ASAP Sessionistas speak up on Filipino musicians competing against foreign acts

ABS-CBN Corporate Communications

<img align='left' src='' alt='' >Musical group ASAP Sessionistas, the members of which include Aiza Seguerra, Juris, Duncan Ramos, Princess Velasco, Sitti, Nina, and Richard Poon, will unite once again for a major concert to be staged this February 5 at the Araneta Coliseum. The group, which was formed two years ago through a segment in the long-running musical variety show ASAP, serenaded reporters during a press conference held last January 13. Each member was also asked about their opinions regarding the issue of competition between local performers and visiting foreign acts. The Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) is now pushing for a law that aims to regulate the production of concerts by foreign acts here in the Philippines. OPM is also asking the government to implement higher tax charge on concerts of foreign artists while lessening that on local productions. Aiza Seguerra: “Sana magpadala rin sila dito ng mga artists na hindi lang ‘yung puro sikat lang tulad ni Lady Gaga. Sana mag-concert din dito ‘yung mga artists na may matututunan din tayong mga Pilipino. More than regulate, sa paniniwala ko dapat mas magdagdag pa nga ng mga foreign acts na pumupunta rito kasi it’s good din naman for tourism and at the same time ‘yung mga local artists maraming matututunan from them. At sana rin masabihan na kapag pupunta sila dito ‘wag silang masyadong suplado. Sana mas ma-share ‘yung experience ng pagpunta nila dito sa marami pang ibang artists. Ang music naman hindi dapat nire-regulate. Dapat ‘yan shine-share. It’s all up to the people naman if they want to watch or not. ‘Wag natin tanggalan ng choices ang mga tao. Kaming mga local artists, kailangan na lang naming pagbutihan to compete with foreign acts.” Princess Velasco: “Music lover talaga ako kaya I love that foreign acts come here. I remember mga two years ago yata na regular ang dating ng mga foreign artists dito like sina John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Usher, NeYo. It’s good for music lovers na mapanood sila dito sa bansa natin. It’s also good for local artists like us. Ang nagiging conflict nga lang, usually tuwing February, ‘yung mga tao imbis na gumastos para manood ng local artists, foreign na lang ang papanoorin nila. But for me challenge ‘yun sa mga local artists to go at par with the foreign acts. Iba-iba naman ang market ng bawat music genre. Like si Taylor Swift, para sa mga bata and high school. Kapag mga local veteran artists naman iba ang manonood. I think it’s healthy for everyone to have these foreign artists here.” Duncan Ramos: “From a producer’s point of view na business naiintindihan ko kung bakit kailangan magdala rito ng mga foreign artists. Siyempre para maganda ang income. Pero sana ‘wag rin nating i-underestimate ‘yung interest ng mga Pilipino na mag-support ng ibang artist, hindi lang ‘yung mga katulad nina Usher at Beyonce. Ang Pilipino naman basta entertainment gumagastos ‘yan. Sa mga comedy bars nga mahilig sila pumunta. Pero iba-ibang klaseng taste naman ang mga tao. Sana madagdagan ‘yung pagdating ng mga foreign artist na hindi masyadong mainstream para mas maraming matutunan lahat ng music lovers.” Richard Poon: “‘Di ba may time dati na parang isinara ‘yung radio for foreign songs? If I remember it was called the ‘Era of OPM’ kaya nga alam natin ‘yung mga music ng VST & Company at ‘

<img align='left' src='' alt='' >Musical group ASAP Sessionistas, the members of which include Aiza Seguerra, Juris, Duncan Ramos, Princess Velasco, Sitti, Nina, and Richard Poon, will unite once again for a major concert to be staged this February 5 at the Araneta Coliseum. The group, which was formed two years ago through a segment in the long-running musical variety show ASAP, serenaded reporters during a press conference held last January 13. Each member was also asked about their opinions regarding the issue of competition between local performers and visiting foreign acts. The Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mangaawit (OPM) is now pushing for a law that aims to regulate the production of concerts by foreign acts here in the Philippines. OPM is also asking the government to implement higher tax charge on concerts of foreign artists while lessening that on local productions. Aiza Seguerra: “Sana magpadala rin sila dito ng mga artists na hindi lang ‘yung puro sikat lang tulad ni Lady Gaga. Sana mag-concert din dito ‘yung mga artists na may matututunan din tayong mga Pilipino. More than regulate, sa paniniwala ko dapat mas magdagdag pa nga ng mga foreign acts na pumupunta rito kasi it’s good din naman for tourism and at the same time ‘yung mga local artists maraming matututunan from them. At sana rin masabihan na kapag pupunta sila dito ‘wag silang masyadong suplado. Sana mas ma-share ‘yung experience ng pagpunta nila dito sa marami pang ibang artists. Ang music naman hindi dapat nire-regulate. Dapat ‘yan shine-share. It’s all up to the people naman if they want to watch or not. ‘Wag natin tanggalan ng choices ang mga tao. Kaming mga local artists, kailangan na lang naming pagbutihan to compete with foreign acts.” Princess Velasco: “Music lover talaga ako kaya I love that foreign acts come here. I remember mga two years ago yata na regular ang dating ng mga foreign artists dito like sina John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Usher, NeYo. It’s good for music lovers na mapanood sila dito sa bansa natin. It’s also good for local artists like us. Ang nagiging conflict nga lang, usually tuwing February, ‘yung mga tao imbis na gumastos para manood ng local artists, foreign na lang ang papanoorin nila. But for me challenge ‘yun sa mga local artists to go at par with the foreign acts. Iba-iba naman ang market ng bawat music genre. Like si Taylor Swift, para sa mga bata and high school. Kapag mga local veteran artists naman iba ang manonood. I think it’s healthy for everyone to have these foreign artists here.” Duncan Ramos: “From a producer’s point of view na business naiintindihan ko kung bakit kailangan magdala rito ng mga foreign artists. Siyempre para maganda ang income. Pero sana ‘wag rin nating i-underestimate ‘yung interest ng mga Pilipino na mag-support ng ibang artist, hindi lang ‘yung mga katulad nina Usher at Beyonce. Ang Pilipino naman basta entertainment gumagastos ‘yan. Sa mga comedy bars nga mahilig sila pumunta. Pero iba-ibang klaseng taste naman ang mga tao. Sana madagdagan ‘yung pagdating ng mga foreign artist na hindi masyadong mainstream para mas maraming matutunan lahat ng music lovers.” Richard Poon: “‘Di ba may time dati na parang isinara ‘yung radio for foreign songs? If I remember it was called the ‘Era of OPM’ kaya nga alam natin ‘yung mga music ng VST & Company at ‘

Members of ASAP Sessionistas hope Filipinos will show more support for local artists.

ASAP Sessionistas speak up on Filipino musicians competing against foreign acts | PUSH.COM.PH