How I Got in Touch with Paul Vincent Camoro

Some friendships begin with a planned introduction. Others happen completely by chance — sometimes through music, sometimes through a camera, and sometimes through a video recording that sits forgotten for years.

My story with Paul Vincent Camoro began in Cebu, Philippines, in 1997.

My wife and I were staying in Cebu to experience the traditional Sinulog Festival. During one of those days, we went to Harrison Park, which was located on the right-hand side when coming down from Fuente Osmeña Circle. It was a place where local bands had the opportunity to perform live.

I soon discovered that a good band was playing that day.

The band’s name was Abyss — and amazingly, they are still performing under that name today.

Abyss Performing Live at Harrison Park, Cebu – January 1997 – (Paul to the right)

I had my old vintage camcorder with me, as I often did in those days, and I started filming the band’s performance.

I had no idea that this simple decision to take out my camera would eventually lead to one of the most important musical friendships of my life.

The first meeting

Paul was the front man of Abyss. During the performance, he noticed that I was filming the band.

When they finished their gig, Paul and the guitarist Edz came over to our table. We started talking and had a really good chat.

There was an immediate connection.

We talked about music, the band and probably a hundred other things that musicians can talk about when they meet each other for the first time.

But then life moved on.

The internet was still in its very early days at that time, and staying in contact with somebody you had met while travelling was nothing like it is today. There were no Facebook messages, no Instagram, no easy way to simply search for someone and send them a message.

Eventually, we lost contact. Until today Abyss is performing live in Cebu.

The old video that changed everything

Years passed.

I still had the old footage from that Abyss performance. Around 10 or perhaps 15 years ago, I decided to digitize and upload the vintage camcorder footage.

And then something completely unexpected happened.

Someone commented on the video:

“Hey, that’s my uncle.”

That one comment reopened a connection that had been lost for many years.

Through Facebook, Paul and I eventually got back in touch.

It was incredible to think that a piece of old video footage I had filmed back in 1997 could somehow bring us together again after such a long time.

Meeting again in Cebu

In 2022 when arriving in Cebu I finally met Paul face to face again since 1997.

Berny and Paul Vincent Camoro Reunited in Cebu, 2022

That meeting was a real highlight in my life.

After so many years, there we were again — two musicians who had first met in 1997, separated by time and distance, and somehow brought back together through an old video recording.

From that point on, our friendship became much more than simply reconnecting with somebody from the past.

We became very close friends.

And naturally, music became a big part of our friendship.

From an old meeting to new music

Since reconnecting, Paul and I have created some wonderful musical collaborations together.

Among them are:

• Love Of Joy
• Castle of Berlin
• Dive Into My Party
• Can’t You Hear Me Knocking — Cover
• Neo Soul

Paul is a super-talented lyricist, a fantastic live performer and, above all, a genuinely great guy to be around.

Paul and Berny – First Meeting Again in Cebu After 25 Years

Working with him has been a lot of fun. He brings his own personality, musical experience and distinctive voice to every collaboration.

And I think that’s what makes our musical relationship so special.

It isn’t simply about recording songs together.

It is about friendship.

Every year, another reunion

Since we became close again, my wife and I have continued to meet Paul whenever we travel to the Philippines.

Whenever we are in the Philippines for vacation, we try to meet up.

It still amazes me sometimes when I think about how it all started.

Back in 1997, I was sitting in Harrison Park with an old camcorder, filming a local Cebu band called Abyss.

Paul noticed the camera.

He came over to our table after the show.

We talked.

Then we lost contact for many years.

And eventually, an old video recording brought us back together.

What began with a simple camcorder recording in Cebu in 1997 eventually became a close friendship and a series of musical collaborations that continue to this day.

Sometimes you really don’t know where a moment in your life is going to lead.

I’m very grateful that I took that camera with me that day.

Meeting Paul Vincent Camoro at Sta. Barbara Hotel, Cebu – 2023