Since the demise of Pepe Smith last Jan.27, 2019, the populace have had more questions than answers, produced more skeptics than believers, and spurned more trivia than fact. And maybe, just maybe, the next best person to ascertain these factoids is the one closest to him. The one person who spent his last 5 years with – in music, on the road and on the table - Richard Esquejo.
The Formation Years
His looks are like a character out of an action movie; long hair, trickle of beard, harangued moustache, boots and faded jeans. He may look quite intimidating, but be has a soft heart and a very good bass player.
‘Spanky’, as he is fondly called in the music circuit by his friends, was just 16 years old when his interest in music started. He vividly remembers using the cassette tapes in deciphering notes of certain songs he wanted to cover. Playing, pausing and rewinding on a particular tune. In his 20’s, he became technical in his passion in music. “I started in the 90’s as an acoustic player and later on as a lead guitarist, in small bars and big venues alike. I had a handful of compositions back then, I also play drums. My hairdo back then, was semi-kalbo, haha” chuckles Spanky.
One of his pals, ‘Pudong’, insinuated to him to consider the bass guitar as an alternate musical instrument. “Pudong is the drummer of Tanya Markova from Cainta, Rizal. Then ‘Tito Abe’ (Abe Hipoloto) of Watawat Band (the backup band of Freddie Aguilar) talked me into playing the bass guitar. Stating that it is the backbone and rhythm of every band, so I learned the rudiments of the instrument. And I loved it! So I shifted to the bass guitar”, says Spanky. His nickname, has nothing to do with his name, and everything to do with his looks. After growing facial hair and sporting his hair long, someone commented that he looks exactly like ‘Spanky Rigor’ of the T.O.D.A.S VST & Company fame in the 80’s. Well, he really looks like him. And the name stuck.
His Bands
Spanky’s skills in bass playing did not just happen overnight, it was the culmination of slew of bands that came his way. ‘Sandugo’ was one band with JC Hipolito. The ‘Maunani’, is another group with ‘Tito Abe’, which he considers a very good mentor. Tito Abe now plays for JK Labajo of the ‘Buwan’ fame. “After that, bumuo ako grupo ko pinangalanan ko ‘Afterjuan’. Solid rock ang tugtugan namin. We cover Black Sabbath, Led Zepellin, Juan Dela Cruz and others. We were lucky enough to play regularly at ‘Motorista Bar’ for some time”, remembers Spanky. After one of their sets, someone texted him and invited them to play as a the backup band of Pepe Smith. It was at this time when Pepe is under a new management and has to part ways with his old band ‘Kwadro’. They accepted, of course, (with a lot of help from Abba Pangilinan) and the group were able secure a stranglehold of this. From ‘Afterjuan’ they evolved to ‘Drivetrain Band’ and eventually ‘The Pepe Smith Blues N Rock Force’. The name change was an ‘unavoidable necessity’, Spanky says, due to the ‘Pepe Smith Rockfest’ brouhaha that happened last June 01, 2018. “To ward off the negative stigma brought about by that event in Pepe’s life”, Spanky says.
Spanky knows he would have to sacrifice a lot when he entered the world of Rock n Roll. Not minding the hardships, the negative criticism of fellow musicians, the unholy hour he goes home, and at times the unpaid talent fees, his family supports what he is doing, but is ready and able to reciprocate with his all out performance whenever and wherever. Already into his 20-plus year and counting, he have no plan to stop or slow down a bit. “Rock n roll, as Pepe Smith would have said it”, laughs Spanky.
Meeting Pepe The Hefe
“Pepe Smith was already a well known figure when I first heard of his music. Together with Wally Gonzalez and Mike Hanopol, they were the salt of Pinoy Rock as Juan Dela Cruz Band, I idolized them from the very start. Innovators silang tatlo at ganun din yun ang ibang banda like, Maria Cafra ,Asin, Sampaguita , Gary Perez at iba pa. That is why when the chance came, that, I would be a part of a band backing up ‘The Pepe Smith’, my adrenalin pumped from the many questions and clarifications I had in mind for years, and now, would be answered”, exclaims Spanky.
Asked whether Pepe Smith is more of a father, than a friend or a musician when he is with him? “Package deal”! , was his resounding answer. “Magaling sya makisama, hindi lang kaibigan at ka banda turingan walang pa ako nakilalang ganito makisama. Naalala ko nuon pag nag iinuman kami dalawa pag humingi ako ng payo talagang papayuhan ka nyan. Dun ko naramdaman na marunong sya mag malasakit pag dating sa problema. Maasahan mo sya kya. Well, ganun din naman ako sa kanya”, says Spanky. Queenie Smith, Pepe Smith’s eldest offspring have only good words for Spanky. “We treat Spanky as a family member, hindi na sya iba sa amin. He was the one who brought Papa to PGH, when Papa had to undergo an emergency surgery. We really owe him a lot”, says Queenie who lives abroad. Spanky’s heart is so radiant that he checks on Pepe’s well-being almost always in their house. “Two times na nga, siguro I was at the right place and the right time, nahulog si Pyaps sa hagdanan at nasalo ko. Kung hindi eh, ewan ko, kase medyo frail na din kse physique ni Pyaps”, relays Spanky. Then there’s this catheter incident. When Pepe was recovering after his operation in PGH, Spanky helped bring Pepe at a nearby clinic. But since, the service (catheter change) would require a fee and the only money Pepe have is still with LBC, which was wired earlier that day. Since it was named for Pepe and not to Spanky, they have no recourse but for Pepe to be physically present at LBC in SM Masinag. Spanky, out of a story from a movie, borrowed the clinic’s wheelchair, and pushed Pepe’s wheelchair -via national highway-thru heavy traffic until they reached LBC to get the money for the fee. Whew! Only a true friend would do that.
