Last March 1 episode of Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho of GMA7 featured Promdi Rock, or music from the provinces or those which are non-Tagalog. It featured BisRock (Bisaya Rock), RocKapampangan and T’boli music. I was hoping the show
also featured Ilonggo music but nonetheless, I’m glad they made a story on how promdi music is gaining popularity and acceptance in the mainstream airwaves. Here in Bacolod City for instance, Cebuano songs are afforded airplays even if not everybody understands the lyrics of the songs. Northern towns of Negros Occidental facing Cebu are Cebuano speakers but the rest of the province are Ilonggo speakers.

According to an interview, the popularity of songs in the local languages are manifestations of wanting to oppose identity crisis especially among the youths. This phenomenon also paved the way to the revival of folk songs to versions that appeal to the youth. I remember in the mid 90s when Ilonggo songs became very popular among young Ilonggos and gets airplays in local radio stations but it died a natural death. I hope this recent popularity of promdi music is not just a fad and suffer the same fate.

Here are my favorite promdi songs from the Visayas.