Many people may know Kia to be synonymous with cars and SUVs. But what most folks don’t know is that the Korean automaker also dabbles in sports—basketball and tennis—and music. Through various sponsorships, it has come up with events like Kia Beats, held last September at the Kia Theater.
The Columbian Autocar Corporation-organized two-night concert, which celebrates the past and present of Filipino music, featured some of the country’s top performing artists, from both the mainstream and indie scene. And two of them were honored recently by the country’s premier award-giving body for live performances, the Aliw Awards.
Rico Blanco was nominated for Best Major Male Concert Performer for his performance at the Kia Beats Concert. Then there was the Metro Manila Concert Orchestra (MMCO) that bagged the Best Major Concert prize in the Group category, as well as a nomination for Best Instruments performed by a Group. The honors were presented at the 29th Aliw Awards.
The award-winning orchestra serenaded concert-goers with its rendition of well-loved classics like Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika by Ryan Cayabyab, Nonong Pedero’s Isang Mundo, Isang Awit, and Florante’s Handog.
Apart from MMCO, the Kia Beats concert also witnessed the musical stylings of Indie group Ang Bandang Shirley, electronic DJ and drummer duo Motherbass, Rico Blanoc, and jazz rockers Farewell and Fair Weather. It was held at the Kia Theater last September 9 and 10, 2016.
The 29th Aliw Awards, meanwhile, took place last November 30, 2016 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.
