Singing their last song

One afternoon, I received an SMS from Danica, a fellow Haler whom I treat as a “niece”. Her SMS did not explicitly state that Hale was disbanding; you just had to read between the lines.

True enough, last August 6, through a press release in Manila Bulletin entitled “Hale is no more”, PolyEast Records announced to us fans the “amicable break-up.”

Not that I was expecting it, but I had fears that it would be just a matter of time, especially after Champ (Lui Pio, Hale’s vocalist and main songwriter) signed up with Viva Films to pursue an acting career.

Hale was composed of Champ, Roll Martinez, Sheldon Gellada, and Paolo Santiago (who replaced Omnie Saroca in late 2008).

My two-year love affair with Hale was one that even my husband greatly tolerated - an addiction Alex gamely took in stride.

It all started when we attended a gig with my daughter, and from then on, I was hooked. We began going to where Hale was, never mind if we had to buy the CDs again and again just to gain entrance to the concert. Our mother-and-daughter team became a familiar sight that the band and fellow Halers would recognize us each time.

I was also an active e-group member. I will never forget the Halers get-together and album-listening day one afternoon where we first met Champ’s family, Sheldon’s sister, and my “young” friends who would later call me “Tita.”  

Cae has her Hale jacket. We both have shirts, buttons and autographed posters, song mags and tarps.

Like my indulgent father during my Francis Magalona and PBA obsession years, Alex would never hesitate driving us to and from gigs. Sometimes, he would put up with the one-hour-and-a-half shows and would marvel at the fact that Champ would acknowledge our presence and take the time to talk to us afterwards. Later on he decided he liked all the songs in Above, Over and Beyond (AOB is Hale’s third album).

“Ok rin po kayo, Tito ah,” I remember Champ telling him after a gig at 19 East. And I said, “Alam mo bang, kabisado na din niya ang AOB album ninyo? Kasi yun ang lagi niyang pinapatugtog sa kotse.” Champ was delighted. I didn’t tell him we have four copies of the CD.

Pao is another story. The first time I saw him play the drums, I was astounded. Of course, Omnie was also a great drummer, but Pao was something else. Ang galing, ibang klase ang energy. “Nag-Cobra ka yata,” I told him after a show in Pavilion Mall. His chemistry with Champ on stage was also evident.

I bumped into Roll and Sheldon at the Festival Mall on two separate occasions. It was a day or two after Shel’s birthday and he seemed to be pleasantly surprised when I greeted him. On the other hand, Roll must have thought I was weird since what I asked was, “How’s Champ?” instead of asking him how he was.

Why Hale, one would ask.

Their songs, for me, have the best and most meaningful codas I have ever heard. While “The Day You Said Goodnight” is indisputably the most popular, the lyrics of Broken Sonnet (But still I see the tears from your eyes Maybe I'm just not the one for you), The Ballad Of (There are 8 billion people in this world 8 billions live are changing and you're the one I need), and Shooting Star (You're walking away I'll be seeing you through a satellite If you go Then I'm walking away) are the most poignant.

Their songs make me feel younger.

And I guess
This is love
That I feel
And I’m falling for you
You’re the song
In my head
And it feels
That I’m falling for you
(This is A Happy Song)

Ihataw natin
Hindi tayo hihinto
Lahat ay maligalig
Hindi mapapagod
(Kalesa)

Believe it or not, these songs are able to relax me. Whenever I am sleepy, stressed out or tired, I just play the songs in my mobile phone and everything becomes serene.

My favorite videos are Kung Wala Ka, Shooting Star, and yes, Magkaibang Mundo (their final video). As they say, save the best for last.

Whenever we wouldn’t make it to a gig (on a weekday, too late, too far, etc.), I took it hard. The last gig Cae and I went to was the one in Southville, Biñan last April.

The disbanding drew mixed reaction from Halers. Of course, it was inevitable.

