The Interview: Missing Filemon

Part 1: Max Surban (is) Missing Filemon in Cebu
Part 2: The Interview: Max Surban


Chika-Chika with Missing Filemon’s Insoy Niñal (vocal and guitar)

iSTORYA.net (I): Twelve years in the music scene, what is the ultimate milestone of your band in the industry?

Missing Filemon (MF): Kani og daghan man. Launching namo sa “Sine-Sine,” mao toy pinakadako namo na album. Pero kinabuhi namo sa musikero, mao ni pinakadako kay among pinaka idol na dugay na namo gpaminaw kay nakauban na namo so dako na sya na honor namo. Pinakakulba namo siya kesa uban.

(This [referring to their collaboration with Max Surban] and many more. Our “Sine-Sine” launching which was our biggest album.However as a musician, collaborating with Max Surban is the biggest milestone because it’s an honor to finally work with someone we used to idolize for years.)



I: What made you decide to collaborate with each other for this 11-track album, “I Love My Titser Max Surban – Missing Filemon” ?

MF: Both of our managers contacted each other, and we were told that we’re going to have a collaboration with Max Surban.



I: How many years did you produce the album?

MF: We started last November of last year. We had a meeting first which is important since it’s a collaboration of two artists in the album. Then we finished it around January of this year.



I: How did you feel listening to Max Surban sing your songs?

MF: Kana.. Kanang wa gyud ko kato-o kay sa gamay pa ko, naminaw nako nya. Wa ko mag expect na usa sa ako kanta iyahang kantahon. Morag sya’g humbling kaau sya na experience kay si Sir kalma sya na tawo sa taas na naabot sa iyahang life bah as a musician kalma gihapon sya. Graveh sya… a dream come true for me as a songwriter.

(It’s surreal. I find it hard to believe because I used to listen to his songs when I was still a child. I didn’t expect that he’s singing our songs now. It’s a humbling experience to see him [Max Surban]so down-to-earth even though he had accomplished so much in the music industry. It’s a dream come true for me as a songwriter.)

I: Is that the reason why your band is into Bisrock genre since day one?

MF: Yes, that’s the reason. When we started, there was no plan to create a genre ‘man gud, walay bisrock.’ Bisrock didn’t exist at that time when we started out. We just planned to write songs like what Max Surban did but this time we put a rock sound to it because that’s the kind of music young kids are listening to. We want to reach out to the younger crowd because in our generation, they don’t listen to novelty songs so we chose rock and used Bisaya, instead.

I: What was the biggest break of your band?

MF: Katong nay station na ni play sa amo mga songs way back 2006, kato naa na airtime amo mga songs. Pinaka biggest to sya na break kay nadunggan sya sa mga tawo.

(The biggest was the time when one radio station played our songs way back in 2006. Our songs got airtime which a lot of people got to hear our music and knew about our band.)

I: Where do you get materials for your songs? Are all your songs based from experiences?

MF: From friends’ experiences, from the realities we see around us especially those happening in our society.

I: Where did you get your band name, Missing Filemon? Is there any certain Filemon in your life?

MF: It refers to the song “Si Filemon, Si Filemon na namasol sa kadagatan” – we used that song as a representative of that time when Cebuanos used to sing Bisaya folk songs. Our generation missed the time so we want to bring it back in our way ‘bah’ – so we missed it, we missed Filemon.



I: Speaking of your latest album with Max Surban, who’s that teacher you can’t forget and why?

MF: As a real teacher, my Mom, may she rest in peace. And as a musician, it’s Sir Max, diha ko niya nakat-on og kaisog sa paggamit og Bisaya.

(… it’s from Sir Max that I learned to use the dialect.)

I: How do you see more of yourself, a Singer or a Song writer?

MF: Song writer. Hesitant au ko singer, mauwaw ko mokanta (smiling).
(I’m hesitant to call myself a singer, I’m shy to even sing.)

After listening to both equally talented musicians on stage singing to their respective hits make one Cebuano feel with so much pride and love for Bisaya songs. Their collaboration album not only is a testament of how rich and dynamic our Cebuano music is but also it’s a tribute to all the Cebuano artists and bands who use their craft as an instrument to make people aware that Bisaya music is definitely NOT DEAD.



Beyee
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