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Liwanag album ng The Juans, nabuo sa dilim ng pandemya

by Anna Pingol /

03.24.22
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Taong 2015 nang ipanganak ang bandang The Juans dahil that year na-relase ang debut EP (extended play) nilang The Juans. It was a three-track EP kung saan nakapaloob ang “Atin ang Mundo.” Wala pa noon sina RJ Cruz, Chael Adriano, and Joshua Coronel dahil 2018 sila pumasok nang umalis naman ang mga naunang members na sina Jiad Arroyo, Daniel Grospe, at Jason de Mesa.

That same year naman na-release ang second EP nila, ang six-track na Umaga, kung saan nakapaloob ang ultra hit na “Hindi Tayo Pwede.”

In between 2018 to 2021 they would release singles ang movie OSTs including “Istorya,” “Hatid,” “Sirang Plaka,” ang inspiring pandemic theme na “Manalangin,” “BTNS,” Pangalawang Bitaw,” “Dulo,” at “Anghel.”

But during the pandemic, nagkaroon sila ng extra time to do a full-length album. They tasked and challenged one another to write songs for the album, including ’yong mga never pa nag-attempt magsulat. Nang naka-ipon na at noong time na medyo maluwag na ang protocols, umakyat silang lima ng Baguio for their songwriting workshop ang audition.

Kumbaga, each member auditioned his pieces sa harap ng lahat ng members. Then they critiqued and helped polished each. Doon na rin sila namili ng mag isasali sa kino-konseptong album.

Kaso, sumobra daw yata ang creativity nila dahil more than two dozen songs (27 actually) ang nabuo nila according to Chael Adriano. They had to trim them down to 15—marami pa rin dahil 12 tracks lang ang karaniwang album. Iyon daw ng isa sa mga challenges nila sa one-year-in-the-making nilang album, which they decided to call “Liwanag” after the single na sinulat ni Japs Mendoza.

At dahil first album, it deserves a grand launch. Buti nalang din at natapat na Alert Level 1 na ngayong Marso kaya p’wede na ang mga face-to-face events. Kaya naman ang araw na March 17 became the official The Juans Day para sa The Juans and their Juanistas.

Sinimulan ang araw na ito sa isang press conference na ginanap sa Botejyu sa Fisher Mall sa Quezon City at sinundan ng isang celebrity-studded red-carpet event kinagabihan sa Fisher Mall Cinema 3 para naman sa patikim na listening party, kung saan ang mga loyal Juanistas ay nabigyan ng privilege na maka-una, so to speak, na makarinig ng mga laman ng Liwanag album.

(Incidentally, monumental din daw na sa Fisher Mall ginanap ang first album launch nila dahil ang Fisher Mall daw ang unang nagbigay ng break sa kanila sa live performing noong nagsisimula palang sila habang ini-snub sila ng ibang malls.)

But during the press conference, natanong ang grupo kung ano pa ang mga challenges na kinaharap nila sa pagbuo ng album na ito, bukod sa pagti-trim down ng number of songs.

“Isa rin siguro sa mga challenge is ano...kasi lima kami...so, kung paano magiging isa ’yong idea kasi marami kaming ideas. So ’yon ’yong na-figure out namin,” paliwanag ni Japs.

“This time, kung ano ’yong idea na hindi muna p’wedeng gawin, kaninong idea ’yong kukunin... In terms of production din—kasi first time din namin mag-self produce ng mga songs—so ’yong challenge is kumbaga like, ‘Pa’no namin tatapusin ito? Like, ‘Meron na ba kaming lahat ng tools na kailangan namin para matapos namin?’ Ayon, along the way naman natututo din kami. So, nakatapos kaming lahat.”

“Actually ’yong amazing dito is, we weren’t even able to step in sa real, proper recording studio,” dagdag ni Carl. “So, like, you will hear the song, pero ginawa siya sa kuwarto ko, sa kuwarto ni Japs... nag-i-split kami like, ‘O, Carl and RJ sa Calumpit, tapos Japs and Chael sa Malolos. Ganu’n. Which is really a collaborative effort kasi pandemic, e. Tapos 15 tracks, tapos self-produced... so, eto ’yong songs na masasabi namin na kami talaga ito.

