For months, the COVID-19 pandemic created different nuances of adapting to the “new normal” for individuals, communities, the economy, and the entire public life. In the Philippines, plastered all over social media is an upsurge of musical creativity by people making music from their balconies and homes defining the “new normal”. From solo acts, musical groups to bands, the potential of making music and having their performances digitally available to the public have spread virally with higher contagion rates than the COVID-19 virus itself. While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on the musical community, this not only affected the sphere of music all over the globe but the entire art world with many independent artists who earn through small gigs, exhibits, public concerts, tours and festivals are currently ruled out jeopardizing their only means of income. This led many artists and musicians to devote their creative resources to the production of art through visual arts exhibits, and creating musical online content such as music videos, virtual concerts, and organizing donation drives. Sorsogon City: An Emerging Music Hub
In Sorsogon City, “Matugtog Kita”, a collaborative project of Sorsoganon musicians launched their first online concert entitled “ISURIYAW TA: Palayaon an Musikang Bikolnon!” on Independence Day, June 12. With the general public taking part which has been truly overwhelming, musicians who performed composed, and crafted innovative Bicolano lyrics, interpreted well-known Bicolano classic hit songs and even released their official music video promoting a call-to-action for musicians and artists to help one another create music that is relevant and meaningful to society. OPM Icon, Chickoy Pura Jr. of the Jerks delivered his own resonant rendition of the classic Bicolano love song, Sarung Banggi (One Night/One Evening) composed by Potenciano Gregorio Sr. Pura, who hails from Bulusan, Sorsogon has penned his share of classics:“Romantic Kill,” “Reklamo nang Reklamo,” “Sayaw sa Bubog,” “Rage” and many other hit songs. Plagpul, on the other hand, sang a playful version of Kudot-Kudotan (The Pinching Game), a Bicolano folk song reminiscing childhood love. Plagpul is a progressive rock band with members from Sorsogon City. Plagpul is also the band behind the viral parodies of Bella Ciao, an Italian protest folk song into Walang ma-Chow and the hit pop song Señorita. Notable original compositions filled the concert with Vulkitan by Je Sipoy, Yen Llanera and Gary Dioquino; Ted Aldwin Areola’s acoustic version of his original song, Kitang Duwa; Ilusyon by Save It For The Last and Bjorn Salvador’s Tingog kan Balud that talk about places, life and death, relationship, social class, and gender which are heavily embedded in our culture. Other musicians also performed lyrical rap and spoken word poetry. As most of the musicians who participated were all self-taught and are currently looking for ways or a platform to express themselves to cultivate their talents, the concert reverberated very raw performances in terms of musicality and production but their messages are very clear. They also share this unique bond to be heard and invite others to join them which in a way can be seen as representations of the modern aspects of Sorsoganon way of life and also of their changing attitudes and collective cultural expression through music. Instead of “performing live”, there are these recorded performances streamed live together with a donation drive and a Q & A session with musicians. Technically, these are not live performances but in the context of the challenges faced by our performers in terms of internet connectivity, face-to-face interaction and the risk of contagion, it is also important to understand the multitude of ways in which music is used, recorded and experienced during livestreaming of performances. These circumstances provide an opportunity for musicians to deal effectively with a threatening situation such as COVID-19 and this might help others involved in production to be better equipped should a similar situation occur in the future. It is also important to note the Public service announcements they conducted during the event where music has become embedded in our responses to disrupted lives. With music, Matugtog Kita is also able to advocate for a cause- an innovative digital mediation to making, sharing and experiencing performances. Defying the status quo It is also worth mentioning that Matugtog Kita came to fruition because in the past few years up to now, music and performance in Sorsogon in terms of public platforms are limited only to a few battle of the bands, elections, town festival gigs and a handful of songwriting competitions dedicated only in entertaining people as a SPECTACLE. Like COVID-19, it is also like a virus that plagued our culture for years and there is this danger for what this spectacle expresses because instead of uplifting creativity and unity among musicians, there is always this priority to compete. Oftentimes the intention of the organizers is for self-vested interest thus these platforms always become an instrument for corruption and electioneering instead of giving support to artists and musicians. Tired of the status quo? Perhaps it is now time for artists to unite and stand up against music that only entertains to attract people into our society’s consumerist culture and not really as an essential need for cultural upliftment. It may also be good in the future for Matugtog Kita to partner with community-based art groups in Sorsogon to further educate the people about music by conducting workshops, forums and performances that encourage other sectors such as the youth, women, PWDs, and the like. There is a necessity to involve or extend ourselves in the community to understand the relation of music with the people in the evolving conditions of the Sorsoganon society. There is therefore a need for Matugtog Kita to also re-educate the audience about the essence of music and its significance to the society particularly to the Sorsoganons. Definitely, music should be safeguarded for the generations yet to come!
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AuthorKurit-Lagting co-founder, Geri Matthew “Choi” Carretero is a multidisciplinary artist and community development worker. He has exhibited his artworks in various museums and galleries with themes about migration, displacement, and disability. Archives
November 2023
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