Earth Day Jam 2008 Rocks!

The best things in life are free.

That includes annual Earth Day Jam street concerts held in Quezon City.

My two older kids and I didn’t want to pass on another one of these cool and momentous yearly events so Junior and Sonny Boy joined me in the office later in the afternoon of April 25. Later that night, we attended the Earth Day Jam concert at the Tomas Morato Ave.

On its eight edition, the annual Earth Day Jam celebrated International Earth Day This year, the festive event featured no less than 23 of the country’s top bands and individual performers who converged and made music in an effort to raise awareness and support for conservation and protection of our environment.

When we arrived on T. Morato, a sea of humanity covered half the length of this popular lane for its food and entertainment row of establishments.

We agree with Greenpeace – Pass the Renewable Energy Bill…NOW !!!

The activity was in cooperation with the Quezon City Government and several governmental and non-governmental organizations. Some had booths with information materials on different environmental issues and how one may get actively involved in such advocacies.

The music marathon started with explosive Jazz, Samba and Bossa from groups like the Philippine Latin-Jazz Orchestra, The Company, Samba band Guarana and Bossa Nova diva, Sitti.

People excitedly waited as great bands came one after another

Expectedly, the crowd went wild as the pop-rock groups started performing one after the other. We listened to the rocking sounds of Barbie Almalbis, Imago, , Moonstar ’88, True Faith, Radio Active Sago Project, Kjwan, Up Dharma Down and Zelle. “Earthday jam” veterans such as Lou Bonnevie (who spearheaded the concert), rockers from Razorback, plus Noel Cabangon with his band and world-funk-ethno group Pinikpikan were all back at this musical event with an environmental cause. Other bands present were Brownman Revival, Juan Pablo Dream, Reggae Mistress, Sinosikat, and South Border. I think the concert reached its climactic points during the performances of three major bands - Callalily, Rivermaya and Sandwich.

More importantly, the concert provided a venue for both musicians and members of the audience to learn ways in concretizing concern for the environment. In between performances, musicians shared how in their little own ways they help protect the environment. Some cited waste segregation, recycling, reductions in energy spending and one group advocated for the use of alternative fuels.

Most of the audience stayed on through the night and early morning hours

At some point in time we went to Chowking at Timog Avenue to eat. By repositioning ourselves, we were able to go around the backstage area and get a closer view of the musicians. We were able to talk and have a picture with Zelle’s singer Jeazell Grutas. Jeazell’s gutsy vocals can be hauntingly heard in the band’s phenomenal hit, “Sabihin”.

Junior and Sonny pose with a real live rocker - Jeazell Grutas, vocalist /

acoustic guitar player of Zelle

I think it was around 4 a.m. when my two sons and I called it a “day”. Nine hours had passed so quickly and the concert still wasn’t finished when we left. I had to get some shut eye in preparation for the big pastoral formation activity my wife and I was involved during that weekend. We were members of the service team and participants at the same time.

I needed sleep and rest for my aching legs and feet. But all the tiredness was worth it. As it’s always inspiring to know that a lot more people including musicians care for the environment, willing to share their time and talents not for profit but for a worthy cause.

To these environmental musicians – may your tribe increase!