"We really didn’t think much of what it actually means. We just thought it was a good name for the band," adds drummer Zach Lucero.

So goes the answer to what is probably the most-oft asked question about the seven-year-old band that finally has become a household name, thanks, in large part, to the huge hit, "Akap," a gut-wrenching power ballad from the band’s aptly-titled sophomore release, Take Two.

It’s not that Imago has not paid its dues—far from it. Since its inception in 1999, Aia, Zach, Tim and new bass player Myrene Academia (who recently replaced original member Arvin Gatmaitan) have been making music Aia describes as "playful and fun," and Zach simply calls as "rock alternative."

Doesn’t sound like much, right? Well, the band’s hook-laden brand of "playful and fun rock alternative" music immediately drew comparisons to Color It Red and subsequently resulted in Probably Not But Most Definitely, an acclaimed debut recording helmed by no less than reputable musician and producer Bob Aves.

And although alternative bands like them were no longer the flavor of the day by the time of the album’s release in 2001, Imago still held its own as tracks like "Rainsong," "Idlip," "Otherwise," and "Alay" managed to enjoy extensive airplay in rock-friendly stations.

The album earned recognition from award-giving bodies like the Awit, Katha and the NU Rock Awards. Along with the band’s intense live performances, punctuated by Aia’s charismatic stage presence, Probably Not But Most Definitely also jumpstarted a solid fan base.

Despite its more than modest success, Take Two would take more than three years for the band to finish, the much-anticipated follow-up album that wouldn’t see the light of day for another year plus one more year before it was eventually picked up by a major label for distribution. "The climate for bands was simply not good at the time," says Zach in summing up those years.

Any other group of musicians would have called it a day in frustration and, at least Arvin, eventually handed over his bass guitar. Tim, Aia and Zach also all admitted to keeping and not quitting their day jobs in between the long wait. Tim is an accomplished graphic and web designer who now manages his own bar that also served as the location for this shoot. The angelic-looking Aia was a traffic reporter for a radio station at one time while Zach was a rock jock for NU 107 who also dabbled as a recording engineer. Myrene, who actually played bass in the infectiously upbeat, "Anino" for Take Two was NU 107’s musical director.

But not one of them was about to throw in the towel. Not as far as Imago was concerned. "We stayed together because we just wanted to play and make music. Even though we had day jobs, Imago was an outlet for us," says Tim. "It was never about the money."

Paydirt eventually came with "Akap," a haunting expression of undying devotion that became the long overdue crossover hit for the band. Aia sings about a woman willing to do everything to keep her man, warts and all, as the music video directed by Marie Jamora demonstrates the extent she’s willing to go through to do that.

"I wouldn’t want to use the word romantic to describe ‘Akap,’ or any of our other songs," Aia relates. "If there’s another and better word for romantic, then that would be it."

On finding herself in Imago’s line-up, Myrene, who is also a mainstay of Sandwich, admits to being both a barkada and a fan of the band. "Even though the music of both Imago and Sandwich are different from another, I like playing for both. Chemistry in work is important and I think it’s something that I have in Sandwich and something we also have here in Imago."

As for their much talked-about live shows, a highlight of which was their memorable stints like the Motorola’s RockMoto concert and the recently concluded Levi’s 501 Stay True concert series, the rest of the band agrees with Myrene that chemistry is key but also credits Aia for "knowing how to talk to the people."

"It’s a slow process that wasn’t like that at all during the early days of the band. I’m just showing my makulit side and just try to make our sets as fun as possible," quips the diminutive front chick who is said to have also admitted that her unique dance moves in concert favorites like "Anino," and the equally bouncy "Reset," are lifted from an Afro-Brazilian martial arts called Capoeira that’s always played with music.

The delay of Take Two’s release turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the renewed popularity of bands paved the way for Imago’s ascension to the mainstream. Musical trends aside and, as hackneyed as it sounds, it was still the band’s faith in one another that reaped them this good harvest.

"We stayed true to ourselves and followed our hearts," says Tim. "Now it’s good to be busy," Zach happily concludes.