Tovic Salvador

Vocal group Formula 5 dedicates reimagined 'Handog' to Nora Aunor

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<p>The group Formula 5 is staying true to its reputation as a &quot;vocal group&quot; by performing songs that highlight their vocal ranges while clarifying that they are not a P-pop group.</p><p>In his own words, Frank Lloyd Mamaril, leader and manager, defines a &quot;vocal group&quot; as one that concentrates on showcasing voices, singing styles, and songwriting rather than the overall aesthetics of its members -- and they have demonstrated these attributes in the last seven months.</p><p>“The good thing is that when we began as Formula 5, we observed emerging vocal groups following us. So it suggests we&#x27;re doing something right. So we&#x27;d like to continue this. We may not have a network to support us, but no one can take away the family we have built. Especially the folks behind the camera—directors, managers, and everyone. The distinction is that we are also involved in production. We work behind the scenes. When you are in front of the camera on stage, you understand how difficult it is to put on a show,” he told ABS-CBN News.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1747869626030image0 (4).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photo by Josh Mercado</em></span></span></span></div><p>Over the course of their seven-month existence as a group, Mamaril, Shone Ejusa, Kirby Bas, Oliver Agustin, and Kier have formed friendships, and one thing they all have in common is a dream, which appears to be at the heart of their songs.</p><p>Aside from performing at larger venues such as MOA Arena and Araneta Coliseum, Kier, the group&#x27;s songwriter, expressed a desire to write more songs not just for them, but also for other musicians.</p><p>“Writing songs has long been a passion of mine. It has also served as a means for me to express myself. I believe our group is gaining notice because of the songs. People need songs that address their heartbreaks and pain,” he shared with ABS-CBN News.</p><p>The singer-songwriter from Zambales piqued the interest of the audience at Viva Cafe when he performed Billie Eilish&#x27;s hit song &quot;Happier Than Ever,&quot; which featured the lyrics &quot;You were my everything, and all you did was make me f***ing sad.&quot;</p><p>Bas from Mindanao, on the other hand, demonstrated his violin skills by singing Juan Karlos&#x27; mega hit &quot;Buwan.&quot; It was the smoothest version of the song, reminding the audience that every time he comes to Manila, he brings his dreams.</p><p>“Stage is where I get my dreams, and I&#x27;m grateful to director Frank Lloyd for constantly guiding us. What we like about him as a member and manager is that he always ensures that every voice is heard and that we get the opportunity to shine,” he said.</p><p>Agustin, the group&#x27;s heartthrob, believes that singing brings them closer together, despite their different vocal styles. When combined, it becomes a dream group.</p><p>Last March 1, he released his original song &quot;Layo,&quot; which had the lyrics, “Ako&#x27;y lalayo sa&#x27;yo. ‘Di na lilingon ang puso. Natuto na ‘ko&#x27;t lalayo sa&#x27;yo. Masdan mo akong tumindig. Isa ka na lang estranghero na nakilala ko.&quot;</p><p>Ejusa, the group&#x27;s power belter, sang a stunning performance of &quot;And I Am Telling You I&#x27;m Not Going,&quot; which wonderfully showed his vocal range and gained him applause from the audience.</p><p>Among the group, Ejusa is the perfect example of a man who can sing high notes like there&#x27;s no tomorrow without seeming overly showy.</p><p>Additionally, Formula 5 sang a tribute song to Superstar Nora Aunor, whom they referred to as &quot;the voice,&quot; as the highlight of their show at Viva Cafe. </p><p>Singing their reimagined version of &quot;Handog,&quot; the group together stated, “We pay respect to the one and only Superstar of the Philippines, whose voice has impacted so many people, including ourselves. She has defined the OPM; let us commemorate her legacy.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/22/-paalam-at-salamat-nora-aunor-finally-laid-to-rest-1258" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">&#x27;Paalam at salamat&#x27;: Nora Aunor finally laid to rest</a></div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/celebrities/2025/4/16/nora-aunor-superstar-of-philippine-cinema-passes-away-2329" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nora Aunor, superstar of Philippine cinema, passes away</a></div><p>Finally, Formula 5 thanked those who had believed in them from the start, such as their families and fans. They stated that there are no shortcuts to achieving their goals with voices that embody Pinoy talent.</p><p>“Formula 5 represents diverse formulas for every one of us. But when we&#x27;re together, we blend in,” Mamaril ended. </p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pb7mpaRJ-Gg?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IDd3q80y1gM?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w4aKHJDkS08?autoplay=1&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>