The Hi-Jacks

The Hi-Jacks were a Filipino rock band that formed in the early 1960s. The group was established during a period when rock bands, also known locally as "combos", rose in popularity in the Philippines among young people.^[10] Many of their songs consist of covers of pop music from the United States and the United Kingdom, such as "Pa Pa Ou Mau Mau" and "Hey Jude".^[11][12]

The Hi-Jacks
Origin	Philippines
Genres	Rock pop
Years active	c. 1962[1]–1980s[2][3] 1994–1997[4]
Labels	Top Tunes[5] Sunshine[6]
Past members	Jess Manahan[7] Ben Tesoro[8][9]

In 1969, the Hi-Jacks won the first Awit Award for Vocal Group of the Year (English, Local Division).^[13] Later that year, they signed a contract to perform in Tokyo, Japan for six months.^[14] By 1972, they had become a regular act at a club in Manila called D'Flame^[15] when the group was acquired by the music label Sunshine, a division of Vicor Music.^[6]

Towards the late 1980s, the group, which had since become composed of seven members, was the regular act at the Cabaret of the Playboy Club in Manila.^[16] In November 1987, the group performed at an Elvis Presley tribute concert held at the Manila Hotel to benefit the Foundation for the Blind of the Philippines, Inc.^[17] In February 1988, the band performed as the backing group of Ramon "RJ" Jacinto for the program "Jam Session '88," held at the Coconut Palace in Manila.^[3]

In 1994, the band held a reunion concert at Jacinto's RJ Bistro in Makati on October 6.^[18]

Singles

Release date	Single	B-Side	Notes
1965	"The Monkey Time"	"Pa Pa Ou Mau Mau"	In Hong Kong, "Pa Pa Ou Mau Mau" peaked at No. 7 on the singles chart.[11]
1967	"I Can't Help Myself"	"I'm Falling in Love Tonight"	With Eddie Mesa; featured in the film Let's Hang On!
1968	"And You Let Her Pass By"	"Birdie Told Me"
1968	"Hey Jude"[12]
	"Girl on a Swing"	"I Could Never Love Another"
	"Chewy Chewy"	"Goody Goody Gumdrops"
	"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In"	"Sing a Simple Song"
	"So Much in Love with You"	"Mony Mony"

Filmography

• 1964: Let's Go
• 1966: I Just Need Your Love
• 1967: Let's Hang On!
• 1967: Operation: Discotheque
• 1968: Let's Go... Hippie

References

1. Trinidad, Luis Ma. (March 17, 1962). "Filipinos Writhe With the Twisters". Billboard Music Week. The Billboard Publishing Company. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
2. Santos, B. T. (December 16, 1987). "A beer festival of rock". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. p. 15. Retrieved August 8, 2023. The real stars of that first night [December 11] were RJ and the Hi-Jacks, who weren't in the performers' list.
3. "RJ in 'Jam Session '88'". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. February 18, 1988. p. 10. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
4. "RJ's rock 'n' roll reunion today". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. July 25, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
5. "International Talent Directory" (PDF). Billboard. The Billboard Publishing Company. December 28, 1968. p. 165. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
6. Salazar, Oskar (August 12, 1972). "Manila". Billboard. Manila: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 52. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
7. Hernandez, Carmen C. (February 20, 2007). "San Francisco Loves Rex". The Manila Times. The Manila Times Publishing Company, Inc. p. C2. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
8. "Legends of guitar". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. August 12, 1996. p. 40B. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
9. Montemar-Oriondo, Ann (April 4, 2002). "'RJ' Jacinto: The music never ends". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
10. Trinidad, Luis Ma. (July 14, 1962). "Vocal, Instrumental Groups Take Over". Billboard Music Week. The Billboard Publishing Company. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
11. "Hong Kong". Billboard. The Billboard Publishing Company. October 2, 1965. p. 28. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
12. Salazar, Oskar (December 14, 1968). "Manila". Billboard. Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 67. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
13. Salazar, Oskar (April 19, 1969). "Manila". Billboard. Manila: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 72. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
14. Salazar, Oskar (December 20, 1969). "Manila" (PDF). Billboard. Manila: Billboard Publications, Inc. p. 71. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
15. Romulo, Mons (August 8, 2010). "What do you miss about the '70s and '80s?". Philstar.com. Philstar Global Corp. Retrieved April 14, 2021. We danced at Manila Hotel's Jungle Bar, Stargazer, the Nile, D' Flame, Wells Fargo.
16. "Hijacks". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. December 14, 1987. p. 6. Retrieved June 16, 2021.
17. "Elvis Presley... Now Or Never". Manila Standard. Standard Publications, Inc. November 21, 1987. p. 14. Retrieved April 19, 2021. A show featuring Bobby Valle with the special participation of EJ Villacorta, Baron Barbers, and Miriam Pantig [....] Also features the Hi-Jacks and The Larry Matias Band.
18. "Hi-Jacks Reunion Concert". Manila Standard. Kamahalan Publishing Corp. October 6, 1994. p. 19. Retrieved July 20, 2021.

External links

• The Hi-Jacks discography at Discogs