About Eraserheads
During a time of uncertainty and political upheaval, a most unlikely set of disbanded punks provide solace to a country unknowingly needing healing themselves
Synopsis
The Eraserheads remain the most important Filipino band of the past half-century. Despite their untimely dissolution in 2001, they have stayed part of the cultural zeitgeist. When they returned for the record-breaking reunion show Huling El Bimbo in 2022, a polarized nation united for at least one night. Part-procedural of a mammoth production and dissection of a relationship that is as celebrated as the music it yielded, this film is an unmissable testament to artistry and what it means to be human.
Directors Statement
Combo on the Run is not just a documentary about an iconic band, the Eraserheads. It is a celebration of their journey, their music, and their role in shaping the cultural fabric of the Philippines. But it is also a reflection of the many Filipinos, at home and across the diaspora, who carry layered histories and quiet political awareness within them. With this film, I hope to open a fuller portrait of my country and its people, one that honors that multiplicity and acknowledges the social and political undercurrents that shape our lives. COTR is a portrait that is compelling and beautifully complex, often in ways the world has yet to fully see.
Through Combo on the Run, I want to honor the Eraserheads not only as renowned musicians, but as storytellers and reluctant heroes who have inspired generations of Filipinos. Their work embodies the grit, ethos, and buoyancy that define us as a people. By telling their story, I hope to highlight the resilience of the Filipino spirit and remind us of the potential we hold to rise above challenges and create beauty in the face of adversity.
The Eraserheads story unfolds alongside a country reckoning with change. The band’s rise, breakup, and eventual reunion mirror a broader social landscape shaped by uncertainty, division, and the search for connection. In that sense, the film is not only about a band finding its way back to one another, but about how people and communities try to make sense of themselves during moments of cultural and social shift.
At its heart, this film is also about communication and how critical it is to connection. The Eraserheads’ story reflects what happens when people struggle to express themselves, when silence grows between those who once spoke the same language, and how difficult yet necessary it is to find a way back to one another.
This film is my way of celebrating the brilliant creativity and resilience of the Filipino people, while inviting audiences of all backgrounds to connect with a universal desire to dream, to endure, and to hope for a better life. It is a tribute to a band that dared to believe in that possibility, and to a nation that continues to do the same.
-Maria Diane Ventura, February 2026
About The Band
The Eraserheads are a legendary Filipino rock band formed in Quezon City in 1989 by Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raimund Marasigan. They are widely regarded as one of the most influential and successful acts in the history of Original Pilipino Music, often dubbed “the Beatles of the Philippines” for their cultural impact and lasting legacy.
The group’s breakthrough came with their 1993 debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop!, followed by a string of critically acclaimed and commercially successful records including Circus (1994) and Cutterpillow (1995). Their diverse sound, blending alternative rock, pop rock, punk, and experimental elements, helped define the sound of 1990s Filipino rock and paved the way for a new generation of bands.
Eraserheads’ catalog continues to resonate globally, with their albums collectively surpassing over a billion streams on Spotify alone, with key records like Anthology, Circus, and Ultraelectromagneticpop! amassing hundreds of millions of streams each.
Their music has also garnered hundreds of millions of plays on YouTube through fan and official channels, with greatest-hits compilations reaching multi-million views. Eraserheads’ multiplatinum albums and enduring streaming success underscore their status as a cultural touchstone for Filipino music lovers worldwide.
They were the first Filipino artist to receive MTV Asia’s Viewers Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards, a distinction they earned in 1997 and that helped establish their presence beyond Southeast Asia well before the global rise of Asian pop music movements that followed.
Band Social Accounts
@elybumbilya
@raymsmercygun
@buddysabala
@marcusadoros
FilmMaker Bios
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American filmmaker and producer based between Berlin and Los Angeles. She began her career in the music industry working with international labels including Sony and Universal, building a multidisciplinary back ground as a talent manager, songwriter, producer, and director of music videos before transitioning fully into film after studying at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and the London Film Academy.
Ventura’s Mulat and The Rapist have screened internationally and received critical recognition. Her German feature Deine Farbe (Your Color) premiered at Hofer Filmtage and went on to screen at multiple international festivals. She is the director and producer of the documentary Eraserheads: Combo on the Run. Ventura was also part of a panel at San Diego Comic Con presenting the first Philippine film ever featured at the event. Her work has reached global audiences through major platforms and distributors including Netflix, Amazon, and Warner Bros, as well as international broadcasters and streaming platforms.
