In the outbreak of COVID-19 — the coronavirus disease that has infected more than 550,000 people all over the world as of writing time and has greatly impacted businesses and organizations of all sizes — OPM artists have come together, albeit virtually, to come to the aid of the brave COVID-19 frontliners and various communities in the country as well as to spread joy through music.
While music festivals in the country and the upcoming live concerts of international acts such as Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, and Greenday are put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of OPM acts have swiftly penetrated a new realm of music — one that’s highly accessible to the masses despite the quarantine — to entertain audiences at home and most importantly, make their music a medium for spreading compassion and charity.
These talented artists are out to prove that melodies can ease burdened feelings and spark hope; that music, in its beautiful flexibility and artistry, can truly make a difference.
In this special listicle, we’re giving a nod to these homegrown music-makers who have recently held and are going to be holding digital concerts to raise funds for the underprivileged and our COVID-19 frontliners. Don’t miss the chance to watch their live performances online and donate for a great cause!
National Artist for Music and the first-ever KDR Icon of Musical Excellence Maestro Ryan Cayabyab together with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), launched the “Bayanihan Musikahan” on March 18, 2020, during Mr. C’s first-ever Facebook live session.
After giving freestyle spins on the keyboard to his timeless hits like “Tuwing Umuulan At Kapiling Ka” and “Kahit Ika’y Panaginip Lang,” he introduced the online singing marathon project to “give back and pay forward” to those who belong to the grassroots.
With a powerhouse lineup of musicians including Karylle, Sponge Cola, Ebe Dancel, Top Suzara, Bayang Barrios and Mike Villegas, Acapellago, Noel and Gab Cabangon, Jazz Nicolas, Zsaris, Reuben Laurente, Davey Langit, Keiko Necesario, Bullet Dumas, Nyoy Volante, Nino Alejandro, Ito Rapadas and Jimmy Antiporda of Neocolours, Jim Paredes, Lara Maigue, Gloc-9, Ice Seguerra, Morissette, Martin Nievera, Johnoy Danao, Tim Pavino, Juris, Jet and Rafi Pangan, and Chito Miranda, at the heart of this bold initiative is promoting compassion as an antidote to the pandemic.
As of March 25, at 6 p.m., the musical effort — which debuted on March 20 and is set to run for about two weeks — has already collected Php14.7 million. This amount will be used to produce and distribute “Manna Packs” and “Ligtas Covid Kits” to affected households.
For concert schedules and donation details, visit their official Facebook page.
Rewatch some of the performances!
Sponge Cola and Karylle: https://www.facebook.com/spongecola/videos/497418980934306/
Jazz Nicolas: https://www.facebook.com/theItchyworms/videos/888140241638019/
Gloc-9: https://www.facebook.com/glocdash9/videos/241174710265445/
Chito Miranda: https://www.facebook.com/ParokyaNiEdgarPH/videos/338392080450529/
Female singer-songwriters Reese Lansangan, Clara Benin, Leanne and Naara, and Keiko Necesario teamed up with Street Teams Unite and Project Laan to spread awareness and make a call for unity for the communities where help, in these trying times, doesn’t come easy.
The fourth edition of the music fundraiser series premiered on March 23, 2020, with Benin as its first performer. Cash donations for the said effort will go directly to #PusoKitchen, a soup kitchen project for Barangay Calawis. This initiative aims to provide enough meals and essential goods to the communities residing in the upland area of Antipolo City that’s situated at the foothills of Mt. Sierra Madre.
Missed the ladies’ live sets? It’s not too late to replay their performances — and make a donation!
Clara Benin: https://www.facebook.com/clarabeninmusic/videos/918327175291410/?vh=e&d=n
Keiko Necesario: https://www.facebook.com/KeikoNecesarioFanPage/videos/667144104096674/?vh=e&d=n
Leanne and Naara: https://www.facebook.com/leanneandnaara/videos/611581569425106/?vh=e
Reese Lansangan: https://youtu.be/bwSQgX4sRZ4
Apart from spreading their highly relatable anthems of love and loss on popular streaming sites, folk-pop breakout Ben&Ben also blessed the online community with their big hearts. The group proved once again that they are ready and raring to “inspire, uplift, and boost the collective morale of all the key stakeholders of the COVID-19 response.”
“Puhon: A Ben&Ben Live Event for the COVID-19 Efforts” debuted on Facebook on March 27, 2020, at 8 p.m., and had 2 million viewers and 87,000 shares as of writing time. They shared that Puhon, which means “hopefully” in Cebuano, is a word that they’ve learned from a fan while touring a couple of years back.
During their live performance, the website that accepts donations for their initiative crashed due to the outpouring of support from Ben&Ben’s fans, but thankfully, the website is now up-and-running. Proceeds from the Puhon live event will support the mass production of PPEs (face masks, gloves, alcohol, and more) and distribution of food packages among COVID-19 frontliners, COVID-19 test kits, and relief goods for daily wage workers.
Aside from Puhon, earlier this month, the Wish Music Awards’ Group of the Year winner also had an empowering collaborative project with 14 other Sony Music artists across Asia. The Sony talents performed Eric Chou’s “Forever Beautiful: All for One Version,” and the proceeds of this regional project will go toward the Han Hong Love Charity Foundation’s coronavirus relief efforts.
To learn more about the Puhon campaign, please visit: www.puhon.ph
Rewatch their Facebook live gig here:
https://www.facebook.com/BenAndBenMusic/videos/1121097974904204/
To donate, please visit:
https://www.thesparkproject.com/project/puhon-a-benben-fb-live-event-for-the-covid-19-efforts
Stream “Forever Beautiful: All for One Version” here:
Monday afternoons will never be the same again as Soupstar Music artists give their fans an eight-week live jam series from their homes titled “Velvet Live: Streamlined Edition” to provide live entertainment to everyone.
Powered by Smart Communications, this event is headlined by OPM troupes Moonstar88, 6cyclemind, Pedicab, Gracenote, Banda ni Kleggy, Imago, and Ultra Combo (Raymund Marasigan and Buddy Zabala), and a new breed of musicians like Kurei, Better Days, the vowels they orbit, and We Got.
Eunice Jorge of Gracenote also hosts the Piano Show segment of the virtual concert. Join her fun piano and casual conversations every Thursday, at 8 p.m., on the official Facebook page of Soupstar Music.
Three of the most esteemed wordsmiths in OPM today — Johnoy Danao, Ebe Dancel, and Bullet Dumas — collectively known as “3D,” are headlining a special virtual jamming session in support of this year’s Earth Hour.
Relevant and timely, today’s annual celebration of the campaign is to champion the idea of #ChangeTheEnding — which vividly pictures the “current global realities faced by humanity.”
PLDT-Smart Communications, Inc.’s Gabay Kalikasan, in support of the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines, will hold the Facebook livestream session at 8 p.m. tonight, March 28, 2020.
To watch the live stream and to learn more about Earth Hour 2020, please visit Gabay Kalikasan’s Facebook page.
In these trying times, let us fill our hearts with love and songs that spark hope and togetherness. Let us always keep on wishing and praying.
Should you have any medical concerns, UNTV — a BMPI-operated TV network and Wish 107.5’s sister company — is offering free consultation via its 24/7 digital clinic hotlines: 0915-189-7007 (Globe), 0918-438-8988 (Smart), 0943-411-8001 (Sun), and +63918-438-8988 (Viber).
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