Nescafe Soundskool Holds Regional Battle Of The Bands

CEBU, Philippines - College bands coming from Cebu's The University of the Visayas, Iloilo's Iloilo Doctor College and Tacloban's AMA Computer College bested twelve other bands from the Visayas, as they were chosen finalists to the NESCAFÉ 3in1 Soundskool Battle of the College Bands Grand Finals Night on November 14 at the Ninoy Aquino Sports Stadium in Metro Manila.

The inter-collegiate regional eliminations leg last Saturday at the Piazza Area of Parkmall in Mandaue City saw the competing bands playing one original composition and one cover song, and were judged accordingly by Sony Music Philippines bigwigs, Six Cycle Mind band members and Cebu's radio personalities.

University of the Visayas' 3 Hours and 10 band is made up of Joyous Harry Bendoy (vocalist), Joharni Bendoy (drummer), Jay Dunn Lagahit (bassist) and Hanson Gascon (guitarist).

Iloilo Doctor's College's Sundae Special is composed of Christian Sabacan (bassist), Chris Vincent Selis (drummer), Joel Lenaming (lead guitarist) and Mia Barbra Derilo (vocalist/rhythm) while the band members of AMA Computer College-Tacloban's Lady Suzette are Mary Daryl Gariando (vocalist), Earl Christian Napoles (guitarist), Feddy Orpeza (drummer), Philip Pagaduan (bassist) and Mario Adonis Cayanong II (guitarist).

These lucky college-based bands won P25,000 each and will experience the ultimate rockstar treatment with head-to-toe makeovers, pictorials, one-on-one mentoring sessions with some of the country’s top bands, intensive music workshops and performances alongside their band idols on the Grand Finals.

Now on its 5th year, NESCAFÉ 3in1 Soundskool (with this year's theme being Huwag Na Magtago! Magparamdam Ka Na!”), is once again trawling the country for the next generation of music stars. 

Last week, NESCAFÉ 3in1 Soundskool named Mindanao’s three regional finalists in the jam-packed Atrium of Limketkai Center in Cagayan de Oro City. Luzon’s finest college bands will battle each other out on October 17 at the SM Baguio Event Center, then bands from the Greater Manila Area will hold its eliminations on October 24 at the Activity Center of Market! Market! in Taguig City.

Thirteen lucky bands will then move on to the finals and get the opportunity to participate in the NESCAFÉ 3in1 Soundskool 2009 Workshops in Boracay where they can listen to advice and insights of some of the local music industry’s top artists and business executives about how to further improve songwriting skills, ability to connect with audience, business savvy, among others. The finalists will also get to interact with their idols during teambuilding sessions and most importantly, perform live with them in mini-concerts that will be held on the island. 

This is how Nescafe Soundskool sets itself apart from other music competitions: it not only makes participants experience fame, it also provides opportunities that help young artists build on their craft to become better overall performers.

The Grand Prize Winner will receive P250,000, P100,000 worth of band equipment for the school they represent, and an exclusive record contract with Sony Music Entertainment Philippines.  

The other bands who joined the Visayas eliminations were: STI-Tacloban's Green Peace, Eastern Visayas State University's Spoonplay, Cebu Institute of Technology's Black Mantra, AMA Computer College's Squared Box, Datamex Institute of Computer Technology-Tacloban's Bripny SKWR, Aklan State University's Final Warnings, Asian Development Foundation College-Tacloban's Frannie, Aklan State University-CIT's Aesthetics, Leyte Colleges' Melted Eyes, Silliman University's Burning Day Light, University of Negros Occidental Recoletos' Wazabee, and Carlos Hilado Memorial State College's Obis.

After the three Visayas finalists were announced, Nescafe Soundskool's 2008 Grandprize band winner, Letter Day Story, performed their album cuts but the most-anticipated guest performer of the evening, Six Cycle Mind, revved up the audience when they sang their hits such as "Trip", "Magsasaya", their latest single "Kasalanan" and "Umaasa", the track wherein they had a collaboration with Francis M. shortly before he passed away.