Twenty-eight years after the release of OPM band Eraserheads’ iconic song “Spoliarium,” frontman Ely Buendia has once again dispelled the long-standing rumor connecting the track to the controversial Pepsi Paloma case involving veteran television hosts Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon.
During a press conference for the band’s upcoming concert documentary, Eraserheads: Combo on the Run, the Ang Huling El Bimbo singer addressed the most ridiculous rumor he had heard about the song.
“Let’s just get it out there, it’s ‘Spoliarium,’ right? It’s not about TVJ. It’s not about Vic Sotto and the ‘rape.’ Although it is a sad thing, I was heartbroken when that thing came out because I was such a huge fan,” said Ely.
Ely then referred to the comedy trio as his “heroes.”
“They were my heroes, and I wouldn’t dream of writing a song that would tarnish my heroes. So I think that is the most ridiculous claim. I will maintain, until today, that it’s not about them and it’s not about Pepsi [Paloma],” he added.
The rumor resurfaced recently following the teaser release of Darryl Yap’s controversial film The Rapist of Pepsi Paloma, in which young actress Rhed Bustamante portrays the late sexy star and references Vic Sotto in a controversial scene.
“Spoliarium,” from the Eraserheads’ 1997 album Sticker Happy, has long been speculated to reference the Pepsi Paloma case, but Buendia clarified way back in a 2021 podcast interview that the song was inspired by the band getting drunk on Goldschläger, a cinnamon schnapps.
As the debate surrounding “Spoliarium” continues, fans can look forward to Eraserheads: Combo on the Run, a behind-the-scenes documentary of the band’s Huling El Bimbo reunion concert in 2022. The film promises exclusive footage, rare interviews, and an intimate portrayal of the band’s journey through political division and post-pandemic challenges.
The film’s producer, Maria Diane Ventura, praised the documentary’s originality.
“This is entirely their concept—original, fresh, and unprecedented. There’s nothing like it out there. It’s an extraordinary way for fans to experience the band’s story and music in a new, exciting context,” she said.
Produced by Dvent Pictures and WEU and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, Eraserheads: Combo on the Run will be the first Philippine documentary screened in Dolby Atmos. The film will have a limited nationwide release from March 21 to 23.