Ely Buendia recovering after 3rd angioplasty operation

Pupil and ex-Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia needs to stay in the hospital for two more weeks after undergoing another angioplasty to clear his blocked arteries.

His manager, Day Cabuhat, announced in a radio interview yesterday, September 1, that Ely is now resting to regain strength and that his newly-operated blood vessel is now “100 percent fully restored.”

Despite the success of the operation, Ely is still being required to undergo a cardiac rehabilitation, according to GMA-7 News.

Ely’s recent heart surgery was his third. He underwent the same procedure two times early last year after experiencing a heart attack during an out-of-town gig with his current band, Pupil.

The enigmatic singer-songwriter reportedly collapsed backstage while in the middle of the Eraserheads’ much-anticipated reunion concert last Saturday, August 30, held at the Bonifacio Global City Open Field in Taguig. Ely, along with former bandmates Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raimund Marasigan rocked anew as one cohesive unit during the concert after not playing together for six years following the band’s bitter fallout because of personal and creative differences.

The band managed to perform 15 songs straight out before calling for a break to give the quartet a few minutes of rest before coming back for a second set. It was later revealed that the Eraserheads originally intended to perform 30 of their original songs ranging to the popular tunes to some obscure stuff. Buendia, however, suffered chest pains after the first set prompting the organizers to call off the concert.

Ely’s mom, Mrs. Lisette Buendia, passed away two days before the concert, aggravating his already fragile physical and emotional condition brought by all the strenuous preparations leading to the concert. Regardless of the reported fat paycheck received by the four members, the one-night concert they all echoed was a gift to the fans who tirelessly clamored for the band to share one stage again even for a single night.

Original article here.
Photo by Jorem Catilo.

Eraserheads Reunion Concert Photos

Photos courtesy of my friend, Jorem Catilo.

Ely Buendia undergoes angioplasty; 3rd since 2007 heart attack

The manager of Ely Buendia confirmed Monday that the  former Eraserheads frontman underwent another angioplasty procedure Monday morning following the band’s Saturday reunion concert that was cut short by his hospitalization.

Day Cabuhat, who manages Buendia and his current band Pupil, confirmed that the singer underwent heart surgery earlier in the day. Cabuhat said that the blood vessel that was operated upon is now “100 percent fully restored”. She said Buendia is recovering.

An official statement from Radio Head Media Solutions, the producer of the Eraserheads reunion concert, meanwhile, said the band vocalist suffered from “extreme exhaustion” Saturday night. It said Buendia is in “stable condition but still under observation.”

On Sunday, record label Sony BMG, told ABS-CBN News that Buendia suffered from hypokalemia, a medical condition in which the concentration of potassium in the blood is low. He was administered with a potassium intravenous fluid for the said condition, the record label added.

Buendia experienced chest pains and reportedly collapsed backstage after the first set of the long-awaited reunion concert, held at the Fort Bonifacio Open Field in Taguig City.

He was transferred to the Philippine Heart Center (PHC) around 1 a.m. Sunday after being treated at the Makati Medical Center’s emergency room.

The concert was cut short because of the emergency, While Buendia was being rushed to the hospital, his former bandmates Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro, accompanied by his sister Lally, relayed the unfortunate incident to the fans at the concert.

Buendia, 37, had a previous heart attack in January 2007. He previously underwent two angioplasty procedures (a surgical operation where narrowed or blocked arteries are widened) at the PHC after doctors found at least two blockages in his arteries.

Doctors said the singer has a history of heart disease in his family and was genetically predisposed to it.

Friends, fans react

On Sunday, Buendia’s friend, filmmaker Joyce Bernal, denied that the singer suffered a heart attack. She said Buendia suffered chest pains due to the stress brought about by his mother’s recent death and exhaustion due to the rehearsals for the concert.

Buendia’s mother died of cardiac arrest early morning of August 28. She had been recovering from surgery done just days before to treat her intestinal cancer.

MTV Philippines head Francis Lumen, who co-produced the concert, said that Buendia is resting to recover from stress and exhaustion.

Buendia’s family is requesting the media to refrain from interviews and shooting video of the singer.

Bandmembers and Buendia’s sister informed the crowd about what happened to the singer, and announced at the concert that the Eraserheads’ frontman “is in a lot of physical and emotional stress lately.”

