OUR Fil-Am music community is still in its infancy. In fact, we are just beginning to bridge gaps and forge friendships in the hope of creating a united nationwide scene. We make use of every possible way to connect with Fil-Am artists and scene builders around the country to form bonds that we all hope would go beyond songs, gigs, and gear– and create real lasting relationships.

Truth be told, we have been successful in doing so. However, there are some groups that are trying to come in to the scene with good intentions but bad means to achieve them. These are the groups that resort to pitting artists against each other in the form of 'Battle of the Bands' or online popularity contests. These artist competitions are counter productive–they divide instead of unite.

100,000 Filipinos came out on March 7, 2009 and enjoyed what is known as the last ever set of the greatest Filipino rock band ever, the Eraserheads.

It was a gigantic gig only the Pinoy Fab Four can pull off. Not even the mythical rock legends Juan Dela Cruz, or the unforgettable pop kings the APO Hiking Society can muster a gig as grand as that final set. Simply put, Filipino music fans have never seen anything like it–Unprecedented.

At the end of the show, Ely Buendia, Marcus Adoro, Buddy Zabala, and Raimund Marasigan gathered stage front to take their final bows before their adoring fans. They blew kisses to the multitude for showing up and remaining true to their music. It was at this time when Ely grabbed the microphone and said the last words: “ Thank you! We are the Eraserheads.”

THE year 2008 is almost over and a New Year is fast approaching. This year, 2008, posted one of the biggest threats to the stability of the community. Perhaps the global economic downturn has something to do with it, or perhaps just plain crab mentality.

The scene here in NY and NJ was plagued with several issues about the community as well as the scene in Chicago. These things are all part of the game, and as we often say: “Doubts are embedded in the fabric of a surging cultural movement for it is the mother of belief and belief gives birth to success.”

The issue in Chicago is particularly frustrating. There the CPMS (Chicago Pinoy Music Scene) decided to take the scene to new heights by producing a compilation album made up of Local Windy City Fil-Am bands– a fantastic idea. However, some groups saw this in a negative way and decided to pull the whole thing down. Apparently, these groups could not bear the fact that a new breed of leaders represented by the CPMS would “step over’ them in producing a compilation album. These groups are allegedly pushing a campaign against the coming CPMS compilation because according to these peoplevthey had the idea first. Now, CPMS leaders are trying their best to hold it all together and it appears that they will see this crisis through.

We here on Poptimes are in solidarity with CPMS and vehemently cry foul over these crab mentality tactics.
We told one of the prime movers of the Chicago scene that these problems are ‘birth pangs’ that must be endured. What is important is for a core group of dedicated community heads to go on and overcome setbacks.

The Poptimes community had several of these unfortunate incidents with local players. These altercations did not hinder us from pursuing our goals. From the outside, it all looks like everything in the scene is smooth and in order, however on the contrary, we are battered, bruised yet determined. We have to learn from mistakes and step forward with caution. We have no idea what’s in store for the scene in 2009, however, we are pretty sure it will be different, and will still be teeming with life and promise as always.

The coming New Year will not however take us out of the range of future problems. In fact, it is almost an assurance that it will come again. Throughout the years, we have learned how to make use of negative things to our advantage. We welcome people’s doubts to strengthen our beliefs. We savor these challenges to fortify our resolve. We must not fail.
The other day, We were conversing with some scene leaders from LA and we were taken aback by the whole experience of just conversing with them. The mere fact that we know each other is proof enough of how healthy the scene is. It shows that there already exists a circuit in the US for Filipino-American artists to play– From Boston to Florida, to New York to Chicago to San Francisco and Los Angeles.

The groundwork is already laid and all that is left is for Fil- Am artists to trek this circuit and preach the gospel of our music and culture. It will be such a tragic waste if we all let this thing pass. More so, it is a sin if we even attempt to contribute to its demise.
Happy New Year. Long live the Filipino-American music scene.