The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Ratziel San Juan
University of the Philippines (UP) Press has released “Tugtugan Pamorningan: The Philippine Music Scene (1990-1999),” a new book chronicling the titular decade’s major developments in local music.
The 332-page book is an anthology of stories written by its author, Susan Claire Agbayani, in the 1990s.
“There were other exciting developments such as the ethnic/world music movement, side by side with the rise of Philippine music theater and the recognition of Filipino musical talent in the world musical theater stage,” National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab said of the work.
“Agbayani not only gives us glimpses of those exciting times in the Philippine music industry but also details the 1990s ethos in the varied collection of articles in this book.”
Agbayani, who started covering the entertainment industry in 1984, was nearly focused on covering the music industry the following decade. She had worn many hats: freelance writer, concert producer, events organizer, and publicist of bars, bands, and acts.
“There was no internet back in the early to late 1990s… So, my research meant interviewing the artists themselves and their label executives,” Agbayani said in an interview.
According to its table of contents, the nine-chapter book encompasses bars and concerts, the music scene, personality profiles, and bands of different genres, among others.
Agbayani approached chroniclers in the early 2010s who had lost everything through the “triplets” of termites, flood, and fire.
“I felt the urgency to scan all my clippings in 2013. I had all of my music stories and other profiles scanned then converted to word files at Taralet’s in UP Shopping Center — a year or two prior to the fire!” Agbayani said.
She revealed there is a sequel covering the years 2000 to 2019. This initially used to be in one book with “Tugtugan Pamorningan” until the approved manuscript had the ‘90s featured separately.
The book retails for P650 and is available via UP Press, Lazada, and Shopee. Its soft launch was held in August at the SGD Coffee Bodega in Quezon City.
Meanwhile, a grand launch/concert for the book will take place at the University Hotel in Diliman on November 29.