» #Agimat : Profile » Republika De Lata

Music Artist:

Republika De Lata

Genre: Punk
Record Label: Guerrilla Music

Profile:

Wendy Balingit’s first band includes Dodong Cruz of The Youth as the bassist back in 1987. She then became backup vocals of the WUDS in the “At Nakalimutan ang Diyos” album. She sung Me in the Middle together with the legendary Bobby Balingit, as WUDS’ contribution for the “Karapatang Pantao” album in the early 90's. She also had a separate band with him and was able to record two songs for the compilation album “Unang Hakbang”. A few years later, she met friends from PNU and formed a band known as Isla de Lata. Before it came out as Republika De Lata, Wendy was gigging up on her separate way as Isla De Lata’s vocalist. Teta Tulay (original member of Agaw Agimat), who is also a film maker and an animator, was then busy jamming as Engkantada’s guitarist; while Rojo Malaya, a multi-awarded indie film maker and writer was exuberantly experimenting on documentary films. Until they hooked up with each other in 2006 and finally formed Republika De Lata. They performed in various gigs with different drummers including Aji Adriano of the WUDS.

It was only in 2007 that the band finally settled into a stable unit with Renmin Nadela, original Yano drummer and the beat behind the alternative punk rock group Agaw Agimat, as their permanent drummer -- adding a new feel and texture to their songs’ blistering attack thus, giving the band a fuller backbeat. After a few rehearsals, they played their first gig at The Center for the Arts in Timog, QC. They were soon shortly joined by Chongkey’s guitarist and vocalist Yohan Lugtu. Since then, the band started performing in different venues, out of town concerts and big events such as Fete De La Musique.

Their songs, though fast and furious, are melodic. Each song has its own distinct sound characterizing its message. Though they listen to punk in common, they also listen to different kinds of music -- spicing up the stew, so to speak. But what solidify the band are the goals they commonly share and believe in: to activate the social, spiritual and political consciousness of the audience.

The band was supposed to release an EP in 2008, it was recorded and mixed by Renmin Nadela at his studio. Mastered by Angee Rozul, the EP is composed of six songs, but with busy "non-band" schedules and a crashed hard drive, the Delatas soon went into a hiatus.

Since 2009, the band only emerged on 3 occasions, when American punk band Andy & the Deported and Malaysian pioneer punk band Carburetor Dung did separate Manila Tours; and during a Rakista gig with The Wuds.

2011... with Cael Lazar, Isla De Lata original guitarist on board, Wendy, Teta & Renmin are back as Republika De Lata.

The Delatas again are now bringing punk rock to gigs and concerts everywhere. Recently, they performed with Argentinian punk band Argies.

Found a way to recover raw tracks from a crashed hard drive, Renmin re-mixes and re-masters at The House of St. Volvo the previously recorded 6 tracks which includes Me In the Middle, an intense anti-war song with powerful social and political relevance characterizing refugees caught in the middle of the war. Alingawngaw -- a satire for passiveness in spite of economic distress and political turbulence; Feeling – a prayer to liberate the senses from coaxing; It’s Not Too Late -- a sense of hope for a change with the help of the “Supreme Being”, Mind -- befriending the mind which, if not controlled, could possibly be an antagonist of the self; and Elvis -- a stereotype of the rock scene.

The Delatas have recorded a new track included in the 7-track EP released in August 26, 2011.

Experience Republika De Lata again in 1-2-3-4! Let's go!