NORDIS WEEKLY
December 18, 2005

 

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Karbengan album: moving

BAGUIO CITY (Dec. 15) — The Karbengan album, which starred various local artists and bands in the city, was succesfully launched last Saturday, December 10 at the Ayuyang bar, here. The album is a production of Dap-ayan ti Kultura ti Kordilyera (DKK) and Tan-aw Multimedia Collective (Tan-aw) “dedicated to all the martyrs and victims of human rights violations and state terrorism.”

Many attended the album launching which highlighted performances from artists who took part in the album like Salidummay, Ridaw, Sining ng Paglaya (Silay), Binhi, Kuwatro, Seminarians on Transformation and Nationalism (SOTANA), Tanghalang Bayan ng Kabataan sa Baguio (Tabak), Jennifer Cariño and Toto Colongon. Also included in the album are selections from Diskarte Namin, a US-based group of Filipino Americans, who did not make it to the launching.

The Karbengan album is composed of 14 songs written and performed by the said local bands and artists. The songs are about the present situation, issues and problems people facing and the rampant abuses on human rights resulting from militarization.

Here are some tracks from the album:

* Ekonomiks (Ridaw and Binhi) is about the difficulties of people, employed or unemployed, while the government remains stagnant with innovations and improvements.
* Gumising ka Babae. (Silay) Gumising ka, kumilos ka babae…Kumalas sa hulma ng lipunan, igiit karapatan, sarilii’y pandayin…Those were just some lines from the song which a lot of women could relate to.
* Cousin Arlene (Diskarte Namin) is about domestic helpers and other overseas Filipino workers, who are often times victims of injustices abroad. It also says something about the growing rate of sex trade abroad, which becomes “the second most probable choice of work for Filipinas”.
* Karapatan (Toto Colongon) is a song that awakens and encourages every one to fight for his/her right and sympathize with the oppressed. It is a song that simply says, “Do something!”
* Garison ng Maton (Ridaw) tackles military abuses. Those people who were tortured and convicted without enough evidence are examples of human rights violations by the military. Current issues will tell you the same scenario of the lyrics.
* Himig ng Alyansa (Tabak) invites the youth to join in the fight against human right abuses. “Makibaka, lumaban at magkapit-bisig…Ngayong panahon ng ligalig, paigtingin ang pagkakaisa, mararating din natin ang paglaya…”
* Taong Simbahan (SOTANA) encourages all the church sector to start marching down the street, shouting and fighting for everyone’s right.
* Lubong Ko (Salidummay) is an Ilocano composition dedicated to all the victims of Lepanto mines operations.
* Peace in Pieces (Kuwatro) “I heard the preacher saying “peace be with you” and everyone replied “also with you, I wonder…The government said “let’s talk peace” but soldiers pull the trigger…” This is a song which shows how the government redefines peace nowadays.

Other songs included in the album were Ikalawang Ikaw, Solidarity Song, Siya’y Di Lamang Isang Tula, Bangungot, and Tumurod/Mangahas (also with lyrics depicting human right violations).

Despite the little tension caused by the presence of two suspected military men, the Karbengan album launching was a triumph.

I am not an activist or a frequent demonstrator in the streets but when I heard the songs from the album, I was moved! # Maria Elena F. Dionisio/UP Intern for NORDIS


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