"Maskara", the 2nd single from Rivermaya's latest album "Buhay" is on its second week at the #1 spot on the NU107 Stairway to Seven. We're also quickly climbing the hit charts on MYX and other radio stations. Thanks to everyone for voting and requesting! Mag-ingat sa tao na may MASKARA! :D

To vote on NU please text: nu vote maskara
and send to: 29107

To vote on MYX please text: myx vote maskara
and send to: 2366

To vote on Magic 89.9 please text:
magic 899 [message/request/dedication]
and send to: 2968

To vote on Max FM please text:
max fm [message/request/dedication]
and send to: 2968

To vote on Jam 88.3 please text:
jam 883 [message/request/dedication]
and send to: 2968

Salamat! :D

Rivermaya is: Mike Elgar, Japs Sergio, Mark Escueta & Jayson Fernandez

Welcome to the newest chapter in Rivermaya's colorful history. Thanks to overwhelming support of new and long-time fans, Rivermaya has survived another storm and their much awaited album entitled "Buhay" is available now in all major record bars nationwide. It's been 5 years since the band released an all-original album and they are very happy to have found their new home - Warner Music Philippines. "Buhay" features 16 all-original tracks written by Mark Escueta, Japs Sergio, Mike Elgar and newest member Jayson Fernandez. Vocal duties for this album are also shared by the members, now Rivermaya has four vocalists. The album includes the hit single "Sugal Ng Kapalaran" and Rivermaya's lastest single "Maskara" which is quickly climbing the charts on MYX and is currently at #4 NU107 Stairway to Seven. Grab a copy now! :)

Ringing in a new chapter (and the new year) in the RIVERMAYA story is the rocking new single, SUGAL NG KAPALARAN.

SUGAL NG KAPALARAN is the first single off RIVERMAYA'S much-awaited album, set for release in January 2008, from its new line-up.

The song features the vocals of both JAPS SERGIO and JAYSON FERNANDEZ, the 18 year old, who was plucked out of a field of 500 hopefuls to become the newest brother in the RIVERMAYA family.

JAYSON joins MARK ESCUETA, MIKE ELGAR, AND JAPS SERGIO in both singing and songwriting for the band.

"It's about free will," says JAPS SERGIO, "and having to live with the decisions, big or small, that we make in our
everyday life."

For the band that has captured the country's imagination – as well as admiration and support – thanks to their
'never say die' attitude in the face of the twists and turns of fortune, "SUGAL NG KAPALARAN also has a deeper sub-text.

Jayson Fernandez, an 18 year old from Manguisoc, Camarines Norte, is the newest member of Rivermaya. He won the judges –- and the bands –- nod hands-down during the intensely exciting grand finals for Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag, the search for the next brother of the Rivermaya family. He joins Mark Escueta, Mike Elgar and Japs Sergio, with whom he will share songwriting and vocalist duties.

The lanky teenager brought the house down with his heartfelt rendition of the Rivermaya classic Himala. It was as if he was asking the whole world for a miracle to make his dream come true, said judge Francis Brew Reyes, music director of the influential NU 107.

Jayson brings a special youthful energy to Rivermaya – as shown when he performed his first song with ang banda ng bayan -– the rousing celebration of the future generation, Awit ng Kabataan, with all the joy and raw intensity that only an 18year old can rightfully bring to this anthem. The crowd at Music Musuem greeted him with wild cheers and a standing ovation, as the evening ended with Rivermaya's new single, Banda ng Bayan.

The evening did not entirely go in his favor, as arch-rival Hans Dimayuga, 19, a senior from Dela Salle University garnered the most number of text votes and got the judges approval for best original song.

Jayson dropped to the floor when Rivermaya co-manager, Lizza G. Nakpil, exclaimed, I’m going for a leap of faith --- so, Jayson, we love you! Welcome to Rivermaya! He later explained that he wanted to jump for joy, pero nanginig ang tuhod ko at napaupo na lang ako. Rivermaya’s Mark , Japs, and Mike rushed to help him to his feet and welcome him to the Rivermaya brotherhood.

He exclaimed in response, Salamat sa inyong lahat –- dati pinapanuod ko lang sila, tinitignan sila sa litrato… ngayon kasama ko na sila!