All of us were sad.
Being a supporter for 6years, it’s really hard for me to accept that the band who
done (sic) a big changed (sic) in my life will be gone for good…

d ko parin tlga mtanggap n wala ng hale... buong gabi ako umiyak dahil sa
balitang yun. naging part n ng buhay ko ang hale. super nice nla eh... sobrang
mamamiss ko sila. :(

Some got mad and felt betrayed.
Bakit ganun lang ang pag-announce niyo ng paghihiwalay ng banda? Press Release? Seriously?!!! After following you for so many years, ganun-ganun lang? It's like being in a relationship for 7 years and all you give me is a text message saying, "We're over". Where's the love?

are realy HALE disbanding?!?!?!?!
wat come on!!! no fair !!!!! i didnt even got the chance to see you live!!!! no
f*****g fair!!!!! u guys and ur music are the ones that actualy got me to
realise some serious stuff about life!!! its realy no fair!!!! ever since i
found out about you guyz i always wanted of coming back to philippines just to
see u live!! its no fair! no fair!!!

Some decided to be understanding and forgiving.
Maybe we should also consider what is the reason behind why they were able to come up with their decision (sic). It's sad, but we cannot still impose what we want them to do, they are also individuals like us.

Some are still puzzled and are in denial.
Walang malinaw na explanation.
Walang proper goodbye.

Some are clueless.
totoo ba?? magdidisband na ang hale????? waaahh!!!

As I was telling all these to Alex during a trip to Mauban, Quezon (during which I brought with me all four albums of Hale to keep us company during the three-hour drive), he asked me, “Ikaw, anong feeling mo?”

Honestly, I said I felt it was coming when Champ decided he’d try showbiz. Although I was hoping for a major concert, another album, and mall tours, I thought this was kind of a graceful exit, quitting while they were ahead, instead of coming up with albums full of cover songs. Or just fading away, unnoticed.

As one of their songs goes:
I hope you understand
We need to take a bow
We're done the curtains must come down
(The End)

Yes, it was too soon. And to me, all feelings (expressed by the Halers) were valid, even anger and betrayal. Perhaps, we loved them too much. But because we loved them too much, we will give in…and let go.

It's too soon
For you to go
Away from us
Where are you going
When will I see you again…
Please don't worry
We're all doing fine
Taking it nice and slow
We are so proud of you
(Requiem)

We understand
It’s time to go home. Let’s call it a day
(Toll Gate)

But hey,
Tuloy ang awit sa ilalim ng tala
(Magkaibang Mundo)

Good luck, HALE!

