CEBU CITY, PHILIPPINES — With how big Cup of Joe has become in the past few years, there are times when the band miss the simpler days when they were just a campus band in their hometown of Baguio.
“We would bond in between classes and practice after classes. We miss them because we have so many responsibilities now,” Gian Bernardino told reporters the day before the Cebu leg of their “Stardust Tour” last month.
They are not complaining, though, as they are grateful to have made a name for themselves as one of the bands from the regions to break into the mainstream.
Cup of Joe was formed in 2018 by Bernardino and fellow vocalist Rapha Ridao, who were invited to perform at a Buwan ng Wika event at their school, Saint Louis University Laboratory High School, during their senior year. The vocalists found their members — CJ Fernandez, Xen Gareza, and now-former member Sevi Severino — in a school lobby, while Gabriel Fernandez was part of Ridao’s former band Pink Soda, a group they would often reference in their concerts.
With Bernardino and Ridao on vocals, CJ does rhythm guitar, Gabriel on lead guitar, and Gareza on keyboards. Severino, who served as the band’s bass guitarist, departed from the group in 2024, though the reasons were not disclosed.
Less than a year later, they signed with Viva Records, where their career took off. Their debut single “Nag-iisang Muli” won Best Regional Song at the 2019 MOR Awards and was nominated for Best Recording by a New Group at the Awit Awards.
It was in 2025 when Cup of Joe became a household name nationwide, thanks to their smash hit “Multo” — a song written by Ridao during the COVID-19 pandemic that reflected their experiences of what could have been, resonating with many listeners.
“The pandemic was a difficult time for a lot of us. Whatever frustrations we had, we poured that into the song. It can be about whatever is applicable to you, whatever missed opportunities you had because of the pandemic,” Ridao said.
The song became such a hit that “Multo” received a stripped-down version as the theme song for the blockbuster film “The Loved One,” starring Anne Curtis and Jericho Rosales. The band said that the rendition was requested by director Irene Emma Villamor.
Villamor previously told The FREEMAN that she was still looking for an accompanying theme song during filming when Curtis suggested “Multo,” a track that perfectly matched the film’s concept of a love that got away.
As a regional band themselves, Cup of Joe credits their success to fans (named Joewahs) in the provinces, who connected with their music even before their breakthrough year. This is why they make it a point to bring their tours across the country, with Cebu consistently penciled in as a stop.
“It’s our way of extending our love to fans who don’t live in Manila,” Gabriel said. “We know it’s not easy to access our shows in Manila, so we are always excited for our regional shows. Imbes na sila ang pumunta sa amin, kami na lang ang pupunta sa kanila.”
The band is set to bring their “Stardust” show to Iloilo on May 2, Davao on May 30, and Cagayan de Oro on June 15. Cup of Joe is also set to stage their biggest show to date on May 23 at the Philippine Sports Stadium in Bulacan, near the Philippine Arena, for their “Sandali: The Cup of Joe Fest,” making them the first OPM act to headline a solo concert at the 25,000-capacity venue.
“We’ve done shows at New Frontier and Araneta, so I think our next venue would be our biggest challenge, especially with the sheer size of the stadium,” Gareza said. “There are a lot of variables to consider, especially how we can top our past concerts at Araneta. As we make our show bigger, we want to give our listeners a reason to see us in a stadium. We have a very talented production team, and I am confident we can bring our A-game during the concert this May.”
“Sandali” teases a summery vibe, continuing the band’s incorporation of Western astrological elements in their shows: “Seatbelts On” based on air, “Silakbo” on fire, “Stardust” on earth, and now “Sandali” on water.
While only teasing new arrangements for now, Bernardino said the show will be a celebration of their Joewahs.
“This is a celebratory kind of concert after all of the achievements we had in the past year. It’s about celebrating our relationship with our fans because we know how wild they can get every time they vibe with our music,” Bernardino said.
While the band is currently at its peak, they remain grounded, focusing on making music they love.
“At the end of the day, what matters to us is that we are happy with what we are doing, regardless of whether our songs are on the charts. The fact that people listen to and play our songs is what makes us proud as a band, regardless of whatever milestone we achieve,” Gareza said.
– ‘Sense of liberty’ –
Cup of Joe was supposed to bring their “Stardust” show to Qatar last February as part of their international leg, but it was canceled due to the local organizer’s failure to secure the required government permits. They had planned to reschedule at a later date, but tensions escalated with the US-Israel-Iran conflict, affecting nearby Gulf countries.
The supposed show would have been a meaningful homecoming for Bernardino, who was raised in Qatar from the age of three.
“The situation in Qatar is quite worrying because my parents are there. But it’s a good thing that the Ministry of Defence in Qatar did a good job,” he said, expressing hope to return once the situation stabilizes.
Before moving back to the Philippines on his own at 16, Bernardino studied at the Philippine School Doha, where he was encouraged to pursue extracurricular activities.
“Part of the school’s vision and mission is to create globally competitive students. Growing up, my teachers and parents pushed me to join various activities like singing contests and be part of the student council. I was even a CADET officer,” he said.
“It was normal for me to excel in different forms of art. When I moved to the Philippines, however, it was perceived differently, and I was even bullied. Apparently, it was frowned upon to be quite ‘showy.’”
While it took time to adjust to a new environment, the experience ultimately built his independence and resilience.
“I got a sense of liberty at such an early age, and I don’t have that same sense of comfort when I was in Qatar. But it definitely pushed me to break through every challenge that helped me personally and for the band.”
| Written by Januar Junior Aguja/VAB
