by David Pamintuan Serrano Φ2017
On May 12, 2017, the MSS held Fate 2017: Tambay. A battle of the bands commemorating the ever present tradition of the Filipino youth of just hanging out and chilling, enjoying each other’s company. The brothers of the Phi Kappa Mu Fraternity and sisters of the Phi Lambda Delta Sorority, with nothing more than their camaraderie for each other and their passion for music, joined under three bands: Phi Band, Phighttroopers, and Uprise.
The members of Phi band were Francis Louie Malabanan Alcachupas Φ2012 and Maria Patricia Malabag Valdez Φ2015 on vocals, Van Euldem Diaz Battad Φ2013 on lead guitar, Jose Antonio Esteban Habana Φ2014 on rhythm guitar, John Carlo Bernal Reyes Φ2011 on bass, and Ryuichi Peralta Nakamura Φ2013 on drums. The member of Uprise were Jose Manuel Silva Santiago Φ2015 and Maria Katrina Magpantay Mata Φ2016 on vocals, Arthur Gregory Virata Φ2015 on lead guitar, Louise Seiko Villanueva Hashimoto Φ2016 on rhythm guitar, Niel Benjamin Dela Torre Kho Φ2015 on bass, and Luis Ysmael Gudez Santos Φ2015 on drums. The member of Uprise were Manuel Angelo Terania Griño Φ2017 and Liana Mae Jajurie Lobo Φ2015 on vocals, David Pamintuan Serrano Φ2017 on guitar, Niel Benjamin Dela Torre Kho Φ2015 on bass, and Manuel Sabalo Vidal Jr. Φ2014 on drums. All three bands joined with the goal of jamming it out and showcasing their talents for Phi.
Each band practiced regularly and tirelessly the months prior to Fate. The Phi band worked on showing off their technical skills with Urbandub’s Frailty and First of Summer. These were two songs with no small parts. From the bass to the vocals, every riff and drum pattern was unique but when put together blended amazingly to create an amazing melody that anyone can rock to. Phi Band captured this melody perfectly through their determination and skill. The Phighttroopers on the other hand, had a different take on Sarah Geronimo’s pop hits into easy listening tunes that you’d expect to hear in an afternoon jam session with close friends perfectly capturing Fate’s theme for the year, Tambay. Uprise chose to transform UDD’s techno/indie style into the more traditional band set up. No launchpads, synths, or guitar effects just plain old instruments that can be found lying around in the house.
Each band brought something unique to the songs of their chosen artist and this showed during the performance. This was immediately noticeable during the intro of Frailty by the Phi Band that night. The usual chatter that filled the Science Hall during the previous bands dropped to awe-filled silence as the Phi Band displayed each of their technical prowess in their chosen instruments. Their performance set them miles apart from the other bands that night, surpassing the performances of the bands before them and setting the bar so high for the next bands. The Phighttroopers, with their easy listening style, serenaded the audience that night. Their performance was reminiscent of haranas sang to romantic interests. Uprise did justice to UDD that night, giving a performance that the main band would be proud of.
It came as no surprise that night that Phi Band won first place and Phighttroopers took second runner-up. Ichi, whom as the drummer was at the back of the stage, put himself front and center with his captivating performance on the drums and earning him the title of Best Drummer. JC, with his bass, gave a startling depth to the songs of Phi Band while also contributing to its melody. No one else came close to matching his performance which made him the surefire winner of the Best Bassist award. AG also set himself apart with his guitar riffs, licks, and solos that not only showed his mastery of that skill but also made their performance better than the original. For this, he was awarded as the Best Guitarist.
That night all the performers in Phi showed their passion for music. That night these three bands from Phi proved that excellence was not only limited to academics or to the field of medicine but it extended to every aspect of a brother and sister’s life.
Photo courtesy of the UPCM Collective