Jayson said, Ang gusto ko lang paratingin sa lahat ay –- wag mag-give-up sa iyong dream. May nag-text sa akin na kaibigan na naniniwala siya na kaya kong maging part ng Rivermaya, so naglakas-loob akong sumali. Ang sinabi ko sa sarili ko, walang mawawala naman sa akin at kung matalo, at least may picture ako na kasama sila.

He was chosen from over 500 hopefuls who trooped to Rivermaya’s 2-day auditions at the University of the Philippines, and from 13 finalists who made it to the weekly televised search on Studio 23.

A highschool graduate from St. Peter’s Academy in Calamba, Laguna, Jayson was raised by his lola and mother (who was a Juan dela Cruz fan and taught him to sing his first song, Balong Malalim.)

SEVEN DAYS TO GO AND COUNTING.....!!!!

After a grueling two months search for the right brother, the newest member of Rivermaya joins the family on Wednesday, October 24th, at a grand finals night at the Music Musuem.

(The invitational event, presented by Smart, Samsung, and San Miguel Beer in cooperation with PLDT and Human, will be broadcast in a 2-hour special on Sunday, October 28th, at 9:15 pm exclusively on Studio 23)

Following the unexplained and unexpected departure of former frontman Rico Blanco, on the eve of the band’s launch of a second Asian album, the music scene was full of rumors that the band that had ruled the airwaves for 14 years was set to finally disband.

However, in a stunning turn of events, Rivermaya members, including founding member Mark Escueta alongside Japs Sergio and Mike Elgar, announced that they would forge on.

So many text messages, email, phone calls from fans and fellow musicians made up our minds that we should never give up, said Mark. It gave new meaning to the words banda ng bayan because we realized that the real heart and soul of Rivermaya are all the people who have supported us through the years.

An energized Rivermaya went on to release not just a CD entitled Bagong Liwanag featuring songs written and sung by Mark, Japs, and Mike but also launched a tv show with the same title on Studio 23.

The show has attracted a cult following among both music fans and the general public who have followed the rollercoaster ride of the banda ng bayan for over a decade.

(For updates, log on to www.mypad.net or dial 1-908-RMYA-888.)

Rivermaya’s friends from the OPM band scene, including Sandwich and The Dawn, Stonefree, Imago, Callalily, and Spongecola share topbilling for the Bagong Liwanag grand finals night.

Hosts for the evening are MYX veejay Sanya Smith (daughter of the legendary Pepe Smith of Juan dela Cruz fame) and fellow veejay Drei plus other surprise guests.

This Sunday, Oct 21st, the number of finalists goes down to just two. And Rivermaya fanatics may now start voting for their choice of the next member of the Rivermaya family, alongside Mark, Mike and Japs.

Voting starts on Sunday, Oct 21st, at 9 pm and runs till Wednesday, Oct 24th, 12 noon.

Simply text VOTE (SPACE) FINALIST CODE NUMBER and send to 2910 to let your voice be heard on this historic decision day.

It’s D for Decision as the grand finals of Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag looms on Wednesday, Oct 24th at a strictly invitational concert at Music Musuem.

The finals night – and the results of who will be the next member of Rivermaya – will be broadcast on Sunday, Oct. 28th on Studio 23 at 9.15 pm in a 2-hour special.

Rivermaya’s friends from the OPM band scene, including Sandwich and The Dawn, Stonefree, Imago, Callalily, and Spongecola share topbilling for the event.

Hosts for the evening are MYX veejay Sanya Smith (daughter of the legendary Pepe Smith of Juan dela Cruz fame) and fellow veejay Drei plus other surprise guests.

This Sunday, the number of finalists goes down to just two – and Rivermaya fanatics may now start voting for their choice of the next member of the Rivermaya family, alongside Mark, Mike and Japs.

Voting starts on Sunday, Oct 21, at 9 pm and runs till Wednesday, Oct 24th, 12 noon.

Simply text VOTE (SPACE) FINALIST CODE NUMBER and send to 2910 to let your voice be heard on this historic decision day.

13 finalists, from almost 500 hopefuls who flocked to the auditions, made it to the first episode of Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag. The search for the newest member of ang banda ng bayan airs every Sunday, at 9.15 pm, on Studio 23, with grand finals on October 24th, (airs on October 28th.) Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag (The Audition Specials) is presented by Smart, Samsung, and San Miguel Beer in cooperation with PLDT and Human.

