Ely Buendia

ELY BUENDIA

Eleandre Basiño Buendia, popularly known as Ely Buendia, and also once adopting the stage name, Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura, (born November 2, 1970) is a Filipino writer and musician who gained fame as guitarist, songwriter, and lead vocalist in the popular Pinoy rock band The Eraserheads. His compositions gained success and critical acclaim, topping various music charts, and are now considered classics. Widely regarded as one of the most respected music icons in the country, he currently performs as guitarist and lead vocalist for Pupil.

Personal life

Born in Mahabang Labak, Mark first learned Kundiman from his mother while he started playing the guitar at the age of 7 years old. Buendia studied Elementary in St. Martin Tech (University of Life) in Pasig City and High School in University of Perpetual Help Rizal. During Elementary, Buendia won in a singing contest where he sang "Doon Lang" by Nonoy Zuniga. Buendia later enrolled to University of the Philippines Diliman where he formed his bands Bluidie Tryste, Sunday School and The Eraserheads.

Buendia has two children, Una Aurea, with his first wife, Vicky Cayago, and Eon Drake, with Pupil co-manager Diane Ventura. He had a relationship with Andi Trinidad of Mega Magazine and presently with Shawn Yao of News5.

Other works

Literature

• Ely Buendia had a broadsheet column, entitled "CURSOR," published weekly (every Saturday) in the Entertainment Section of the Manila Bulletin. Some entries are “Cloning Music,” “Crude Little Robots,” “Biocast Entry No. 13,” “A Dystopian Holiday,” “Event Horizon,” “The Answer,” “Misguided Tours,” “A Well-Documented Review,” “Parking and Flying,” “Soaking Up the Bar,” “Mental Floss,” and his final article, “A Cause for Elevation.” Due to Buendia's busy musical career, CURSOR had ended and was last published during the first Saturday of September 2006.
• Ely's sci-fi short story "The Pillar" was published on the March 2009 issue of Rogue Magazine, with illustrations by Arnold Arre. The Pillar will be released as a graphic novel on June 2011, with illustrations by Jason Moss, who's one of the pioneers of Adarna House.

TV and films

• Aside from starring with the Eraserheads in the movie "Run Barbi Run", Ely played a cameo role in Rufa Mae Quinto’s movie entitled, “Masikip Sa Dibdib” where he was playing and singing “Keeper” by The Mongols in a live stage set with audiences going wild and enjoying the music.
• Buendia has once again showed his acting skills as he's part of Saab Magalona's short film "Spoonfeed," it also stars Jaime Fabregas, Ccia Estocapio, and Saab Magalona herself. Ely graced the opening rites for Dekada Cinemanila on October 16, 2008. The event also marked Ely's comeback in the industry after his operation.
• A 13-minute indie film entitled "Waiting Shed" was produced by Cinemanila's Anima and Tikoy Aguiluz and was shown as part of Cinemanila's Sine Barangay. The film was directed by Ely Buendia, making it his first. "Waiting Shed" premiered with Marcus Adoro's indie film "The Artist Is In".
• Ely Bundia was chosen by MTV Philippines as a voice actor in the Filipino version of MTV Asia's "Intersection" animated film. It is also a campaign of MTV Exit and USAID against exploitation and trafficking, which features soundtrack from Radiohead and Thievery Corporation. Other voice actors are Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes, Epi Quizon, and Dolly Anne Carvajal.
• He guested as "Dave", the older brother of Chris Brawner, in Manny Pacquiao's comedy sitcom, "Show Me Da Manny". In the later part of the show, Buendia performed "Disconnection Notice" with his band Pupil. The episode was aired on September 13, 2009.
• He appeared in the Metro Manila Film Fest Best Picture Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story, as well as the artist of the soundtrack. He won Best Theme Song in the recent MMFF Awards.

