POLITICS IN MUSIC FESTIVAL

UP FAIR

UP Fair started in the 1980s through the efforts of students to promote activity and raise money for students at a "fair" that was held on the University property. It grew into a major university music festival in the country over these decades (Gorecho, 2026). For years, UP Fair has been a space where music, youth culture and social activism have integrated. The fair is organized each year at the University of the Philippines Diliman, featuring performances of various groups, and information about the problems of the country including human rights, education, labor rights, equal rights for women and environmental protection (UP Diliman Information Office, 2022). During intermissions, advocacy organizations, students and people's groups reach out to audiences with exhibits, booths and educational programs to further demonstrate that music can inspire entertainment and social action.

KALYE TUNES

The theme of the Wednesday event, focuses on urban struggles, poverty, gentrification, labor exploitation, and the rights of informal settlers and the marginalized.

QUEST

The theme of the Thursday event, centers on queer empowerment, gender-based violence, discrimination, and women's and LGBTQ+ rights.

ELEMENTS

The theme of the Friday event, advocates for peasant rights, agrarian reform, landlessness, and rural poverty.

REV MUSIC FESTIVAL

The theme of the Saturday event, champions self-determination, Moro communities, and the defense of ancestral lands for Indigenous Peoples.

UP FAIR'S OBJECTIVES:
It is different from commercial music festivals because of its slogan of "music and advocacy.

• Showcase Filipino musicians and emerging artists.
• Raise money for student organizations.
• Encourage social consciousness and civic involvement.
• Offer a platform for advocacy groups to inform the public about issues that affect the country.
• Involve youth in discussions on democracy, human rights and social justice.

"MAKIBAKA, HUWAG MATAKOT!"

On April 15 2026, The Kalye Tunes that played on Wednesday were a reflection of the plight of the urban poor. It is an evening to raise awareness about the plight of informal settlers and working people and underprivileged communities in the light of the sounds of local bands, rap artists and spoken word artists.

Then April 16 2026, Focused on the advancement of gender equality and the establishment of safe, inclusive spaces, with the advocacy of LGBTQIA+ rights, the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill and Divorce Law. The event also helped to raise HIV/AIDS awareness by collaborating with the HIV and AIDS Support House (HASH) to educate about HIV and provide free testing.

In April 17, 2026, Highlighted emphasized the rights of farmers and workers, the need for genuine agrarian reform, the need to strengthen the support for Filipino farmers and rural communities, and the need for climate justice and environmental sustainability.

April 18, 2026: Indigenous Peoples and national minorities are the focus of action with a focus on the protection of their rights and the defence of ancestral lands, cultural preservation and solidarity against discrimination and systemic oppression.Type your paragraph here