A Lighter Shade of SEPIA

PICTURE THIS:
Frequent Flyers stand befuddled as air travel professionals at one of
the countrys bustling terminals accommodate a queue of 8 twentysomething chatterboxes eager for a turn at the weigh-in platform - all
abuzz to check if their awkwardly-shaped musical equipment cases still
fit into the 25-kilo mark.
The scene described above could very well be an inspired pitch for an
airport-serye (a term coined under the premise that almost anything
can be serialized these days). It is however a storyline all too familiar
to variety band SEPIA, whose members carry travel documents that
rival Pitbulls passport loaded with stamps, as they fly from airport to
airport to perform for Hotels and Resorts across Indonesia, Cambodia,
and in all the top clubbing hotspots all over North and Central
Malaysia.
Matching Music with Math A Fabulously Winning Formula
Its not about the money, goes the cyclically mind-numbing refrain of
2012s most requested song at the Fun Pub of Park City Everly
Hotel, Bintulu, Malaysia. I myself must confess to have had the urge to
stab my left ear with a pencil just to relieve myself of its dreaded L.S.S.
effect, back when I (with another Talentstrcib band) performed there
last quarter of 2012, following the well-received 6-month stint of SEPIA.
But even if the song does claim that its not always all about the
money, some figures still do matter, well at least to SEPIA (or to any
other Overseas Performing Artist at one point or another).
If we get lucky, we get contracts with employers who give us 40 kilos
for each band member, shares Lemuel Tuba, whose long list of
international travel misadventures (as band leader for Southeast Asiantouring variety band SEPIA) include the mishandling of his
kumikitang kabuhayan, he continues amusedly, even proudly,
referring to a 9-year-old Fender bass guitar.
almost as old as SEPIA, who celebrates a solid 10-year-anniversary
next August, he continues laughing.
For SEPIA frontman Mar Iguban however, theres a variation to the
same story at the baggage counter, Saming vocalists, if pwede magrequest for additional kilos, we try, he adds.

Yung baon kasi naming costumes, galing sa kulang-kulang four years

na dere-derechong biyahe, pipes in Phervil Gadil, female vocals, as
she rounds off monthly costume expenses per band member to a
whopping 200 USD. With 6 months as maximum contract for each
biyahe - the operative term for 3 to 6-month contractual gigs
performing at bars, hotels, lounges across Southeast Asian countries
1,200 USD is no measly sum.
Maganda kasi yung inaabangan din ng guest kung anong theme
namin each night - we order costumes online para kakaiba, says
Monica Curameng, the ate of the three female vocalists, sharing the
story of how SEPIA began its love affair with theme nights and
costumes, much to the delight of their bosses abroad who on more
than one occasion have either extended the SEPIAs contract or
rebooked them a year in advance.
Preparing for clubs and hotels Special Events and costume nights takes
about 16 planning and rehearsal hours out of SEPIAs bi-weekly
schedule, including 4 hours of intensive workshops with a
choreographer depending on the dance requirements of the show.
SEPIAs extensive 10-year CV makes them one of those rare variety
bands whos managed to impress the big brasses of clubs and hotels
battening down the hatches and rising above the usual professional,
creative, and personal differences/issues - to earn bragging rights to a
well-testified, consecutive contract-to-contract, 5-year international
employment tenure. Their proudest achievement thus far all 8
members of SEPIA (as they are known to all their international
employers now) are the same ones who were there at the very
founding of the band nine years ago.
SEPIAs story is only one among hundreds that testify to the steady
growth of the overseas community of Filipino musicians, one story that
may be taken as a reflection of the current state of health of Manilas
variety/show band industry. An industry previously known for its
glorious gig circuit which, sadly throughout the years, has dwindled
into fewer and less than stellar venues offering less than respectable
pay for the millennial musician.
Sa Pinas kasi, bukod sa kadalasan eh mababa ang talent fee sa
banda, yung kikitain mo for one night, magagastos mo rin
kinabukasan sa susunod na gig mo, shares SEPIA Lead Guitarist
Rembert Vecida, when asked what other occupational inclinations may
have contributed to the increasing number of Overseas Performing
Artists throughout the years.