In addition to her film work, Ventura has served as executive producer on major live concerts and large scale productions, including the Eraserheads reunion concerts, widely regarded as among the most attended concert events in Philippine history. Through DVent, she has collaborated with world renowned brands including Sony, Puma, Ray Ban, and Levi’s, as well as international partners such as Du Telco in the
UAE and regional leaders including San Miguel and Smart. Known for delivering logistically sound and technically refined productions without compromising artistic vision, Ventura’s work has been recognized by international creative institutions across both film and music. Across genres and formats, her projects reflect a commitment to bold storytelling, cultural dialogue, and high caliber execution.
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Aldus Santos is a critic, author, and musician. He has put out five books via different imprints, the latest of which is the memoir-meets-criticism volume The Demo Versions(Everything's Fine, 2022). His works have appeared in NME, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and Rappler, among other titles. He lives in Quezon City.
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Janus Victoria is a filmmaker born and based in Manila who works in both documentaries and features.She has produced current affairs documentaries for more than 15 years. Her first feature film Diamonds inthe Sand is a co-production between the Philippines, Japan and Malaysia. It has been screened in film festivals across the world, including in competition for best first feature at the BFI London Film Festival and Udine Far East Film Festival where it received the White Mulberry Award in 2025.
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Chuck Gutierrez is a Filipino film producer, editor, and co-founder of Voyage Studios. He has producedand edited award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary films such as Sunday Beauty Queen andFood Delivery: Fresh from the West Philippine Sea, aswell as box-office hit narrative features Liway, Balota, and Bar Boys After School. His works have screened at major international film festivals including Cannes,Berlin, Venice, and Busan, among other cultural platforms worldwide. Known for blending popular culture,music, and socially grounded storytelling, Eraserheads: Combo on the Run continues his long-standing engagement with Filipino music, national identity, and stories that resonate across generations and borders.
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Hilarion Banks is an American director and cinematographer whose path began as a storyteller, captivating friends with ghost stories around a campfire before refining his craft at UCLA’s Film Production Program. For more than a decade, his career has spanned independent features, shorts, documentaries, and commercial productions.
His work has appeared on major streaming platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, with projects released through distributors such as Warner Bros.
Banks brings a disciplined, story-first approach to every production, whether capturing fly on the wall handheld sequences or crafting carefully composed narrative imagery.
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Winston F. Emano is the founder/principal partner of mano Y mano Media, a premium, boutique media strategy firm he established in 2003 which has repped more than 240 feature films and more than three dozen current and past NBA and NFL athletes.
A noted specialist in award-winning, crafted, out-of-the-box campaigns and contemporary media training,his works have resulted in 28 All-Interview Team selections, 5 Academy Awards, 3 Peabody Awards, 2 Independent Spirit Awards, 2 Webbies and client endorsement valuations totaling well over a quarter of a billion dollars. He co-founded the popular, annual Asian Filmmakers Reception at the Sundance Film Festival and has presented panels at Comic-Con, SXSW, Los Angeles Independent, Nashville, Los Angeles Asian Pacific and Manila International Film Festivals respectively.
He is a founding board director of The Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture (FilAm ARTS, inc) and recently, CinePride Film Festival and has served on advisory boards for Time-Warner Inc. and CinemaSala among many and on the awards committee for the International Documentary Association (IDA). A William Paley Scholar at Syracuse University, Winston's work has been cited in BrandWeek and case-studied in the best-selling film festival chronicle "I Wake Up Screening," by John Anderson and Laura Kim.
Winston is a Producer with the upcoming films,Eraserheads: Combo On The Run(Warner Bros PH) andQuezon, (TBA Studios) and the reality shows, "Matriarchs of Manila," and "Project Empire."
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Francis Lumen is a Filipino entertainment executive and producer with deep roots in music, broadcast, and live events. He has held leadership roles in music media, including serving as head of MTV Philippines,where he helped shape the channel’s direction in the local market.
As a producer and promoter, Lumen has been involved in large scale concerts and cultural events featuring some of the world’s biggest artists, including Beyoncé, J Lo, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, and the Eraserheads, earning a reputation for bringing high-impact live music experiences to audiences. Through his company, WEU which he founded, he has supported creative collaboration across music, film, and performance communities.
Lumen’s contributions span artist development, event production, and strategic partnerships with global entertainment brands. His work reflects a commitment to elevating Filipino music and culture on the international stage, while forging connections between artists, fans, and industry.
Participant Bios
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Ely Buendia, Eraserhead’s lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and principal songwriter, is celebrated for his sharp lyrical voice and genre-defining compositions that became anthems across the Philippines andbeyond. As the founder of Offshore Records, a partner label of Sony Music, Buendia has shaped the sound of Filipino music for decades and is widely regarded as one of the greatest figures in Original Pilipino Music
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Marcus rose to prominence as the band’s lead guitarist, contributing a distinctive melodic style thatbecame a key part of the Eraserhead’s sound and helped shape the alternative rock landscape in thePhilippines.
