The Heads Behind The Eraserheads: Combo On The Run Documentary
Filmmaker Maria Diane Ventura, Eraserheads singer-guitarist Ely Buendia, executive producer Francis Lumen, and Warner Bros. Philippines’ Rico Gonzales weigh in on why Combo On The Run is more than a mere documentary on the iconic Filipino band.
In one of the earlier scenes of Eraserheads: Combo On The Run, co-writer Aldus Santos asks Ely Buendia, Raymund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, and Marcus Adoro a crucial question during the newly reunited band’s first meeting: “What’s the most difficult thing you have to overcome for this (the 2022 Huling El Bimbo reunion concert) to happen?” The four were visibly stumped; it was the first time they were all together in a room in years. But in the next two hours, they unravel — baring true feelings, admitting past shortcomings, regretting how things transpired, and so on — not only answering Santos’ question, but also displaying a genuine maturity and willingness to move forward as a band. I asked the same question to Combo On The Run director and writer Maria Diane Ventura a few weeks before the documentary was released in cinemas nationwide last March 21, 2025. Back then, there..
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Jason Caballa
Currently the Managing Editor at Billboard Philippines, Jason Caballa's career in music journalism has spanned decades, having most notably served as Music Editor of PULP Magazine and then Associate Editor for the now-defunct Pinoytuner.com.
He has also contributed music articles for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Rogue Magazine, Mabuhay Magazine, and other print publications from as early as his college years. After shifting to advertising as a copywriter in several agencies, he has returned to documenting local and international music with the establishment of Billboard Philippines in 2023.
Having been a musician himself in Manila's rock and indie scenes since the late '90s, Jason is often inclined towards featuring bands and recording artists who come from that world, as his firsthand experiences allow him to come up with insightful angles and questions for his subjects, resulting in unique and in-depth stories.