If like a lot of people you have found yourself intrigued by the perky boy band singing the cute ditty Binibini Sa MRT, then it is time for you to meet The Juans. They are the guys performing the song and who are clowning around the MRT train in the music video. And they are Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, Jiad Arroyo, Jason de Mesa and Daniel Grospe.
Carl is the one on vocals and keyboards. He studied Music Production at the DLSU College of St. Benilde and was a Top 12 finalist in the GMA 7 musical reality show Ride To Fame. He next got into theater and appeared in musicals like Kelly Kelly Ang Hit Na Musical, Batang Rizal, Lola Basyang and Peter Pan. He also appeared in commercials and hosted shows like the Ignite Gospel Music Festival and Jam on television.
Japs is on vocals and guitar. He is a painter who has now become a self-taught guitarist and it was also a contest that got him started on show business. He joined MACIPRISA, an inter-school singing contest in Bulacan. The experience encouraged him to take singing seriously so he uploaded his own performance videos on YouTube and watched to find out his mistakes and then corrected them. Soon he felt himself good enough to audition for The Voice and was recruited for Team Lea. He did not win the contest but the experience of getting a nod from the great Lea Salonga boosted his confidence.
Jiad is on guitar and background vocals. He is also a self-taught guitarist. Thanks to guitar tutorials on YouTube, plus help from his fellow Juans, he was able to develop his musical talent and now plays live in all their gigs. And it certainly does not hurt that he is also good-looking enough to be in the Gandang Lalake segment of the TV show It’s Showtime. He emerged as first runner-up in the competition and earned valuable insight into the intricacies of show business.
Jason on bass and back-up vocals is the Juan who was born into show business. His father is Rico Puno, one of the country’s greatest singers and entertainers. He could have been anything he wanted to be and could have had the right doors opening for him with just a nod from his Dad, but Jason is doing it and making good in his own way. His initial experience was in theater like roles in the musicals Ibong Adarna and Saranggola Ni Pepe. Next he tried out playing bass for some rock bands. But then he met The Juans and it suddenly felt like this was what he had always wanted to do all his life.
Daniel on drums and vocals is the most experienced musician among the boys. He started out as an actor after winning an acting contest in Eat, Bulaga! This got him into acting workshops and a teleserye turn on GMA’s Saang Sulok Ng Langit. Frustrated over the slow pace of his career, he went back to music, playing the drums first in church and then later on with the pop jazz group Southwind. Then as one of the finalists in TV5’s Kanta Pilipinas, he got the chance to interpret the song Kesa in the first Philpop Music Festival. The opportunity gave Daniel the Awit Award for Best Performance by a New Male Artist. That was a good try as a soloist but it looks like Daniel has finally found his niche and it is as part of the Juans.
Daniel’s experience competing in Philpop will come in handy on Saturday, July 16 when The Juans go to the Kia Theater to compete in this year’s Philpop Music Festival. Their song is contagious foot-tapper Binibini Sa MRT, which was composed by Joahann Garcia. And these guys, who once thought they would be just a boy band, you know the type who dance and sing light pop-rock songs while looking cute, will be doing their number live. Check the song out now on YouTube or Spotify or better yet score a copy of the Philpop album.
Aside from their participation in Philpop and their usual gigs, The Juans are now also promoting their first extended play release. Titled The Juans, the album contains three of their original compositions, Atin Ang Mundo, Prom and Magkasama.