SHOOTOUT AT MUSIK MANILA

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Less all the taxes, a minimum-wage earner
working fulltime might be taking home a
net salary of about $1400 a month. If he
spends $130 to produce a band gig, then
this amount is only about 10% of his
monthly salary. Of course, one has to think
in percentage terms, to be able to calculate
the actual economic value of what one
is spending.
In the Philippines, the minimum wage
of a fulltime employee working in the
non-agricultural sector of National Capital
Region is 466 pesos per day—that’s
4,660 pesos per payday, or 9,320 pesos
monthly. Therefore, if one is to calculate
in Philippine terms the total equipment
rental of $130 that was cited as an
example, it’s mathematically spending
only the 10% of the monthly salary of a
fulltime minimum-wage earner.
Meaning, if the economic value of money
in the Philippines is the same as that of
money in Winnipeg (Canada), then to rent
the same package there should amount
to only 10% of 9320 pesos, which is only
932! Now, how affordable could that have
been!
That’s why here in Winnipeg, even a
student can afford to buy an electric
guitar with an accompanying amplifier
with savings from his school allowance.
And even a group of young fledgling bands
can set up a simple gig any good weekend.
But the skills in playing an instrument and
in songwriting and the opportunities to
play as a band—well, that’s another story
altogether. Although surely, a beginner’s
having his own instrument to practice on
and his own studio at home to rehearse
in makes a big difference.
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