Street Boys still ‘solid’ after 31 years

MANILA, Philippines — The eleven guys who made up the original dance group, Street Boys, found it hard to believe that they are reuniting after 31 years. The guys who are based abroad even returned to Manila to join “SB ‘90s: The Street Boys Reunion Dance Concert,” on Nov. 8 at the New Frontier Theater.

Joey Andres, Joseph de Leon, Nikko Manalo, Spencer Reyes, Meynard Marcellano, Jhong Hilario and Vhong Navarro faced the media recently to announce the concert.

The Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the group who arrived belatedly in Manila are Joseph from Dubai, Spencer from Scotland, Michael Sesmundo from the United Kingdom and Sherwin Roux from Canada.

Director Chito Roño, who is the boys’ long-time manager and whom they call “Boss,” is still with the group. “How many years has it been?” asked direk Chito. “I cannot believe that the boys are having their reunion.”

“Yung saya ko, sobra-sobra,” admitted Jhong. “For 31 years, it is only now (that) we thought to have a dance concert reunion. Habang hindi pa nabubura ang number namin sa calendario, 31. At least nagka-reunion kami at nagkasundo-sundo ang mga oras.”

“Our schedules all matched,” added Jhong. “So, sabi namin ni Vhong, I think this is the time na tuluyin na natin. We are not getting young anymore. We want to thank all those who supported Street Boys from Day 1.”

The Street Boys dance concert after 31 years gives mixed emotions to Vhong. “Ang saya dahil after 31 years, mangyayari na nga,” Vhong said. “Lungkot dahil after 31 years, ngayon lang naisip gawin ang concert.”

“Pwede naman nagawa ito ng mas maaga. Ngayon, nararamdaman na namin sa rehearsals ang sakit ng likod. Kulang na lang na may sponsors kami na Salonpas or ointment.”

The eleven members of Street Boys will be completed onstage anew in their dance concert this Nov. 8.

“This is the first time that we will be complete again,” said Vhong. “Everyone based abroad returned to perform in the concert. The things that we did before, kaya pa naming ibalik. Para ipakita na kaya pa rin namin.”

“This is a celebration of our group,” said Meynard. “We’d like to thank and entertain the fans of Street Boys, who want to see us perform again. This is the time to see us again.”

“We want to bring back the nostalgia for the Batang ‘90s to remember,” added Jhong. “Sa totoo lang, ibang-iba na ang music ngayon. Parang napaka-complicated na. We want to bring back the ‘90s music na napaka-simple lang.”

Street Boys with long-time manager Chito Roño (fourth from left), who has acted as their father figure from the start and eventually led to being the ‘grandfather’ of their children.

Ogie Alcasid’s A-Team bankrolled the Street Boys reunion dance concert and the guys cannot be thankful enough.

“Papatunayan namin na kaya pa rin namin,” Vhong insisted. “Ang ginagawa namin dito is to give love back.”

“SB ‘90” was coined for the concert by Nikko Manalo. The new pop group SB19 will not guest in the Street Boys concert, as smilingly offered by Vhong. Neither will SB or Sex Bomb or even South Border (SB).

The Street Boys are out to prove they can still conquer the dance stage. “At the start of their rehearsals, nagre-reklamo na sila agad,” allowed direk Chito. “But now, they are preparing for their concert. May nag-wo-work out regularly.”

“Tumbling-wise, kaya pa rin,” said Meynard. “But hindi na ‘yung mga death-defying, buwis-buhay na ginagawa namin noon.”

The Street Boys have taken more than three decades to mount a much-anticipated dance reunion concert. The eleven guys found it hard to believe that they are reuniting after 31 years.

In the more than three decades that the Street Boys have been under the management of director Chito, they went without any contract. “Everything is verbal,” said Vhong. “Ang sarap sabihin that after 31 years, we are still together. Usapan lang namin ang lahat.”

Acting as their father figure from the start, direk Chito eventually led to being the “grandfather” of their children.

“’Yung mga anak amin, parang mga apo na rin ni direk Chito,” said Vhong. “In fact, every year, kapag Pasko, Bagong Taon, may mga birthdays, ganu’n na katagal kaming magkakasama. Nagtitiis si direk Chito at sumusuporta pa rin sa amin.”

Michael and Sherwin are now grandfathers, too. The two Street Boys members have their respective grandchildren now.

Street Boys never seriously fought through the years, especially when it came to money matters. “May tampuhan man sa grupo, siguro asaran lang tapos nagka-pikunan. Ganu’n lang. Solid kami talaga,” Vhong said.

When they were starting out, Jhong recalled how direk Chito disciplined them in their rehearsals that extended up to 12 hours.

“Kahit brown out, tuloy pa rin kami noon,” Jhong said. “Magsisindi lang kami ng kandila pero direcho pa rin. We questioned direk Chito at that time, although not confrontational. Minsan may uma-angal na sa amin bakit ganu’n kahigpit?”

Jhong continued: “Later na namin na-realize that discipline is very important. ‘Yun ang hahawak para tumagal kami. Hindi nawala ang pagsayaw sa amin kaya hanggang ngayon, fit pa rin kami. May nakakapag-tumbling pa rin at nagsa-somersault.”