Students lend a musical ear to ‘CYBERFUNK: An Open Jam Event’
by Tiffany Cosue
The words passion and diligence came together as CFM-I and MAC-I hosted their annual fair performances, this year’s entitled “CYBERFUNK: An Open Jam Event.” The jam was held on the first day of the SPECTRUM 2021 Fair Week, January 25, open via Facebook Livestream on SPCP’s official GIFT page. Four knowledgeable musicians and bands showed rhythmic tunes through our Paulinians’ screens and shared optimistic experiences in their music journeys. Some of these performers were familiar faces to the student community, as they were alumnae and fresh graduates.
The open jam met its strong start with our very own MAC-I band performing an original “All I Feel and See.” The members include cajon player Pat Balaoro, pianist Bea Gutierrez, guitarist Jules Cequeña, and vocalist Psalm Espallardo. This was followed by a performance from HRLY (har-ley) singing a cover of Changes by Lauv. Harley shared their experience (as a singer-songwriter) that despite the pandemic, they refuse to hit rock-bottom and are persistent in building their career. The next performer was a band of four Paulinian and MAC-I alumnae who made a recent comeback as a band: 18’s Home. The band consists of lead guitarist Xinai Batiller, pianist and vocalist Jazmine Ravalo, percussionist Psalm de Gracia, and rhythm guitarist Mariel Tanyag. The next group was also a product of SPCP talent, “The New Rendition,” celebrating iconic songs and classic hits. This band consists of Arianna Lopez, Madeleine Rosell, Renee Salinas, Cloei Marvilla, and Christiana Tulao. They did a cover of Man in the Mirror by Michael Jackson. The final performer was Catharsis, showcasing a cover of Kaleidoscope by Francis Magalona. Catharsis is made up of Sam Dahilan, Rachelle Galang, Gabe Mejia, and Addy Pantig. They believe that as a band, the two factors that inspire them to keep going are their dedication and their audience.
Aside from the intriguing performances, CYBERFUNK also held engaging mini-activities such as the raffle, where Chelsy Rosell and Trizia Edra won the respective prizes. Throughout the program, the audience was deeply enthralled and hyped with the impressive set-up of CFM-I, MAC-I, and the production team. Myka Dineros, one of the overall heads of the event shares some of her insights on coming up with the ambience of the open jam: “Ever since, Open Jam was meant to give off relaxed yet fun vibes for fairgoers who were looking for a place to enjoy musical performances without hassles like waiting in queues or worrying about getting a good spot, due to how it’s practically ‘free’ for all to watch. This year, we carried that feeling of enjoyment while being able to chill in the comfort of your own home through Cyberfunk.” Aside from this, she believes that “ — music changes one’s life for the better. It opens up a lot of opportunities, from listening, to making it. You get to discover many perspectives, meet and work with new people, feel various emotions, and do so much more thanks to it. Now that this pandemic has brought us all physically apart, when we listen and play to the same songs, no distance is too far to still feel bound together by music.”
“CYBERFUNK: An Open Jam Event” certainly won hearts and ears with the nostalgic and encouraging songs, which remind us that everyday is a new beginning and that there is always a funkier, brighter, and more creative life ahead of us.
