​Started as mumurahing banda sa gapo with Boboy Villegas, Rafael Victoria & myself.  Around mid-60s (64-66), I was just making about 4 pesos per gig at pa extra extra. I would go on break to watch other combos such as the great Gaytoppers (the best to me), Jovials, Orioles & Husk combo (Olongapo’s Beatles). Pasingit-singit sa break time nila just to be noticed (kapal mukha, no). Also would go to Econimical Club were bands stay & play, watching Boy Adan w/ awe and would push ourselves to go up & gave our share w/ all the best bands of Gapo watching. Back then, I was just a second lead in the band, performing mostly Beatles (mala over dubbing lang). I would also arrange some songs na bagay sa amin at na gugustuhan naman. The Bellboys (whose other members became the Surfing Browns) noticed us, winatak talaga yung grupo nila at kinuha kaming tatlo.

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Thus, we joined the Bellboys, got lucky and went to Angeles, where sobrang magagaling na grupo nandoon. Our first auditon at Shamrock, we got kicked out where they have the 5 Hawks (another Manlapat-managed group). Gala-gala, pwesto na hindi ko matandaan name ng club. Anyway, Sonny Beacher of the Originals was  impressed w/ the our voicing & booked us at US Airmens Club in Clark Air Base. We became the Sandmen then being managed by Roy Amora.

One time, the Jitterbugs had a show, sarap panoorin at enjoy kami! Di namin alam yung magakakapatid na Saavedra talagang pinakikinggan kami sa aming mga gigs. Kwentuhan kami...(uso kasi nung panahon na yun pag harapan supladuhan) iba ung mapwestong banda sa harapan sa Manila.



After a few days, got a call from Viring Mendoza of the Jitterbugs at gusto kaming makausap. Rode the bus from the gate fence (nakakatawa naaalala ko pa). Nonoy Enriquez of the original Flintstones & Viring Mendoza of the Jitterbugs were already talking & in fact, offered us (Boboy, Rafael & me) ng byahe. Syempre ok kaagad.  So with Nonoy Enriquez management of the new Flintstones, higit sa lahat ang kabaitan nya, ay OKINAWA BOUND na kami. But then Rafael Victoria was sacrificed with his blessings though at sabi nya “sige na, pare.. ok lang aral na lang ako” & can’t forget this.

FLINTSTONES IN OKINAWA
The 2nd generation of Flintstones were composed of Cesar Yumping, Boboy Villegas, Cesar Gemino, Rene Sogueco, Viring Mendoza & me.  Elvie Sanchez replaced Viring on our 2nd tour in Okinawa.
 

The first 2 weeks of our gigs ay di namin alam ang gagawin, kahit saan kami tumutugtog na booo-booo kami. Bitin kasi, lahat ng tugtog naming ay di namin maayos without Rafael. patay kami. Tapos si Boboy nawala ang natural voice (pero nagging falsetto na lang) hehehe.  So, me & Viring ang naging lead vocals for a month or 2.



Ang pinakamasarap na naranasan ng Flintstones sa Okinawa.. wow na wow!  Chubby of Jaguars would come up pag wala kaming palakpak.They call mit malo, kahit sinong pinoy pagnakikitang wakawaw na kami aakyat magsoshow...Sarap d ba? We owe it to them.



CHANGE OF LINE UP – FLINTSTONES DOING SOUL
Wala ng pag-asa si Boboy Villegas patay na talaga ang Beatles tunes. Then Boy Pecson (former Monarchs) & some of the black friends of the Flintstones band supplied us w/ soul records (such as Wilson Pickett, Temptations, Four Tops, etc.) & helped us with the black audience. Thank God they noticed us and they loved the band so much (tayo balahibo ko pag naaalala ko). They would even cry & would stand up w/ arousing applause after our songs.



GAPO MANILA GAPO

After Okinawa went back to Gapo & played at Sierra Club. Then back to Manila & played at Wigwam day club alternating with the Downbeats. That was where Rudy Buenaventura spotted us & took us back to Gapo to play in his Supremes club, an all soul music club. Everything went so good, the Jungle’s club popular band then was Boy Adan & the Grandeurs as well as the Falcons. Eddie Dizon of the Hi-Jacks would sometimes dropped by on their break to watch & talk to the group. They were then playing at the Sierra. Rudy Buenaventura became the new manager of the Flintstones band & produced our 1st 45rpm single Cloud 9 & With These Hands cover pop songs.



BALIK MAYNILA

Back in Manila, Nonoy Enriquez being connected with club managers would send us to some gigs. Budget-wise, good take home pay but audience-wise not so good dahil hindi pa kasi gaanong sikat ang Motown Soul music noon, pero unti-unti nagustuhan na ng mga audience, sa beat at sa continuous music. Unlike other Manila bands, our group na sanay sa pwestuhan, kaya tuloy-tuloy na tugtugan namin at every set. Kasabay pa nun sumisikat na soul music at dumami na ang mga gigs.



After dumami na ang mga gigs, we also had played regularly at Savoy, Hyatts, The Circuit & The Third Eye clubs. Flintstones also started as guest band on some popular TV shows!



We also added some big band arrangements by Amado Trevino & performed also with Kiko Gatchalian Orchestra. Bitaw instrumento & performed/sang ala-Temptations. We also did it in one of our concerts in FEU with the help of the Impossibles who backed us up while we sing & dance. Ginagawa din namin nito pamisan-minsan sa the Insiders.

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Ben Delado (an actor who manages Showcase) saw us in one of our gigs & booked us at the Showcase Club. Laura Danao & husband Jinny Pia watched us also and booked us as regulars of THE INSIDERS. 



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From PCR webmaster:

Ting Bernabe was also a former member of the Bits N Pieces as well as the Advisors bands during latter part 70s & 80s respectively. He's an avid PCR supporter and have performed with various groups during our annual PCR events here in the Philippines. Hence, he's still pretty active in music scenes in metro Manila area.



 

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