Government should help promote Davao music, talents
IT’S time for the city government to help in promoting
Davao music and its players, a senior city councilor said.
Councilor Leonardo Avila III told Mindanao TIMES during the recent 1st Musika del Sur music awards ceremony that homegrown talents should be given priority over Manila artists in any special events in the city.
Avila, a staunch advocate of local talents, vowed to exert extra efforts to make sure that Davao artists will be given due recognition.
It has been observed that thanksgiving concerts funded by city government during Araw ng Dabaw and Kadayawan always feature Manila performers in the lead billing, leaving no space to local performers.
The Samahan ng mga Musikero sa Davao, the biggest group of musicians in Davao Cityunder Noli Bencio, has decried the practice that local artists are always neglected in those major events.
Bencio noted that Manila artists usually get high talent fees in those government-sponsored events. If there are local artists featured in the show, they would only get loose change, Bencio said.
Avila, a popular radio disk-jockey before becoming a politician, has been pushing for the promotions of homegrown musician for more than 30 years now.
In the 70s, Avila or Happy L.A. hosted the Pinoy Rock & Rhythm, the very first radio show that featured all original Davaoeño songs, over dxUM. He also used to manage local artists.
During the 1st Muzika del Sur music awards ceremony held last Sunday, Avila expressed happiness that there are now several groups in Davao which have the passion to support the
