LET'S face it: the Pinoy music industry hit the doldrums the moment Sampaguita, Mike Hanopol and Pepe Smith stopped performing great rock music regularly. Sometimes, rock bands manage to get your attention but at some point, you lose interest.

Thank goodness, Alanis Morissette arrived and again overwhelmed rock fans with her pure angst, energy and self-awareness last Oct. 20 at the Folk Arts Theater. Though she performed 30 minutes late, the crowd exploded in excitement and anticipation when she showed up onstage in her brown pants, yellow top and long yellow skirt.

She had the ability to combine emotions in her songs. Anger, pity, sadness and bitterness in "You Oughta Know;" awe and resignation in ''Forgiven''; and confusion, self-doubt and confidence in ''Hand In My Pocket.'' Pinoy rock fans (teenagers, middle-aged employees, the masa) easily identified with the songs.

This was a surprise because Pinoys are generally peace-loving, gentle and sentimental folks, but, last Wednesday night, they head-banged and sang aloud with complete abandon and feeling. Wonder if the pressure of high prices, low wages and traffic had sunk into their consciousness and being ''angstsy'' with Alanis was the only way to vent out their frustrations. Of course, half the time, you wished your seatmates would stop for awhile because Alanis' lyrics were being drowned by their voices, especially when she sang ''That I Would Be Good,'' ''You Learn'' and ''Pure.'' Four boys on our front row sang, gyrated and lighted their lighters as Alanis danced in circles, leaped or hopped onstage.

Then the crowd relaxed as Alanis sang about relationships. With ''Mary Jane,'' her lyrics ''there's a few more bruises, if that's the way, you insist on heading'' spoke about abuse and urged her listeners to get out. In ''Perfect,'' the lyrics, ''How long before you screw it up. How many times do I have to tell you to hurry up?'' spoke about having doubts when a love relationship is good.

It struck a familiar chord with women--what with the endless self-doubt and insecurity! Her song, ''Wake Up'' echoed the complacency of Filipinos. Her lyrics, ''There's no love, no money, no thrill anymore'' may have been written for the Pinoy masa crowd! But the happy, energetic mood picked up again with ''Thank You'' and ''Ironic.''