MANILA, Philippines?Confusion in the promotion of the retro groups reunion concert ?Yeba 2? Friday night at NBC Tent in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig, has sent some quarters complaining that the show is ?misleading the public.?
Mike Respall, former member of the singing quintet Hagibis, told the Inquirer by phone, ?It?s my moral obligation to inform everyone that only Sonny Parsons, with his own backup, is performing at ?Yeba 2.??
Press releases and online plugs listed the following groups in the lineup: Hotdog, VST & Co., Hagibis, Boyfriends, Area One and RJ & Friends.
Respall said another ex-Hagibis, Bernie Fineza, was ?so mad that he went to a TV station wanting to be interviewed about the problem, but was turned down ??
Speaking to the Inquirer also by phone, Parsons clarified that he had discussed the matter with Respall. ?Two years ago he and Bernie performed in bar shows and they used the name Hagibis ... I am the leader of the group, so I asked that they indulge me this time,? Parsons said. ?I?ll be [introduced as] ?Sonny Parsons of Hagibis? in the show.?
A co-promoter and one of the performers in ?Yeba 2,? Rene Garcia of Hotdog, admitted there were lapses in the way the gig was publicized. ?Old photos of the bands should not have been used,? he explained, saying that most of the other groups are also playing with an incomplete lineup. ?But there will be surprises... I talked with Tito and Vic Sotto ... they will watch ... and who knows ... ?
The Sottos, including another sibling, Val, played a major part in the group VST & Co.?with Vic as the lead vocalist. In Friday?s show, VST & Co. will be represented by two of its other vocalists, Monet Gaskell and Male Rigor.
The Boyfriends will appear without vocalist Joey Abando, although two original members, Gary Arriola and Bob Guzman, will be playing.
Two acts on the bill will have complete members: Area One, composed of John Lesaca, Cash Manalang, Bert de Leon, Roy Marinduque, Carlo Gaa and Benjie Santos; and RJ & Friends led by Ramon Jacinto.
Hotdog has only one remaining original member, Garcia, but who will be joined by elder brother Dennis on bass, female vocalist Maso Diez, and session musicians.
