Being and Becoming… Acel’s Farewell Concert and Album Launch!

I’ve always been a huge fan of female fronted OPM bands. So much so that when I decided to start a band, I knew it had to have a female vocalist; thus, the reason why Thrina came to fold to be the final piece of the missing puzzle. From Hungry Young Poets to Barbie’s Cradle, Mojofly to Kitchie Nadal and later on with Lougee Basabas, Session Road and Hannah Romawac, Aia de Leon and Imago, and lastly Acel Bisa and Moonstar 88. These were the bands/artists that we used to cover their songs when we did our round of gigs back in the day. I’ve seen some of them play live on stage, but I’ve never seen Acel live. Such a bummer if you live far away from Metro Manila. Acel is perhaps best remembered during her Moonstar 88 days, but her solo efforts were no slouch either. So when I found out that she’ll be having a “Farewell concert”, I knew this was something that I shouldn’t miss. So I booked a VIP ticket with some friends eager to finally be able to watch Acel live on stage. Of course since this was a twin event being an album launching too, I was also excited to hear her new album, curious how she would sound now. I haven’t been following Acel and other OPM artists as of late when I personally took a long hiatus with anything related to music, so being able to listen to something new from one of the artists that we look up to was something that I was looking forward to; especially knowing that Acel has been a Christian for quite some time. In fact if I am not mistaken, we once shared the same Christian Music record label distribution company in Praise Music. This was the time when Acel decided to embark on a solo career.

Acel Bisa Van Ommen in her element

The show formally started a little past 8:00 pm with Acel welcoming her audience with the last track from her latest album. "My Cure" is an easy listening track that segues into a catchy sing song chorus that sticks with you as she belts out the chorus lines. Unmistakably, this is Acel in her element. And this is just the first song. As Acel introduces her next song “Second Choice” (the carrier single of the album that made it to Spotify’s New Music Friday Playlist), you’ll immediately know that this is going to be one special evening. You could immediately feel the positive vibe and the inspirational nature of the song that seeks to empower us by recognizing our self worth. The tone of the evening is set but then as Acel breaks into her third song, the haunting lullaby “Shut it Down”, where her emotive delivery of the song doubles as a plea for everyone to tone down the use of social media, changed the pace of the evening. It turned to be one filled with roller coaster of emotions. Good thing that her next song “You” reassures us again of loving and giving value to ourselves. Both songs send a message how the age of social media tend to turn most of us into narcissists or having that feeling that we are loved less when we start comparing ourselves to others, which is actually a wrong notion; because if we recognize God’s love for us, then we’ll never look for another kind of love or affirmation to fill that emptiness inside. This would then lead to her next song “Great Reward” which actually speaks about God being our great reward. That being able to nurture this relationship with him is the only thing in this world that matters. By this point, I knew that the album is something that I would like to listen more often and draw inspiration from.

Acel with her kids performs a Laufey original

It was also heartwarming to see Acel being joined by her two sons as they performed a cover of Laufey’s song “From the Start”. Acel also took the opportunity to introduce her NGO Charitable institution RIGHT START which seeks to empower and give opportunities to underprivileged children. Joined by Denice Lao and a trio of her kid scholars from Right Start, they performed a song that speaks of the value of Children in our society. The ever lovely Clara Benin also makes a surprise appearance as she belts out two of her songs as Acel takes a breather and wardrobe change. As Acel returned on stage, she belts out a couple of commissioned songs and covers, with her refreshing take of Rico Blanco’s “Your Universe” being my favorite one of the medley of cover songs (hey I’m a huge Rico Blanco fan!). Then it was at this point that my favorite part of the concert came. When Acel began her testimony of how she encountered God and how God saved her and turned her life around. Her testimony would set the stage for her to finally sing her song for God. “Be Still” is that one track from her album that redirects all of the other songs’ messages to that one faithful God that she has been talking about in her other songs. If there were some vagueness about who she has been referring to with her other songs, this song would refocus all the attention to God. It’s a similar writing style that we do when we release our albums; writing songs that has some vagueness to it so that secular mainstream audience would not be overtly turned off by the religious messaging of the song (at least when released as singles) yet dropping one praise and worship song in the album to direct the listeners that all of the songs in the album are actually our faith stories and our way of honoring God by witnessing his faithfulness to us.

