In the middle of an otherwise ordinary weekday at Ayala Malls Vertis North, the sound of instruments tuning and harmonies coming together echoed inside a rehearsal space.
The Juans — Carl Guevarra, Japs Mendoza, RJ Cruz, and Chael Adriano — were polishing their setlist, preparing for one of the biggest milestones in their career: “TAWID LIVE: The Juans 10th Anniversary Album Showcase.”
It was during this rehearsal session on August 18, 2025, that PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) sat down with the band for an exclusive conversation.
Despite the busy month of recordings and run-throughs, the four-piece group welcomed the chance to reflect on ten years of music, the label of being OPM’s “hugot band,” and the way they continue to draw inspiration from both heartbreak and healing.
Read: Meet Carl Guevarra, lead vocalist ng The Juans
FROM DREAMERS TO ADULTS
When asked to sum up The Juans in just three words today, their answers came swiftly but meaningfully.
“Positive,” Japs said with certainty.
“Hopeful,” RJ followed.
“Adults,” Chael chimed in. “Ten years is a decade of our lives. So, kaya ko nasabing adults, ano na ang mga pine-face naming problems, mga adult problems na talaga.”
Ten years is no small feat, and Carl emphasized how this time allowed them to truly discover themselves.
He shared: “In the ten years na nagdaan, I think our greatest evolution is finding who we are. It doesn't mean na hindi na kami mag-grow.
"But I guess right now, yung growth is not coming from insecurity that we want to prove ourselves. But the growth is coming from a level of acceptance and security of who we are. Therefore, you just want to be the best version of that.”
It’s a sentiment that mirrors not just their own journey, but also the lives of their fans who have grown up alongside their music.
Read: Carl Guevarra Shares Past Heartbreaks with Friend
OWNING THE HUGOT SPACE
In the OPM scene, The Juans are often recognized as “that hugot band” — the group behind songs that tug at the heart and echo the pain of heartbreak.
Carl admitted they weren’t surprised by the label.
He shared: “We always hear na mapanakit kami at nagiging parte kami ng hugot ng maraming tao… We're not surprised na it’s resonating with a lot of people, dahil sa totoong buhay naman talaga, as much as maraming nai-in love, marami rin ang nasasaktan.”
At one point, though, the band wrestled with the idea of being boxed in.
Chael confessed: “May time na parang ini-escape namin yung ganong branding… Pero ang na-realize namin, yun nga, as we are in our ten years na magkakasama as a band, natutunan naming yakapin na yung pagiging authentic namin is really about storytelling.”
Carl added that their hugot reputation wasn’t the result of strategy.
“Hindi naman siya intentional, e. It’s more of talagang naging totoo lang tayo… It’s not just romantic, e — yung hugot is really, this is so real, this is so emotional, this is coming from the heart… It’s like, it will penetrate your soul,” he emphasized.
Still, their tenth anniversary album Tawid proves that they are more than just heartbreak narrators.
“It’s not just about hugot songs,” Carl explained.
“It’s really a mix of everything. May pang-in love, may pang-inspired, may pang-kinikilig, may pang-self-reflect, may pang-mga nasa midlife crisis, may pang-gusto makipaghiwalay, may pang-naka-move on na,” he added.
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INSPIRED BY LISTENERS, GROUNDED BY STORIES
More than anything, it’s their fans who keep The Juans going.
Carl revealed that their biggest inspiration lies in seeing listeners grow with them.
He said: “Hangga’t may nakikinig sa amin, hangga't may audience kami, ibig sabihin may purpose at patutunguhan yung mga isusulat namin…
"You see your fans also grow with you. Kaya yung iba sa kanila guma-graduate, yung iba nagkaka-jowa na, yung iba nagkakaasawa, nagkakapamilya, ganiyan.
"And to sort of see their growth and to even have the honor of hearing from them na naging parte kami nung pandemic era na nagco-college sila, na ‘Kung hindi dahil sa The Juans baka hindi ko na-survive yung pag-aaral ko or paggawa ko ng thesis,’ sobrang nakakapuno ng inspirational bank para magpatuloy.”
Sometimes, inspiration also comes from unexpected places.
Carl shared: “There are times na kunwari pupunta kami sa probinsya, tapos makakausap namin yung konsehal doon or SK doon or admin sa munisipyo, tapos kasama kami sa heartbreak nila.
"To hear stories like that and to see how the songs that we create in the privacy of our own bedrooms connect, translate, and leave an impact sa buhay ng ibang tao, that's already so much inspiration to keep going.”
Read: The Juans' Carl Guevarra opens up about battle with alopecia
HEARTBREAK, HEALING, AND MOVING FORWARD
Given their reputation, it’s no surprise that heartbreak remains a well of inspiration for The Juans.
Chael even confessed that one of their latest tracks, "Missed Call," came from his own experience of being ghosted after a brief fling.
As individuals, each of them has a different way of coping with pain.
Japs prefers to “itutulog na lang.”
Chael turns to songwriting.
RJ allows himself to sit with the pain until it teaches him something.
And Carl takes the longer route: “Pagdadaanan ko siya. Kapag nabo-broken ako, gusto ko dadaanan ko yung process, kasi doon ka makakasulat ng mga insightful na songs.”
Their advice for fans is consistent with this philosophy.
“Huwag niyong i-shortcut yung process,” Carl urged.
“Healing will take time, so huwag kayo magmadali na palitan. You need to expose the pain that you have, you need to recognize it, and you need to give it proper medication to heal.
"How you heal is how you love again.”
Read: OPM band na The Juans, pasok sa Top 10 Next Big Sound ng Billboard
A SHOWCASE, NOT JUST A CONCERT
As the date for TAWID LIVE draws closer, the band teased what fans can expect: an immersive showcase rather than a traditional concert.
“We have collab performances. And they can really expect that lahat ito ay bagong kanta,” Carl said.
“The difference of this show is it's a showcase. We will take time to talk about each song as we perform it live for them, and then there are songs with collaboration, so they can expect that those collaborations will actually be performed live with the artist na ka-collab namin,” he added.
For weeks, they’ve been juggling rehearsals and album recordings, making sure the anniversary celebration is worth the wait.
“Weekly mayroon kaming rehearsals. Today is our last rehearsal,” Chael said on the day of our interview.
“It’s a busy schedule, busy month. Pero excited kami na dumating na yung concert day.”
Read: Para sa The Juans, dream come true ang "Istorya" cover ni Regine Velasquez
TEN YEARS STRONG
The Juans’ story is one of persistence, faith, and authenticity.
They began as wide-eyed dreamers, carved a space for themselves with hugot-driven songs, and grew into storytellers of love, loss, and resilience.
As they step into their second decade, they remain grounded in the same truth that built their music: emotions are universal, and honesty in storytelling never goes out of style.
More than a concert, TAWID LIVE is their way of honoring the stories that shaped them—and the fans who stood by them every step of the way.
Read: The Juans announces departure of drummer Joshua Coronel