The Dominican community rocked the SDCA grounds on the night of November 25, 2022, as the Battle of the Bands (BOTB) 2022 made its grand return after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic.
BOTB 2022 featured Senior High School (SHS) bands, including Nagazaki of Grade 12 STEM Copernicus, and Grade 12 STEM Blaise Pascal. The Seniors Band from Grade 12 TVL John Whitney Sr. delivered passionate performances of Original Pilipino Music (OPM), proving that the heart of Filipino music beats strong among Dominican musicians.
Each band had 15 minutes to perform and impress the crowd and judges. The performances included:
- Nagazaki energized the crowd with Kamikazee’s classic hits "Halik" and "Martyr Nyebera".
- The Seniors Band delivered a soulful set, featuring Zack Tabudlo’s "Nangangamba", Calein’s "Umaasa", and "Come Inside of My Heart" by IV of Spades.
Highlight of the Night: As the dazzling stage lights illuminated the grounds, the audience erupted in excitement when NAPI took the stage. Their performance included a cover of Mayonnaise’s trending song "Jopay", which sent the crowd into a frenzy. They followed up with "Ikaw Lang" by Nobita and "Hanggang Kailan" by Orange & Lemons.
Winners of the Dominican Rockpublic: Battle of the Bands 2022:
- Champion: NAPI - Best Vocalist (Gian Franco Gonzaga)
- 1st Runner-Up: Nagazaki - People’s Choice Award, Best Lead Guitarist (Rikk Yanong), Best Drummer (Jose Mari Mamuri)
- 2nd Runner-Up: The Seniors - Best Bassist (Adrian Echepari)
The electrifying event lasted for three hours (7 PM - 10 PM) and included raffle draws, intermission numbers from Reds in Motion (the Basic Education Department’s dance troupe), and the announcement of Quincine Filmmaker Winners.