Hearty cheers and booming applause

Parokya ni Edgar, one of the performers Bagaberde Bar and Grill is not tagged as the most happening place in the metro for nothing. Since the first Bagaberde opened in Pasig City in 2002, the venue has become a haven for parties, drinking sprees, barkada gimmicks and of course, gastronomic feasts. It is a hip hangout for everyone who wants to unwind and have fun, from teens to baby boomers, from high profile to yuppies. It is also where the biggest names in live acoustic music are seen.

Bagaberde dishes out the best acoustic music, straight from acoustic icons themselves. It is home to singers and bands like Nina, M.Y.M.P., Nyoy Volante, Paolo Santos, South Border, Side A, True Faith and Freestyle. Frequent headliners also include Kyla, Barbie’s Cradle, The Dawn, Noel Cabangon, Aliya Parcs, Aiza Seguerra, Jimmy Bondoc, U-Turn, Divo, MP3 and Wiseguys. Another memorable guest is  Keith Martin, who regaled the audience with a couple of songs in a surprise visit recently at Bagaberde Pasig.

With state-of-the-art lights and sound system, Bagaberde gives off a “real” concert experience with each performance it stages. Those hit after hit acts made this hangout a veritable institution in live entertainment such that a Bagaberde gig seems to be indispensable in a musician’s career.

The place never fails to draw a big crowd even on Mondays. “Rain or shine, we have people who come,” proudly says Bridge Sibug, one of the owners. “I believe the bands are the main reason patrons keep coming back to us. There’s nothing like the comfort of drinking, relaxing and listening to good music,” he adds.

The name came from Filipino words “baga” (burning coal for grilling) and “berde” (as it’s in the Valle Verde area). But at this bar and grill, the ihaw-ihaw selection is not the only thing blazing; Bagaberde itself is a hotspot, blazing even brighter amid Metro Manila’s glittering bar scene.

The popular night haunt is also whipping up excellent Filipino cuisine. Treat your taste buds to a variety of grilled dishes for which they are famous. The structure’s Nipa Hut design further ups the “ihaw-ihaw” factor, and the good service seals a first-rate dining experience.

“Our bestsellers are tuna belly, pork sisig, kare-kare and crispy pata,” says Bridge. Kaldereta, pinakbet, gambas and squid sisig are also must try’s. All these come in big, good-for-sharing servings. And if you want to treat the whole family here, don’t worry as these offerings are not at all expensive. “There’s always the happy hour (from 6 to 9 p.m.); we can also extend our daily operations up to 4 a.m.,” says Bridge.

The business enterprise may only be in its fifth year but it has already gone a long way. It now has a branch at the CCP complex in Roxas Blvd. (inside Boom na Boom grounds), whose sprawling floor area can accommodate up to 800 customers, 600 seated.

In March 2008, party goers and beach lovers can look forward to the opening of Bagaberde-Boracay at Sands Hotel in Station 3. Aside from offering the house specialties, the branch will tweak its menu to complement Boracay’s idyllic look.

“Two years ago, artists like Nina, M.Y.M.P., South Border and Side A performed in a make-shift tent and stage in Boracay and they attracted a huge crowd,” Bridge shares. “So we thought, why don’t we bring the Bagaberde kind of entertainment to Boracay? That was how the concept started.”

Excellent music and excellent food — if you can find these elsewhere, why is hanging out in Bagaberde such a blast? There is more to the well-loved gimmick spot than these. The brains behind it — the original barkada Bridge, Chester Gellido and Bong Tirol — were joined by Alex Carlos, Chito Castillo and Bong Limsuy (who also owns Marina Restaurant, beside Bagaberde Roxas) to keep on making their business better.

“Competition is cut-throat, but there’s a big market out there for great food and entertainment,” explains Bridge when asked of their plus factors. For one thing, they make sure every detail will mark a delightful stay for the patrons, from basics like providing clean utensils to add-ons like playing music videos in a 70-inch video screen and the state-of-the-art lights inside the venue.

Wednesdays are extra special because of the promo It’s Your Birthday Night. “As a way of thanking our loyal customers, everyone celebrating his or her birthday that week will receive a complimentary bottle of liquor and free entrance for their guests,” says Bridge. All patrons have to do is show a proof of their birthday.

A surefire success formula of the owners is their good relationship with both customers and performers, which one can notice in just his first visit. What’s striking about Bagaberde is its very appreciative crowd. A nice and friendly climate is fostered; maybe because everyone’s treated as a guest, given only the best service.

No wonder artists also love to perform at Bagaberde, where the applauses are booming, the cheers hearty and the atmosphere so lively that it’s impossible not to have fun. “We also treat our artists as family to the point of pampering them,” reveals Bridge. “We are lenient with them, that’s why they are loyal to us. Paolo Santos, Nina, M.Y.M.P. started the acoustic trend at Bagaberde Pasig. Up to this day, they still perform in our venues.”

Consequently, Bagaberde has always been a favorite venue for live concerts, parties, product launches, school events and corporate functions. December alone has the Roxas Blvd. branch already booked for 22 nights for Christmas parties and other events.

If the name “Bagaberde” sounds a little too familiar even in provinces, that’s because radio DJs often mention it on air, greeting or thanking Bagaberde for being a usual partner of their stations’ events. To date, most, if not all local FM stations has held an event or two here.

With its owners’ winning business strategy and positive outlook, Bagaberde can only move forward. Thanks to the think tank who kept on innovating, what was supposed to simply be an ihaw-ihaw cum drinking place is now a big player in the local bar scene.

Bagaberde-Pasig is located at Henry Javier St., Oranbo, Pasig City. Bagaberde-Roxas Blvd. is at the Boom na Boom grounds, CCP Complex cor. Gil Puyat Ave., Pasay City.