Timeless appeal of 'Balita' 'Cotabato'

Blurb: These two songs – relevant and meaningful even to this day — serve as barometer on how little was done to resolve conflicts in Mindanao.

May alat pa! Faithful to its purpose, “Asin” is a number of effects. As a seasoning agent, it improves the taste of food that it comes into contact with. So when the musical values of “Asin” have started to come into contact with society, such have also improved in part the nature of that society. As “Asin” makes people thirsty, their songs which have influenced generations in nearly four decades have sought to create a thirst for improved conditions among people that can be quenched best by political maturity and participatory governance. And as a preservative, “Asin” gives food improved length of life. Ultimately, with enough of “Asin”, we would continue to acknowledge the sanctity of life and work to preserve such in all its forms.

You must be born during the heydays of Pinoy ethno-folk rock “Asin” to be familiar with this:

“Ako'y nananawagan/humihingi

ng tulong n'yo/

Kapayapaa'y bigyan ng daan/kapayapaan

sa bayan ko/

Bakit kailangan pang maglaban/magkapatid kayo sa dugo/

Kailan kayo magkakasundo/kapayapaa'y kailan matatamo ng bayan ko?

And this: “Ang lupang pinanggalingan ko'y may bahid ng dugo/

May mga lorong 'di makalipad nasa

hawlang ginto/

May mga punong walang dahon/mga pusong 'di makakibo/

Sa mga pangyayaring nagaganap/sa lupang ipinangako.”

Ergo, you must have witnessed for over three decades how lawlessness has continued to thrive in some areas in Mindanao. The November 23 carnage in Maguindanao, for one, should have opened our eyes finally to our own indifference and even to our ignorance as to the real conflict in there.

The former is “Cotabato”, the latter is “Balita” from the tribal wisdom and political persons of Pendong Aban (who formed the “Ang Grupong Pendong”), Lolita Carbon, Cesar “Saro” Bañares who was slain in 1993 in a bar brawl in South Cotabato; and former members Mike Pillora, Boboy Doromal, Boy Militar and Charlie Bernas.

These two songs – relevant and meaningful even to this day — serve as barometer on how little was done to resolve conflicts in Mindanao. Despite peace processes, people have continued to witness Mindanao, which used to enjoy thriving commerce with neighbors and was cosmopolitan when Manila was still grassland, as a mosaic of religious extremism, clan wars, vendetta killings, and families by the thousands willing to bow before one family who plays god.