Hey there. Just got home from the 2007 NU 107 Rock Awards, and am about to jot down the results and some reactions. Hang on, though, because I have to change shirts—this was one of the hottest Rock Awards in recent memory, and I’m not talking about hype: I’m talking ventilation, temperature, perspiration, man. When we finally emerged from Pasay City’s World Trade Center at show’s end around midnight, we were sweating like sinners recently escaped from an inferno. We were immediately greeted by the icy air-conditioning in the lobby and the cool December night breeze outside, and we had to laugh. What the hell.

So anyway! 2007 marked the 20th year of the radio station’s existence, and the 14th installment of the awards show. We missed the pre-show, which featured a performance by Marcus Highway, but we got there just in time for the show proper, and to have our senses assaulted by a sex-themed intro video starring Asia Agcaoili, Ramon Bautista, and various cylindrical fruits and vegetables. Our main hosts for the evening were Asia, who, true to form, seemed to be wearing less and less clothing as the evening progressed (although who can blame her, considering how sweltery it got in the hall), and Zach Lucero, who looked rather dapper in a red sweatshirt that in the wrong context would have gotten him confused with a doomed Star Trek extra.

Chicosci was the night’s first performer, and they started things with a bang, delivering their hit “Chicosci Vampire Social Club.” Over the past couple of years, I’ve really come to admire the way that the Chicosci guys throw themselves into their performances, often risking bodily injury or at least severe loss of dignity in the process, not to mention property damage. (I witnessed guitarist Mong accidentally destroy a new guitar once, when he was spinning it wildly during a gig.)

After Chicosci, it was time for the first award of the night:

BEST NEW ARTIST

1. Hilera
2. Sino Sikat?
3. Giniling Festival
4. Hardboiledeggz
5. Salamin
6. Wake Up Your Seatmate

WINNER: HILERA

And the crowd cheered its approval. While the finalists were being announced, it was clear that Hilera was an audience favorite. The punk-influenced trio bounded onstage; vocalist Chris Padilla looks taller every time I see him, and his brother, drummer Bobby, seems to have shed some of his boyish aura. Ah, they grow up so fast these days.

Ria of Paramita and Armi of Up dharma Down introduced the next performer: none other than Imago! Aia was energetic as ever, and Myrene was rockin’ a pair of sleek leather pants, as the band performed “Walang Mysteryo.” “We love you Aia!” the crowd screamed from behind me. “We love you Myrene!!” But what about the boys?, I wondered. I restrained myself from bellowing “I love you Tim” or “I love you Zach” though. I was very close to the stage and I didn’t want to scare them.

Ron T., Aliya Parcs, and Andrea del Rosario presented the rhythm section awards:

DRUMMER OF THE YEAR

1. Vic Mercado of Bamboo
2. Melvin Macatiag of Typecast
3. Joel Salvador of Chicosci
4. Mark Escueta of Rivermaya
5. Chris Cantada of Spongecola

WINNERS: VIC MERCADO of Bamboo *AND* MARK ESCUETA of Rivermaya

Nice, very nice, and quite unexpected: the voice-over informed us that this was only the third time in the 14-year history of the NU Rock Awards that a tie was announced. The two drummers made an amusing sight as they went up: Vic was lugging this huge backpack, as if he intended to go camping right after claiming his award, and Mark had a jaunty white Moonwalker-ish hat on. At this point, two awards into the ceremony, I was still very happy with the results. (That would change, later.)

BASSIST OF THE YEAR

1. Nathan Azarcon of Bamboo
2. Carlos Calderon of Chicosci
3. Japs Sergio of Rivermaya
4. Francis De Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project
5. Ivan Garcia of Hilera

WINNER: NATHAN AZARCON of Bamboo

Another tough category, which should make Nathan’s victory even sweeter. If I were to guess, his thought balloon might have read something like: “It’s about fucking time.”

