John Paul "Japs" Ricafranca Sergio (born August 20, 1979) is a former

bassist A bassist (also known as a bass player or bass guitarist) is a musician who plays a Bass (instrument), bass instrument such as a double bass (upright bass, contrabass, wood bass), bass guitar (electric bass, acoustic bass), synthbass, keyboar ...

vocalist Singing is the act of creating musical sounds with the voice. A person who sings is called a singer, artist or vocalist (in jazz and/or popular music). Singers perform music (arias, recitatives, songs, etc.) that can be sung with or without ...

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

of the Filipino band

Rivermaya Rivermaya is a Filipino alternative rock band. Formed in 1994, it is one of the several bands who spearheaded the 1990s Philippine alternative rock explosion. Rivermaya is currently composed of original members Mark Escueta and Nathan Azarcon ...

and the current guitarist/vocalist/frontman for the band Peso Movement.

Career

Sergio joined the band in April 2001 as a session member when he took over the role of Nathan Azarcon, who left the band in February 2001. When Kakoy Legaspi and

Mike Elgar Michael Maximino C. Elgar (born May 8, 1976) is a Filipino musician currently performing as a guitarist and one of the lead vocalists for the band Rivermaya. He has been the band's longest serving guitarist, ever since he joined in May 2001. Mus ...

joined in May 2001, Sergio was officially absorbed and the band began recording for "Tuloy ang Ligaya". Their first performance under their new lineup was at NU Pocket Concerts in Alabang Town Center on June 2, 2001. Known to many as Japs, Japsuki, and JP, is actually a drummer. Furthermore, he is also one of the founders of the band Daydream Cycle and is the guitarist and co-songwriter of the said band. He went on hiatus some time in 2011 in

as he was focusing with Daydream Cycle. On December 19, 2011, Sergio released his project solo album titled "Monologue Whispers" under the mononym Japsuki. On November 2012, Sergio posted on his official Facebook page that he is no longer with Rivermaya. Currently, he is the frontman of the band Peso Movement along

Francis Reyes Francis Florentino Saludo Reyes (born June 20, 1967 in Lipa City, Batangas) is a Filipino musician. He is best known for being the guitarist for the Filipino rock band the Dawn. He was the chief radio announcer and musical director for the roc ...

, Macky Macaventa and Kurt Floreska. Sergio labels the group's genre as "dirty rock". On 2013, the band released their first song "Aling Pag-ibig Pa" as a part of the compilation album "Rock Supremo". a 150th birth anniversary that aims to honor the life and legacy of

Andres Bonifacio Andres or Andrés may refer to: *Andres, Illinois, an unincorporated community in Will County, Illinois, US *Andres, Pas-de-Calais, a commune in Pas-de-Calais, France *Andres (name) *Hurricane Andres * "Andres" (song), a 1994 song by L7 See also ...

. In 2014, the band released their debut album The Gentle Sound of Chaos” with its carrier single "Bawal Simangot". The album was well received by critics. In 2015, the band released their 2nd single "Dadami Pera". In 2015, he released his 2nd album "Pinoy Pop" under the mononym Japsuki. In 2016, Sergio temporarily returned to Rivermaya taking over Norby David after he left the band the same year. He toured on some live shows until original bassist

Nathan Azarcon Nathan Peter Hachero Azarcon (born January 29, 1975) is a Filipino musician, nationalist, songwriter, and producer. He is currently the bassist, vocalist and one of the founding members of Filipino rock band Rivermaya. He was also a member of the ...

permanently filled in the position. He co-produced two tracks on Rivermaya's 13th studio album ''

Sa Kabila ng Lahat ''Sa Kabila ng Lahat'' ''()'' is a 1991 Philippine film, Philippine political drama film directed by Lino Brocka. It stars Dina Bonnevie and Tonton Gutierrez. This is the last film made by Brocka before he was killed in a car accident. Plot A fa ...

'', which was released on September 15, 2017. On the same year, he released his third solo album "Stereo Mood Swings".

Personal life

His older brother Andrew Ryan Steve "Dok" Sergio (born February 27, 1976), is the bassist of his other band, Daydream Cycle and

Pupil The pupil is a black hole located in the center of the iris of the eye that allows light to strike the retina.Cassin, B. and Solomon, S. (1990) ''Dictionary of Eye Terminology''. Gainesville, Florida: Triad Publishing Company. It appears black ...

. Sergio attended Manresa School in BF Homes

Parañaque Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque ( fil, Lungsod ng Parañaque, ), is a first class Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to t ...

from preparatory school until high school. Sergio graduated from De La Salle University–College of Saint Benilde in 2000 with a degree in AB Human Resources Management.

Discography

With Rivermaya

*'' Tuloy ang Ligaya'' (2001) *''

Between the Stars and Waves ''Between the Stars and Waves'' is the 7th studio album of the Filipino rock band Rivermaya. It has been released on 2003 under Viva Records. It has 15 tracks. A Special Edition of the album were released in December 2004 including bonus tracks ...

'' (2003) * ''

You'll Be Safe Here ''You'll Be Safe Here'' is an EP by OPM rock band Rivermaya that features the eponymous song first used as the theme song of the 2004 ABS-CBN TV horror-drama series ''Spirits''. The CD of the EP includes two music videos for "You'll Be Safe He ...

'' (EP) (2005) *''

Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo ''Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo'' (Filipino: "One Vein, One Blood") is the eighth studio album by Filipino rock band Rivermaya, released on October 10, 2006, through Viva Records. Except for original track "Isang Bandila (One Flag)", it is a covers alb ...

'' (2006) *''

Bagong Liwanag ''Bagong Liwanag'' ( Tagalog for "New Light") is an EP and the 11th overall album of the Filipino pop rock band, Rivermaya. It has 5 main tracks, 5 instrumental tracks and 2 audio messages which also included demos of songs from their upcoming al ...

'' (EP) (2007) *''

Buhay The buhay ( uk, бугай) (also known as a bugai, buhai, berebenytsia, bika, buga, bochka) is a musical instrument that is used in Ukraine and is classified as a friction drum. ''Buhay'' is the Ukrainian word for great bittern (Botaurus ste ...

'' (2008) *''

Closest Thing to Heaven "Closest Thing to Heaven" is a song by the British band Tears for Fears. In the UK, it was released as the first single from their sixth studio album, ''Everybody Loves a Happy Ending'' (2004) and was the first single to feature both original me ...

'' (2009) *''

'' (2017) — as Producer

With Daydream Cycle

*''Daydream Cycle'' (2001) *''You're Still Young At Heart'' (2003) *''Underwater Kite'' (2005)

With Peso Movement

*''The Gentle Sound of Chaos'' (2014)

As Japsuki

*''Monologue Whispers'' (2011) *''Pinoy Pop'' (2015) *''Stereo Mood Swings'' (2017)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sergio, Japs 1979 births Living people De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde alumni 21st-century Filipino male singers People from Parañaque Musicians from Metro Manila Rivermaya members