Musician devotes final days to GK

MANILA, Philippines – Until the very end, Gawad Kalinga advocate Rico Ortanez remained true to his promise of helping uplift the lives of the poor through GK.

For the past two months, Ortanez, battling stage 4 colon cancer, shunned chemotherapy sessions to be able to promote GK and raise funds for the completion of their own GK Agos Village, a promise of a better life for the poorest of the poor in Sta. Rita, Pampanga.

Rico went around the US with his wife Badette and with their group “Agos,” sang songs of love for the country and the poor, trying to reach out to many Filipino-Americans to support their village and the GK cause.

He also shunned chemotherapy in order to compose his last song.

On June 25, Rico breathed his last at age 48.

“His dying wish was to complete the homes of our GK Agos Village in Sta. Rita. He wants it to be his legacy,” said Badette, the other part of the singing duo “Agos.”

Rico formed Agos, a group of musicians and artists in the US, with the goal of supporting and promoting peace, justice, patriotism and freedom in the Philippines through music.

For his contribution to the promotion and the development of Filipino arts in the US, Rico was conferred the Special Migrant Heritage Commission (MHC) Award on Culture and Arts at the 3rd Annual People’s Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C last June 21.

Rico migrated to America in 1977 after graduating from high school and pursued a degree in Music at Montgomery College where he started writing original Filipino compositions.

In 1997, his group recorded its first CD album titled Agos...Unang Daloy followed by Agos, Tuloy ang Daloy, another compilation of all original compositions, songs that depict a migrant Pinoy’s yearnings and deep love for the country left behind, freedom from oppression and poverty, justice for all, especially for the poor, and the dream of seeing his country rise again.

Rico strums the guitar while his wife Badette, gifted with a soulful voice, sings in various Filipino events in the US and in MHC cultural events and other charitable fundraising events of other organizations for free.

Rico left behind Badette and sons Jericho and Jonah. They live in Virginia.

Embracing GK

In the last two months of his life, Rico, although weak from cancer, would hold concerts in some cities in the US to spread the good news of GK to Filipino-Americans who are still unaware about the work of GK.

In an interview in San Diego, California last May 26, Rico talked passionately about GK and how he saw God’s plan and purpose for him in the midst of his illness.

“I realize now that my sickness is a gift because if I didn’t get sick, I wouldn’t be here and doing my life mission, to spread the beauty and nobility of GK work and as a holistic solution, it gives the poor dignity, provides work and sends children to school. This is just so wonderful with everyone pitching in to help,” Rico said in his last interview with The STAR.

He said he had no regrets stopping his chemotherapy sessions in order to reach to more Fil-Ams and raise funds for their upcoming GK Agos village in Sta. Rita.

“The thought of building a village for the poor through the GK Agos village gave me so much inspiration, strength and happiness. I feel very, very at peace and happy to be able to share the wonderful work through our music. This has been the happiest moment of my life. I realize now that God chose me to be his special messenger of hope. I am His instrument in telling people that we need to help and love the poor,” he said.

“I wish I had more time left, but I leave it all up to God, I am just so happy to be given this opportunity,” added Rico, teary eyed from the love and support of all GK advocates who pledged to donate to fund his village.

Telly Gabriel, an avid supporter of GK in Wilmington, Delaware, was the one who introduced GK to both Rico and Badette Ortanez.

In her eulogy for Rico, she said she didn’t have a difficult time convincing the couple to perform for their GK event in Delaware.

“My sister Dette is married to Joe who is Rico’s brother. I invited Rico and Badette to sing at our Delaware Gawad Kalinga Highway of Hope two months ago. They did so willingly and when they sang, the people were enraptured by the power of their music. Agos music is timeless, thought-provoking and simply beautiful,”  Telly said.

On that night, she said Rico and Badette were very happy and said that they have found their purpose and the culmination of their lifelong work through GK.

“They saw their vision of what the Philippines could be, a country where poverty is eradicated. A great country. All their lives, they fought for the rights and dignity of the Filipinos.  They love the Philippines and their songs are written and sung in Tagalog. How fitting that songs they wrote some 20 years ago are all about the work that Gawad Kalinga is doing today, which is rebuilding the Philippines by transforming the lives of its people,”  Telly said.

She said she remembered Rico was elated and in high spirits that night.

When they saw the pictures of the GK villages in the Philippines, it was then that Rico decided to dedicate the remaining months of his life to raise money for the poor by establishing an Agos Village in Sta. Rita, Pampanga. 

“What is inspiring is that they have no money to give but they believed they can make this possible by using their God-given talent of composing and singing their own songs.  Through the sale of their CDs, they will build Agos Village. Even in his darkest hour, Rico was thinking of others instead of himself,” Telly said.

Last month, Telly, whose husband is a member of the University of Santo Tomas Medical Alumni Association in America, invited Rico and Badette to sing in a convention in Las Vegas and at the GK ONE event and GK Summit in San Diego right after.

Dr. Primo Andres, another GK advocate in Terrahaute, Indiana and a fan of Agos, said he felt honored to have known a great man like Rico even only for a short time. 

“I will always remember Rico as the man with a special smile and a twinkle in his eyes, and a bright look at the future ever so hopeful of the promise of tomorrow.  Well, the promise of tomorrow will come and we shall see the Agos Village rise.  I will try not to cry for Rico because it is not his death that matters. It is his life that defined Rico and it is indeed a life that is worth celebrating,” he said.

Rico may be gone now but his legacy of seeing the poor rise above their poverty will live on through the GK Agos village, Andres said.