The comeback of Fusion: The Philippine Music Festival: A celebration of Freedom through OPM

When the pandemic struck, on-ground events like concerts temporarily stopped. At present, however, concerts, festivals, or live events, in general, are here once more. Massive festivals sig-nal a broader trend that concert-goers are ready to party, and the millennials and Gen-Z want to experience live events again! In addition, brands will finally invest and give strategic importance to Music Marketing.

In line with this, PraXis foresees that different media will converge with Mu-sic Marketing at the Center, the Live Events providing the content and experience, and conversa-tion for the earned media it can generate.

Thus, this is the time …

Organized by PraXis, the festival’s goal is to unite the nation to play as one. “We believe that music has the power to break down barriers and bring people together,” said Gladys Basinillo, brains behind Fusion and, at the same time, the CEO and Founder of media agency Intersections and experiential agency Praxis “ and that’s precisely what Fusion aims to do.”

Since 2022, the synergy of PraXis and Intersections has been preparing to create a more robust Fusion as it is set to make an epic comeback on May 27 at the SMDC Festival Grounds. The origi-nal team of Fusion in 2015-2017 is back, with Synchronize 11 Events and Talent Management as producer, FOH, Prophets as a security partner, top network Manila Broadcasting Company as activation and media partner, and of course, award-winning and sought-after concert director, Paul Basinillo.

In addition to the music, Fusion will also feature a wide range of food and beverage options, merchandise booths, and activities. The concert program is curated to feature different seg-ments with a fresh concept and performance interaction to deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience for all attendees.

This year, the festival aims to unite the nation to play as one.

Because we at PraXis and Intersec-tions believe that music has the power to break down barriers and bring people together. Fusion 2023, however, is more than just a music festival; it celebrates freedom. The Philippines is a very rich and diverse country. We have more than 7,000 islands and 82 provinces - all with different cultures and beliefs. We have more than 100 million population and multiple generations - all with varying points of view. Regardless of such differences, we can unite, celebrate our freedom, and play as one.

Media Amplification. As early as now, the road to Fusion 2023 has started its journey, as PraXis, the main producer agency of Fusion has already partnered with the giant TV, radio, print, out-of-home, and online platforms. In this way, Fusion 2023 will be amplified strongly with the over-whelming support of the media and the blogging community. We thank you so much for this.

Fusion School Tour and In- ter-University Band Competition. Fusion 2023 will also be in great partnership with school organizations to connect with the youth and various campuses around Mega Manila. These partner school organizations will form a student unit called the Fusion Squad to help run the music festival. A competition amongst college bands will be announced where shortlisted bands will perform in the preshow on May 27 and the winning band to serve in the main concert.

Road to Fusion Concert Tour. Fusion vibe is more than just an event in Metro Manila. We are bringing the Fusion experience regionally across key Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao cities. How do we do this? We get a Fusion talent to perform with regional musicians, so the audience across the country will have a sneak peek of the Fusion experience; the University of Baguio on April 14, SM Cebu on April 28, and SM Davao on May 12. Fusion Event Day. Expect the biggest names in OPM to conquer the concert stage. “The pro-gram is curated to feature different segments, each with a fresh approach and performance in-teraction, to deliver an immersive and enjoyable experience for all,” Jake Habitan, Business De-velopment Executive of PraXis

You might wonder whom some OPM greats will headline the Fusion Festival. We have 6Cyclemind, Adie, Al James, Arthur Nery, Bamboo, Ben&Ben, Gloc-9, Gracenote, Hey June!, Lola Amour, Morissette Amon, Shanti Dope, and many more surprise top-caliber OPM artists. Aside from this, there will also be a so-called Wildcard Performance wherein we feature a surprise artist expected to leave everyone awestruck! That’s something to watch out for!

