48:56.4
para paglabas ng parokya
49:00.3
And that's what I did.
49:04.7
with my previous bands,
49:06.7
this is my second time,
49:08.2
second time to open for parokya.
49:10.2
I used to be in a band
49:13.8
Charmin represent,
49:22.3
back in the days.
49:25.3
you just wanted to play
49:29.0
You just wanted to,
49:32.0
may IQ involved na yan,
49:33.5
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
49:35.2
can you expound on that?
49:37.0
there are musicians
49:38.2
who just want to play.
49:41.0
there are musicians
49:41.8
who know that it's,
49:44.7
it has to be more than playing, eh.
49:47.4
May science dyan, eh.
49:50.5
is taken for granted.
49:56.3
yeah, showmanship
49:57.1
and all that stuff.
50:00.1
from what I know,
50:05.3
when you're in the show,
50:06.7
there's so many things
50:07.8
that you have to consider.
50:13.1
is this your show?
50:14.6
the time will come
50:15.4
when it is your show,
50:17.0
It's not a finest summer show.
50:20.5
ang ginawa ko sa parokya
50:23.1
because I became the hype man,
50:26.3
between the fourth
50:28.3
and the fifth song,
50:31.4
which is the fifth song.
50:32.4
sabi ko sa kanila,
50:34.3
galing lang ako ng backstage.
50:39.3
sabi nila sa akin,
50:40.8
hindi sila tutugtog
50:42.7
nag-cheer sa kanila.
50:49.2
the sound was so loud,
50:51.8
nararamdaman mo na yung roof
50:55.5
Sobrang lakas talaga.
51:04.4
sabi nung manager,
51:05.4
sabi nung parokya,
51:09.3
were you able to do that?
51:13.0
and I didn't stop,
51:18.3
finally ended it.
51:26.1
Shark's Fit and Shawmai,
51:34.2
One Size Fits All.
51:37.6
so dalawa sa San Francisco.
51:40.6
may hinahanap ka eh.
51:43.7
Kaya nga feeling ko,
51:44.5
parang ito na yung,
51:46.8
It's your finest,
51:47.8
for your finest work,
51:52.5
if you were going to look back at,
51:54.1
all the five bands
51:56.1
that you were part of,
51:58.2
that you actually started,
52:06.4
parang ano eh, no?
52:09.3
ang masasabi mo sa mga
52:10.5
nagsastart ng banda?
52:13.5
Because based on our experience,
52:15.6
hindi mo malalabas lahat sa band eh.
52:20.1
iba-iba kayo ng trip eh.
52:23.1
with Ceasar's Veil,
52:26.5
before I came on board,
52:29.4
New Wave 80s yung style na.
52:33.8
Benji allowed me,
52:36.1
He even allowed me
52:41.2
kasama yung Judas Belt.
52:50.1
people always say,
53:00.6
when you're in a band,
53:07.7
not to be cheesy,
53:14.0
yung contributions,
53:18.2
not being an alpha male
53:20.9
pero meron talaga na
53:26.0
I think this is it.
53:27.8
yung marketability.
53:33.8
and with all those bands
53:38.2
three-letter word.
53:43.1
Ang gusto ko lang talaga
53:46.1
catch the attention,
53:48.0
Whether it's five seconds,
53:52.6
with Cesar's Phil,
53:53.8
kasi dahil nga punk,
53:56.7
I was angry when I was singing it,
53:59.6
Pero ang mariremember mo lang
54:08.1
Sinasabi pa rin nila.
54:13.3
yun yung contribution
54:14.2
ni Finest Summer.
54:15.1
Pero I do collaborate
54:16.0
with my other bandmates.
54:21.8
if you were to go back,
54:29.0
walang iyakan to,
54:35.1
when you first came
54:37.7
would you have done
54:39.7
everything you did
54:41.8
that would lead you to
54:43.7
Or meron kang iti-tweak?
54:45.9
What would that be?
54:49.0
walang clear answer
54:51.0
to this question.
54:52.8
If there was anything,
54:57.1
Bago may tuloy yan,
54:58.4
hindi ko pinuntan yung personal life mo,
55:00.9
hindi kita nilagay doon.
55:03.8
hindi natin pinag-uusapan.
55:05.5
isama mo yun sa mix,
55:10.9
I'm not trying to be religious,
55:18.1
yung foundations ko talaga
55:19.6
through my parents.
55:21.2
I think everything happened
55:26.3
that's my clearest answer.
55:28.7
it's not artistic,
55:30.3
it's not a creative answer,
55:31.8
it's not a songwriter's answer,
55:35.2
yun talaga yung core
55:36.2
ni Finest Summer.
55:41.1
the beauty of life,
55:45.9
falls on a Thursday,
55:48.9
Neither one of us know
55:50.1
what's gonna happen tomorrow,
55:52.3
I'm scheduled to do
55:55.7
a show with you guys
56:01.3
when I was doing those music,
56:03.1
I was just living the moment.
56:05.2
I just wanted to play music.
56:07.3
I was just playing,
56:13.0
when it was my turn,
56:16.1
nagpunta ako ng San Francisco,
56:18.7
nagpunta ng Toronto,
56:22.6
hindi ko talaga alam eh.
56:32.1
I need to believe in myself,
56:35.5
me believing in myself,
56:45.0
is finest summer.
56:48.9
that's how it's gonna go.
56:51.3
Ladies and gentlemen,
57:00.3
Please, subscribe, follow him on spotify, comments below, kung anong kanta na gustuhan nyo, and, um, let's support each other, and reach out to James or Finest Summer, dahil maraming kayong mapupulot sa taong ito.
57:30.3
Thank you for watching!
