On Monday, November 6, 2023, it was announced that Bamboo Mañalac, Rico Blanco, Mark Escueta, and Nathan Azarcon would reunite for a concert next year at SMDC Festival Grounds.
Fans had already requested the reunion since the 2000s, and many of them lost hope about the possibility of seeing the original Rivermaya members perform again on the same stage.
Most of them were caught by surprise after it was announced that the reunion concert was already going to happen.
However, several avid fans of Rivermaya noticed that Perfecto “Perf” de Castro, the band’s guitarist in their classic lineup.
“Perfecto de Castro, the songs of the first album needs the guitar master,” a Rivermaya fan said.
Perf, one of the original members of the Rivermaya, reacted after he was disregarded on the promotional materials for the upcoming reunion concert of the group.
“Wala sa picture, e di wala,” Perf wrote.
Netizens expressed their sadness over the reaction shared by Perf.
“Di pa rin reunion kapag walang Perfecto na mag gi guitar solo,” netizen Johnren said.
“Pero naniniwala akong may Perfecto De Castro jan,hindi pwedeng wala siya.. Feb. pa ang reunion kaya maisasaayos pa ang lahat,reunion lang din eh dapat lang na orig. members ang makikita sa stage,” netizen Kiz remarked.
Perf was still part of the band when they produced Rivermaya’s popular songs like ‘Ulan,’ ‘214,’ and ‘Awit ng Kabataan.’