Ely Buendia reiterates Eraserheads’ ‘Spoliarium’ is not about TVJ, Pepsi Paloma
(From left) Eraserheads, Vic Sotto, Tito Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Pepsi Paloma. Images: DVENT Pictures, WEU, and Warner Bros. Pictures, Facebook/TVJ, FILE PHOTO
Twenty-eight years after the release of Eraserheads’ “Spoliarium,” the band’s frontman Ely Buendia found himself reiterating that the song is not at all about comedy trio Tito and Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, nor of the late sexy star Pepsi Paloma.
The recent brouhaha about the issue stemmed from the new movie “The Rapist of Pepsi Paloma,” directed by Darryl Yap, whose promotion of the biopic included a controversial trailer alleging that Vic Sotto was the young actress’ rapist.
Buendia was the frontman of the four-piece alternative rock band Eraserheads which found fame in the late ’80s to early ’90s, and were behind such popular hits as “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “With A Smile,” “Ligaya,” “Pare Ko,” “Magasin,” and “Spoliarium,” which spurred the TVJ-Pepsi Paloma urban legend.
At a press conference for Eraserheads’ docufilm “Combo on the Run” on Monday, February 17, Buendia was asked what he thought were some of the most ridiculous or funniest rumors or urban legends that he heard. Catching the drift, Buendia knew exactly what song the question was referring to, adding that he was heartbroken when he learned about the “myth.”
“Let’s just get it out there. ‘Spoliarium,’ right? It’s not about TVJ. It’s not about Vic Sotto and the ‘rape.’ It is a sad thing. I was really heartbroken when that thing came out because I was such a huge fan [of TVJ],” he said, referring to the myth.
The singer-songwriter said TVJ were his “heroes,” while saying that for the song to be made a reference to something serious as the Paloma rape case is a “ridiculous claim.”
“They were my heroes and I wouldn’t dream of writing a song to tarnish my heroes. I think that’s the most ridiculous [claim]. I will maintain that it’s not about them. It’s not about Pepsi [Paloma],” he said.
‘Enteng and Joey’ were roadies
This is not the first time Buendia denied that the song is about Paloma and the comedy trio. On a “Wake Up With Jim & Saab” podcast in March 2021, the singer-songwriter shared that the song was about him and his bandmates getting “pissed drunk” after drinking Goldschläger, a type of cinnamon-flavored schnapps.
Buendia further explained that the mention of “Enteng and Joey” in Spoliarium’s lyrics referred to the band’s road managers, and should not be taken as a dig at Vic Sotto and de Leon.
“They were roadies. Kaya first time ko nabasa ‘yun, that urban legend, sabi ko, ‘Wow, okay ‘to ah!’ There really is, sometimes, ‘yung mga coincidence like that. You have no power over that. It just happens,” he said of the aforementioned lyric.
“Spoliarium” is a song off the band’s 1997 album “Sticker Happy,” which also contains the tracks “Balikbayan Box” and “Para Sa Masa.”
Buendia, as well as his bandmates Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro, is part of the upcoming documentary film “Combo On the Go,” which revolves around the band’s healing and the preparations leading to their “Ang Huling El Bimbo” reunion concert. The film will hit theaters from March 21 to 23.
Yap’s upcoming movie “The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma,” whose premiere date remains in the dark due to his ongoing cyber libel case against Vic, and it failed to meet the requirements set by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).
“The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma” was supposed to hit theaters on February 5.
Previously, Yap was slapped with 19 counts of cyberlibel complaint before the prosecutors, while a separate case for habeas data was filed before the Muntinlupa regional trial court. The court eventually partially grated Vic’s petition ordering the filmmaker to remove or take down any promotional material of the movie that uses any information against him.
