Music has done more than just bring Bayang Barrios and Mike Villegas together.
In an episode of “The Howie Severino Podcast,” the illustrious songstress from Mindanao and the iconic guitarist from Rizal Underground opened up about the many differences they had to overcome to become the formidable OPM power couple they are today.
Bayang, who proudly carries her Manobo heritage, was born in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, while Villegas grew up in the city and studied at University of the Philippines – Diliman.
Mike recalled one time when he would have needed to take part in an ancient ritual to get her family’s approval.
“E, loka kasi ‘to,” Mike told Howie, referring to Bayang.
“Umakyat ako ng ligaw sa parents niya, tapos sabi nito: ‘Uy, tribo kami, ha. Bago ka payagan, kailangan mong uminom ng dugo ng manok.’ Nagpapatay sila ng manok sa harap ko raw tapos iinumin ko. Sabi ko, ‘O, game.’ Takot na takot ako, Howie, pero sabi ko, Game. Gagawin ko ‘yan, gagawin ko ‘yan!” he added.
“‘Yun pala hindi totoo. Tawa nang tawa ‘yung nanay. Sabi: ‘Hindi. Katoliko na kami, Mike. Hindi na namin ginagawa.'”
Mike and Bayang had different music styles too, but the couple agreed that this was more of a plus.
“Actually, si Bayang … parati kaming ano, even when we got married, banggaan kami niyan pagdating sa creative differences, which all artists I think go through,” Mike said.
The city boy, who was largely influenced by rock and western music, said he was introduced to a whole new sound.
“Such rich sounds of two strings. And then, from a musical standpoint, grabe ‘yung natutunan ko in terms of that texture on the instrument,” he said.
“Pero I tell you, it’s a gift to wake up to someone who sings like her,” he added.
“I don’t know if there are people who are as lucky as I am, people who are married to amazing instrumentalists or amazing singers pero there’s no Spotify, there is no hi-fi, high fidelity machine on this earth that can match hearing her sing, just hearing her sing every day … Ibang klase.”
Like many married couples, the two musicians often bickered over many things, but something changed when COVID-19 struck.
“Sa pandemic, may isang one time lang na ano tayo pero, after that, wala,” Bayang said.
“Parang nasanay na magkasama sa bahay. Sabi ko nga before, si Mike mahilig sa spaghetti. Ako sa pancit. Mahilig ako sa isda, siya karne. Mahilig ako sa gulay… “
The couple also talked about their daughter, Mayumi, who is living with mild autism.
“I think on a personal level kasi that was the biggest gift na binigay ng Panginoon sa akin … I call her a baby but she’s 15 now,” Mike said.
“And her condition and her being, taught me so many things about patience, taught me so many things about letting things go, finding what’s important in life. Nag-simplify ang buhay ko,” he added.
“Magiging happy ba ‘yung anak namin sa gagawin naming ito? Makatutulong ba itong bibilhin ko kung para sa anak ko?… It taught me so many things about myself kasi kakaiba.”
The musician couple was thrilled to learn that their daughter has also been blessed with a love for music.
“Grabe. Howie, Mayumi has perfect pitch,” Mike said.
“Tapos mayroon siyang key na gusto. Mama, that’s not… She can tell if the key is different. ‘Daddy, that’s an Asian release of that show because it’s in C sharp’ Wow! Okay.”
Music is also what helps Mayumi find comfort and peace.
“If you want her to talk, kailangan kong kantahin sa kaniya,” Mike said.
“And then, it will calm her down and then gets niya. Pero kailangan lang in a singsong, kantahin sa kaniya. I guess kasi lumaki siya from baby kinakantahan namin lagi. It helps immensely, tremendously,” he added.
Mayumi is also the name of Mike and Bayang’s record label for independent OPM artists. – Margaret Claire Layug/RC, GMA News
0 Comments