I have not been updating my blog since December and I was not able to continue my last blogpost becaue of busy schedule and laziness so I am here again to post something, my personal opinion about the problem of our OPM(Original Pinoy Music) songs and artists today. This is actually a transcript of my speech in my SPEECOM class.
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Maestro Ryan Cayabyab said to one of
his songs, “Kay Ganda ng ating musika. Ito ay atin, sariling atin. At sa habang
buhay, gamitin natin.” Very beautiful lyrics with a very explicit message, to
support our own music or simply to support OPM. Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I am
Allain Vincent B. Gapuz and today, I will talk about OPM Songs and Artist as
they struggle to keep pace with the foreign songs and artists.
OPM or Original Pinoy Music was
created for the Filipino’s identity. We are blessed with culture particularly
music and artists and musicians wants the Philippines to have its own musical
identity. Basically, OPM started as traditional music where we hear various
local dialects accompanied by various indigenous musical instruments. Some of this
music was also accompanied by dances which are very cultural in the
Philippines. Then, this type of music evolved as time progresses into some sort
of love songs which we call kundiman. From this period, our local musical
industry evolved.
In the 20th century where
OPM is still influential and strong, many Filipino artists and musicians were
recognized all around the globe. Examples of them were Mr. Ryan Cayabyab, the
APO Hiking Society, Pilita Corales, Joey Ayala and the like. Also from this
period, our music industry most especially the OPM became very strong, influential
and well-liked by the Filipinos. This was also the time when we participate in
various music competitions around the world. For instance when Ms. Pilita
Corales won the best performer award in the 1st Tokyo Music Festival
in 1972. She bested highly-regarded international artists including the singer
of I honestly Love You, Olivia Newton-John. As you can see, our local music
industry way back decades and centuries ago was very influential and well
supported by the whole Philippines but what happened today?
Today, our Filipino artists and OPM
struggles to be on top of the Filipinos hearts. I am not saying that the generation
of Filipinos today take for granted the existence of OPM in the 21st
century but with all the foreign music icons and songs that are recognized
around the world and most especially here in the Philippines, OPM is not given
the chance to show its evolution. OPM today is evolving. OPM keeps on keeping
at pace with all the foreign and international songs and artists. An example was
given to you a while ago. Today, what we hear and see with the foreign songs
and artists, we can hear and see it also with OPM songs and artists. For
example are the achievements of our local music and artists.
Christian Bautista, Aiza Siguerra,
Charice and Juris have something in common. They were all recognized as
Asiansation or Filipino music aritists of the 21st century who were
given the chance to show their talents and music all around the globe. Each
conqured the Asia and the Americas and was well applauded by crowd. Another is
just a recent happening where Sarah Geronimo was awarded as the Best Musical
Asian Artist of the Philippines in the Mnet Asian Music Awards. What is ironic
is that they are all Filipinos but their music and talents were recognized in
other countries. Also in terms of performance, we can now go with the current
trend. I would like to show you a video of a recent concert staged here in the
Philippines by a Filipino music artist and how we can compare it with the
performance of an international artist.
(skip to 4:30)
You see that OPM has so much to offer
if we will just learn how to support it well. I am not saying that we should
ignore foreign songs and artists as they contribute well to the evolution of
our OPM but if we will just let the evolution of our OPM be seen and heard then
I think, more and more Filipino music artists will be inspired to make more
music and hopefully, recognized by international music industry as well. Thank
you very much and again, good afternoon!
