Noy and ASIN

ASIN was formed in 1977, the nucleus of which was the duet of Mike Pillora Jr. (Noy Pillora) and Cesar Bañares Jr., who at that time were playing at folk joints and pub houses in Metro Manila.

Noy Pillora (Mike) and Cesar at the Bodega Folkhouse on Sundays

A year later, Lolita Carbon was recruited by the duo to fill in the missing middle voice and eventually became the third member Nonoy came up with the name, 'Salt of the Earth' after the song recorded originally by The Rolling Stones and later by Joan Baez, written and composed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Other than the song title, the name of the group was also taken from the Biblical metaphor salt of the earth which represents the humble and the lowly that comprises the majority of the population.

In 1978, the trio (who later discovered the hidden talent within them as songwriters, composers and arrangers) signed their first recording contract and localized their name 'Salt of the Earth' into 'Asin ng Lupa'. They ultimately became known simply as " ASIN ". Simultaneously, the members adopted local names for themselves and they were later known to their fans as Nonoy, Saro and Nene.

In the same year, they worked on their album with their original compositions entitled Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran ("Look at Your Environment"). The release of the album gave birth to an alternative form of music which was different and distinct from what was mainstream. Their songs conveyed a message that had instilled awareness into the vast majority of Filipinos and became a rallying call for emancipation from the ruling dictatorship.

Mike "Nonoy" Pillora Jr., Lolita "Nene" Carbon, and Cesar "Saro" Bañares Jr.

In the last quarter of 1979, they launched another album called Himig ng Pag-ibig ("Hymn of Love"). The group's break-up abruptly followed. However, their absence from the music scene did not hamper their growing popularity. Asin songs were continually playing on the airwaves and were even more sought for by the populace and admired than ever.

The group was not heard of until 1983. In the summer of the same year, AIESEC (Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales), a students’ business organization based in the island of Cebu, made a project to reunite the group. Nonoy was summoned and was tasked to reunite his band. This resulted in a jam-packed reunion concert of the group at Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City. From that time on, ASIN, with their manager Dindo, rolled into a series of performances in Mindanao, sporadic shows in the Visayas and marathon concerts in Luzon.

The culmination of all these events led to the creation and launch of their third album Himig ng Lahi ("Hymn of the Race") in the same year. Three weeks after its release, the album became a Gold Record. Simultaneously, the members had adopted local names for themselves and they were later known to their fans as Nonoy, Saro and Nene. Another significant event happened at this time, Through Nonoy's recommendation, Fred Aban Jr., the session bass player who was later known as Pendong, was anointed by the trio and became the fourth member of the group. Since everybody in the group was a "junior" (each one was carrying their father’s first name), Nene aso proclaimed herself a "junior".

In early 1984, the group released an experimental album called Ang mga Awitin ng Bayan kong Pilipinas, an adaptation of traditional and contemporary songs from various regions of the Philippine archipelago.

In the year 1985, the group made another album called " ASIN...Sa Atubiling Panahon :(Asin...In a Doubtful Time). This was unfolded by the roll of events that happened in the beginning of the following year 1986, among which was the EDSA Revolution that toppled the ruling Marcos regime. ASIN called it "Atubiling Panahon" (doubtful time) and the group split for the second time.

In 1988, they decided to regroup again hoping to come up with new material to make another album that would speak of the time. Instead they put out a double album called Himig Kayumanggi and Sinta which were adaptations and revival of old Fiipino folk and pop songs. 

Asin songs had lived on through the generations that followed. Up to the present their songs are being played in the radio and often made as movie themes. The songs made its way  in the archive of the Cultural Center of the Philippines and most of all, to the hearts of the Filipino people.

Members: 

• Lolita "Nene" Carbon
• Mike "Nonoy" Pillora Jr.
• Cesar "Saro" Bañares Jr.(deceased)
• Fred "Pendong" Aban, Jr.

Importance of Asin

Asin was the first group to incorporate Filipino indigenous instruments into Filipino folk/folk-rock music. They also studied Filipino tribal music and did what they could to be true to the origins of the music. Instead of plagiarizing the indigenous music, they set about educating people about respecting the origins of Filipino tribal music and representing it with agreement from the tribal sources.

Asin was also important in the local politics and although they did not set out to be a political band, they reflected the political message needed for the times. This should be seen against the backdrop of martial law during the time of the dictator President Ferdinand Marcos. 

References to Asin

"Balita"

The Tagalog lyrics of The Black Eyed Peas' "The Apl Song" is based on "Balita" (Tagalog for News), one of Asin's songs. This song depicts the tragedies that are happening in the conflicts in Mindanao. The final chorus of the song is a mixture of Hiligaynon in the first two lines, and Cebuano in the last two lines, translated from the Tagalog chorus of the song. "The Apl Song" tells about the hardships of Allan Pineda, member of the Black Eyed Peas, that he experienced during his childhood in Angeles City, Pampanga. He chose "Balita" because he grew up listening to Asin.

"Masdan Mo ang Kapaligiran"

It was used as the closing credits for the movie Engkanto starring Janice de Belen, Francis Magalona and Vilma Santos and was dedicated to the Pasig River.

"Himig Ng Pag-ibig"

This song was sampled by hip hop artist Pio in 2013

Albums

• Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran (Vicor Music, 1978)
• Himig Ng Pag-Ibig (Vicor Music, 1979)
• Himig Ng Lahi (Ivory Music, 1983)
• Ang Mga Awitin Ng Bayan Kong Pilipinas (Ivory Music, 1984)
• Asin sa Atubiling Panahon (Ivory Music, 1985)
• Himig Kayumanggi (Ivory Music, 1988)
• Sinta (Ivory Music, 1988)

Compilation albums

• Ang Bayan Kong Sinilangan: Paglalakbay sa mga Awitin ng Asin (Vicor Music 40th Anniversary) (Vicor Music, 2004)
• 18 Greatest Hits (Vicor Music, 2009)

Album appearances

• Ugat: The Best Of OPM Folk Rock Vol. 1 (Vicor Music, 2008)
• Ugat: The Best Of OPM Folk Rock Vol. 2 (Vicor Music, 2010)

Awards 

• Best Album of the Year for Himig ng Lahi  –  AWIT Awards 1984
• Album of the Year for Himig ng Lahi – Jingle Magazine Awards 1984
• Department of Environment and Natural Resources Likas Yaman Award for Masdan Mo ang Kapaligiran 1991
• For Nonoy Pillora Jr. Best Vocal Arrangement for Group in "Lupa" – Cecil Awards 1986
• For Saro Bañares  Jr. Best Folksong of the Year for "Orasyon"    –  AWIT Awards 1984
• For Lolita Carbon – Best Rock Recording for "Paraisong Liku-liko",  AWIT Awards 1990
• For Pendong Aban, Jr. – Best World Music Album for Ang Grupong Pendong – Dito Sa Lupa

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