I personally remember those glorious gigging days around 2000 to

2002 at the now defunct Virgin Caf (Tomas Morato) when simple
denim jeans and classy collared shirts were still acceptable onstage
apparel, and unadulterated vocal chops, musicality and command of
the stage were all there was to a gig.
Add to the discombobulated assortment of dancers-turned-singers and
vocalists-turned-bombshells, the seemingly relentless influx of eagerto-please, green talents (ideal targets of low-balling agents, bookers,
bars and clubs) and the past generations musicians have more and
more reasons for looking into opportunities beyond the immigration
lines of Manilas international terminals.
deal with (in the form of
Korean drama, anime, para feeling bata kunyari ulet! he adds when
asked how else they keep busy.
Sa Pinas kasi, bukod sa mababa ang fee sa banda, yung kikitain mo
for this night ay gagastusin mo rin sa kinabukasan sa susunod na gig
mo, shares

Sa pinas kasi, bukod sa mababa ang fee sa banda. Yung kikitain mo

for this night ay gagastusin mo rin kinabukasan sa susunod na gig
mo. Hindi ka makakaipon. Unlike sa abroad, sagot nila lahat. From
bahay, food, transpo.. Kakanta ka nlng. Mkkpgsave ka din. At mkkbili
ng gusto mo. Mkktulong kpa sa family mo. As individual din, matututo
kang maging responsable sa sarili mo.. Kylngan mong alagaan yung
health mo kasi mahirap mgkasakit lalo at malayo ka.. Musicality,
nakakachallenge kasi every place my kanya kanyang genre, kunyari
dito, rock sa isa naman puro rnb tas meron nmng jazz.. Lumalawak
tuloy yung repertoire nmen. Kaya maganda din tlga magtravel.
Different cultures, different music

#Everytime n my bandang pinoy s kung saan rin kmi nkdestino lagi

mn ngyayaring dindalaw ng bawat grupo ang isang grupo at

nakkipagkaibigan. Dun n mgsisimula ang sharing as a musician at
bonding.
- of seasoned international variety band Sepia - whose
during one of his trips to performing group SEPIAinternational
passengers
PRACTICE MAKES PITCH PERFECT
ANYTIME YOU NEED A FRIEND

Drummer Efraim Teope Tenorio - august 17, 1988-28 yo

FvoxPhervil Villamor Gadil -July 29, 1991- 25 yo
Fvox Monica Curameng niedo^december 16, 1990- 26 yo
Lead Guitarist Rembert Zabala Vecida^April 5, 1986- 30
Band leader/ Bassit Lemuel Arevalo Tuba^February 12, 1985- 31 yo
MaleVox Mar^Verr Salazar Iguban^May 27, 1988- 28 yo
Fvox Princes Avellana 26 yo

Nak pa answer sana itong questionnaires sa sepia for their write up.
exact date of band anniversary
August 6, 2006
-founding members
-how much money they spend monthly on costumes
*Parang $200 each a month. Maganda kasi yung inaabangan din ng

guest kung anong theme namin for this night. Mahilig kami sa
costumes we order it online para kakaiba..
-how often they rehearse choreography,
*mostly 4hrs, twice a week. Sa ngayon kasi kumuha kmi
choreographer so depende sa availability nila.. every week me
dinanadag dag kming atleast 4songs s repertoire. Madalas un mga
most requested songs ng mga guests mapa old or latest songs.
Minsan nmn depende s gusto ng boss ng outlet. Minsan kami lang
din ngreview pag my nakakalimutan or gustong idagdag.*
-band member celebrating his birthday in the coming months
list of names of each band member including the following:
#^Jahaziel Mark Ravida Nov. 24
^Monica Niedo Dec. 16
^Lemuel Tuba Feb. 12
^Rembert Vecida April 5
^Princes Avellana April 7
^Marverr Iguban May 27
^Phervil Gadil July 29
^Efraim Tenorio Aug. 17
-weirdest hobbies they developed overseas to cope with
homesickness
*nanunuod kami ng mga series, mga korean drama, mga anime's like
dragon ball z tas sinisimulan namin mula umpisa kahit alam na nmen
ang kwento. Para feeling balik bata. Kaya feeling young kmi lagi..
anjan rin mga pampalipas oras n mga mobile game tulad ng COC,
candy crush, flappy bird at iba p. yung iba nmn naglalaro ng mga
online pc games pra less gala, less gastos. Haha. And xempre
chatting with our families(videocalls) hindi nga lng weird to pro ngging
hobby na dhil aayaw mahomesick.

