“I am not eager for fame. I am not doing this for the money but for the love…for the passion.”

This is the declaration of Franco Reyes, leader, main songwriter of Franco, a new Pinoy rock “super group” currently making its foray into the local radio charts.

The singer’s brave assertion happened right after the launch of his band’s eponymous debut release under MCA Music at the Eastwood Central Park on May 1.

Reyes added that he doesn’t want to be a “so-called celebrity,” as he is just a “simple musician” lucky enough to have been given a chance to “share my music.”

It’s easy to understand Reyes’ seeming defensiveness. This early in the band’s career, Reyes had to fend off accusations that he had shrewdly co-opted his band members for their inherent pull and “star power”—to simply to carve for himself a quick and easy route to the top.

A swift look at the group seem to support this fact considering that Reyes has, for sidemen, some of the more illustrious names in local rock: Gabby Alipe (of Urbandub) on guitars; Jan Jan Mendoza (again, of Urbandub) on drums; Buwi Meneses (of Parokya Ni Edgar) on bass; and Paolo “8” Toleran (of Queso) on additional guitars.

And with the band choosing his first name as moniker similar to that other “super” group, Bamboo—Reyes is forced to explain himself to the jaded press.

“We are all friends, first and foremost,” Reyes insisted. “It’s not as if I picked them myself, like 'hey I’ll grab this guy because he is famous' or 'I’ll grab this one because he is good-looking.' It’s not like that, man, not like that at all.”

“I joined forces with him because I believe in his talent. I believe in his music,” Meneses butted in defense of his frontman.

No doubt.

Though, most of them are songwriters in their own right—with Alipe and Meneses having written hits for their other bands—Franco has Reyes doing most, if not all, of the songwriting.

“Well, why not? He is a good songwriter. These are good songs,” Meneses countered.

Indeed. Already making its mark in radio is “Castaway,” a Reyes composition that he had done prior to even meeting his band mates. Other fast hits culled from the album are also Reyes-penned, like “Seasons” and “This Gathering.”

Offering a bit of backgrounder, Reyes said he is not a “newbie.”  The songwriter-guitarist said he had been playing music in and out of Cebu for years now. He disappeared for a while after a short stint abroad, after which he received an invite from Mendoza, an old friend, to form a band.

“He called me up. They (Mendoza, Meneses, Alipe) already had a group going and they were looking for a singer. I said yes, immediately. I wasn’t even thinking [about it] in the long-term, I just wanted to play music,” he related.

According to Meneses, the feeling was mutual. It was only after they heard Reyes’ original materials that they decided they could have a serious go at it.

“Just listen to the album and you’d know what I mean,” he said.

As convinced as he is of Reyes' talent, it is not as if Meneses is planning to bolt out of Parokya Ni Edgar anytime soon. “No, Franco is a different animal. I still want in on Parokya but I don’t want to lose Franco either. I want both,” he shared.

“I won’t ask them to leave their respective bands. Not even if I have the power to do so. I’m happy with our current set-up. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me,” Reyes added.

Both concurred, however, that they are in this for the long haul.

“We are friends, we write good music together, we are having fun, what more to ask?” They chorused.