Peace Album Debuts In Zamboanga

ZAMBOANGA CITY (Nung Aljani / 13 Jan) - To maximize its peace campaign in the conflict-ridden island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, the multi-donor Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and Peace Advocate Zamboanga (PAZ) tread into another milestone as the two groups launched its "peace album" Saturday in Zamboanga City.

The Davao City-based Orson Sargado, CRS project officer, said the album contains 12 original songs of hip-hop and ethno-inspired compositions that call for tribal harmony and regional unity among the people in this part of the country.

"Guided by the principle that music plays an important role in connecting people, the CRS has conceptualized the idea of coming up with this peace album, which aims at relating the message of peace especially among the young people who are prone to the disturbances being brought by the decades of conflict in Mindanao," Sargado said.

All the songs on the album entitled “Voices for Peace: Echoes of Hope" were performed by different youth sectors – the Muslims, Christians and Indigenous groups – from various parts of Mindanao. They brought different experiences of their struggles and dreams for peace.

"I hope that with this album, I can contribute and able to relay our common call for peace especially to my fellow young Muslims in thispart of the country," said Alfrazkhan Abdurajak, one of the composer.

Abdurajak, a native of Jolo island, said his song entitled "Para Bukas, Ngayon" (For Tomorrow, Today) was simply a wake up call and at the sametime an "inspiration for the youths to rise up to the occasion and take their responsibility in a more harmonious approach."

Local song writer Chester Ross Cabaltera called on the youths to be responsible in all activities they do. “The reality that some young people are being self-centered to their principles, especially their religions,” he said.

Cabaltera said this prompted him and co-composer Darwin Wee to come up with their song "Punda" – a Filipino slang for fundamentalism. Punda, he said, is "a complete reflection of the growing threats of fundamentalism in Mindanao with the youths as prisoners totheir own belief systems. In this song, we also try to present some options for more harmonious treatment towards our relationship with others.”

Wee said: "Music in itself is a powerful language that speaks wisdom to the youth. The peace album ranges it music from the like of soft rock to an inspirational mellows, which made the relaying of its message easy for the audience, he said.

The CRS, Sargado said, believes that gathering young people and come up with a peace album will inspire more their spirit and add voices to the discussion of different peace initiatives.

"We hope that the peace album become a medium to which youth's voices in Mindanao as well as to generate support from all the people of the island to engage more in peace advocacy," he said.