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30,000 rock fans jam Muziklaban finals

For 14 years, Red Horse Beer has hosted the largest amateur band competition in the country. Last February 2, 2013 the 2012 Red Horse Muziklaban Grand Finals was its biggest yet, with 30,000 jamming the corner of EDSA and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay.

The five finalists that were selected out of thousands of applicants throughout the year shared the main stage with the main Red Horse Beer bands.

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The judges that evening held their fate and the bands leveled up to the the rock stars that preceded them—Slapshock, Razorback, Greyhoundz, Kjwan and WilaBaliw.

Music and alcohol: there’s a potion for rock and roll.

Missing in action

Missing members (and musical chairs) seemed to be the theme of the night.

Slapshock made the event emotional as they formally announced the homecoming of their guitarist Jerry Basco back in their line-up.

Niño Avenido of Greyhoundz and WilaBaliw also played with Razorback that evening since Louie Talan was in Memphis for a blues and jazz competition.

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Kjwan’s guitarist Boogie Romero was absent as well.

But the show didn’t disappoint because the bands continued to churn out a surplus of rock power in every single performance.

Remembering Karl Roy

Host and model Phoemela Barranda, DJ Deliciosa and Red Horse Beer Ambassador Francis Brew Reyes hosted the event.

It’s almost been a year since former Red Horse Beer endorser Karl Roy died but ambassador Ely Buendia sang “Panaginip” by P.O.T while a slideshow of Karl Roy photographs flashed on the screen.

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Francis Brew showcased his music arrangement and guitar skills in the all star band finale. Vocalists Jamir Garcia and Chi Evora of Slapshock, Reg Rubio of Greyhoundz and the one and only Pepe Smith performed Mike Hanopol’s “Laki sa Layaw (Jeproks)” to cap off the evening’s celebration.

The big winner

This year’s Pambansang Muziklaban Champions is A Music Theory. Members Cholo de Guia Pabalan, JC Santos, John Jo Presingular and Lorce Manaois, all based in Manila, proved worthy of the most coveted award of all band competitions, winning 1 million pesos in prizes.

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Throughout the next Muziklaban season, A Music Theory will be touring with the meanest and loudest bands in the country, to begin its training to become the next rock legends future bands will look up to.

PHOTO GALLERY: Red Horse Muziklaban 2012, Photos by Niña Sandejas

Niña Sandejas is an award-winning music photographer whose work has appeared here and abroad. She was included in Preview magazine's 2011 Creative It List and was named in early 2012 as one of 14 Women Who Rock by Rogue magazine . Visit her blog, like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram @rosarioko.