DUBAI: Seven Pinoy bands recently brought the house down at a Karama Hotel in a much-awaited competition named, “Bandigmaan,” a catchy name for “battle of the bands” from band + digmaan (Filipino for battle), where three groups reigned supreme and the “supremost” (most supreme) to rock the 121st Philippine Independence Day (PID) festivities at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).
The Karama elimination was an incredibly intense battle among the participants who all featured raging passion for music as OPM representatives of the Philippines in a foreign land, said Ruby Espinosa of the PID organizing committee.
Holding bragging rights for winning Bandigmaan is Aswang de Makina, an oldsku heavy metal band doing the rounds in the local Pinoy rock scene since 2016 and popular for their original “Aswangan” and cover of Pinoy Rock Queen Sampaguita’s “Nosi Balasi.” The band will perform at the Independence Day celebrations’ Musika Para sa Kalayaan.
“We, Filipino Musicians here in UAE, have been supporting gig projects for a cause all throughout the year. I could easily say that “Entertainment for all” had always been and would still be our main contribution to the celebration of our freedom and independence, as we’ve always regarded music as a kind of therapy that can soothe souls and give relief to the weary,” Aswang de Makina’s lead guitarist Jon Cruz commented on their roles as musicians.
Two other bands made it to the top of Bandigmaan – Mandirigma, and Call of Nature.
Another remarkable quintet group called the Aphrodiets, showed an extraordinary girl power and swept the stage filled with male contenders with their take on Yano’s 90’s song “Banal na Aso” and their original composition “Gulo”.
The 121st Philippine Independence day which will take place at DWTC’s Zabeel Hall 5 on June 14, 2019, starting 10 am onwards.
