The OPM legend wants us to feel, care, and keep on rockin’ as ‘Lagalab’ blazes back on vinyl
Some albums capture a moment. Others define a movement. Mike Hanopol’s Lagablab, originally released in 2003, did both—and now, more than two decades later, it’s returning to set the world ablaze once more.
This past Sunday, September 28, the pioneering Filipino rock musician reissued his landmark album on vinyl through Backspacer Records, introducing a new generation to the scorching social commentary and romantic fervor that made Lagablab a touchstone of early 2000s Original Pilipino Music. But this isn’t merely a nostalgic cash-grab. This is a deliberate act of cultural preservation, a reminder that the struggles Hanopol chronicled back then remain painfully relevant today.
What gives Lagablab its enduring power isn’t just its musical innovation, though. The album pulses with empathy for the Filipino diaspora—the millions of overseas workers who leave their families behind in search of better opportunities abroad. Hanopol wrote the album’s core tracks in 1993, inspired by the heart-wrenching reality of separation that defines so many Filipino lives.
“This album is the story of Overseas Filipino Workers, the story of those with loved ones abroad, and their relationships; I wrote [the songs in Lagablab] for us to grow more empathy towards them,” Hanopol explains.
That mission statement reverberates through every groove. Songs like “Namamasyal,” “Maghihintay,” and “Sa Aking Pag-uwi” explore the ache of distance, the weight of commitment, and the sometimes unbearable longing that overseas workers and their families endure. Meanwhile, tracks such as “Ang Magulang Mo,” “Hambog,” and “Masama O Mabuti” pivot to address younger generations with lessons steeped in faith, respect, and moral clarity—hallmarks of Hanopol’s deeply held convictions. The album closes with “Talamak,” a haunting meditation on how this culture of sacrifice has become systemic, inescapable (he even managed to relate it to the country’s most pressing issues today).
To bring Lagablab to life, Hanopol assembled a who’s who of Filipino musical talent. Film composer and Radioactive Sago Project member Francis De Veyra laid down bass lines, while international percussion maestro Michael Alba provided the rhythmic backbone. The original sessions were recorded, mixed, and mastered by industry veteran Angelo Rozul. Guest vocalists included the late rap icon Francis M, Session Road’s Hannah Romawac, Imago’s Aia De Leon, and Put3ska’s original frontwoman Myra “Skarlet” Ruaro—a constellation of voices that reflected the collaborative spirit of the OPM scene at its finest.
For the vinyl reissue, contemporary painter Lynyrd Paras created the new cover art that reimagines the album’s fiery essence. “It is an honor for me to paint Sir Mike in my favorite elements,” Paras says. “When we conceptualized Lagablab‘s new look, I found that my enjoyment for portraiture and the use of fire was a great fit. I deeply felt the emotions tied to this project as a vinyl spinner, enthusiast, and a fan of Sir Mike and the Juan Dela Cruz Band.”
The remastering was handled by Shinji Tanaka at Kodama Studios, ensuring that the album’s sonic intensity translates flawlessly to the warmth and depth of vinyl. Additional design work came courtesy of Mia Claravall-Reyes and Mariel Garcia, who crafted a package worthy of the music it contains.
In an era when physical media feels increasingly like an act of rebellion, Lagablab‘s return on vinyl is more than a reissue—it’s a statement. It’s a challenge to remember, to feel, to care about the stories of those who sacrifice everything for their families. And it’s an invitation to keep rockin’, to let the music remind us that great art doesn’t just entertain—it transforms.
Lagablab by Mike Hanopol is now available at backspacerrecords.com
