Almost two years into this pandemic, surely we’ve all gone through a whole roller coaster of emotions and back. While many of us may have learned to cope—by acknowledging what we feel, by seeking help, or simply by putting a name to our condition—there’s still a lot to feel and think about.
And of course, with a wealth of emotions coupled with the intensity of our situation and guided by great talents, it comes as no surprise that these pandemic emotions have found an outlet through music.
This month, a special online musical composed of original songs will be up on the virtual stage, under the banner of “M-FLIX: Da Pinoy Pandemic Palabas.”
The Bonifacio Art Foundation Inc. worked closely with curators of the Pinoy Playlist Music Festival for this year’s M-FLIX. Among the curators are National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, hit songwriter Moy Ortiz, and producer Noel Ferrer.
The musical consists of 12 songs following emotional hooks or pillars that have marked our pandemic lives: gulat, takot, pagkagipit, malikhaing pagtugon, pangamba, pagtuklas, malasakit, pananagutan, pag-alala, pasasalamat, pagbangon, and pagmumuni-muni. While most of the songs in the selection are in Filipino, there are also a few in English, as well as Bisaya and Hiligaynon.
Each song features a performance by a selected artist interspersed with video and animations to tell each theme’s story. The songs featured in the show were composed by Maestro Ryan Cayabyab, Louie Ocampo, Ogie Alcasid, Joey Ayala, Davey Langit, Moy Ortiz, Edith Gallardo, Krina Cayabyab Viñas, Jude Gitamondoc, and Fr. Manoling Francisco. Lyricists Noel Ferrer, Floy Quintos, Jose Javier Reyes, and Therese Marie Villarante also collaborated on several songs.
Among the featured performers in the online musical are Ogie Alcasid, Joanna Ampil, Nicole Asensio, Joey Ayala, Mark Bautista, Bukas Palad Choir, Bituin Escalante, Klarisse de Guzman, Rony Fortich, The Itchyworms, Davey Langit, Jed Madela, Morissette, Tim Pavino, Pinopela, The Company, Basil Valdez, and Raki Vega.
“M-FLIX: Da Pinoy Pandemic Palabas” will be a two-part show, airing on Nov. 6 and Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. on the Mind S-Cool YouTube channel.