After years of speculation, Ely Buendia reveals ‘Spoliarium’ is about ‘getting pissed drunk’

Putting a definitive halt to the Spoliarium theories, Eraserheads frontman Ely Buendia has shared the real score of the controversial 1997 song.

During an episode of the Wake Up With Jim and Saab podcast hosted by Saab Magalona-Bacarro and Jim Bacarro, special guest Buendia shared the backstories of iconic Eraserheads songs like Balikbayan Box and Ha Ha Ha.

Around 30 minutes in, Buendia shared that Spoliarium was actually inspired from a drunken night with the band.

"'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.”

“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.”

“It’s one of those songs that I’m really proud of. You know I’m proud of it if I sing it live all the time.”

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.