The next performer was a band that’s been around for an even longer time than the NU Rock Awards: Tropical Depression, mon. They entertained us with a feelgood reggae number about killer storms. The new Rivermaya performed next, and for most of the crowd, it was probably their first chance to see newest member, 18 year-old Jayson Fernandez, in action. As the band shared vocal duties, though, he was kind of relegated to support status. Understandable enough; he has much to learn, being new at the game. He acquitted himself well, however—certainly he’s the best singer in the group—and we foresee him growing into his frontman duties nicely, reinvigorating the band, and rocking the Rock Awards again. Maybe next year?

Russ Davis and the gorgeous Glaiza de Castro—slated to appear in Quark Henares’ upcoming cinematic opus about the local music scene, Rakenrol—presented the next award:

GUITARIST OF THE YEAR

1. Mong Alcaraz of Chicosci
2. Ira Cruz of Bamboo
3. Mike Elgar of Rivermaya
4. Boogie Romero of Kjwan
5. Steve Badiola of Typecast
6. Junji Lerma of Radioactive Sago Project

WINNER: IRA CRUZ of Bamboo

Yay Ira! *swoons*

Um. I mean—astig, pare.

In one of the more inspired pairings of the night, Lourd de Veyra of Radioactive Sago Project joined the Kitty Girls onstage to present the next performer. Yes, the Kitty Girls: a Pinay version of the Pussycat Dolls, apparently. “Ang babango ng mga kasama ko,” Lourd observed (before describing what he was wearing as an “emo barong.”) He had them introduce themselves one by one—“I’m Tanya!” “I’m Veronica!”—then joined the fun (“I’m Lourd!”). “Yari sila sa bigote ko mamaya, pare,” Lourd leered, to hoots from the crowd.

Hilera performed a lively version of one of the hits off their debut, “Rhyme Without Reason,” with Ivan Garcia leaping on his upright bass and riding it like a pony. Afterwards, the lovely Isabelle of NU 107, sporting a funky pair of psychedelic London-bought boots, joined a couple of guys whose names I can’t remember to present the next award:

VOCALIST OF THE YEAR

1. Bamboo Mañalac of Bamboo
2. Miggy Chavez of Chicosci
3. Steve Badiola of Typecast
4. Ebe Dancel of Sugarfree
5. Kat Agarrado of Sino Sikat?
6. Marc Abaya of Kjwan

WINNER: KAT AGARRADO of Sino Sikat?

Oh, wow! A bit of a surprise, actually—female vocalists don’t take this award as often as you might think—but a very, very welcome one. Sino Sikat?’s debut album was one of the highlights of 2007 in my opinion, and their live performances always impress the hell out of me. Heavy competition, but Kat deserved this, big time. (Hey, did you watch the Rock Awards last year? You may remember Kat’s kick-ass a capella rendition of our national anthem.) Yay for Sino Sikat?!— Even if the annoying question mark attached to their band name blunts any and all written expressions of support.

Mondo Castro (of NU and Pin-Up Girls fame) and singer Champagne introduced a rousing number by 6cyclemind, then musclebound Pontri strode onstage flanked by two very striking, very leggy Brazilian models. The visually arresting trio presented, appropriately enough, a trio of awards:

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

1. Bamboo and Angee Rozul for We Stand Alone Together of Bamboo
2. Typecast for Every Moss And Cobweb by Typecast
3. Lourd and Francis De Veyra for Tangina Mo Ang Dami Nagugutom Sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin by Radioactive Sago Project
4. Robert Javier and Jonathan Ong for Moonlane Gardens by Orange & Lemons
5. Robin Rivera for Tala-arawan by Sugarfree
6. Angee Rozul and Kjwan for 2step Marv of Kjwan

WINNER: LOURD and FRANCIS DE VEYRA for Tangina Mo Ang Dami Nagugutom Sa Mundo Fashionista Ka Pa Rin by Radioactive Sago Project

Yay for Lourd and Francis! This was a difficult one to call; I don’t envy the judges who had to make this decision. (I was a judge last year, and this category was a bitch then too, as I recall.) Still, good choice. Lourd asserted that the whole band pitched in on the producing, so the award was really an award for all of them. (The others didn’t get to kiss the Brazilian models though.)

