Music summit OPM chair’s top priority

To create a manifesto that will address the local music industry’s problems is the aim of a two-day summit being organized by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM), according to its chair, Ogie Alcasid.

The summit is set in July or August. “We will identify problems and try to come up with solutions,” Alcasid told Inquirer. “We will create a manifesto that we hope to present to President Aquino. He has three more years in office; We’d like him to know what we need before he leaves.”

Alcasid pointed out: “We cannot neglect the industry. Music is intrinsic to our culture. It’s quite sad that young people don’t even know Basil Valdez.”

He said OPM planned to invite Korean music personalities to discuss the phenomenal success of K Pop. “We may learn something from them,” he said.

At a press conference for the GMA 7 game show “Bonakid Preschool Ready Set Laban,” of which he is host, Alcasid said he was pleased that the local hip-hop scene was thriving. He also cited the success of young recording artists Daniel Padilla and Angeline Quinto.

Alcasid, his wife singer Regine Velasquez and their son Nate, just returned from a 12-day US trip. “There wasn’t much time to go sight-seeing,” he said. “We got to watch ‘Mamma Mia’ on Broadway. It was a surreal experience for Nate’s yaya. She enjoyed Times Square very much. We all did.”

(“Ready Set Laban,” a 15-minute game show, airs Saturdays,  11:45 a.m., on the Kapuso channel.)