Ely Buendia

Years active1989–presentMusical careerGenresInstrumentsMember ofFormerly ofThe Oktaves

Ely Eleandre Basiño Buendia (born November 2, 1970) is a Filipino singer, musician, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the alternative rock band Eraserheads, with whom he has released seven albums since their founding in 1989.

Raised in Naga, Camarines Sur, Buendia attended University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City, where he met drummer Raimund Marasigan, bassist Buddy Zabala, and guitarist Marcus Adoro, with whom he would later form Eraserheads. Their debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop! ushered in a second wave of Philippine rock bands, and launched Buendia and the band to rock stardom. Buendia was the primary songwriter and creative voice behind the band’s early albums, including Circus (1993) and Cutterpillow (1995). After releasing the Christmas concept album Fruitcake (1996), the band experimented with electronic and art rock styles for their next albums Sticker Happy (1997), Natin99 (1999), and Carbon Stereoxide (2001). Buendia left Eraserheads in 2002 and the band broke up soon after. They reunited in 2008 and has since made sporadic touring and promotional appearances in the country and overseas.

Buendia released his debut solo studio album, Wanted Bedspacer, in 2000. After leaving Eraserheads, he became lead vocalist for the bands The Mongols (later Pupil), The Oktaves, and Apartel. Buendia collaborated with rapper Francis M. on the album In Love and War, posthumously released in 2010 after the latter's death. Buendia founded the independent record label Offshore Music in 2016,^[1] which has represented artists Ena Mori, Pinkmen and Sansette.^[2] Buendia is set to release his second solo album, Method Adaptor, in November 2024.^[3]

Ely Eleandre Basiño Buendia was born in Naga, Camarines Sur on November 2, 1970.^[4] He is the second child of Ely Revilla Buendia and Lisetta Ruiz Basiño.^[4] Buendia attended preparatory school in Naga Parochial School and finished his elementary grades at Pasig Catholic College in Pasig City in 1983, and high school at University of Perpetual Help in Rizal.

Buendia had a complicated relationship with his father, later writing the songs "Poorman's Grave" and "Acid Tongue" about him.^[5] He also wrote his first song "The Junction" after hearing Michael Jackson's album Off the Wall on cassette, getting as far as the chorus.^[5] Buendia wrote his first proper song "Unstrung Heroes", which he later recorded with rapper Francis M. for his 1995 album FreeMan.^[6] He grew up listening to Rico J. Puno, Diomedes Maturan, Elvis, Bob Dylan, and the Beatles.^[6]

Buendia attended college at University of the Philippines Diliman. He played bass for the college band Bluidie Tryste in 1987, which had Raymund dela Peña on vocals.^[7] They debuted at a protest rally, covering "Boys Don't Cry" by The Cure.^[7] The following year, Buendia and dela Peña held auditions for a new band, of which freshman Raimund Marasigan responded. He invited his fellow freshmen Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro for a jam session at Alberto's rehearsal studio in Cubao, but nothing materialized.^[8] Buendia and dela Peña later formed a new band called Sunday School, which focused on new wave and had session drummers including Marasigan. Dela Peña eventually left the band to pursue jazz, leading Marasigan to bring in Zabala and Adoro from his own band Curfew.^[7] Marasigan and Buendia combined Sunday School and Curfew into a new band, which they named Eraserheads after the David Lynch film.^[9]

The band played at campus events, usually as the crowd started to leave. On January 1991, they recorded a nine-song demo tape at Marasigan's garage in Candelaria, Quezon and shopped it around record labels, clubs, and radio stations only to be met with rejection; one record label commented that the demos were “not pop enough”. Marasigan gave a copy of the demo tape to his humanities professor Robin Rivera, who helped them re-record and mix better versions of the demos. The new demo tape was named Pop-U! as an irreverent response to those who turned them down. It earned the band a spot at Club Dredd, where they initially had little success playing covers. They decided to write their own material which soon earned them a cult following. One song written by Buendia, "Pare Ko", became popular for its explicit lyrics.^[9] The band soon landed an out-of-town gig opening for Introvoys in Cebu. Buendia wrote "Combo on the Run" based on their experiences there.^[9]

Buendia, who majored in mass communication with a degree in film at UP, sold Bicol Express to his dorm mates to earn money, but later dropped out.^[7] He worked at BMG as a copywriter while writing songs with his band members at night. Their material later caught the attention of A&R director Vic Valenciano, who commented that they were technically very raw but that there was something promising in them.^[9] The band signed a three-year deal with BMG and recorded their debut album Ultraelectromagneticpop!, which was later released in 1993. With the single "Pare Ko", Eraserheads quickly entered the mainstream.

