Gary Granada, one of the Philippines’ premier singer-songwriters, teamed up with classically trained vocalist Faye Yupano of Project Yazz to entertain online concert-goers in a musical evening unlike any other held live at the Pancitan Studio to raise funds for human rights education work.
The two Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists took the concert stage on the night of January 25 in the Pancitan Studio, the country’s first and only live onstage-onscreen-online concert venue that delivered on its promise to not hold back on giving audiences the feel closest to a live gig, pre-pandemic times.
The concert setup retained the cozy ambiance and appeal of a live music gig while its concertgoers jammed to their favorite tunes from the seasoned and multi-awarded Gary Granada virtually present in the comfort of their own homes or wherever they may be.
The live audience in the Zoom room also had the opportunity to interact with the musicians in real-time as they are seen onscreen on video monitors set up around Gary and Faye.
Pancitan Live even encouraged everyone in the Zoom room to cheer for their favorite hits, yell song requests, applaud, and sing along to their hearts’ content.
Granada, the prolific singer-songwriter and activist with a career that spans over three decades, opened the show with his beloved ditties like “Saranggola sa Ulan” and “Kausap” from a setlist of 26 songs, before being joined by Yupano whose angelic voice enchanted the crowd.
The two sang some duets of Granada including “Uunahin Ko Kayo”, “Paano Mahalin and Katulad Mo”, “Hanggang Kailan, Hanggang Saan”, their original song “Lupang Malaya,” and many more.
The poet-songwriter, who is well-known for his socially-conscious songs that remain relevant in today’s times, also excitedly told the audience to support his current passion project: human rights education.
Granada has always been a staunch supporter of human rights all throughout his career, and his incisive song lyrics aim to strike a chord with listeners of all ages, young and old, now more than ever.
The musician also performed “Sana’y Di Ka Masanay,” a song with themes such as poverty and lack of education that sadly remains relevant in today’s times, songs from “Lean The Musical” about Granada’s fellow activist and late University of the Philippines student leader Leandro Alejandro, and the more humorous fan-favorite d Metropop Grand Prize-winning “Mabuti Pa Sila,” a testament to the diversity of Granada’s songwriting prowess.
The concert ended with the track “Salamat, Salamat Musika,” Granada’s award-winning love letter to the music industry.
The January 25 concert with Granada and Yupano is the first of three gigs for a worthy cause. The donations from the concert will go towards the “Teach Children Human Rights” formative years education project.
In Pancitan’s upcoming live gigs, more Filipino artists will come on stage to perform whilst contributing to the important task of educating the public about human rights.
Two concerts this February will feature the music of indigenous people’s champion Bayang Barrios with her music and life partner Mike Villegas of Rizal Underground, popular concert and people’s theater advocate Noel Cabangon, and Granada who is the presenter and front act of his musician friends in the concert series of Pancitan Live.
You can still reserve a front seat to watch the Pancitan Live series by registering and donating to the “Teach Children Human Rights” formative years education project at this link.
SHARE THIS STORY to encourage others to join the gig AND SEND CHEERS in the comments below to Gary Granada and his fellow Filipino musicians who are inspiring change and pushing for human rights education. SEE YOU at the next Pancitan concert!
HERE’s an excerpt from the Pancitan Live!
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