Sandwich

Sandwich is a Filipino rock band that was formed in 1995 by Raimund Marasigan and Diego Castillo for the purpose of fulfilling their mutual desire to work together. Castillo recruited former band mates from The Aga Muhlach Experience Mike Dizon (of The Teeth & Pedicab) to play drums and Myrene Academia (of Imago & Duster)to handle bass duties. Sandwich was searching for a vocalist when music video director Marie Jamora recommended her friend Marc Abaya. A few years earlier, Marasigan was a judge at a contest where Marc Abaya jammed to a Beastie Boys song with his high-school band, Shirley Beans. Abaya then joined Sandwich, but was later replaced by Mong Alcaraz of the band Chicosci.Although existing simultaneously with the Marasigan's foremost band at that time, Eraserheads, Sandwich provided a heavier, grittier sound, and built up their own fan base. Abaya was still in college at the time, and Marasigan would still tour occasionally with the Eraserheads, but these weren’t hindering factors for Sandwich, as there were many session musicians ready to take over in case of a member’s absence. In 1999, they signed with Sony Music and released their debut album Grip Stand Throw with much success, thanks to its carrier single, Butterfly Carnival. The band won three awards at the 1999 NU 107 Rock Awards: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, and Song of the Year. The following year, Sandwich released their second album 4-Track Mind, which was honored as Album of the Year at the 2001 NU Rock Awards. In 2003, Sandwich parted ways with Sony Music, and released their third album Thanks To The Moon’s Gravitational Pull under distribution by PolyEast Records. Abaya left Sandwich in 2005, in an effort to cope with the difficulty of juggling his job as an MTV VJ, and his obligations to his other band, Kjwan. Marasigan has since taken over sole vocal duties. After Abaya’s departure, the band wrote songs for soundtracks, including Humanda Ka for the online game Tantra, and Nginiig for the ABS-CBN television program of the same name.