Buendia continued to write songs for the band, many of which became classic hits. The band released seven studio albums and a compilation album for the Southeast Asian region. In 1997, they received MTV Asia's Viewer's Choice Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York City for their music video for "Ang Huling El Bimbo", the only Philippine artist to have received the award.^[10] Buendia had written the song: "I had a huge crush on this girl who was older; she was the one who taught me the dance, and I think that was the first time I was really in love with a girl. Then I never saw her again."^[11]

Buendia left Eraserheads on March 2002.^[12] In an interview, Adoro revealed that Buendia sent a cryptic text message to his band members that he had already “graduated”, referring to him being a year ahead of them at UP.^[13] Buendia later recalled in a podcast interview in 2021: “We had a very, very good working relationship. It’s just that I don’t like it when people say that it was the wrong way to go, ‘yung dynamics within the band.”^[14] The remaining three members later debuted with new vocalist, Kris Gorra-Dancel of Fatal Posporos, in April. Adoro left the band in November, and the band was dissolved soon after.^[15]

The band reunited for a concert in August 2008, which was cut short after Buendia experienced chest pains and was rushed to the hospital.^[16] After recovering from an angioplasty,^[17] he later returned to the stage for a second reunion concert on March 2009.^[18] The band embarked on a world tour between 2012 and 2014,^[19] later releasing two new songs, "Sabado" and "1995" (co-written by Buendia), for Esquire magazine.^[20] They appeared in a promotional campaign for Smart Communications in 2016.^[21] In December 2022, the band held their third reunion concert in the Philippines,^[22] and embarked on another world tour in 2023 and 2024.^[23][24]

After leaving Eraserheads, Buendia formed the underground band The Mongols under the stage name Jesus “Dizzy” Ventura. The band consisted of Buendia as lead vocalist, Jerome Velasco of Teeth on guitars, Yanni Yuzon on bass, and Bogs Jugo of Daydream Cycle on drums.^[25] They released a promotional EP A Fraction of a Second, followed by the self-produced studio album Buddha’s Pest, which was released by Viva Records.^[26][27]

When Velasco left the Mongols to study in the US, the rest of the band added Dok Sergio to the lineup and changed their name to Pupil.

Buendia got the name for Pupil after reading a medical book. The band gained mainstream popularity in contrast to the Mongols. Bogs left the band after their first album Beautiful Machines, and was succeeded by Wendell Garcia. On the evening of January 7, 2007, Buendia had a near-fatal heart attack after performing with the band in Laguna, being sent to the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Muntinlupa, Metro Manila for an emergency angioplasty.^[28]

Pupil's guitarist Yanny Yuzon left the band in 2013. Day Cabuhat Pupil's Manager announced that "Yanny is no longer. Transitions and changes are normal within any band structure and we all thank you for the understanding and continued support of all of our projects..."^{[citation needed]}

In 2011, Buendia formed the supergroup The Oktaves with The Jerks guitarist Nitoy Adriano and members of Hilera. They released a self-titled album in 2013, featuring the singles "K.U.P.A.L" and "Paakyat Ka Pa Lang, Pababa Na Ako".^[29]

In 2016, Buendia launched a new band with Jay Ortega (of DRT, Gnash, Wally Gonzalez, and Tres), which is primarily focused on soul music, RnB, funk, and semblances of jazz. Buendia met Ortega during the latter's launch of his bar and cafe called Spin Cafe. The two later collaborated and started to form a group, with members and contributors Pat Sarabia (drums), Coco Coo (guitars), RJ Pineda (keyboards), Redge Concepcion (guitars), Louie Talan (bass), Carissa Ramos (bass), Deej Rodriguez (percussion), Roxy Modesto (saxophone), Wowie Ansano (trumpet), Pards Tupas (trombone), Joseph Cabañero (saxophone), Donna Sagun Señoran(harp and backup vocals), and Ramonne Rodriguez (backup vocals). Buddy Zabala (bass), Nitoy Adriano (guitars), Cooky Chua (backup vocals), Wendell Garcia (drums), and the group Bras Pas Pas Pas (horns), also shared their expertise to the band's album tracks.^[30][31] Entitled "Inner Play", the band's first album was released digitally on September 29, 2016. The double album 45RPM vinyl version was manufactured in Japan, and the band opted not to release in CD format due to piracy and decreasing number of CD users, which was released on November 12, 2016, at the HiFi Show, Dusit Thani Hotel.^[32] Inner Play will be released under Buendia and Ortega's own record label called Offshore Music. According to Buendia in an interview with Myx, their band name was inspired by the 1980s new wave band, The Motels. However, according to Buendia, Apartel's sound is a tribute to 1970s music, such as Stax Records, Motown, Manila Sound, APO Hiking Society, VST & Co., and Rico J. Puno.^[33] The band launched its first music video for their single "Is It Hip?" on September 17, 2016, in Victoria Court, Malate, and was directed by Marie Jamora and produced by Artikulo Uno Productions.^[34] On January 16, 2017, Jay Ortega left the band to pursue a solo career.^[35] The band also covers songs from its influences such as Sly & Family Stone's "Thank You For Talking To Me Africa". The band released Inner Play (Remixes) in 2017. Its latest album, "Full Flood", was released in 2018.

