HARD CANDY AT 25

One of Cebu’s most well-loved bands from the late 1990s, Hard Candy, is set to reunite for a special concert marking its 25th anniversary, bringing back a sound that helped shape the local music scene.

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Fronted by Kate Torralba (vocals and violin), the band will reunite with original members Milton Lee (guitars), Kooky “Cookie” Luis (keyboards and backing vocals), Jay Young (bass), and Wayne Congmon (drums) for a one-night celebration filled with music and memories.

Formed in 1997, Hard Candy rose from playing small Cebu bars to becoming one of the most recognizable bands in the province. Their breakthrough came at the 1st San Miguel Cebu Music Awards, where they won five out of 12 awards, including Band of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year for Torralba. The win led to a recording contract with MCA Universal and wider radio play across the Visayas.

Their single “Free Fall,” originally written by Torralba as a contest entry, became a regional hit and remains one of the band’s most remembered tracks.