Artists join fight vs. human trafficking

MANILA, Philippines - The Mall of Asia Concert Grounds recently became the venue for a massive rally against human trafficking, when the MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) Foundation, in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Visayan Forum Foundation and Dakila — Philippine Collective for Modern Heroism (Dakila), held a free concert last Oct. 29 to raise awareness against the crime.

The young and not-so-young across the Metro flocked to the venue to hear Pupil, Itchyworms, Ebe Dancel and Parokya ni Edgar as they teamed up with Californian alternative rock band Evaline and Korean pop sensation Jay Park to spread the message that Filipinos, and all human beings for that matter, are not for sale.

Graciously taking part in the worthwhile advocacy, each of the artists took turns rocking the stage with hits old and new, while also sharing valuable information intended to protect Filipinos — especially the young — against deception and exploitation in the guise of better work opportunities both in Manila and abroad.

Hosts Ramon Bautista, Tado Jimenez and MTV VJ Holly reminded the audience that human trafficking, often leading to violence against domestic workers to sex slavery, is a very serious crime that affects over 2.5 million people across the globe, with half of these victims living in or coming from Asia.

Jason Mraz, who was in the country for an acoustic concert at the Araneta Coliseum last Oct. 30, arrived at the concert as a surprise guest. Instead of offering a full-length song number, Mraz playfully reminded members of the audience that they can help prevent human trafficking by not contributing to the demand for it: Staying away from pornography and prostitution, industries which continue to thrive through the exploitation of young men and women, usually coming from poor countries and seeking a better life.

“When I heard about MTV EXIT, I decided to volunteer for it,” recounted Mraz. “It’s an issue that is so important but which most people aren’t even aware of, both in America and in the rest of the world.”

The concert was also graced by US Ambassador Harry Thomas, DOJ Sec. Leila de Lima and Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay, who each delivered strong messages condemning human trafficking and encouraging greater awareness among the Filipino youth, who are most vulnerable to the trap.

“Human trafficking is especially dangerous because it’s not just illegal recruiters and unregistered businesses. They usually approach you through someone you absolutely trust, like a relative or a neighbor or friend,” warned Visayan Forum Foundation executive director Cecilia Flores-Oebanda, who has been at the helm of the fight against human trafficking in the Philippines. “They promise to help you find work that pays well, to help support your family, but these young people end up being deceived. Awareness is one of the most important tools in fighting human trafficking.”

As part of the campaign, a three-day media camp was held last Oct. 26 to 28, bringing together youth leaders from all over the country for a series of workshops under the tutelage of Dakila’s member artists. The workshop aimed to equip the young people to use social media and other tools to educate their peers about the critical issue of trafficking.

MTV EXIT is also set to release a documentary called Enslaved: An MTV EXIT Special hosted by celebrity ambassador Dingdong Dantes. It will premiere on GMA News TV Channel 11 on Nov. 27 at 9:55 p.m.

Other sponsors include Yahoo! Philippines and MyPhone. For details on how you can help, log on to mtvexit.org.