Ely Buendia

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Ely Buendia

Buendia performing at Screen Fest, Eastwood, 2008

Background information

Birth name

Eleandre Basio Buendia[1]

Born

November 2, 1970 (age 45)[1]

Naga City, Philippines[1]

Origin

Genres

Naga City, Philippines

Alternative rock
pop
experimental

Instruments

Vocals
guitar
keyboards

synthesizer
drums
bass
Years active
Associated acts

1989present
Eraserheads
The Mongols
Pupil
The Oktaves
Bluidie Tryste
Sunday School
Francis Magalona

Eleandre "Ely" Basio Buendia (born November 2, 1970)[1] is a Filipino musician, writer and
director who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter and lead vocalist of the popular
Filipino rock band Eraserheads. His compositions gained success and critical acclaim, topping
various music charts, and are now considered classics. Widely regarded as one of the most
respected music icons in the country, he currently performs as guitarist and lead vocalist
for Pupil and The Oktaves.

Personal life[edit]
Eleandre Basio Buendia was born in his parents' home in Naga City at 6:20 AM on November 2,
1970. He is the second child of Ely Revilla Buendia (born c. 1942 inGoa, Camarines Sur) and Lisetta
Ruiz Basio (March 22, 1942 in Caramoan, Camarines Sur - August 28, 2008 in Manila).[1][2] His
parents were married on October 30, 1964 in Ragay, Camarines Sur.[3] He first
learned Kundiman from his mother while he started playing the guitar at the age of 7 years old.
Buendia graduated from Elementary in Pasig Catholic College in 1983 in Pasig City and High School
in University of Perpetual Help Rizal. During Elementary, Buendia won in a singing contest where he
sang "Doon Lang" by Nonoy Zuniga. Buendia later enrolled to University of the Philippines
Diliman where he formed his bands Bluidie Tryste, Sunday School and Eraserheads.[4]
Buendia is a member of the international Order of DeMolay from A. Mabini Chapter, Paranaque City.
He was conferred with the highest honor being a DeMolay to the rank of Legion of Honor last
November 14, 2015, by the Grand Master Victor Antonio T. Espejo of the Supreme Council Order of
DeMolay Philippines for outstanding leadership in his field of endeavor, for service to humanity, for
success in fraternal life, including adult service to the Order of DeMolay. The Supreme Council Order
of DeMolay is an appendant body of Freemasonry.

Buendia has two children, Una Aurea, with his first wife, Vicky Cayago, and Eon Drake,
with Pupil co-manager Diane Ventura. He reportedly also used to date TV5 news anchor and model
Shawn Yao.

Eraserheads
In December 1989, Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Marcus Adoro and Buddy Zabala formed the
band Eraserheads in their collegiate school, the University of the Philippines Diliman, where Buendia
was a Film major at the College of Mass Communications (he started his first year of college in
1987). The band found that they weren't good at covering other people's hits, so they concentrated
on writing their own material instead. In 1991, they met another up and coming band named Kombo!
Kombo! consists of Miguel Pablo, Gio Gloria Popoy Relano Luis Hidalgo Patrick Baleros and Allen
Gulmatico. After all, if we committed a mistake no one would recognize it since they don't know the
song, right?," Buendia explained[citation needed]. Performing their original songs live soon earned them a
cult following in the University, which gradually spread outside the campus. One of the songs, a pop
song entitled "Pare Ko", which Buendia wrote, became very popular, partly because of the lyrics
which included a few swear words.
Eraserheads eventually signed a three-year deal with BMG Pilipinas. Their debut
album Ultraelectromagneticpop! featured no less than Pare Ko and a host of other novelty pieces
that had people listening and discovering more about the quartet. The album also brought the
underground college rock scene into public awareness. 1993 saw the emergence of
"Eraserheadsmania" because of successive hit singles, sold-out concerts and thousands of fans.
Buendia continued to write songs for the band, many of which became hit singles and classics.
Eraserheads' lasted for ten years before finally breaking up with Buendia and Adoro's departure.
During those 10 years, the band produced eight studio albums along with other EPs and singles.
Their gigs took them out of the country, with tours in the United States and other countries. One
album, Aloha Milkyway, was released in the Asian region. Eraserheads were also the first ever
Filipino artists to receive the "Moon Man" trophy for winning the 1997 MTV Asia Viewer's Choice
Award for the video of their song, "Ang Huling El Bimbo." This hit was also written by Buendia, like
many others that the band produced.
Eraserheads went onstage for their reunion concert on August 30, 2008 at the Fort Open Field,
Taguig City, which was cut short unexpectedly. The continuation of the concert was held at the SM
Mall of AsiaConcert Grounds on March 7, 2009.

