NOT EVEN the rains stopped “Pinoy Woodstock,” the Ateneo Musicians Pool’s (AMP) biggest event for the semester, from pushing through.
Pinoy Woodstock showcased all-Filipino bands and products in a concert on September 19 at the Cervini Field. Well-known bands Greyhoundz, Taken by Cars, Giniling Festival, and Out of Body Special, and homegrown bands Hansom, Luna’s, Kwago, Faspitch, and Bagetsafonik performed during the event.
Aside from the performing bands, stalls selling Filipino-made products like t-shirts and accessories were also a part of the event.
Pinoy Woodstock showed a different concept of being a Filipino, said host Angelico Sinjian (II BS CTM). “There are different bands, different genres, and different products,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino.
The event was a first for the recently-accredited student organization. “It’s a totally new concept…it’s like one of the biggest things that we have this semester,” said Project Head Anna Patricia Tabia (IV BS Mgt).
Offshoot
The idea for Pinoy Woodstock was born after Tabia saw the University of the Philippines’ (UP) fair. Tabia wondered why the Ateneo does not have an event similar to UP’s fair.
Pinoy Woodstock’s concept merged the idea of the UP fair and stores selling Filipino made products. “Parang UP fair, plus something that would make people appreciate the Filipino culture more,” said Tabia.
Filipino?
Pinoy Woodstock made Audrey Anne Laglagaron (I BSM AMF) feel very proud to be Filipino. “There was a feeling of parang (like) you’re part of something big and I think that’s what’s so Filipino about the event,” she said.
Laglagaron added that everybody in the event was easy-going. “All of them were feeling the music like one big family,” she said.
“The food was great, tapos (and then) there were really great Pinoy-made stuff like the tansan (metal bottle cap) necklaces,” Laglagaron added.
Other students who attended Pinoy Woodstock, however, did not feel that Filipino culture was manifested in the event. “Most of the bands played songs in English, and the title of the event itself [“Woodstock”] was derived from a foreign idea,” said Fatima Marie Gomez (I BS CTM).
She added that the title was derived from 1970’s “Woodstock,” a documentary on the Woodstock Festival in New York on 1969.
“More fine-tuning”
Rains threatened to pour on the night of Pinoy Woodstock, but the event pushed through. “We are not thinking of canceling [the event] kasi (because) we have a lot of people already here,” said Tabia during the event. “It’s more of faith, the grace of God.”
Office of Student Activities Director Christopher Castillo, who attended the event, said that people showed their support for Pinoy Woodstock. “The concept itself was very promising,” he said.
Sinjian agreed with Castillo. “Sobrang unique talaga ‘yung ginawa ng AMP ngayon (What AMP did now was very unique),” he said.
Castillo added, however, that AMP can still improve Pinoy Woodstock further. “Some more fine-tuning for next year, and I am sure that they will really take off,” he said.
