Farewell to Gary "Alamid" Ignacio

Last Friday, April 17, the heartbreaking news came as one of our staff read the post from Dakila that Gary Ignacio already passed away.

“ It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to Gary Ignacio, front man of the 90s seminal rock band, Alamid, and our very own Dakila member. Gary succumbed to multiple organ failure and complications brought about by bone cancer this afternoon at exactly 2:50 pm, April 17, 2015 at the NKTI ICU. He left behind his wife Buena and 3 children.

Unknown to many, Gary is not only the voice behind the iconic song, “Your Love” but an active member of the Malabon community. He co-founded the Malabon Musicians Alliance and under his leadership conducted the Climate School Malabon with Dakila, educating the youth on climate change and environment protection through music and art. He organized the annual Bazurock Concert, calling for a “plastic free” Malabon. Gary is a talented musician, a passionate advocate, and a dedicated family man. He will surely be missed. ” ~ DAKILA

Last December, we were able to contact a family member, Gail Ignacio, and Benjie Cruz, a close family friend, about the benefit concert for him entited Sama-sama Para Kay Gary Ignacio. We posted the event last January 2, and shared information on how we can donate to assist with his medical treatments. Sadly, his battle didn't take long and it is now time for him to leave us all. He may have gone, but his advocacies and music will live on forever, and will continue to touch lives in the generations to come.

There will be a Necro musical on the last day of his wake on Monday, April 20, at the Sto. Rosario Village Chapel, Brgy. Baritan, Malabon City.

In behalf of The Philippine Fundraisers and Benefit Shows, the staff, volunteers and community members, we would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Gary Ignacio. May his soul rest in peace.


For more info:

• View Original Post by Dakila
• Send Donations for his children

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LET'S ROCK THE CONGRESS! OPPOSE HB4218!

First Hearing on HB4218
12:00PM | South Wing Building, House Of Representatives, Quezon City

It’s all about the money, not about the music:
No to House Bill 4218 (OPM Development Act of 2014)

“We, musicians, performers and artists uniting or affiliated with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, say no to the House Bill (HB) 4218 introduced by Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat in March 2014.

HB 4218 purports to pursue the “promotion, protection and development of the Philippine music industry” by supporting original Filipino music and guarding against the preferential treatment of foreign music. It grants to the National Committee on Music (NCM), a sub commission of the National Committee for Culture and the Arts, the power to regulate performances and collect reciprocal equity fees from foreign artists, the income of which to be re-channeled to an equity fund for local artists. The bill also proposes to give tax credits to broadcast organisations which will play a minimum of four works of original Pilipino music, as stipulated in Executive Order 255.

The bill’s vision of supporting the Philippine music industry sounds good at first glance. However, its proposed mechanisms for implementing these in practice fail to address longstanding problems within the community of local musicians, performers and composers and the Philippine music industry in general.

First, the bill will only reinforce currently existing power and leadership structures within the music industry, which do not fully represent the ranks of all Filipino musicians and performers and which have so far yet to make significant strides in ensuring the economic rights and welfare of the sector.

Specifically, only two accredited organisations—one performers’ and one composers’ guild who will furthermore be entitled to a seat in the NCM’s Executive Council under the bill—will be the beneficiaries of such equity fees to be collected by the NCM.

This does not actually change the current set-up for equity payments already in place for the past 25 years. In 1989, the Bureau of Immigration’s (BOI) signed a memorandum of agreement with the performers guild Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) and composers guild Asosasyon ng Musikong Pilipino Foundation (AMP), both of which were the beneficiaries of various equity payments collected by the BOI ever since. HB 4218 merely reorganises the bureaucratic set up for equity payments and furthermore grants the still limited number of accredited guilds a seat in the NCM Executive Council, an important decision-making body.

Majority of Filipino musicians, however, remain unrepresented by the OPM and AMP in this proposed scheme. Our ranks include performing musicians in bars, hotels and other entertainment venues here and abroad; independent musicians and composers; other organizations of music creators, bands and and cooperatives in the provinces; and others not belonging to any professional organisation or union. All of these stand to be further disenfranchised with HB 4218’s proposal for accreditation.

Second, much more reforms and comprehensive changes are needed to protect the economic rights of Filipino musicians and to promote Philippine music on a sustainable and equitable scale.

