Returning for its 5th year, The Philippine Ukulele Festival (PUF5) is promising two days of amazing music, workshops, and arts & crafts – celebrating the little 4-stringed wonder that has captured the hearts of thousands of Filipinos.
Happening on March 30 and March 31, PUF5 is boasting an estimated 70 acts featuring around 300 individual performers to serenade festival goers at Eton Centris, Quezon City.
Taking the stage are world-class Filipino ukulele fingerstyle players like Pao Gumba, Domands, Randy Gimenez, Leomar Requejo, and Eduardo Enaje. Also in the lineup are ukulele-driven bands like BennyBunnyBand, Navy Blve Pants, Alamat ni Ug, Esremborak and Talata ni Tala.
All for the community
One of the highlights of PUF5 are performances from a number of school and community-based ukulele groups such as the Young Rizalians Ukulele Ensemble of Jose Rizal University and the YouKaLeLe Kids of Liw-Liwa Zambales.
“For a big fan of ukulele communities, seeing large numbers of ukulele players performing as one is very fulfilling,” shares Laurence Dacanay of Happy Music/Ukulele Philippines, the country’s first all ukulele store and the organizer of the Philippine Ukulele Festival.
“Since 2012 and especially in 2013 when we had the first PUF, we saw that more and more Filipinos were discovering the ukulele. There was a very obvious need to make local uke enthusiasts know that there were many of them, enough to develop a local ukulele scene,” Leon Lagrama also of Happy Music added.
Keeping true to its commitment of nurturing the local ukulele community, Happy Music will be offering free ukulele workshops to festival goers who are interested to learn the ukulele. People could also discover and join active ukulele clubs at PUF5, perfect for players to get motivated and meet new friends at the same time.
Already playing the ukulele for some time? Happy Music shared that they are planning to have more advanced workshops to help more experienced players improve further.
PUF5 will also be having a bazaar featuring handpicked artisans of cool items like statement shirts, arts & crafts, and other goodies. In addition, Happy Music has invited several musical instrument retailers to provide festival goers a selection of instruments to choose from.
Happy Music believes, where there is ukulele, there is community. So, don’t be shy while at the festival. Approach anyone with an ukulele. Make new friends and play some music. Anyway, the 5th Philippine Ukulele Festival is just one big ukulele jam.
For more information about the 5th Philippine Ukulele Festival, please email info@happymusicph.com and laurencedacanay@gmail.com.
