Saving Kamagong
Giving birth to my firstborn six months ago was a weaving of both accomplishment won halfway and interconnectivity with the new generation also achieved a quarter-way. Infanticipating is very much like the arduous task of literally pursuing mountain summits, the view from up there is always worth the pain and drain of those backbreaking assaults.
Next month, I am scheduled to give birth again—this time to a song that I hope would again be an interweaving of my soul to the next breed of “rockin’vironmentalists.” Conceiving this song is surviving the attacks made by Man on Nature (read: the axeman chops down the tree that provides him shade).
Establishing the melody and settling on perfect harmony became literal Everests. The mouthing of the song’s words by its listeners would be the very reward I expect up there in this blessed union of band-ism and progressive views.
Yesiree! In collaboration with the spunky Ramil “Tata T.” Tanuco, main man of local band “Saving Kamagong,” I would be able to share to all pop rock enthusiasts the sound of social responsibility and the twang of environmental advocacy.
With the help of “Saving Kamagong,” my poem “Pagtul-id sa Bangaw” would soon be part of their album which seeks launch next month. (See poem below)
Cuts from the album—Karon Kay, Bisrak Cha-Cha, Alalay and Uso ang Reggae—are already receiving astounding audio patronage, from 93.1 Smash FM to Inday Misyel’s program over Energy FM, and recently over dyRT and Love Radio.
Saving Kamagong rose to the occasion when the call of the times centered on the need to preserve certain species—both the endemic tree specie and the settlers of a threatened site in barangay Lahug affected by the Provincial Ordinance 93-1 controversy.
Kamagong is an endemic specie of hardwood, of dark color as it belongs to the ebony family (genus Diospyros), grown for its beautifully grained black timber utilized in furniture making and wooden practice weapons (such as the arnis sticks used in the 80s movie starred by Juan Carlos “JC” Bonnin of “Bagets” fame).
“But nahurothurot na ang mga kamagong despite protection provided by a Philippine law. Bisa’g it is illegal to export kamagong timber, gipanghimo ning aparador, lingkoranan, lamesa, estatuwa,” said Tata.
That’s why Tata would want their songs to be as extremely dense and hard as the kamagong. “Like many other very hard woods, we would want messages of our songs to stay – like iron wood or nearly unbreakable,” he said.
Kamagong is also a place in barangay Lahug, lying on
“Gusto namo madunggan because we have a lot of things to fight for—among settlement, among reverence for trees that are bound to save us from the searing effects of global warming, and the survival of Bisdak talents,” he added.
Aside from Tata on vocals, first lead guitarist Carmel “Prinsesang Astig” Enad, second lead guitarist Virgo “The Ranger” Villagonzalo, bassist Ghervic “Dota Fanatic” Villarin, keyboardist Eric “Computer Engineer” Romarate and drummer Tito “Chief Engineer” Hermias make up Saving Kamagong, one of today’s “most requested, best loved” Bisdak bands in the city.
The album carries 12 tracks. Aside from Alalay and Gi-Indian, other interesting original compositions penned by Tata are Congressman’s Alphabet (lashing at graft and corruption in the country and poor governance as the root of abject poverty), Karon Kay (a witty enumeration of changes in both the physical landscape of Cebu and the psyche of the Sugbuanons), Mensahe (of communal pursuits) and Uso ang Reggae (two thumbs-up for its drumplay!). These songs make the band sound like working on the borders of novelty and progressive pop.
“Funny pero sensible among mga lyrics. We started as a praise-and-worship band—as Verses and Hymns. Our members are active in the Couples for Christ movement,” he said.
“Pero wala sad malansang sa pagka-praise and worship band ang grupo kay nakasuway man sad mi nga mag-showband side by side sa among pagka-Christian band,” he said further.
Last June 1, they had their TV debut via “Istayl Nato” over GMA-Channel 7 Cebu. By demand, they were featured for the “artist of the week” segment. Footage of a short interview and a music video was uploaded on YouTube which can be accessed through www.savingkamagong .com. Thanks to Julius of 1070 for providing the venue where the “Istayl Nato” crew shot the said music video.
Soon, Tata sees the group focused more on significant subjects—overseas Filipino workers maltreated by their employers, and those victims of child pornography.
“Definitely we will come up with an anthem for their sentiments. In time, they will find a voice so like us, they will also be able to save what is essential,” Tata vowed.
The poem “Pagtul-id sa Bangaw”
Napapas na kuno ang Kiribati, naunlod sa Pasipiko
Nalapasan sa parat nga tubig, nawala na sa globo
Nalunopan ang komunidad, nangkagiw mga tawo
Nalumos ang mga damgo, nangahanaw daw aso
Gibasol mga katawhan, kulang sa pagpakabana
Giugmad nga fossil fuels, puhunan sa pamentaha
Gidam-ok nga basura, nakapasamot sa pagbaha
Gipadagan lang gihapon, bisan sakyanang guba
Particulate matters, nagtuok sa kapunaw-punawan
Carbon dioxide emissions, naghilo sa kawanangan
Chlorofluorocarbons, nanaglumos sa kalangitan
Greenhouse effect, nakapaigang sa kalibotan
Nagkabuang ang klima, kayutaan gipanghilantan
Nitaas ang paglantong, kanhi mabaw’ng kadagatan
Nigara ang mga bagyo, pagtipas sa ilang agianan
Nipabuhagay ang ulan, nangdahili ang kabukiran
Brown winter nahitabo na, wala’y niyebe’ng nahagbong
Buwak namuklad sab, kay Antarctic inanay’ng napagtong
Busloton na ang ozone layer, wala na’y kapuy-ang tarong
Bangaw gilantaw’ng motul-id, kay tawo mapatuyangon
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