GRAND FINALS COMMENTS
Combined comments of Mr. Romel Sanchez, Ms. Ning San Jose and Mr. Gerard Salonga.

Mr. Romel Sanchez
Currently the Managing Director for Songstream Music, Romel Sanchez was A&R Assistant for Viva Records from 1993 to 1995, Label Manager from BMG Records Phil. from 1995 to 2000 and A&R Manager for Viva Reocrds from 2000-2003.

He has also produced recordings fro artists such as Sandwich, Imago, Itchyworms, Ariel Rivera, Pops Fernandez and Ely Buendia and has been a guitarist for Cynthia Alexander, Bayang Barrios, Wency Cornejo, Ogie Alcasid and the China Crisis Philippine Tour, among others.

Luningning Aballe San Jose


Ms. San Jose who hails from Tacloban City is formerly with the UP Madrigal Singers "Madz", batch 1991 - 1998. She was part of the Madz batch to win the Grand Prix, European du Chant choral 1997.

A back-up singer to Ivy Violan, Florante, The Apo Hiking Society and to Robby Rosa in 1987.

She was also in the chorus of "First Name", the musical by Trumpets. A vocal coach to the New Voice Company production of "Falsettos", the musical play that was staged at the Music Museum.

A Voice Teacher, a Choral Conductor who graduated in UP College of Music with a Bachelor's degree in Music majoring in Choral conducting. Formerly a member of the Leyte State College Children's and Youth Choir 1979 - 1984.

She's married to Jorge San Jose (drummer to Lani Misalucha, Lea Salonga, Sharon Cuneta, The Company, etc) and has 4 kids.

Gerard Salonga


Gerard Salonga is one of the Philippines' most accomplished musical directors, conductors, and arrangers. A multi-platinum record producer as well, he has worked with the country's biggest musical artists, including Lea Salonga, Regine Velasquez, and Martin Nievera.

He attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where he studied arranging with Grammy winner Richard Evans and conducting with David Callahan. He Graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1998 after only 16 semesters in attendance and spent a year following graduation as a music copyist and orchestrator at Sony Pictures in Culver City, CA.

Upon his return in the Philippines in late 1999, he instantly became one of the most sought-after arrangesrs and musical directors and carved a niche for himself in the industry, particularly on projects requiring a symphonic/orchestral sound. His dynamic conducting style made him a favorite among artists and audiences alike and he quicjkly became known for creating lush, dynamic and evocative arrangements.

In 2004 and 2005 he produced the station IDs of the Filipino Channel which both years won the Promax World Silver award in New York for best use of music with or without lyrics. In 2002, 2003 and 2005, he won the Aliw Award (live performance awards) for Best Musical Director. In 2006 he won the Awit (recording industry) award for Best Musical Arrangement.

He spent 2 years as arranger and conductor in residence of the Manila Philharmonic Orchestar and has conducted the Philippine Philharmonic and San Miguel Philharmonic orchestras as well.

Today, Gerard is a part of Carmel House Studios as its chief operating officer, as well as its music director and conductor of the studio's on-staff orchestra, the Global Studio Orchestra. Last year, he and the orchestra embarked on a series of CD recordings entitled Musika Natin (literally meaning "Our Music"). This is a collection of newly recorded renditions of the great Filipino compositions. Two albums have been released to critical acclaim, with another due this year.

Recently, Gerard has been discovering his talents in the areas of scoring to film and video. His work is heard on several animation projects such as Journey With Terry, Jippy the Jeepney and Shelldon. His score to the feature film, "The Inheritance" received rave reviews from local and international film press. He is slated to compose a large symphonic score next year for a full-length 3-D animated release.