And the (local) band played on

I chanced upon one of the movers of Panagbenga, Panagbenga co-chair Freddie Alquiroz, just before New Year’s and he was quite straightforward about it: The Baguio Flower Festival Foundation, Inc. isn’t sure if it can provide a budget for a 4th Baguio Music Festival. In the three flower festivals, we have been staging a gathering of musicians in various open spaces in the city, thanks to the support we get from BFFFI. But sponsorships aren’t easy to come by after the country was hit by Typhoon Yolanda. We understood, and we were in fact already planning on staging this year’s festival later in the year to give us more time to solicit support from the private sector.

But then, just before the festival began, we received a call from our musician-friend slash Baguio City councilor slash Baguio Music Festival chair, the Hon. Richard Carino: albeit with limited funding, and against all odds, the BFFFI was able to set aside some funds for us and that the 4th Baguio Music Festival is on.

We immediately held a meeting and a brainstorming session. And while we were very grateful to the support that the BFFFI has extended, the fact remained: we would have to do a scaled down festival this year. And despite that, we still needed to augment what was generously allotted for us to get the festival onstage.

Even before letters were sent out to potential sponsors, we received a call from InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) after announcing the event on Facebook. How can we be of help? They asked. IHG has always been supportive of our initiatives in the last few years. A number of times, they didn’t even wait for us to ask for their help, they offered it first. After hearing about our effort to gather medicines for victims of Yolanda last year by staging a benefit concert, they offered to host an encore right at the IHG grounds to gather personal-hygiene supplies for the victims. With them on board, we knew there was no stopping the festival now.

Cordillera Today came in next, offering invaluable advertising and column space to spread the word about “The Age of Aquarius,” this year’s theme that advocated the need for a major paradigm shift in Baguio. The Rural Bank of Itogon and the University of Baguio stepped in too to provide additional logistical support, and Alabanza Meat Store, a perennial blockbuster during Session Road in Bloom, offered to feed the artists on its final night.

Sonny Zandueta

The festival opened at Ililikha, the art space along Assumption Road on February 24, special thanks to Kidlat Tahimik, Kidlat De Guia, Kawayan and Kabunyan for lending their space to us. Sonny Zandueta, a prodigal son of Baguio, launched the three-day festival with a performance of his original works.

The following day, The Age of Aquarius moved to the Igorot Garden where, after waiting for an hour for heaven’s blessing of a gentle rain to stop, guest band, Fuseboxx, a prog rock group, opened the evening’s be-in. They were followed by a collaborative performance of some of the city’s foremost musicians.

Abby Clutario of Fuseboxx jams with Coun. Richard Carino

"In perfect harmony" - The Open Space children performed the song,
"I'd like to teach the world to sing"

Atty. Jose "Bubut" Olarte, Jr.

Eunice Caburao, Gemma Gonzalez and Bakulaw

On the third day, we rose again, this time at the Main Stage of Session Road in Bloom for an encore featuring highlights from the previous night’s performance. We were sandwiched between two other musical acts that afternoon: Musar's performance featuring their students and teachers and crowd favorite The Edralins. On the poster, we were simply billed as "local bands." There was no better way to put it, we were indeed a local band - a band of kindred spirits who believed this year's festival's vision, and whose faith in the local artist remain steadfast.

Eric Tubon of Fuseboxx

Lawyer, rocker, environmentalist Chris Donaal

Bong Dailo

And for the fourth straight year, thanks to Councilor Richard Carino’s unwavering faith in local musicians, BFFFI’s generosity and the support of our friends in the community: IHG, Cordillera Today, The Rural Bank of Itogon, The University of Baguio and Alabanza Meat Store, we were able to provide the community with three nights of music that hoped to inspire them into taking a more active role in preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural beauty of Baguio, particularly its remaining parks and open spaces.