Boyfriends is a musical group from the Philippines. Their heyday was in the 1970s as a leading exponent of the Manila Sound, with pop and disco harmonies reminiscent of the Bee Gees. Several of their songs have entered the canon of the Filipino popular song, covered by current stars and amateurs alike.

 

The Boyfriends best known for their lasting hits - Sumayaw Sumunod, Dahil Mahal Kita, Bakit Labis Kitang Mahal, Salawahan - has been in the music biz for nearly four decades. 

 

Not counting the best-ofs and greatest hits compilations, the Boyfriends came out with four albums of the pop-rock-disco genre - First Love; Salawahan; Dance With Me; and Sumayaw Sumunod. But with the decline of the OPM movement, the concert crowds and the record buyers thinned due to influx of foreign records.

 

Members of the group did not really leave the scene, Bob stayed with OctoArts-EMI as an artist repertoire manager and Gary performed solo.

In 2002, the two took steps to revive the band. In place of Artie Ilacad, they brought in new additions, brothers Jun Mallillin and Nitoy Mallillin, formerly of the Abrakadabra band.

 

Bit by bit, Boyfriends re-entered the band scene, performing in small clubs and out-of-town shows. A break came their way when they joined Pops Fernandez’s 2005 European tour, which includes stops in Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Vienna and Italy. Their most recent international show was in London produced by Side Projects Productions in 2017 where they accepted an award of Hall of Fame at the SPMA. 

 

They are currently involved in a group that consists of members from the golden era of Manila Sound - Hagibis, VST & Company and Sampaguita - and they are called Manila Sound Project, a move to keep the classic Original Pilipino Music alive. 

 

They have a new song for 2017 entitled “Siya o Ako”, written and composed by Port Mallillin, and does not intend to slow down one bit, but to keep enjoying playing music for a few decades more.