About Us
A celebration of Filipino artistry and formidable passion for music, the Higherground band is a solid eight-piece ensemble entrenched in the live music scene for nearly two decades. Our group is one of the most exciting bands for hire in Manila, Philippines, with live professional experiences and world-class performances in 5 star luxury hotels and international stage such as Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea and Bahrain.
Founded in 2005 and specializing in a variety of music genre ranging from the best new hits to party classics, we are known for our dynamic live act, incredible vocals and multi-talented performers and musicians from all around the Philippines.
The group is a mainstay at the posh Centerplay, City of Dreams in Manila. Check out our gig guide or hire us for your events and celebrations. Enjoy a first class entertainment experience and immerse in high energy music from start to finish.
For gigs big and intimate, we are happy to accommodate live band bookings for Corporate Events & Conferences, Wedding Receptions, Out-of-Town Concerts, Town Fiesta, Birthdays and Private Gatherings, Alumni Homecoming, Political Sorties, Awards Nights, Sporting Events, Halloween and Christmas Parties, and New Year's Eve Countdown among others.
Meet the Gang
Sarah
Female Vocalist
Blessed with beauty, great vocals, control and projection, Sarah Jane Neri knew she was born to perform on stage. She began her musical journey by auditioning in a band. The first group she professionally joined was called "Regatta". After staying with the group for sometime, she wanted to explore more for her career by travelling abroad as an Overseas Performing Artist (OPA) joining various groups in separate seasons.
Introverted off stage, Sarah commands presence and consistently delivers high octane performance on stage, inspiring the audience to dance and sing along. She has her own distinctive style when it comes to singing, serving up beautiful tunes to the audiences' delight. Her strong music influences include famous belters like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Diana Ross. Joining the Higherground band as a female vocalist in 2016 propelled her career, with their overseas stint in Singapore her most unforgettable experience to date.
If she didn't pursue a career in the live music industry, Sarah would have been a clinical psychologist diagnosing mental and emotional disorders and conducting programs of treatment and evaluation of mental case histories. She feels this would have somehow helped her use her learning to gauge her audiences from anywhere.
Respected for his powerful vocals and strong stage presence, John Louigi Cañeta has been in the live music industry for 15 years. He was discovered at a school pageant when he serenaded the lady contestants, and later started with the band called "Urbanation". Iggy's popular music influences include alternative rock bands Bamboo, Incubus, Dishwalla and Goo Goo dolls; and R&B and Soul icons Neyo, Usher and Chris Brown. His most unforgettable performance was Higherground's recent out-of-town concert in Medina City, Misamis Oriental. The event drew large crowd, highly engaged audience, screaming and raving all night long.
If he did not become a musician, Iggy would probably be a chef on a cruise ship liner.
Iggy
Male Vocalist
Jered
Male Vocalist
Jered Arcelon has been a seasoned live performing artist since 2017. He began having interest in singing on stage as a regular guest jammer in bars and clubs (with live bands ) where he spends his time after work in his former job. This hobby and passion for music eventually kickstarted his professional career as a live performer. His music influences range from classic 80's rock, from pop rock to glam rock, attuned to the music of legendary icons such as Queen, Journey, Air Supply, Guns N Roses and Bon Jovi, but still stretching himself to other genre. Rooting from simple resident live bands in Cavite, his biggest break came when he became a male lead vocalist for Higherground.
Jered has made his mark as a uniquely humble front man for the group despite being prominently skilled in what he does. He keeps pushing to be his best, not stopping to learn even for what he has achieved so far. It apparently shows that he has love for the group and enjoys the genuine camaraderie with them on and off stage.
One of his memorable experiences with the group was an out of town stint in the town of Medina, Misamis Oriental, where the people watching were very kind, warm, accommodating and responsive to their performance. It was his first time to feel such fulfilling bliss as a live performer.
Arlene
Female Vocalist
Some had to take the difficult route, for Arlene Brillantes, destiny called her by name.
