The University of the Philippines (UP) announced on Tuesday, August 20, that the iconic OPM rock band Eraserheads has been awarded the Gawad Oblation.
“It is no exaggeration to say that the Eraserheads are a pivotal force in the history of Original Pilipino Music. Even now, decades after they first burst into the local music scene, they remain a household name, a cultural icon for the ages,” UP president Angelo Jimenez said at the UP Gawad Oblation awarding ceremony.
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The Gawad Oblation is one of the university’s highest awards. It has been bestowed on each of the band members, all of whom are UP alumni. The Oblation medal is given to individuals, groups, and institutions that have brought recognition to the university and are upholding its name.
The awards also signify their efforts in increasing “institutional visibility, international prestige, and recognition of the University of the Philippines as a National University.”
The awarding event took place at the OPM band’s alma mater. Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro formed the band while still studying at UP Diliman in 1989. Since then, they have become one of the most iconic bands and popularized local OPM.
Eraserheads’ songs has become a local hit and shaped Filipino pop culture today. Some of their most popular include “Pare Ko,” “Ang Huling El Bimbo,” “Ligaya,” “Alapaap” and “With a Smile.”
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“The Eraserheads gave voice to the real and lived experiences, struggles, social realities, and concerns of generations of Filipino youth,” Jimenez added.
The band disbanded back in 2002 but later reunited for various concerts, such as their reunion in 2008. The Eraserheads reunited in 2022 for the Hulin El Bimbo concert, which is held at the SMDC Festival Grounds.
They also recently announced that they will extend their 2023 world tour to North America alongside some shows in Asia and the Middle East. This tour will run from July until December this year.
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