AfterImage

AfterImage is a Filipino rock band who was active in the late 80s and 1990s. They disbanded thirteen years after their formation, having released three studio albums. After disbanding, Wency Cornejo, the band's vocalist, pursued a solo career. AfterImage was the band behind the commercially popular songs "Habang May Buhay" (While There's Life), "Next in Line", and "Mangarap Ka" (Dream). In 2008, the band reunited and released their fourth studio album.

AfterImage
Origin	Manila, Philippines
Genres	Alternative rock OPM Pinoy rock pop rock soft rock[1]
Years active	1984–1997 2008–present
Labels	Dyna Records/Buhay Banda Pilipinas
Associated acts	The Dawn 6 Cycle Mind Bazuramen P.O.T. Introvoys Alamid Anak Ni Vic Lovingly Yours Randy
Members	Wency Cornejo Bobit Uson Chuck Isidro Rogie Callejo Arnold Cabalza
Past members	Francis Reyes Niño Mesina

The band's first album, entitled Touch the Sun, was released in 1992 on Dyna Records (now Dyna Music). Among the eight songs that the album contained, four were released as singles: "Bai (Sa Langit ang Ating Tagpuan)", "Only You", "Next in Line", and "Pagtawid". The title of the album, which was the concluding part of the lyric to "Next in Line", was said to have just been a spontaneous utter of phrase which Cornejo made during the recording session for the said song. The band, having thought that the phrase, "touch the sun" had captured the essence and concept of the entire album, prompted them to use it as the album's title. The recurrent theme of the songs in the album was a personal expression of hopes, frustrations, and self-renewal.

History

The band was composed of five members: Bobit Uson on bass guitar, Chuck Isidro on lead guitar, Rogie Callejo on drums, Arnold Cabalza on keyboards and Wency Cornejo on vocals. Francis Reyes (The Dawn) was the former guitarist of this band before Chuck Isidro (6cyclemind).

In 1994 at the height of the first band craze in the Philippine music scene, AfterImage released their second album titled Tag-Ulan, Tag-Araw. The album's name was taken from two singles from the album. "Tag-ulan", the album's carrier single, topped various charts in the Philippines and was awarded a Gold Record Award, and later the follow-up single "Mangarap Ka" also became a great hit for the band. They also won the first NU Rock Award for Artist of the Year in the same year.[2][3]

At the 1995 Awit Awards the album Tag-Ulan, Tag-Araw was named Album of the Year.[2] A few months after winning the awards, Niño Mesina became the band's newest bassist leading Bobit Uson to play guitar alongside Chuck Isidro.

In 2001, AfterImage disbanded due to management conflicts.

In 2008, after 7 years of disbandment, the band returned and reunited again for their new album, Our Place Under the Sun[4] from Viva Records, 12 years since their last album in 1996 from Dyna Music (formerly Dyna Records).

Members

• Wency Cornejo – lead vocals[5]
• Chuck Isidro – lead and rhythm guitar
• Bobit Uson – bass guitar
• Rogie Callejo – drums
• Arnold Cabalza – keyboards, backing vocals

Former members

• Francis Reyes – lead guitar

Discography

Studio albums

• Touch the Sun (1992)
• Tag-Ulan, Tag-Araw (1994)
• Bagong Araw (1996)
• Our Place Under the Sun (2008)

Compilation albums

• Lites (1995)
• Greatest Hits (1996)

Singles

• "Bai"
• "Believe"
• "Brightest Day"
• "Castaway"
• "Defenseless"
• "Extro"
• "Finding it Hard to Breathe"
• "Forevermore"
• "Habang Ako Ay Narito" (While I am Here)
• "Habang May Buhay" (While There's Life)
• "Lakas" (Strength)
• "Mangarap Ka" (Dream)
• "More Than Life"
• "Musikero" (Musician)
• "Next in Line"
• "Only You"
• "Our Place Under the Sun"
• "Pagkat Ika'y Narito" (Because You're Here)
• "Pagtawid" (Crossing)
• "Panahon" (Time)
• "Patalim" (Blade)
• "Standing By Your Side"
• "Tag-Araw" (Summer Season)
• "Tag-Ulan" (Rainy Season)
• "Without You"
• "You Made Me Believe"

Post Afterimage-

Former Afterimage lead singer Wency Cornejo went a solo career after the disbandment of the pop rock band in 2001. Aside from being a singer, Wency also a former TV Host a youth-oriented lifestyle documentary magazine program for "Tipong Pinoy" with his co-host the late Susan Calo-Medina. Wency still performing mostly in music bars & restaurants. Chuck Isidro went on to join the music group 6cyclemind.

Awards

Year	Award Giving Body	Category	Nominated Work	Results
1994	NU Rock Awards	Artist of the Year	N/A	Won
1995	NU Rock Awards	Keyboardist of the Year	(for Arnold Cabalza)	Won
1996	NU Rock Awards	Keyboardist of the Year	(for Arnold Cabalza)	Won

References

1. Philippines, Cultural Center of the (1994). CCP Encyclopedia of Philippine Art: Philippine music. Cultural Center of the Philippines. p. 66. ISBN 978-971-8546-40-6. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
2. Murray, Jeremy A.; Nadeau, Kathleen M. (2016). Pop Culture in Asia and Oceania. ABC-CLIO. p. 40. ISBN 978-1-4408-3991-7. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
3. Radovan, Jill Tan (14 March 2020). "The 15 Best OPM Bands From the '90s". Esquiremag.ph. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
4. Datu, Alex (4 April 2008). "After Image reclaims "Our Place in the Sun"". PEP.ph. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
5. "Iconic '90s frontmen Jett, Dong, Basti and Wency share stage for the first time | People Asia". Retrieved 3 May 2020.