Acapellago launches album

Award-winning pop group Acapellago launched its debut album last Oct. 26 at the Music Hall in Metrowalk. Being viral sensations, with over six million views for its video of Tatlong Bibe alone, and winner in prestigious singing competitions here and abroad have already given the group legitimate claim to fame. Yet it is still a fact that the reality of holding in its hands a physical CD with its music in it, is cause for happiness.

The album is titled Peroplano after the new original expressly written by the award-winning Thyro Alfaro. It is a fun ditty that plays on the phrase “puro plano” about plans that stay just that, only plans. It was arranged by Acapellago themselves to bring out the unique blending of the varied voices of the group.

Aside from this, the collection also includes Acapellago’s version of Alfaro and Yumi Lacsamana’s Philpop Grand Prize winner Triangulo; plus On The Wings Of Love, originally by Jeffrey Osborne, Gloria Estefan’s Conga, Philpop 2016 finalist Stars Are Aligned composed by JC Jose, featuring soul singer Jimmy Marquez and the kiddie tune that brought fame to the group Tatlong Bibe.

No one thought it could happen? But it did. An old Tagalog nursery rhyme about three little ducks going kwak, kwak, kwak propelled Acapellago to stardom. This happened after the group won as grand champion of the first Akapela Open singing competition in the Philippines two years ago. It followed this up with the Gold Award Grand Champion all over Asia at the A Capella Championship 2015 held at the ITE College Central in Singapore.

It was after this that Acapellago signed with Viva Records and started recording its own versions of current favorites a cappella style, like Uptown Funk, Break Free and others and uploading the videos on the Net. Then it decided to sing and film its own version of Tatlong Bibe and there was no stopping the vocal group anymore.

Its success did not stop it from working on its singing and competing abroad. Last year, the group bagged the top prize at the AKA VIII A Cappella Asia Pacific Championship League competition also held in Singapore. Then last July it won all of the major prizes at stake in the Vokal Total International Acappella Competition held in Austria. Acapellago is now acknowledged as the most successful pop capella group to emerge from the Philippines.

Acapellago is made up of Michelle Pascual, the 21 year-old soprano. She studied at the Ilocos Norte National High School Special Program for the Arts and is now a Voice Major at the University of the Philippines College of Music. She was a member of the Samiweng Singers, Laoag City Child’s Choir and the Ilocos Norte National High School Youth Choir.

Almond Bolante is the 23-year-old counter tenor. He comes from Quezon City and has been singing and acting in public since he was only six years old. He was a member of the Ramon Magsaysay Cubao High School Glee Club and the Our Lady of Fatima University Chorale. He appeared as Javert in the Mia Sinaguinan adaptation of Les Miserables and was Pinuno in Layeta Bucoy’s May Isang Alamat Musikal, 2014.

Joshua Cadelinia, 19, is Acapellago’s tenor. He is a Voice Major at the UP College of Music. He was a commercial model for brands like Colgate and Lucky Me! Pancit Canton. He was a winner in TV talent shows like That’s My Boy (Grand Champion) and Little Big Superstar (first runner-up). He starred as Bong in the fantasy television series Kokey and was featured in the comedy picture Pasukob.

Happy Laderas, 24, is Acapellago’s bass singer, founder and resident arranger. Known as Happy Lemon, Ron is a Choral Conducting Major at the UP College of Music. He honed his music skills as music director at the United Methodist Church in Obando, Bulacan and at the Bulacan State University Saring Himig Chorale.

Ron’s younger brother Bogart Laderas, 23, is the group’s beatbox. Nicknamed Bogart, he also started out his music career with the Bulacan State U Saring Himig Chorale and the United Methodist Church of Malolos Choir. An aspiring actor and director, he is taking up Theater Arts at the Bulacan State University.

Thanks to Acapellago, a cappella singing in the Philippines now has a young, very hip following and a very bright future. Besides that, it is also really nice to have a group where the members can really sing.