Pancake 80 with Hard Rock Cafe General Manager Celso Calisno (far left) and DJ Jaypee of Mellow 94.7 at the 'Hard Rock Cafe Battle of the Bands 2011' finals night. (Photo by ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ)

 MANILA, Philippines – Pancake 80 was hailed the first-ever winner of the local “Hard Rock Battle of Bands 2011” competition held at Hard Rock Café in Makati City last March 4.

The band, which bested co-finalists Indios and Project, now advances to the regional leg of the worldwide band competition wherein the chosen acts will have a chance to perform in one of the biggest music festivals in the world, “Hard Rock Calling,” to be held in London from June 24 to 26.

Although ecstatic over their triumph, Pancake 80, composed of Ruth Lagamson (vocals), Rusty Balanquid (guitars), Franz Madriaga (guitars), Richard Navarrete (bass), and Flecher Hernandez (drums), related to Bulletin Entertainment that they did not expect to win.

“Ang gagaling nilang lahat!” exclaimed Madriaga.

“Practice lang kami nang practice, binigay namin ‘yung best namin,” added Hernandez.

The three finalists were adjudged by a panel composed of esteemed personalities in the music industry including John Lesaca, Boy Katindig, Danny Samonte, and Wally Gonzales.

Pancake 80, along with other winning bands from various countries across the globe, will be screened by a prestigious roster of judges that includes Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy, Little Steven Van Zandt of the E Street Band, Live Nation Vice President of Promotions Toby Leighton-Pope, Hard Rock International Chief Marketing Officer John Galloway, and Absolute Radio Director of Marketing Clare Baker.

Online voting will then determine the four bands that will perform at "Hard Rock Calling" in Hyde's Park.

If chosen, the band will be given free airfare and accommodation, as well as $300 pocket money for each of the members. But the biggest prize may well be the opportunity to perform alongside rock icon Bon Jovi at the music fest.

In going head-to-head with other foreign acts, Pancake 80 believes that the edge of Filipinos is their “heart.”

“Talagang likas na mga musikero tayo eh...” said Navarrete.

Lagamson hopes they can help reawaken Pinoy rock music, which has seemingly taken a back seat with the popularity of Western pop-dance music and Korean Pop (K-Pop) in the country.

“Sa’tin kasi ngayon medyo ina-adopt natin ‘yung mga tugtog sa ibang bansa na hindi natin nabibigyan ng pansin ‘yung sariling atin kaya kailangan natin i-promote [ang musika natin] sa ibang bansa at kailangan nating sumali nang sumali para makilala rin tayo sa ibang bansa,” said she.

Meanwhile, Hard Rock Café General Manager Celso Calison hopes that the international music scene will get to know not just Filipino singers but also Filipino music.

“Maraming magaling na Pilipino. Kaya nga gusto ko na maka-break sila sa international scene. Ito ‘yung maliit na bagay na puwedeng gawin ng Hard Rock so with this event I hope na makilala ang Filipino music abroad,” he told Bulletin Entertainment in a separate interview.

An event that used to be held only in the US, the “Hard Rock Battle of the Bands” became a worldwide competition in celebration of Hard Rock Café’s 40th anniversary.  After this year's competition, Calison revealed that the local “Battle of the Bands” will be held annually.