A diamond in the rough, she was discovered as a jammer at a bar near their house in Manila. Launching professionally with her first band "Moon Child", she furthered her career and gathered international experiences as an overseas singer strutting her vocal prowess with different talented bands in Sabah, Penang, and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Okinawa, Japan; Singapore, Dubai and Hong Kong. Her strong music influences include industry divas such as Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Spice Girls, and the legendary Michael Jackson. "Ar-ar", as she is fondly called, loves to make people dance specially when she sings upbeat songs.
Chad
Band Leader &
Lead Guitarist
Look past the vocalists and you're sure to enjoy a showstopper. A sight to behold with his masterful onstage tricks and remarkable stunts, let loose in the electrifying sounds and elevated sensory experience when this band leader commands punching beats with so much passion and emotions.
Armed with a borrowed guitar and big dreams for his family, Bulacan pride Richard Lagazo turned his back on his father's wish to join the military and pursued an enduring romance with music. A self-taught guitarist rocking the vibrant music scene since year 2000, he has been steering his ship with boundless confidence and enthusiasm for over 20 years. He is the sole original member of the Higherground band since it was founded in Baguio City in 2005 and has been protecting the brand and keeping the dynamic group (tightly) knitted together day in and day out.
Traversing Asia one gig at a time, Chad had waved the Philippine flag in Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and Bahrain. Jamming with world renowned Maroon 5 is one of his fondest memories with the band. He is a lifelong Beatles fan, and spends his lazy days discovering songs old and new, and studying beats to further master his craft and abilities.
Chad is currently in a love-hate relationship with his cat -- making him single, but NOT available. (Sorry, ladies!)
Joevel
Keyboardist
Not your typical tall, dark, and handsome guy, our very own Joevel Camahalan is oozing with talent. Born in Davao City, he has been in the industry for 20 years and is, unknown to many, one of the (probably) few musicians who don't read notes! Self-taught in guitar and keyboard, he can emotively play the tune and play it instinctively.
Joevel started sharpening his musical skills where is naturally gifted back in his high school days, and formed a band together with his friends. Into Rhythm and blues, he considers Bryan McKnight and Boyz II Men his biggest influence in music. He got his big break when he joined Myxtreme and got to perform with famous local artists Jay-R, Kyla, Billy Crawford and Kris Lawrence in Araneta Coliseum. With Higherground, he recounts the recent out-of-town "Medina Day" celebration in Misamis Oriental as most memorable, with unparalleled hospitality and overwhelming crowd.
Off stage, Joevel is into mountaineering, spear fishing, airsoft, and basketball. In alternate reality, Joevel would probably be a DJ or radio announcer like his father.
Leo
Bassist
Laying the very foundation of Higherground's music and harmony is bassist Leo Casañas. Fascinated with the 80's and 90's music, he first strummed the guitar in 1998 at age of 17. Jumpstarting his musical career and paving his entry into the industry, he, together with his classmates, formed a band and started playing in small bars in hometown Batangas City.
Joining the 7th Soul band, an all-male band in Manila, proved to be his biggest break, opening doors of opportunities for this then aspiring artist. Introduction to fellow musicians and contacts allowed him to take deeper root in the industry, landing him one gig after the other.
As a working musician, he is proud of his growth mindset that cultivates continuous learning and consistent level of performance under pressure. Like Joevel, Leo thinks of of the "Medina Day" as a fleeting moment for the band, enjoyable to the well-entertained audience and the performers alike.
Had he not pursue a career as a bassist, he would have been a company employee doing clerical type work.
Herbert
Drummer
The band is only as good as its drummer, and Herbert Pangilinan's talent is beyond fierce. He shines during the musical moments, and is equally known for the patience and dedication he has put into his work.
Herbert started playing the drums at age 19 and climbed his way to the top by joining battle of the bands in different barangays. He catapulted his career when he was given the chance to work for a 5 star hotel in South Korea, made possible by his late father and Michael Alba, his mentor.
Aligned with the proverbial "Choose a job you love and you don't have to work a day in your life," he reckons, "What I love the most is, when you don’t get to think of the work itself, but you get to enjoy what you do." And as a bonus, he likewise had a rare opportune moment to jam with the Maroon 5 in South Korea -- the best experience he could ever think of.
If he wasn't a drummer, he says he would be a company driver. Thank God for music!