• Wendell Garcia - drums, percussion, backing vocals (2007-present)
• Audry Garcia Dioniso - rhythm guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals (2017-present)
• Nitoy Adriano - lead guitar (2011-present)
• Pat Sarabia - drums, percussion (2016-present), backing vocals (2017-2022)
• Dok Sergio - bass guitar, backing vocals (2022-present)
• Moon Carlo - drums, percussion (2023-present)

• Mayo Baluyut - bass guitar, electric guitar, vocals (2012-2017)
• Coco Coo - guitar (2016-2018)
• Redge Concepcion - guitar (2016-2019)
• Wowee Ansano - trumpet (2012-2020)
• Joseph Cabanero - saxophone (2012-2020)
• Pards Tupas - trombone (2012-2020)
• Lily - backing vocals 1 (2012-2020)
• Marj - backing vocals 2 (2012-2020)
• Telay Robles- backing vocals 3 (2012-2020)
• Ryan Goan - keyboards, piano, backing vocals (2012-2020)
• Carissa Ramos - bass guitar, backing vocals (2016-2024; it's now a solo artist since 2021)

On January 7, 2007, Ely Buendia suffered a heart attack or acute myocardial infarction secondary to arterial blockage. It began when Buendia complained about finding it a bit hard to breathe while they were on the way to a gig in Laguna. But he dismissed it as mere heartburn. After some time, Buendia was reportedly in the middle of a song during a gig in Calamba, Laguna when he felt a sudden pain in his chest and left arm. He was rushed to an intensive care unit at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa. "It turns out that he'd been having a heart attack for the last twenty five hours." according to ex-eheads manager Jessica Zafra. Doctors performed an angiogram on the frontman and it confirmed the heart attack as two of his arteries were blocked. Buendia's condition was confirmed stable after an emergency angioplasty operation headed by Dr. Benjie Luna during the same night. According to Dok Sergio, "Ely is fine, successful yung surgery last night. (Last night's surgery was a success)."^[36]

The second angioplasty operation conducted on Ely Buendia on January 10, 2007, was successful and is secured from having heart attack recurrence. "The operation was a super success. He is totally out of danger and heart attack recurrence is not expected." according to Buendia's attending physician and cardiac surgeon, Dr. Wilfred Dee.^[37] Buendia left hospital by the night of January 15, 2007.^{[citation needed]}

This event prompted rap artist Francis Magalona, a longtime friend of Buendia and the other Eraserheads, to state the following in his personal blogsite: "Fast forward to right now, 9:58 am, Jan. 9, a lot of what ifs scenarios pop in my head. What if the E-heads members are back, like long-lost blood brothers? What if "the most significant OPM band of Pinoy Rock" would be in one room, what would happen?" And in postscript he adds, "Para sa akin panahon na para mag-reunite ang E-heads. Sugod na mga kapatid...rock & roll na hanggang umaga.", which roughly translates, "For me, it's time for E-Heads to reunite. Let's go brothers...rock & roll until the morning comes."^{[citation needed]}

Ely's first on-stage public appearance after his heart attack was on Saturday, February 10, 2007, as his band, Pupil, performed at The Music Hall in SM Mall of Asia, in an Animax event called "Love Is In The Air". The event featured a speed dating event as a welcome celebration for Valentine's Day and live performances from other local artists such as Callalily and Amber. Pupil is also part of "Super Proxy Jam". It is an event that is hoping to spread awareness for the importance of Cardiovascular Health and for the benefit of The Heartist Foundation Inc.^{[citation needed]}