Truth be told, Spanky treasures his time with Pepe Smith. “I will never forget him for as long as I live. He loves life so much that, I consider him a total entertainer. His sense of humor is not that different but the way he delivers it is with much gusto. He is a human Waze, he recalls every place that we went to.
Travel & Food
Spanky and Pepe have many things in common. They both like road trips and food. Like their trip together in Baguio, Palawan and Pangasinan and other places of destination where they would do gigs and non-gig road trips. He remembers their Baguio trip together sometime ago. They intended to retrieve Pepe’s prized guitar in his former residence there. The trip bore them no guitar, but the elation on their experience made them closer together. “When we were in Palawan, we missed our plane ride, because Pepe is still wading on the beach!”, reminisces Spanky. Another road trip they embarked together is in Pangasinan. After a long arduous trip, Spanky made sure ‘Pyaps’ has the best room in the house and the best food be readily available He would always make sure of this and let him rest afterwards. For his part, Spanky would not mind sleeping under a mango tree on a wooden ‘papag’ as long as his friend and hero Pepe Smith sleeps comfortably. “Imagine my surprise, when in the wee hours of the night, a flickering flashlight darted towards me. It was Pepe Smith finding his way in the dark and wanting to join me. Sabi ni Pyaps, ‘dito na lang ako sa papag…mas presko. We talked about life until we fell asleep. But not until I gave him a pair of socks, para hindi sya lamukin”, says Spanky.
Kalabog En Bosyo - reprised
“Paborito namin puntahan para kumain sa 7-11, pwede na nga sya (Pepe Smith) gawin product endorser ng 7-11 sa dami ng nabili nya dun”, jokes Spanky. “It was me who suggested to Pyaps to transfer to Cainta so that, I can assist him anytime he needs help”, declared Spanky. Having lived in a nearby village also in Cainta, Rizal for many years, Spanky surmised Pyaps would have lived better in Cainta than his old residence in Antipolo. Pepe’s house is within a stone’s throw away from a mall, a hospital, and number food nooks. On a windy and chilly December last 2018, the writer had the pleasure of visiting Pepe Smith’s new house in Cainta with the intercession of Spanky. Knowing Pyaps has a penchant for food, I brought him a hefty serving of roasted pig’s ear and a local delicacy ‘Pichi-pichi’. Concerned that he may be on a strict diet, I asked Spanky if it’s ok for Pepe to consume it. “Hus walang bawal sa akin”, was the answer I got from Pepe Smith himself.
Spanky and Pyaps spends time talking about everything and anything under the sun. But one particular topic Pepe Smith is fond of discussing, is about airplanes and jets! “And Playstation too, not too many people know this, but he loves talking about it. He is actually good at it. He plays with me and his son Beebop”, exclaims Spanky. Bimbo, a close family friend, is omnipresent at the Smith household. A handyman who can repair anything from earphone to any intricate machinery. He also is a good guitar player. “I remember Pyaps used to tell me back then ‘i-enjoy mo lang ang buhay’. Palagi nya yan sa amin sinasabi ni Bimbo pag nag iinuman kami. Kaya we were able to compose a song named ‘ENJOY LANG TAYO’. Narecord ko pa yun, medyo rough yun demo pero ok din”, says Spanky. Pepe described Spanky as a very good friend and a good drinking buddy. He jokingly said one time, “Nagtataka nga ako, bakit until now pa nabubuntis si Spanky eh”.
It was 5:46 am last Jan.27, 2019 when his cell phone rang but missed the call. It registered Pepe’s number, which Spanky later realized was Pepe’s ultimate last call. That haunts him until now. “I was sound asleep and I wasn’t roused”, recalls Spanky. A little after 6:30am that same day, Pepe expired. “Baka magpapaalam o may ibibilin o may sasabihin importante, I don’t know eh kse hindi ko nga nasagot tawag nya”, laments Spanky. Still staggered from Pepe Smith’s demise, Spanky opted, for the meantime, to leave the hustle and bustle of the urban life and stay in Zambales with his kid. He promised to resurrect the legacy left by Pepe via his last band Blues And Rock Force. “Pahinga lang, mag mumuni muni at mag compose ng mga kanta”, bids Spanky.
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