BEST ALBUM PACKAGING

1. Inksurge.com for Twilight of Hale
2. Paolo Lim for Isang Ugat, Isang Dugo of Rivermaya
3. Sarah Gaugler and Clementine for Moonlane Gardens of Orange & Lemons
4. Inksurge.com for Tala-arawan of Sugarfree

WINNER: SARAH GAUGLER and CLEMENTINE for Moonlane Gardens of Orange & Lemons

The girls behind me were screaming for Paolo Lim to win. I was rooting for him too, but I suspected that the girls had reasons that went beyond Paolo’s skill at design and photography. What I really thought should have won though, was Bagetsafonik’s independent release Travelogue, which wasn’t even a finalist. Seriously, have you seen it? It’s frigging beautiful. Instead of a lyric sheet, there are twelve postcards—one for each song—which contain the words, plus art by twelve of the best young illustrators/ designers/ artists working in Manila today. Moonlane Gardens is a pretty enough bit of packaging, but it doesn’t come close.

BEST MUSIC VIDEO

1. “DVD-X” of Sandwich (Directed by Marie Jamora)
2. “FRAILTY” of Urbandub (Directed by Pancho Esguerra and Bluerain Media)
3. “KUNG AYAW MO NA SA AKIN” by Sugarfree (Directed by Marie Jamora)
4. “LOVETEAM” of Itchyworms (Directed by Marie Jamora)
5. “PROBINSYANA” of Bamboo (Directed by Pancho Esguerra)
6. “SUNDO” of Imago (Directed by Marie Jamora)
7. “WILL YOU EVER LEARN” of Typecast (Directed by Pedring Lopez)

WINNER: MARIE JAMORA for DVD-X

Good thing Marie Jamora won. I would be royally pissed off if I were nominated four times in the same category and I didn’t win. I would probably start killing people with the nearest weaponizable object—a nearby chair leg, say, or punchbowl. And of course, there’s the little matter of Marie totally deserving the award. As a matter of fact, if she keeps up this pace, I can imagine a year where all the nominated videos will have been directed by her. It will be a year where people like Pancho Esguerra and Pedring Lopez wander the grimy, cruel streets clutching their WILL DIRECT VIDEOS FOR FOOD signs and choking back bitter tears. Don’t feel too bad for them, though; that just makes them ripe for Rocky-style comebacks complete with workout montages where they regain the Eye of the Tiger.

Sino Sikat? performed next, and what a performance it was: a medley of three songs from their debut, including my two favorites: “So Blue” and “Turning My Safety Off.” The band was in fine form; guitarist Nick Azarcon seemed especially ecstatic, and Kat had the audience wound around her finger with her sultry, powerful voice and her unapologetically sensual presence. At one point, she turned slowly around, undulating and showing off the full 360 degrees of her bare midriff, and elicited one of the more rabidly enthusiastic reactions from the crowd that night.

Roxy of NU fame and Club Dredd’s Patrick Reidenbach introduced the next act, who needed no intro, anyway: Razorback. The classic, recently restarted band got the audience going with their fierce, old-fashioned Pinoy rawk. The amusing Tuesday Vargas, the foxy, sassy Dylan, and the somewhat out-of-it Ely Buendia presented the next award:

BEST LIVE ACT

1. Bamboo
2. Chicosci
3. Typecast
4. Kjwan
5. Radioactive Sago Project
6. Jeepney Joyride
7. Hilera

WINNER: BAMBOO

And, as if to prove that they were worthy of the award, Bamboo performed right after. They did an intense rendition of their cover of “Tatsulok,” a song that was first written and recorded by Buklod. They were joined onstage by two members of Buklod, which added that much power and legitimacy to their performance. They mixed it up a little, adding a snippet of a U2 song, and then ending with a prolonged chant of “’Di matatapos.”

Reg Rubio and Francis Reyes presented the next award. “Mabuhay ang mga bansot!” declared Francis.

IN THE RAW AWARD

1. Subscapular
2. Teenage Hero
3. Kastigo
4. Sutil
5. Reklamo

WINNER: REKLAMO

Wow, Reklamo’s having quite the year. They topped this year’s World Battle of the Bands eliminations and will be representing the country in Singapore. They’ve come a long way, despite the fact that two out of the three members that went onstage to claim their In the Raw award looked like they were in serious need of a stylist. But seriously, congrats!

