Who can tell that this group of professionals from various walks of life in Singapore can play like a pro band? The key answer is because of passion … Never mind the busy and bustling days with so much pressure in their own respective jobs, once they have completed their tasks, they have only one place to go, the ‘idol dream academy ni kuya’ where-in they gathered together and shared the meals prepared by kuya before they squeezed in kuya’s music studio to practice the songs line-up required by those who invited them for a gig.
It is not easy to start a big group like the Maharlika Band, nurturing them to become the best band with the best attitude is a big challenge … but because everybody have one direction of ‘sharing feel good music’ to alleviate boredom, homesickness, work irritation and pressures, you’ll be amazed when Maharlika Band started to play. You will not content just to hear them play, but you will find yourself dancing and jamming with their tunes.
Who are they by the way? Why they called themselves The Maharlika Band?
The musicians are basically consists of Engineers working in Semicon industries headed by Noi (keyboard), Jhun (Rhythm Guitar), Raymond (Lead Guitar), Rhey (Bass Guitar) and Amber (Drums). I was invited on their Christmas Party, It was the time Samantha Brown wasn’t yet the 1st Philippine Idol (Mau Marcelo in real name) and this was my first time introducing Samantha Brown in the Filipino community in Singapore through the 1st full-length album that I had composed, produced and promoted entirely for the Filipino community. Year 2004 was the year when FAS (Filipino Association of Singapore) started to have their own singing contest. I was one of the finalists then, I decided to back-out and renewed this usual amateur singing contest to a greater heights through conceptualization into a ‘variety like’ shows that can be seen only in TV.
That was Maharlika Band started, I need a live band to perform the production numbers of the finalists. I consulted our OWWA welfare officer then, Ms Erlinda Arabejo for the band name, she told me that the name should be implied a pinoy touch with a class, so I thought MAHARLIKA would fit-in the name and so The Maharlika Band was born.
Maharlika doesn’t usually have vocalists, search for Filipino Star finalists usually became the vocalists of the band, but eventually, those who have the perseverance and those who are enthusiastically willing to learn and hone their performances stayed as the main vocalists of the band.
Invitations from different Filipino communities started afterwards. The Maharlika Band performed in NATAS show in Suntec year 2005 and series of performances in the yearly Philippine Independence Day Celebration in Singapore.
My composition ‘One Dream, One Hope, One Nation’ was the theme song during the visit of our President Gloria Macapagal Aroyo June 24, 2007 and it was performed by the Maharlika Band in front of a thousand audience from different Filipino groups. The performance was given a high commendation by the President herself and it gave a boost to the band in giving their best in every shows we’ve been invited for.
The Maharlika Band continued to penetrate different music scenes in Singapore. Recently performed in the Arena, Clarke under RONJOHN entertainment with a full packed crowd during the OPM nights and the night when the 1st Philippine Idol Mau Marcelo invited as one of the judges in the PinoySunday Amazing Star finals.
Because of the band’s popularity to the masses, invitations poured like rain. The band just recently performed in a very private birthday party of Mr. Jojo Abuan held at the Arts House Parliament with prominent guests from Singapore’s high society such as Ken Lim of Singapore Idol and Ms. Jennie Chua, the President & CEO of the ASCOTT group.
The Maharlika Band performance during this birthday party led into another invitation, the wedding day of Daniel Chua (Ms. Jennie Chua’s son) and Nicole Poh held in the Raffles Stamford ballroom with 500 guests including the 8 Prime Ministers of Singapore.
The band received another high accolades from the guests and from the happy couple. This is the most remarkable gig The Maharlika Band ever performed.
With this achievement of the band, I can proudly say that I’m the happiest kuya, all the hardships paid-off, conceptualizing an album for the Maharlika Band will be my next project. This will include some of my compositions and other original composition of the band members.
The success of the band is not just rely on how good or excellent the members doing their part, but it is due to the family treatment we are giving to each other, helping each other, understanding each other’s weaknesses. When we start to gather, we will start to play then we will start to create the harmony of friendships … that’s The Maharlika Band is all about …
Drums - Jel
Keyboard - Warren, Noi
Guitar (Rhythm) - Jhun
Guitar (Lead) - Amor
Guitar (bass) - Rhey
Vocals - Mhia, Joyce, Weng, Patrick, Asher
For enquiries & bookings, you can contact at :
mart.ilagan@gmail.com
Hp Nos: +65-94891275
Our webpage:
http://www.friendster.com/maharlikaband
http://maharlikaband.multiply.com
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