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Buddy anchored the Eraserhead’s rhythm as bassist and backing vocalist and went on to contribute toseveral other influential Filipino acts, strengthening his reputation as a vital figure in the local music scene.
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Raimund brought energy and versatility as drummer and multi-instrumentalist, later becoming known as one of the most prolific musicians and producers in the Filipino music industry with projects spanning multiple genres.
About AB2 Media Group / ABRAMORAMA
Abramorama, the theatrical releasing division of AB2 Media Group, is a preeminent global distribution and marketing partner for nonfiction, narrative, sports and music films and is recognized for the consistent high quality of its work. AB2 provides best-in-class sales and strategic advisory services to intellectual property stakeholders, including acclaimed filmmakers, major networks, premier record labels, digital platforms and high-profile artists.
Over the course of more than 25 years, Abramorama has successfully distributed and marketed hundreds of films, including the record breaking Hello, Love, Again directed by Cathy Garcia-Sampana and The Last Class directed by Elliot Kirschner; Oliver Stone’s Nuclear Now; Sam Green’s 32 Sounds, Vanessa & Ted Hope’s Invisible Nation; Ron Howard’s Grammy Award®-winning The Beatles: Eight Days A Week–The Touring Years; Stanley Nelson’s Miles Davis: Birth of The Cool; Atlantic Records and Melanie Martinez’ K-12;John McDermott’s Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church; Amir Bar-Lev's Long Strange Trip–The Untold Story of the Grateful Dead; Tabbert Fiiller’s The Public Image Is Rotten; Danny Clinch and Pearl Jam’s Let’s Play Two; Corbett Redford and Green Day’s Turn It Around: The Story of East Bay Punk; John Scheinfeld’s Chasing Trane–The John Coltrane Documentary; Brett Bern's BANG! The Bert Berns Story; Brett Morgen and National Geographic’s seminal Jane; Asif Kapadia’s Senna; Neil Young’s vast catalog of Bernard Shakey Productions; Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty; Sacha Gervasi’s Spirit Award-winning Anvil! The Story of Anvil; Banksy’s Academy Award® nominated & Spirit Award-winning Exit Through the Gift Shop; Laurie Anderson’s New York Times critics’ pick, Heart of a Dog; Showtime’s National Board of Review Winner Listen to Me Marlon; Academy Award®-nominee and IDA Best Documentary Winner The Look of Silence; and the episodic multi-platform series Deconstructing The Beatles.
In January of 2019, AB2 launched a live multicast streaming programming from Paris, France for the 55-country release of Roberta Grossman and Nancy Spielberg’s Who Will Write Our History and launched the first paid feature film to premiere globally on META in 2021. For more information, please visit www.AB2mediagroup.com.
Credits: A DVent Pictures Production
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(In Order of Appearance)
Ely Buendia
Raymund Marasigan
Marcus Adoro
Buddy Zabala
Eric Caruncho
Data Canlas
Patrick Reidenbach
Edru Abraham
Vic Valenciano
Cris Hermosisima
Sharon Cuneta
Aldus Santos
Claire Miranda
Day Cabuhat
Angee Rozul
Maria Diane Ventura
Francis Lumen
Lally Buendia
Erwin Romulo
Regine Velasquez
Adrian Arcega
Matthew Rosen
Ray Mangune
Alden Richards
Jamie Wilson
Xiao Chua
Colorist: Hilarion Banks
SOUND DEPARTMENT
Sound Designer: Tengal Drilon, Atlas Glaas
Sound Mixer: Jason Abell
Original Music Composers: Tengal Drilon, Atlas Glaas, Rich Milin
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Director of Photography
Dominic Dycaico
Associate Producers
Toni Rose De Los Santos
John Geslani
Ronald Esguerra
Audry Dioniso
Day Cabuhat
Hilarion Banks
Hospitality Coordinator
Dianne Matondo
Production Coordinator
Razel Elmedulan
Location Manager
Rhoda Navarro
Associate Writers
Charissa Sanchez
Lowell Gene Alojado
Segment Producer
lan "Maki" Macabagdal
Production Assistants (Creatives-Shoot)
Anne Tejano
Marvin Cagalingan
Francis Alex Barayoga
Editing Supervisor
Pauline Jane "Jing" Cleofe
Post-Production Coordinator
Pauline Jane "Jing" Cleofe
Offline Editor
Charles Lindbergh Cabebe
Jeremiah Ocampo
Research
Abegail Vicente
Djohanna Ongtangco
Mario Angelo Glorioso
Post-Production Assistant
Mark Alden Cua
Abegail Vicente
Transcription
Ana Isabel Manalang
Kathleen Marie Dominique Borbon
Djohanna Ongtangco
Mario Angelo Glorioso
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Creative Producer
Niko Cezar
Cinematographers
Aimee Aznar
Lawrence Del Rosario
Miguel GoMax Tayag
Assistant Camera Operators
Jae Hicaro
Nikolai Agulto
Gaffer & Production Assistant
AC Laurente
Initial Creative Consultants
Monster Jimenez
Jerome Gomez
Eon Drake V. Buendia
Roberto Anjari Rossi
Gugi Gumilang
Project Managers
Ronald Esguerra
Toni Rose de los Santos
Jad Deveza
Subtitling
Audry Dionisio
Rissa Sanchez
Maria Diane Ventura
Interviewers
Aldus Santos
Maria Diane Ventura
Audry Dionisio
Translation
Maria Diane Ventura
Song Translation
Maria Diane Ventura
Ely Buendia
Animation and Art Direction
Sonny Burgos
Motion Graphics
Jaye Jacinto
Additional Motion Graphics and Video UpscalingHYPERTIME MEDIA PRODUCTIONS
Lead Artist
Adrian Arcega
Associate Artist
Zachary Lamberte
Additional Post-Production Services Provided by
NARRA POST-PRODUCTION STUDIOS by WILDSOUND, INC.
