Asin (band) - History

History

ASIN was formed in 1977; the nucleus of which was the duo Mike Pillora Jr. and Cesar Bañares Jr., who were plying the folk joints and pub houses in Manila as “Mike and Cesar”. A year later, Lolita Carbon was recruited by the duo to fill in the missing middle voice and eventually became the third member. Mike named their trio “Salt of the Earth”; after the song popularized by Joan Baez, and composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richard. More than just a song title, Mike also based the name of their group from the Biblical metaphor salt of the earth which represents the humble and sincere masses.

On the year 1978, the trio (who were all songwriters, composers and arrangers) signed their first recording contract and localized the name "Salt of the Earth" into "Asin ng Lupa." They ultimately became known simply as ASIN. Simultaneously, the members had adopted local names for themselves and they were later known to their fans as Nonoy, Saro and Nene.

On the same year, their album entitled "Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran" (Look at Your Environment) was released, giving birth to an alternative form of music which was different and distinct from what was mainstream. Their songs conveyed a message that had instilled awareness into the vast majority of Filipinos and became a rallying call for emancipation.

In the last quarter of 1979, they launched another album called "Himig ng Pag-ibig" (Hymn of Love). The group's break-up abruptly followed. However, their absence from the music scene did not hamper their growing popularity.

The group was not heard of until 1983. On the summer of the same year, AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales), a students’ business organization based in the island of Cebu, made a project to reunite the group. Nonoy was summoned and was tasked to reunite his band. This resulted in a jam-packed reunion concert of the group at Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City. From that time on ASIN, with their manager Dindo, rolled into a series of performances in Mindanao, sporadic shows in the Visayan Region, and marathon concerts in Luzon.

The culmination of all these events led to the creation and the launch of their third album "Himig ng Lahi" (Hymn of the Race) on the same year. Through Nonoy, Fred Aban Jr., the session bass player known by the name Pendong, was anointed by the trio and became the fourth member of the group, despite him not being a songwriter. Since everybody in the group was a ‘junior’ ( each one was carrying his father’s first name), Nene also proclaimed herself a 'junior'.

In early 1984, the group released an experimental album called "Ang mga Awitin ng Bayan kong Pilipinas", an adaptation of traditional and contemporary songs from various regions of the Philippine archipelago.

On November 1985, they came out with another original compilation that Nonoy called "ASIN...Sa Atubiling Panahon" (Asin...In A Doubtful Time). This was unfolded by the roll of events that happened at the beginning of the year after, among which was the EDSA Revolution that toppled the ruling Marcos regime. ASIN called it "atubiling panahon" (doubtful time) and the group split for a second time.

In 1988, they decided to regroup again hoping to come up with new material to make another album that would speak of the time. Instead they were urged by their new manager into making an adaptation of outdated songs and came out with a double album called "Himig Kayumanggi" and "Sinta."

Later on, ASIN went into intrigues that led to the expulsion of Nonoy. The disgruntled Nonoy went to Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Greece, Israel and Egypt to "look for his soul". Back home, the dream of making a new album was not fulfilled. Soon after, Saro and Nene, together with the name (ASIN), joined the band known as Lokal Brown.

In 1990, the remaining members of Asin (who were under the leadership of a clique headed by their new manager) disbanded. Saro went back to his home province South Cotabato, Nene came out with "Nene Band," and Pendong with "Grupong Pendong".

In 1992, a concert promoter gathered the three original members, Nonoy, Saro and Nene for a reunion concert. Pendong, according to the promoter, was not included because his wife was difficult to deal with. The concert was staged at the Folk Arts Theater of the Philippines. However, It was nothing more than a one night gig and each member went back again to his and her own right after the concert.

In 1993, the other members were shaken with the news that Saro was shot at the forehead in a video/karaoke bar in his hometown. He was murdered in cold blood by a mob headed by a lawyer alleged to be the legal counsel of the Governor of South Cotabato. The culprit was put to trial and was convicted for murder and was meted out with the verdict of life imprisonment but after 14 years of serving his sentence, he was released for justifiable reasons.

On the year 2000, Craig Burrows, a native of England came up with the idea to bring together the remaining members of the group and make an album/EP. He first spoke with Nonoy who eagerly agreed and later brought Nene and Pendong to Nonoy's island residence. The three had a brief meeting wherein Nonoy came up with the concept for the album which the two eagerly accepted. However, the album was not realized.

Between the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nene or Asin as she is known among her fans in Cagayan province up north, frequented her friend Willi Catral for some gigs. Her frequent visit to Tuguegarao has help her establish contacts with environment group like the Sierra Madre Outdoor Club. Today, Cagayanos love and respect her musicality and that of her former band. Cagayanos will foreever be grateful to her because what she sings, she put into practice. Nene for all her worth was the first-ever Filipino musician to unknowingly help Cagayan province in its campaign of protecting its more than 300 caves, highlighted by the Callao Caves. She contributes articles to national newspapers and magazines about Cagayan's caves. Or other journalists feature her spelunking activities as her new passion then.

Nonoy's concept was never realized, but in 2002, with the support of Burrows, Nene and Pendong made the album "Pag-ibig, Pagbabago, Pagpapatuloy" under the band name ASIN. Later, Pendong shared his stories with the media, of how Nonoy had finally decided to put down his guitar down and settle into a peaceful life; and of the band's beginnings, of how together with Nonoy and Saro, he met Nene at a folk rock club called Kola House and then decided to form their own musical group, naming it "Salt of the Earth". This he claimed was the beginning of the group ASIN.

Nonoy continued to perform with a new partner Ginji, known together as “noyginji interaktiv”. They distributed CDs with new compositions, the likes of “...Ang Karugtong” which means “...The Continuation”

In mid-2006, Nene and Pendong parted ways. Pendong and his family immigrated to America where he continued playing as “Grupong Pendong.” During the last quarter of the same year, Nonoy and his family moved to Israel and continued to perform as “noyginji interaktiv”. On the other hand, Nene stayed in the Philippines and played as a soloist.

In July 14, 2010, Nonoy and Nene reunited as ASIN to pay tribute to their fallen colleague Saro Bañares Jr. in Koronadal, South Cotabato. Their performance marked the opening of the 44th T’nalak Festival, a yearly celebration showcasing dances and crafts of the tribal communities as well as the produce of the place mentioned. The day after, they were invited by the "People’s Champ" Manny Pacquiao to play in his home province Saranggani before a large crowd. On the third day they casually played for invited guests of the mayor of Lake Sebu in Surallah, South Cotabato.