Aegis will rock the Big Dome

MANILA, Philippines -  Without a doubt, Aegis is one of the country’s most popular and enduring OPM bands today.

Founded in 1998, the band has remained solid and intact to this day. The original members are Juliet Sunot and Mercy Sunot-Borjal from Cagayan de Oro City (lead vocalists), Stella Marie Pabico from Misamis Oriental (keyboardist), Vilma Galoviogo (drummer) from Manila and bass guitarist Rowena Adriano from Pampanga. The lone male member of the band, Rey Abenoja, is the lead guitarist who hails from Southern Leyte.

In 2011, Ken Sunot, Juliet and Mercy’s youngest sister, joined Aegis. Her inclusion to the band not only broadened the group’s extensive repertoire but also drew young listeners in.

While her sisters are known for their husky and powerful voices, Ken has an R&B vibe to her voice. In fact, Ken sings most of the R&B songs of Aegis.

It was the late Celso Abenoja, the brother of Aegis guitarist Rey, who wrote all the songs in the band’s first album. Celso actually wrote the songs in the ’80s but they never became hits until Aegis came along.

Aegis, who was then already performing in Japan, came home in the ‘90s and revived Celso’s compositions, giving the songs a fresh take and soulful rendition.

Celso wrote some of the lyrical and poetic Tagalog songs in the ’80s, including Halik, Luha, Basang Basa sa Ulan and Mahal na Mahal Kita. Aegis elevated the songs to iconic status when the hits became massively popular in the ’90s until now

It was Celso who suggested that the band be named Aegis. He wrote all the songs the band recorded in its two albums. For the band’s third album, he wrote 10 out of 13 songs.

Back To Love, the band’s 10th album, contains some of the most requested cover songs. Aegis is currently working on its 11th all-original album.

Albums like Mahal na Mahal Kita, Ating Balikan and the unsurpassed Halik merited the band a double platinum and quadruple record award.    

Aegis became a familiar sight in the halls of ABS-CBN, GMA and TV5 via TV guestings. The band members also crooned some of the best theme songs from popular teleseryes. Today, the band continues to perform for its Filipino fans abroad. You name the country and Aegis has been there. 

Its biggest achievement, however, is yet to come as Aegis is slated to hold its first major concert at the Araneta Smart Coliseum in December, a much-awaited project conceptualized by Boss Vic del Rosario of Viva Group of Companies.

“Matagal namin itong pinangarap. The closest we can come to is puro guesting or front act. Hindi na namin inakalang magkakaroon ito ng katuparan. All of us are excited lalo na’t kung matutuloy ang negotiations na maging special guest namin ang singing child sensation na si Lyca,” Ken disclosed.