Asin

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 based the name of their group on the essence of the phrase which the Holy Book had intended it to be — the lowly, the needy, the wavering millions who are humble in birth, and the hard working people — the real salt of the Earth.

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. During the time that they were not around as a group, their songs had grown roots in the hearts of the entire population and became a household tune to every Filipino home.

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, but only a musician. Inasmuch as everybody in the group was a ‘junior’ ( each one was carrying his father’s first name), Nene also proclaimed herself a 'junior'.

In the beginning of 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 lured by their new manager into making an adaptation of old and irrelevant songs and came out with a double album called "Himig Kayumanggi" and "Sinta." Their reasons for going in this direction was shroud under a hidden agenda.

Instead of going deeper into the essence of what was happening, they went into intrigues that led to the expulsion of Nonoy. Nonoy was disgruntled but instead of bending his knees chose another path. He 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), found themselves used and exploited as they have become only one of the talents gathered together called "the hidden agenda", otherwise known as the "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. As for Pendong, according to the promoter, he 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 mauled and shot on 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 the island where he lived. The three had a brief meeting wherein Nonoy came up with the concept for the album which the two excitedly accepted. After several days though, Nonoy realized that time had changed them, and that he couldn't feel the connection they all used to share. Reconsidering the consequences of his past mistakes, Nonoy made a decision not to get involved with this project. They parted ways feeling unsatisfied with the outcome of the planned reunion, but Nonoy gave the other two his blessing and told them that they could still follow through with the album concept that he came up with and bring with them the name - ASIN .

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 according to him was the beginning of the group ASIN.

Peacefully, 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 disbanded. Pendong immigrated to America with his whole family 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 stayed 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 to a multitude of thousands, and on the third day they played casually to invited guests of the mayor of Lake Sebu in Surallah, South Cotabato.