Known as the heart and soul of the Eraserheads, Ely Buendia wrote most of the band's most memorable hits during their phenomenal reign. When he left the band bitterly in 2002, Ely made a conscious effort to downplay any questions pertaining to his glorious past.

When he formed his first post-Eraserheads band, The Mongols, Ely adopted the name Jesus "Dizzy" Ventura to confuse fans and listeners—a deliberate effort to distance himself from his previous image and persona.

Thousands and thousands of fans who grew up listening to the music of the Eraserheads trooped to the Bonifacio Global City Open Field in Taguig to witness the historical reunion concert of perhaps the most successful and influential local rock band of all time.

Every single movement or happening on stage was met with a collective gasp by the audience. As soon as the lights blared brightly, the entire venue was filled with anxious cheers. The moment the official countdown commenced, the entire place was literally rocking with excitement.

The Eraserheads, on one stage again after years of not playing together, opened their set with the liberating anthem "Alapaap." The said song became very controversial in the ‘90s after it was interpreted by some officials as a "drug" song. Ely argued that the song talks about freedom from just about anything—depending on a listener's personal interpretation.

It was a fitting opening number, with the song's climactic end issuing an invitation to partake in a joyous happening: "Gusto mo bang sumama?"

Bassist Buddy Zabala has always been open in talking about the possibility of a reunion even in the past.

"There's always that possibility," he said in an interview a few years back, "but there's also a proper time for that to happen."

Last August 30, that proper time finally happened in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans.

Ely was still in euphoria at the beginning of the show. While singing the opening lines of the band's opening number, "Alapaap," Ely raised his hand as a gesture of acknowledging all the fans who took time out to attend the much anticipated local music event.

When the Eraserheads disbanded, guitarist Marcus Adoro went into a hiatus by retreating to the waters of La Union to pursue his passion for surfing. Marcus, however, did not completely hang his guitar as he still fastidiously wrote songs either for fun or with the intention of someday releasing them commercially.

Backed up by a band he wittingly labeled as Markus Highway, Adoro released an album this year titled Behold, Rejoice! Surfernando is Hear Nah under Warner Records Philippines.

It took six long years before Ely, Marcus, Buddy and Raimund finally agreed to play again as one rocking unit. Since their separation in 2002, each member soldiered on by either forming or joining a new band. But no matter how hard they tried to shed their past, the four members were constantly hounded by the legacy they created as the Eraserheads.

In an interview a few days before the event, drummer Raimund Marasigan mentioned that even though preparations were being made and despite the fact that all four of them agreed verbally and on paper to do the reunion concert, the possibility of performing as group only sank in during the time they converged in one room to rehearse for the upcoming concert.

"We're surprised that we still knew how to play the songs," he chuckled.

Even before news of the reunion concert surfaced, frontman Ely Buendia subtly provided little clues two months before the big announcement. On June 27, 2008, Ely, backed up by an unknown band, did a show in Australia where he performed purely Eraserheads numbers.

A few days before the overseas gig, he was spotted in Mag:net Café in Bonifacio High Street, Taguig City doing an impromptu jam with the band Oven Toaster. Ely sang "Poor Man's Grave" and "Super Proxy" together with maverick director Quark Henares.

For a hastily arranged big concert, everything—from production to security—was well in place. Aside from the familiar tunes being rendered by the well-loved quartet, director Quark Henares and the entire production team embellished the entire show with enticing lighting effects, complete with fireworks.

The myth surrounding the entire Eraserheads breakup grew exponentially over the years. Like John Lennon and Paul McCartney of The Beatles, the demise of the Eraserheads was being attributed largely to the alleged worsening creative and even personal rift between frontman Ely Buendia and drummer Raimund Marasigan.

And just like in the case of Lennon and McCartney, Buendia and Marasigan's relationship was said to be prolific creatively at its best yet volatile at its worst.

During the reunion concert, most people were awaiting for any signs that would indicate that all's well between the two. Although it never fully came, just the thought that the two temporarily swallowed their pride to meet the clamor was enough to make any genuine fan happy.

The Eraserheads set list reportedly composed of 30 songs ranging from the popular radio singles to some rare stuff.

"'Yong ibang kanta bihira nila tugtugin dati during live gigs," shared one member of the production team to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal).

