Hotdog Band’s Original Members botched Grand Reunion

 
By Willie Jose
Toronto-Canada
May 18, 2020
 


Most of my generation could still remember this iconic song, Pers Lab made famous by the Hotdog Band in the 70s-- and even these days, when we get to listen to this song, so many memories come to mind: our first love, some romantic escapades or simply the joy of being with our beloved in cozy corners.

So, in one cold morning recently, while reading the Filipino Making Waves newspaper, what caught my interest was an article entitled “Pers Lab: A Song that will Outlive Us” written by Mon Torralba, one of the original members of the band. He’s also the Waves ‘publisher.

While I was sitting comfortably at the Starbucks Coffee shops at the Scarborough Town Center, I read with gusto that article on the story behind the creation of Pers Lab with Mon, being the one who composed the song, while Dennis Garcia, did write its lyrics.

Mon said in that piece ” Dennis with that song, we affirmed the start of a new musical genre popularly called "Manila Sound. And I'm honored to say, we created a song that will outlive us".

Although it was admirable knowing the collaboration of the two musicians in creating that famous song, Pers Lab, what struck me most was Mon’s revelation, saying, "Thanks to you, Dennis. You reached out and messaged Lorrie and I in early November, after almost 40 years of incommunicado. You wanted to do a “grand reunion” before we meet our Creator”.

Mon didn’t say what had caused the Band’s separation for almost 40 years but I found an article at Wikipedia that says, “ Amidst the successes and fame that the band was garnering, Hotdog disbanded in the 80s because the members wanted to pursue individual interests”.

“The band reunited (without del Rosario, Ilustre and Torralba) sometime in 2000 to perform in various gigs,” the article says.

 Going by the long years they had not communicated with each other, we could safely assume that most probably the reason for their breakup could have been more serious than merely saying that the “members wanted to pursue individual interests.”

Still, it’s commendable that they have not forgotten the fact that they had been friends before, and by sugar-coating the cause of their breakup, that could be a good way of giving themselves some elbowroom for possible reconciliation in the future. 

But those long years could have been enough to put everything behind them, forget everything, and reconcile whatever differences they might have in the past.

From time to time, I would find myself listening to some of Hotdog’s music, but I have been wondering why the original group members could not perform live concerts, especially knowing that Mon has been living in Toronto for years.

Mon said is his article that in November last year; Dennis Garcia wanted to have a grand reunion by reaching out to the rest of the band members.

Upon getting Dennis’ message about the reunion, “on the New Year’s Eve, feeling to end the year right, Mon replied to Dennis’ text, “May Love and Peace be reborn in our families”…that your reunion may happen”.

Dennis replied  ”A bountiful 2020 to you and your loved ones. Let me work on an unforgettable reunion while we still have the strength to pull it through”.

Sad to say, that planned reunion with the rest of the surviving original Hotdog’s members never came into fruition because Dennis died last January.

And Mon was right in saying that “ with your untimely demise, we are again reminded that we don’t own our time on earth.

Mon ended his article with “ Rest in peace, Dennis, You are in a better place now, with our real Pers Lab, our Creator.

Had that reunion been pushed through, it could have been the most memorable get together for the Band’s original members who for a very long time had neither communicated with each other nor even tried to patch up their differences that could have ended their separation.

That reunion could have given their loyal followers so much excitement, looking forward to the day when their much-loved Band could play their favorite songs of the 70s: Annie Batungbakal, Manila, Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko, O, Lumapit ka, and Pers Lab.

With the death of the two primary members of the group- Dennis and Rudy Garcia—that reunion concert, and the chance of possibly renewing their friendship have vanished into thin air, so to speak.

OH, what a missed opportunity, a once in a lifetime chance for the Hotdog’s original members to kiss and make up their differences.

Sayang!

It’s true, life is so uncertain, we don’t know what will happen tomorrow, as they say, tomorrow is not promised, and God’s Word is even telling us,” we are like a morning mist that “appears for a little while and then disappears”. (James 4:4)