Supertyphoon Hagibis gives new wind to Philippine disco band

By Neil Jerome Morales
MANILA, Oct 12 (Reuters) - For a four-decade-old Philippine
disco band, the namesake supertyphoon bearing down on Japan has
brought a sudden rush of interest in its macho act.
Known as the Philippines' "Village People", all-male band
Hagibis has been going since 1979. While some members have
changed over time, it has retained its act featuring tight black
trousers, leather jackets, open shirts, shades, moustaches and
suggestive dance moves.
"Hagibis is getting indirect publicity worldwide," said
61-year-old Jose Parsons Nabiula, who goes by his stage name
Sonny Parsons and has been with the band since the start.
"It reminded everybody of my group's existence... Some
people are making fun of it, some people are very serious."
Typhoon Hagibis is due to make landfall on Japan's main
island of Honshu on Saturday as the most powerful storm to hit
the capital in six decades. Google Trends showed that search interest had spiked this
week in Hagibis the band as well as the typhoon.
Hagibis means speed and strength in the Philippine language
Tagalog.
Tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific Ocean are given
their identity in sequence based on names provided by 14
regional countries.
People had been joking about the vigour of Typhoon Hagibis
and comparing that to the band, Parsons said.
Parsons said he hoped the inquiries and feelers pouring in
for Hagibis would translate into bookings for a band that
currently performs around twice in a month in the Manila area.
A former elected official, he now also juggles his
performances with film-making and a construction business.
"Maybe after a month or two I will be expecting a lot of
concert offers," Parsons said.
Typhoon Hagibis looks on track to hit Japan a month after
another destructive typhoon and Parsons said he was worried
about the damage.
"I hope that Hagibis storm's show happens in the middle of
the sea," Parsons said. "Definitely, people will absorb the
wrath of typhoon Hagibis and I feel bad about it."
Hagibis is best known for its members' macho image and songs
extolling the beauty of women. The group's hit songs include
"Katawan" (Body), "Legs" and "Babae" (Woman).
While the storm did not enter the Philippine territory, its
extension brought scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in
central and southern parts of the Southeast Asian nation.
Hagibis had used its renewed fame to warn Filipinos in Japan
ahead of the storm's landfall, Parsons said.
He hoped the band would get the chance to go to Japan after
the typhoon.
"We will undo the sorrow and depression people experience,"
Parsons said. "If the singing group will have a chance to go to
Japan, we will help you forget the typhoon."

(Editing by Matthew Tostevin & Shri Navaratnam)