“So para sa amin, ‘yung edge namin is mahal namin ‘yung ginagawa namin. ‘Di para tumugtog lang. Storya kasi ‘yun eh.”
Thus declares Juan Gapang lead vocalist Kokoi Baldo in an interview with Entertainment.ABS-CBN.com right after the rock-reggae band from Bacolod City emerged as Grand Singing Champions of Your Moment last February 2 (Sunday).
WINNING MOMENTS: Juan Gapang is the first ever Your Moment Grand Singing Champion
For the group, however, it was not only about winning the title that mattered but giving it their all in the final grand showdown, since they always knew how formidable the competition was.
“Alam naming lahat ng mga nakalaban namin magagaling talaga,” Kokoi added in the video. “’Yung sa amin lang, nung last kami bago sumalang ng finale. Eto last na ito. Isipin n’yo ang pinaghirapan natin. Eto na ‘yun eh. Manalo man tayo, matalo man tayo. ‘Di man tayo mag-champion, patuloy tayo. Panalo na tayo eh. Nasa top five na kami. Panalo na kami eh. Napasok na kami (in the Grand Finals). Panalo na kami n’yan.”
Drummer Jon Golez further said they weren’t even expecting to win the jugular, considering the competition as they faced another favorite, the three-piece Verse Band from Las Pinas City.
“Ine-enjoy lang namin ang every battle. Wala kaming ine-expect. ‘Di kami nag-eexpect na manalo. Magaling naman lahat ng sumali. (Nagdadala lang sa amin ay) ‘yung passion namin,” Jon stressed.
Kokoi said their inspiration in their touching final performance—a deeply felt, relatable rendition of Bamboo’s “Tatsulok”, a song about the wide, prevailing social divide—was their deep sense of family, which they find in each other, their loved ones, and in their music.
WATCH: Juan Gabang rocks the stage with “Tatsulok” performance
“Pamilya (ang inspirasyon namin). Pamilya talaga. Lahat ng pagmamahal namin sa music. Dati kasi ang music pamilya namin. Music ang nagturo sa akin ng realidad hanggang sa pinaglaban ko ang music. Wala naman akong yaman, wala naman akong diploma, pero masaya ako sa ginagawa ko,” Kokoi noted.
Before his band joined Your Moment, Kokoi tried his luck in season 2 of The Voice of the Philippines and reached the Live Rounds before he got eliminated. Five years after, Kokoi bounced back with this immense championship win, this time with his band.
Kokoi has this to say about the journey:
“Eto ‘yung lahat. Lahat ng paghihirap, lahat ng inin-enjoy ko sa music. Halo kasi ‘yan. Parang yin-yang ba, bad side, good side na mga nangyayari sa buhay mo, may matutunan ka. Always look and walk straight forward. ‘Wag kang mag-aim ng high, kundi tahakin mo ang landas na alam mo dapat.”
What has changed in Kokoi’s life since joining the Kapamilya reality talent contests?
“Siguro may nagbago lang sa akin is nakilala ako ng tao. Pero pagbabago sa sarili ko, ganoon pa rin. Kung paano ako nag-start, ‘yun ang always ko na nasaisip ko eh. Kung paano ako nag start. Hanggang ngayon, ganoon pa rin,” Kokoi emphasized.
Kokoi also thanked their mentor, songwriter and record producer Marcus Davis, for all the precious pointers he had imparted.
“Kay Coach Marcus, sobrang salamat sa kanya kasi tinulungan n’ya kami na marinig ng tao din at the same time tinuruan din nya kami ng mga konting technique na ganito gawin mo, ganyan, which is tama naman. Napa-develop pa kami as a band,” he said.
In the event the band would be tapped to represent the country in an international competition, Kokoi said they would be honored and proud to do so.
“Kung ire-represent namin ang bansa natin, bakit hindi? Why not, coconut? Kasi pinag-uusapan natin dito, watawat na ito. Pride na ng bansa natin. Kung bibigyan kami ng pagkakataon na kumatawan sa ibang bansa para sa kompetisyon, isang malaking karangalan ‘yun. Bitbit mo ‘yung lahi mo at saka watawat ng kung ano ang kinagisnan mo,” Kokoi stressed.
Guitarist Gyem Melad, meanwhile, thanked all supporters of the band, with whom they share this monumental triumph.
“Maraming salamat sa suporta, sa mga naniniwala sa amin. Sa grupo na ito. Kumbaga, naging Kapamilya namin rin kayo. Dahil sa inyo, nagpatuloy kami sa laban na ito. At dahil din sa inyo, grand champion ang Juan Gapang. Itong championship na ito, kasama kayo sa panalong ito. Salamat,” Gyem said.