Filipino reggae
Encyclopedia
Filipino reggae is reggae
music created in the island nation of the Philippines
. The country has several bands
and sound systems that play reggae and dancehall
music in a style faithful to its expression in Jamaica
. Reggae in the Philippines comprises the many forms of reggae and its sub-genres, and at times combining traditional Filipino
forms of music and instruments in their music.
Cebu
, Manila
, Quezon
and Boracay
are some of the cities that reggae has found a base, with many artists residing in these cities and performing at local bars and clubs. The Visayas
region of the Philippine islands has had the largest concentration of reggae groups, with the Visayan city of Cebu
even being dubbed The Reggae Capital of the Philippines. In Early 2007 Ziggy Marley
performed in the MTV Philippines Reggae Fest by the Bay festival in Manila. Marley played with local reggae talents and the big names in Filipino reggae.
was introduced to the Philippines in the late 1960s, however the first recognized Filipino reggae bands didn't appear until the late 1970s. Cocojam is known as one of the first Filipino reggae bands. Ska
also found its place in the Philippines, with many bands forming, especially in the Visayas
island region. Places like Cebu
and Dumaguete became the hub of Filipino ska. Dub music
also found its place within the islands, with bands like Junior Kilat
popularising the genre with songs like "Sigbin". Local folklore, tales and traditions were a noticeable influence on songs. The subgenre called dancehall has been popularized in Cebu by Coolie dread and The Microphone Commanders. Bands like Badjao Roots and Tropical Depression displayed cultural awareness by using traditional instruments in their songs. With the commercial success of groups like Brownman Revival, Tropical Depression, and Hemp Republic, the Filipino reggae scene has seen more popularity, to the point that more reggae festivals are being introduced and expanded around the country.
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
music created in the island nation of the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The country has several bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
and sound systems that play reggae and dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
music in a style faithful to its expression in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. Reggae in the Philippines comprises the many forms of reggae and its sub-genres, and at times combining traditional Filipino
Culture of the Philippines
Philippine culture is related to Micronesian, Bornean, Mexican and Spanish cultures. The people today are mostly of Malayo-Polynesian origin, although there are people with Spanish, Mexican, Austro-Melanesian and Chinese blood. Geographically, the Philippines is considered part of Southeast Asia...
forms of music and instruments in their music.
Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Quezon
Quezon
-History:Originally, what now forms Quezon was divided among the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Nueva Ecija. The area was first explored by Juan de Salcedo in 1571-1572, during his expedition from Laguna to Camarines provinces....
and Boracay
Boracay
Boracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice...
are some of the cities that reggae has found a base, with many artists residing in these cities and performing at local bars and clubs. The Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
region of the Philippine islands has had the largest concentration of reggae groups, with the Visayan city of Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
even being dubbed The Reggae Capital of the Philippines. In Early 2007 Ziggy Marley
Ziggy Marley
David "Ziggy" Marley is a Jamaican musician and leader of the band Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers. He is the oldest son of famed reggae musician Bob Marley...
performed in the MTV Philippines Reggae Fest by the Bay festival in Manila. Marley played with local reggae talents and the big names in Filipino reggae.
History
Jamaican ReggaeReggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
was introduced to the Philippines in the late 1960s, however the first recognized Filipino reggae bands didn't appear until the late 1970s. Cocojam is known as one of the first Filipino reggae bands. Ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
also found its place in the Philippines, with many bands forming, especially in the Visayas
Visayas
The Visayas or Visayan Islands and locally known as Kabisay-an gid, is one of the three principal geographical divisions of the Philippines, along with Mindanao and Luzon. It consists of several islands, primarily surrounding the Visayan Sea, although the Visayas are considered the northeast...
island region. Places like Cebu
Cebu
Cebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
and Dumaguete became the hub of Filipino ska. Dub music
Dub music
Dub is a genre of music which grew out of reggae music in the 1960s, and is commonly considered a subgenre, though it has developed to extend beyond the scope of reggae...
also found its place within the islands, with bands like Junior Kilat
Junior Kilat
Junior Kilat is a Filipino reggae, ska and dub band based in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. The name is taken from the 70's Cebu band Leon Kilat, which the latter group claims, was first to sing about "Agta"...
popularising the genre with songs like "Sigbin". Local folklore, tales and traditions were a noticeable influence on songs. The subgenre called dancehall has been popularized in Cebu by Coolie dread and The Microphone Commanders. Bands like Badjao Roots and Tropical Depression displayed cultural awareness by using traditional instruments in their songs. With the commercial success of groups like Brownman Revival, Tropical Depression, and Hemp Republic, the Filipino reggae scene has seen more popularity, to the point that more reggae festivals are being introduced and expanded around the country.
