Dennis Gaviola

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The Melladay

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1749471360190Melladys album cover.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/></div>MANILA -- Though the 1970s were a period of youth activism and social unrest in the Philippines, it was also a time of simple pleasures spent at home learning to play the guitar via Jingle Chordbook magazine, and singing the hits of the day with friends and neighbors.Flashback to Rizal Village in Poblacion, Makati’s old town center near the main street of J.P. Rizal, where lived five Mella siblings — four brothers (Alejandro Khasim, Ynocencio Ramel, Gabriel Thaib, Ephraim Tahir) and one sister (Lolita Shaira).Their father, Ynocencio de Castro Mella, was a lawyer, and their mother, Lolita Atedeo Rañoja, a Muslim from the royal Alonto clan of Lanao del Norte.The Mella siblings were closely-knit and shared a love for music. They spent long afternoons writing their own songs as members of the group they called Tanglaw. The eldest, Khasim, played guitar, piano and drums, took up Fine Arts, got into painting, but died at age 26 in 1984.“Khasim was always the artistic one. He knew how to draw and paint as early as when he was a toddler. He played several musical instruments and was a prolific composer. He always filled our home with art and music. He inspired all of us in different ways,” recalls Shaira, the fourth-born and only girl, who likewise played the piano and took to writing for self-expression. Shaira majored in Mass Communications at the former Maryknoll College (now Miriam), and was persuaded by schoolmate Olive Lamasan to try writing scripts. She went on to co-write award-winning Filipino movies, including Start Cinema’s “Tanging Yaman.” She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and four children. “I was obsessed with learning to pluck the guitar, inspired by John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel, and influenced by Seals and Croft and Jim Croce,” says fourth-born Thaib, who also played the piano and is the most prolific composer among the siblings. “I didn’t imagine seeing my songs being produced commercially.”He took up Civil Engineering at Mapua and currently lives with his wife and three kids in the United States.“There was strong pressure and encouragement from our parents to do well. I could say excellence was ingrained in the family,” says second-born Ramel, who likewise played the guitar.He majored in Economics at La Salle, earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration at the Ateneo, worked in Ayala companies, and now manages the Mella family’s properties in Sorsogon. “It was Khasim’s death that catalyzed my interest in the preservation of our music. I did not want our music to die with us. I believe that preserving one’s music is one way of achieving immortality,” says the youngest, Tahir, a guitarist, pianist and composer.He finished Economics at the University of the Philippines Diliman, went to law school at the Ateneo and Rutgers University in New Jersey, and for 30 years practiced law in Pennsylvania.He owns and operates Melladys Entertainment and Sound Productions in New Jersey where he lives with his wife and five children.Notwithstanding all their achievements, the siblings held on to their collective dream of having their original songs recorded, even just for posterity.Now that dream has come true with “Mga Awit sa J. P. Rizal,” a full-length album written by the Mellas, under the moniker Melladys.The album features seven tracks performed by an all-star lineup of professional musicians and performers such as Medwin Marfil (True Faith), Jazz Nicolas (The Itchyworms) Noel Mendez, Joey Puyat (Blue Rats, Kiss the Bride), Rommel dela Cruz (formerly of Barbie’s Cradle and Freestyle), Paolo Manuel (Kosmikskala, The Jerks), Kakoi Legaspi (Dong Abay Music Organization) Johnny Alegre, Marga Jayy, Carla Guevarra, David Ezra, among others, and with Ria Villena-Osorio (Bamboo) as one of the arrangers.The songs throb with the joys of the first stirrings of love, the pain and challenges of romance, and reliving the memory of the experience.The music, though mostly folk-based, has varied arrangements: upbeat pop, mid-tempo jazz, bossa nova, soft rock, kundiman, and brooding ballad.“I would best describe the album as classic OPM,” says Johnny.<div> </div><div>“Mga Awit sa J. P. Rizal” will have a by-invitation listening session on June 10, followed by a media launch on June 18 at 12 Monkeys and a limited-edition release on vinyl.</div>

The Mellka siblings held on to their collective dream of having their original songs recorded, even just for posterity. Now that dream has come true with 'Mga Awit sa J. P. Rizal,' a full-length album written by the Mellas, under the moniker Melladys.

The Mellka siblings held on to their collective dream of having their original songs recorded, even just for posterity. Now that dream has come true with 'Mga Awit sa J. P. Rizal,' a full-length album written by the Mellas, under the moniker Melladys.

The Melladys' homegrown songs now on vinyl featuring members of True Faith, Itchyworms

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The Melladys' homegrown songs now on vinyl featuring members of True Faith, Itchyworms

ABS-CBN News,

Jingo Zapata

Published June 09, 2025 08:27 PM PHT

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