The Pinoy Playlist Music Festival (PPMF) 2024 features over 300 artists in 50+ performances and honors Filipino music legends with the Ryan Cayabyab Music Excellence Award.
The Pinoy Playlist Music Festival (PPMF) 2024 will resound with the theme “Tuloy ang Musika, Tulay ng Buhay” as it will serve as the musical bang to signal the start of “BGC’s Passionfest 2024” themed “Passions as Bridges.”
This year, from Nov 15 to Dec 1, the overarching theme will be on how our passions serve as bridges to many other passions, disciplines and communities to make for fuller lives, thus, “Passions as bridges.” In various parts of BGC, “Passionfest” will take on projections of Filipino contemporary visual art, as well as art talks, artisan marts, community art installations, and art workshops, among many other exciting offerings.
In its 7th year, PPMF has always aimed to provide a comprehensive display of Filipino music. This year’s festival will showcase over 300 artists in 50+ performances across various genres, from established figures to emerging talent, soloists to ensembles, and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Venues like the BGC Arts Center’s Globe Amphitheater, Sun Life Amphitheater, Zobel de Ayala Recital Hall, and 5th Avenue Bonifacio High Street will host the performances. Special events include community street dancing on 5th Avenue, orchestral music from the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra, a showcase of Filipino and Korean percussionists, and a special collaboration between Stell of SB19 and Maestro Ryan Cayabyab. There will also be PPMF conversations addressing the future of Filipino music, industry longevity, and legal matters in the music business, featuring Jonathan Manalo, Atty. Ivan Mendez, and Maribel Legarda.
As part of PPMF, the Ryan Cayabyab Music Excellence Award will recognize exceptional artists who have significantly contributed to Filipino music, honoring their remarkable bodies of work. The awardees this year are:
Lutgardo Labad. From his work in theater music, starting at PETA, to his exquisite body of work, including the musical scoring of Filipino films, Sir Gardy has distinguished an era marked by meaningful struggle, grit, and collective conscience. As a passionate and committed promoter and artistic guide of the internationally acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir, he has elevated Filipino musical artistry, enriching the lives of generations of Filipinos.
Lutgardo Labad. From his theater music at PETA to scoring Filipino films, Sir Gardy has defined an era of meaningful struggle and collective conscience. As the artistic guide of the Loboc Children’s Choir, he has elevated Filipino musical artistry, impacting generations.
Gilopez Kabayao. Since his 1950 Carnegie Hall debut, Kabayao has shaped Filipino musical consciousness, enriching violin literature with concert transcriptions of Filipino folk songs and kundimans. His performances worldwide and commitment to bringing music to remote communities have greatly elevated the Filipino musician’s global standing.
Joel Magus Navarro. A distinguished choral conductor, Navarro has raised Filipino musical artistry locally and abroad. His lifelong dedication to choral works has significantly contributed to the evolution of this discipline.
Odette Quesada. Known for her hit songs across pop, theme music, and jingles, Quesada’s works are deeply embedded in the memory of Filipinos, serving as a soundtrack to many Filipino lives.
Celeste Legaspi. Legaspi has shaped Filipino musical memory through her performances and dedication to producing Filipino musicals. She has also been instrumental in founding organizations that advocate for Filipino artists’ rights.
Apo Hiking Society. With their original songs and camaraderie, Apo Hiking Society has captured the Filipino soul like no other. Their longevity and honest, humorous portrayal of Filipino life through music have left a lasting legacy across generations.
There is no one award that could capture the worth of their work and the spirit they have generously shared to enrich the Filipino music collective. But we would like to show them that we remember and that we will always be grateful, by awarding them with the Ryan Cayabyab Music Excellence Award this weekend.
PPMF is produced by the non-stock, non-profit Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc, a foundation forthe arts and sciences, through the BGC Arts Center. PPMF is and has always been curated by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, Moy Ortiz and yours truly.
As PPMF joins the BGC Passionfest this year, admission is free.
For updates and more details, follow @BGCArtsCenter on Facebook and instagram and visit www.bgcartscenter.org
