Mla Bulletin | "OPM needs government support" - Ogie Alcasid

Multi-awarded singer and composer Ogie Alcasid is faced with the biggest challenge of his career – to revive the local music industry as the new president of the Organisasyon ng Pilipinong Mang-aawit (OPM).

Known to have composed songs that have become hits, or have produced gold or platinum albums, and for doing TV skits that have made people laugh for more than 25 years, everyone’s eyes (and even ears) are now on Ogie and how he’ll lead OPM in solving the problems of the local music industry.

The “slow death” of the local music industry had been attributed to piracy years ago, which resulted in low album sales. This slump is also the reason behind the reluctance of major record labels in signing new singers or bands or even renewing the contracts of their existing artists.

There’s no overnight solution but Ogie’s set to help the local music industry.

“After our oath-taking with President Noynoy Aquino on Aug. 13, we shall have dialogs with the networks, KBP (Kapisanan ng Brodkasters ng Pilipinas), radio stations and other media installations to help the dying music industry,” Ogie explained.

He also doesn’t only blame piracy for the local music industry’s “slow demise.”

“There are many reasons, but generally there was lack of support from the government in promoting OPM. If I may quote Jose Mari Chan, ‘Music is the soul of a nation. We must never lose this,’” Ogie remarked.

With regards to the problem of piracy, Optical Media Board (OMB) Chairman Ronnie Ricketts reported that the Philippines is no longer on the “watch list” of countries with the biggest piracy problems. But OMB’s battle still continues against pirates as illegal CDs of popular local artists like Alcasid himself are still staples of vendors selling pirated CDs and DVDs.

In fact, one of Ogie’s hit songs, “Pangako” has been copied and turned into a Korean song for the Koreanovela, “Glass Sleepers” without his or his label’s knowledge and permission.

“I only saw it in YouTube and it sounded beautiful and the girl sang it beautifully. I felt flattered, but of course I felt bad. It’s like somebody took or kidnapped [one of] my children because I always feel that my songs are my children,” expressed Ogie.

As of press time, he still hasn’t received word from the Koreans who “pirated” his songs to resolve the issue.

Rather than busy himself with such issues, Ogie Alcasid is spending his time to promote his latest album from Universal Records entitled “Ogie Alcasid: Ngayon at Kailanman, A Tribute to George Canseco.”

“It’s a pleasure for me to sing George Canseco’s songs. It’s a wonderful human experience. I’m honored and I hope that my singing comes to par with his music. The original singers, Basil Valdez and Anthony Castelo have been my singing idols. All I did was sang his compositions the way I knew [how], which was from my heart,” Ogie said.

He is also busy with his regular TV shows on GMA-7, “Bubblegang” and “Hole in the Wall.”

Posted by By WALDEN SADIRI
August 13, 2010, 3:09pm
Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/272152/opm-needs-government-support-ogie