Actually, NAB was a family band composed of, among others, Bubot’s brothers and sisters. Years after the break-up, Bubot (now a.k.a. degrades, and (2.) Nestor U.
w World concerts, at the Katrina’s and Matimyas House punk venues, and other concerts with their “brother band in the mission,” The Wuds. From 1984-1992—almost a decade of Bio Sparks’ submerged and staggering existence as a band and as members come and go, the group has already involved 25 people as ex-members. In 1992, the founder collaborated with Rey Aquino, ex-vocalist/front act man of one of Olongapo’s rock exponent pioneers in the ‘70s—Our Daily Bread. Bio Sparks’ team-up that went on for many years were this line-up: Rey Aquino on vocals, Caesar Sing on guitar, Ian Aquino (the vocalist’s son) on drums, and Bubot Tolentino on bass, back-up vocals, and he who writes most of their songs. Although the manifesto of their music is obviously an influence of local and foreign artists of the ‘60s to ‘90s, the band plays all-original materials. In 1994, during the band’s on-the-air live interview with DJ Doctor at LA 105 FM rock station to promote their concerts and the launching of their compilation album, one curious listener “beeped” a question. [NOTE: At that time there were no cellular phones yet—only “beepers.”] The question was: “Are you a funk band, a punk band, o mga rockers ba kayo?” Bubot replied in a joking manner: “Well, it’s up to you to decide where to put us on or to what genre or label you would want to put us on according to our music. Actually, it’s just all right with us. We can do different kinds of music but basically and obviously it is rock.” But if ever, they say, that there is a need to label their music, they would likely christen it “Human Rock.” The band members believe that there are only two kinds of sound vibrations: (1.) upgrades and liberates the listener. To them, Human Rock is rock music with a message that could elevate the consciousness of the bios in the human species—not degrade them. Bio is Greek word “life,” and Sparks are “particles of fire (light).” Life is also defined as the living force, or spirit, and therefore Bio Sparks would also mean “spiritual particles.” Bio Sparks sing about life and the hassles of day-to-day living in this material world and how to cope up with this existence in harmony with the Absolute. Practicing bhakti-yoga meditation, also known as the Haribol philosophy which is centered on the regular hearing and chanting of the yoga sound vibrations, the band members are all staunch vegetarians and abstain from all forms of vice. In 1995, Bio Sparks, along with other bands and solo artists of alternative music, came up with the project “UNANG HAKBANG (Sa Itinakdang Panahon),” a compilation album produced by Alkansya Music Production and distributed by Centra Musicmart. This album, as reviewed by Mr. Torre, an entertainment critic who has a long-standing column in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, rated it as “one of the most outstanding albums” in the local alternative music scene at that time. Eventually, after losing Bio Sparks’ drummer—“a fledgling for a higher nest,” and the guitarist—a roving manager who manages a certain aspect of a tele-communications company can no longer commit much of his time, Bubot and Rey continued appearing in jams doing “unplugged” renditions of their songs. It was in the later part of 2005 when, in one gig, a long-time friend of the band and a “mission brother” Boying Morales, guitarist of a disbanded Freedom Highway, another Olongapo band, jammed with Rey and Bubot. After the jam, friends decided to work together as Boying offered his home and facilities in Biñan, Laguna. From then on, instantly, Bio Sparks got a new practice studio, a new guitarist, a new bass player, and a new drummer—the two latter are both Boy’s (Boying’s) teenage boys. He now also functions as Bio Sparks’ producer, logistics director, and sound tech. Bubot then recalled the band’s ex-keyboardist, which later cannot commit due to health problems. To date, the original guitarist has flexible schedules and now plugs in. Therefore, Bio Sparks now line up Chai Morales on drums, Bal Morales on bass, Boying Morales and/or Caesar Sing on lead guitar, Bubot Tolentino on rhythm guitar and vocals, and Rey Aquino on lead vocals. A budding lead guitarist, the founder’s son, Harī was recruited as new member. Currently, with a handful of fellow volunteers, Bio Sparks focus on a cause-oriented project that Boying Morales has coined Haribol Fiesta Pilipinas, a feeding program and a fun festival, and Green Earth Pilipinas, a program for environmental cause. Although the band would sometimes appear on different gigs by invitation, Haribol Fiesta Pilipinas and Green Earth Pilipinas are their major concerns. These projects actually are unique musical productions with multi-activities conducted in different municipalities/cities coordinated with the local officials of the areas. With fun and games, feeding (vegetarian food), and educational activities, the emphasis of these programs is the chanting of Haribol with the crowd participating in the singing, yelling, dancing, and walking for a cause. Haribol is kind of a “magical” Sanskrit greeting which has many meanings; one of which is that it is wishing everyone “the ultimate goodwill.”
Bio Sparks, a name that exists for 28 years now would like to remain “doing their thing” as an alternative “underground” rock band. “Alternative” because the messages of their songs is not like the “ordinary,” and “alternative” also because they can switch from one genre to the next with ease—be it folk, slow rock, blues, rock-‘n’-roll, punk, metal, trash, and so forth. “Underground” refers to a band who avoids (or is deprived from) the “mainstream.”
