First launched in 2014 in line with Proclamation No. 933 declaring that “arts and culture shall enjoy the patronage of the State,” the Linggo ng Musikang Pilipino (LMP) has since become an annual cultural celebration that celebrates and inspires talent across the country.
Now on its sixth year, LMP takes on a new form as it opens under new normal conditions and will take place in virtual format from August 19 to 28. Spearheaded by the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-Aawit (OPM), the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), PhilPop Music Foundation, and Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), the first digital music festival in the Philippines brings the stage in the comforts of your home with a multi-format showcase spanning music performances, busking sessions, single and album launches, concerts, workshops, creative webinars, talks, and more.
While it was faced with numerous technical and logistical challenges, the organizers made sure that the show will go on.
“We recognize the importance of Filipino music in uplifting our lives despite COVID-19,” said Dinah Remolacio, executive director and festival co-director of OPM.
“Music and language go together, that’s where we lay out all our feelings and wants. It uplifts us and keeps us all alive,” added LMP Festival Director Noel Cabangon.
With the theme of “Musikang Pinoy, Buhay at Ipagpatuloy,” the ongoing 10-day long festival features music performances, busking sessions, single and album launches, concerts, workshops, webinars, and talks from renowned OPM artists like Ebe Dancel, Jazz Nicolas, Marlon Barnuevo, National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab and journalist Tina Arceo-Dumlao.
In addition to the scheduled workshops and seminars, the virtual festival also features an open-mic event called #TugtuganNewNormal, where upcoming artists can showcase their original music. The festival also marks the launch of OPM archives, which documents OPM’s birth, evolution, and progression through the years.
As for the grand finale, OPM’s most beloved stars, from The Itchyworms to Christian Bautista, will be performing their greatest hits, showing the world that OPM is alive and continues to inspire us to this day.
For more details about the LMP’s digital music festival, visit its official website.