One of the participating teams at the concert.

By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Asiano, a group of young Filipino musicians, won the battle of the bands for a cause at the Philippine International School (PIS) late in the evening yesterday.

Asiano defeated Hello Moira band which took the first runner-up position and  Come What May which finished as the second runner-up.

The winning band members included JP De Leon, Jonathan Keith Gutierrez, Robinson Curan, Jason Gatpandan, Jasper Radin and Jhomark Enriquez, who are all local Filipino expatriate workers. Most band members from the three groups were former students of PIS who went back to the Philippines, finished their college studies and had returned  after a few years to Doha to take up jobs.

Dubbed as “Bring Your Own Band Battle the Bands,” the proceeds of the event will be given to ABS-CBN Bantay Bata 163, a foundation in the Philippines, and to distressed overseas Filipino workers staying at the Philippine Overseas Labour Office (POLO) here. As winners, Asiano will join two popular Filipino bands – Pupil and General Luna (all-girl rock band) in a concert dubbed as “Valentine’s Sweet Rock 2013” at the Al Ahli Stadium on February 8.

De Leon, Asiano’s lead vocalist said they did not expect to win but were happy to have entertained the crowd, and now had a chance to be with their idols in a much-awaited concert. “Eli (Buendia) is a legend and we are happy to be part of the concert,” he said. Eli Buendia is a former member and lead vocalist of Eraserheads, also one of the most popular bands in the Philippines.

He will be joining Pupil and General Luna during the concert. Jen Pacleb, managing director and one of the organisers said it was the first time that they have hosted a battle of the bands for a cause in Qatar. “Originally, 10 bands registered but only three have qualified,” she said.

Assistant Labour attache at the POLO Violeta Illescas graced the event and said she was “privileged and honoured to be with her kababayans.”

“Let us start the new year with a big bang and we have started it with a battle of the bands. May we continue to have more bands here in Qatar,” she said.

Illescas also urged various groups to organise more competitions to enhance the talents of Filipino musicians. She also revealed that a lot of Filipinos in Saudi Arabia and Dubai had also won various singing competitions and are being sent to other countries to compete in the international arena.

 

Below: Members of a band performing.