FLORANTE

Florante de Leon, known mononymously as Florante, was a Filipino singer-songwriter born in the Philippines. He emerged during the 1970s radio boom in Manila, becoming a pioneer and leading exponent of Pinoy folk rock. His breakthrough came with hits like "Handog" and other notable songs such as "Ako'y Isang Pinoy," "Abakada," "Digmaan," and "Pinay."  These tracks are part of the Manila sound genre. Florante's influence extended to other singer-songwriters, including Joey Ayala, Freddie Aguilar, and Heber Bartolome. In 2006, his song "Handog" was revived in a hard rock version by Join the Club for the Hopia Mani Popcorn album.