Fusion: The Philippine Music Festival is back, and audiences are curious to know what to expect in its 10th anniversary celebration. Known as the first major Philippine music festival since its launch in 2015, it is set to return to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Open Grounds this March 15. According to festival’s founder Gladys Basinillo, the 2025 edition will highlight “Filipino music, unity, and freedom.”
Along with partying in barangay fiestas and hanging out at the mall, music festivals and concerts are a popular Filipino pastime. Historically, what has won the general public are bargain ticket prices where tickets cost as low as P700. In exchange, audiences get a star-studded lineup of 10 or more artists across mainstream and independent music, making Fusion an exciting weekend experience. The festival will feature mainstream and independent acts from the Filipino music scene, including Ben&Ben, December Avenue, Zack Tabudlo, Maki, The Itchyworms, Alamat, KAIA, Barbie Almalbis, and many more.
However, Fusion has also faced its fair share of controversies in the past decade, particularly in accommodating the technical needs of performers. One notable example of this was in May 2023 when P-Pop boy group SB19 had their backing track panning in and out of the soundsystem. The group pushed forward despite its setbacks, but fans were quick to criticize the festival’s lack of urgency with the technical hiccups lasting for an entire performance, based on the footage of the concert.
Of course, Fusion is not the only festival subject to these technical difficulties. In June 2024, the Musik Kalayaan concert at the Quirino Grandstand faced disruptions due to lack of proper crowd control. During BINI’s performance, fans climbed scaffolding and cut into barricaded areas, causing chaos and raising concerns about a potential stampede. The P-Pop girl group later on cut their performance short, due to these safety concerns.
Fusion should take the best measures of keeping everyone safe, living up to their motto of “unity and freedom.” However, achieving these goals requires careful planning, proper security, and a firm commitment to keeping the festival running smoothly.