Buendia joined Marasigan, Adoro, and Zabala for a one-night-only reunion show on August 30, 2008, at The Fort Open Grounds, In Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The concert, however, was cut short after Buendia collapsed due to emotional stress.^[38] They were already halfway of a planned 30-song setlist as Ely reportedly collapsed backstage during a break and was rushed to the Makati Medical Center.^[39] Results showed that Buendia suffered from a slight attack and Hypokalemia. The doctors at Philippine Heart Center had found another blocked artery and performed angioplasty right away, which is Buendia's third since 2007. On September 5, 2008, Buendia was discharged from the hospital.^{[citation needed]}

• Ely Buendia had a broadsheet column, entitled "CURSOR", published weekly (every Saturday) in the Entertainment Section of the Manila Bulletin. Due to Buendia's musical career, CURSOR was last published during the first Saturday of September 2006.
• Ely's sci-fi short story "The Pillar" was published on the March 2009 issue of Rogue magazine, with illustrations by Arnold Arre. The Pillar will be released as a graphic novel in June 2011, with illustrations by Jason Moss, who is one of the pioneers of Adarna House.

• Aside from starring with Eraserheads in the movie Run Barbi Run, Ely played a cameo role in Rufa Mae Quinto's movie entitled Masikip Sa Dibdib where he was playing and singing "Keeper" by The Mongols in a live stage set with audiences going wild and enjoying the music.
• Buendia appeared in Saab Magalona's short film Spoonfeed.^{[citation needed]}
• A 13-minute indie film entitled Waiting Shed was produced by Cinemanila's Anima and Tikoy Aguiluz and was shown as part of Cinemanila's Sine Barangay. The film was directed by Ely Buendia, making it his first. Waiting Shed premiered with Marcus Adoro's indie film The Artist Is In.
• Ely Buendia was chosen by MTV Philippines as a voice actor in the Filipino version of MTV Asia's Intersection animated film. It is also a campaign of MTV Exit and USAID against exploitation and trafficking, which features soundtrack from Radiohead and Thievery Corporation. Other voice actors are Anne Curtis, Dingdong Dantes, Epi Quizon, and Dolly Anne Carvajal.
• He guested as "Dave", the older brother of Chris Brawner, in Manny Pacquiao's comedy sitcom, Show Me Da Manny. In the later part of the show, Buendia performed "Disconnection Notice" with his band Pupil. The episode was aired on September 13, 2009.
• He appeared in the Metro Manila Film Festival Best Picture Manila Kingpin: The Asiong Salonga Story, as well as the artist of the soundtrack. He won Best Theme Song in the recent MMFF Awards.
• He also appeared in the indie film rakenrol as himself.
• Ely Buendia directed the indie film entitled "Bang Bang Alley", starring Megan Young, Gabe Mercado, Jimmy Santos, Arthur Acuña, and Bela Padilla.

