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Yanni Yuzon

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In this Philippine name, the middle name or maternal family name is Yrastorza and the surname or paternal family name is Yuzon.
Yanni Yuzon
Birth nameYan Yrastorza Yuzon
Also known asYani/Yanni
Born (1978-03-07) March 7, 1978 (age 47)
Philippines
OriginPhilippines
GenresAlternative rock
Pop rock
OPM
Instrument(s)Vocals, Guitar, Bass guitar, Keyboard
Years active2000–present
LabelsSony Music (2005–present)
Member ofArchipelago
Formerly ofPupil

Yan "Yanni" Yrastorza Yuzon (born March 7, 1978), is a Filipino singer, musician, writer, director, and acting coach best known as the former guitarist of the band Pupil. He was also the lead vocalist and guitarist for the band, Archipelago. A former theater professor at Ateneo de Manila University, he has also had leading roles in Tanghalang Ateneo productions, as well as writing and directing several of their plays.

Personal life

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Yuzon is the older brother of Sponge Cola guitarist and frontman, Yael Yuzon. The Yuzons are of Filipino and Basque descent. He is the older child of Johnny Yuzon (father) and Elsa Yuzon (mother) with middle brother Yael and younger sister Ysabel. The Yuzons are also related to actress and singer Donna Cruz, as she is their first cousin.[1] He and his siblings attended Ateneo de Manila University from grade school to college.[2] Their father, a public accountant, taught them how to play the guitar, but initially wasn't supportive of them pursuing a career in music.[3] He graduated from Ateneo with a degree in AB Social Science.[4] After graduating, he held a job at a call center for five months before becoming a theater teacher and musician.[5]

Career

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As musician

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With The Mongols and Pupil

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Main articles: The Mongols (band) and Pupil (band)

In high school, Yuzon played in Ateneo's band, Tungaw.[6] He was also a bassist and vocalist for the pop rock band Lilian.[6] In 2003, Ely Buendia, who had just left the band Eraserheads, formed a new band with Yuzon on bass, guitarist Jerome Velasco from Teeth, and drummer Bogs Jugo.[7] They produced one album together.[8]

When guitarist Velasco left the band to study in the US in 2005, the band recruited Dok Sergio, who swapped duties with Yuzon. With Sergio, they decided to rename themselves as Pupil.[9] He and Buendia were the guitarists and vocalists for Pupil.[10] He was with Pupil on their first three albums.[11] In 2013, he left the band.

With Archipelago

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In 2004, Yuzon and Pat Tirano (of TOI) launched their own band called Archipelago.[12] Its members were Wendell Garcia on drums, Chad Rialp on bass, Tirano on lead guitars, and Yuzon himself on front man duties. He directed the music video for their song "Gaan".[2][13]

Other music ventures

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Yuzon was featured in an instrumental compilation called "Mga Gitarista" ("The Guitarists"), wherein it features various instrumental songs from Filipino guitarists from different OPM bands such as Barbie Almalbis, Francis Reyes, Mong Alcaraz and Mike Elgar.[14]

In 2008, he produced Sponge Cola's self-titled album, which was certified gold. He also produced their album Transit, which was certified platinum, and directed their music video for "Kay Tagal Kang Hinintay", which won Best Mellow Video at the 2012 MYX Music Awards.[13][2]

Yuzon also taught music. In 2020, Yuzon held an online guitar tutorial in which he taught actor Dingdong Dantes.[15]

As actor

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Since the age of 12, Yuzon starred in plays from Tanghalang Ateneo and Dulaang UP.[2][4] In 2006, he starred in the role of Romeo in the Metropolitan Theater Guild's production of Romeo and Juliet alongside Ina Feleo (a former student of his) as Juliet.[4] He had previously appeared in local renditions of other Shakespearean plays like The Merchant of Venice and Filipino original plays such as Kahapon, Ngayon, at Bukas.[16] He also starred in an indie film titled "Three Boys" for Cinemanila. The film is about a band which is composed of himself, Marc Abaya, and Ping Medina. It was directed by Ming Kai Leung and produced by Marie Jamora.[17]

In 2021, Yuzon joined the cast of Almost Paradise, an American series shot in the Philippines.[18] In 2022, he joined the cast of I Can See You: AlterNate.[19] In 2021, Yuzon returned to the Tanghalang Ateneo where he starred in a modern-day adaptation of Oedipus Rex alongside Marian Rivera.[20][21] In 2024, he starred in their productions of Mga Multo and Medea.[22][23]

As theater practitioner and teacher

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In high school, Yuzon wrote Linya, a one-act play that became so popular that it was included in the curriculum of several schools.[13][16] He also taught theater direction at the Ateneo de Manila University.[13][4][5] From 1998 to 2005, he also directed several of their plays, including a pop-culture adaptation of Bertolt Brecht's The Threepenny Opera, and Santuario.[24] He then headed an acting workshop for GMA artists alongside director Maryo J. Delos Reyes and Chynna Ortaleza.[25][26] His students throughout his teaching career include Ina Foleo and Mikee Quintos.[4][27]

