Environmental awakening through music

• Source:https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1812276
• Monday July 1, 2019

By JO ANN SABLAD

AS PART of the aim to spread awareness on their environmental advocacy and promote local artists of Cagayan de Oro, the Local Initiative for Holistic Upbringing of Knowledge (Lihuk) invited several local bands and entrepreneurs to perform and showcase their organic and eco-friendly products last June 23 at the Rotunda Limketkai Mall.

Together with Limketkai Center and Dire Husi, Lihuk's Kina-iyahan ug Kalinaw: a World Music Mini Concert event featured local bands such as Dodu Abrio, Pangoy, Dhassig, TakeYou, EliRockj featuring Headturn and Cyber Band who performed environmental-related and original songs to support the group's advocacy on maintaining an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle in order to preserve and protect the environment's natural resources.

"This is just a start. We want to stir up mga local talents, everybody is gusto nato ma-involve, to be aware, this is an awareness nga activity para gyud ma-push ang advocacy sa environment," said Rhyan Casiño, Lihuk co-founder and chairman of Dire Husi Initiative.

"We really believe that artists play a big role in communicating advocacies. We have a lot of talents like there's never a shortage of talents in our place and in the whole Philippines," he added.

Casiño said they believe that with the help of the local artists, they will be able to reach out and spread awareness to everyone, particularly the millennials, adding that music and art in general are a "powerful tool in communication awareness."

Apart from the mini concert, entrepreneurs and businesses such as Keentoy's Spicy Peanuts with Dilis, Seanong's Heaven on Earth Gourmet Tuyo, Sammi's Holemade Palapa, Dora's Frappe, Spikes, and Tableya ni Mommy Sha also displayed their organic and eco-friendly products in their booths located near the stage.

Casiño said they are also planning on doing a bigger event soon, where they can invite more artists and more audiences to participate in several different activities.

"I believe nga doing this kind of activity, ang community mismo will stand up, will rise up, will participate and get educated," Casiño said.