Lansad Nueve closes with advocacy concert

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lifestyle/2015/09/25/lansad-nueve-closes-advocacy-concert-432414
• Saturday, September 26, 2015

By Richmond Anthony Alfonso

THE 9th staging of Lansad by the 3rd Year Development Communication students of Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan ended with an advocacy concert at the activity center of Centrio mall last September 24, 2015.

The theme was “Peace, Environment, Governance” or PEG.

The students presented 10 original songs, composed and performed by them and tackled the three issues. John David Moncada, the students’ instructor in his opening remarks, said, “Basically these songs are songs that cry out for social change.”

The students intend to raise awareness with regard to the three topics as it relates to Mindanao.

“What better way for us to convey this message of social change but through songs,” added Moncada.

The 10 songs were categorized depending on the subject matter. Stephanie Babaylan wrote two of the songs featured in the concert. Under the peace category, she wrote Felipe which talked about several issues such as the Mamasapano incident and the Maguindanao massacre, and Pinokyo which fell under governance.

“Ang message sa songs kay para sa ato na naa sa present, and for the future too, unsay pulos sa gibuhat sa past if dili nato ma tarong ang naa karon,” as she added saying, “People want change. We always talk about change but dili siya gakahitabo. Ang atong mga heroes, ni fight sila para sa atong country pero ngano karon, kita na man ang ga-fight each other?”

The other eight songs are Tayo ay Iisa, written by Ryan Tulba, Jojie Alburo’s Sigaw Natin ‘To, and Kalinaw Isyagit Ta by Zam Bactong which tackled peace; Celesti Bravo’s Patak ng Tubig, Weeping Earth by Twig Bacal, Nicko Abapo’s Don’t Cut Me Down, and A Better Place For You, written by Aiana Dalangin, all four addressed the importance of safeguarding our environment; and, Jefrey Robles’ The Curdled Dream which spoke of governance.

Judy Dumalo-an, from Agora in Barangay Lapasan, was inspired by the song Felipe, “Nice kaayo ang mga song labi na ang Felipe. Grabe kaayo kay naka compose sila ug songs on their own.”

She added saying, “Nag serve jud siya as an eye opener para sa amo mga audience.”

The event also featured several dance numbers and acts from Hot Males, Class Act, the DevCom dancers, as well as Murielle Lomadilla, Jeremiah Torayno, and Krayon Band.