12 March 2004
DOT, Bonamine Produce Tourism Song Sang by Top RP Artists
As part of the "WOW Philippines Biyahe Tayo!" program of the Department of Tourism and Bonamine (Meclizine HCl) of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare to promote domestic travel, a song and music video entitled "Biyahe Tayo!" highlighting the Philippines' top tourist attractions was produced and participated in by the country's top musical artists.
This marks the first time ever that leading Filipino singers and musicians lent their talents, voices and images for free in putting together a song/music video encouraging their fellow Filipinos to travel in their own country.
Joining in the making of the unprecedented song/music video were established and world-renowned singers like Sharon Cuneta, Lea Salonga, Freddie Aguilar, Rey Valera, Rico J. Puno, Joey Ayala and the Apo Hiking Society. So did younger luminaries like Ogie Alcasid, Janno Gibbs, Jolina Magdangal, April Boy Regino, Jessa Zaragosa, Paolo Santos, Nina and Rico Blanco of Rivermaya. Top Filipino rapper Francis Magalona also contributed a rap portion to the song.
Providing musical accompaniment were leading violinist John Lesaca, flutist Jong Cuenco and Joey Ayala who used ethnic instruments for which he is known to give the song a distinctive Filipino sound.
Rene Nieva, president of Bonamine's PR agency Perceptions, wrote the lyrics of the song. Rico Blanco and Mike Villegas of the Rizal Underground band, whose composition won second prize at the recent 2003 Metro Pop Festival, did the musical arrangements. Noel Nieva, executive vice president of Perceptions, directed the production of the music video.
"We felt that there was no better way than a song in helping make Filipinos better appreciate the tourist attractions in their own country and the benefits increased tourism would have for the economy," Cooey La O', Regional Director for the Philippines and Greater China of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, said.
"Filipinos are a music-loving people who use music to convey strong and meaningful messages to each other during courtship, worship, parties and other festive occasions, in nearly all aspects of their lives. With the advent of film, television and now the computer, visuals have been added to the sound, thus further enhancing the impact of songs in the form of a music video," he continued.
"We knew that the song would be more effective in delivering its messages if it were performed and recorded by well-known singers and musicians whom the Filipino people admire and look up to. We were happy that when the DOT invited the country's best singers to join in the production of the song/music video for free, they responded so selflessly and generously," La O' further stated.
The song was first heard during the launch of the WOW Philippines Biyahe Tayo! campaign at the DOT Clamshell in Intramuros last September and was enthusiastically applauded by the audience. A leading entertainment columnist present at the launch described the song as being "beautiful and effective". National Artist for Music Lucrecia Kasilag also lauded the song upon hearing it recently.
The recording has subsequently been played extensively during DOT events such as the WOW Shopping Fiesta and Sports Tourism Show and the Travel Tour Expo 2004 as well as during various festivals such as the Peñafrancia Festival in Naga, the Masskara Festival in Bacolod and the Higantes Festival in Angono, Rizal.
Free copies of the song/music video CDs are available on a first-come, first serve basis until supply lasts at the Perceptions office at 3/F Fortune Office Building, 160 Legaspi St., Legaspi Village, Makati City with telephone number 891-3556 and may be copied by the public to share with their relatives and friends here and abroad as the gift of DOT, PCVC, Bonamine and the Artists for Philippine Tourism to the Filipino people.
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