Socio-Civic

• Ely also served as the Master Councilor of the Philippines branch of Order of DeMolay .[citation needed] He was initiated as one of the Charter Members of A. Mabini Chapter at Parañaque and has received the Degree of Chevalier, the highest Degree in DeMolay.[citation needed] DeMolay alumni members include Walt Disney, John Wayne, Mel Blanc, Bob Mathias, Bill Clinton, Menardo Jimenez, Neptali Gonzales II, Suharto T. Mangudadatu, Jejomar Binay, Ariel Magcalas, Rafael Salas, Joel Lamangan, Luke Mejares and Mike Orquillas. Each has spoken eloquently of the life-changing benefit gained from their involvement in DeMolay.[9]
• Buendia is also a representative of Ako Mismo, a non-political and non-profit movement headed by KBP and PLDT which encourages self awareness amongst citizens and the future of the Philippines. Other representatives include Edu Manzano, Luis Manzano, Maxene Magalona, Arnel Pineda, Chris Tiu, Charice Pempengco, Angel Locsin, Ramon Bautista, Efren Peñaflorida, Jr. and many others.
• Ely Buendia and Francis Magalona started the Heartist Foundation Inc., which aims to help Filipino artists with health problems and other concerns.

Solo projects and collaborations

• Buendia had a solo project, even before leaving the Eraserheads. He recorded ten tracks in his home studio, "Suite 16 Studios." The album was called "Wanted: Bedspacer," and it comprised the tracks "Wanted Bedspacer," "Monday Mundane," "Kakaiba," "Santo," "Over 18," "Tapos Na," "Acid Tongue," "Oras," "Shallow Breathing," and "Hotchik". The cassette version of the album has a bonus track titled "In the Midnight". 
• In mid-2008, Buendia commenced a series of solo gigs. He mostly sang Eraserheads songs accompanied by indie bands or sessionists, without his band Pupil. First he had a local performance with the Oven Toaster band in the Mag:net Cafe, the Fort. Then he performed an all-Eraserheads number in Manning Bar, Sydney, Australia.[10] Apparently, most fans have been intrigued by these events as there were no issued press releases or announcements regarding his recent solo performances. He also made a new version of "Ang Huling El Bimbo" with FILharmoniKa orchestra for Kumpas compilation, headed by Gerard Salonga, brother of Lea Salonga.
• Ely Buendia co-produced Sugar Hiccup’s “Oracle” album with Raimund Marasigan.
• Ely Buendia and his sister, Lally Buendia wrote the songs “Black Whole," “Sucker” and “Marble” for Domino's Fair Tales album. His wife, Diane played Glockenspiel on “In Your Arms and Pedalpitch on “Provocatrice”. Fair Tales was co-produced by Ely (together with his sister), and was mixed by him as well (together with Lazyboy). Domino was fronted by Lally Buendia and the album was released commercially under Viva Records in 2003.
• He composed True Faith’s “Kung ‘Di Rin Lang Ikaw” with Lyrics by J. Bacasmas and arranged by Ron Soriano for PolyEast Records. Bacasmas is the vocals behind Ultraelectromagneticpop's “Ganjazz.”
• "Magasin" which he wrote was sampled for the track “Girl On Da Magazin” by Legendary Flip-Hop group, Legit Misfitz.
• He wrote the songs “Mga Babae” and "Something Always Brings Me Back To You" sung by the female funk, R&B, rap, and soul music group, Novia under BMG Pilipinas.
• Buendia wrote a song called "Stone's Throw" for Sponge Cola's debut album "Palabas".
• He also collaborated with Pinoy Rap artists in the song “Private Diane” with Francis Magalona and Death Threat. It was released under Sony Music. Buendia furthered the collaboration with rapper Beware (also of Death Threat) titled "Pag Puti ng Uwak", under the album "Revenge of tha Undaground", which was released in 2007.
• He used the codename “MH Hesus” when he sung back-up vocals for Parokya Ni Edgar’s “Hosanna Ngayong Pasko” Christmas song in the “Jingle Balls Silent Night Holy Cow” album. MH actually means Maalalahanin, it is the street somewhere in Teachers Village, Quezon City where Ely Buendia used to live.
• Buendia also sang "Suntok Sa Buwan", an APO Hiking Society original. It was included in the OST of 2000 Viva Films movie "Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw", starring Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla.
• Buendia also collaborated with the late Francis Magalona for their new album, "In Love & War", released in May 2010, with their hit single, "Higante".
• Buendia celebrated his 40th Birthday with a one-off concert entitled "Ely Buendia XL (Xtra Live)" at Republiq Bar, Resorts World Manila. Aside from his main band, Pupil, guest artists performed with him, including Dope Militia, Raimund Marasigan, Hilera, Turbo Goth, Diego Mapa, Rommel Dela Cruz, Brigada and Francis Brew Reyes. "XL" is the Roman numeral of 40, as suggested by Buendia's father.
• Buendia was featured in Pete Best's Beatlefest 2010 concert held at the Aliw Theater on September 11, 2010. The concert was produced by Steve O'Neal Productions and featured Pete Best, Ramon Jacinto, Rene Garcia, Mcoy Fundales and the Glass Onion Band. Buendia sang Beatles songs such as I Feel Fine, She Said She Said, We Can Work It Out and Dear Prudence.
• In 2011, Ely Buendia contributed to Rock Ed Philippines and celebrated Jose Rizal's works using his song "Bungo Sa Bangin". It features Pepe Smith on drums, Kat Agarrado of Sinosikat? and Sarah Gaugler of Turbo Goth on backing vocals, Nitoy Adriano of The Jerks on lead guitar, Paolo Peralta of The Camerawalls on rhythm guitar and synths, and Niño Mesina of Afterimage on bass. Sandwich, The Dawn, Aiza Seguerra and many other OPM artists contributed to Rock Ed Philippines as well. Their works were released free and under Creative Commons license.
• Buendia collaborated with the independent band The Purplechickens for a Bob Dylan tribute night he set up. The band also appears in "In Love And War" where they covered the Dylan classic "It's Alright, Ma" (along with singer Radha).
• Elytistas was a short-lived endeavor band fronted by Ely Buendia with Diane Ventura on drums, Dok Sergio on bass and JP Cuison of Kiko Machine as lead guitarist. It performed mainly in saGuijo Cafe Makati and as a part of Livestock Productions. Buendia later formed another endeavor band, Ely Buendia and the Diamond Dogs, which covers David Bowie songs and other classics. It is fronted by Ely Buendia and composed of Nitoy Adriano of The Jerks and Jesse Grinter of Gaijin on guitars, Micaela Benedicto of Outerhope on keyboards, Mayo Baluyut of Revenge Avenger on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.
• MMFF Award Best Original Theme Song - "La Paloma" by Ely Buendia in the movie Asiong Salonga.