The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers - FILSCAP, Organisasyon ng mga Pil-ipinong Mang-aawit - OPM, and Kapisanan ng mga Brod-

Chevron sponsors AmCham Foundation ScholaRun to help send youths to school

Employees volunteered to join this year’s Eat and Run ScholaRun by AmCham’s Foundation.

Manila, Philippines, March 14, 2023 – To help send disadvantaged youths to school, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, together with its shared services center, Chevron Holdings Inc., sponsored the recent 9th AmCham Eat and Run ScholaRUN at the Liwasang Ulalim, CCP Complex, Pasay City.

The run-for-a-cause is an annual event by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines, Inc. (ACFPI) to help raise funds for its scholarship program. ACFPI supports underprivileged youth through various development and education initiatives.

The scholarship enables students in high school, college, and vocational courses to fund their tuition fees and school supplies and provides allowance and guidance all to way to their onthe-job training. At least 2,000 former AmCham scholars were able to finish their studies since the program started which Chevron has always supported.

About 175 employees from CHI and CPI joined the run in support of the AmCham Founda- tion’s cause. The event registered over 3,000 runners.

“We have been a long-time partner of AmCham and its initiatives and programs. Through this activity, we were able to further strengthen our relationship and commitment to the foundation as well as our support to their scholars. We trust that through our collective efforts, students get a chance to have a better life and more opportunities to succeed,” shared Chevron Human Resources Regional Manager Mark Quebral.

“It’s a great feeling knowing that your mere presence and participation is already helping underprivileged students in their studies. As added bonus, you also get to do something good for yourself through exercising and staying active. Chevron believes in AmCham’s cause of contributing to the community and helping people in need, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with them and supporting their other events and activities,” CHI General Manager Ethan Flowers shared.

At the awards ceremony after the run, CHI Corporate Affairs Manager Arlita Narag accepted a plaque of appreciation as AmCham’s co-presenter of the 9th ScholaRUN. Hammering on its unique eat-and-run concept, participants got to taste American favorites such as pizza, burgers and donuts upon reaching the pit stop. The 9th Eat and Run ScholaRUN featured categories in 200M, 3K, 5K, 10K and 21K.

“We are very happy with the

That has been going on for centuries. But in recent years, it has been shown that apples can also be grown under other climates – even in tropical countries. Apples are now grown in African countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia. They are also being cultivated in India and Indonesia.

In the Philippines, apples have been shown to thrive in the cooler part of Davao region. Thanks to the initiative of Benzone Kennedy F. Sepe, a graduating agricultural student of Davao del Sur State College (DSSC).

Sepe successfully grows apples in his farm in Kapatagan, a Digos City barangay located in the rolling foothills of Mount Apo. From a single tree, the farm is now home to more than 300 apple trees.

But that’s going ahead of the story.

He planted apples at sitio Marawer, sometime in the late 2013. In the early months of 2018, he harvested literally the fruits of his labor. “There was no difference between the apple I harvested from my farm to the apple I bought from the public market because the juiciness and crunchiness is still there,” said Sepe.

Sepe brought some of the ap- ples to DSSC for “Brix” testing to measure the sugar content, an essential part of the quality analysis of an agricultural product. Results showed the apple grown by Benzone was much sweeter as it scored 17.5 degrees Brix, much higher to the 13 degrees of commercial apples. Quality of apples for export must meet the standard of at least 12 degrees, he pointed out.

Apples are mostly grown in temperate countries like the United States, Japan, China, and European countries. They tend to thrive in climates where it’s cold in the winter, moderate in the summer and has medium to high humidity rather than a hot and dry climate like the Philippines.

Curiosity kills a cat, a proverb states. But in Sepe’s case, curiosity led him to the discovery of planting the temperate apple in the tropical Philippines. “I started planting apples out of sheer curiosity when I bought Fuji apples from the mall,” said Sepe.

He was able to extract three seeds which he planted in a seashell. To his surprise, they grew. When the apple seedlings attained a height of five inches, he transferred them to seedling bags. After six months, he planted the young apple seedlings into the