MUSIC LYF: Tunog Natin! Colors of Freedom at Ayala Gardens

A FREE concert featuring of the most promising names in the local music scene was staged on June 15 to lobby for public support for the slowly fading Original Pilipino Music (OPM).

Presented by real estate developer Avida Land Corporation, "Tunog Natin! An OPM Concert series" is a call to revive the Filipino audience interest of homegrown artists and locally produced records. Its a series of concerts that the real estate developer will stage in key locations in Metro Manila in line with its upcoming milestone events and project launches.

The June 15 concert, which is the first in the series, coincides with the lauch date of the second tower of Avida towers San Lorenzo, Avida latest condominium offering in Makati. The Tunog Natin concert will be part of the Colors of Freedom celebration at Makati and also tied in with the Freedom Concert on June 10, ( featuring Bituin Escalante, Gerald Salonga and Filharmonika ochestra). The free show will start at exactly 7pm.

Performance include singer-songwriter and APO hiking society stalwart Jim Paredes, whose work from the 1980 include recordings and compositions that are considered OPM classics. There is also True Faith, whose music have grown even more unforgettable since they began in the 1990s with their blend of new wave, easy listening, middle of the road and pop to create an OPM sound that is truly their own.

Established performers include OPM bossa nova queen Sitti, the sweet voiced pioneer of the OPM bossa nova sound revival in 2009. Also featured are alternative OPM rock bands Callalily, 6cyclemind and Pedicab whose music continue to define and evolvetheir genre. They are joined by Princess Velasco and Sabrina, the best selling acoustic artist artist today.

Up and coming OPM superstars are also in the show, including gold record artist and composer Myrus; ground-breaking OPM boyband 1:43 ("One Fourthy-three") ; multi-awarded R&B artist Arnee Hidalgo; and acoustic act Aries Sales. All of the artists in "Tunog Natin!" will perform an all OPM repertoire. Also GRACE NOTE also performed with their homegrown music.

Myrus who is also the project head of TUNOG NATIN says the concert series seeks to revive interest and appreciation of OPM to assure the future of both the artists and Filipino music.

"No less than the future of OPM is at stake in this concert. Its would be such a loss to our cultural heritage if we do not fight the trend and just allow OPM to die out. It's also in the best interest of Filipino musicians, esecially the young, up-and-coming artists, for OPM to continue--our future as musical artists depend on it," Myrus explains.

The event presenter Avida Land is supporting the project to contribute to the preservation and development of Filipino culture--particularly Original Pilipino Music.

"OPM represents the best music that we can share with one another and offer the rest of the world. Life for the true blue Pinoy is simply unimaginable without it. Over the years, since the 1980's, OPM has evolved with our culture and passed on to many generations. It is a source of pride as well as a source of inspiration for Filipinos. Those of us who have a passionate and abiding love for OPM are welcome to TUNOG NATIN," says Tess Tatco, marketing manager of Avida Land Corporation.

Filipino audiences are urged to help bring new life to OPM and save the heritage and legacy of Filipino musicians by attending this free concert series. These concerts will not only showcase the beauty and creativity of Filipino music but will also preserve and promote OPM for generations to come.

TUNOG NATIN is also sponsored by Ayala Land, Banapple and Freego.