Introducing Acapellago

Welcome a new bright spot in the field of music performers in the Philippines. This is the young extremely talented group Acapellago. As its name clearly says, these five guys only sing a cappella. That means they produce music without any musical accompaniment. All that they use are their voices. That is not easy. But what voices they have! Acapellago is only a few years old but already the buzz they are getting for its contemporary a cappella singing, shows the making of a world-class Filipino act.

Acapellago first got noticed when it joined and emerged as Grand Champion of the Talentadong Maloleno contest in 2012. The group members followed this up by joining and also emerging as Grand Champion of Ryan Cayabyab’s first Akapela Open singing competition. They returned to compete once more this year and won again as Grand Champion. Then only a few weeks ago, Acapellago was named the Gold Award Grand Champion all over Asia at the A Cappella Championship 2015 held at the ITE College Central in Singapore. The trophy was preceded by a standing ovation from the audience for its performance.

And while I am sure the members can do heavenly classical and religious music, please take note that Acapellago is a contemporary group. That means they sing pop songs and these can be anything. Just think, they do stuff like Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk! and Christina Aguilera’s Break Free or Rey Valera’s Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko and Thyro & Yumi’s Philpop winning piece Triangulo. To better know how they do their music, check out this intro about the members. Then check out their website to keep tabs of their new videos and their live gigs.

Acapellago is made up of Michelle Corpoz Pascual, the 20-year-old soprano known as Mich. She studied at the Ilocos Norte National High School Special Program for the Arts, the only art school in the North. She is now a Voice Major at the University of the Philippines College of Music. She was formerly a member of the Samiweng Singers, Laoag City Child’s Choir and the Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir with which she won various competitions here and abroad. She is now training with the world famous Philippine Madrigal Singers.

 Almond Pondevida Bolante is the 22-year-old counter tenor. He comes from Quezon City and has been singing and acting in public since he was only six years old. He was a member of the Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School Glee Club and the Our Lady of Fatima University Chorale and has won several international awards. He once sang the Star Spangled Banner for a major league baseball game between the Mobile Baybears and the Birmingham Barons while he was in the US for the International Practicum for his Hotel and Restaurant Management degree. He appeared as Javert in the Mia Sinaguinan adaptation of Les Miserables and was Pinuno in Layeta Bucoy’s May Isang Alamat Musikal in 2014.

Joshua Fernandez Cadelinia, 18, is Acapellago’s tenor. He is studying at the UP College of Music as a Voice Major and is a member of the award-winning Novo Concertante church choir. He was a commercial model for brands like Colgate and Lucky Me! Pancit Canton. He was a winner in TV talent shows like That’s My Boy Grand Champion and Little Big Superstar, first runner-up. He starred as Bong in the fantasy TV series Kokey and was featured in the comedy picture Pasukob as Balthazar Jr.

Ronnel Allen Roman Laderas, 23, is Acapellago’s bass singer. Known as Happy Lemon, Ron is a Choral Conducting Major at the UP College of Music. He honed his music skills as music director at the United Methodist Church in Obando, Bulacan and at the Bulacan State University Saring Himig Chorale. He is the founder and resident arranger of Acapellago.

Ron’s younger brother, Ricky Gavin Roman Laderas, 22 is the group’s beatbox. Nicknamed Bogart, he also started out his music career with the Bulacan State U Saring Himig Chorale and the United Methodist Church of Malolos Choir. He is also an aspiring actor and director and is now a senior student taking up Theater Arts at the Bulacan State University. Among his directorial credits are Sa Pula Sa Puti and Heart Attack.