MANILA, Philippines - They haven?t disbanded, the members of the musical comedy group Ang4gettables remind us.

In fact they?re very much in step with the times and would want to call themselves simply as Ang4.

Formed 16 years ago, the quartet originally took its name from Nat King Cole?s signature tune ?Unforgettable,? whose version by her daughter Natalie also became a hit in the early ?90s.

Ang4?s members then were Mon David, Nanette Inventor, Dyords Javier and Pinky Marquez. It was well-received in the club and theater lounge circuit, as well as corporate events.

When David and Inventor left later on, Bo Cerrudo and Isay Alvarez were recruited.

?Since Isay joined us, we haven?t stopped traveling the world. May nunal yan sa paa,? says Marquez in a recent gathering at Club Filipino in San Juan to announce a benefit show on April 24 at the GSIS Theater.

The jokes start rolling, as Javier butts in: ?Disente ?yang si Isay dati e.?

And when somebody asks, ?Bakit, ngayon hindi na?? ? Javier changes gears and quips, ?Disente na rin kami ngayon.?

Cerrudo, meanwhile, has become Ang4?s very own ladies? man, which has always been his image as a solo artist. Yet he counters that joining the group was ?stepping out of the box.?

Cerrudo says being with Ang4 has made him look up to Javier as an elder brother, but the reference to filial closeness provokes a quick exchange.

Javier: ?Malapit na kaming machismis.?

Cerrudo: ?Buti chismis lang, hindi magkamukha.?

Ang4?s stage act, which thrives on witty repartees, never seems to get boring due to an easy rapport that is based on the members? solid friendship. Apparently it?s a kind of friendship that never tires of exploring what?s fun ? and funny.

The group agrees that its members? relationship is ?almost like being married.?

Disparate voices

In a sense, Ang4 is a marriage of disparate voices that blend seamlessly into one. Many times the jokes in between the music can be disparaging, but are all taken in good faith.

Most importantly, Ang4 is a marriage of minds.

Asked to comment on the present crop of Filipino performers, Javier retorts, ?What can we say ... not much really.?

Cerrudo follows this up by noting that young singers have become dependent on teleprompters ? a practice he dislikes because it affects the spontaneity of a performance.

For her part, Marquez says the new batch of performers must start singing more from the heart, and not just copy their idols? techniques.

When Charice Pempengco?s name is mentioned as an example, Marquez opines: ?She needs ?feel,? but otherwise she?s good.?

Somebody asks, how about Arnel Pineda? ?He was chosen at the right time, on the right year,? Marquez says. ?Suwerte-suwerte lang ?yan.?

Cerrudo asks, in a jesting manner: ?The right hair??

Alvarez responds: ?Right hair ba? I don?t like his hair.?

When the discussion veered on a recent Inquirer Entertainment forum that discussed the idea of an all-OPM concert month, Javier turns dead serious: ?The substance of the issue is to give proper respect to the Filipino artist, and to support that in every way possible.?

Why, indeed?

He then asks, ?Why are great performers like Mitch Valdes not seen on TV? Why are there many musicians going abroad and not given a chance to earn good money here? Maybe because the demand is always for somebody who?s young, with a high pitched voice, with good cleavage ...?

As Alvarez makes an effort to look at her cleavage, the room bursts with laughter.

(The show dubbed ?Kantahan, Katatawanan, Kayang-Kaya with the Ang4? is for the benefit of the Down Syndrome Association of the Philippines Inc.)