• Buendia had a solo project, even before leaving Eraserheads. He recorded ten tracks in his home studio, Suite 16 Studios." The album was called Wanted Bedspacer, and it comprised the tracks "Wanted Bedspacer," "Monday Mundane," "Kakaiba," "Santo," "Over 18," "Tapos Na," "Acid Tongue," "Oras," "Shallow Breathing," and "Hotchik". The cassette version of the album has a bonus track titled "In the Midnight".
• In mid-2008, Buendia commenced a series of solo gigs. He mostly sang Eraserheads songs accompanied by indie bands or sessionists, without his band Pupil. First he had a local performance with the Oven Toaster band in the Mag:net Cafe, the Fort. Then he performed an all-Eraserheads number in Manning Bar, Sydney, Australia.^[40] He also made a new version of "Ang Huling El Bimbo" with FILharmoniKa orchestra for Kumpas compilation, headed by Gerard Salonga, brother of Lea Salonga.
• Ely Buendia co-produced Sugar Hiccup's Oracle album with Raimund Marasigan.
• Ely Buendia and his sister, Lally Buendia wrote the songs "Black Whole", "Sucker" and "Marble" for Domino's Fair Tales album. His wife, Diane played Glockenspiel on "In Your Arms and Pedalpitch on "Provocatrice". Fair Tales was co-produced by Ely (together with his sister), and was mixed by him as well (together with Lazyboy). Domino was fronted by Lally Buendia and the album was released commercially under Viva Records in 2003.
• He composed True Faith's "Kung 'Di Rin Lang Ikaw" with lyrics by J. Bacasmas and arranged by Ron Soriano for PolyEast Records. Bacasmas is the vocals behind Ultraelectromagneticpop's "Ganjazz."
• "Magasin" which he wrote was sampled for the track "Girl On Da Magazin" by Flip-Hop group, Legit Misfitz.
• He wrote the songs "Dahan Dahan Lang", "Mga Babae" and "Something Always Brings Me Back To You" sung by the female funk, R&B, rap, and soul music group, Novia under BMG Pilipinas (Then Sony BMG Music Philippines & now currently as Sony Music Philippines).
• Buendia wrote a song called "Stone's Throw" for Sponge Cola's debut album Palabas.
• He also collaborated with Pinoy Rap artists in the song "Private Diane" with Francis Magalona and Death Threat. It was released under Sony Music. Buendia furthered the collaboration with rapper Beware (also of Death Threat) titled "Pag Puti ng Uwak", under the album Revenge of tha Undaground, which was released in 2007.
• He used the codename "MH Hesus" when he sang back-up vocals for Parokya Ni Edgar's "Hosanna Ngayong Pasko" Christmas song in the Jingle Balls Silent Night Holy Cow album. MH actually means Maalalahanin, it is the street somewhere in Teachers Village, Quezon City, where Ely Buendia used to live.
• Buendia also sang "Suntok Sa Buwan", an APO Hiking Society original. It was included in the OST of 2000 Viva Films movie Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw, starring Regine Velasquez and Robin Padilla.
• Buendia also collaborated with the late Francis Magalona for their new album, In Love & War, released in May 2010, with their hit single, "Higante".
• Buendia celebrated his 40th birthday with a one-off concert entitled "Ely Buendia XL (Xtra Live)" at Republiq Bar, Resorts World Manila. Aside from his main band, Pupil, guest artists performed with him, including Dope Militia, Raimund Marasigan, Hilera, Turbo Goth, Diego Mapa, Rommel Dela Cruz, Brigada and Francis Brew Reyes. "XL" is the Roman numeral of 40, as suggested by Buendia's father.
• Buendia was featured in Pete Best's Beatlefest 2010 concert held at the Aliw Theater on September 11, 2010. The concert was produced by Steve O'Neal Productions and featured Pete Best, Ramon Jacinto, Rene Garcia, Mcoy Fundales and the Glass Onion Band. Buendia sang Beatles songs such as I Feel Fine, She Said She Said, We Can Work It Out and Dear Prudence.
• In 2011, Ely Buendia contributed to Rock Ed Philippines and celebrated José Rizal's works using his song "Bungo Sa Bangin". It features Pepe Smith on drums, Kat Agarrado of Sinosikat? and Sarah Gaugler of Turbo Goth on backing vocals, Nitoy Adriano of The Jerks on lead guitar, Paolo Peralta of The Camerawalls on rhythm guitar and synths, and Niño Mesina of Afterimage on bass. Sandwich, The Dawn, Aiza Seguerra and many other OPM artists contributed to Rock Ed Philippines as well. Their works were released free and under Creative Commons license.
• Buendia collaborated with the independent band The Purplechickens for a Bob Dylan tribute night he set up. The band also appears in In Love And War where they covered the Dylan classic "It's Alright, Ma" (along with singer Radha).
• Elytistas was a short-lived endeavor band fronted by Ely Buendia with Diane Ventura on drums, Dok Sergio on bass and JP Cuison of Kiko Machine as lead guitarist. It performed mainly in saGuijo Cafe Makati and as a part of Livestock Productions. Buendia later formed another endeavor band, Ely Buendia and the Diamond Dogs, which covers David Bowie songs and other classics. It is fronted by Ely Buendia and composed of Nitoy Adriano of The Jerks and Jesse Grinter of Gaijin on guitars, Micaela Benedicto of Outerhope on keyboards, Mayo Baluyut of Revenge Avenger on bass and Wendell Garcia on drums.
• In 2013, Buendia collaborated with Rico Blanco, Barbie Almalbis and Raimund Marasigan, they covered "Tayo’y Mga Pinoy" by Heber Bartolome.^[41]
• In early 2016, Buendia formed a new soul indie band called Apartel. He is the vocalist, guitarist, and main creative proponent for the group.
• For 2016, Buendia also had his "Greatest Hits" U.S. Tour with Nitoy Adriano, Wendell Garcia, and sessionist musicians, which was held in various venues such as Loew's Jersey Theatre, Aratani Theatre, Historic BAL Theatre, and many others.
• As part of Buendia's record label, Offshore Music, he launched a series of collaborations with the band, Itchyworms. It is under the name "Ely Buendia and the Itchyworms, and have already released two songs, "Lutang" and "Pariwara".
• In 2020, Buendia joined various OPM artists in honor of frontliners, the project was headed by Ogie Alcasid and joined by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Lea Salonga, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera, Lani Misalucha, Noel Cabangon, Piolo Pascual, Bamboo, Ely Buendia, Rico Blanco, Erik Santos, Christian Bautista, Jed Madela, Nyoy Volante, Angeline Quinto, KZ Tandingan, Morissette, Klarisse, Janine Berdin, Jason Dy, Sam Concepcion and Lara Maigue.^[42]