So, this is the major change Champ was telling us.   INQUIRER.NET EXCLUSIVE Hale far from saying ‘good night’   By Gerry Plaza INQUIRER.net First Posted 19:01:00 01/07/2009   MANILA, Philippines—This band amazed yet touched all who heard its music. A slow, melodramatic tinge of sadness; its vocalist’s soulful yearning made the phenomenon even harder to ignore.   In an instant, Hale became the country’s top OPM band. Pundits view Hale’s sensational rise as a result of its sincerity in its music, how band members put their hearts on their sleeves in each telltale line of its songs.   Diaries “Hale’s songwriting process is so natural. It reflects what we’re feeling. Our albums are actually our diaries over the years,” Hale frontman Champ Lui-Pio reveals in a rare one-on-one interview with INQUIRER.net. Lui-Pio reveals that each song has its own story to tell, reflecting all the personal journeys they have gone through, in its triple-platinum award-winning self-titled debut album, “Hale.”   “In ‘The Day You Said Good Night,’ all the songs there were written years before the album came out. If the songs talk about heartbreak, siguro yun ang state namin,” Lui-Pio says. “When we came out with the album, I just came from a seven-year relationship. Si (guitarist) Roll (Martinez) naman from a six-year relationship, si (bassist) Sheldon (Gallada) naman from a three year relationship. Siguro at that point in time, sobrang sadness ang lumalabas.”   But this sadness clearly did not reflect on its new stature as the country’s breakthrough band. Aside from recognition for record sales, TV and radio listeners and even industry establishments cited Hale as their “favorite band,” “band of the year,” “best new OPM artist,” or “best pop rock band.” The haunting ballad that was supposed to express heartbreak and despair, “The Day You Said Good Night” became the biggest hit in its time, eclipsing even the most popular foreign hits in sales and radio airplay. “Broken Sonnet” and “Kung Wala Ka” were other famous tracks that show how the band’s songwriting became the compelling factor for it to reach its prominent stature in the OPM scene. The song “Blue Sky” is Lui-Pio’s favorite as it accurately reflected the “dilemma” he was facing at that time.   Out of the limelight But suddenly, Hale faded away from the limelight.. Unlike in their banner year in 2005 that saw them appear in all major TV musical variety programs, perform in continuous gigs, and have heavy airplay on radio and music video channels, with a popular endorsement of a coffee brand to boot, the breakthrough act stood still.   According to Lui-Pio, the trouble started when they did their follow-up album “Twilight.” “During ‘Twilight’ kasi it was a very difficult time for everyone,” Lui-Pio said. “Not because of anything within the band but outside the band. Everything was really affecting us that we could not deal with it properly kaya we decided to take a step back to take a breather lang.”   Exhausted and frustrated Lui-Pio said the immense popularity they achieved after their first album took its toll on them, as they became physically exhausted and drained, apart from a growing artistic frustration.   “That time we were just physically and mentally tired from everything—from gigs, pressure from the label. Kasi you have to understand that as much as you want to keep it on an artistic perspective, it’s still business eh. There’s still a business side to music. The label, the recording companies…that’s their side. So we have to compromise once in a while.”   While “Twilight” marked the next level in Hale’s existence as a band, it led to factors that ran contrary to their very nature as artists.   “In ‘Twilight,’ it really affected the songwriting, the performance. So we thought we were very unfair sa listeners, who would go out of their way to see us tapos pagod kami or we’re not giving our 100 percent. So we just felt it was right to just regroup and find that old flame,” Lui Pio said.   The conflicts, he said, even reached beyond the band. “May mga personal [conflicts]. For example, it’s not even the four of us. For example, people related to us. Ex-girlfriends or whatever, mga ganoon. Ganoon yung malaking nakatulong sa pagod,” he reveals.   As a result, despite good reviews, “Twilight” never achieved the success of Hale’s debut album.   “They always say the first album is always the best. Kahit anong banda daw. So, you shouldn’t have to outdo the first one or a certain album,” Lui-Pio said. “When for example yung mga recording companies, sinasabi nila kailangan natin ng ganitong kanta, ganitong theme. Pero kami, iba kaming mag-isip eh. We’re not going to make another ‘The Day You Said Good Night.’ We want something new to offer. We don’t want to get stuck with the same pattern, sound, formula.”   Transition Despite “Twilight” falling short of expectations, which even threatened the existence of the band itself, Lui-Pio notes that Hale is experiencing a rebirth, a transition, especially with its latest album “Above, Over and Beyond,” which was released last year.   “We reached the point na when you’re down, there’s no place to go but up,” Lui Pio says. “With the right momentum, with the right motivation, we start to pick up the pieces. The third album was about a new found passion, new found drive.”   How have the difficulties affected the band?   “All in all, it’s really a learning experience. Constant adjustments kasi ang ginagawa namin every year. Like we constantly evolve…There has to be constant evolution for you to grow and mature.. In a way from the first time we came out with the album, everyday we try to improve, we try to develop not only in songwriting but also in performance,” Lui-Pio adds.   According to him, “Above, Over and Beyond” presents a radical shift in their songwriting. “It’s not really melodramatic anymore. Masaya na siya. In love na kaming lahat,” Lui-Pio declares.   Hale now has a new drummer, Paolo Santiago, formerly of Join The Club. Hale’s original drummer, Omnie Saroca, left the band to focus on other priorities, Lui-Pio says. “But we’re still okay. We’re still supporting him and he’s still supporting us.”   Hopefully with Santiago, Lui-Pio says, “we’ll have a better 2009.”   Label woes He was referring to slow sales of “Above, Over and Beyond” in 2008 due to troubles affecting their label, EMI. Parent EMI International had shut its Philippine division due to downsizing, Lui-Pio says, but all the EMI contract artists were now part of a new label, Polyeast.   “They are marketing the third album. Hindi na-push masyado. Walang guarantee talaga,” Lui-Pio says.   Hale, he stresses, is marketing and promoting “Above, Over and Beyond” on their own. “We’re trying to help ourselves kasi we’re not relying on the label now to push the album kasi they are concerned with their own problems. Hopefully by (this year), we’re going to make a strong push for the album,” he says.   He notes that they are looking at new avenues in selling and recording music, particularly on the Internet platform which is currently exploding.   “There are a lot of avenues to share your music. Hindi naman kailangan you’re under a label. You don’t need big recording companies anymore. You can innovate. You can actually find a lot of ways to access listeners, like online. You can upload and share music.”   “Above” is the third of a five-album deal with EMI.   Despite the setbacks and challenges, Hale remains as a solid unit that still sticks to the basics.   “I will keep on writing songs. Ako naman kasi it doesn’t matter if we’re signed or not eh. I’m still gonna write music. The four of us will still write music.”   Treehouse But their biggest plan for 2009 is expand its “Treehouse” gigs that donate all of the proceeds to charity.   In the 11 “Treehouse” gigs since January last year that saw Hale perform with other stellar acts like Spongecola, Sugarfree, Mayonnaise, Parokya ni Edgar, Hilera, Rivermaya, and Rico Blanco in different venues around the Metro, a significant amount was raised for charitable institutions such as the Asociacion de Damas Filipinas orphanage, and programs including Project Brave Kids for children with cancer and One Gene: One Child, which addresses autism.   “We want to make Treehouse bigger. That can be the first legacy we can leave when we’re done with the band. I just want to make it as efficient as possible. Kasi I can see from our first year how productive we were. Ang dami kasi naming na-raise, ang daming tumugtog, ang daming nanood. So we want to make it bigger. We also want to get more sponsors so we can maximize the cause,” Lui Pio declares.   Indeed, Hale is far from saying ‘good night.’