Queens of OPM Rock Acel and Lougee Basabas of Mojofly

Yet the night was still full of surprises as Acel introduced her guest performers EJ DE Perio, a Christian artist himself that I have his songs on my OPM Christian Music playlist, as well as Lougee Basabas of Mojofly. Lougee also shared her story about how she encountered God with Acel’s help, turning her life around as a Christian. She then proceeds to sing her new song with Acel, a Christian Contemporary Pop/Rock song that she offers to God. Lougee has been a very able and talented singer-songwriter that took the reins of Mojofly when Kitchie Nadal pursued a solo career, owning the band with her hit song “Mata”, perhaps the most popular song in Mojofly’s catalogue. And that’s saying much coming from someone who had totally busted his first two Mojofly cassette tape albums featuring Kitchie on vocals being heavily played on the cassette player. Of course, the evening wouldn’t be complete without Acel performing her greatest hits, “Sulat” and “Ang Pag-ibig kong ito” (a Leah Navarro original) from the second Moonstar 88 Album, “Torete” from the Moonstar 88 debut album, and her first solo hit song “Pitik Bulag.” She completes her originals by ending her set with the final song from her latest album, the song “Buhangin” which succinctly encapsulates her upcoming journey, like sand that is blown by the wind to new places worth discovering. In between those songs and some song finales for the evening, Acel breaks into praise and worship mode as she belts out covers of some of the most popular Christian songs now (You’re Love is Extravagant by Casting Crowns, Gratitude by Brandon Lake, Always on Time by Elevation Worship, Goodbye Yesterday by Elevation Rhythm and Gracie Binion), joined by her friends (Lei Bautista of Prettier than Pink to name one) and her family. She even quipped that it feels like everyone is in Church this evening.    

The finale breaks into an impromptu Praise and Worship evening

To be honest, to be able to witness this was a thing of beauty. For someone who’s been fighting and advocating for Christian Music to someday be heard more and being accepted more by mainstream audience outside the confines of Church, it just puts a smile to my face that I am not alone in this ministry after all. To see Acel being able to shift and turn the evening from being a secular concert celebrating her songs to turning it into an impromptu Praise and Worship night filled with her life’s testimony, and witnessing how God worked his love to find and saved her. It’s something that I can only dream of for our band and our songs. To know that someone has already done it, it gives me great comfort and joy that with this ministry that I have been fighting for since 2006, someone actually shares it too. And not just from some start up artist, but someone who has a name and already has a platform to speak from.

I went home inspired to continue with the mission. To write songs to help uplift wounded souls.

Thank You Acel for this evening. May God Bless you and your music. May it inspire multitude of lives to seek God and start a faithful relationship with him. I am at peace knowing that there are more of us working for the Lord and willing to be his witness and storytellers to share his great love for us in song form.

You can visit Right Start on their website for more details and how you can be a part of their ministry on this link:

Right Start - We provide creative caring spaces for the poorest children in the community

 

It's another Friday!

 

And we just woke up to another news. Our latest release "FREE" has just been added to ChristianDance.eu's New Music Friday Christian Contemporary (CCM) playlist! 

 

If last week was a surprise when we got playlisted on Spotify's Official Fresh Finds Philippines Playlist, this was even a bigger surprise considering ChristianDance.eu is a UK based Christian Music Playlist Curator. And placed at a higher spot at that, number 4! 

 

These past two weeks was kinda crazy for our song "FREE", but I think the song has done its purpose. Despite being a 15 year old song, it has broken through to today's audience via the Fresh Finds Philippines playlist and the International Christian Music audience through this playlist.

 

And if you don't have a Spotify account, there's always Youtube. As we just released last night the official music video of the song. The music video features never before seen archival footage and photos from our past gigs from some 15 years ago that we have kept in the vault until now!

 

Check out the link to the music video here: 

 

 

Thank You God for this blessing! It just inspires us to continue with our mission to write songs to help uplift wounded souls with our brand of music!

 

Our latest single "FREE" charts at number 7 on Spotify's Official Fresh Finds Philippines Playlist!

 

 

This was unexpected!

