Pinoy rock legends make a comeback; Mike Hanopol to be ordained as first Filipino rabbi
by Leony R. Garcia
Good news, Pinoy rockers!
Pinoy rock legends will reunite once again onstage for Legends Rock!, a timeless celebration of the golden era in the local rock scene that goes onstage tonight at 8 at the Hard Rock Café in Makati City.
The show will bring back Mike Hanopol and Wally Gonzalez of iconic band Juan de la Cruz, Resty Fabunan of the ever-popular Maria Cafra band, and Rene Garcia of the legendary purveyor of the so-called Manila Sound, Hotdogs. Along with the band Ammo, balikbayan singer Jo Awayan will be performing and hosting the show.
Garcia, who formed the Hotdogs with his brother Dennis alongside Tito del Rosario, producing such hits as “Manila Manila” and “Bongga Ka Day,” said it would be special playing side-by-side once again with the rock legends he respects.
“It’s a concert where musicians are really good with their guitars and they have been practicing their craft for years,” Garcia said, whose band rose to musical fame with their first album, Unang Kagat (1974), and became a major influence in the “Manila Sound”. “We are doing this concert out of love for music.”
Formed in 1968, Juan de la Cruz quickly became pioneers of Pinoy rock. Responsible for the classics “Laki sa Layaw (Jeproks)” and “Balong Malalim”, among many others, it reinvented itself later on as a power trio composed of Mike Hanopol, Joey “Pepe” Smith and Wally Gonzalez, quickly becoming the premier rock band of the Philippines. Hanopol, the band’s bassist, produced 20 albums during his career as a musician, three of which became gold while another three won Aliw Awards.
The OPM icon, who has been teaching Judaism for more than a decade, is also set to be ordained as the first Filipino rabbi in 2016. Hanopol revealed it himself during the presscon for Legends Rock!
According to him, his search for the truth began when he left the Philippines with his family in 1982 to settle in the United States. He said he stayed at a seminary for two years and he went to different countries and visited many prisons. He claimed his Jewish roots and his observations during his travels helped him search for his personal conviction. And now he only needs one year of pontifical study in order to be ordained as a rabbi.
Legend Rock! is produced by Bing Palad Apolinario and Willie Rodriguez. The concert will also be introducing the young newcomer singer, Mugen Terazona.
