MANILA — Fourteen years ago, a student from Adamson University found himself sitting comfortably on a bus en route to his hometown in Cavite, ready to unwind after a long week at school, trying to meet all the deadlines and enduring countless hours of studying as a first-year communication student.  

Looking aimlessly through the window, trying to find something amusing to free himself from boredom, was part of Martin's routine commuting experience.

However, what ought to have been an uneventful ride back home took an unexpected turn. Martin searched his pockets, front and back, when all he felt was fabric scraping against his hands, which now felt hollow.

Speechless, he knew he had lost his wallet—his only ticket to get a ride back home, now gone. 

"Para ho, kuya," Martin uttered. The bus stopped. He then made his way out the now jam-packed vehicle.

The bus door hissed open, and immediately, Martin was drowned in the noise of the streets. He was welcomed by the city lights that engrossed his vision, with everyone seeming to be in a rush, going in all sorts of directions.

Overwhelmed by his surroundings, the gravity of Martin's situation began to loom. All he had was his bag crammed with notebooks, reading materials, pens, a jacket, some coins—just enough to bring him from San Marcelino to Mendiola Street—and a guitar.  

A little over 25 kilometers away from his hometown, Martin now had to choose either to defy the odds or be overcome by them. He chose the former. But how?  

Unsure of what was to come, Martin unzipped the case of his guitar, revealing the instrument coated in pale brown with a sticker of the hit anime One Piece situated below the sound hole. The logo, known for a skull and crossbones against a black canvas, depicted a sense of fear and adventure—a feeling that had become familiar given his circumstances.

Left with no choice, he stood along the busy streets of Manila. With the guitar strapped to his shoulder, Martin gently glided his fingers over the strings, producing melodies that engulfed the air and slowly muffled the unwanted sounds of the city.

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As his voice echoed through the pavement stretched beneath, one person decided to stand still and listen. Then came another, and then another, until he was surrounded by a crowd admiring his craft.  

By singing in the streets that night, Martin earned enough money to finally reach his home. Unbeknownst to him, he had stumbled upon another haven that, nearly a decade and a half later, he would come to call his second home: busking.  

“Expression-freeing, extension ng kaluluwa, may some sort of freedom kaming [buskers] na nararamdaman everytime tumutugtog kami sa kalsada,” Martin shared, reflecting on the world he's immersed himself in.  

Aiming to normalize busking in the Philippines and promoting it as a stable and honorable source of income, Martin, with the help of O/C Records' CEO and former vocalist of Callalily, Kian Cipriano, established The Busking Community PH (TBCPH) in 2018. TBCPH has since expanded to include 104 buskers located in Luzon.  

Martin Riggs, founder of The Busking Community PH, performs during 'Mar10 Day', an annual gathering of buskers, at Grand Central Park in BGC, Taguig on March 4, 2025. Chim Cantos, ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

Uniting Street Performers

Through TBCPH, Martin met Ciara Silva, a busker of almost eight years and the organization's current marketing head, who recounted how she started playing on the streets of Batangas for a cause.

Just like Martin, Ciara braved the world of busking because of her love for music.  

"Pag nakikita mo yung crowd na nage-enjoy, feeling ko ito yung pahinga nila," Ciara says, describing the most rewarding part of busking.  

Despite needing to carry her musical instruments, like a guitar and an organ, from one location to another, her dedication to her craft has allowed her to power through each performance, letting each passerby become part of her story. A strong support system from the community of buskers has also become the foundation that binds Ciara to other artists.  

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Ciara Silva, a busker of eight years, reflects on her experiences, sharing both the highs and lows of street performance. Chim Cantos, ABS-CBN News Digital intern 

'Explore Your Sound'

Hailing from southeastern Luzon, Juls Burce, a Bicolana artist and the creative director of Tabuskco, a community of buskers based in Bicol, started weaving melodies on the streets when she was a senior high school student. 

Inspired by Ed Sheeran, who also started his career through busking, Juls knew that storytelling through music was something she would love doing for years to come.  

"I feel free whenever I busk,” she said.

Leaning on the beauty of self-expression that comes with busking, Juls sees this creative discipline as an opportunity to gain freedom in making music that showcases her talent as an independent artist—signifying that an art form unearthed in spaces between freedom and boundaries often shines the brightest.

Similar to the stories shared by Ciara and Juls, other members of TBCPH have come to recognize the power that comes with creating melodies for the streets. As the organization continues to grow, more local establishments in Metro Manila are opening their doors to aspiring artists from the local scene. This has paved the way for encouraging next generation talents to find their unique sound and fuels their passion to showcase their abilities to the community.

Although TBCPH’s members are mostly musicians, the organization has been vocal about how the vibrant world of busking encompasses far more than just musicians. Correcting this misconception, TBCPH aims to empower other forms of talent that can grace the streets, including visual artists, poets, magicians, and dancers, offering a diverse array of experiences and proving that busking celebrates all types of artistry.

Juls Burce, a Bicolana artist and creative director of Tabusko, expresses the freedom of self-expression through busking as she performs an original, unreleased song during 'Mar10 Day'. Chim Cantos, ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

Artistic Journey 

From a lost wallet to creating an entire movement, Martin proved that whenever you are put in a difficult position, as long as you are in the right place at the right time, everything else will fall into place.  

"Kailangan kong magtuloy-tuloy tumugtog sa kalsada kasi I think, I’m born for that," he said.

Martin says he plans to expand TBCPH's presence in the Visayas and Mindanao in the next five years.  

Each strum of a guitar, the dancing of a bow along the strings, the pounding rhythmic beats of a drum, the strokes across a canvas, and the movements of bodies that speak the language of music are constant reminders of the spirit and passion that keep street artistry alive.  

Taking the power of the stage to any corner, junction, or sidewalk, buskers amplify the spontaneity that comes with creativity.

For them, the streets, though chaotic and often distracting, have opened endless possibilities for every artist who dares to dream and make art without boundaries.