Remember the Boyfriends-- a popular musical group in the 70s with pop and disco harmonies reminiscent of the Bee Gees?
The artists wanted to play for free to the people of Lopez, Quezon but they could not get a permit. That's because the venue they were eyeing-- the town plaza is being used by the LGUs as a personal parking lot for the municipality's cars and trucks. Note that this is a public property that people have every right to use. This is abuse of power, don't you think?
Failing to get a permit, the Boyfriends were forced to play their music in the remotest towns of the province-- Tigkawayan and Atimonan.
There are musicians who sing for political candidates for the coming elections. But Boyfriends? They have not openly endorsed any.
Even if their (band's) motive for wanting to entertain people is purely that-- regardless of politics-- the LGU of Lopez, whose leadership and those of its rival are closely linked to Marcos Jr., through Danny Suarez (the Congressman who paid for the huge bill of former President GMA in the US) still treat the town like their own turf-- where they can do anything they want with all the resources.
The iconic Boyfriends come all the way from Manila to sing in remotest towns in Quezon Province like Tagkawayan and Atimonan.
While other singers have secured venues to hold their shows in various parts of the country, The Boyfriends surprisingly found it hard to place their singing voices on the ground when the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Lopez didn’t allow them to perform in the town plaza just like its refusal on a request by Lopez Youth for Leni org to stage a musical in the same venue a couple of months ago.
According to Lopez singer Normina Budoy, wife of Lito Cachapero, The Boyfriends’ keyboardist, the group hasn’t found a free show venue yet. “Hindi daw po makahanap ng venue hanggang ngayon para po dun… Hindi daw po pumayag sa covered court sa plaza (They can’t find a venue for the show until now…They said that they weren’t allowed to use the plaza covered court),” said Normina in an online and personal talks.
As it is, the plaza covered court has been converted into a parking area of various types of vehicles instead of a venue for productive human activities.
“Ang dami pa namang nag aantay sa TBF..ngayon lang makakapunta dun sa atin…saka maraming kanta ang TBF na gusto pa rin nilang marinig hanggang ngayon..kahit kabataan gusto din nila mga pinasikat na awitin ng TBF nung kapanahunan nila…ang BEEGEES ng music industry ng Pilipinas (To think that there are still many who await for TBF..it’s only now that they are appearing in our town…they have many songs which the audience would want to listen until now..the millennials also like their music…the BEEGEES of the local music industry),” gushed Budoy in FB Messenger.
“Matutuwa po sina sir Gary Arriola at sir Bob Guzman..buti nga po at kinuha sila ni Fernando Martinez para mag Quezon Tour ’22 para sa 4th District ng Quezon,” quipped Normina.
Famous songs
Several of the Boyfriends' recordings are among the most popular Tagalog and English songs in the Philippines from the late 70s and early 80s and have since been covered by a number of the Philippines most popular singers.
Among their albums are: Dahil Mahal Kita, With Love, 3, Forever, First Love, Unplugged Reunion Album and Akustik. Their compilation albums are: Best of the Boyfriends, Greatest Hits, The Story of Boyfriends: the Ultimate OPM collection.
Many of their notable songs are still played and heard in radio, You Tube, and are part of the karaoke songlist, such as Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Dahil Mahal Kita, Nais kong Malaman Mo, Sumayaw, sumunod, Salawahan, Sa Tuwing Ako'y Nag-iisa, First Love Never Dies, Mamahalin Kita, Dance with Me, Bistado na Kita, Araw Araw, I think I'm in Love, Kay Ganda Palang Umibig, Oras Oras, Bumalik ka Lamang, Paano ko sasabihin and Umaapoy.