A Half Remembered, Half Forgotten Filipino Band

Ruperto "Pet" de Jesus (rhythm guitars / backing vocals), Roberto "Bimbo" Ballesteros (drums), Rainald Paggao (lead guitars), Ramil Michael Aznar (bass), aLfie "eLf" vera mella (vocals / effects / mascot) (1995)

Once again, I'm introducing to all of you my beloved band, Half Life Half Death, which was in activity from 1988 to 2003, the year I left the Philippines for Canada. Since its inception, the band had had various members but the constant of whom until its demise were Rain Paggao (our main melody-maker) and yours truly.

In 1995 Half Life Half Death finally got to fulfill our longtime dream--to be able commercially to record and release our debut album, Pymyth Prahn, under Viva Records' Neo label. From this album rose a few underground-concert favorites which included "Butterflies," the song that best captured the sound and image of Half Life Half Death.

Many of our friends and fans had always wondered why we never took off higher than we reached back in the '90s despite the uniqueness and individuality of our band, and the positive raves which we were earning from people as well as fellow bands who knew us, like The Dawn, Mere Mercy, Alamid, Eraserheads, Introvoys, and Sugar Hiccup.

The answer is, I don't know as well.

Perhaps, we were not prepared for something greater than we could ever manage. Perhaps we were afraid of popularity, which we believed might have derailed us from each of our own professions. Or maybe, the listening public were not ready for our kind of music. Or perhaps, we lacked the determination. Oh, well. Whatever the reason, it no longer matters now.

Summing everything up, I believe that we had achieved more than what we actually wished for. And all those are more than enough laurels in our hearts.

In 2003 my bandmate Ramil made a music video of our song "Butterflies," which I have long been itching to share with all of you. Finally I found a way to upload the video on my blog site. Please take time to watch and listen to it.

Also, check out Half Life Half Death on Wikipedia.