Pilipinas Perusal

IIn the long roster of celebrity affairs, the 2004 MTV Pilipinas Awards uniquely stands out as one of the most glamorized yet wacky, much like an odd cross between the Oscars and Octoberfest. Armed with nothing more than a press pass, a digital camera, and a voice recorder, I ventured to the PSC Sports Complex to swagger through that red long carpet alongside personalities who not only supposedly shape the local music scene, but actually define the term altogether.

The Surreal Journey To Our Seats

"This has gotta be it!" I exclaimed to my friend Mika Bautista, after breezing through some revolving spotlights, a queue, and a registration booth by the VIP entrance. Opening the door, I quickly noticed two pretty women garbed in extravagant shiny Arabian-type costumes which were dead ringers for that flying carpet video of Janet Jackson: Run Away. Looking closer at their oriental faces, the female pair turned out to be VJ Cindy Kurleto and celebrity sports buff Chinggay Andrada, flanked by fashion photographer Victor Consunji and VJ Marc Abaya at each end, all huddling up for an on-cam interview.

"Hey Ipe! Sorry…have to work. See ya later!" another VJ, Patty Laurel, hollered, as she emerged from a make-shift Manguhuhula tent, firmly grasping that signature MTV microphone to interview Ely Buendia, the ex-frontman of Eraserheads just a few meters away. Luckily in the middle of the hullabaloo, the network’s PR Executive Lizzette Claudio found us and guided us through the warm florescent-lit hallway which was packed to the brim with both people and a long buffet table of BBQ sticks, siomai, and two large San Miguel draft beer kegs. Reaching the dark backstage and crossing a large Santa Cruzan-type arch bearing the unmistakable letters M-T-V, I finally found myself in the audience section with the rest of the celebrities, media men, VIPs, and thousands of fans who came to see their favorite music superstars in the flesh.

With the enormous central stage adorned with anting-antings, enkantos, and other indigenous patterns, the entire event had been clearly designed using a motif revolving around Pinoy mysticism and superstition. True to the theme, I suddenly had a strange gut feeling that most of the action tonight would happen not in the front of the house but behind those maze-like halls in the greater background. So, with a promise of smuggling back some draft beer for my seatmates, I quickly ran towards the backstage once again, breezing past a host of singers/ presenters/ nominees, including Jolina Magdangal, Nina, and Roselle Nava, among others.

The Real Show-Backstage

Repositioning myself in the dimly lit area behind the curtains, I patiently waited for serendipity and luck to strike. Sure enough, a lean inter-generation music and dance icon by the name of Gary V. materialized from the shadows, still fresh from his performance on-stage which had generated a standing ovation. A few seconds later, a suspicious-looking man, clad in a Mafioso black pin stripe suit and top hat, suddenly marched through the arch behind. As the light became brighter, Keith Martin, of Because of You nationwide recall, came into view, armed only with a pen to sign autographs backstage. With an inverted image of VJ Sarah Meier and Thailand’s Tata Young on the overhead projector screen and the voices of hosts Michael V. and Randy Santiago over the speakers, I then spirited myself to the hall to get as much draft beer as I could for myself and my thirsty seatmates.

Balancing an unconfirmed number of glasses strategically placed between my hands, shoulders, elbows, and neck, I socially and almost physically bumped into a former Ateneo High school batchmate of mine – now Parokya ni Edgar’s Vinci Montaner by the stairs on the way back. Barely keeping my equilibrium, I suddenly noticed somebody waving at me a few steps away. "Hey Ipe, I’d like to introduce you to Guy Sebastian," Chinggay Andrada announced formally, pointing at the male foreigner adjacent to her who sported an afro-type haircut.

"Hi, Sebastian," I greeted the Australian Idol winner, completely ignorant – not only of his first name but of his standing in the international music industry altogether. Anyway, making my way back to the seat and distributing the beer loot to my friends, I finally started watching the show like a normal patron.

The Performance Proper

The light and sound spectacle that followed could easily compare to the other high-concept MTV awards in Asia, the US, and Europe. On top of Gary V., the country’s best musicians, including Sarah Geronimo, Nyoy Volante, Paolo Santos, Barbie’s Cradle, Jay-R and Bamboo, among others, performed their radio, TV, and music video hits over several numbers – with back-up dancers, drums, disco balls etc. Meanwhile, all the international performers I had earlier encountered, personally or vicariously, together with Irish female group Bellefire, also went on the brightly-lit platform to sing for the Filipino audience below.

In the course of the show, key figures from the modeling, fashion, sports, and entertainment sectors stood behind the podium to hand several awards. Conversely, recipients that night were as follows: Favorite New Group and Favorite Group: Bamboo for Noypi, Favorite International Act: Maroon 5 for This Love, Favorite International Video: Black Eyed Peas for Where is the Love, Favorite Male Artist: Jay-R for Bakit Pa Ba?, Favorite Female Artist: Jolina Magdangal for Bahala Na, Favorite Song: Noypi by Bamboo, Best Indie Video: The Late Isabel for Doll’s Head, Best Director: Avid Liongoren for Everyday (Barbie’s Cradle), and Best Video: Gloc 9 Sayang directed by Topel Lee.

Higher Purpose

Browsing through the above list of awards, recipients, presenters, and performers who comprise not only the Philippine music industry but a tidbit of the international scene as well, I realize that MTV Philippines, beyond the kooky theatrics and branding, plays a crucial role for music-loving Filipinos. On one hand, the network allows them to hear and watch their favorite musicians from here and abroad, all in the convenience of their TV sets. On the other hand, thanks to a mammoth event such as this, it also gives them the chance to interact with these normally inaccessible personalities in the flesh, performing just a few breaths away. I know I did.

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For comments and suggestions, email the author at mybubbleboy@hotmail.com