I HAVE long complained about the kind of music our airports play. If you were a tourist, you wouldn?t think you were in the Philippines, because our airports play nothing but loud, foreign disco music. Like, don?t we have our own?
This is irritating, because their taste is downright bad. And, this gets even worse because of the noise coming from the TV set. As a result, stressed-out passengers have no choice but to talk above the din!
We have local ethnic music and the kundiman. To keep the lineup upbeat, they can play a fusion of those with the so-called OPM (Original Pilipino Music). The Department of Tourism has to be faulted, too, because this lack of concern for local Pinoy music has been a long-standing bad habit?and a flagrant insult to our talented composers!
Hospitality
For example, when foreigners and balikbayans arrive in the country, why can?t a rondalla greet them? Or, groups from public schools can take turns welcoming our guests. We can even utilize the services of our many world-class musicians and choral groups. That way, our visitors will get an early taste of our vaunted hospitality.
The Philippine Madrigal Singers have won the Olympics of choral singing twice. The UST Singers, the UP Concert Chorus and the UP Singing Ambassadors are just as decorated. We also have talented pop artists like Lea Salonga, Martin Nievera, Hajji Alejandro and Gary Valenciano.
And, yes, why not regional music, too? To enter the country on wings of song would be a memorable welcome, indeed!
Why then doesn?t the DOT allocate a budget, so that local airlines and airports are provided the necessary CDs and DVDs of such music for the pleasure of their passengers?
Well, imagine my delight when I entered the Lima airport recently and heard distinct Peruvian music being played. Hearing it made me excited that I finally arrived there after a long flight from Los Angeles. When I got on the plane for my flight to Cusco, the same kind of music was playing. It was music to my ears!
Other tourists
It obviously enraptured the others tourists from America, Germany, Israel, Norway, Sweden, China and Japan. I was clued in on their countries of origin when the tour guide called out names like Erickson, Hayakawa, Smith and Abriz. They looked my way when Cervantes was called out?because rarely do Filipinos visit Peru.
In fact, the immigration officer wasn?t sure if I needed a visa or not when I landed at the Chavez International Airport in Lima. Despite the insistence of a colleague, he asked two others to ensure that no illegal entry was taking place!
Ordinarily, it would have irked me or stressed me out. But, surprisingly, I didn?t mind the wait, the doubt and the many ignorant questions. After all, I loved the Peruvian music being played in the background?and I could probably stand there forever just listening to it!
