MANILA, Philippines -- While there has been various efforts made by certain sectors to fight piracy, very few really matter that much. One of these was launched by the local phone company MyPhone dubbed Music Album Phone (MAP).

This phone feature exclusively carries an artist’s full-length album which pirates cannot download. Thus, fans can only hear the specific albums on their mobile phone units.

Publicly released late last year, MAP already put out seven Filipino albums to date. Its first offering was Sarah Geronimo’s album “Laging Kay Ganda” which has eight tracks.

MyPhone’s VP for Marketing and Business Development Richie De Quina told Bulletin Entertainment, “We’re serious in supporting the local music industry and this move is a strong indication of our campaign against piracy. Both artists and fans can enjoy bragging rights to the albums we’re releasing considering we cater to recordings you can only hear through our phone units.”

According to a sales check, 20,000 phones containing Sarah’s album were sold just on first day of release. The first MAP product features the singer’s versions of APO’s “Panalangin,” Hajji Alejandro’s “Kay Ganda Ng Ating Musika,” and Asin’s “Masdan Mo Ang Kapaligiran.” Other major acts with records released via MAP includes Rivermaya, Mark Bautista, and Freestyle. Five albums are set to be released this May, with more to come in the next months.

Supporting the heroes

My Phone people’s effort to help local acts is reflected once more in their support to the Heroes Project, a multi-stop gig ensemble featuring a host of musicians supporting the empowerment campaign spearheaded by Mike Chan, the rising solo act initially known as a member of the gang of acoustic singers called Sabado Boys.

With academic scholars being the beneficiaries of such a cause-oriented effort, De Quina immediately got attracted to the idea. “I like the heroes concept... that artists can live dual lives. One as entertainers, the other as people who willingly help. All they want is to help so I’m fully supporting them.”

Co-presented by MyPhone, the Heroes Project, now on its second year, gathers more than 30 mainstream and independent artists to perform (as many times as they can) in the months-long 25-stop gig stretch at selected malls, schools, and special venues. The gig marathon starts on May 29 at Robinsons Galleria and will end November in a culminating event a la Woodstock.

With downloading being the form to be utilized in generating money, this project promoting business entrepreneurship is bound to become an annual affair after the success of its first staging and the tremendous artist-participation for the upcoming run. Leading the pack apart from Mike are Top Suzara, Barbie Almalbis, Sitti and Nyoy Volante. Some of the supporting acts are Kenyo, Young JV, Amber Davis, Julianne, Urbanation, and Quest.

The disbandment of Sabado Boys in his mind, Mike expressed, “I guess it’s about time to have something of my own. It won’t kill me if, say, hindi ako sumikat ng sobra as a solo act. But if I can leave this as a legacy, then I’d be personally fulfilled.”

Mike, an endorser of Shimmian Manila Surgicenter, is now crafting his second solo album that will feature his collaborations with the likes of Marcus Davis and a couple of Nashville musicians.