Rakrakan Festival’s founder and CEO, Mr. Harold Solomon, posted an announcement on his Facebook account about the status of the largest OPM concert in the countryon Wednesday, December 1, 2020.
“Mga Rakista! Kumusta ka? Alam naming hindi biro ang hirap ng buhayngayongpandemya, kaya namanwalangsawa naming hihilingin ang inyongkaligtasan at kalusugan.
Dahil sapatuloynadala ng Covid-19, ang #RakrakanFestival ay hindimunamagaganapngayongtaon. Hindi ito ‘yonginaasahannatingmangyayari, pero ang pinaka-importantesangayon ay mapanatilingligtas ang kapwanatingrakista, staff, artists, at lahat ng kasamasa festival.”
According to Mr. Solomon, they’ve decided to postpone #RakrakanFestival this year in compliance with the advisory from the Department of Health, and to ensure the security and safety of its audiences, staff, artists, and performers.
“Ang pagkawala ng Rakrakan Festival ngayongtaon ay talagangmahirap para sa’tinglahat, perotayo ay babangon at babaliksasusunodnataon. Hindi na kami makapaghintaynamakasamakayong mag-slaman, mag-headbangan, mag-sayawan, at mag-kantahan.
Naiindindihan at nararamdamannamin ang inyongpagkadismayadahilmaramisainyo ay sabiknasabiknangbumaliksamoshpit. Kami ay nagpapasalamatsainyongpatuloynasuporta, pasensya, at katapatan. Binabasanamin ang inyongmgamensahe at komento, nakikinig kami at naiintindihan ang inyongmgalungkot at galit.”
He became transparent to the struggles that the event has facing right now, but he mentioned that he’s sure that OPM will make its way to get back to the scene.
“Sa kabila ng pandemyangito, kami ay naniniwalana ang kultura ng Rakista ay hindimabubuwag, tayo ay malakas, tayo ay nag-kakaisa, tayo ay matatag, tayo ay babangon. Ikaw, Rakista, ang puso at kaluluwa ng Rakrakan Festival. Kung wala kayo, walang Rakrakan Festival. Ang atingkomunidad ang tumatayongpundasyon kung bakitnamin ‘to ginagawa. Sa mganaka-saksi ng paglaki ng Rakrakan Festival, ibinigaynamin ang lahat para sakulturanaito at narito kami para mag serbisyo para sarakista, mgabanda at artists, para sa OPM!”
In his Facebook post, he quoted his late friend, Jamir Garcia’s, “WE ARE ONE, for peace, love, and music.” He believed that OPM fans and Rakistas are strong and everyone will get through this undesirable pandemic. He also mentioned that he is really excited to share the same music to the Rakistas when the festival finally takes its place.
“Tuladnga ng lagingsinasabini Jamir— “Mga Rakista! WE ARE ONE, for Peace, Love, and Music!”
Ang Rakrakan Festival ay gaganapinsasusunodnataon, posibleng June-July 2021—ito ay p’wede pa ring magbago. Meron ng vaccines nalumalabas, kaya naman kami ay naniniwalanapaunti-untinatayongmakababaliksa normal.”
Although this year is pretty tough for the biggest OPM event, Mr. Harold still extended his gratitude to those people who gave their undying support to the festival.He also mentioned that he heard and understood those people who expressed their disappointment towards the event.
“Para sainyoito, mga Rakista! Tayo ay nabubuhayngayonsapanahon ng pagsubok. Sa kabila ng pandemyangito, kami ay naniniwalana ang kultura ng Rakista ay hindimabubuwag, tayo ay malakas, tayo ay nag-kakaisa, tayo ay matatag, tayo ay babangon. Ikaw, Rakista, ang puso at kaluluwa ng Rakrakan Festival. Kung wala kayo, walang Rakrakan Festival. Ang atingkomunidad ang tumatayongpundasyon kung bakitnamin ‘to ginagawa. Sa mganaka-saksi ng paglaki ng Rakrakan Festival, ibinigaynamin ang lahat para sakulturanaito at narito kami para mag serbisyo para sarakista, mgabanda at artists, para sa OPM!”
He said that even though Rakrakan Festival has encountered a lot of struggles this year, He is hopeful that the biggest event dedicated to OPM will finally push through next year, 2021.
“Ang lahat ng 2020 tickets ay VALID pa rin para sa Rakrakan Festival 2021. Kaya namannakikiusap kami naitago ang tickets ninyo. Sa mganagtago ng ticket, maramingsalamat! Malakingbagay ang inyongsuporta para makabangon at makabaliktayo.”
As for the tickets, he also made it clear that all tickets are still valid for Rakrakan Festival next year.
“Sa mgagustongmagrefund ng tickets, mamimissnamin kayo! Para samga tickets nabinilisa SM Tickets pwedeninyoitongi-refund sa SM Tickets. Para sadetalye visit: @SMtickets o tumawagsa 84702222 o email customercare@smtickets.com.”
Visit Rakrakan Festival Facebook page to get the latest updates about the event.https://www.facebook.com/rakrakanfestival
