Isagani S. Liporada
BAGUIO CITY – Who would have thought their “wish to be heard,” will be granted in a snap?
After showing sincerity in “turning a new leaf,” voluntarily submitting themselves to a bigger group that wishes peace amongst their peers and greater community involvement, local posses will get more than a microphone and a beat-box this month.
Walter Wong, Abanao Square Mall Marketing Manager last week confirmed that the “Rap Jam for Peace” concert which the “Brotherhood for Peace” themselves organized shall be pushing through along Abanao Street, October 11, from 5:00pm to the wee hours of the morning.
Local gangs Asul de Pamilya, Crazy Asiatic Pinoy, Hukbong Lirikkkal, Pinoy True Crips, Rappers Delta Foundation, Reckless Asiatik Gangstah, One Mic Productionz, Sandatahang Kritikal, Lam-Ang Warriors, Radicalz, Katuta Krew, Samahang Ilokano, Baguio’s Pride, Booyah Bity High have bonded to form the “Brotherhood of Peace.”
He revealed, “The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) director Wilfred Franco and Police Precinct 7 chief P/C Insp. Engelbert Soriano; and city administrator Peter Fianza hatched the idea that the youngsters wanted to stage a concert as an avenue for them to express themselves.”
“We thought it was a good idea having them indulge in something creative,” he said adding, “thus, we jumped at the opportunity to give them exactly what they wished for as a part of our social responsibility… a chance to be heard.”
Wong said, “We hope that other non-government organizations see the benefits of this undertaking the way we did… our doors are open for support for our youngsters.
“After all, everybody would admit that we are better off listening to the music of erstwhile gang-bangers as they make peace through the rap genre, rather than having them wage war in the streets,” he added.
Sharing credits in making the project a reality is San Miguel Brewery. On the other hand, the City Government through the Office of the Mayor guaranteed full administrative support to the endeavor.
Meanwhile, Lloyd Villegas of One Mic Productionz said, “Now we realize that local cops and some local officials are indeed like big brothers to us.”
“I couldn’t really believe it at first… after having cops run after us because of some petty fights; now I realize, they were in fact running after us to help us put order amongst our factions, after all.”
Last October 1, members of the “Brotherhood for Peace” took advantage of Muslim holiday “Eid’l Fitr” to go around the Central Business District to repaint graffiti.
Jason Balag-ey of Hukbong Lirikkkal meanwhile revealed, “The Brotherhood shall likewise be inking a pact on October 11.”
“Realizing that indeed, there is a lot more that can be done, our member-groups have decided to come up with a Memorandum of Understanding to formalize lasting truce and to map out endeavors that we can undergo as a means of bolstering our unity,” he added.
Earlier Fianza noted, “The fact that our kids have been able to sit down and talk things out is already a rich source of lessons for the older generation where we belong.”
“Apart from the fact that we should now believe our kids can solve their problems on their own, we should sometimes yield to the changing times and not insist on what we know for their generation is entirely different from ours.”
“All it takes for us to have peace in the neighborhood is to allow them speech and listen to them even in their silence,” he added.**ISL
