Typhoon Hagibis makes namesake band popular again

Typhoon Hagibis caused a considerable amount of panic and frantic searches across the internet. Curiously, this calamity came as a boon to a Philippine band of the same name whose popularity increased once again due to all the Google searches. 

Hagibis is an all-male band that has been going since 1979. Despite a change in members over time, their overall image has stayed same. Hagibis is best known for its members' macho image and songs extolling the beauty of women. The group's hit songs include "Katawan" (Body), "Legs" and "Babae" (Woman). The band members still retain their special look of tight black trousers, leather jackets, open shirts, shades, moustaches and suggestive dance moves.

"Hagibis is getting indirect publicity worldwide," said 61-year-old Jose Parsons Nabiula, who goes by his stage name Sonny Parsons. He has been with the band since the start."It reminded everybody of my group's existence... Some people are making fun of it, some people are very serious."

Typhoon Hagibis made landfall on Saturday shortly before 19:00 local time (10:00 GMT), in Izu Peninsula, south-west of Tokyo and moved up the east coast. Almost half a million homes were left without power. It is being called the most powerful storm to hit the capital in six decades.

Hagibis means speed and strength in the Philippine language Tagalog. Tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific Ocean are given their identity in sequence based on names provided by 14 regional countries.

People had been joking about the vigor of Typhoon Hagibis and comparing that to the band, Parsons said.

Parsons said he hoped the inquiries and feelers pouring in for Hagibis would translate into bookings for a band that currently performs around twice in a month in the Manila area. "Maybe after a month or two I will be expecting a lot of concert offers," Parsons said.

Typhoon Hagibis looks on track to hit Japan a month after another destructive typhoon and Parsons said he was worried about the damage.

"I hope that Hagibis storm's show happens in the middle of the sea," Parsons said. "Definitely, people will absorb the wrath of typhoon Hagibis and I feel bad about it."

While the storm did not enter the Philippine territory, its extension brought scattered rain showers and thunderstorms in central and southern parts of the Southeast Asian nation.

Hagibis had used its renewed fame to warn Filipinos in Japan ahead of the storm's landfall, Parsons said. He hoped the band would get the chance to go to Japan after the typhoon.

"We will undo the sorrow and depression people experience," Parsons said. "If the singing group will have a chance to go to Japan, we will help you forget the typhoon."