Over 20 artists at 1st Bisaya Music Festival

CEBU, Philippines — The largest gathering of Bisaya talents is about to take place, leaving no genre behind for the first ever Bisaya Music Festival.

With over 20 Bisaya artists sharing the same stage, Bisaya Music Festival, in partnership with Pop District Bazaar’s third anniversary, called the artists into action, wanting to shake the ground with a massive wave of talent that can only be found in the Visayas.

Organizers believe that the Philippines is currently witnessing a phenomenon where the Bisaya language and way of life, which has been “overshadowed by the dominant cultures of the Philippines,” is experiencing a renaissance. They describe this surge of appreciation for Bisaya a “reawakening of our true identities and a rediscovery of what being Bisaya truly means.”

Happening on September 15 and 16 at the Oakridge Pavilion, local stores featuring lifestyle, fashion, makeup, food, and locally handcrafted products will set up camp and provide an array of choices. Pop District Bazaar, which has been supporting local start-up entrepreneurs and businesses since 2015, will be bringing in GMA-7 host Joyce Pring, as well as local influencers like Medyo Maldito, Hay Malaya, Alem Garcia, Steffi Jardin, Dave Quirante and Joshien Geyroaga for a meet-and-greet with fans.

The Vaudeville Theatre Company, one of the newest musical theater companies in Cebu, will also give a sneak peek of their latest production “The Addams Family.”

Dubbed as “the best weekend ever,” the affair will feature music, product demos and raffle draws every 30 minutes.

The Bisaya Music Festival takes place on the second day. Headlining the noon to night affair come September 16 is the Cebuano legacy that is Urbandub. Among the performers are island reggae artist Junior Kilat and Pilipinas Got Talent semifinalists Maka Girls. Popular Bisaya talents like “Pero Atik Ra” singer Jacky Chang, Von Saw, Raphiel Shannon and Jerika Teodorico will be perfoming as well.

Pain (a.k.a. Pain-in-the-neck) and his fresh, new hip-hop beats in the native tongue also takes the stage, while RAPOLLO will hype the crowd with the much-awaited Bisaya Rap Battle.

Other performers include synthpop group Mandaue Nights, Zach and Zeph Buenavista, Mampor and Me, Mary Anchit, Vincent Eco, Intertwined, Young Kael and Jom Ouano, Lourdes Maglinte, Oh! Caraga, David Wilde, Route 83, Kami Norte, Zhalia and more. Bisaya talents outside Cebu like Cagayan de Oro’s Vispop alumni Jane Abaday and Winset Jacot will be coming as well.

Although centered on music, the festival will also feature Binisaya films and poetry from the Almost Poets Society. An “Imong Mama” battle between Badidi Labra and Laurence Chua will likewise take place.

Another festival highlight is the “Kanta Kasingkasing” finals night – a worldwide songwriting competition of original Bisaya love songs held under the auspices of Kasikas Records alongside multimedia giant Viva Communications Inc. through their creative hub in Cebu and Viva Records.

Five songs have made it to the finals: “O” written by Jerika Teodorico sang by Raphiel Shannon; “Unta Single Na Ka” by Raffy Cabristante, perfomed by fellow Dumagueteños Zach and Zeph Buenavista; Ferdinand Aragon’s “Libu-Libo” interpreted by 22 Tango artist Vincent Eco; “Uli Na Diri” by Agusan del Norte’s Sherwin Fugoso which will be sang by Jacky Chang; and “Paglaum” by John Cadeliña and Irving Guazon.

Through the Pop Distrct Bazaar x Bisaya Music Festival event, the parties want to provide an avenue for start-up entrepreneurs and local talents to put up physical stores and connect with their audience. The two-day event will also celebrate another take on the “bisdak” (Bisayang dako) term by giving it another meaning via “Bisaya Dekalidad” (Bisaya quality).

While the intention is to celebrate the Bisaya Music Festival annually from here on, organizers quip that it all depends on the support they will get form this first staging. Hence, their hopes that Cebuanos  everywhere will come through and celebrate with them so that they get to gather year after year.

While Pop District Bazaar maintains its P100 entry ticket, visitors can also avail of their P600 ticket inclusive of entry for both days, meet-and-greets, and entry to Bisaya Music Festival, or a group bundle worth P3,000 (5+1).

Pop District Bazaar x Bisaya Music Festival tickets are available online, or at physical outlets of  Handuraw Pizza Mango Square, Sugbo Mercado Office Booth, Island Grill Ayala, Parkmall Concierge and Information Desk, Lé Gab Cafe Raintree Mall and Hala Paella at Banilad Town Centre, as well as in partner universities.