Kantalikasan, environment awareness through music

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has turned to music to promote environmental awareness and change.

Through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), DENR recently launched a music album dubbed “KANTALIKASAN” featuring songs about nature to help inspire people to do something good for the environment.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu expressed high hopes that the music album would serve its purpose of encouraging more people to care for the environment even as he congratulated the producers, composers and others who have taken part in the undertaking.

“We are optimistic that through this medium, we can deliver the message across that all Filipinos should be empowered to take care of our environment and natural resources,” Cimatu said.

The DENR chief also urged everyone to “not just listen to the songs, but also share and apply the message behind each song – that we only have one life to live, one planet to love, and many chances to make a difference for our environment and natural resources.”

Featured in the album are the winning entries in the KANTALIKASAN Environmental Songwriting Competition organized by the EMB-Central Office last year.

Interpreted by the DENR’s KANTALIKASAN Environmental Singing Ambassadors, all songs are original compositions focusing on environmental protection, conservation and preservation. The songs are in various genres, such as pop, ballad and classical.

DENR-NCR regional executive director Jacqueline Caancan said the album was produced by the EMB’s Environmental Education and Information Division, in collaboration with Ivory Music and Video, and Studio Z Audio Productions and Recording.

The album features environmental songs “Kalikasan at Pag-ibig” composed by KANTALIKASAN champion Oliver Narag; “Kayamanan” by Bejay Fabia; “Para sa mga Musmos pang Darating” by Rochelle Anne Rodriguez; and “Liliwanag Din ang Ating Mundo” by Arnold Ramos.

Other songs in the album are “Kalikasan ay Kayamanan,” “Kalikasan,” “Himig ng Inang Kalikasan,” “Katapusan,” “Kalikasan ay Kalakasan” and “Tayo nang Gumising.”

The album is featured on streaming sites Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Deezer and YouTube.