By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan
Fans of Filipino rock legends Eraserheads are expected to flood theaters nationwide for the limited screening of their documentary film, “Eraserheads: Combo On The Run,” set for March 21 to 23, 2025.
The film provides an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the band’s 2022 Huling El Bimbo reunion concert and their U.S. tour, featuring never-before-seen interviews with Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Raimund Marasigan, and Buddy Zabala.
Sound design for the film was completed in Berlin, Germany, and mixed using Dolby Atmos surround sound technology in Los Angeles, California—making it the first Philippine documentary to be screened in Dolby Atmos.
A Deep Dive
According to a press release, the film delves into the band’s history, painful breakup, and their journey back on stage, set against the backdrop of the country’s political divisions and uncertainties in 2022.
“Eraserheads: Combo On The Run” explores how a once-disbanded band reunited and provided solace to an entire nation while, perhaps unknowingly, undergoing a process of healing themselves.
During a press conference in San Juan City on Feb. 17, filmmaker and producer Maria Diane Ventura, who spearheaded the project, said the film serves as an opportunity for the band to “speak their truth” and “reclaim their narrative.”
“All this time, things we’ve heard about the band were mostly speculations. Nobody really knows what happened [or] why it happened. This is the [Eraserheads] reclaiming their story,” Ventura said.
She admitted that some revelations from the band surprised her, making her more committed to ensuring the film remained a “no-holds-barred” retelling.
“I was lucky enough to sit down with them and hear their stories. As a documentary filmmaker, I wanted to honor and preserve that truth,” she added.
‘Set the Record Straight’
Frontman Ely Buendia said the documentary was a chance for them to clear misconceptions about the band.
“The boys and I like mystery and keeping things vague, but there comes a time when that works against you. There will be misconceptions, urban legends, and myths about the band that are not necessarily good for us or our music. This time, we chose a different path,” Buendia said.
He also admitted feeling shocked after hearing some of his bandmates’ interviews for the first time.
“There were rumblings of crying because I only knew what I said. We weren’t interviewed together. In fact, it was the first time I heard these thoughts from the other guys,” he shared.
One of the most painful misconceptions, Buendia said, was the long-standing rumor that their song “Spoliarium” was about the rape case of 1980s actress Pepsi Paloma and the alleged involvement of TV hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey De Leon.
“I was heartbroken when that rumor came out because I was a huge fan of them. They were my heroes, and I wouldn’t dream of writing a song to tarnish my heroes. I will maintain until today that ‘Spoliarium’ is not about them, not about Pepsi [Paloma], and let the other hacks tackle that,” Buendia said.
Timeless Influence
Despite the decades-long impact of their music, Buendia said he wasn’t surprised by their continued relevance across generations.
“From the very beginning, the band made sure to create something relatable with timeless themes. That was no accident—we wanted to transcend generations, and that’s what the Eraserheads is all about,” he said.
“We were inspired by previous generations to make music, and this is our way of giving back—to inspire new musicians and people to go out there, be themselves, and be their own person. It’s a gift, and that’s why we still do this,” he added.
Theatrical Experience
Rico Gonzales of Warner Bros. Philippines, the film’s distributor, explained that the documentary’s limited screening is meant to preserve the concert feel for fans.
“This doesn’t happen every day—it’s Eraserheads. The fans are used to seeing them in arenas and coliseums with back-to-back shows. We wanted to bring that same experience to cinemas,” Gonzales said.
“The goal is to let the entire nation enjoy the film together in one special weekend,” he added.
As a special treat, the band will perform for fans at one of the screenings, with details yet to be revealed.
