Junior Kilat is a popular Filipino ska/reggae band based in Cebu. The name of the band was inspired from the Cebu band Leon Kilat of the ‘70’s. Junior Kilat has also been recognized in Manila. They won a “Song of the Year” Award in NU-107’s Rock Awards for the song Ako Si M16 from their album entitled Party Pipol Ur On Dub TV.

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The band members are: Errol “Budoy” Marabiles on vocals, Tiano Evangelista on bass, Archie Ybañez on guitar, Bangin Atienza on turntable, Gina Pestaño on keyboards, Cleofas Quijano on trombone and Diana Freese on drums.

The band’s first release was on the various artists album titled Island Riddims in 2004, where their two songs K-Fyne and Orignal Sigbin were featured. Their second release was in the Island Krismas album which featured their track Kling Klang.

Their first album, Party Pipol Ur On Dub TV, was released in 2005. Their second album was entitled Buwad Suka Sili ,which had an extra feature: two music videos and The Making of Ako Si M16 video. The lineup of the band changed for this album as Jad Dapat, formerly the group’s guitarist, left the band, and Archie Ybañez stepped in to take over the post. Their current album is entitled Enrique De Malacca with the carrier single “1-2-3”.

In 2006, Errol “Budoy” Marabiles joined the ABS-CBN channel’s reality show Pinoy Big Brother Celebrity Edition. He wrote two songs for the show: Maligo Na Jam, which began as a poem he wrote while inside the Pinoy Big Brother house, and Budoy Ako, the Cebuano version of the show’s popular theme song Pinoy Ako.

In Junior Kilat’s Enrique de Malacca album, the band has glimpses of history weaved into their songs: Spanish colonial rule, indigenous beliefs and traditions, pagan and religious beliefs, and the Filipino socio-cultural way of life.

What makes Junior Kilat unique? Junior Kilat is extremely proud of Cebuano and Filipino culture, incorporating these into their songs’ lyrics and music. Their lyrics mix tales of old Filipino traditions with modern everyday life. They have wit and a sense of fun. They are having a blast. And with lyrics like “Buwad Suka Sili” (Translation: Dried fish, vinegar, chili – a popular Filipino food favorite), that just makes you hungry. You can also find spontaneity in their music, while highlighting simple and common Cebuano traditions and practices.

Junior Kilat reminds us of the unique and fun culture that we Cebuanos must be proud of. (Update 7/18/11) You may visit their Facebook fanpage at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Junior-Kilat/17242613269.