A SONG FOR THE TIMES: Over 40 Music Artists "Stand Up" Against Climate Change

CEBU, Philippines - When typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng wreaked devastation in the Philippines just a couple of months ago, our music artists made their deepest sentiments  known through what they do best. The aftermath of the disasters saw some 47 singers and musicians, in a one-of-a-kind display of solidarity, collaborating on a song and music video to drum up the need to adopt definitive steps to cope with the reality of climate change.

The making of the song and its video was initiated by the non-government organization MyShelter Foundation headed by former celebrity-model and now multi-awarded social entrepreneur Illac Diaz. 

Made in the tradition of such anthemic collaborative efforts as “We Are The World” (the 80s song by American artists for famine relief in Africa), “Stand Up” brought together leading Pinoy rock artists from various music labels like Marc Abaya, Joey Ayala, Bayang Barrios, Cookie Chua, Karl Roy, Jet Pangan, Noel Cabangon, Barbie Almalbis, Migs Escueta, among other notable names in the music industry.

“Stand Up” was composed by Boogie Romero, with musical direction from Mark Laccay. Actor Epy Quizon and Henry Posadas are co-producer and director, respectively, of the music video. Sony Music, for its part, offered to sponsor the recording studio time and equipment. All 47 artists waived their talent fees “to support the cause of awareness of climate adaptation for a country hit by constant typhoons,” said Diaz in a recent interview with The FREEMAN.  

Climate change has been a vast and vague concept to many Filipinos, and unfortunately, it took the magnitude of the damage wrought by such typhoons as Ondoy to make us sit up and realize how very real this problem is on the homefront. 

With scientific studies stating the irreversibility and inevitability of climate change, how can we adapt to its impacts? How can we avoid feeling hopeless when disaster strikes again?

This is the underlying message of the song: that climate change is a local problem, that we have to make decisions for ourselves; and that we don’t simply rely on foreign help to be able to deal with it.

This message is also what defines the kind of work that MyShelter Foundation does. Since its inception more than four years ago, MyShelter Foundation has been building ecologically sound shelter for the everyday Filipino—particularly schools (Earthen, Bamboo, A-Frame schools, etc.) as these are the first refuge that people run to in the event of calamities.

Diaz said that the song can, of course, only do so much, and any work for the environment will last a lifetime. But “Stand Up” is such an empowered song. The appeal of its message is made more pronounced through its world music feel and indigenous beats, and it is hoped that the inspired working experience behind the song would draw out an equally inspired response and involvement from its listeners.

“Stand Up” is now being aired in radio stations nationwide.

(Writer’s note: Special thanks to Ms. Theresa Sederiosa of Aboitiz Group-Corporate Communications for arranging the interview with MyShelter Foundation founder Illac Diaz.)