Business Log

Basista to stage Orchestra Festival

By Eva C. Visperas

In the quiet, small town of Basista, music is its heart and soul. And soon, it will create a big bang when it stages its “Orchestra Festival”.

Consider this. The town, with only 13 barangays, has about nine orchestras, seven of which are found in just one barangay, providing music and entertainment during barangay and town fiesta celebrations across the province. (With a land area of 1,560 hectares only and a population of 26,000, it celebrated its 45th foundation anniversary last September 5).

In fact, before one enters the town, a marker that reads “Welcome to Basista: Hometown of Famous Orchestras… Where Fine Music Begins” greets visitors.

With its popular orchestras being tapped to provide music and entertainment in as far as Metro Manila and in other neighboring provinces of Pangasinan, Mayor Raul de Guzman and the town officials are planning to stage next year the “Orchestra Festival”, pitting nine orchestras against each other in a showdown that will truly delight the townsfolk and their guests.

When I was a teenager, my sister, a teacher, would bring me along (as a chaperone) during their big school activities with an orchestra providing entertainment. Of course, I’d stay awake until 2:00 p.m. enjoying the music.

De Guzman said they had actually planned on holding the said festival last year but lack of time prevented them from pushing the project.

In next year’s town fiesta celebration (held annually every second week of March), de Guzman said they are set to hold the festival to further propel the popularity of the town’s orchestras not only province-wide but nationwide as well.

De Guzman, whose family is also into the orchestra industry (the famous Don Podring de Guzman Orchestra), pointed out that in a small barangay of Dumpay alone, seven orchestras can already be found there.

The mayor said all of them in the family are into this business. Some are singers, orchestra conductors while others play different musical instruments. He said getting into the orchestra business has become a “family affair” as he noted that it is a special talent and skill passed on by their forefathers to the next generations. Most of the singers have other family members also involved in the orchestra either singing or playing other musical instruments.

Although the business is seasonal with its peak months from November to May, de Guzman said it is still a good source of livelihood for those involved in it. One orchestra that assists in fiestas has about 40 men involved so having several orchestras in their town is a big boon, said the mayor.

Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera Jr. said that during the traditional one week town fiesta’s celebration in every city or municipality having an orchestra playing in nightly programs like Sangguniang Kabataan, Professionals, Liga ng mga Barangay, Senior Citizens, Balikbayans, People’s s and Coronation, is always desired.

“Siyempre, pag masaya ang mga tao, masaya na rin kaming mga mayors kaya hanap naman kami ng mga willing sponsors para talagang lively and colorful ang aming fiesta,” de Vera said.

Villasis Mayor Nonato Abrenica said orchestras are certified crowd drawers during fiestas. “Iba ang dating. Siyempre live music yan at minsan sa isang taon lang nangyayayari, “Abrenica said.

Although it is quite costly to hire an orchestra, prices ranging from P60,000 to P80,000 for local orchestras, and higher if Manila-based, local government units still try to find means to have one or two during the main event in town fiesta celebrations.

Indeed, with its music reverberating around the province, this town’s orchestras that started sometime in 1970s, promise to give better entertainment each year, de Guzman said.

And as one exits the town, another marker reads -“Where Fine Music Ends”.

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(You can also read this writer’s other stories at http://businessblog.prepys.com.)

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