Parokya ni Edgar

Parokya ni Edgar
Parokya ni Edgar at a live performance in 2007
Background information
Origin	Quezon City, Philippines
Genres	Alternative rock pop rock comedy rock experimental rock ska punk pop punk novelty rap rock
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Universal
Associated acts	at least 33 Kamikazee Pupil Franco Superlooj Keltscross Moonstar 88 The Pin-Ups Teeth Yano Francis Magalona Gloc-9 Noel Cabangon APO Hiking Society Eraserheads Hotdog Happee Sy Gino Padilla Yeng Constantino Chicosci Abra Sponge Cola Rico Blanco Sandwich Barbie Almalbis Urbandub Hagibis Sugarfree Cambio Project 1 Raimund Marasigan Ely Buendia Ebe Dancel Gabby Alipe Jose Mari Chan
Website	www.parokyaniedgarph.com
Members	Chito Miranda Buwi Meneses Darius Semaña Gab Chee Kee Dindin Moreno Vinci Montaner

Parokya ni Edgar (lit: Edgar's Parish) is a Filipino band formed in 1993. The band is known for its original rock novelty songs and often satirical covers of popular songs both foreign and local. The band is adept at playing in various musical genres.

Parokya ni Edgar has been referred to by local media as "Pambansang Banda ng Pilipinas" (The National Band of the Philippines).

Despite having "Edgar" in the band's name, none of the members are named Edgar.

Originally named Comic Relief, the band's initial members were a group of high school students composed of vocalists Chito Miranda, Jeric Estaco, and Vinci Montaner, along with guitarists Mikko Yap and Gab Chee Kee, all hailing from Ateneo de Manila University. They were regulars in after-school jam sessions, before performing an opening number for an Eraserheads concert. This served as their break in the music industry and prompted them to add a drummer and bassist – schoolmate Dindin Moreno and Buwi Meneses, respectively. Around the same time they changed the band's name to Parokya ni Edgar. After high school, Mikko and Jeric withdrew from the band to pursue other interests. Soon after, the remaining band members invited their friend Darius Semaña to take the role of lead guitar.

The band name's origin had been a subject of debate among fans as the band members had never given full confirmation. It was not until 2013 that Chito Miranda officially addressed it through a post on their Facebook page. The title "Parokya Ni Edgar" came from a joke a classmate named Bambi Cuna made during one of their high school classes. Sources state that the class subject was Filipino. When the teacher asked Cuna where Jose Rizal's fictional hero, Crisostomo Ibarra (in the novel Noli Me Tangere) was educated, it was said that Cuna made up a daft answer, "sa Parokya ni Edgar". Then vocalist Jeric Estaco decided on impromptu to introduce the band as "Parokya ni Edgar" in their first live performance. From there, the band name just stuck.