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Chito Miranda talks about the Golden Age of OPM: ‘Sobrang solid ng mga artists ngayon!’

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Rhea Manila Santos

<p>As the frontman for one of the most enduring bands in the local music industry, vocalist Chito Miranda looked back on their younger years when he was still starting out with his band Parokya ni Edgar three decades ago.</p><div><span style="background-color:transparent">The 47-year-old artist paid homage to the passion he and his peers for OPM had even though they were under-appreciated in the entertainment industry as compared to the mainstream performers. </span></div><p>He wrote, “Maraming nagsasabi na Golden Age ng OPM yung ‘90s.</p><p>“Sobrang saya naman kasi talaga nun ‘90s dahil sa Eheads, Rivermaya, PNE, Siakol, Color It Red, Teeth, Wolfgang, Yano, Razorback, Alamid, Youth, Grin Dept, at napakarami pang iba...at kahit saan ka kasi magpunta, maririnig mo yung kanta ng mga banda.”</p><p>He also recalled how they didn’t have it easy. “Pero nung time na yun, we were all underpaid, hati hati kami sa isang hotel room, kadalasan walang decent backstage or dressing room, di maganda yung sound system...at kahit sobrang sikat na ng mga bands, para pa rin kaming mga 2nd class citizens compared sa mga mainstream singers and artistas. Pero we loved it kasi ‘tang*na, rakenrol kami eh!’🤟🏻😎 and we loved the fact that we were outcasts, kasi it was cool not to be a part of their system.</p><p>“Sobrang saya ng ‘90s.❤️”</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2022/12/21/chito-miranda-reveals-losing-his-voice-843"><strong>READ: Chito Miranda reveals losing his voice: ‘My worst nightmare bilang bokalista!’<br/></strong></a></div><p>In the same post, Chito explained why he believes now is the actual Golden Age for OPM because of the advent of social media and equality in treatment for artists.</p><p>“Pero for me, ngayon ang Golden Age ng OPM. Artists and bands now don&#x27;t need mainstream media and recording companies anymore (not that mainstream media nor having a recording contract is a bad thing), but artists now are no longer dependent on them to make it big.</p><p>“Pwede na silang mag-sulat lang basta ng kung anong trip nila, without considering kung ‘patok ba sa masa’ or kung ‘radio friendly’ ba yung kanta✌🏼😁 pwede sila mag-record at mag-release kung kelan nila gusto. Kaya sobrang solid ng mga artists ngayon eh...kasi naririnig talaga natin yung actual artistic intention nila without compromise. Kumbaga sa painting, we get to see their most honest artwork...tapos nakakatuwa kasi sobrang patok sa mga Pinoy.😊👍🏻 Tapos, ang masaya dun, bands and artists now get paid, and are treated, like celebrities.🏻😊❤️”</p><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-0" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cv33D_JpWaN/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fent-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A2031905.4000000954%2C%22ls%22%3A2031326.4000000954%2C%22le%22%3A2031332.9000000954%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="510" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-0" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p>Summing up his Instagram post, Chito also compared the improvement in the staging of events as well as the upgrading of the treatment for artists.</p><p>“Mula sa mga oldies namin tulad ng PNE and KMKZ, hanggang sa mga younger artists like Ben&amp;Ben, DecAve, Zack Tabudlo, Flow G, SB19, etc...all are now treated how artists should be treated.❤️ Sobrang ganda na ng mga Music Festivals, with kids actually buying tickets, backed up by major sponsors, sobrang ganda ng mga stage, and world class yung sound system, naka-business class na palagi...wala kaming ganito nung ‘90s. 1st hand ko nakita at na-compare yung value na binibigay nila sa bands noon at ngayon...and sobrang saya ko na ganito na nila i-treat yung mga bands ngayon. Mabuhay ang OPM.🏻😎”</p><div><a href="https://push.abs-cbn.com/2023/2/21/chito-miranda-raises-235k-for-bandmate-gab-chee-kee-walang-iwanan-sa-parokya-band-1006"><strong>READ: Chito Miranda raises ₱235K for bandmate Gab Chee Kee: ‘Walang iwanan sa Parokya Band’<br/></strong></a></div><p>Before ending his post, the PNE singer also shared an observation shared by his fellow musician Rico Blanco.</p><p>“PS Gusto ko lang i-add (as pointed out by my Kuya Rico Blanco✌🏼😅) na sooobrang galing ng mga Pinoy artists, no matter what era...and I totally agree.</p><p>“I want to clarify lang that I wasn&#x27;t trying to point out na mas magagaling yung mga kids now compared sa mga ‘90s bands, or vice-versa, or na mas ok yung ‘90s kesa sa ‘80s, and so on...and tulad nga ng sinabi ni Tito Rico, madami talagang magagaling na Pinoy artists, regardless ng era...but what I appreciate with how things are now, is that the bands and artists, both old and new, are now treated with value...much more that before.</p><p>“Example nalang: Ben&amp;Ben, nag solo concert, 60k yung nagpunta...can you imagine? Nasa ganung level na ang OPM bands ngayon. Grabeng nakakatuwa diba? Wala lang…”</p>

Parokya ni Edgar frontman Chito Miranda explains why he believes now is the Gold Age of local music.