Swept away by Drift's "Kisaw sa Katunggan"

Iwould never have taken interest again with that mangrove area near the Mactan Shrine because of a bad experience in 2003. Back then, I was tasked to join and cover a mangrove propagule planting activity initiated by the Massive Contractors and Development Corp. with its president Salvador “Sir Buddy” Ang. But an environmental council officer protested and attempted to stop the project carried out under an adopt-a-mangrove program. Good thing that lately, Mactan-based band Drift informed me of their latest composition “Kisaw sa Katunggan”, it helped gnaw away the bad memories. I could hear again the music brought in by the swell of tides in the area; kicking to promote a song inspired by the functionality of mangroves.

Refrain: G-D-Em-C

Kay wa na’y pagatpat nga kapilitan nila

Ug wa na’y bakhaw nga kapasilungan sa isda

 Imong gibali ug imong gibugha Imong gisugnod bisag dili pa laya

Wa nimo paabota nga mapungil ra’g iyaha

Karon tan-awa wa na’y mokisaw sa mama’a

Coastal reforestation is an advocacy we all should take part in. Mangrove plantations provide physical protection of shorelines against erosion caused by the onslaught of waves, tidal currents, typhoons, and other natural perturbations. The highly specialized root systems of the species trap sediments and silts from the uplands favoring land building in coastal areas, enhancing water clarity and growth of corrals. Bakauan leaves, flowers, fruits and twigs, and organic matter input would finally find their way to the nutrient pool of the coastal ecosystem through natural the process of decomposition. Bakauan habitat provides favorable breeding, refuge, and feeding ground to a number of important coastal water fishes and shells. To emphasize the advocacy - the ecological values of mangrove forests as shoreline sentinels, pollution sink, wildlife refuge, birds sanctuaries, and as “nurseries of the seas” being the source of fish stocks for our coastal waters cannot be ignored nor outweighed by its economic importance as source of firewood, poles, charcoal, and tannin.

Chorus: A-E-F#m-D

Ang kisaw sa katunggan

Kabakhawan, kabungawngan

Mga samo mag kalusayan

Kining among gipanganlan

Panagsa na lang makit-an

Atong panalipdan

Kisaw-kisaw sa katunggan (2x)

Ergan Gerat, the group’s composer and vocalist, worked on the song with the hope that he would be able to share the bounty of the coastline near the Mactan Shrine. “We are surrounded by mangroves here which gave me the idea to write this song hopefully to inspire others to learn the importance of protecting and preserving these natural resources through Drift’s music,” Ergan said.

“Our sound is funk ska. The intro starts with the effects of the gadgets, then there’s the sound of the guitar mixed with the sound of flowing water, then the beat of the percussion rolling streaming the guitar as the base drum gets funky. The lyrics are melodious and the beat is fast,” he added.

The other Drift members instrumental in the birth of “Kisaw” are Jesirel Sinerpida on drums, Arvin Manzanares on lead guitar, Reymon Garciano on rhythm guitar, Ian Igot on bass, and Melvin Beanstalk Casas on percussion, with John Paul Nening who acts as band manager.

Get swept away by Drift’s swishing and swashing at the Viking Bar in Bakilid, Mandaue City every Saturday.