True Faith (band)

History

Early career

In 1993, a demo tape of the band's song "Perfect" hit number one on the Manila Top 40 radio station 99.5 RT FM (now 99.5 Play FM). After signing to EMI Music in the Philippines, True Faith's 1995 album, Build, was released as the group's debut album.

The band received a Music Television Asia "Best Video Award" in 2000 for the video for "Awit Para Sa Kanya (Song For Her)", from the record Memories Are Cheap: The Best of True Faith, 1993-2000, produced by True Faith and Darrell James Laxamana. The album featured a new track, "Kung O.K. Lang Sa'yo," an acoustic guitar ballad that included new member Jay Valencia. This album also included a remixed version of "Get It On".

At an MTV event in Makati in May 2001, the band performed with a three-piece horn section from the band Ugoy Ugoy.

2002-2009

Grace (2002), the band's next album, included the single, "Dedma," and the music video for the song featured FHM cover girl Diana Zubiri. In 2004, True Faith released Eto Hits...et Acoustic. EMI released a compilation of True Faith songs in their original arrangements, as well as newly reworked to suit the acoustic theme. This release also included a cover of the Culture Club song "Mistake No. 3".

After a two-year break from recording, the band launched their eleventh album, Stray to Be Found. Benedict Esguerra and Kenneth Ilagan joined the band as drummer and guitarist, respectively, and the album included the first single they contributed to, which was the ballad "Dahil Ikaw" (the theme song to the television series Sa Piling Mo). After "Dahil Ikaw", the singles "Sayang Ang Lahat", "Cross My Heart" (a cover of an EBTG classic), and "Araw't Gabi" were also released from the album. The videos for the singles appeared regularly on MYX's Daily Top 10. The album also included covers of the band's favorites: Crowded House's "Four Seasons in One Day" and Fra Lippo Lippi's "Crazy Wisdom".

In October 2005, the band began their first American tour. From 2006 to 2008, True Faith performed shows in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. In June 2009, Medwin and Eugene performed a special acoustic show in Dubai.

In 2006, the band released a greatest hits album and a music video, directed by Robert Quebral.

The music video for "Dahil Ikaw", directed by Genghis Jimenez, received substantial airplay in 2006, and was nominated for soundtrack of the year at the MYX Music Awards of 2007 and won in the Soundtrack category.

To celebrate True Faith's contribution to OPM and their years in EMI Philippines, the record label assembled all of the band's most popular tracks, plus some other less popular tracks, into a compilation album called Dream Journal: The Very Best of True Faith 1993-2007.

2010s

Released in March 2010, Love Parade contained a mix of special guests, including Luke Mejares; Dix Lucero (on the 80's-influenced "Kaya Mo 'Yan"); and Time magazine-acclaimed artists Carlos Magno of the band Out of Body Special, on top of Armi Millare of Up Dharma Down who sang on the single "Yun Lang".

The band signed with Star Music (ABS-CBN Corporation's recording company) in 2015.

In 2017, True Faith received an invitation from MGMT to record their own rendition of the single "Me and Michael", which was eventually included on the band's fourth album, Little Dark Age, released on February 9, 2018. The result of this was True Faith's New Order-inspired Filipino version of the song, titled "Ako at si Michael". MGMT then released a music video of their song, which features True Faith in the narrative. True Faith also created a music video of "Ako at si Michael".

In 2018, the band released their tenth album, Sentimental, which was reissued on vinyl in 2021.

2020s

In February 2022, the band released an album titled "11," which consists of three singles: "Dyahe," "Your Ready Smile," and "Refriend". The album's release was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Current members

• Medwin Marfil - lead vocals (1991-present)
• Eugene Marfil - acoustic guitar, vocals (1997-present)
• Jake Lumacad - keyboards (1999-present)
• Macky Macaventa - bass guitar (2009-present)
• Allan Elgar - lead guitar (2009-present)
• Kaka Quisumbing - drums (2011-present)

Former members

• Caryl Campos (1991-1996)
• Eazer Pastor (1991-1996)
• Ferdie Marquez (deceased) (1991-1996)
• Francis Guevarra (1996-1999)
• Yeng Remulla (1996-1999)
• Jay Valencia (1996-2003)
• Joshua Rubia (1996-2003)
• Jun Dizon (1999-2003)
• Carlo Sison (1999-2003)
• Kenneth Ilagan (2003-2009)
• Bimbo Yance (2003-2009)
• Benedict Esguerra (2003-2014)
• Leo Barrite (2003-2014)

