After eating ‘adobo,’ ‘pancit canton,’ One Republic rocks Araneta

FULL STOMACH Members of American alternative rock bank One Republic love “adobo” and “pancit canton”. They also want to ride on top of a jeepney in the middle of traffic. MATIKAS SANTOS/Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines —The first time American alternative rock band OneRepublic—who is set to perform Wednesday night—visited the Republic of the Philippines they already made “adobo” and “pancit canton” their favorite foods and wanted to take a jeepney back home.

“Chicken and pork adobo [is] by far my favorite food that I’ve had in the whole Asia tour,” Ryan Tedder, lead vocalist of the band told reporters in a press conference before their Wednesday performance at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.

“The pancit canton, that’s my favorite [too], we just discovered it today and it’s now my favorite food,” he said adding that he has already googled the recipe so he could make it back home.

OneRepublic is in the country for one night to promote their latest album, “Native,” which was released March 2013.

They are famous for their hit singles “Stop and Stare” and “Apologize,” which were in the debut album “Dreaming Out Loud” released back in 2007.

Their songs “All the Right Moves,” “Secrets,” “Marchin’ On,” and “Good life,” are the four official singles from their second album, “Waking Up,” released in 2009.

“Native,” their third album, is currently the band’s highest charting album.

Playing in the Philippines for the first time, Tedder said they are refreshed and energized to play live for their fans here.

“Its very refreshing for us to come to a new city, a new country knowing that we have never played our music for these particular fans, it’s kind of energizing for us,” Tedder said.

“[The Philippines is] one of the most interesting places on Earth … your beer is called San Miguel and everybody’s last name sounds Spanish,” he said.

Having traveled to many countries all over the world, Tedder said that Philippines “feels a lot less foreign to us than many of the other countries in Asia.”

Asked about the intense traffic they encountered on their arrival in the metropolis, Tedder said “to balance out the fact that you have the best food in the world, you have the worst traffic.”

He however pointed out that traffic was also severe in Jakarta, Mexico, Moscow, Beijing because of times when the “city grew too fast [and] way quicker than the infrastructure.”

Tedder said even in Denver in the United States, they get upset for being stuck in traffic for 30 minutes.

At this point, Drew Brown, their guitarist, said that “if you aren’t from the Philippines, the jeepneys that you guys drive around are probably the most exciting looking mode of transportation.”

To which Tedder agreed and said “we’d like to take a jeepney back [home].”

He also expressed that they want to go on a tour in a jeepney if their manager would allow them.

“Maybe we can hang off the top of it or something,” Tedder said.

OneRepublic is composed of Tedder, Brown, Zach Filkins (guitar), Brent Kutzle (Bass and Cello), and Eddie Fisher (drums).