SOFRONIO Vasquez made history last week by becoming the first Filipino to win the United States edition of 'The Voice,' the most prestigious singing contest in America today.The 32-year-old, originally from Ozamiz City and now based in Utica, New York, not only bagged a $100,000 cash prize and a record deal with Universal Music Group but also won for the Philippines the honor and recognition as a font of world-class talent.During Vasquez's impressive audition at the start of the show's season premiere, Michael Bublé, who would go on to be his mentor on the program, said: 'I want to start by saying 'Salamat,' because the relationship I've had with the Philippines for so many years makes me love you even more. Your people are such a beautiful people; I can't even imagine how proud you're going to make them.'These words were not only high praise but prophetic as well when he emerged as the season's champion from a field of five finalists to become not only the first Filipino but also the first full-blooded Asian to win the competition.Vasquez, who speaks of growing up in poverty in Ozamiz City and wanting to do well to help his family, is an inspiring example of how Filipinos with talent, drive and hard work can overcome adversity and rise to the top.But in the music industry, his story is the exception rather than the rule, as a survey earlier this year showed that more than half of Filipinos employed in the music industry earn less than P20,000 a month — a little less than the minimum wage in Metro Manila.This was one of the findings of a national music stakeholders survey funded by the National Research Council of the Philippines under the Department of Science and Technology. The project, called Musika Pilipinas, asked 700 respondents and gathered data from focus group discussions with music stakeholders, music-related companies and other organizations from different regions nationwide.The survey showed that 61.1 percent of Filipinos involved in music creation, production, distribution and consumption are college degree holders, with the majority of them freelance artists. Moreover, most respondents said they have nonmusic-industry-related income to support their living expenses. Vasquez himself worked as a dental assistant in Utica to provide for his family before hitting it big in 'The Voice.''Local artists would always have to go through what we normally identify as 'sariling sikap,' that is, without any government intervention and support in ... music training, marketing and promotion,' said Ma. Alexandra Chua, project leader of Musika Pilipinas.Indeed, the government's blind spot includes the untold thousands of Filipino entertainers seeking better career opportunities abroad or onboard international cruise ships, who do not even appear in official labor statistics.An online search produced only one document — dating back to 2004 — that specifically took note of the number of musicians, composers and singers working outside the country in 2001, 2002 and 2003 (34,892, 40,770 and 33,725, respectively). Those numbers are, of course, woefully out of date.The Philippine Creative Industries Development Act of 2022 promotes and supports the development of creative industries, but music is not a distinct sector in the council that aims to do this. Instead, the music industry is subsumed under performing arts and audiovisuals. This means that members of the music industry are not adequately represented in policy discussions at the Philippine Creative Industries Development Council, researchers at Musika Pilipinas found. This also makes it problematic even to identify the economic contribution of this important sector to the country's creative economy.How many more Filipino entertainers can hit it big — or at least earn a decent living — if they have the proper support early on in their careers?Clearly, organized state support would be most welcome, but we, as consumers of music, have an important role, too.The time spent by Filipinos listening to music, at an average of 126 minutes or a little over two hours a day, is said to be among the longest in the world. If we spend a portion of that time supporting aspiring musicians pursuing their dreams, we, too, can make a difference.Dreamify Records, which showcases original work by promising local musicians, notes that often they are held back by discouraging words, even from members of their own families, who ask them: 'Does music feed you?' Sadly, it adds, this experience is typical.'We need to dispel the myth that musicians cannot support themselves through their art. Being a musician is difficult... Yet, if we support them by going to their concerts, sharing their music, and promoting them online, we can change things,' it says.
