Yano

Yano was a folk/punk rock band in the Philippines. The band's music was well known for political and social themes. The band members were originally composed of Dong Abay on vocals and Eric gancio on guitars. The group was formed in 1993 during their college days in the University of the Philippines. Onie Badiang later joined them as the bassist, Nowie Favila was the usual drummer but declined to join the group due to commitments with Ang Grupong Pendong. Other drummers of the band included Nonong Timbalopez, Harley Alarcon and Jun Nogoy. The band got their name when Abay looked through an entry in "Talahulugang Pilipino", an old Tagalog dictionary. "Yano" in Tagalog means "simple", a term often used by Tagalog speakers in Quezon. The group was disbanded in 1997 after Dong Abay left the band. Their songs censure religious hypocrites like in Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo (Tagalog for Holy Dog, Saintly Horse), corrupt politicians in Trapo (colloquial, pejorative term for traditional politicians, also literally translates to "dust rag"), the lingo of the Philippine's elite in Coño ka P're ("You're a coño") and abusive capitalists in Mc'jo (alluding to the fastfood chain McDonald's where vocalist Abay once worked as a crew member). Yano’s songs also narrate the situation of Philippine society during the 1990s. Kumusta na discusses the condition of the Filipino masses after the 1986 EDSA Revolution. abno, also known as Abnormal Environmental, tackles the environment while kaklase ("classmate") focuses on students facing maltreatment by their teachers. Another socially relevant song, mercy, tells about the story of a crazy peddler in the Philippines known as a taong grasa ("greasy person"). Being students at the University of the Philippines, they wrote songs in dismay of their school like in State u and their life in the university, such as Esem (in reference to the SM City North EDSA mall, which is about a mile away from the UP Diliman campus) and Iskolar ng bayan ("The Nation's Scholar"). They also made some love songs like Senti and Paalam Sampaguita. The band’s debut album, Yano reached quadruple platinum in 1994. They released the follow-up "Bawal" in 1996. The third album "Tara" was released the year after. After producing three studio albums, Abay quit during in the late 1990s because of fame-induced pressure. The group later disbanded after Abay’s absence. After quitting the band, Abay struggled with clinical depression and stayed only in his bedroom for about five years. He came out of depression while writing new songs set into poetry. He later called Badiang to borrow a guitar and jam. Eventually they formed a new band, which they called Pan and released their debut album entitled Parnaso Ng Payaso in 2003. Although, Pan was later disbanded and Abay recorded a new solo album to be released in May 2006. Gancio returned to his homeland in Davao after the demise of Yano. In 2004, he released an EP for his upcoming solo album Sa Bandang Huli. Gancio did all the instruments in his indie-released album and mixing the music in a PC-based software. Badiang played bass for Filipino folk/rock band Asin. He currently reconnected to Joey Ayala's Bagong Lumad while Favila is currently playing gigs outside the Phiippines. As of 2007, Gancio revived Yano as a one-man band, although, there will be back-up musicians for live performances. In 2008, he will be releasing a new album, which he described as the fourth Yano album rather than his second album.