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Bamboo
Bamboo during a live performance
Background information
Origin	Manila, Philippines
Genre(s)	Pinoy Rock, Rock, Alternative Rock, Jazz Fusion
Years active	2002–present
Label(s)	EMI Philippines, Inc.
Associated acts	Rivermaya Passage Kapatid
Website	bamboo.com.ph
Members
Francisco "Bamboo" Mañalac (Vocals) Nathan Azarcon (Bass) Ira Cruz (Guitars) Vic Mercado (Drums)

Bamboo is a Filipino alternative rock band founded in 2002 by the former vocalist of Rivermaya, Bamboo Mañalac.

Contents 1 Band Origin 2 Music career 3 Discography 3.1 Albums 3.2 Compilations 3.3 Singles 4 Awards 5 Footnotes 6 References 7 External links

Mañalac serves as the band's frontman. Contrary to popular belief, the band is not named after him. According to Ira Cruz, the guitarist, the word bamboo relates to strength and durability with an island feel to it plus its also very Filipino and Asian at the same time. Their first priority for a band name during the 2000's was "Audio Barangay" which means "Audio Neighborhood" in english. However, they realized that its a bit hard to pronounce and it is not that catchy compared to just "Bamboo." They also dropped the name "Audio Baranggay" because Audioslave was formed roughly the same time during their band's formation, to avoid confusion.

Four years after their departure from Rivermaya, Mañalac and Azarcon caught up again with each other, during which Azarcon introduced him to Ira Cruz and Vic Mercado. Two of its members, Bamboo Mañalac and Nathan Azarcon (cousin of comedian Hyubs Azarcon), were formerly part of Rivermaya. The other two members, Ira Cruz (boyfriend of Phoemela Barranda) and Vic Mercado, were former instrumentalists of another band, Passage. Mercado was also the drummer of the band Kapatid, during that time.

Bamboo released their debut album, As The Music Plays, in February 2004 where it received positive response from fans and critics alike. The album also won numerous awards at the AWIT Awards, NU107 Rock Awards, and MTV Pilipinas 2004.

Their second album, Light Peace Love, which was released in 2005, consists of ten songs with differing moods and subjects, and took only 3 months to record. This album has a softer sound with both its lyrics and delivery. For this album, the band added more strings and a variety of other instruments, including a trumpet. The band admitted that this album had a personal feel to it. They experimented with several new styles that may please new listeners, at the risk of disappointing fans of the more conventional rock of their first album.

Their third album, We Stand Alone Together, was released in 2007. It contains revived local songs such as Buklod's "Tatsulok" and international songs such as Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover" from different generations. It also includes bonus tracks like unplugged versions of their hit songs from previous albums such as "Mr. Clay", "These Days", and "Hallelujah". Once again, opting to do away with the conventional rock image that was attached to them , they produced sounds which were more jazzy than expected.

Star Records--backed up by ABS-CBN TV Production and MYX--produced and created the official soundtrack for the tele-epiko "Rounin", wherein the title track “Argos” was performed by Bamboo. A new avenue was opened to the band, as “Argos” is said to be the band’s first venture to record a song for a primetime television show. It is also the first time for the multi-awarded band and Star Records to work together.

The band is also part of the “Days of Peace” Campaign by UNICEF with Gary Valenciano.^[1]

• As The Music Plays (2004)-Double platinum
• Light Peace Love (2005)-Platinum
• We Stand Alone Together (2007)-Gold

• Full Volume:The Best Of Pinoy Alternative (2005 EMI Philippines)

includes As The Music Plays (Jam Version)

• Rounin OST (2007 Star Records)

includes Argos

Year	Single	Album
2004	Noypi	As The Music Plays
	Mr. Clay
	Masaya
	These Days
2005	Hallelujah	Light Peace Love
	F.U.
	Much Has Been Said
	Truth
	Peace Man
2006	Argos	Rounin OST
2007	Tatsulok	We Stand Alone Together
	Probinsyana
	So Far Away

• SOP Music Awards 2005

Strictly Alternative Category Winner: "Hallelujah" - Bamboo

• SOP Pasiklaband 2006

Best Rock Band: Bamboo

Vocalist of the Year: Bamboo Mañalac

• MTV Pilipinas 2004 Music Awards

Favorite New Artist/Group: Bamboo for "Noypi"

Favorite Song: "Noypi" - Bamboo

Favorite Group: Bamboo for "Noypi"

• MTV Pilipinas 2005 Music Awards

Favorite Media Soundtrack: "Fiesta Amazing" (Smart) - Bamboo

• MTV Pilipinas 2006 Music Awards

Best Cinematography in a Video: Bamboo for "Much Has Been Said"

• 18th Awit Awards 2005

Best Performance by a New Group Recording Artist: "Noypi" - Bamboo

Best Rock Song: "Noypi" - Bamboo

People's Choice Favorite Song: "Noypi" - Bamboo

• 19th Awit Awards 2006

Album of the Year: Light Peace Love - Bamboo

Best Performance by a Group: Bamboo

Song of the Year: "Hallelujah" - Bamboo

Best Ballad: "Much Has Been Said" - Bamboo

Best Rock Song: "Hallelujah" - Bamboo

People's Choice Award: Bamboo

Most Promising Entertainer: Bamboo

• NU Rock Awards 2004

Vocalist of the Year: Bamboo Mañalac

Song of the Year: "Noypi" - Bamboo

Drummer of the Year: Vic Mercado of Bamboo

Listeners' Choice Award: Bamboo

Band of the Year: Bamboo

• NU Rock Awards 2005

Vocalist of the Year: Bamboo Mañalac

Album of the Year: Light Peace Love - Bamboo

Listeners' Choice Award: Bamboo

• NU Rock Awards 2007

Guitarist of the Year: Ira Cruz

Bassist of the Year: Nathan Azarcon

Drummer of the Year: Vic Mercado

Best Live Act: Bamboo

Artist of the Year: Bamboo

Listener's Choice Award: Bamboo

• 93.1 RX Year End Awards 2004

Song of the Year: "Masaya" - Bamboo

New Local Artist of the Year: Bamboo

Local Group of the Year: Bamboo

• 89.9 TM Year End Awards 2004

Song of the Year: "Masaya" - Bamboo

New Local Artist of the Year: Bamboo

Song of the Year: "Noypi" - Bamboo

• Bamboo Official Site
• Bamboo Unofficial Site

• Bamboo on Rockstar Bembang!
• Bamboo PinoyBanda Profile
• Bamboo Yahoo! Music Page
• Bamboo profile at EMI Philippines