Launched by Sun Broadband and MCA Music in December last year, the competition sought to find the most talented amateur, unsigned college bands in the country. Finals night was judged by MCA Music’s Sammy Samaniego and Francis Guevarra, Sun Dagsin guitarist Carlos Velarde and bassist Josh Madrid
Broadband’s Neph Denosta and musician/Peso Movement guitarist Francis “Brew” Reyes.
Each member of these 10 bands underwent an intensive workshop sponsored by Sun Broadband. Sun Broadband held a workshop for the members of these 10 bands to hone their voice and skills in instruments. The mentors of the workshop were Ebe Dancel (formerly of Sugar Free), Francis Reyes (The Dawn), Nyoy Volante, Mally Paraguya, Eunice Jorge and Mike Dizon.
Composed of lead singer Carizza Panaligan, her twin brothers Andrei and Andrew on bass and drums, respectively, and Augusto Mendoza on guitars, the Christian band Iktus representing Christian International School said their name is actually a “Tagalized” spelling of “ichtus” which means fish. They settled for the name not just because fish is a symbol of Christianity but also because they thought Iktus was “tunog-Pinoy” and catchy enough for most people. Iktus won a guaranteed record deal from MCA Music in addition to the cool P150,000 in cash prize and P20,000 worth of musical instruments from JB Music. They also got some huge bragging rights with the title, “Top All-Original Band of 2013”.
The all-girl alternative band Bad Hair Day representing Far Eastern University won first runner-up and P50,000 while retro-inspired Baby Boomers, featuring members from Brokenshire College, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippine Women’s College-Davao and Holy Cross College, took home P25,000 for their second runner-up honors.
Rounding up the other finalists were Dagsin, Crowd 7, Jack n’ Poy, Low Grad Repeat, J Squad, Mariae and Soul Page. The Music Museum was packed with fans cheering for their respective favorites.
These bands proved catchy enough for the judges composed of MCA Music’s Sammy Samaniego and Francis Guevarra, Sun Broadband’s Neph Denosta and musician/Peso Movement guitarist Francis “Brew” Reyes, who thought they were better than nine other bands who made it to the finals out of 145 bands who had registered for the contest nationwide. The criteria for judging were originality, 20 percent; musicality, 30 percent; showmanship, 30 percent and online voting; 20 percent.
Ely Buendia, Chris Padilla and Nitoy Adriano of The Oktaves rock the house with other featured special guests Sabrina, Chicosci, and Tanya Markova who all raised the roof with inspired performances.
