Ely Buendia insists 'Spoliarium' is not about TVJ, Pepsi Paloma
Former Eraserheads lead singer Ely Buendia once again insisted that their 1997 song, Spoliarium, is not about the controversy between Pepsi Paloma and Vic Sotto, Joey de Leon, and Tito Sotto (TVJ) amid renewed attention on the subject matter.
In an interview with the media, the singer briefly debunked the urban legend surrounding the song from their fifth album Sticker Happy and clarified that it's not pertaining to Pepsi's alleged rape case back in 1982.
"Let's just get it out there. Spoliarium—it's not about TVJ. It's not about Vic Sotto and the rape," Buendia said.
"Although it is a sad thing. I was really heartbroken when that thing came out because I was such a huge fan. They are my heroes and I wouldn't dream of writing a song to tarnish my heroes, so I think that's the most ridiculous rumor," he continued.
Buendia stressed that he is maintaining until today that the song is "not about them, it's not about Pepsi."
Rumors about the song's connection to the late actress came after the names Enteng and Joey were mentioned in the lyrics. These are widely known to be the nicknames of Vic and Joey, whom Pepsi publicly accused of sexually assaulting her.
However, Buendia previously shared that Spoliarium was actually inspired by a drunken night with the band during an episode of the Wake Up With Jim and Saab podcast hosted by Saab Magalona-Bacarro and Jim Bacarro.
"Spoliarium is one of those cases where really the myth has sort of taken over the facts and I kinda like it. I kinda like the myth," he said.
"Because the actual meaning of the song is also, again, just really mundane. So, we were drinking that gintong alak (Goldschläger). That’s what it meant. It’s all about getting pissed drunk, that’s what’s it about," he added.
When asked who they were referring to with the mentions of Enteng and Joey, Buendia reaffirmed that they were the names of the band’s road managers at the time.
"They were roadies. Kaya first time ko nabasa 'yun, that urban legend, sabi ko, ‘Wow, okay ‘to ah.' There really is, sometimes, 'yung mga coincidence like that. You have no power over that. It just happens," he said.
Pepsi's rape case resurfaced recently due to Darryl Yap's upcoming film The Rapists of Pepsi Paloma. Vic has since taken legal action against the director for cyber libel after his name was mentioned in the teaser of the film.
Pepsi, whose real name is Delia Dueña Smith Smith, was a rising star in the '80s who reportedly took her own life in 1985. She was 18. Her body was found in her home in Quezon City.