Sony Music Entertainment
Roslyn Reyes Pineda
Maan Atienza
Chen Aurelio & the Sony Team
Lori Rosen
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CNN Philippines
ABS-CBN News
Jeepney TVMYX ANC GMA QTV
MTV Asia
Rappler
Manila Bulletin
Kiko Pangilinan Facebook Page
Probe Productions, Inc.
RJ Productions
Pepsi
Chippy
Sony Ericsson
Schizo Archives
Erwin Solana
Pop U by Marcus Adoro and Mica Solmoro
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Robin Rivera
Christine Jacob
Maxene Magalona
Yeng Constantino
Gary Valenciano
Paolo Valenciano
Jugs Jugueta
Ogie Alcasid
Paco Arespacochaga
Bojie Yangco
Rhiza Pascua
Ronald Esguerra
Elmo Magalona
Pia Magalona
Atty Angelo Jimenez
Darwin Hernandez
Mica Solmoro
Baby Ruth Villarama
Xandra Santamaria
Georgette Tengco
Raymond and Valerie Mangune
lan Urrutia
Film Development Council of the Philippines
Offshore Musi
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Romulo Cafe
Crow's Nest Studio
Velvet Playground Studios
Sony office
UP Diliman
WeWork
Studio Simula
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Eon Buendia
Don Ventura Sr.
Donna Ventura
Dong Ventura Dina Ventura
Dale Ventura
Dang Ventura
Ding Ventura
Divina Ventura
Baby Don Ventura
Deneese Ventura
Jan Siegel
For Mama Cos
THANK YOU
Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala, Marcus Adoro
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"Alapaap"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Toyang"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Marcus Adoro
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Alkohol"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Raymund Marasigan
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Run Barbi Run"
Performed by Eraserheads Written by the Eraserheads
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Pare Ko"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Ligaya"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Waiting for the Bus" Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Combo On The Run" Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Raymund Marasigan
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Butterscotch"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Shake Yer Head"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Tindahan ni Aling Nena"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Spoliarium"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Ang Huling El Bimbo"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Andalusian Dog"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Torpedo"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Maselang Bahaghari"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Overdrive"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Magasin"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko
Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Back2Me"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Trip to Jerusalem"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Julie Tearjerky"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Ultrasound"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko
Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Para Sa Masa"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Lightyears"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko
Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Minsan"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Tikman"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Raymund Marasigan Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Poorman's Grave"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Saturn Return"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Raymund Marasigan Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"With A Smile"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Tikman"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Raymund Marasigan Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Superproxy"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Fill Her"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia and Raymund Marasigan Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"Balikbayan Box"
Performed by Eraserheads
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
ADDITIONAL MUSIC
"Keeper"
Performed by The Mongols
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Viva Records Corporation
"Bulakbol"
Performed by The Mongols
Written by Ely Buendia
Courtesy of Viva Records Corporation
"Ibang Araw na Lang"
Performed by Sandwich
Written by Diego Castillo, Mike Dizon, Mong Alcaraz, Raymund Marasigan
Courtesy of PolyEast Records
"Migraine"
Performed by Moonstar88
Written by Herbert Hernandez
Courtesy of Musiko Records / Sony Music Philippines
"DUBI"
Performed by Markus Highway
Written by Marcus Adoro
"Disconnection Notice"
Performed by Pupil
Written by Ely Buendia and Pupil
Courtesy of Sony Music Philippines