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OPM back on top, says Ogie

Ogie Alcasid is a happy man.

After a spell in which hits and concerts by foreign artists ruled, things seem to be turning around.

“Kung hindi ninyo napapansin, ang namamayagpag ngayon sa bentahan ng CD...ang nagna-number one ngayon OPM,” Alcasid joyfully exclaimed. “Sa mga concert series, nanunumbalik na rin ang sigla ng mga manonood.”

A new movement to support local music

Yet Philippine music remains at a crossroads. It continues to face stiff competition from foreign artists—not to mention declining record sales.

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So, there are two options: shape up or ship out.

But of course, the latter is not an option. Not when things seem to be looking up. (Nor if local music is on a downturn.)

In light of this, various supporters of the local music industry have formed the OPM Means movement. The stakeholders include the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit, of which Alcasid is president, as well as 7101 Music Nation and RadioRepublic.ph with the added support of Lenovo Mobile, Kopiko, OPM2Go, RockEd Philippines, and events group Media Nation.

Their mission: to support Original Philippine Music or OPM.

What is OPM for you?

Not to be confused with the organization with the same initials, OPM was coined by APO member Danny Javier in the 70s when the Manila Sound was in its birth stages. Jim Paredes noted the parallelisms between today's music and the situation back then, as 60s artists tended to spew forth remakes of foreign hits back in the day (see: Vilma Santos, Nora Aunor, and the like).

The OPM Means movement believes everyone should support the seemingly ailing music industry as music has become integral in the Pinoy's life.

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The question the movement poses is, “What is OPM for you?”

Festival launches cause

To launch their cause, the coalition is holding a two-day music festival on February 22 and 23 right in the middle of the Hot Air Ballon Festival to be held at the OMNI Aviation Complext at the Clark Freeport in Pampanga.

Performing for over two days are artists like Ryan Cayabyab, Ogie Alcasid, Joey Ayala, Dingdong Avanzado, Jessa Zaragoza, The Dawn, Gloc-9, Ebe Dancel, Quest, Julianne Tarroja, Salamin, Spongecola, Urbandub, Wolfgang, Yeng Constantino, Q-York, Mike Kosa, Color It Red, AJ Rafael and more.

Tickets are available at the gate at PhP 250.00 per day. But for the people inside the Hot Air Balloon Festival, it will already be free.

Roving tour bus

Alcasid sees a bright future for local music.

And that might be the case, as the OPM Means movement plans to have a lot of initiatives throughout the year.

One of the projects is a roving tour bus in the style of punk rock guerilla shows a la the old RJ events from years back.

“Simula pa lamang ito,” Alcasid promises.