‘Woodstock’-inspired fest seen to boost Leyte’s tourism

SAN MIGUEL, LEYTE—The recently-held “For the Love of Leyte” music and arts festival is expected to boost this town’s tourism industry.

Town Mayor Cheryl Enrica Esperas said in an interview that hosting the Woodstock-inspired event that gathered music lovers and travelers from different parts of the country and overseas is a big impetus to their tourism promotion initiative.

A farm in Ginsiyaman village, a 45-minute drive from Tacloban City, served as the venue of the three-day festival, which concluded December 2.

“Name recall is a big part, and the participants saw our simple town…with its own unique products,” Esperas said.

The festival featured multiple stages for the musical bands: a pop-up market showcasing the best arts and crafts from the region and around the country, art grounds, and on-site camping.

The musical lineup had Ben & Ben, Kiko Bun (from UK), Bullet Dumas, The Itchyworms, Babani Records (from Mauritius), Reese Lansangan, Ang Bandang Shirley, Hernandez Brothers, Conscious & The Goodness, La Loba Negra, Free the Robots (from the US), Irie Sunday, Lunas, Rob Mananquil, Tom’s Story, The 76 Receipts, KulaHig, LSR, Aurora, Maroon & Gold, Lady Suzette, Succubus, KRNK, Specs, The Guerillas, Digital Danboi (UK), Bruder and Tom Turner, among others.

The event was inspired by Woodstock, a music festival held on a dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains northwest of New York City, which attracted an audience of more than 400,000 in 1969.

Lizbeth Ann Abella/PNA