WRECK IT RALPH: Estudyanteng musikero

He arrived in his black tees, denim shorts and sneakers. He looked every inch a college student. And he is. But, he, too, is a musician. He is the vocalist and guitarist of Lagundi Band, who churns out reggae beats and was recently adjudged as champion in the Pangalipay sa Baybay 2018. Ralph Machado is just 18 and is studying to become a Civil Engineer. At such a young age, however, he has already composed songs---” Banwa ng Palawan” and “Isla”--- that made them triumph over the others during the Pangalipay sa Baybay 2018. Ralph came from a family of musicians. He discovered his talent when he was just 10. He is a “bibo” kid, he says, and is not shy to perform before scores of people. High school days fired him up even more. He would do gigs for free just to unleash that something from within that wants to get out. “Dati, nagtutugtog kami sa mga gig kahit libre lang basta makatugtog lang kasi masaya ako pag nakakapagkanta ako eh,” he said. He would even secretly “borrow” instrument from their mentors just to play on gigs until he had his own group who did gigs and battle of the bands with him. They named themselves “Lagundi Band”. “Yung gamot po na lagundi. Noong una po biruan lang tapos Lagundi Band na po talaga yung naging pangalan namin.” Ralph’s path in music stepped up when he first had his song “Isla”-- a reggae song about summer and his song “Banwa ng Palawan”. These songs became their triumph in bringing home the bacon during “Pangalipay sa baybay”. Ralph, as a Palaweño wanted to write more songs about Palawan to help his hometown promote its tourism and introduce its beauty through his music. And then his passion got rewarded with “raket”.” Pag sa gabi po nagtugtog po ako. Pag umaga po pasok sa school,” he said. Ralph endured all the sleepless nights, hours of just standing in the stage, singing with a guitar. He endured it all just to have money. “Kaya ako paaralin ng magulang ko pero nagtutugtog po ako para suportahan na din sarili ko. Ayoko na po kasi manghingi sa magulang ko.” However, there are times when Ralph is about to give up his passion in music. This was after he got a low grade in one of his math subjects. So he decided to stop for a while but something seems to be empty inside him. So Ralph got back into music and he said that his joy when playing music is so immeasurable. Ralph said that no matter what happens in life, deal with it, deal with all the humps and bumps, and play with it like how music flows with the rhythm. Ralph may not be the most well- known musician in Palawan but he is one of the few young Palaweños who has a great passion in music and has a heart for Palawan. Asked how would he title his music journey, he thought for a minute and said it would be, “Wreck it Ralph: Estudyanteng musikero.”