In celebrating a movement of the local music industry, the busking community takes pride in having a broad spectrum of creativity and individuality by making their voices heard through original or renditioned musical covers—causing a buzz of excitement from the industry and lucky commuters.
Busking is an art form described as an act of gaining gratuity and income for performers who dare themselves into street entertainment. English singer-songwriters Ed Sheeran and the Passenger, as well as American singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman, have all started their careers out in the streets before rising to the mainstream music scene. Globally popular and a progressing tradition ever since Medieval Europe, busking continues to transform the attention of Filipino artists today as it becomes a developing trend in the local scene—and by the looks of it, it’s bound to get bigger.
Breaking into the music scene
From the cage of conventionality, busking has transitioned into a liberated form of expression. Since time immemorial, the acts of acrobatics, puppeteering, magic tricks, and even miming performances still entice audiences nowadays.
Some well-known names in the Filipino music industry have also taken the opportunity to busk all-over Manila, Makati, and now expanding to Cavite, Pangasinan and more. Ballad and Pinoy-rock singer-songwriter UNIQUE, Filipino rock band Spongecola, Indie pop singer-songwriter Reese Lansangan, R&B singer-songwriter John Roa, and indie-folk singer Rice Lucido are some who brought their own music and experienced the surreal type of intimacy busking offers.
Busking is not only limited to indie or mainstream artists as the 44-year-old busker in a wheelchair, Joon Baltazar, or most notably known for “Da Rakenrol Busker,” has taken over Escolta streets since 2011 accompanied by his pet bullmastiff, Janggo. Joon has quit college and has since been disabled due to a car accident he had in 2012, but his music doesn’t stop him from inspiring others. He then gained local fans’ recognition as he performs classic rock songs and reggae tunes.
From earning money to living his life independently, Joon is an epitome of inspiration for street performing and the PWD Community.
More than just publicity
Having the heart for expressing themselves through rhythm, Filipino busker Martin Riggs organized “The Busking Community PH,” a collective of over 40 buskers who perform all over the metropolitan in means of normalizing the art form through supporting each other’s craft for the reforming music scene.
But busking isn’t only limited to the public, as aspiring student-musicians from universities branch out to share their craft.
“BUKAS“—an open organization for busking joined by DLS-CSB 119 Music Production students Yyam Gulfan and Angel Banzuelo—aims to elevate and share the music of student-musicians based in Vito Cruz by performing in the streets at night.
In an interview with The Benildean, Banzuelo stated that he was inspired to perform due to stories of street children he’d come across in Lawton. Banzuelo believes that because busking is free, it is a genuine form of self-expression as its aim is not to please the audience.
On the other hand, through busking’s versatile and electrifying art, Gulfan stated in an interview, which he quoted Riggs, “Malaya lang siya [busking], ikaw at ‘yung kalsada. Pipikit ka lang tapos at hihintayin mo na piliin ka ng kalsada,” giving his perspective on the beauty of people stopping by to listen to their music despite the street noise.
In addition, an O/C Records Musician and Busker at The Busking Community PH, Alyssa Cruz (ALYSSA), shared how art helped her find self-confidence and improve her voice quality.
“Masarap [mag-busking] kasi magiging malaya ka kahit pansamantala lang. ‘Pag nasa kalsada kasi ako, doon ko nararamdaman na sobrang laya ko,” ALYSSA shared, emphasizing that hurdles in finding a spot to perform, setting up, and packing up are worth it.
From P. Noval street to Route 196, Conspiracy Garden Cafe, Rappler’s Christmas Live Jam, and performing at “Wish Busk” for FM radio station, Wish 107.5, her presence as an artist and connection with the audience has improved all thanks to busking.
In a world where everyone lives on their phone, we see street performers who brave the world committing to their music—sometimes for the street children, but for the most part, themselves as artists.
Through the embedded passion of its ever-growing local community, busking has indeed become an art that signifies happiness, freedom, and acceptance wherein anyone can express themselves with the fullest they can be—using the instrument of euphoria and a voice of liberation.
This article is also published in the first ever fully-online issue of The Benildean: Update Vol. 6 No. 2.
