It was the most wonderful time of the year for audiophiles at the “One Stop Record Fair 2023” held at the Activity Area of the Ayala Malls The 30th in Pasig City last month.
Not only were there vinyl and audio equipment at discounted prices, there were also vinyl records from the 60s to 2020s which are discounted up to 50 percent — fetching for as low as P200 — as well as cassettes and compact discs (CDs) sold by over 30 merchants.
Among the record sellers were Sounds Inc., Plakatons, Vinylhead Records, Manila Vinyl, Mamsy Records, Musique Vibe Records, and Vinyl and Disc Philippines, among others.
Event sponsors audio-technica, Gadhouse, and Silent Noise also had booths selling audio gear such as turntables and speakers.
Notable titles sold during the fair are Bong Panera’s “Samba Song” from MikePlaka, “Alkaline Trio” (Record Store Day Exclusive) from Kapitan Plaka, Swing Out Sister’s “Kaleidoscope World” from RJLS, “Sayonara Ponytail” from Bunnygod Records, The Beatles’ Butcher Cover from HitsbackRecords, The Essence’s “The Cat” 12-inch/45 rpm from Lahn’s Vinyl, and an original press of Wally Gonzales’s “Tunog Pinoy” from Lennox Records.
“I’m happy that collectors flocked to our event despite the holiday rush. They were happy and you can really see the excitement as they dig through the records to find what they like,” said event organizer Sari Osorio.
DB Brothers with singer-songwriter from Isabela City Liza Uraning, teen busker and vocalist of indie rock band Mayumi Dana de los Reyes, British-born Filipina singer-songwriter Chlara, multi-instrumentalist and Chapman Stick player Abby Clutario, and indie singer-songwriter Keiko Necesario all performed covers and their original songs at the record fair.
“Through the years, we’ve been inviting performers from different genres like classic punk, alternative rock, rockabilly, metal, and the like. This time, I thought of highlighting indie artists and buskers to perform and share their music,” Osorio said.
“We make sure that we bring a different experience to every event we mount. I think that’s what we gave them and I’m truly grateful for the response they’ve been giving us since day one,” Osorio said.