-musical influences and how it shows in their performance and style

(the weirder the better, meaning someone we wouldnt expect to have
influenced them)
#bilang banda hindi lng mga artist ng songs n tinutugtog nmin ang
nkkpgimpluensya kung pno kmi mgperform s stage. Minsan kahit
mga teleserye, comedy show, balita, pelikula, noontime shows at my
ilan pa... ay nkktulong din smen kung paano mkpglabas ng sense of
humor, emotion, attitude s stage, looks and attire, theme or concepts,
swag at spills.
-scariest experience working overseas as a filipino
musician
*yung nagkaroon ng gangster war sa indonesia.. Buti hindi kami
pinalabas kasi balita namin my mga samurai daw sa labas parang
nasa movie.. at my sinamurai nga at nputulan ng braso. Tska yung
mga tsunami alert nung nsa island pa kami..
#yung mga time ng flight nmin n grabe ang turbulence at s loob ng
eroplano lahat ng pasahero ay ngulat at ngtiliian s takot. Pkramdam
kc ng lhat ngkcrash ang aircraft saby ngbukasan pang bigla ang ilan
s mga cabin at my mrrinig p n parang nglaglagang mga luggage. My
Mga ilang weeks or months plng nmn pati nun my mga nangyaring
plane crashes at sumakto p, same airlines ang nbiling flight.
-most intense personal encounter with racism and how they counter it
#nung time bumyahe kmi s isang bansa n ang mga native people nla
ay galit s mga chinese at ibang foreigners. Hinharang nila ang mga
ibang lahi s daan at hinihingi nilang spilitan ang gusto nilang bagay n
dala mo. Holdup kung baga. Dhil dayuhan daw kmi prang mas
maabgrabyado kmi s compensation n bbayaran pgka sinktan nmin
sila. At dhil kmi daw ang dayuhan kasalan namin ano man mgayari
smin. Un ang pnanaw ng kramihan ng mga native ppl nila, pero ang
ilang mga local ppl, sila din ang mga kasmbahay nmin. Sila mismo

ngwwarning smen kung safe oh hindi safe lumabas. My mga ilan kc s

grupo n mukang chinese kaya pinagiingat din kmi. At kung san p yun
pinka aggressive nilang tribe, s area p nila ang accomodation nmin.
Wala nmng nangyari panghaharas o masama smen bukod s isang
lasing n galit at ditumatamang binabato ang bus nmin dhil s
pgaakalang ns loob din ng bus ang bouncer n ngplabas sknya dun s
outlet n tinutugtugan nmin. Pro s bansang yun tintingala ang lahi ng
pinoy.
-short personal anecdote on the most lasting friendships they made
while working abroad
*Madami kaming nakilalang mga bagong kaibigan sa mga
napupuntahan namin, masaya lang kasi parang nagiging parte din
sila ng pamilya at ng grupo yung tipong gagayahin namin yung mga
gags sa tv shows, like magbabasaan, magics, magtataguan ng gamit,
maglulunodan sa pool, magpapalitan ng mga mean jokes at kung ano
ano pang trip. Yung walang magkakatampuhan at walang mapipikon
kasi talagang pamilya na yung naging turingan namin.
#Madalas pgkmy mga khit anong okasyon, public or personal. Laging
my mga kaibigang susuporta. Na silang mghahanda,mgppkain or
mgissponsor pra s ikakasya.
#sinasama kmi s mga gadering ng family nila at pinghahanda pa kmi
n parang pawelcome at thanks giving.
#Anjan din ang mga taong un if need mo in time of troubles.
#kahit san kmi bumyahe my mga nbubuong parang pamilya n
turingan s mga ngging guests nmin.
-short comment on the FIlipino band community overseas and how
they stick together during tough times
*bilang isang KRISTYANO laging No.1 at Center si Lord. In Jesus'
Name.
#Everytime n my bandang pinoy s kung saan rin kmi nkdestino lagi

mn ngyayaring dindalaw ng bawat grupo ang isang grupo at

nakkipagkaibigan. Dun n mgsisimula ang sharing as a musician at
bonding.
-most heartwarming comment given to them by their boss
#The most n siguro un mga time n mismong boss nmin ang nrringgan
nming proud n mga palakpak at hiyaw.
*nakakatouch rin siguro yung pagkatpos ng contract nyo sa knila
magrerequest ulit sila na pabalikin kmi. That means nagawa nmen
yung part nmen kaya nagustuhan nila kami.
-the system they use to help them in dealing with internal professional
problems.
#pgklimot n g kanta review muna bago isalang.
#pgkmy sakit ang isa, consideration muna at wg ipressure s tugtugin.
Samahan s hospital pra mgpcheckup at bigyan ng gmot.
#inilalapit din nmin ming mga mami ice at mami sweet ang ilang mga
ngging problema
*usap lang and prayers.
-what pushed them to work abroad (mejo angled po on a little
description of how the bars are here in the country, kung ano yung
labanan dito na nagpush sa kanila to go abroad)
#first. Dahil s passion for music and s mga encouragements ng mga
ilang professional musicians (byahero) n naencounter nmin bago kmi
mkbyahe.
*2nd.