OPM as they struggle to keep at pace with the foreign songs and artists

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 20^th 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 1^st 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 21^st 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 21^st 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!