As writer and director

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Yuzon also wrote screenplays and poems, and was a director. Before joining Buendia's band, he was the associate editor for FWD Magazine.[28] He was also a writer for ABS-CBN's TV show Goin' Bulilit.[4] In 2014, he directed Aso't, Pusa, Daga in the anthology film Bang Bang Alley.[29] In 2016, he was a writer on the drama Someone to Watch Over Me.[30] A poem that he wrote, "Maliit na Bagay" (Small Things) was featured in a 2020 short film that was directed by Dantes and starred his wife Marian Rivera.[31]

Filmography

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TV Shows

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Film

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  • Bang Bang Alley – Director (2014)

Discography

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With Pupil

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Albums

With Archipelago

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Albums

Singles

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With The Mongols

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With Pupil

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  • Nasaan ka?
  • Dianetic
  • Nakakabaliw
  • Gamu-Gamo
  • Set Me Apart
  • Dulo ng Dila
  • Sala
  • Monobloc
  • Disconnection Notice
  • Teacher's Pet
  • Different Worlds
  • One Two[11]

With Archipelago

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  • MRI
  • May 1
  • Black Box

References

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  1. ^ Eusebio, Aaron Brennt (October 27, 2019). "Pinoy celebrities you had no idea were related". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  2. ^ a b c d Vizcarra, Gian Carlo (July 12, 2012). "Keeping up with the Yuzons". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  3. ^ Cruz, Marinel R. (2012-02-04). "Two of a kind". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lo, Ricky (January 12, 2006). "Romeo & Juliet with a new touch". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  5. ^ a b Llamas, Cora (January 7, 2006). "O Romeo, My Romeo, Why Art Thou Like That?". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Tiu, Cheryl (December 5, 2001). "Music's the thing–although fame will be good, too". Philippine Daily Inquirer. p. D2. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  7. ^ "PhilMusic News: Hey Hey, They're The Mongols". www.philmusic.com. Archived from the original on 2006-01-06. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  8. ^ a b Ubaldo, Aye (November 7, 2003). "A musical tour of Gen X history". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  9. ^ "The Manila Times Internet Edition | LIFE & TIMES > Rock n' roll survivor triumphant". www.manilatimes.net. Archived from the original on 2006-06-26. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  10. ^ "Pupil: A walk on the wild side". Philstar.com. November 3, 2007. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  11. ^ a b "REVIEW: Pupil: Masters of the Infinite Universe". sg.style.yahoo.com. 2011-04-01. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  12. ^ Manalad, Angelique P. (July 15, 2008). "No band is an island". The Manila Times. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d "Tag you're hit". Yahoo News. 2011-07-12. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  14. ^ "Gitaristas unite". The Manila Times. April 8, 2008. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Miralles, Nitz (June 2, 2020). "Mag-amang Dingdong at Zia, pinahanga ang netizens sa Stand By Me version". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  16. ^ a b Kawil I' 2002 Ed (in Tagalog). Rex Bookstore, Inc. p. 315. ISBN 978-971-23-3363-7.
  17. ^ Three Boys (2007) | MUBI. Retrieved 2025-07-29 – via mubi.com.
  18. ^ "Typhoon, 'El Diablo' threaten Alex and friends in "Almost Paradise"". ABS-CBN. April 14, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  19. ^ Ramos, Jansen (January 11, 2022). "Dingdong Dantes honors the supporting cast of 'I Can See You: AlterNate'". www.gmanetwork.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  20. ^ "2021's first original theater show is Tanghalang Ateneo's reimagined Oedipus Rex". Lifestyle.INQ. 2021-01-08. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  21. ^ Tuazon, Nikko (February 14, 2021). "Marian Rivera to do first stage play for Tanghalang Ateneo's adaptation of Oedipus Rex". PEP.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  22. ^ "Tanghalang Ateneo presents limited-run of Ibsen's Mga Multo". PEP.ph. July 2, 2024. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  23. ^ Hofileña, Emil (2024-11-27). "UNI-BASED REVIEW: Tanghalang Ateneo's 'Medea'". TheaterFansManila.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  24. ^ Cruz, Nikki B. Carsi (October 31, 2016). "Ateneo Theater since 1986". Perspectives in the Arts and Humanities Asia. 6 (2).
  25. ^ "AiAi Delas Alas proud of son Sancho Vito for being one of GMA's newly-signed artists". GMA News Online. 2015-04-30. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  26. ^ Sibonga, Glen (February 23, 2013). "Chynna Ortaleza finds fulfillment in her newfound role as acting workshop co-facilitator; says "Mas marami pa akong natutunan."". PEP.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  27. ^ Tuazon, Nikko (August 20, 2017). "Encantadia star Mikee Quintos shares realization about acting: "Oh my god, there's more to fame!"". PEP.ph. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  28. ^ Yap, Tim (September 19, 2001). "Planet of the Apes". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved July 29, 2025.
  29. ^ Pascua, Duane Lucas (April 10, 2014). "MOVIE REVIEW: Bang Bang Alley". SPOT.PH. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  30. ^ Donato, Jerry (August 22, 2016). "Tom confronts fear in latest GMA drama". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
  31. ^ Arcadio, Ryan (2020-05-11). "WATCH: Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera create short film to honor moms on Mother's Day". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2025-07-29.
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