Each episode in the 7-week season gives viewers a behind-the-scenes peek on what it takes to be in a band, as the finalists face a different musical challenge every week. Episode 1, entitled Paying Your Dues, took a look at the first steps of the audition process. (After all, these hundreds of hopefuls were no different from the members of Rivermaya when they tried out at the first auditions in 1993.)

The starting 13 are : Omar Aspacio, 27, a coffeeshop barista from the Central Colleges of the Philippines; Yan Asuncion, 22, a graduate from the U.P. Los Banos who grew up in Saudi Arabia; Jacob Clemente, 23, from Hagonoy, Bulacan; Hans Dimayuga, 19, and Martin de Vera, 24, both from De La Salle University; Jayson Fernandez, 18, who grew up in Bicol and Laguna; Nickolo Katigbak, 23, a computer programming student; Ken Kurosawa, 24, a Japanese-Filipino, also from DLSU-Benilde; Miche Magnaye, 24, the lone female and a student at the U.P. Conservatory of Music; Jona Paculan, 20, a psychology major from the Ateneo de Manila; Kenneth Pasia, 32, a jeans designer; MJ Podolig, 28, a wedding singer from Bulan, Sorsogon who traveled 10 hours to join the auditions; and Mike Salzseider, 22, an events organizer of German descent from DLSU-Dasmarinas.

Tune in to the second episode of Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag on Sunday, Sept 23, at 9.15 pm on Studio 23, when the finalists face their first challenge – to perform a capella at the UST college square to a crowd of strangers. Mentors are Karl Roy of Kapatid, Miggy of Chicosci and Mike Elgar of Rivermaya. Text RIVERMAYA to 2910 for cool Rivermaya content.

Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag (The Audition Specials) is set to launch on Studio 23 -- hot on the heels of the launch of a landmark EP by the same name – as well as much-anticipated auditions for a new member for the band. The show premieres on primetime, on Sunday, September 16th at 9.15 pm and will run for seven episodes, every Sunday till the end of October. Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag is brought to you by Smart and San Miguel Beer.

Its been a rollercoaster ride for Rivermaya since 2001, when Mike Elgar on guitar and Japs Sergio on bass joined the line-up -- as the band scooped up a record-breaking number of local and international awards, in back-to-back years from 2004 to 2006 that culminated in the launch of an Asian album and tour of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Korea just last year. Rivermaya was set to sign an international recording deal and release a follow-up album in Asia in mid-2007 when former frontman Rico Blanco unexpectedly announced his resignation from the band.

Urged on by both fans and fellow musicians to continue the band, Rivermaya responded by announcing auditions in late August. Some 500 candidates showed up for the event, which had to be extended an extra date to accommodate hopefuls not just from all over the Philippines but also from the United States, U.K. and the Middle East.

Rivermaya : Bagong Liwanag, the tv show, marks a whole new chapter in the band’s history. We received so many text messages and email asking not only how to join the auditions, but also, how to watch and witness, said Mark Escueta, vocals/drummer of Rivermaya. “It just felt right that we bring this very important part of Rivermaya’s life to all the people who have believed in us all these years, and who have told us to keep going.”

Its also going to be a behind-the-scenes look at what being in a band is all about, explains Mike Elgar, vocals/guitar of Rivermaya. Getting up onstage in front of a crowd is only a small part of all the work that goes on before you can actually do that, he explained.

We think of this as not losing a vocalist, or a songwriter – but gaining four, grins Escueta. We have three singer-songwriters now in Rivermaya. We are now looking for a fourth brother for the Rivermaya family.

Indeed, Rivermaya as a power trio has found a new voice with Mark, Mike, and Japs. The band has recently released an EP, also titled “Bagong Liwanag”, containing all-new, original songs written and sung by the three members.

The group that’s been dubbed Ang Banda ng Bayan by fans across the country has consistently given props to its fans and listeners for inspiration. Tayo po lahat ang banda ng bayan,” says Japs Sergio (vocals/bass of Rivermaya) quoting a line from the show’s theme song and referencing the band’s view that the heart and soul of the band is all the people who have continued to support the band these last 14 years.

Karapat-dapat lang na gawin namin open to the public ‘yung auditions namin. We really see the show as well as a salute to all the great Filipino talent out there and a celebration of today’s young musicians, said Elgar.