 

But we are honored and ecstatic to have our latest single "FREE" to be featured on Spotify's Official Fresh Finds Philippines playlist. Charting at the number 7 spot. This is our first time to have been featured on this editorial playlist and we are thrilled to have this one last song that we recorded from way back in 2009 reach a new generation of audience. I honestly kind of resigned to myself that since this song was recorded about 15 year ago, this song must have been outdated for today's audience's taste. We haven't landed in any Spotify Editorial Playlists since that Alternative Rock Christmas song that we released last 2022. So my hopes weren't as high. So this came as a complete surprise. But first of all, I take no credit for this song. I wasn't involved in the writing and composition of this song. This was all John Erickson Gloria and Adonis Berongoy, as well as Doris Bangot's and Thrina Dimaano's efforts from 2009 to come up with a song that would be included in our second album. "FREE" was written by John Erickson Gloria (Guitars) and Adonis Berongoy (Drums) with additional inputs by Doris Bangot (Bass), and arranged by the band. This was their contribution for our second album from way back but unfortunately didn't make the final cut (there were too many songs to choose from). Fortunately however, I was able to preserve a pristine copy of the song. And decided to release this song as a tribute to that final iteration of the band. And by the looks of it, we've done the unthinkable. A 15 year old song making its mark 15 years later!

This also proves to be a testament of Adonis' songwriting prowess as this is also the second time that a song written by him was featured on an Official Spotify Editorial playlist. The other one was the carrier single of our second album, the song "BELOVED SAVIOR", which made it to Spotify's New Music Friday Philippines playlist two years ago. Of course, "FREE" wouldn't be a classic Thoughts And Notions song without the familiar voice of Thrina Dimaano. So from the three of our Editorial Playlist feature, This iteration of the band was responsible to two of those placements. I always considered this iteration of the band as our peak form from way back. And these accomplishments in the digital age of music proves to show their talents are here to stay. Cementing our place in Cagayan de Oro's local music scene.

When the second album was released, I did not exercise a monopoly in the songwriting department as I allowed the band to explore and showcase what they are capable of in terms of songwriting. So "FREE" is one of those products. My only contribution to this release is the artwork of the song (photo taken by me at Kryal Castle in Melbourne, Australia with limited graphic design work helped by FOTOR). And of course, the marketing of the song as well as whatever marketing collateral that I have self-made with my limited skills lol (Don't worry, you'll see one more post-release video that I made). Like this poster that I made as seen above. It somehow played a huge part in making people take notice of the forthcoming release. This is actually the first time that I tried doing something like this. I exerted extra effort in promoting this song compared to the previous releases. Perhaps this song meant so much more to me than the recent works that I did. Even if I didn't write the song. But it's just like the way it was back then when I managed the band. They focused on the music, their performance on stage, songwriting, and other music related stuff while I explore opportunities for them to be able to maximize what they are capable of doing with their music. This was truly a cathartic experience for me. Perhaps a full circle moment. This also proved to show that the band that we have was oozing with potential. We just never made it to the finish line. But along the way, we did make some various stops (i.e.the 2009 NU 107  Rock Awards College Band of the Year nomination, Spotify New Music Friday for our second album's carrier single Beloved Savior, and some other various local recognition from the past). We did it our way despite the limited resources that we have, and we wouldn't have had the strength to go on without the support of our friends and families.

 

So Thank Yous are in order.

 

Thank You to our families, friends, and those who supported us from yesteryears. I really don't know if you guys have found us again in this Digital age of music. But we are still here trudging on. We are fighting with you to keep our music alive!

 

Thank You also to Ralf Gonzales who had been very patient in assisting us in our digital music journey thus far. We wouldn't have made it this far without his guiding presence.

 

Most of all, Thank You God for continuing to lead the way. You very much know that deep within our hearts, we are in this Thoughts And Notions project only to honor you. We never aspired for more but to offer ourselves at your service for the Christian music industry.

 

Let me also take this opportunity to thank the band who was our engine during our twilight years. To Adonis, Erickson, Doris, and of course Thrina. I couldn't be prouder of you guys. This is an accomplishment and a milestone that marks what you are capable of achieving together. Will a live reunion ever be on the offing? I'd jump at the chance to make it happen.

 

This definitely is not the end. One half of the band are still going strong with Erickson and Adonis still teaming up with their other bands. Especially for their upcoming Red Horse Music Laban stint representing Cagayan de Oro. You'll also definitely hear more from Thoughts And Notions. So keep posted for what's next. As for Doris, we're waiting for her big comeback when time permits. She's going to be a force to be reckoned with. 

 

This last hurrah from a bygone era, what a way to close this one out. This milestone marks the final achievement of this iteration of the band. For Thrina, Adonis, Erickson, and Doris. What a way to make a final bow from that era! Definitely more power and more music from you guys. I'll always be here to make sure that your songs would be heard for generations to come.

 

Thank You Jesus for this blessing and opening doors for our music!

 

 

P.S. 

 

We’re just starting our efforts to promote "FREE" to where we can take it to. Watch out for the music video that I'll be releasing maybe next week. And more stories to come!