From the internationally acclaimed Montreux Jazz Festival to star-studded Coachella and the punk rock setlists at Warped Tour, music has always been a cause to come together and celebrate a shared interest.

These music festivals are best symbolized by Woodstock, where musicians and music enthusiasts from all over gathered to make music and is ultimately touted by Rolling Stone as one of the top 50 moments to change rock and roll history.

As a musically-inclined people, Filipinos have seen several different stages and events where everyone, from amateurs to seasoned professionals, has performed their own musical masterpieces. The Philippines is ripe with talent, from the numerous karaoke bars sprouting in cities to the group of friends singing along to a guitar at home. It is for this reason that Himig ng Bayan was created, giving Filipinos a venue to celebrate local talent at its best.

Himig ng Bayan hopes to become an annual event dedicated to music. Workshops will be conducted by established names in the industry, giving amateurs a peek into the music business and the thought process behind creating songs. The country’s top acts will perform with budding talent, giving audiences a greater appreciation for different sounds and genres.

This is the event that will change the music scene. Himig ng Bayan will be the true music festival, giving the Philippines a chance to make a name for itself in the international music scene. That’ll give Filipinos something to sing about.