Discography

Albums

• Perfect (1993)
• Beyond Doubt (1994)
• Build (1995)
• Looking Up (1997)
• Bliss (1998)
• Memories Are Cheap: The Best of Truefaith 1993-2000 (February 22, 2000) - Produced by Truefaith and Darrell James Laxamana
• Legalized Intense Vague Emotions (L.I.V.E.) (April 19, 2001)
• Truefaith Live: MYX-ed Emotions at Halo-Halo (November 23, 2001) - Produced by Darrell James Laxamana
• Grace (2002)
• Eto Hits...Acoustic (2004)
• Stray to Be Found (2006)
• Dream Journal: The Very Best of Truefaith 1993-2007 (2007)
• Love Parade (2010)
• Sentimental (2018)

Collaborations

• Make That Cool Thing Happen (Chiclets Promo Single, 1993)
• Pasko para sa Lahat: All Star Christmas Album (PolyEast Records, "Formerly Octoarts", 1996)
• Acoustic Lokal (Viva Records, 2003)
• Tunog Acoustic (Warner Music Philippines, 2003)
• Acoustic Natin (Universal Records, 2004)
• Acoustic Natin 2 (Universal Records, 2005)
• Pinoy Ako (Star Music, 2005)
• Pinoy Ako 2 (Star Music, 2006)
• Pinoy Biggie Hits Vol. 2 (Star Music, 2006)
• The Best of OPM Acoustic Songs (Universal Records, 2005)
• Superbands (Universal Records, 2005)
• Bandang Pinoy, Lasang Hotdog (Sony BMG Music Philippines, Repackaged 2006)
• Kami nAPO Muna Ulit (Universal Records, 2007)
• Toblerone National Thank You Day (2007)
• Unforgettable Kisses: Hershey's 100th. Anniversary (2007)
• Acoustic Best: All Original Artists (Ivory Music, 2010)
• A Perfectly Acoustic Experience (PolyEast Records, 2011)

Soundtracks

• Sana Maulit Muli: The Teleserye Soundtrack (Star Music, 2007)

Singles

• "Perfect"
• "Ambon"
• "Huwag Na Lang Kaya"
• "Muntik nang Maabot ang Langit"
• "Hi!"
• "Alaala"
• "Sa Puso Ko"
• "Baliw"
• "Awit Para (Sa Kanya)"
• "Kung O.K. Lang Sa'yo" (2000)
• "Sumasarap ang Gising"
• "Dedma"
• "Dahil Ikaw"
• "Sayang ang Lahat"
• "Araw't Gabi"
• "'Yun Lang"
• "Pangako"
• "Lihim"
• "Uwian Na"
• "Paano Ka Magiging Akin"

Cover songs

• "Ikaw ang Miss Universe ng Buhay Ko" (Original by Hot Dog Band)
• "Mistake Number 3" (Original by Culture Club)
• "Wala Nang Hahanapin Pa" (Original by APO Hiking Society)
• "Cross My Heart" (Original by Everything But The Girl)
• "Different Seasons" (Original by Johnny Hates Jazz)

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. ABS-CBN Starmusic]] via [[YouTube]].
2. "Spotify – Web Player".
3. "True Faith founding member Ferdie Marquez passes away".
4. (October 11, 1994). "True Faith bar tour".
5. (10 October 1997). "Keeping the (True) Faith alive". Barbara Merchadesch.
6. "TRUEFAITH's Latest Album: BLISS". Philmusic.
7. (November 27, 2001). "True Faith newest".
8. (1 May 2004). "True Faith scores another acoustic album". Noelani Torre.
9. Gomez, Rea L.. (August 2, 2000). "Keeping the faith". The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc..
10. "Awit Awards Winners". Awit Awards.
11. "True Faith's Shot at the Moon". Jim Ayson.
12. (June 22, 2000). "MTV Pilipinas 2000 Winner". Ma. Lalaine B. Reyes.
13. (April 15, 2000). "2000 MTV Pilipinas Music Award Nominees".
14. (May 6, 2002). "MTV PHILS ANNOUNCES 'MTV PILIPINAS 2002' TO HONOR BEST IN VIDEO-MAKING". Sol Jose Vanzi.
15. Jocelyn Dimaculangan. (March 20, 2007). "Sponge Cola wins four trophies in the 2nd MYX Music Awards". [[Pep.ph]].
16. Baby A. Gil. (February 5, 2007). "A MYX Magna for Apo nominees". [[PhilStar]].
17. (30 October 2019). "Nominees for 2019 Star Awards for Music".