(To those unfamiliar still, Bulakenyos po ang limang talented guwapings.)

“Of course we’re glad to collaborate with other artists. But for this particular album, it was an intentional decision na for this album tayo ’to. Like we wanna showcase how we wanna sound like, how we wanna sing, how we wanna write songs and express our thoughts and feelings.”

At dahil during pandemic nga nila nabuo ang album, they decided to call it “Liwanag” dahil nakita pa rin naman daw nila ito, ironically, during the dark moments of the pandemic. Nahanapan nila ng metaphor, kumbaga dahil ang misyon naman lagi ng kanilang banda ay magbigay-inspirasyon sa mga Juanistas.

“Actually, ’yong buong irony ng album na ito, ’yong Liwanag [itself],” esplika ni Carl. “Pero tingnan ninyo ’yong picture [sa album cover], ang dilim diba? Pero kasi na-realize po namin na magme-make sense lang ’yong liwanag pag madilim. Kasi hindi natin naa-appreciate ang liwanag pag maliwanag.

“Minsan, darkness is required to appreciate and understand the value of light. And in the middle of the pandemic, that’s what we realized. As artist, we need to rise up, to bring forth not just art but inspiration... songs that will not just drive emotion but will help people stand up again, bumangon ulit, gumising ulit ng may pag-asa sa puso.”

Inihalimbawa nila ang sarili, kung paano nila hinanap ang liwanag sa gitna ng dilim ng pandemic.

“Itong buong pandemya is all about that,” dagdag pa ng articulate na si Carl. “Especially sa mga artists, dependent kami sa live shows. So, nu’ng wala kami ng live shows, ‘Hala, pa’no tayo kakain?’ But we felt like it was a perfect chance to innovate. So, natututo kaming mag-online, natututo kaming mag- edit ng videos, natututo kaming mag-shoot on our own. Nakabuo kami ng sarili naming production team to cater to the online shows.

“We were literally forced to innovate but at the same time, naramdaman namin ’yong need to inspire... kailangan ng bayan natin ng mga artistang kagaya natin na hindi lang magpapa-cute pero magbibigay ng mga awitin na may mensahe, na magbibigay sa kanila ng pag-asa para magpatuloy para lumaban at yan po ang liwanag na dinulot ng pandemyang ito sa amin.”

BAND WITH A PURPOSE

Pandemic or not, malinaw daw among themselves kung ano ang misyon ng kanilang grupo. May sinumpaan silang duty kumbaga at iyon daw ang nangungusap palagi sa kanila sa mga decision-making nila as group.

Lagi umanong set aside ang mga pansariling gusto at ang common mission ng grupo ang importante at ’yon nga ay walang iba kundi ang mag-inspire. And that mission unifies them.

“I think what makes us strong, united, and harmonious is that we said yes to our mission that’s bigger than ourselves,” paliwanag ni Carl. “So, I think the mission ultimately and the purpose unite us all the time. Of course, bilang artists... limang lalaki kami, lahat kami may iba-ibang preferences, may mga iba-ibang trip sa buhay, may mga iba-ibang influences...

“So, talagang hindi maiiwasan ’yong iba-iba kami ng trip minsan. But because there is a bigger vision that we said yes to, a bigger purpose that we embraced, it’s a lot easier to sort off set aside our personal preferences.

“We always have this system, e—collective goal versus personal gain. Meaning, at the end of the day, we signed up to be in this group to achieve a purpose.

“And minsan kasi diba bilang artist ka nagiging eccentric, e... it’s all about you, it’s all about what you like, it’s all about your expression, it’s all about your art...pero buti na lang, joining this team, naunahan kami nu’ng there’s a purpose... what’s that purpose? To inspire every ordinary Juan to dream again.