Leaving Eraserheads[edit]
After weeks of speculation, it was confirmed that Buendia had left the band in mid-March 2002 for
"reasons unknown." However, in subsequent interviews, Buendia pointed to business matters as the
cause of the band's break-up.[6]
In an interview, Marasigan said he was eating in SM Megamall, a local shopping mall, when he
heard of the news (how he heard of it, was not clear). He said he was "semi-surprised" and
wondered if Zabala already knew about it.[7] Adoro told of the story now famous among Eraserheads
fans about Buendia's cryptic text message. He said Buendia stated in the text message that it's
already time to graduate. Adoro quipped in the same interview that Buendia being the first to
graduate was natural, since he was in batch '87 in their school (UP, Diliman), while they were in
Batch '88.[7]
Zabala confesses in an interview that disbanding had not been that far away from the members'
minds. He said that there were so many occasions where they could have disbanded but they did
not.[8] Adoro expressed the belief of some people that the band was getting too old and that it was
"selfish" for the band to continue, likely referring to comments about how it's time for other bands
besides Eraserheads to shine.[8] The band made it clear, though, that Buendia's departure from the
band wasn't in any way violent and there was no shouting (sigawan) or any confrontation.[8]
Without giving up, the three remaining original Eraserheads decided to continue on. Within just a few
weeks, the "new" Eheads debuted at Hard Rock Cafe in Makati City on April 19 featuring a female
singer-guitarist, Kris Gorra-Dancel from the band, Fatal Posporos. However, after a few months,
Adoro also quit the band. The remaining members of Eraserheads added Diego Mapa and Ebe
Dancel to their lineup and renamed their band, "Cambio."

The Mongols[edit]
After Ely left Eraserheads, he would invite musicians and jam together. He had no definite line-up at
that time, "I have, like, 10 members in the band right now. I have two drummers, two bass players...",
according to Ely in an interview with Martin Nievera. This jamming together with friends would
eventually evolve into The Mongols. It was composed of guitarist J. Astro (also known as Jerome
Velasco) (of The Teeth), bassist Yan Yuzon, drummer Bogs "Boga Man" Jugo (of the indie pop band
Daydream Cycle), and Buendia on guitars and vocals, under the stage name Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura.
The band was managed by Day Cabuhat, one of Eraserheads' former managers. According to one
of Eraserhead's event producers, Ely's "Jesus" stage name was from an inside joke during
Eraserhead's USA Tour. Ely and Marcus bought replica sheriff badges at the Universal Studios
Hollywood and Ely got a badge with the name "Jesus" while Marcus' was "Cesar".

The Mongols released a self-produced underground EP in CD-R format with factory-printed sleeves
in April 2003, "A Fraction of A Second". It contains five tracks, "Case Logic", "No", "Tomorrowland",
"KSP" and "Abstraction of A Second". It was released under "Redrum Records".
After a few months, the Mongols decided to have their self-produced album distributed by Neo
Records Inc. under the major label VIVA Records. The result is a thirteen-track album
called Buddha's Pest (tracks are: "Keeper", "Bulakbol", "Bakit Nga Ba?", "Pony", "Teka Muna",
"Candy Flip", "Heroine", "Wig Out", "It's Over", "Irish Spring", "Odd Even", "Your Bushido", plus an
untitled instrumental track). It was produced by "The Genghis Klan" under "Criminal Records".

Pupil
Shortly after The Mongols' guitarist, J. Astro, left the band, the remaining members renamed
their group Pupil. Buendia chanced upon the band name while reading a medical book. The
band is enjoying more mainstream popularity, in contrast to the Mongols. Bogs left the band
after their 1st album Beautiful Machines. Wendell is now the drummer of Pupil. Recently,
Pupil's guitarist Yanny Yuzon also left the band in this year 2013. Day Cabuhat Pupil's
Manager said that "Yanny is no longer. Transitions and changes are normal within any band
structure and we all thank you for the understanding and continued support of all of our
projects..."

The Oktaves[edit]

The band is composed of Ely Buendia as the frontman, Nitoy Adriano as the lead guitarist, Chris
Padilla also in Guitars, Ivan Garcia on bass and Bobby Padilla on drums. Nitoy Adriano is a former
member of quintessential Filipino rock band The Jerks. They are the original alternative and blues
band of the Philippines. Current and past members are considered icons in the local music scene,
MCA MUSIC INC. said. Chris Padilla, Bobby Padilla and Ivan Garcia are actually a three piece
rockabilly group called Hilera. They may be new players in the scene compared to the other two
members but they have already made quite an impact by winning the Nescafe sound school
competition in 2005 and by being nominated and winning various rock awards, MCA added.
How the band was formed, MCA MUSIC INC. said, The members have collaborated several times
before most notably when Hilera took part in the production of Buendias project with Francis
Magalona entitled In Love and War. However, the band was officially formed almost exactly a year
ago when they first went onstage as Oktaves when they performed at the inaugural Esquire
(magazine) ball. The collaboration turned into a headlining band which now plays in the best rock
venues in the country. They now have a repertoire of original songs and also perform a good number
of classic rock anthems. Oktaves brand of music is straight up rock n roll. Their music is very
relatable to various audiences of different generations. Whilst their sound is classy and
sophisticated, they are also very appealing to the mainstream crowd, MCA MUSIC INC. said.

