Bicol groups use art to aid COVID-19 frontliners

SAMANTHA NICOLE IMPERIAL

TO RAISE AWARENESS on the plight of the frontliners, the Harana Pagkilala Kick-Off, an event led by five different Bicolano organizations, united for “Harana Pagkilala Para Sa Frontliners” that took place last April 9 via Facebook Live.

“Harana Pagkilala Para Sa Frontliners” is the initiative of the artists and cultural workers in Camarines Sur with a goal to use the artist community as a gratitude to the frontliners in the health sector, education sector, and other workers through their music and art.

“Lumilikha tayo ng awareness para malaman ng bayan na itong ating mga frontliners, bagama’t napakaheroic ng kanilang role, at [may] ginagawa sa bayan, sila rin ay nangangailangan ng tulong,” Karl Ramirez, a speaker from Musika Publiko, said on the Facebook stream.

Together with Ramirez are Khryss Arañas, Roger Palacio II, Julie DM Bega, and Jude Buelva from Project Pesante, Rise Above Productions, Musika Publiko, Sining Banwa, and Pandalivery, respectively, who shared their experiences in handling these kinds of programs amidst the pandemic.

By posting their music online, Musika Publiko and Rise Above Productions took several episodes to raise funds for frontliners who are greatly affected by the pandemic, same as the other artists and musicians. For the farmers, Project Pesante has an online gig where they play music every 30 minutes for the whole day. They gathered funds for food relief for farmers throughout Bicol, notably in Camarines Sur and Albay, through their internet gig.

Sining Banwa is an Albay-based theatrical group, but when the pandemic hit, they struggled to keep their operations running. They continue to promote their theatrical acts by uploading them online and on social media platforms.

“A lot of people are looking for work and asking Pandalivery to apply. We had to say no kasi ‘yong protection din ng current team and ‘yong spread talaga iniiwasan namin,” Buelva, founder and CEO of Pandelivery, said when he was asked about their situation last year.

Currently, all these organizations are helping each other to give honor to the frontliners and to other people who need help. Palacio and Arañas said that their wishes for the frontliners are for them to have a higher income and benefits.

“As of now, ang kahilingan natin sa mga frontliners ay ‘wag natin iromanticize ‘yung pagiging bayani nila bilang bayani lang at wala tayong ginagawa sa kanila mismo,” Bega shared.

Harana Pagkilala Para Sa Frontliners is still trying its best to showcase the artists’ skills on internet platforms, particularly Facebook, in order to raise more funds to assist the frontliners and artists like them.