REMEMBERING PAUL REYES, 1948-2020. 

PAUL REYES formed the FASTBACK 2+2 Band with the backing of his rich uncle, TITO PIN MANACSA. Paul convinced Tito Pin that the group of teenagers he had met through a common friend, Rollie Castro, was worth spending lots of money for. This was early 1965.

Tito Pin and Paul went to Mrs. Benavidez to purchase all those U.S. made Fender guitars: Stratocaster, Jaguar, Jazzmaster and Precision Bass; and Fender amplifiers & speakers: Showman, Bandmaster, Tremolux and Bassman. Then they purchased a Ludwig drumset and Beyer mics and a Swiss Echo. While they were at it, Tito Pin also bought a brand new Ford Falcon van. We were all in seventh heaven and started practicing new songs. A year later, they bought a VOX Continental organ, so I switched from bass guitar to keyboards.

Paul Reyes went to school at UP Diliman and had a lot of friends who were sons of senators and governors from UP. He was a great salesman and promoted his new band to the hilt. First he got us to play at the Bonanza Mini Golf along Highway 54. Then, he got us to play at the CALTEX Christmas Concerts along Padre Faura, and the Banco Filipino Christmas Concerts at Plaza Santa Cruz. Both concerts went on every night in December until Christmas, and always had 2 bands alternating.

All original band members were from UST. Later on a couple members quit the band to do other things, and they were replaced by UP boys.

Paul was an excellent negotiator and he got us huge gigs. He also got the band to play at the Campus Pacesetters Concert at the Manila Hilton. Then he got us to play at a Dominican College concert. Both those gigs got us featured in Graphic magazine and the Sunday Mirror magazine. Paul also got us to play at the Sights & Sounds concert held at the Loyola Center. This concert featured all the best bands in Manila at that time: Hijacks, Moonstrucks, The End, Jungle Entry, Crystals, Fastback 2+2, Imperials, Grapes of Wrath, Bad Habits and Dynasouls!

Then he got us another great gig, a Fashion Show & Concert Show sponsored by 7Up, at the Hotel Magellan in Cebu City. Tita Fely Manacsa had an idea of a psychedelic concert and it actually came to fruition at the Up Theater in Nov1967. Bobby Ochangco, the drummer of FB2+2, also played for the UP ROTC Band. he invited 4 to 5 members from the brass section and helped us play Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, only 3-4 months after its release, dancing ago-go girls and all.

Paul Reyes, we are forever grateful to you for leading the Fastback 2+2 band and exposed us to the Manila Music scene. Of course, we are forever grateful to Tito Pin too! He provided for all those expensive instruments and even provided a beautiful practice place at White Plains. Now, both of you are gone, but the memory lingers on. THANK YOU PAUL REYES & TITO PIN.