Some of those deemed as rarely played which made it into the first set were "Hey, Jay," "Shake Yer Head," "Kama Supra," among others.

The Eraserheads songs always carried that distinct street-smart sensibility. In this picture, the band is performing "Sembreak" complete with visuals showing pedestrian signage and even clips showing a few landmarks of the University of the Philippines—the Eraserheads' alma mater.

Ely approached the entire reunion concert with his trademark dead pan demeanor. But observers took note that the evasive singer-songwriter was happy and overwhelmed with the reception the band received from the public.

"He was happy to be an Eraserhead again even for a single night," wrote one columnist.

Even guitarist Marcus Adoro said that Ely was enjoying the moment despite his current physical and emotional state. "Nag-i-enjoy siya, e," confirmed Marcus in an interview after Ely was rushed to the hospital.

Drummer Raimund Marasigan said that preparing for the reunion concert was so hard and draining that to think of doing a new Eraserheads album or a tour was simply far-fetched.

Aside from temporarily ditching whatever emotional differences they have for each other, all four members also opted to slow down on their other commitments from their respective new bands to give the concert enough attention.

The concert was not just a reunion for Ely, Buddy, Marcus and Raimund. As it turned out, the one-night get together was also a chance for old high school and college classmates and friends to reunite and sing along to the tunes that remind them of the good old uncomplicated days.

Guitarist Marcus Adoro described the general atmosphere of the band's first day of rehearsal as awkward.

"Mas nakatingin kami sa mga suot naming sapatos," he mentioned in an interview with Aldus Santos.

Although the band did little during the concert to suggest that they're comfortable working with each other again, the Eraserheads musically were simply brilliant and mesmerizing to watch and hear that evening.

Ely's backup singers that evening were not just his three other bandmates but also the thousands of people present that evening; they happily sang along to the songs they knew by heart.

Bassist Buddy Zabala's relationship with Ely, Marcus and Raimund has always been cordial, even during the time of the breakup.

When Ely was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack early last year, Buddy along with wife and former Eraserheads manager Ernest Mangulabnan personally paid a visit.

"Si Buddy talaga mabait. Wala kaming problema," Ely's partner Diane Ventura reportedly quipped.

The phenomenal ‘90s band managed to dish out 15 songs before frontman Ely Buendia experienced chest pains during the supposed 20-minute break leading to the second set. Stressed and fatigued, the singer-songwriter was rushed to the hospital prompting the organizers to cut the event short. Despite the unfortunate incident, avid fans and supporters of the band expressed happiness in seeing their heroes sharing one stage and singing the songs they all grew up listening to.

The excitement and all the adrenalin might have sustained Ely at the beginning of the concert. As the first set of the show drew to a close, however, all the stress and weariness brought by a number of factors leading to the concert apparently took its toll on the singer-singwriter.

A tired and exhausted Ely Buendia being assisted by a road manager during the latter part of the reunion concert.

Ely's mom passed away two days before the concert, adding to the stress and pressure he was experiencing in preparation for the concert.

After finishing "Lightyears" which was the last song of the Eraserheads for their first set, Ely sat down looking all worn-out. He reportedly collapsed backstage and had to be rushed to the hospital.

Ely, who had a heart surgery last year, experienced chest pains. The legendary singer-songwriter was said to be exhausted. Drummer Raimund Marasigan, in an interview after the incident, said that it was very hot on stage and that all of them were sweating profusely and drinking lots of water.

Just like the thousands of fans that gathered at the massive Bonifacio Global City Open Field in Taguig, Eraserheads drummer Raimund Marasigan was  obviously stunned by the sudden turn of events.

A few days after the concert, Marasigan commended Ely by writing on his band, Sandwich's, mailing list: "Ely was in no condition [emotionally] and [physically] to play but he did. And he gave it his all which is more than we could ask from him given the circumstances he was in."

Raimund, Buddy and Marcus joined Ely's sister, Lally, in announcing the cancellation of the concert a few minutes after Ely was rushed to the hospital for observation.

"Thank you for supporting the reunion concert of Eraserheads. We, however, regret to inform you that due to my brother's health, the emotional and physical stress that he's been experiencing, we apologize for cutting the concert short. My brother had to be rushed to the hospital for medical attention. Again, we apologize and thank you all for coming here tonight."