This is Hale

The band Hale was formed in July 2004. Their hit singles are: Broken Sonnet, The Day You Said Goodnight, Kahit Pa and Kung Wala Ka. They've garnered several awards since then. Their newest CD, entitled Twilight, went gold in less than a week after its release in September 30, 2006. Hale is (in the black & white photo, from left to right) Roll Martinez - vocals & guitar, Champ Lui Pio - vocals & guitar, Omnie Saroca - drums and Sheldon Gellada - bass. This blog is our way of giving thanks to them for gracing St. Scholastica's College Family Day on February 11, 2007 for the closing performance of the day. This blog also seeks to provide our students an album of sorts to look at in memory of that performance.

Our Welcome Banner for Hale

The band manager provided us the photo which Arcie Castillo, parent organizer, used for this magnificent banner. Parent organizer Jun Espinosa first tried hanging it near the pergola, at the walkway from pergola to main admin building. But the strong winds blew the banner in all directions, & the main school welcome banner occupied most of the visual space, rendering the Hale banner virtually out of sight. Consequently, the collective decision was to post the banner just beyond the walkway to the canteen / gym, in direct view of anyone and everyone making their way there. Let's put it this way: if you were walking to the gym, you just had to see it. This was the best decision & was unanimously supported by school staff & parent organizers alike. Thanks to Janet Ocampo, who suggested that we make a banner to welcome the band.

At the Canteen

The band arrived at 5:00 pm for their 5:30pm performance. Parking space facing the front of the administration building was reserved exclusively for them. Each member came with his own car. Some friends of theirs tagged along for moral support. From there, they were escorted by parent organizers by foot to the canteen. The organizers thought the path fronting the convent could be the smoothest one, hoping students wouldn't notice them walking by since the field demonstration was going on. However, the band members stood out because... well, because they are Hale. So some students followed them to the canteen & watched from the windows. As their performance neared, more and more students gathered at the windows & the canteen door. Beng Rivera served them a light dinner of pizza, breaded chicken & spaghetti. The GSPA provided soda for drinks. Actually, the band members weren't able to eat their fill because of the continuous requests for autographs & cellphone photos. Road manager Chu Santos was a sport about it all. She knew that fans asking autographs is part & parcel of Hale's performances. In a text, she wrote, "I think we have to apologize to Sister Regina." When I asked her more about it, she replied humbly & subtly -- I think we need to apologize for the chaos that followed after the performance. "Maybe if the band didn't perform too many songs, the girls wouldn't react that way. But we can't help it. It is the fans who help to make Hale what they are." Spoken like a true but humble & wise manager. So many good photo shots with students & even mothers were taken during the waiting period at the canteen. Hopefully, students can lend their photos for posting in this blog. Let the others see your great pics! They will be most welcome!

To publish your photos with Roll, Omnie, Sheldon or Champ in this blog, please text Rhea Deveras at 0917-841-0545.

On Stage

Within the span of a few songs that the band performed, the gym was transformed into a place of non-stop screams & great excitement. This excitement built up since 5:00 in the afternoon, when the band members walked past the field (where the dances were being performed) from the school parking lot to the canteen, & the girls spotted them but couldn't rush to them for autographs yet. During the wait in the canteen, many students were watching through the windows, waiting at the canteen door, asking to be let in, and yes, even calling for autographs from the windows! The parent organizers knew this would happen, & so in advance, tried to arrange for the band members to sit at a table for some time & let the girls line up in an orderly fashion for the autographs. Sadly, there was no time because of another concert right after SSCW Family Day. Just to show how the band values their fans, Champ asked the girls who requested his autograph what songs they wanted to hear. He listed them down & the band really performed them. While on stage, Champ called out to each high school level, from years 1 to 4, and each of them gave their loudest scream in reply. However, when Champ called out to the grade schoolers, their response toppled the other high school levels' responses in volume! That was a pleasant surprise. Champ gave tribute to parents & families, because after all, he said, "Today is Family Day, & we're celebrating this for them and with them." He also thanked the parent organizers for inviting them to the school. The band gave their all during their performance. Each member had their own solo, their chance to stand out, aside from lead vocalist Champ: Roll on guitars, Omnie on the drums, & certainly not the least, Sheldon on guitars. The girls were energized by the enthusiasm of the band (or perhaps it was really a two-way thing). When Champ asked "Are you ready, St. Scho?" the students' response was so loud (actually all I heard was screaming) it left no doubts whasoever. As shown in the photo, the students almost filled the gym, though the Family Day was a whole-day endeavor & night was falling. They had enough energy to stay, watch, yes, express their delight & support, & as will be shown in other photos in this blog, request autographs from the band way after the performance.

After the Performance

After the performance, more picture taking with the band. In the big group picture, Sheldon, Champ & Roll stand with our Directress Sister Regina behind some of the parent organizers. Omnie was outside the canteen with the students. From left to right, the parent organizers are: Rhea Deveras, Glenda Punzalan, Selene Ahorro, Janet Ocampo, Sherry Jimenez, Beng Rivera, Jun Espinosa & Gerg Santos.

More Autographs

The band members had no chance to avoid nor escape from more requests for autographs or cellphone photos, specially after their marvelous performance. Both high school and grade school students stopped them in their tracks, while they walked from the stage to the canteen, and finally from the canteen to their parked cars. Sister Regina was really a sight to behold, joining the security guards & parents in trying to keep the girls a little more calm. The parent organizers knew this was in the offing, which is why we requested formal autograph-signing time from the band's booking and road manager, Chu Santos. But they had a performance to catch right after ours at Shoemart Santa Rosa. Hence, the lack of time. At least we tried. And judging from our photos, they did their best to accomodate all the requests. Right?