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‘Pinoy Musik Festival’ in US

03/30/2008

Special Edition Press Inc. is presenting the 2008 “Pinoy Musik Festival” — a two-day celebration of Filipino music and entertainment extravaganza in the East Coast.

Capitalizing on last year’s successful Pinoy Musik Festival in Atlantic City, it returns bigger and better, moving to a new venue at the Meadowlands Exposition Center (MEC) in Secaucus, New Jersey on May 17 and 18. Select bands from the New York metropolitan area will battle it out as the best Filipino band in the northeast. Local performers from the region will provide a change of pace, and top artists from the Philippines will conclude the evening with a two-hour live concert spectacular.

The Pinoy Musik Festival is managed by Nanding and Mila Mendez, who is also behind the successful Philippine Fiesta in America, a trade show event held annually every August and attended by over 23,000 Filipino Americans in Secaucus, New Jersey.

This festival is envisioned to showcase Original Filipino Music and provide an avenue for Filipino musicians a bigger stage where they can display their talents. To be featured at the event are — Bandfest, where bands from various counties of the region will drum it out with their original compositions, incredible display of solo and group musical talents, band showcase from alumni associations of Philippine universities and colleges, and a live concert featuring top performers from the Philippines will cap the day’s activities. Other activities during the day include videoke/karaoke jamming, computer video game lounge, an Expo de Mayo pavillion honoring the Filipino Spanish heritage with Hispanic entertainment, “photo corner with your favorite stars” and of course, a food court where attendees can taste the flavor of the Philippines in various cuisines, snacks, desserts and drinks.

Pre-event activities like songwriting contest launched early this year in Manila for songwriters residing in the Philippines is already underway. Cash prizes are at stake for the winners. Winning entries will be rendered at the Pinoy Musik Festival by select Filipino American artists/singers and will be simulcast via online. For the bandfest, local bands will participate in a “Battle of the Bands” that will include qualifying and elimination rounds to be held in at least five venues between February and April, a semi-final round at the MEC on May 17 and the grand finals at the MEC on May 18. The qualifying rounds will be held in various locations in New York and New Jersey.

For information about the event, the songwriting contest and to join as performer, interested parties may forward their inquiries by calling 001212-682-6610 or e-mail at sepmgzn@aol.com or write to Pinoy Musik Festival, 124 East 40th Street, Suite 1004, New York, NY 10016 or log on to www.pinoymusikfestival.com. For sponsorship and advertisement at the event, contact Mila Mendez at milamendez@aol.com or call 212-682-6602.