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The Pinoy punk icon rocks

“I thought it was Joe Strummer who’s coming.” This was the reaction of Chikoy Pura of The Jerks band when he saw me at the Ayuyang Bar here. Chikoy came to Baguio for a small gig organized by Tan-aw Multi-media Collective on Wednesday, April 4.

In an interview, he said that The Jerks is an aged rock band that started as a punk band in 1977. “Noong binuo namin ang The Jerks, ang concept talaga niya ay punk rock. Name pa lang, punk talaga,” (When we created The Jerks, its concept was really punk rock. Just from the name itself, it’s really punk) he said.

The band’s influences

The Clash is one of the the band’s favorites, especially Chikoy. “Yung pinaka paborito kong punk band ay The Clash, siya yung Beatles ko ng punk rock,” (My favorite punk band is The Clash, it’s like my punk rock Beatles) he added.

It was not only The Clash who gave them the kick, he explained, “I like the Sex Pistols’ ‘attitude’, but musically I really like The Clash, Dead Boys, The Jam and the Ramones.”

Going back to Chikoy’s musical roots, he was a folk singer in Manila before the band was created. He used to play Neil Young, Bob Dylan and other musical pioneers of 1960’s to mid 1970’s. “The folk and punk music is related in terms of message which is basically protest,” Chikoy explained.

The revelation

The Jerks’ latest album was recorded at Star Records and unlike their first album, it is not the live version this time. However, the most remarkable were the changes made in their song Sayaw sa Bubog.

Chikoy said,the changes were made as the Managing Director of Star Records (an ABS-CBN-affiliated company) requested. The said manager asked him to remove or change “Hacienda Luisita” in the lyrics. The recording company owners and the Cojuangco (family of former President Corazon Aquino) who presently “owns” the said Hacienda are friends, the managing director explained to Chikoy.

Chikoy felt sorry if the people of Hacienda Luisita were disappointed because of that. However, he clarified that they are still playing the original version of the said song in their live performances. He also added that changing “Hacienda Luisita” to “iba’t ibang Hacienda” is more positive. The song reached broader issues because the land and labor problems (as tackled in the song) are not only happening in Hacienda Luisita but to other communities in the country.

The gig

The local punk and rock icon performed solo with his acoustic guitar before he jammed with Baguio’s reggae band Binhi. He dedicated Sayaw sa Bubog to the people and victims of the “Hacienda Luisita Massacre” who staged a strike to fight for their rights to land and livelihood.

Chikoy and Binhi played different songs and different types of music like reggae, rock and punk. The audience actively participated in singing and slam dancing. The show ended around 12:30 in the morning and obviously, the audience didn’t want him to stop playing. However, when he sung “Here comes the Sun” (The Beatles), the people lied-low finally, and went home.

With a jam still in my head, long live Sir Chikoy Pura and The Jerks! SLAM TAYO! # Joel A. Capulong for NORDIS

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