New voices from the South

Listening to Halo Halo Radio online has opened up a bright world of Pinoy pop music for me. While Metro Manila radio stations seem to adhere to the same playlist, you know, Bruno Mars, Ed Sheeran and The Chainsmokers with some Iñigo Pascual and Sud thrown in, Halo Halo Radio offers up exciting new sounds by artists from the South. When I say South, I mean Visayas and Mindanao, and what I am discovering now can spell a whole new era for the local music industry.

There was a time when the Visayas and Mindanao were a hotbed of music talent. Pilita Corrales recorded albums in Cebuano. Susan Fuentes reigned supreme. Yoyoy Villame of the unique take on Philippine history and geography was from Bohol. Gihidlaw Naintawon Ako by Max Surban was one of the biggest hits of the ’70s era, nationwide. Recent times found the likes of Freestyle and South Border in Davao. And what can you say about the beauty of songs like Usahay, Matud Nila, Ay Ay Kalisud and others.

It is a fact that there was once a thriving music industry in the South that Manila took cues from and respected. But things changed. One likely reason was the decision to have radio station playlists emanate from the mother network in Manila. Because of this, radio stations in the South started playing what was being played in Manila. Pare-pareho na sila ng tunog. With this situation in place over these past three decades, it is no surprise that the music industry in the South is now dead.

But thanks to Halo Halo Radio, I found out that it is not so. The talent is there. All that was needed was the outlet and this is now there in a very fine place with DYUR 105.1 in Cebu; DYUR 97.1 in Davao and DYUE 103.5 in Zamboanga. These stations play the best of Filipino music from these past 50 years and happily including new, still unheard of recordings by local talents. I already have some favorites.

The pretty Jayrah Kaye from Davao is 17 years old and goes to Ateneo de Davao. She composes her own songs and her first single is May Tatlong Bibe. No, this is not about those three ducklings going quack, quack, quack. Jayrah’s song is a play on words that goes “Bibe, bibiguin nang paulit-ulit di na makahinga/ at Bibe, bibiyakin ang puso at isip ano ba ang nagawa/ Bibilugin na naman ba…” See, it is Tatlong Bibe, but cleverly rethought. And she sings this with such pent-up anguish.

Also a pleasant surprise was the folksy sound of Juanita Romualdez on Halo Halo. She is another singer-composer and her debut single is titled Inday and it is in Cebuano. It has been so long since I heard a Visayan song on the radio and it is with a light pop melody that kids can relate to. I still have to find out what Juanita is saying in Inday but I am in no hurry as I am enjoying the catchy beat just the way it is. Juanita who is also into acting is 21 years old and has an AB Linguistics and Literature degree from the University of San Carlos.

Also 17 years old and a singer-composer is the lovely Sofia Gonzales who comes from Leyte. The girl with an expressive alto voice, plays the guitar and the ukulele and has showbiz pedigree in brimming measures. Her father is former Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, while her mother is former actress and now Tacloban City Mayor Cristina Gonzales. Her granddad is Jose Mari Gonzales, a singing matinee idol with his own band during his heydays and the man behind the iconic Cinema Audio Recording Studios where most of the great Filipino songs were recorded. Sofia’s first single is Pikit Mata.

While I do not hear anybody complaining, please do not think that songs by pretty girls are all that Halo Halo plays. Watch out too for the catchy but full of feeling Ako Si Tulay by the Davao-based band named Footwear.

To listen to the sounds of Halo Halo Cebu from anywhere, all that you have to do is go to http://halohaloradiocebu.viva.ph. It is the same for Davao with http://halohaloradiodavao.viva.ph. And far off Zamboanga seems like a short ride away with http://halohalozamboanga.viva.ph.

Enjoy Filipino music.