The experience of foreign colonisation in the past and trade liberalisation in the present has created both socio-cultural and economic conditions favourable to the influx and dominance of foreign music over Philippine productions, across the radio, internet and concert scenes nationwide. The chronic lack of viable employment opportunities, job security, and venues for work for Filipino musicians, composers and performers—a situation inseparable from the overall lack of decent, long-term and stable employment in many other Philippine economic sectors—also deprives the majority of artists of the means to live decently.

Larger changes must be envisioned and proposed to address this chronic problem related to artists’ rights and welfare. Clearly, the very limited scope of HB 4218 cannot address this clamor for economic justice.

Last, a minimum of four songs an hour is not enough to address the dearth of OPM and give space to the full range of original Philippine music, both traditional and modern, being produced and performed by a wide number of practitioners around the country.

At best, it provides airtime to recording artists from big local recording companies that are currently monopolising the Philippine broadcasting industry (companies whose affiliate organisations in the broadcasting industry will also stand to benefit from the tax breaks).

However, this is not enough to ensure that the majority of other musicians—whether independent, alternative, localized, traditional, indigenous, emerging or progressive—are also given much needed space to be heard by fellow citizens. Filipino musicians, composers and performers, as a whole, deserve more than token and limited exposure in mainstream media.

HB 4218 is thus not the bill we need to truly and comprehensively address the longstanding problems of the Philippine music industry. It is, unfortunately, more about raking in money for the benefit of a few, rather than supporting the production and distribution of Philippine music for the majority.

It is in light of these problems that the Concerned Artists of the Philippines says no to HB 4218. We challenge the bill’s proponents to withdraw the proposal, engage in wider and more democratic consultations among stakeholders, and listen to what other Filipino musicians have to say about the changes that they need.” ~ Concerned Artists of the Philippines

For more info:

• Facebook Event Page
• You may also contact: Sazi Casino
• Concerned Artists of the Philippines
• Artistang Bayan

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Welcoming 2015 with a Big Heart!

2014 was a rollercoaster ride for us, Filipinos, as it was full of ups and downs, cheers and sympathies. Let us welcome the New Year with optimism and encouragement. Let us start the year by helping each other. For it is in “bayanihan” that we not only lift each other's spirits, but also give us hope for a better Philippines.

Be Active, Donate!

For those who would like to contribute to this blog, post your articles, photos and reviews, or help out in promoting local fundraisers and benefit shows, please read here for more information.

Don't forget to donate to "Share a Book, Save a Future" Project, to help build the library of Nipa Elementary School, Conception, Ilo-ilo, and bring 9 boxes of books to the students. Every bit of help counts, even your $1 will go a long way.

Thank you once again and Happy New Year to Everyone!

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Volunteers Needed!

We are looking for volunteer bloggers and writers!

Do you want to add your voice or lend a hand in helping spread out the word that there are still good people in this world? Then, write for the Philippine Fundraisers blog.

Philippine Fundraisers and Benefit Shows is a volunteer-led initiative based in Manila, working to promote awareness and charity throughout our country.

Our blog serves as a directory for events and shows that help those who are in need. We are focusing more on small events, not backed up by big sponsorship, corporations and organizations that need help in promotion. It will eventually be an online community of volunteers dedicated to charity. Through it, we hope to engage people in all walks of life about the importance of paying it forward.

If you wish to share your photos, flyers, articles, interviews, event/gig-reviews, infographic, or an open letter of plea, anything you'd like to share, we're interested in hearing from you!

We are looking for three types of contributors:

1) Regular contributors. If you would like to blog more than once, you can send them anytime to us. There is no required number of posts, frequency or deadline. We will have a 'regular contributor' section with a picture of you (optional) and a brief bio with your social links (also optional), or link to your blog (if available), which is a great way to get yourself some publicity!

2) Part-time contributors. We are always on the look out for people with passion and if you have a desire to write about any issue close to your heart but cannot commit to contributing regularly, then this is the opportunity for you.

3) Anonymous contributors. We know the need for privacy as some individuals prefer not to disclose their names whenever they donate or contribute anything for a good cause. If you wish to guest blog, be it a one-time contribution or on a regular basis, we will be hiding your name under an alias, or your chosen pseudonym, and rest assured that we will never disclose your identity to anyone.

For inquiries and interested bloggers/writers, please feel free to contact us.

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