Music for Mother Nature

Nature and Music – two things that help soothe our souls and help restore "quality of life" to our frazzled urban existence and landscape. If it’s wellness we’re after, Gina Lopez, ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and Bantay Kalikasan are staking their claim to bringing some of it our way. On Nov. 12 and 13 (Saturday and Sunday), all roads for a more harmonious lifestyle should lead us to the La Mesa Ecopark.

A Wellness Bazaar, lectures, demos and workshops, healing corners, healthy cuisine, arts and crafts for the kids, sports for the teens, animal shows will be part of the events and activities lined up for the two-day Family Wellness Festival that makes reforestation and sound ecological balance causes one can enjoy. Two of the highlights of the festival are musical in nature (yes, pun intended). On Saturday night, it’s the La Mesa Jazz Festival; and on Sunday evening, there’s a Neo-Ethnic Artists Music Festival.

We’ve often read with envy about concerts held under the stars in New York’s Central Park or London’s Hyde Park. Well, this will be our very own version, downsized in scope perhaps, but bursting with as much musical richness and talent. And all homegrown to boot!

The jazz night features a veritable who’s who of our resurgent jazz scene: new darling Mishka Adams with Blue Echoes, stalwarts Richard Merk, Jacqui Magno, Mon David, Verni Varga, Eddie Katindig and Annie Brazil, super instrumentalists Affinity, the UP Jazz Ensemble, the Posadas Brothers and John Lesaca. There are numerous other performers on tap, all adding to the promise of what has to be the special night for Philippine Jazz. This is Newport or Montreaux, Pinoy-style.

Sunday’s Neo-Ethnic event is spearheaded by Joey Ayala, Grace Nono and Bayang Barrios. The Makiling Ensemble and Pinikpikan are among the masterful alternative groups also on tap. If Philippine music ever makes a toehold in the international market, it’s these artists who will be at the forefront. They bring something unique to the "table" (La Mesa again?), proving that the musicality we Filipinos are renowned for does not have to rely on any copycat or mimicking formula.

Tickets to the two-day events are priced as follows – P150 is good for two days entry to the Ecopark and the Neo-Ethnic event, while P500 is inclusive of the jazz night as well. Concerts will be held at the Petron Amphitheater. A portion of the proceeds goes to the rehabilitation efforts to save the La Mesa watershed. This is a perfect opportunity not just to talk environment, but to contribute to the cause while enjoying great music.

(For details, call 410-9670 or 415-2227).