DAVAO CITY, Philippines – In a cultural show at Brokenshire College Friday for the benefit of Agusanon evacuees of Loreto, the audience was impressed by a young girl opening the show with her powerful rendition of “Tatsulok.”
The song which is about the dangers in an unjust social structure, was originally sang by the progressive folk group Buklod, and made popular with a version by rock artist Bamboo.
After the song, the audience was surprised when the girl was introduced. She is Angelique Alcantara, the 17-year-old native of Samal Island, as one of the finalists of the current ABS-CBN singing contest “The Voice Philippines.”
Angelique, who is taking a break in Davao, is a member of a Mindanao based progressive cultural group Kreative Union of Today’s Artists and Writers (KUNTAW), one of the main performers of the cultural show held at Brokenshire College sponsored by Promotion of Church People’s Response and Bagong Alyansang Makabayan- Southern Mindanao (Bayan-SMR).
Angelique said she was moved by the pictures of the Agusanon lumads who trekked away from their villages now occupied by the military since July 27.
“Dili man dapat anaon ang tao, dili agion og haras. Tarungon gud og istorya. Militarisasyon mana. (It’s not the right way to treat people, not by harassing them. Talk to them properly. If not, it is militarization),” she said.
While she calls for the respect of indigenous peoples, Angelique will have to be back to Manila next week in preparation for next rounds of The Voice Philippines. She sang “Diamonds” by Rhianna which impressed her singing coach Bamboo.
She said she auditioned for the contest after stopping school; she was a second year college student in the city.
When asked of her plans after the contest, she said whether win or lose, “Magtuon usa ko og music. Ipadayon ang advocacy nga art for the people. Kay naa maniy maayong purpose. Enjoy pud. Dili lang sa lingaw-lingaw kundi naa pud lessons na matun-an. (I will hone my craft in music. Also, I’ll continue my advocacy to create art for the people. Because this is for a cause and it’s enjoyable. This is not only for enjoyment because there are a lot of things that can be learned.)”
Her advice to fellow artists is to share for the people “Para sa nga naay talento, dapat i-share na nila sa kadaghanan, himoon og worth it. Dili himoon nga para sa ilaha lang (To those have the talents, they must share it to the majority, make it worth it. Not for the individual interest).” (Earl O. Condeza, davaotoday.com)
Agusanon evacuees, Angelique Alcantara, The Voice Philippines