http://showbizandstyle.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20090107-181994/Hale-far-from-saying-good-night

 

 

Good luck, Hale!

Welcome, Paolo!

Good luck, Omnie! We will miss you.

Hale's Above, Over and Beyond Listening Party April 23, 2008

champ signing the twilight album

April 23, 2008

Molokai Grill

Festival Mall

 

It sure was a delightful afternoon, chatting with Champ, taking pictures and meeting fellow Halers (so much younger than me, btw).

 

Don't miss the album! Above Over and Beyond will be out on April 28. Hale will be at the Music Hall of the SM Mall of Asia on May 8, 2008 for the album launch.

 

"one for hale, hale for all"

 

 

The Good Girl's Feel Good Stuff

For here or to go?

A good girl deserves some feel-good stuff.

Just want to share my favorite stuff (also, wala na kasi memory phone ko eh)...

Notes:
1. After buying my first pair (a black Top), hindi na ko natapos.

2. GMA telebabad is #1! I'm proud to be Kapuso! Dennis Trillo - crush ko for the longest time. Si Richard, hindi ko crush pero I like his nice-guy character (Vergel) in Kamandag. Si Dingdong, lalong hindi ko crush pero na-internalize na niya masyado si Sergio.

3. Pinaka - favorite ko yung writer eh! sino nga ba yun hehehe

4. Champ! Champ! Champ! yun lang.

5. Chef Rob, you're my Sunday dinner...

6. Patrick Star - my favorite cartoon character, mabait kasi kahit slow

Music and Lyrics

Blue Sky

When do stars fade their light?
Does the moon and the sun make it right
For you the world maybe
Like an endless storm chasing a mystery

Is there hate in your heart?
Does your body drop and tell you to stop
Loving you or loving me
When it all falls down you just sing with me

Coz there's a blue sky waiting tomorrow
Waiting tomorrow shining and shimmering
A blue sky waiting tomorrow
Waiting tomorrow
Maybe it's all we need

Oh don't you wash away that smile
You just look out the window and see the light
It's beautiful to be alive
It's wonderful to live a life

The sun is sure to shine
For you and me for everyone
So don't be sad it's just the start
Of a new beginning in your life

Rain will keep on pouring
Some things you can't control
And while the sun seems far and hard to hold
It will unfold

There will always be a blue sky
A blue sky waiting tomorrow
Full of hope

 

Shooting Star

Many times you've hurt me
So many times you've fooled me
But you'll be doing it again

So many times we've spent in
Too many lives we've been in
But you're doing it again

To me the nights have fallen
The lights are on and off again
Is there a chance that you won't die
Won't die, with me tonight?

Like a shooting star to where you are
Are we too late am I too soon?
You'll make it through you've gone too far
Will you ever be my star?

I'm holding on to nothing
No reason worth for living
I'm calling out to you

If it's the only way to keep you
Then I dont want to break you
I'm losing grip again

With you the nights have fallen
The lights are on and off again
Is there a chance that you wont die
Won't die, with me tonight?

