Yano is a Filipino folk/punk rock band formed in 1993.[1] The band members were originally composed of Dong Abay on vocals and Eric Gancio on guitar. Onie Badiang later joined them to play bass. 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". In dialectal Tagalog, the term "yano" may also mean "extreme", and usually by extension, "kayanuhan" may also mean "state of being right quality, kind, size, class, etc." The term is often used by Tagalog speakers in the province of Quezon. The group disbanded in 1997 after Abay left the band. Eric Gancio reformed Yano in 2007.

Yano
OriginMetro Manila, Philippines
Genres
Years active1993–1998, 2006–present
Labels
Members
  • Eric Gancio - vocals, lead guitars
  • Charlie Comendador - bass
  • Jan Najera - drums
Past members
  • Dong Abay
  • Onie Badiang
  • Supporting musicians:
  • Nowie Favila
  • Nonong Timbalopez
  • Harley Alarcon
  • Jun Nogoy
  • JR Madarang
  • Ronald Madarang
Websiteyano.ph[dead link]

In 2007, Eric Gancio revived Yano as a one-man band, although he continued to use sidemen as backing musicians for live performances. In 2013, Yano released their fourth studio album titled Talâ (Star). As of 2022, Yano's Current Power Trio composed of Eric Gancio - Vocals/ Lead Guitars, Charlie Comendador - Bass, Jan Najera - Drums[2]

History

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On June 30, 1994, the band's self-titled debut album came out, with rock songs including "Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo".[1][3] The band promoted the album through a series of appearances and gigs in various clubs and campuses, as well as a successful Radio tour.[4][5]

Yano continues

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In the middle of the recording of their third album 'Tara', Abay struggled with clinical depression and stayed in his bedroom for about three years.[6] Gancio finished the album alone, singing the vocal tracks to have of the album's songs.[citation needed]

Abay came out of depression while writing new songs set into poetry.[citation needed] He and Badiang formed another band, Pan. They released their debut album entitled Parnaso ng Payaso in 2003. Pan was later disbanded because Abay went back to school in University of the Philippines Diliman.[citation needed] He released Sampol, an EP in 2005, which was later reborn into Flipino and released in May 2006.[citation needed] Badiang played bass for Filipino folk/rock band Asin.[citation needed]

Yano in Davao

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Gancio returned to his homeland in Davao after finishing the recording of the third album Tara in 1998. In 2004, he released his solo album Sa Bandang Huli (At the Very End).[citation needed] Gancio did all the instruments in his indie-released album and mixed the music at his home in a PC-based software. In 2007, Gancio took into the band session Bassist Dave Ibao and Drummer Jan Najera.[citation needed] He said he would be releasing an album, which, according to Gancio, will be the "fourth Yano album" instead of his second album. Hence, in 2013, Yano released a fourth album titled Talâ (Star) under Yano Records. The band is still based in Davao City.[citation needed]

In September 2014, Yano released its fifth album Ya Hindi No under Yano Records.[citation needed] Yano has just launched it during P FEST UK on the last week of the same month in Leeds and Romford. In 2022, Jan Najera rejoined the band, together with Charlie Comendador as the new bassist.

Music

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Yano's music is a fusion of western elements into Filipino ethnic music.[citation needed] It is also known for their political and social themes.[citation needed] Their songs censure religious hypocrites like in Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo (Tagalog for Holy Dog, Saintly Horse), corrupt politicians in Trapo (colloquial, pejorative acronym 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 chains McDonald's and Jollibee.[citation needed]

Yano's songs also narrate the situation of Philippine society during the 1990s.[citation needed] Kumusta Na? ("How are you?") discusses the condition of the Filipino masses after the 1986 EDSA Revolution while the novelty-styled song Kaka tells a story of a person named Kaka, who is having difficulty in finding things in the dark after a power outage, a reference to the frequent blackouts in the Philippines during the early 1990s. The song Bawal ("prohibited") speaks about the effects of rules or laws with excessive restrictions to the point where it leads to suppression of freedom and love. Abno, also known as Abnormal Environmental, tackles the environment while Kaklase ("classmate") focuses on students facing maltreatment by their teachers. Another social relevant song, Mercy, tells about the story of a crazy peddler in the Philippines known as a taong grasa ("greasy person").[citation needed]

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Title Label
1994 Yano Alpha Records and then re-issued by Sony Music in 1998
1996 Bawal
1997 Tara Sony Music
2001 Best of Yano
2013 Tala Yano Records
2014 Ya Hindi No Yano Records

Singles

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  • "Banal Na Aso, Santong Kabayo"
  • "Esem"
  • "Tsinelas"

Awards

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Year Award Giving Body Category Nominated Work Results
1994 NU Rock Awards Best New Artist(shared with The Youth Won
1996 NU Rock Awards Best Album Packaging "Metro" Won
1999 "12th Awit Awards" Best Rock Recording "Kaklase" Won[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b Sulat, Bert B. Jr. (October 21, 1994). "Simply Yano". Manila Standard Magazine. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. p. 5. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. ^ "DotPH domains available portal". Archived from the original on November 25, 2013.
  3. ^ "Gabi Ng Yano". Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Yano on Radio". July 13, 1994. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  5. ^ "The yin and yang of yano". Joey Salgado. October 11, 1994. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  6. ^ "Dong Abay's Pan: Another Gem". MTV Asia News. January 16, 2006. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 11, 2008.
  7. ^ "Awit Awards Winners". awitawards.com. Awit Awards. Retrieved March 5, 2017.