LET’S GET TOGETHER AND FEEL ALRIGHT

Filipino pride is not just limited to films, tribal groups and sports. Music has been a sublime player in the history of the Philippines. The different variations of music in the country are evolving, especially with the penetration of alien cultures at present. The Philippines has adopted a mix of genres: folk, metal, hiphop, alternative, rock.

All these variations are celebrated during concerts and other musical events, be it underground or mainstream occasions. Some gatherings are for free which are favoured by everybody. Some events are organized for the benefits of the poor and street children. The latter is always incorporated in the Filipino practice not just in terms of music but in almost everything as well. It’s usually concert for a cause, though.

A gig is usually a ticket for bands to even more opportunities. Gigs are about a salesman selling his product, the music for this matter. Ian Zafra of Indie Culture Online assessed that concert tours are set to sell the works of musicians. The audience is the customer and the band is the promo person. They want to be as convincing as possible showing the people how their music can work for them. At these live performances, they entice the audience to venture a bite of their sound, hoping they would cultivate a taste for it. If they do their gig right, the audience remembers them.

Oktoberfest – Third Eye Blind was the main attraction of that event.

For the amateur units, battle of the bands held in schools or in their towns is a pioneering step. They take their best shot at these events to give the people a taste of their music. The annual Red Horse Beer Muziklaban Rock Challenge in the country is an anticipated episode for every young band in Cebu, giving them a chance to market their opuses and make it to the national scene.

The Philippine rock culture has practiced Red Horse Beer Muziklaban circa 1999. With sponsorship from San Miguel Brewery, young bands having no contracts with any major recording outfits, have the chance to take home a million pesos and get signed under the label Viva Records. Of course, it’s a common desire of most artists to be signed with a major record label. It is a national event with eradication sessions raging from Manila, Cebu and Davao.The noted champions from 2001 to 2007 would include 3rd Degree, 18th Issue, Fusebox, Mayonnaise, Sunflower Day Camp, Hardboiledeggz and Gayuma, respectively.

Another event that Filipinos always look forward to is the Oktoberfest. As far as history is concerned, Oktoberfest the largest people’s fair around the globe. It is a famous world class festivity that would last for sixteen days annually in Munich Bavaria, Germany from late September to early October. The event would incur an estimated six million attendance almost every year. The beverage for this merrymaking is solely beer and it has a name- Oktoberfestbiers. These beers have always been present since the year 1818 with 6 major suppliers known as the Big Six. For the record, they are Spaten, Löwenbräu, Augustiner, Hofbräu, Paulaner and Hacker-Pschorr.

Love it or hate it … today marks the beginning of Oktoberfest …

The Philippine celebration of Oktoberfest is always exceptional and alive. The affair always means overflowing beer and music everywhere in the archipelago. The celebration varies from Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. There are different band competitions held, freebies are always at stake, promos, games, the popular beer drinking contest and drinking sprees. It’s always like that in the Philippines. And the common denominator is always fun, fun and fun.

Unlike in Germany, the Philippine concept of Oktoberfest is a lively party that would last for the whole month of October. And the event is brought to the Filipinos by no other than San Miguel beer, the top beer brewer in the country.

Oktoberfest is also a tourism opportunity for the Philippines. Aside from the normal attendees and participants, the Filipinos themselves, foreigners would also visit the country at this time of the year. Tourism is at its peak at this point. Visitors also want to partake in the Philippine celebration. For some reason, the Philippines is in one way or another, a talk of the world when it comes to merriments and carefree parties. Filipinos are always happy people.