Your classmate is a rockstar

First of two parts "Hindi ako mageenroll hangga't wala pa akong kombi at album." Kids, don't try this at home. Deciding to enroll in college after you get your dream ride and have an album out in record stores is not generally advisable. Unless, that is, your name is Marcus Adoro. The not-so-silent Eraserhead, Adoro, like the rest of the band, has moved on to new things. For a time, Marcus-sightings were rare and mysterious. Like strange extraterrestrial rumors, he came to town unannounced, sometimes so sneakily that by the time his presence registered on the social radar, he was already heading back to the waves of La Union. For the past two years though, I had been spotting him rather frequently, buying takeout at Max's on Katipunan, hiding from the sun behind a tarpaulin in UP, and, of course, at the odd gig or two. What gives? It turns out the Philosophy freshman-turned rockstar-turned surfer has re-enrolled at the University of the Philippines, and is currently busy with his classes, and recording his current band Markus Highway's second album. Mistaken identity It was a lazy Friday afternoon at an uncannily popular hole-in-the-wall establishment, and I was alone. I noticed an oddly familiar long-haired guy was sitting where I usually sat, so I sat at the next table. The stranger looked at me and smiled, so I smiled back, realizing who it was, and wondering if he remembered me from having been introduced before. I found out a few seconds later when he asked me if I still worked with Pulp that it was a case of mistaken identity. He saw someone he thought he knew, and I saw a story. And so it was that the Eraserheads' lead guitarist took off his shades, moved to my table, and began telling me what he was up to. He told me that they were currently recording their second album, and had changed their record label from Warner Music to Sony Records. "Initially kasi 'yung gusto ko sanang concept ng album is covers na double album so parang masyadong ano sa kanila, far out masyado siguro. So nag-decide sila na bigyan ako ng freedom para ilapit sa iba," explained Adoro, adding that when he approached Sony, his new songs began to emerge. Adoro said Warner didn't promote the first album very much, maybe because they didn't get it. "Sayang kasi okay sana 'yun sa ano e, sa outer Manila area. 'Yun 'yung target ko kasi du'n e, hindi yata nila (Warner) masyadong na dig," said Adoro, who seemed very slightly, if at all, bothered by the fact. Building Markus Highway Adoro recalled how he formed his band, beginning with his time at the beach. He began with Surfernando, composing his own songs until he was ready. "Pinahinog ko muna," he said. He asked former Eraserheads road manager Julie Pacanas to arrange a bar tour, and it was then that he met his bandmates. According to Adoro, he was approached by three bassists, one of whom was a very drunk Beeboy Chacon who became his first bassist. "So in-invite ko sila isa isa. Sabi ko kay Biboi, 'Anong kotse mo?' Sabi niya, 'Corolla.' 'O, sunduin mo ko bukas.' Magkasama na kami lagi," said Adoro, simply, as if it were really that simple. Perhaps it was that simple. Adoro says he met the other members of the band at the place where he was staying. His home became the band's hang out. They made a demo, and presented it to Warner, who approved it and gave them the go-signal for recording. Adoro says that while the first album was more of a mix of rock, punk, and folk-rock, their next offering will be more urban. "Halu-halong genre 'yun kasi tribute ko 'yun sa mga kuyang Pinoy na artist," he said. Battle plan Adoro said they're now recording with Shinji Tanaka of SoundCreation Studio, and producing the record themselves. Though the words “battle plan" seem dissonant with this laidback artist, they are exactly what come out of his mouth next. "Ang battle plan ko kasi bago pa magka-deal na formal, meron na akong nailabas na single sa net, sa radio, at sa Myx. So ginawa ko na, na mix na. May video na sa YouTube. Tapos ine-edit yung TV version," he says, adding this is a plus for the recording company. “Okay na 'yun. Para lang wala silang masabi. May mga pagkukulang kasi ako dati," he says, offering no further explanation. Since he is currently enrolled, Adoro said that the recording is going slowly. But this is not worrisome, even with their deadline set in July, because they have four songs already and he isn't in a hurry. "May program akong sariling sinusunod," he said, adding that the album will have 8 or 9 songs. Adoro says he will not stop making music, not unless there is a moral dilemma that would make him choose between music and his loved ones. "Hindi e, kasi 'pag pagod ka, 'yun 'yung (pam)pabuhay," he said. He clarifies that he isn't that big a music geek anyway, and he would give music up, as long as he would still be able to make films. Back to school Meanwhile, Adoro is also busy earning a degree in Philosophy, which he began more than 20 years ago in 1988. He hopes to graduate after a summer and a semester. "Masaya. Para mabalik ulit sa academe, parang na-activate ulit 'yung ibang part ng utak mo na tulog dati," he said. "Parang nung kaka-enroll ko nga naalala ko si ano e, si Weezer. Sinong bokalista ng Weezer? Nasa Harvard ba? Nakasingit lagi, in between tours, recording, promotion, meron din siyang academics," he shares, apparently delighted at sharing circumstances with Rivers Cuomo, frontman of American alternative rock band Weezer. He says he went into Philosophy because of his mother. "Tinuruan ako ng ermat ko sa mga esoteric na bagay yata e. Parang, pumunta siyang India, tapos binili niya ako ng mga libro, parang, hypnosis. Tapos ako parang, 'Bakit?'" he says. “Napaisip ako nang napaisip, parang ganun." Adoro says some of his teachers now are still the same as before, while others are even younger than he is. "'Yung adviser ko adviser ko pa rin, pero mayroong prof na mas bata sa'kin. Nakakatuwa, na 'po' pa rin 'yung tawag ko sa kanila," he said. On the other hand, his classmates call him 'Kuya', and sometimes 'Sir'. Still, others pretty much ignore him, he says, because there are two of him. He explains that he hides his identity with a hat and a different style of dressing. Asked if this works, he said it does at first, but it doesn’t really matter in UP. "Well wala naman silang pakialam dun minsan, hindi naman sila ganun. Alam mo naman mga taga-UP, pagtritripan ka pa nila," he said. Adoro goes on field trips with his classmates, and says the experience makes him feel young. As if proving this, he says something thousands of other senior students say all the time. "Thesis nga ako ngayon e. Political philosophy. Hindi ko pa nga sinisimulan e. Eto na 'yung last na toma ko for the week," he said, with the conviction of a twenty-year old. -GMANews.tv