Ang Grupong Pendong holds benefit concert for Ondoy victims

Music has always been an instrument to uplift one’s spirit especially when one is down and out. This time, music had been used to help bring back the spirit of those that were affected by the recent typhoons that had struck the Philippines last September and early this month. Ang Grupong Pendong, one of the most popular alternative Filipino bands in the 90’s, had lent its wonderful voice through a one-night intimate concert last Saturday to raise money for the typhoon victims. The benefit show was held in Daly City, a Bay Area city considered to be the “Pinoy Capital" in California. The concert aimed to gather donations to help the Filipino workers’ families that had been affected by the onslaught of two consecutive hurricanes in the Philippines. The US Committee for the Protection of Workers' Rights organized the by-invitation-only event. Joi Barrios, an instructor on Philippine Studies at UC Berkeley, said the event was the first fund-raiser that was trade union-related as the proceeds would go directly to the families of overseas Filipinos affected by two consecutive tropical cyclones back home.

Robert McCauley, regional political organizer of the US National Union of Healthcare Workers, served as the master of ceremonies during the one-night event that also held a silent art auction from a San Francisco visual artist. To date, there have been several fund-raising events being held and organized around the Bay Area for the typhoon victims in the Philippines. Ang Grupong Pendong is led by former ASIN member Pendong Aban and wife Chat Aban. The Filipino alternative group gathered its fellow musicians from the Bay Area for the benefit concert last weekend. The group sang its signature tunes that include “Bagyo, Bagyo," “Pag-asa" and “Apo Sandawa." Ang Grupong Pendong has been holding shows in California since Aban and his family immigrated to Daly City, California in 2006. “We are still active in bringing original Filipino music here in the Bay Area," said Aban during an interview a day prior to the concert. He said his group has been widely received in California as proven during its concert last Oct. 3 in Los Angeles where over 800 Filipinos and Americans watched their show. Chat Aban, who plays the Filipino traditional and ethnic instrument “Kulintang," said she couldn’t believe the group had filled the venue during the LA concert. “I was overwhelmed with their response to the show," she added. Ang Grupong Pendong was formed in 1990. The group aimed to promote original Filipino music that offered the traditional sound to the listeners. Aban and his wife led one concert after another back then. The group released at least two major albums that include hits “Panahon" and “Apo Sandawa." Aban said the group also collaborated with other Filipino musicians and groups forming a spinoff group called Lokal Brown that released two albums in the 90’s. He added that the group was successful in bringing the original Filipino music closer to a larger scale audience in the Philippines. The group, however, took its hiatus in 2000 when Aban rejoined Lolita Carbon to revive the popular alternative group ASIN. Aban said Carbon, the original vocalist of ASIN, started participating in concerts and gigs; and, gracing invitations for TV appearances. The group revived some of its classic songs such as “Kapaligiran" and “Himig ng Pag-ibig" that catapulted the group to stardom in the 70s. Aban said the new ASIN once again had to disband when he had to leave for California in 2006. He said he was reluctant to leave ASIN but he had no choice for he had to choose his family first. On Nov. 21 Ang Grupong Pendong will hold another concert this time in the city of San Francisco at Carmen’s Restaurant, one of the oldest Filipino restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. - GMANews.TV