The band is one of the several groups who spearheaded the 90's Philippine alternative rock explosion and known for their hit songs "Lakas Tama", "Peksman", "Kanto", "Biyaheng Impyerno" and "Bakit Ba". Founded by Noel Palomo, Wowie Flores, Oyie Bunao, Miniong Cervantes, and Wally Gaspar in 1994, the band was a prominent fixture of the Tunog Kalye era and very popular to college and high school students in the Philippines during the 90's.
Since 2020, two factions from the original lineup has been in an ongoing conflict with the ownership of the name "Siakol". Both Noel Palomo and Miniong Cervantes announced their departure from the group leaving behind Wowie Flores as the remaining sole original member. Palomo subsequently formed a band of his own which he initially called "Repakol", yet later it has also been alternatively called as Siakol, causing further tension with Flores. Palomo was later joined by Cervantes. The case of the name ownership dispute is currently under review at the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines.
Etymology
As per the band members, Siakol is a term they coin which pertains to a "free, happy and sometimes naughty state of mind". It is also alluded to be a word play of jakol, Filipino slang for masturbation. Furthermore, according to former frontman Noel Palomo in another interview, "Siakol" was already a popular term coined by the bystanders at their area in their hometown of Parañaque before the band was formed and later suggested the name to their band's management during their early days. The management initially tried to change the spelling of the name to "Shock Call" before it was reverted to Siakol.
Background
Formed in 1994 by former best friends Manuel "Noel" Palomo, Chris Laurence "Wowie" Flores, and Rolando "Oyie" Bunao, their appearance as a guest in a “Battle of the Bands” competition together as a quintet with recruited acquaintances Anthony "Miniong" Cervantes and Reynaldo "Wally" Gaspar in their hometown of Parañaque was their first exposure. The band started writing original compositions (mostly written by Palomo and arranged by the whole band) and their songs were well received by the public. They were then managed by Jason Gerodias. Gaspar left the band after the release of their first album. Founding drummer Oyie Bunao left the band in 2003 after a reported personal conflict with Palomo and was replaced by James "Blauff" Rodriguez. Peter Paul Plazon of another 90's Pinoy rock band Grin Department has been their longest serving drummer since he joined in 2012.
The band's songs from their 1996 album until present still receive massive radio airplay and guestings in several fiestas around the Philippines. Known for their all-Tagalog songs, the band is branded by many as "the face of the Tunog Kalye era" (colloquial term of the Philippines' brand of OPM alternative rock which is popular among the masses in the 1990s, literally translated to "street sound" in English).
The band's brand of lyrics are primarily based on Filipino pop culture, typical commoner Filipino love life and observational humor. They are considered to be one of the most successful OPM bands of all time. Their songs have been one of the most frequently sang in Philippine videokes up to the present.