Like a shooting star to where you are
Are we too late am I too soon
You'll make it through you've gone too far
Will you ever be my star?

You're a shooting star to where you are
Are we too late am I too soon
You'll make it through you've gone too far
Will you ever be my star?
Will you ever be my star?

You're walking away
I'll be seeing you through a satellite

If you go
Then I'm walking away

 

The Ballad Of

There are 8 billion people in this world
8 billion lives are changing
Never felt so alone

Would you consider me inspite of this?
I'm always the one who loses
Would you make me better?

How, how, how will we make this work?
Why do you have to be so far?
It's all clear now I'm gonna keep you
Like flowing water into forever

That look is all I need to get by
Like living in some illusion
I never felt so alive

I know that there will be flaws around us
The silly wars that we'll be fighting
Yes, I'll be fighting

How, how, how will we make this work?
Why do you have to be so far?
It's all clear now I'm gonna keep you
Like flowing water into forever

It's all clear now I'm gonna keep you
Like flowing water into forever
Into forever now
I'll be the one who holds you dear

There are 8 billion people in this world
8 billions live are changing and you're the one I need.

 

The Day You Said Goodnight

Take me as you are,
Push me off the road the sadness,
I need this time to be with you
I'm freezing in the sun;
I'm burning in the rain
The silence;
I'm screaming,
Calling out your name.
And i do reside in your light
Put out the fire with me and find
Yeah you'll lose the side of your circles
That's what i'll do if we say goodbye.

To be is all i gotta be
And all that i see
And all that i need is time
To me, the life you gave me
The day you said goodnight.

The calmness in your face
That i see through the night
The warmth of your light is pressing unto us
You didn't ask me why
I never would have known oblivion is falling down.
And i do reside in your light
Put out the fire with me and find
Yeah you'll lose the side of your circles
That's what i'll do if we say goodbye.

To be is all i gotta be
And all that i see
And all that i need is time
To me the life you gave me
The day you said goodnight.

If you could only know me like your prayers at night
Then everything between you and me will be all
Right.

To be is all i gotta be
And all that i see
And all that i need is time
To me the life you gave me
The day you said goodnight.

She's already taken,
She's already taken
She's already taken me
She's already taken,
She's already taken me.
The day you said goodnight

 

sound in body

http://soundinbody.multiply.com/
Hale's Multiply Site
Visit also their Friendster page http://profiles.friendster.com/haleofficial

For Hale Bookings, Please Contact:
Anna Sy
Sucat, Parañaque
Mobile: 0919.4235266
Email: haleofficial@gmail.com

Hail to Hale!

I've been on a last-song-syndrome mode with Hale's Shooting Star for almost three weeks now (thanks to MYX and my daughter's CD).  And after hearing it LIVE - as in "in person" last night, I think I've fallen for Champ and could die anytime.

I've always thought Champ was suplado. Well, I've no basis actually but it was just a judgment based on his penchant for really pretty girls like Anne Curtis and Bianca King, and maybe, comparing him to funny and bangkero-type lead vocals like Jay Contreras and Chito Miranda, he is surely a calm and reserved one. But he proved me wrong after their mini-concert in Bisaya Republik, Pacita Complex (July 28, 2007).

The minute they walked in, using the side door, which was just one step away from our table, Cae goes, "Oh. My. God." And we were like, "Ampogi ni Champ, shet!" 

Hale did not disappoint me as they sang Broken Sonnet, Blue Sky, The Day You Said Goodnight, Kung Wala Ka, and many many more, aside from my current favorite Shooting Star. Again, thanks to MYX (my children's favorite channel. Yes, even Caehl is a MYX junkie, whatever happened to Sesame Street???) and Cae's CD-burning requests and CD collection, I knew most of their songs and it was wonderful to sing along with them. I was so mesmerized that I didn't notice that a guy was asking me to move my chair a little bit so he could pass through (I think he was nudging me for what seems a lifetime!  )

I didn't expect Champ to look so good, rosy cheeks and all. Afterwards, he was unfortunately mobbed by fans and he patiently signed autographs and posed for pictures. My daughter and I approached him with her Hale first CD album and he signed it thrice and even thanked my daughter. I took a picture of them like the stage mom that I am.

And yes, I'm now a fan - shamelessly. (See more photos at k3ht.multiply.com)