• As early as January 2006, there were reports that some of Pupil's fans have been hearing a new song called "Luk4 Jingle", as it was played on some radio stations and also during the ending credits video of the original episodes of Studio 23's Barkada Trip. Although due to lack of indications and confirmations from the band and related organizers that time, it was quite unclear if the song was actually from the band or was an old solo project of Ely or the vocals of the said song just sounded like Ely. Until recently, the song was finally confirmed, heard and witnessed when the band played it (titled "Text LUK4") live during the finale of DPC Yellow Pages' "Luk4 The Million – City Adventure Challenge" held on December 8, 2006, at the Metrowalk. Although Pupil plays it during live performances, the song itself was a side project of Ely's.
• Ely Buendia was included in a commercial project for San Miguel Beer's Red Horse product line, alongside various Filipino Rock icons: Basti Artadi from Wolfgang, Marc Abaya from Kjwan, Kevin Roy from Razorback, and Pepe Smith from Juan dela Cruz Band. He also became an endorser of the Red Horse Muziklaban. During the 2007 Muziklaban, he performed "Nasaan Ka?" with Kjwan as his ad hoc band.
• Buendia is part of Coca-Cola Philippine's Coke Zero campaign with Billy Crawford and Gaby Dela Merced. The campaign was launched on SOP and is generally about the health awareness of the brand. He also participated in a similar but more formal campaign in 2008 with Quaker Oats.
• Ely Buendia was brought back together with Eraserheads bandmates Marcus Adoro, Raymund Marasigan, and Buddy Zabala to go all out for a new, complete prepaid offer of Smart Communications.

Buendia is a supporter of PETA's campaign to free Mali from captivity in the Manila zoo and have her moved to Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand."I am urging my fans to raise their voices to help free Mali,[She] has been lonely for more than 36 years," the 43-year-old musician thinks that "a sanctuary can give her (Mali) the kind of life that she needs and deserves."^[43]

• Fender Telecaster MIJ
• Fender American Standard (Sunburst) Stratocaster
• Fender American Standard (Natural) Telecaster
• Fender Jaguar || Dunlop M-101
• Fender Jazzmaster || Dunlop M-102
• Gibson Les Paul Custom
• Gibson Les Paul || Dunlop M-103
• Gibson SG || Dunlop M-108
• Gretsch Electromagnetic || Dunlop M-109
• Gretsch Nashville Reissue
• Gretsch 6128
• Rickenbacker 360
• Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
• Taylor Acoustic Guitars
• Martin Acoustic Guitars
• Lumanog Guitar

Buendia has one daughter with his first wife, Vicky Cayago, and one son with Pupil co-manager Diane Ventura. He had a relationship with Andi Trinidad of Mega Magazine and reportedly dated TV5 news anchor and model Shawn Yao.^[44]

Solo studio albums

• Wanted Bedspacer (2000)
• In Love and War (with Francis Magalona) (2010)
• Method Adaptor (2024)

with Eraserheads

• Ultraelectromagneticpop! (1993)
• Circus (1994)
• Cutterpillow (1995)
• Fruitcake (1996)
• Sticker Happy (1997)
• Natin99 (1999)
• Carbon Stereoxide (2001)

with The Mongols

• Buddha's Pest (2003)

with Pupil

• Beautiful Machines (2005)
• Wild Life (2007)
• Limiters of the Infinity Pool (2011)
• Zilch (2015)

with The Oktaves

• The Oktaves (2012)

with Apartel

• Inner Play (2016)
• Full Flood (2018)

• Ely Buendia – Now out of danger
• Manila Times article
• Hoodwinked reference
• Eraserheads timeline
• Pupil Yahoo! Groups
• Heart Attacks Nearly Kill, but Marcus Hiway Thrills
• 'Buddha's Pest': Additional liner notes