The group that would become one of the Philippines’ most enduring and beloved pop-punk acts first came together as Comic Relief, a student band formed at Manila’s Ateneo High School by six classmates who bonded over a shared love of irreverent, playful performance. Originally built around performing parodies of well-known songs, the group rebranded to Parokya Ni Edgar—translating to Parish of Edgar—and earned a reputation as the country’s reigning court jesters, writing witty pop songs that often explored strange, unexpected subject matter that set them apart from their peers. In 1994, the band landed their first regular high-profile gig slot, performing at Club Dredd, Manila’s bustling hotbed for alternative music, where their oddball stage outfits and unapologetically goofy on-stage antics quickly turned them into local fan favorites.