“So, whatever it takes for that to happen, that’s what we’re gonna do. So, if that means doing something that I don’t particularly like but achieving the vision, I will say yes to that.

“So, madali sa amin ’yong mag-trim down alin ’yong oo at saka ’yong hindi, alin ’yong isa-sacrifice ko at alin ’yong ipaglalaban ko in light of the purpose and the vision that we embraced as a group. I think that’s what keeps us together and that makes us strong every step of the way.”

LEGIT BROTHERHOOD

Maga-apat na taon nang magkakasama sina Carl, Japs, Chael, RJ , at Joshua (excluding ’yong mga naunang years ng The Juans with the former members).

At sa loob ng panahon na iyon, nakabuo na sila ng matibay na brotherhood that’s glued by their common values and mission. Moreover, walang madamot sa kanila. They let one another shine. Gaya nga dito sa Liwanag album na hindi naka-sentro lang kay Carl ang spotlight,

Ani Japs, sobrang [precious ang mga wisdom na nakukuha niya sa mga kasama niya

Para naman kay Joshua, hindi lang daw sila co-workers sa The Juans talaga kundi mga tunay na kaibigan at kapatid na sa isa’t isa.

“It’s such an honor, it’s such a privilege to be part of this group,” say naman nang ma-elaborate na si Carl. “To have a chance to sit on this chair today... how many millions of people are dreaming of this? I always feel so favored and so privileged to have a chance to get to live a life like this.

“Pangarap ko po ito mula ng pagkabata ko. If you ask me what you like about it? Every single thing about it. I feel like everytime I wake up I have nothing but gratefulness in my heart. ‘Lord, salamat binigyan mo ako ng chance makasama sa ganitong grupo.

“Because they’re not just talented, they have good character, they’re very humble. And they’re very driven. To be get to be a part of that kind of group is for me is one in a million chance that can ever happen to me so I’m just overflowing with gratefulness every time I wake up.”

SIMPLY THANKFUL

Inihalintulad ng mga The Juans sa panganganak ang kanilang album launch. Gaya din daw kasi ng mga babaeng buntis, halong isang taon sa sinapupunan nila ang pagbuo ng album.

And that March 17 day was the actual birthing da for Liwanag. Magkakahalong saya at kaba daw ang nararamdaman nila—especially the first-time songwriters in the group—dahil hindi raw nila alam ang magiging reaction ng Juanistas sa mga likha nila. But overall, they’re just grateful for that day.

And they are, of course, especially grateful sa mga loyal Juanistas.

“Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa lahat ng fans dahil sila po ’yong naging inspirasyon sa amin, ’yong mga Juanistas na magpatuloy sa pangarap namin,” lahad ni Japs. “Gaya nga ng sinsabi naming, kahit may isang Juanista lang na matira ipagpapatuloy namin ’yong pangarap namin.

“And s’yempre po nakaka-inspire din kapag nakikita namin sila na ipino-pursue din nila ’yong mga goals nila tapos pag tini-tweet o mine-massage nila kami na-achieve na nila, sobrang nakaka-proud. Proud moment ’yon sa amin.”

“We wanna thank the Juanistas kasi sila talaga ’yong nagbibigay ng liwanag din sa amin,” dagdag naman ni RJ. “Kasi diba ngayong pandemic parang it’s hard to see the results of your hard work kasi kunwari when you... diba usually pag hit po ’yong songs n’yo, marami kayong live shows, marami kayong gigs, pero this time parang ano ba ’yong pagbabasehan mo kung worth it ba ’yong pinagpapaguran mo?

“And seeing the Juanistas, ’yong mga comments nila sa YouTube, sa Twitter, yong mga pag- encourage nila sa mga vlogs, sa mga contents and sa mga songs na nilalabas namin, ’yon po ’yong isa sa mga nagiging driving force namin na ipagpatuloy... and ’yon ’yong isang bagay kung bakit nandito kami ngayon... to show them na we’re thankful and kasama kayo dito sa liwanag na ire-release po namin. Thank you, Juanistas.”