ISLA, actually is an acronym of a bicol based singing group  "IT STARTED LONG AGO" composed of three young talented members who pioneered the composition of various pop songs using the unique dialect of Viraqueños in the island province of Catanduanes. The ISLA members are

Nelson Icaranom Jerry A. Tabirao Jose "nonong " Icaranom Jr

1974 was the year when a group of young men started adapting and arranging, as well as putting-in new lyrics of some popular local kundimans to off beat tempo. It was also in the same year that they come up with one original composition they have entitled "HOTDOG" which spirited the break through of Virac worded bicol pop songs. Contributing talents in this composition were Engineers Noel Balmadrid and Boy Avila, and brothers Sonny and Teddy Tejada, and Nelson Icaranom who is now the bass player of ISLA. 

Virac, the capital town of the province of Catanduanes has many song composers who were known to have architected many bicol kundiman songs and popularized by known singers in the early decades of the 19th century, and to name a few were the late Macario Arcilla and Geronimo Tabuzo, and Mr. Antonio Arcilla, all public school teachers. The latter, who is fondly called by kin's and associates as "Tang Tolin" is the composer and recording artist of a song titled "Pantomina" a name referring to a type of dance popular to bicolanos and usually performed during special occasions by affluent and respected personalities anywhere in the region. However, even until such time that pop music has invaded the Philippines, no one among the the said composers of Virac excursioned to use the unique Virac dialect in their compositions. Pantomina was recorded sometime in 1956 and since then up to a span of 37 or so years, no other recorded musical composition from Virac, or in the province of Catanduanes followed. 

Throughout these years but not until ISLA which was originally known in the place "Uya Na Ang Grupo" (Here comes the group). The time of waiting came to an end when in 1982 the group with new memberships (Nelson, Jerry, Nonong, and Zaldy Bautista) has been formally organized. This time the group was able to compose another original song which they titled "Mutya ning Virac", in Sampaloc, Manila. Since then, the group busied themselves in composing new original songs (Virac worded and also in mainland bicol lyrics).

Optimistic that these original compositions can also penetrate local market as what their Visayan contemporaries did, ISLA (minus Zaldy, who left the group) has finally decided to record their first LP last February 1993 at the Pedero Music Studio in Makati City under the sponsorship of several supportive well-to-do residents of Catanduanes who are enthusiastic that these compositions in the unique Viracqueño dialect will serve as the ambassador of goodwill for the province which, sad to say, is only known to be the typhoon-prone province.

Thus ISLA is dedicated in tribute to it's beloved province of Catanduanes as the logo itself is designed showing the topographic position of the province of Catanduanes.  ISLA launches it's first ever Viracnon Lyric Album "ISLA Primerong Luwas" on April 17, 1993 at the Virac Capitol Dome. Followed by a Live Concert at the Catanduanes State Colleges Gym. It was a succesful one.