Maria Cecilia Beronilla Bisa van Ommen, also known as Acel Bisa (her maiden name), is a Filipino singer and songwriter.

Career

She is the most popular for performing the song "Torete" with her former band Moonstar88. But as a solo artist, she has also become famous for singing the English version of One Love, the theme song to the hit Korean television drama Spring Waltz. In 2007, Acel released her first album as a solo artist entitled Silver Lining. A ten-track album featuring songs Laugh and Cry, Pakiusap, Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-Ibig, and Silver Lining among others. Acel has also contributed her original compositions to soundtracks of Philippine prime-time television shows My Girl (for her song Gulo, Hilo, Lito) and Rounin (for her song Sa Ngalan Ng Pag-Ibig). She contributed the song "I Believe" to the album Captured of the singer Christian Bautista. She has also worked with the band Gish while in 2011, she co-wrote the song “Palawan” with Yeng Constantino. She collaborated with the group Sesa and the artist Emmanuelle Vera. Acel released the EP Hello to Heaven, which included the single "Liliwanag".

Former bands

From 1999 to 2004, Acel was the front-woman for the popular band Moonstar88. During her five years with theband she released two studio albums (Popcorn in 2001 and Press to Play in 2002) producing highly acclaimed songs Torete, Sulat, Sa Langit, and Fall On Me. Before her departure from the band in 2004 Acel worked with Maychelle Baay for several weeks to transition her into replacing her for the spot of lead vocalist. Before her time with Moonstar88, Acel was part of the band Orphan Lily from 1995 to 1998. Together with Terence Tevez, Jeff Lima, and Paolo Bernaldo, they released a self-titled album with their hit single No Reason and was awarded NU107's Best New Artist award at the 1998 NU107 Rock Awards.

Discography

Personal life

Acel was born on August 28, 1976, as Maria Cecilia B. Bisa to university professors Simplicio and Paulina Bisa. In 2004 she married her friend Danny van Ommen. After four years of marriage, she gave birth to her son Nikolai Tashi in July 2008. On September 20, 2024, Acel announced that she will hold a farewell concert due to plans to move to the Netherlands with her family.

Awards and nominations