Their remake of the Ogie Alcasid heartbreak song, Bakit Ngayon Ka Lang has made them a quadruple platinum group, a milestone improvement on theirfirst big hit, Before I Let You Go. In 2000, they conquered Araneta Coliseum, where they did a concert with Pops Fernandez, Gary Valenciano and Andrew E. They repeated their Araneta feat two more times with a successful Valentine Love Concert with Zsa Zsa Padilla and Lani Misalucha, and the other when they performed with Ogie Alcasid and Aiza Seguerra.

Indeed the group has come far since their Davao days when their only wish was to be able to perform on stage. "When we recorded So Slow, it was just for us. We had no idea that we could release anything let alone hit it big," Freestyle vocalist Christopher "Top" Suzara.

For those still in the dark, Freestyle had its humble beginnings in DAVAO in 1996, when former First Circle members Jinky Vidal, Tat Suzara and Gerald Banzon decided to form a singing group. Tzuki Garcia and Obet Luzon were the two other members. The gropu started performing in different campuses in Davao. Soon, Freestyle became a byword in the Davao music scene. It was not too long before they conquered Manila, too.

Top, Tat's cousin, joined Freestyle in 1997 with Carlo Tapia (on bass) after two members left the group. Nikki Cabardo replaced Obet Luzon on keyboards and became the sixth member of the band.

Indeed, the group has come a long way since then but you can be sure that they've kept their feet planted firmly on the groud.

"May nagtatanong, how do you fell na star na kayo? "We don't feel that way. The only thing that sets us apart from, say you, is come show time we are on stage. After that we come down. I mean we eat the same food. We go through the same traffic, ika nga, Star man yan o hindi pareho lang. Araw lang ang sumisikat.  We appreciate the support and even the infatuation that we receive, but on our part we try to tell them na huwag na kayong mahiya to come near us or when you want to say hi to us." Top said.

But like any other family, the group has its share of tampuhan and miscommunications. Jinky added that there was even a point when she just couldn't handle it anymore. She would have quit but friendship and love for her craft prevailed.

"After all those problems that we have gone through, I can say na we grew. Alam mo na pag dumating ang ganun ulit, alam mo na nag gagawin," Jinky added.

Top added it was probably just stress and pent up emotions that kept inside too long.

"Saka kamo may ugali na pag merong ikatampo di namin sasabihin. Eventually darating na nag dami mo nang itinago tapos lahat pala kami ganun pag nag-usap kami ayan na. Sobrang mainit na ung ulo hindi na makapagsalita. Nangyari na yun dati." Jinky pointed out that Top would just go home after each gig while she would be absentminded even during a gig.

"Pagkatapos ng problema alam mo ang sarap tumugtog. Magaan kasi pag labas lahat. Mabigat if it feels like work when it shouldn't feel like work. It should be fun. Dapat gusto naming ginagawa namin. We don't do it for the money, we do it because pag wala ng problema may tinatawag kaming happy time," Tod added.

Prayers and a close relationship with God have them sane, they acknowledge.

"Yung mga pagsubok parang exam, lost ka. Pag disconnected ka sa Kanya, paano ka sasagot? Kailangan konektado ka palagi. Matatandaan mo lang na disconnected ka kasi may problema ka. Pag wala kang problema hindi mo siya matatandaan. Dapat nga lalo pag wala kang problema," Top added.

Aside from prayers, a sense of humor has always been part and parcel of the group. Jinky and Nikki are the so-called comics of the group. And as for Tat, he may be the silent one but when he crack a joke, he often sends the group roaring with laughter.

"Sa araw-araw na ginagawa namin, mababaliw ka talaga pag wala kang sense of humor," Jinky added.

Other artists they have worked with, the two vowed, have their own eccentrities. Ogie Alcasid for one is as insane behind the scenes as he is on TV. The same goes for Martin whose spontaneity and wit makes a crowd drawer.

"Iba naman dating ni Gary, inspiring siya. I have seen him na walang boses bago mag show tapos pagkanta niya magtataka ka kung saan galing yung boses niya. He'd say I'd pray then I do work that I can trusting that He'll do evrything else for me. 'Inspired ako kasi he is rally good. Bitin ang four hours. If you have been to his concert you'll know what I'm talking about," Top added.

Other bands, he added, have the same brand of humor they do, "Iisa lang ang likaw ng bituka namin."

"JUST TO MAKE THINGS CLEAR, WHAT WE DO IS FUN BUT IT IS NOT EASY. IT IS HARD WORK TOO. BUT THE GRATIFYING THING ABOUT IT IS THAT WE GET TO DO WHAT WE LOVE TO DO AND THAT IS TO SHARE OUR MUSIC WITH EVERYONE."