THE LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD

…went to BAMBOO. Like you didn’t see that coming.

THE HALL of FAME AWARD

…went to MIKE and ANGELO VILLEGAS. Yes, of Rizal Underground fame.

Sometime amongst all this awards-dispensing, Kjwan stirred up the crowd with their poppiest hit, “One Look.” Vocalist Marc Abaya flew a Philippine flag, and guitarist Jorel Corpus seemed even livelier than usual (if you can imagine that), and led the crowd in attempts to jump in unison and do audience “waves.” Fun stuff! Less fun was Pupil’s performance, which started off with a long strobe-lit intro and loped into a rendition of “Sala” that was fairly unremarkable, especially when you consider what the members have proven themselves capable of in the past. Sugarfree, backed up by a horn section, performed “Dear Kuya,” and won the audience over effortlessly, with sincerity, humor, and an excellent tune. Radioactive Sago Project went berserk with “Wasak na Wasak” and demonstrated how punk you can be even when your whole band is dressed in barong tagalong. Their number ended with a nearly-naked Jun Sabayton running onstage, apropos of nothing. Sandwich delivered one of the strongest performances of the night, not to mention the most stylish—their white outfits were quite spiffy. Also, only vocalist Raimund Marasigan dared to lunge past the VIPs gathered ‘round the stage and go crowd-surfing in the outer circle, where the more rabid fans were. Luckily, he came back intact.

Okay, briefly, the rest of the awards:

SONG OF THE YEAR

1. “WILL YOU EVER LEARN” by Typecast
2. “CHICOSCI VAMPIRE SOCIAL CLUB” by Chicosci
3. “TATSULOK” by Bamboo
4. “SALA” by Pupil
5. “TURNING MY SAFETY OFF” by Sino Sikat?
6. “SUNDO” by Imago
7. “DVD X” by Sandwich

WINNER: “WILL YOU EVER LEARN” by Typecast

Personally, I would have voted for “Sundo” or “Turning My Safety Off,” but I was happy enough that Typecast won this one.

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

1. “WE STAND ALONE TOGETHER” by Bamboo
2. “EVERY MOSS AND COBWEB” by Typecast
3. “TANGINA MO ANG DAMING NAGUGUTOM SA MUNDO FASHIONISTA KA PA RIN” by Radioactive Sago Project
4. “TALA-ARAWAN” by Sugarfree
5. “MOONLANE GARDENS” by Orange & Lemons
6. “2STEPMARV” by Kjwan

WINNER: “MOONLANE GARDENS” by Orange & Lemons

My first thought was: You’re shitting me, right? Actually, that was my second thought too. And my third, and fourth, and—you get the idea. I really thought Radioactive Sago Project would bring this one home; OnL was quite literally the last band on this list I would have expected to win. At least we were treated to the deeply odd spectacle of Clem Castro going up onstage and accepting the award “on behalf of my ex-bandmates.” But I would rather have seen Lourd and Co. storming up there in full force and waving a well-deserved award aloft. I would have been happy seeing the Sugarfree trio winning this one too. Or the boisterous boys of Kjwan. Or those Typecast guys. Or Bamboo. You get the idea.

Katwo Librando and Lougee Basabas, two of the best—and hands-down best-looking—lead singers in the band scene today, introduced the next performer, Kamikazee. Throughout their rendition of “Seksi! Seksi!,” frontman Jay Contreras kept gyrating in ways that made me think I had accidentally wandered into the city’s worst gay strip club. Which, of course, was hilarious and totally suited the song. Gotta love those guys. The Dawn was next, and they did a medley too which included a ferocious version of “Susi” and “Iisang Bangka” as an inspiring finale.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

1. Bamboo
2. Chicosci
3. Typecast
4. Kjwan
5. Sugarfree
6. Radioactive Sago Project

WINNER: BAMBOO

Surprise surprise! Holy crap, that’s what? Six awards, total. Many many congratulations to Bamboo. I’m going to get some sleep now.

For last year’s extensive feature/report on the NU 107 Rock Awards, click here.