Once in a blue-moon, we are privileged to be acquainted with a fun-loving person with an utmost respect for art and life. Be it music or culinary. Such is the nature of Arnold Dailo. A fan of music and the culinary art. He expresses this with much gusto and is a loyal disciple of both. “One should never rest his laurels on one’s achievement”, quips Bong, as he is fondly called by friends. His music, just like his cooking, has no frills. The flavor is straight-up feel good music.
“I was born in Paete, Laguna. But grew up in Quezon City. Nasa elementary ako siguro mga grade 4, around 1977, magsimula maimpluwensyahan ako ng kapatid kong panganay si Kuya Ben Dailo at mga kaibigan niya. Kasama na doon si Sam Cajipe na kalaunan ay naging kasama ko sa banda.” remembers Bong. In his high school days, his fondness in music grew exponentially. Bong is a self-taught guitar-player. He remembers it was thru Jingle Magazine that he honed his guitar skills. And in 1981, he composed his very first composition called “Ano At Bakit”. During the 80’s in Laguna, his group “Blue Smoke”, would play cover tunes in venues. Bong would go solo because he wanted to play some original songs. He would play in Folk Houses. Then in the 90’s he would eventually create the group ‘Salatin’ with Sam Cajipe, Heli Umali with Bong Lennon and Brutus Lacano of Tropical Depression. It was in 1993 when their only album “SALAMIN” was released. Robin Jacob produced their album under Tiger/Zap Records with carrier singles “Gusto Mo Yan” and “Naghihintay”.
Bong has his own unique genre that he calls “Folk Rock Adobo”. He has this to explain: Music, like the culinary arts, requires a strict discipline and concentration. If you know music, you won’t be lonely. And if you know how to cook, you won’t go hungry! And in food, everybody unites whether one belongs to different political, religious, race or sexual orientation. “When I compose songs, most of the time, I write it first on paper, then later on, should something pops up in my subconscious mind, a line or a tune that is blissful, then it will just write itself”, explains Bong. He furthers, that, his compositions reflect his own experiences and struggles in life. His first and foremost influence is “Asin”. Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Beatles & Sting fine tuned his influences further. Asked what his take on KPop and Rap artists that is invading the airwaves now. “KPop? Ayus lang naman bilang isang genre ng music, pero para sa mga kabataang Pinoy, parang hindi ako sang ayon na KPop ang nagiging impluwensiya ng mga ito. Sa Rap malaki ang respeto ko, lalo na sa mga Pilipino na gumagawa nito”, explains Bong. To date, he has performed alongside Lolita Carbon of Asin, Joey Ayala, Bayang Barrios , Cookie Chua, Pepe Smith, Dong Abay, Noel Cabangon, Rom Domgeto, Sazi Cosino, Resty Fabunan, Gary Perez, and many more.
In 2014, he formed an experimental band called ‘The Babs’ with Bong Lennon and Roli Maligad of ‘Cocojam’. “Para sa akin ang lahat ng musikero o manunulat ng kanta ay dapat na nag evolve habang tumatanda. Kung ano ang ginawa natin nung bata pa tayo ay dapat na higitan pa. Habang lumilipas ang panahon hindi yung nananatili lang sa kahapon ang mga musika na ginagawa natin sa kasalukuyan. Huwag sana tayong maging ‘generic’ or stagnant”, offers Bong.
Now at 51, Bong enjoys staying home cooking throughout the day with his unique gastronomic recipe. In between those chores, he spends quality time with his grandson ‘Seven’. He also busies himself arranging and refining songs that he intends to record for everyone to hear soon.
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