Sponge Cola

One of the most popular rock bands in the Philippines, Sponge Cola has produced a number of hit songs, including "Jeepney", "KLSP", "Gemini", "Bitiw", "Tuliro", "Di Na Mababawi", "Tambay", "Kay Tagal Kitang Hinintay", and "XGF".

[1] After a couple of lineup changes, drummer Christopher "Chris" Cantada and Rampqueen guitarist Erwin "Armo" Armovit joined the band permanently.

In the midst of touring the healthy local gig circuit during their senior year in high school, they released a 5-track, all-original, self-titled EP in 2003.

In the same year, the band performed a cover of Madonna's seminal classic "Crazy for You", a bootlegged copy of which was shared and downloaded immensely via peer-to-peer networks.

This, along with the EP, helped the band break into mainstream consciousness and popularity, gaining extensive airplay from several local pop and rock music radio stations.

In 2004, Sponge Cola signed a record distribution deal with Sony BMG Philippines and released their first full-length debut album entitled Palabas (The Show), an allusion to their roots in theatre.

The album was certified gold in less than four months after release, mainly due to the success of lead single "Bitiw" (Let Go), which enjoyed massive radio and television airplay.

In the same year, ABS-CBN once again tapped Sponge Cola for the theme song of Pedro Penduko at ang mga Engkantao, "Tuloy Pa Rin".

The band was also featured in the MYX show Myxellaneous, following their fast evolution from young upstarts to one of the more stellar acts in the Philippine rock music scene.

It also included the music videos of "Bitiw", "Nakapagtataka", "Tuliro", "Tuloy Pa Rin", "Movie", and "Pasubali", and hit platinum a week after release.

The self-titled record was a success both critically and commercially, led by the official theme song for Season 71 of the UAAP – "Puso" (Heart).

Other singles from the album included the massive hit "Di Na Mababawi" (You Can't Take it Back), "Wala Kang Katulad" (You Are Like No Other), "Makapiling Ka" (To Be With You), and "Ayt!"

Entitled Araw Oras Tagpuan (Day Time Setting), it contains 12 tracks, including songs from the band's Tambay (Hanging Out) EP, released earlier in 2010 via a Coca-Cola promo.

The outstanding sales of Tambay and Araw Oras Tagpuan gave Sponge Cola a diamond record award as the lastter sold over 200,000 units that summer.

In September of the following year, the band's six-track District EP was released, with lead single "XGF" featuring Parokya ni Edgar vocalist Chito Miranda and rapper Los Magno.

Pag-Ibig is the opening theme song of Dangwa, a romance drama series that aired on GMA from 2015 to 2016, and starred Janine Gutierrez.

After promoting Sea of Lights with another packed year of stadium and festival shows, the COVID-19 pandemic started in December 2019, grounding all live music to a halt.

This time the boys worked with producer DJ Joey Santos at his Love One Another Sound Production studio, and in December 2020 they released Siguro Nga.

Sponge Cola performing in 2019