Despite his mother’s death on August 28, the former Eraserheads vocalist decided to push through with the concert, anyway.

Concert problems

The Eraserheads reunion concert became controversial after its first sponsor, cigarette-maker Philip Morris, was accused of violating Philippine laws prohibiting tobacco companies from sponsoring concerts and other promotional events.

When Philip Morris pulled out of the production due to legal concerns, it was Lumen who took over the sponsorship of the show.

Marasigan said Buendia still pushed through in participating in their reunion concert even with the stress he had gone through lately.

While plans for a DVD release of the concert is being proposed, Marasigan, Zabala and Adoro are still hoping they would all get together onstage soon and perform as the Eraserheads one more time.

The Eraserheads, formed in the late 1980s, was the most successful Filipino band of the 1990s, and is widely credited for reviving the Filipino band scene.

The band broke up in 2002, but the members of the band are still active in the music scene.

With reports from Ginger Conejero, Gretchen Fullido and Jeff Canoy, ABS-CBN News

Posted from here.

Eraserheads After-Party at Sa Guijo

What I didn’t know was the three (3) – Raimund, Buddy and Markus – went to Sa Guijo after their reunion was cut short due to Ely’s poor health condition. Yes. I wish I was there too. I learned about it right after they played.

It was the unofficial after-party of the Eraserheads: The Reunion concert.  I was told that the 3 performed the supposedly “Second Set” of their concert.

Here are the songs of the 2nd set…

1. maskara
2. poorman’s grave
3. torpedo
4. trip to jerusalem
5. back to me
6. maselang bahaghari
7. maling akala
8. tikman
9. spolarium
10. magasin
11. para sa masa
12. overdrive
13. pare ko
14. minsan
15. huling el bimbo

Got that list from the CIRCUS Yahoo! Groups.  On top of that, Ebe of Sugarfree and his brother Vin took care of the vocals.  It would have been an awesome after-party, especially if Ely was there.

At the Eraserheads Reunion Concert

Here’s a run down of what transpired at the “Eraserheads: The Reunion” – the official name of the event.

• Picci and I arrived at the venue, The Fort Open Field, around 4pm.
• We immediately went to VIP area to check our names.
• 1st security stop: Security guards checked our belongings.
• We went to the “VIP Scanning” area to register.
• Upon registration, the usher put a green paper-sticker type of band on our wrist that served as our “VIP pass.”
• We decided to check the VIP area at the right side of venue).
• 2nd security stop: Security personnel in yellow shirt conducted a full-body frisk.
• 3rd security stop: Usher checks our VIP wrist bands for signs of tampering. Usher warned us that damaged / tampered VIP wrist bands will not be honored.
• 4th security stop: Another security personnel in yellow shirt conducted a full-body frisk.
• We walked toward the stage. About 50-100 people are already standing by.
• We stayed near the barricade that divides the VIP section to the SVIP. Surprisingly, we’re just about 20 meters away from the stage. Not bad! Not bad at all!!!
• Picci and I decided to eat at T.G.I. Friday’s and watched the Ateneo – NU game (Round 2 of UAAP 71) with some of the Ateneo Hecklers. Ateneo won 83-58.
• We went back to the VIP section around 6pm.
• We were asked to enter thru the left side of the VIP; making as walk a whole block.
• We went thru the 4 layers of tight security before finally entering the VIP section on the left side.
• Asked the security personnel to allow as to transfer to the right side, since our friend, Jorem, was on that side.
• We were reunited with Jorem. VIP area was already packed.
• A few minutes past 8pm, the 10-minute countdown started. It was the longest 10 minutes of my life!
• Finally, Buddy, Markus, Raimund and Ely! Six (6) long years I’ve waited!
• I was right with their first song: “Alapaap”
• Here’s the rest of the set…
  • Ligaya
  • Sembreak
  • Hey Jay
  • Harana
  • Fruitcake
  • Toyang
  • Kama Supra
  • Kailan
  • Huwag Kang Matakot
  • Kaliwete
  • With a Smile
  • Shake Yer Head
  • Huwag Mo Nang Itanong
  • Lightyears. Sad. Beautiful song.
• 20-minute intermission.
• The stage was lit… Buddy, Lally, Raimund, Markus, Francis Lumen and the people behind the concert went on stage…
• The sad announcement. You can read about it here.