102 musical acts in OPM showcase

From left: Maria Isabel Garcia, Ryan Cayabyab, Noel Ferrer and Moy Ortiz

A total of 102 Filipino musical acts are set to perform over the course of six days for the upcoming “Pinoy Playlist 2018: Ito ay Atin, Sariling Atin”—an “inclusive” music festival that aims to gather artists of various genres and cater to fans from different demographics.

“There have been local music festivals in the past, but many of them, I observed, were skewed toward the youth. But here we have something for everyone … There are A-listers and up-and-comers,” said The Company’s Moy Ortiz, who curated the event along with talent manager-producer Noel Ferrer and acclaimed composer Ryan Cayabyab.

“Simply put, it’s a showcase of talent—one that embraces everyone in our tribe,” the singer-songwriter related, adding that the idea behind the festival was inspired by the movie and theater communities, which both maintain lively platforms and  venues where artists can collectively “present their wares.”

“The theater people have the Virgin Labfest, while the filmmakers have a number of festivals,” Moy pointed out at a press  conference. “We want to have the same kind of community, where everyone supports each other.”

Soul singer Zion

“Pinoy Playlist” will be held on Oct. 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20, across three performance venues within the BGC Arts Center in Taguig City: the Maybank Performing Arts Theater’s Globe Auditorium and Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall; and the Sun Life Amphitheater.

Each day will feature 17 shows or sets from a roster of musicians that will celebrate the diversity of Filipino music: There will be solo artists, vocal groups and bands from different generations that would give the audience a taste of different genres of music—from pop to classical to rock to indigenous—as they go shuttle to and from the venues.

Some of the artists taking the stage include: Gloc-9, Shanti Dope, Sandwich, Noel Cabangon, UP Tugma, Razorback and Itchyworms for Oct. 11; Ben&Ben, Neocolours, Nyoy Volante, 6Cyclemind, Lara Maigue and Banda ni Kleggy for Oct. 12; Rachelle Gerodias, Johnoy Danao, Baihana, Moonstar88, Gracenote and Hilera on Oct. 13;

Autotelic, AMP Big Band, Sam Concepcion, Acapellago and PhilPop alumni for Oct. 18; IV of Spades, Robert Seña and Isay Alvarez, Bullet Dumas, Zion, Reuben Laurente and contestants of the Vispop (Visayas Pop) Music Festival for Oct. 19; and Bayang Barrios, Dulce, Abra, Mitch Valdes, Fern and Katrina Velarde for Oct. 20.

A one-day pass costs P750 (P375 for students); a three-day pass for P1,500 (P750); and a festival pass for P2,250 (P1,125). (For details, visit www.playlist.bgcartscenter.org.)

Rachelle Gerodias (left) and Park Byeong-in

All these musicians, Noel said, are in it for, not for money, but for their sheer love for music and the local industry. “It’s a project for the soul or for community-building. Kawanggawa lang,” he stressed. “While they will be receiving honorarium, some of the performers will have productions that may cost more than what they will get.”

“The musicians from Vispop are actually going there on their own dime,” Moy added. “Some of them looked for sponsors so they will have enough money for airfare and accommodation.”

Asked what he hopes “Pinoy Playlist” would accomplish, Ryan said: “I hope this event can somehow help turn the tide. I yearn for the day when we can finally say that we consume more local music than foreign.”

Meanwhile, Noel said he believes that music can unite people, especially in these times of divisiveness. “The event can be a venue for unity, with different people in one place singing along to the same songs,” he said.