Their 1st album was the self-titled album The Oktaves it has 12 tracks including their 1st single
"K.U.P.A.L (K.P.L)", their another single "Paakyat ka pa lang, Pababa na ako" and the song "Bungo
Sa Bangin" by Ely Buendia feat. Turbogoth and Pepe Smith from the album Rock Rizal, an album
tribute for Jos Rizal, it consist of Various Artists including Ely Buendia.

Health[edit]
On Sunday, January 7, 2007, Ely Buendia suffered a heart attack or acute myocardial
infarction secondary to arterial blockage. It began when Buendia complained about finding it a bit
hard to breathe while they were on the way to a gig in Laguna. But he dismissed it as
mere heartburn. After some time, Buendia was reportedly in the middle of a song during a gig
in Calamba, Laguna when he felt a sudden pain in his chest and left arm. He was rushed to
an intensive care unit at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa. "It turns out
that he'd been having a heart attack for the last twenty five hours." according to exeheads manager Jessica Zafra. Doctors performed an angiogram on the frontman and it confirmed
the heart attack as two of his arteries were blocked. Buendia's condition was confirmed stable after
an emergencyangioplasty operation headed by Dr. Benjie Luna during the same night. According to
Dok Sergio, Ely is fine, successful yung surgery last night. (Last night's surgery was a success).[9]
The second angioplasty operation conducted on Ely Buendia on January 10, 2007 was successful
and is secured from having heart attack recurrence. The operation was a super success. He is
totally out of danger and heart attack recurrence is not expected. according to Buendias attending
physician and cardiac surgeon, Dr. Wilfred Dee.
On behalf of Pupil, Ms. Day Cabuhat and Diane Ventura gave thanks to everyone who called, visited
and expressed their concerns to Ely's condition such us fans, writers, editors, media, sponsors,
networks, producers, and most especially to local musicians such as Yael Yuzon, Japs
Sergio, Francis Magalona, Parokya ni Edgar, Kamikazee, Kiko Machine, Menaya, Rico
Blanco, Urbandub, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoroand many others.[10]
Buendia was finally released from the Hospital and was allowed to stay at home and rest by his
doctors on the night of January 15, 2007. "Ive got a bionic heart now," joked by Buendia.
This event prompted rap artist Francis Magalona, a longtime friend of Buendia and the other
Eraserheads, to state the following in his personal blogsite: "Fast forward to right now, 9:58 am, Jan.
9, a lot of what ifs scenarios pop in my head. What if the E-heads members are back, like long-lost
blood brothers? What if "the most significant OPM band of Pinoy Rock" would be in one room, what
would happen?" And in postscript he adds, "Para sa akin panahon na para mag-reunite ang E-

heads. Sugod na mga kapatid...rock & roll na hanggang umaga.", which roughly translates, "For me,
it's time for E-Heads to reunite. Let's go brothers...rock & roll until the morning comes."
Ely's first on-stage public appearance after his heart attack was on Saturday, February 10, 2007 as
his band, Pupil, performed at The Music Hall in SM Mall of Asia, in an Animax event called Love Is
In The Air. The event featured a speed dating event as a welcome celebration for Valentines
Day and live performances from other local artists such as Callalily, and Amber. Pupil is also part of
Super Proxy Jam. It is an event that is hoping to spread awareness for the importance of
Cardiovascular Health and for the benefit of The Heartist Foundation Inc. Francis Magalona & The
Hardware Sydrome, Parokya Ni Edgar, Gloc-9, Dicta License, PiKaSO, and Dice & Mobbstar are
also participants in the said event. Heartist Foundation Inc. is another collaborative effort between
Ely Buendia and Francis Magalona that aims to help Filipino artists with health problems.

Eraserheads reunion[edit]
Buendia joined Marasigan, Adoro, and Zabala for a one-night-only reunion show on August 30,
2008, at the Fort Open Field, Makati City. The concert, however, was cut short after Ely collapsed
due to emotional stress.[11] They were already halfway of a planned 30-song setlist as Ely reportedly
collapsed backstage during a break and was rushed to the Makati Medical Center. He was, however,
reported to be in stable condition. Buddy had checked on Ely in his tent right after they went to their
planned 20 minute break and saw that he already was on an oxygen mask with paramedics
checking his blood pressure. As he left and came back, paramedics were already taking Ely on an
ambulance. Bandmates Buddy, Raimund and Marcus further said that they had no idea that Ely was
already having difficulty performing.[12]
Results showed that Buendia suffered from a slight attack and Hypokalemia. The doctors at
Philippine Heart Center had found another blocked artery and performed angioplasty right away,
which is Ely's third since 2007. On September 5, 2008, Buendia was discharged from the hospital.