Push Admin

‘Nothing changed’: Noy Pillora explains why Asin songs remain popular in PH

Article (news)

Karl Cedrick Basco, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Photo from Myx Awards 2021" src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/entertainment/11/09/20211109-asin-band.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Photo from Myx Awards 2021</figcaption></figure></div>“Nothing changed.”These were the words of Mike “Noy” Pillora Jr., the founding member of the folk rock band Asin, when asked about the continued relevance of their hit songs that raised social awareness among many Filipinos. In a virtual interview about a documentary film on his life in Israel, Pillora said the Philippines is fighting the same problems it was facing several decades ago. “The whole situation did not change. That&#x27;s why even until now, the songs of Asin are still relevant because it is still happening. It even got worse,” Pillora said.He said Asin evolved from an ordinary singing group when he founded it alongside Cesar Bañares Jr. and Lolita Carbon into a folk band that dug into the past. “For a time, we were just an ordinary singing group. This is how we started. We went on to another level where we were able to break through, we were making our own songs,” Pillora revealed. “The sentiments we have are going out through our songs. It&#x27;s already an original song,” he added. Asin rose to fame with their songs “Usok,” “Himig ng Pag-Ibig,” Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran,” “Balita,” and “Pagbabalik.”According to him, the group found their niche as a band when they did research and went to local tribes to dig into their culture and applied it to their music, which was sometimes misconstrued as subversion or an attack to the government. “They were saying that Asin is a radical group but for me, Asin is a moral group,” he said.<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VrIjhInbg9s?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>Pillora, who has been living in Israel with his Israeli wife and daughter, also offered some advice to the Filipino youth, following the start of election season in the Philippines. “You need a very strong logic and common sense. You have to stand on these two,” he shared. Pillora also admitted that comprehension is not “so strong for the Filipinos,” stressing the importance of strengthening the education system in the country. “You have to have a certain guideline to choose leaders. He must be a good person, morally. A leader and not a ruler. We need leaders, not rulers. Rulers are the time of medieval,” he quipped.“We need somebody who has a heart, mind. This is what we need as a country in order to move forward.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/11/06/21/migrant-life-in-the-eyes-of-asins-noy-pillora">Israeli documentary ‘Kuya Noy’ features migrant life in the eyes of Asin’s Noy Pillora</a></li></ul>After 5 years, the documentary about the migrant life in Israel of Pillora billed as “Kuya Noy” was finally released in time for the 16th Israeli Film Festival. The story follows Pillora’s life in the slums of Tel-Aviv, where he has a daughter who is about to begin her military service. The singer migrated there when he married his Israeli wife.

Asin rose to fame with their songs “Usok,” “Himig ng Pag-Ibig,” Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran,” “Balita,” and “Pagbabalik.”

‘Nothing changed’: Noy Pillora explains why Asin songs remain popular in PH

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Showbiz

‘Nothing changed’: Noy Pillora explains why Asin songs remain popular in PH

Karl Cedrick Basco,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 09, 2021 06:51 PM PHT

Read More:

Asin

Mike Pillora Jr.

Noy Pillora

Kuya Noy

music

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.