Thanks for the Toblerone

Alanis Morissette gives thanks to India, frailty, consequence and silence — concrete things and abstract concepts. Dido sings praise for the best day of her life. Led Zep front-man Robert Plant thanked his wife back then with a song for walking the miles, while Jimmy Page played evocative passages on an acoustic.

Dig this: in a study conducted by Reader’s Digest, Metro Manila ranked among the least courteous cities in the world. Seems hard to believe, huh? Don’t we all have specific people to thank for the little things that mean a lot?

Perhaps this is why the National Thank You Day was invented. Toblerone, the Swiss chocolate brand and the city of Manila are on a sweet quest to bring gratitude back as they are the first to declare a “Thank You Day” in the country.

“Every day, we are presented with situations that allow us to show common courtesy and appreciation for others. Toblerone has been a universal token of gratitude around the world and has been witness to these moments,” says Jondy Syjuco, marketing manager of Toblerone. “We are happy to be Mayor Alfredo Lim’s partner in his efforts to bring back the sense of gratitude in Manila.”

To make things extra sweeter, some local musicians were asked by Toblerone to create their original “thank you” tunes to encourage Filipinos to express their gratitude more often. Just log on to www.thankyoudayphilippines.com and download their tracks for free.

So, here are some musicians and their thank you tracks especially made for Toblerone’s official Thank You Day soundtrack:

Cynthia Alexander

Folk star Cynthia Alexander is known for her compelling melodies and layered instrumentation masterfully honed with a poet’s rigor. She fuses elements of folk, world beat, dance, new age and jazz into a sonic montage without losing her distinctive Pinoy sound especially in the haunting rhythms of Tempestuous Tempers.

True Faith

Churning out Filipino mainstream staples such as Perfect and Huwag na lang kaya, True Faith has a lot to be thankful for with their hits. After more than a decade, the band survived tempestuous setbacks. At least they managed to still be part of the local music scene. True Faith, now led by front-man Meadwin Marfil, came up with the soothing, romantic ballad called Sweetest Thank You.

Mozzie

Mozzie thanks a myriad of things that served as an inspiration for their songwriting like former child stars, broken love affairs and even Dante’s Inferno top their list for their “schizo-pop” music. Singer Pam Pastor sounds like a perfect mix of Belinda Carlisie’s pop-punk voice and Natalie Merchant‘s alternative rock expression. Listen to their ode to gratitude song called Purple-Colored Skies.

Stonefree

College students are grateful for the rousing music of Stonefree for keeping them awake during all-night study sessions. Stonefree’s tunes are very radio-friendly with pop-alternative sensibilities. With their Bionic track, prepare to feel the feet-stomping vibe.

Salindiwa

Salindiwa is a UP-based band that banked on word-of-mouth promotion. Indeed, the band started making waves via musical experiences that bridge sight, touch and sound. Now, the band is making headway with another music coup via the smooth strains of Sweet, which they sing with pain and sincerity.

Reggae Mistress

The members of the band assert that they’re forever thankful to Bob Marley and his back-up singers the I-Threes for igniting their passion for music. Reggae Mistress describes their sound as “rocking reggae” playfully infused with the distinct Jamaican sound and Rastafarian beliefs. Listen to their Let’s Get Together track as a reggae thank you.

As Toblerone and the city of Manila celebrate National Thank You Day on Oct. 20 at SM Mall of Asia, the brand truly has gone far not only by being people closer together, but by helping us appreciate and be grateful for the people who brought a dash a sweetness to our lives.

“Toblerone has played a role in making people feel that kindness is valued,” concludes Syjuco. “We are elated that we are able to set an example for other private enterprises in amplifying the importance of expressing gratitude in the country.”

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Toblerone’s National Thank You Day celebration will be held on Oct. 20 at SM Mall of Asia with live performances by True Faith, Cynthia Alexander, Reggae Mistress, Mozzie, Stonefree and Salindiwa.