‘Earth Day Jam’ all set in Dumaguete

CEBU, Philippines – Some of the country’s top bands and performers will join local artists for the Earth Day Jam in Dumaguete City to celebrate the 15th anniversary celebration of Earth Day Foundation Incorporated on August 20.

The Earth Day Jam will be held at the Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete, in what will be the first provincial tour outside the National Capital Region, according to Lou Bonnevie, Earth Day Jam Foundation president and executive producer of the event.

Participating in the event will be the Philippines’ top performing bands Rocksteddy (featuring funny man Showtime’s host Teddy), Parokya ni Edgar, Rivermaya and Brownman Revival.

Bonnevie, artist-producer rock icon and eco-artist, will be the only female frontliner to perform with them, and will also be jamming with local groups, the Silliam jazz group, Banda Mangga, rapper Mike Patejo, Skillage, Odd, Five Volts and Take Two, among others.

The Earth Day Jam Foundation will be giving citations to locals and environmental advocates for the GAIA earth awards, said Bonnevie, adding that exhibit booths will also be set up at the Rizal Boulevard in line with the Silliman University Founders’ Day celebration in late August.

Viernov Grefalde, of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here, said farmers from the upland areas will also be selling their organic produce at the exhibit area.

Earth Day Jam is the longest running free music event for Mother Earth, as a venue to encourage care for the environment, Bonnevie said.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, for his part, gave the assurance of the city’s full support to Earth Day Jam, as he was happy to have the city the chosen venue for this year’s event. Dumaguete will have the opportunity to sell itself to the world as an environment-friendly city and one of the world’s best places to retire in, he said.

Sponsors and partners of the event are the DENR, the city government, and the Energy Development Corporation. Other supporters are the Climate Change Commission, the Peace and Equity Foundation, the Clean Air Asia and student organizations from Silliman University, Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University and St. Paul University.