Kepada: 'K, Padayon!'

Earnest desire to have the works of alternative rock/post-hardcore/screamo/emo band "The Used" of Utah replicated here, with the tinge of Sugbuano sentimentality and musicality, paved way for the survival of Kepada.

"K, padayon gyud na. Gi-shorten to Kepada which means okay, go ahead. Padayon sa mga tumong og tinguha. Padayon sa pag-compose, padayon sa pagpabuhagay sa mga emotions through music," explains Kepada drummer Detto "D2" Geromo.

Aside from The Used, Kepada disclosed its admiration for the works of Silverstein whose central themes in their songs explore self-determination and coping with change. "We hope we can also mature in terms of the way we sound. Silverstein music man gud has powerful instrumentation plus ang delivery nila sa melody and raw vocal bug-at kaayo. We hope we can perform as close," expresses Jerome Dabon, 22, on vocals.

But there couldn't have been born a punk band like Kepada in Paculob, Dumanjug if it weren't for Iping Amores, main man of The Ambassadors (Ulipon, Daw Sama Sa Iro, Smile fame).

D2 revealed that it was Amores who kept on encouraging them to compose original songs. D2 said this dates back to the time his brother Michael Geromo was still with them. "Amigo na mi kaayo ana ni Iping. Instrumental gyud na si Iping ngano na-porma mi kay siya gyud sige aghat namo nga mag-compo," he recounted.

Kepada will soon turn a new leaf come January. Aside from Rodney Dabon, 19, on lead guitar (brother to vox Jerome), Kepada has two other members Joseph Andrew Rivera, 16, on bass and Patrick Jason Delima, 16, on rhythm guitar, both from Talisay City. But, it was only in September that Joseph and Patrick joined. This was after the senior members experienced the joining and quitting of some bandmates, or the reshuffling resulting from dabbling with other bands. Restless as they may be, finally they decided to settle the constant changing of members and took in Joseph and Patrick to "go ahead and work on what every band is supposed to accomplish."

Currently, Kepada has five songs contained in their CD sampler. Over at 93.1 Smash FM, "Sekreto" has already received airplays since the last week of October. Meanwhile, they are hopeful "Aninipot" (on the theme of love0 would make it through the airwaves soon. Sekreto is about a woman - vain about her looks, but ironically overlooked how much dirt is there stuck in her fingernails.

Much as they would want to jam with the rest of Bisdak bands in gigs/performances, they are bent on concentrating first on the recording of all their songs. And it is quite interesting to note that D2's workmates at Meckent (print and designs), at the Tabo sa Banay area, back of Gaisano Metro-Colon, are very supportive of this endeavor.

"Mag-chip in sila'g P20 para naa daw mi sinking fund for our recording pursuit. Ana sila ka- supportive namo," says D2, proud of his colleagues.

Shoutouts: Jesbe Belogolo, Meckent co-workers, Anthony Chua of BSU Clothing, our parents, all Bisrockers and emo punkistas of Dumanjug and Talisay, Corinth Echavez, Candice Therese, Turning Point, DJ Ram, Smash, Divino Amore Academy of Mohon, Talisay; Iping of The Ambassadors, former member Michael Geromo, and former vocalist Mandrick Clark.