YEARS ACTIVE: 1997* – 2005 (*Barbie’s Cradle started in 1998)
GROUP ROSTER: BARBIE ALMALBIS, FRANKLIN BENITEZ, RICCI GURANGO (as HYP), ROMMEL DELA CRUZ (as Barbie’s Cradle)
90’S HITS: As HYP – FIREWOMAN, TORPE, & PERSONAL FLIRT; As CRADLE – TABING ILOG, GOODNYT, & THE DANCE
GROUP ROSTER: BARBIE ALMALBIS, FRANKLIN BENITEZ, RICCI GURANGO (as HYP), ROMMEL DELA CRUZ (as Barbie’s Cradle)
90’S HITS: As HYP – FIREWOMAN, TORPE, & PERSONAL FLIRT; As CRADLE – TABING ILOG, GOODNYT, & THE DANCE
Hungry Young Poets (aka HYP) was a band founded in the Philippines in
1997. They were originally formed as a duo by Barbie Almalbis (guitarist,
vocalist, and songwriter) and Ricci Gurango (bassist). After releasing their
first and only self-titled album, Franklin Benitez (drummer) officially completed
the lineup as a trio.
In 1998, Gurango left the band to lead the cover band Little Green Men,
before forming Mojofly. With Gurango's assertion of rights to the band's name,
Almalbis and Benitez would later rename the group to Barbie's Cradle.
Barbie's Cradle later became a popular band, with Barbie Almalbis as
lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, and Franklin Benitez as drummer.
Rommel dela Cruz then joined the group as bassist, and by 1999, drummer Wendell
Garcia joined replacing Benitez.
In 2005, the group disbanded and Almalbis went on to pursue a solo
career, while Rommel dela Cruz soon became the bassist of Freestyle (the
original bassist migrated to Australia).
