The six-man band InnerVoices, led by lawyer and founder Rey Bergado, has a new frontman: Patrick Marcelino.
Known for occasionally subbing for former lead Angelo Miguel, Patrick is now officially part of the group — and grateful for the second chance.
“I owe a great deal to Atty. Rey,” said Patrick. “I’m really happy because it’s not too late. I’m turning 42 this year. I just look young. That’s a compliment. But I’m ready to take the stage.” He added, “I’m praying so hard that what InnerVoices are aspiring for this year, I can help them achieve it. This is not too late. Mitoy (Yonting) got his break when he was already in his 50s. And he still became popular.”
For Rey, the lineup change is a return to form.
“The one that you witnessed with Patrick, that’s the real InnerVoices,” he said. “We do ballads, slow rock, fast songs, OPM. The music made us alive again. That’s the original InnerVoices these days.”
Rey had tried launching Patrick as a solo act in 2023 with his original song “Meant To Be,” but felt he needed a band. “I didn’t know yet how to launch him,” he said. He later gave Patrick the ballad “Idlip,” as well as other new songs like “Galaw” by Glenn Mapwe and “Tubig, Hangin Ako ay Lupa” by Edward Mitra. These will be part of an upcoming EP. “I’m so elated and excited with our new songs,” Rey said. “Of course, we do covers, but these new songs that we launched recently are the original songs that we do.”
Angelo, who had been with the band since 2017, left earlier this year. “It’s hard to get a replacement for Angelo,” Rey admitted. “When Angelo said goodbye last February, he still performed with InnerVoices for a month. Maayos naman ang paghihiwalay namin. We didn’t have a hard time performing with a new frontman because Patrick has been joining us occasionally.
“If you noticed, we simply performed all our songs again, plus the new ones. Before we started reintroducing the songs that we used to perform, Patrick has been singing those that are his forte,” he added.
At a recent gig at 19 East in Sucat, Patrick was formally introduced as the band’s new lead. “This is like a dream-come-true that I didn’t expect,” he said. “I thought my singing career ended when I left Singapore after a decade.”
Patrick moved back to Manila in 2018 after his wife passed away, leaving him to raise their two young children. “I feel so great when I was launched as part of InnerVoices,” he said. “I got to perform our own, original songs. When I returned from Singapore after my wife got sick, I stopped performing. I gave up my career to take care of my wife here.”
He now calls this his “last hurrah” in music. “I’m focusing here and giving my full time as a singer. I was asked a lot about Angelo when I first faced a few members of the press, but I was not pressured.
“I thought about the adjustment I would do. I know Angelo’s strength and I also know my strength. I know the band adjusted for Angelo and they also make an adjustment for me.”
InnerVoices previously released a full album under Universal Records in 2014, winning an Awit Award for Best Performance by a Group. In 2023, they put out three tracks — “Isasayaw Kita,” “Hari,” and “Anghel” — under Vehnee Saturno Music. Aside from Rey and Patrick, the group includes Rene Tecson (guitar), Alvin Herbon (bass), Joseph Cruz (keyboards), and Joseph Esparago (percussion).
InnerVoices performs weekly at Hard Rock Café Makati (Thursdays and Saturdays), Bar IX in Molito, Alabang (Fridays) and Bar 360 at Newport World Resorts (Mondays), with monthly gigs at 19 East and Aromata in Quezon City.
