Kalayaan trail run music fest held

By Pigeon Lobien

BAGUIO CITY -- PowerPuff Corn, one of this city’s top bands went the extra mile during the Kalayaan Trail Run Music Festival June 9 at the Scout Barrio grounds.

The ska-loving group saw the singer do the longest trail run, a 16-km combination of road at the Loakan Road and trail of Kadaclan down to the Yellow Trail of Camp John Hay that was a two-hour trek.

The run started at 2:30 p.m. expected to be finished past 4 p.m. which the running enthusiast  Bryant Utleg completed before joining his band which played 6:30 p.m. after The Edralins in the 17-band fest that started 12 noon until 12 midnight.

“He asked me to enter his name because he will be out of town until Saturday morning,” said Eena Bello, which co-chairs the music side of the three-event pre-Independence Day city celebration.

Bello, who also fronts for Banda ni Angkol, which played later in the night, said that Power Puff Corn was one of the 17 bands playing in the first ever three-event rolled into one festivity at the Scout Barrio grounds.

Axeman Caesar Salcedo did his solo act in a powerful late noon, early evening schedule that also included The Erdalins, Uptown, Daluyon and locals (Scout Barrio own) Gwensi Sante that had Ethan Ventura, one of the city’s best guitarists and also the theater director of Saint Louis University.

Other bands that played were: Music for Change, Namatsar, Pugaw Laya, Mantra X Makina, Laura and the father-son combination of Baguio Boys Band and Saturday Trips of CAAA owner Alex Aquino.

In fact, an 18^th band that played had a member who is a grandchild of Mr. Aquino, making it a three-generation show,” added Bello.

The day-long festivity opened at 9 as.m.with a live showing of the Game 4 NBA finals between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.

“Nine a.m. pa lang, simula na ang kasiyahan,” said Eric Coronacion of the organizing Project 7 Events.

“This is a one of a kind event that blends run with music and food festival.

Restos and cafes that featured their specialties were Vincent’s Place, Forest House, Figaro, Tribu Café, Fat Belly, Bakuran Café, Jim’s Retro Café, Ze Creamery, Pause Bistro, What’s Up Duck, Kalye Food Joint, Mamang’s Lechon, Pepper Strings, Half & Half, Debz Food Corner, Infinitea, Green Leaf Concepts, Alteatude Greens, Cake Artisan, O Dong Tong, Moe’s, Urban Kamote and Pigeonhole.

At 12 noon, a picnic was given for dialysis patients of the Baguio General Hospital Dialysis Center, who are the beneficiaries of the run. About 600 runners signed up for the 3-kilometer, 5-km and 16-km run most were from BGH, the Department of Social Welfare Development – Cordillera, Department of Health – Cordillera, Philex and non-profit organization Technodream.