Notable Filipino reggae artists and producers
- Brownman RevivalBrownman RevivalBrownman Revival is a Filipino reggae band founded in 1994. They count Big Mountain, Aswad and UB40 among their musical influences, as well as Filipino reggae groups Tropical Depression and Cocojam...
- Junior KilatJunior KilatJunior Kilat is a Filipino reggae, ska and dub band based in Cebu City, Cebu, Philippines. The name is taken from the 70's Cebu band Leon Kilat, which the latter group claims, was first to sing about "Agta"...
- Roots Revival Dubwise
- Tropical Depression
- Jeck Pilpil and Peacepipe
Reggae Festivals in the Philippines
- Manila Reggae Summit (ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
) - Fête de la MusiqueFête de la MusiqueThe Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival taking place on June 21.-History:The idea was first broached in 1976 by American musician Joel Cohen, then employed by the national French radio station France Musique. Cohen proposed an all-night music celebration at the...
(ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
) - Bob Marley Day Festival (CebuCebuCebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
) - Cebu Reggae FestivalCebu Reggae FestivalThe Cebu Reggae Festival is an annual two-day event in Cebu City, Philippines organized by the Harambe Society, Inc., a cultural organization composed of reggae artists and enthusiasts. It was formerly called the "Bob Marley Festival", in honor of Bob Marley....
(CebuCebuCebu is a province in the Philippines, consisting of Cebu Island and 167 surrounding islands. It is located to the east of Negros, to the west of Leyte and Bohol islands...
) - Boracay Reggae Festival (BoracayBoracayBoracay is an island of the Philippines located approximately south of Manila and 2 km off the northwest tip of Panay Island in the Western Visayas region of the Philippines. Boracay Island and its beaches have received awards numerous times. Boracay was awarded in the "Travelers' Choice...
) - Kadayawan Roots, Arts and Reggae Festival (DavaoDavaoDavao refers to several closely related places in Mindanao in the Philippines. The term is used most often to refer to the city.*Davao Region, an administrative region*Davao del Norte province*Davao del Sur province*Davao Oriental province...
) - Puerto Galera Reggae Festival (Puerto Galera)
- SunSplash Pilipinas! (ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
) - Kaamulan Festival (BukidnonBukidnonBukidnon is a landlocked province of the Philippines located in the Northern Mindanao region. Its capital is Malaybalay City. The province borders, clockwise starting from the north, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Davao del Norte, Cotabato, Lanao del Sur, and Lanao del Norte.Bukidnon is...
) - 1st Reggae festival at Mall of Asia by the BayManila BayManila Bay is a natural harbor which serves the Port of Manila , in the Philippines.The bay is considered to be one of the best natural harbors in Southeast Asia and one of the finest in the world...
(ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
)
Reggae Radio Stations
There are a number of Radio stations in the Philippines which play reggae music, although few are dedicated solely to the genre. Below is a list of prominent Reggae radio stations in the Philippines.- Doobie Nights (JAM 88.3 FM) Saturdays 6 to 10pm ---Roots, Rock, Reggae(Defunct)
- Dread At The Control (DWNU FM) 107.5 FM Thursdays 9 to 10pm
- Radio Boracay (DYJVDYJVDYJV, operating under the brand Radio Boracay RB106, is a licensed FM radio station owned and operated by OneMedia Boracay Inc. in the Philippines...
, Radio Boracay 106.1) - Onebeat Dancehall Radio Show DWLA (RJ Underground Radio UR 105.9) Fridays 9-10pm