Commercial projects

• As early as January 2006, there were reports that some of Pupil’s fans have been hearing a new song called “Luk4 Jingle”, as it was played on some radio stations and also during the ending credits video of the original episodes of Studio 23’s Barkada Trip. Although due to lack of indications and confirmations from the band and related organizers that time, it was quite unclear if the song was actually from the band or was an old solo project of Ely or the vocals of the said song just sounded like Ely. Until recently, the song was finally confirmed, heard and witnessed when the band played it (titled "Text LUK4") live during the finale of DPC Yellow Pages' "Luk4 The Million - City Adventure Challenge" held on December 8, 2006 at the Metrowalk. Although Pupil plays it during live performances, the song itself was a side project of Ely's.
• Ely Buendia was included in a commercial project for San Miguel Beer's Red Horse product line, alongside various Filipino Rock icons: Basti Artadi from Wolfgang, Mark Abaya from Kjwan, Kevin Roy from Razorback, and Pepe Smith from Juan Dela Cruz. He also became a top endorser of the Red Horse Muziklaban. During the 2007 Muziklaban, he performed "Nasaan Ka?" with Kjwan as his ad hoc band.
• Buendia is part of Coca-Cola Philippine's Coke Zero campaign with Billy Crawford and Gaby Dela Merced. The campaign was launched on ASAP and is generally about the health awareness of the brand. He also participated in a similar but more formal campaign in 2008 with Quaker Oats.

Businesses

• Ely once co-owned 70's Bistro, Quezon City, where the famous Eraserheads piano was kept. Ely also operates a spa and salon for men and women in Parañaque, named Face2 Salon. 
 

Reference:Ely Buendia on Wikipedia