Meet Dumaguete band Hopia: Spreading feel-good music and romance

"Ang daming nais sabihin, pero nahihiya, walang lakas ng loob..."

This is how "Bisayang Pag-ibig" starts. But contrary to the song's lyrics, the band behind it is starting to gain attention in the Visayas, starting from their hometown Dumaguete and spreading to the much bigger city of Cebu.

Meet Hopia. And no, their name doesn't come from the bean-filled pastry.

But before we learn more fun facts about this up-and-coming group of musicians, have a sneak peek of their music:



Spreading the music to Metro Manila

After some of their songs received airplay from radio stations in Cebu, Hopia launched their debut album and is now starting to spread their "feel-good" music to neighboring provinces, possibly even all the way to the National Capital Region.

For vocalist and main songwriter Earnest Hope "Hopia" Tinambacan, the Metro Manila invasion is slowly but surely happening.

"I get a lot of comments from Tagalog friends saying, 'Di ko naintindihan pero ang ganda!',' he said.

The band's 'fresh' beginnings

In a Facebook interview with GMA News Online, Hope backtracked to when the band started in 2012. "Fresh from the Elements National Singing-Songwriting Camp, I was so pumped to have my songs arranged and fortunately a group of musician friends responded to my request," he said, referring to the annual national camp spearheaded by Pinoy music maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

The eightfold band is composed of musicians coming from different genres, from contemporary Christian to ska and even rock n' roll: Hope Tinambacan on vocals, Kim Tinambacan on acoustic guitar, Jude Lozada on bass guitar, Tracy Teves on lead guitar, Ramon Cuartela Jr. on keyboards; Clark Trasmonte on drums, Jerry Catarata on tenor saxophone and Abe Jun Esquibel on alto saxophone.

It's quite interesting to note that drummer Trasmonte also plays the drums for Markus Highway, the band led by Eraserheads lead guitarist Marcus Adoro. And it is apparently because of this musical diversity that Hopia doesn't really have a genre of its own.

"We don't know our genre, honestly. Some people say we're jazz fusion, some say we're soul, even others say we're 'BisRock' [Bisaya Rock], and now people call our sound Island Soul," Hope said. "Our sound is basically a combination of all the band members' influences because during the creative process, we allow everyone to explore and incorporate his own style to the song."

Bisaya ni bai!

Although their self-titled debut album includes two Tagalog songs, most of the tracks are in Cebuano, which Hope describes as the "language of my soul."  The band recently released a lyric video of one of their Cebuano songs, "Mingawon Ka (You Will Yearn)," in which a person asks his once-significant other never to forget the memories they shared even if their relationship has long gone.

"I think Cebuano-speaking audiences are thirsty for more quality songs in their language and that's what we want to bring them. So far we are happy with the reception," said Hope.

In a Tagalog-dominated Original Pilipino Music (OPM) industry, does Hopia feel that music like theirs is the underdog? "Underdog, definitely," said Hope.

"I want to see Visayan songs top nationwide music charts. Is that possible? Of course, only if we can make excellent Visayan songs and find the perfect strategy to promote them."

Fortunately, social media is helping people become more aware of their music.

"Competition in Manila, I guess, is tougher. Here in the Visayas we can play or make music without necessarily expecting pay and fame. People from smaller towns can easily gather and make music, but we have fewer venues," Hope said. He has a question of his own: if many Filipinos like K-Pop and other foreign songs that they don't understand, Bisaya pa kaya?

From indie to mainstream?

Hopia's debut album is purely independent, and paid for by the band. Is Hopia ready to go mainstream with the help of a major record label? "We'll cross the bridge when we get there. Ayokong magsalita nang tapos," Hope said.

In addition, Hope hopes (no pun intended) that their music will reach more and more people in Metro Manila and nationwide. "If you like it, follow it and support it," he said. Then, quoting "Bisayang Pag-Ibig, he added, "''Pagka't ako'y naniniwalang sa pag-ibig ay walang lengguwaheng makakahadlang.'" — BM, GMA News