Aiza Seguerra, Faith Cuneta headline OPM-themed concert
Filipino singers from the 1980s to the present joined forces in staging another successful concert in support of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) last Saturday, July 23, at the Avida Towers Centera site in Mandaluyong City.
OPM artists from different genres of music performed in an all-Filipino repertoire, celebrating the ingenuity of Filipino music as hundreds of concert-goers enjoyed the showcase of Pinoy music.
A series of free concerts
Last Saturday’s was already the second leg of “Tunog Natin!” – a series of free concerts aimed at making OPM more familiar to the people. The first “Tunog Natin!” concert was held at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati last June. Its success enticed more artists and OPM supporters to participate in the second leg of the concert series.
“Each leg of ‘Tunog Natin!’ offers something different throughout the concert series. That way, we can experience the richness of OPM. (Tonight’s) concert features the varied and exciting genres within OPM. The artists in this second ‘Tunog Natin!’ concert are top-notch. Whether they are younger acts veteran performers, they are simply the best in their respective genres,” said singer and composer Myrus, project head of the event.
OPM in full force
Among the crowd favorites in the second leg of the “Tunog Natin!” concert is child star-turned-acoustic signer Aiza Seguerra. Known for her crystal-clear voice, Aiza has made a successful crossover from acting to singing.
Aiza Seguerra and Faith Cuneta at the ‘Tunog Natin!’ concert
Aiza serenaded the audience with her original hit “Pagdating ng Panahon,” the same song which catapulted her to music stardom. She also gave a fresh rendition of Eraserhead’s “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and Juris Fernandez’ “Di Lang Ikaw.” Due to insistence from her fans, Aiza sang another contemporary OPM anthem, Francis Magalona’s “Kaleidoscope World.”
Another crowd favorite is singer Faith Cuneta, who gained prominence from singing soundtracks of telenovelas. Most recently, Faith lent her voice to Rod Santiago’s “The Sisters” where she sang the theme song “Hiram” originally sang by the Divine Diva Zsa Zsa Padilla. The audience were awed by Faith’s powerful rendition of Joey Albert’s “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin.”
Other OPM artists who performed at the free concert are OPM Board Chair Mitch Valdez, rock legend The Dawn, pop quartet Kiss Jane, “Pinoy Dream Academy” alumnus Davey Langit, new wave-pop fusion group True Faith and pop chicks Kitchie Nadal and Barbie Almalbis.
Call for support
The Filipino music industry is struggling to keep it flame alive. The OPM artists who performed at the free concert hope that Filipinos would give more support to OPM.
Cuneta said she wishes Filipinos would throw the same solid support they have given foreign acts who held concerts in the country.
“Ang gusto naming mangyari, yung pinagdadasal namin, 'yung mga Pilipino mismo ang magmahal ng sariling musika natin. Alam naman natin, a lot of foreign artists ngayon are enjoying the support of the Filipinos,” said the telenovela diva.
The “Tunog Natin!” series of free concerts did not just serve as an avenue to reminisce classic OPM favourites but also a venue to showcase the new generation of talents who are taking OPM into greater heights and more thrilling dimension.
