"Bossing!" calls out Archie Dela Cruz, The Speaks rhythm guitarist, as he asks for some tissue. Eating a hefty serving of Gerry’s Grill kare-kare and crispy pata, all his favorite Pinoy dishes, has made him too eager to start eating.
Rafael Toledo, the groups’ lead vocals waxes nostalgic. "It’s really great to be here," he says in that distinct American twang but with the way he acts and smiles, he is undeniably one heck of a full-blooded Pinoy.
Siegfred Fuster, the band’s lead guitarist who’s Filipino-Malaysian with a cool and "exotic" air shares, "I used to go to Beda and UST before going to the States, taga-Tondo talaga ako," he utters in Filipino.
Jerry Delino, the bass guitarist sighs and says, "I miss my three-year-old kid back home," in an all-familiar tone that only a Pinoy dad could speak of. Jerry was brought to the States in his teens.
Johnny Abende, the only Filipino-American in the group who stands out as the Brad Pitt look-alike with his blond and boyish looks, is the percussionist who has a great Pinoy spunk in him.
Together, these five guys make up the Washington D.C.-based, melodic rock band called The Speaks. Their group is in the country for a homecoming tour, making the rounds of bars, TV shows, record bars, and meet and greet sessions with fans.
Currently gaining solid ground in the national airwaves with their hit single "High," which inspires and encourages all the listeners to stand proud despite all the odds, this five-man, next-level rock band is finally home to perform for the people who have been so much a part of who they are.
Truly branding out loud the Pinoy pride in their collective musical jive, The Speaks is as genuinely Pinoy as it could get.
Just how Pinoy are they? Find out for yourselves as they dish out their stories between mouthfuls of sisig and adobo.
PINOY PRIDE
Raf, the groups’ powerful lead voice, shares he once played Rizal in a school play, back when he still didn’t sport a big tattoo in his arm and when he didn’t have a double masters degree that clinched him a job as business manager in Boeing’s software arm in DC.
All the members of the group having day jobs, they consider it a great opportunity to be invited to perform here in the Philippines through the efforts of various groups clamoring to listen to the much-awarded, chart-topping and unique musical experience only they can offer.
"Being back here is just an awesome experience, we’re so glad to perform for our countrymen," Raf exclaims.
Though he, Jerry and Archie were all raised in the States, they consider themselves true-blooded Pinoys having both their parents born and raised here in the Philippines.
"Our parents cooked us Filipino foods, and all those stuff," they relate.
For their first tour outside the States, it comes as no surprise then that they chose the Philippines to make their rounds and strutt their winning stuff.
The Speaks has won numerous band competitions in their homebase in D.C. with their powerful song "Life’s a Joke," including first place in the 2004 DC 101 "Last Band Standing" competition, first place 2003 JAXX "World’s Largest Battle of the Bands" and second place DC Hard Rock Café/ SoBe "Ultimate Altitude Buzz" Battle of the Bands Finals.
They also topped numerous hit stations’ charts since their songs’ debut in the Philippines including ruling for five weeks Magic 89.9’s Final Countdown, being in the Top 20 hits of 97.1 WLS-FM and gaining constant airplay in major stations like RX 93.1, 90.7 Love Radio and Yes-FM.
They have performed head to head with popular American bands like Switchfoot, Third Eye Blind and 3 Doors Down in their DC sessions. Aside from that, they’ve also jammed with local favorites Bamboo and Parokya ni Edgar when these bands went on tour in the US.
They consider Cueshe and Hale as their favorite among the emerging local rock bands currently enjoying popular airplay here in the Philippines. One thing they share in common with Cueshe aside from their kind of music is their preference for hip and comfy shoes GBX. In Megamall last week in fact, they were able to get up close and friendly with Cueshe as they shared, jammed and chose their GBX pairs from the store. Both Cueshe and The Speaks are being geared by GBX in their concerts and their appearances.
Enjoying their fresh success here in the Philippines and the States, the band couldn’t ask for more.
"We’re just so blessed," they expressed.
Raf says what makes them stand out in the sea of many other talented bands worldwide is their passion for the music, the common bond that gives the group a solid ground on the road to rockstardom,
"We’re like brothers," he enthuses, and indeed one look at them and there’s no denying the distinctly Pinoy kind of friendship they share between their love for music and their brotherhood.
In their concert last Saturday, fans were treated to the band’s hit songs and even include their own rendition of some classic Pinoy rock songs from the likes of Juan Dela Cruz band and others.
And it never fails that every time they take a bow, be it here or abroad, they express their appreciation and gratitude with a heartfelt "Maraming salamat po" — no matter if the non-Filipino audience does not comprehend.
With a winning combination of pure adrenaline-driven rock and catchy, linger-in-your-head melodies that has gained worldwide recognition, the boys of The Speaks truly prove that no matter where they go, Pinoys will carry in their hearts their pride and of course, their innate musicality.
