The Busking Community PH goes international with 'Mula Sa Kalsada, Para Sa Kalsadang Hong Kong'

The Filipino street music scene took a vibrant leap beyond local grounds as The Busking Community PH (TBCPH) brought its raw and heartfelt sound to Hong Kong for the collective’s first-ever overseas busking showcase, Mula Sa Kalsada, Para Sa Kalsada ng Hong Kong.

The event featured Fisheads, Ciara Silva, Ren Bugash, and Martin Riggs, who filled the streets of Hong Kong with performances that celebrated music made for the people and by the people — an exchange of culture, energy, and community.Beyond their street sets, the group also played for the Filipino overseas community in Hong Kong, offering a familiar sound of home to many OFWs. What began as a casual stop turned into one of the most emotional moments of the trip.

Co-founder Martin Riggs recalled the powerful connection they made with the Filipino audience as he shares, “My heart broke seeing all the Filipinos hanging out in the underpass. Some of them haven’t been able to go home to their families for decades. I talked to someone — he’s going home for the first time in March 2026, for his child’s graduation.” That heartfelt encounter reshaped their purpose for performing abroad.

The idea for the Hong Kong showcase was born from TBCPH’s long-standing friendship with Fisheads, a Hong Kong duo who had previously flown to Manila to busk through the collective. “Fisheads registered as a TBCPH busker and played in Manila last year,” Riggs said. “We already talked about the possibility of us busking in Hong Kong with them — and now it finally happened.”

The collaboration also sparked new beginnings, with Alexis of Fisheads reaching out to Riggs about forming a Hong Kong counterpart. "Alexis of Fisheads reached out to me about forming a busking community in Hong Kong, inspired by what they experienced in the Philippines. I guess that’s the start of what we can potentially call TBCHK — The Busking Community Hong Kong.”

With Hong Kong marking its first international stop, The Busking Community PH continues its mission to bring music from the streets, for the streets — wherever those streets may be.