Artists’ song tribute for health-care frontliners

The tandem of producer-entrepreneur Dr. Carl E. Balita (president of the CEB Group of Companies, project director) and songwriter Vehnee Saturno has again collaborated on a song as tribute to the frontline health workers responding to the COVID-19 crisis.

Titled Bayani ng Mundo, the song features a line-up of artists including Kuh Ledesma, Dulce, Jamie Rivera, Ivy Violan, Bayang Barrios, Kris Lawrence, Esang de Torres and Ladine Roxas.

“I was inspired to write the song,” said Vehnee. “The music and the lyrics came from my heart with the frontliners in my mind. It was a struggle to record and edit in the virtual space but I am glad that the artists were passionate to have found a way.” He cited Bobby Velasco for the arrangement, Mike Villegas for the guitars and Jingle Buena for the back-up vocals. The audio recording is by VSMC while the music video is created by Dr. Carl E. Balita Production.

According to Carl, Bayani ng Mundo is a gift to the members of the following organizations: the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Philippine Nurses Association (PNA), Philippine League of Government and Private Midwives Association (PLGPMI), Midwives Foundation Inc (MFI), Association of Respiratory Care Practitioners Philippines Inc (ARCPP), Nutritionists-Dietitians Association of the Philippines (NDAP), Philippine Veterinary Medical Association (PVMA) as well as Philippine Hospital Association (PHA) and the Private Hospitals Association of the Phils, Inc (PHAPI).

Dr. Bu Castro, the spokesperson of the PMA, said, “It is time to inspire and motivate the healthcare professionals because this situation is very stressful and exhausting.”

Added Carl, “As a nurse and midwife myself, I empathize with the healthcare professionals in the frontlines and I can’t help but find ways to somehow support them. I have linked with organizations to enjoin them to support more and touched their hearts through this song. Collectively, the participating organizations have already engaged itself and its members and the value is beyond millions already. This is a continuing initiative.”

The project has the support of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), PhilExport, Employers Confederation of the Phils (ECOP), Philippine Franchise Association (PFA), GO Negosyo, Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce, Hospital On Wheels (HOW), Mekeni Food, Doña Maria Rice and PCCI-Quezon City.

“The supporting organizations have a combined support for health workers with a value of not less than P2M,” said Sherril Quintana, president of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA).

“Other organizations and companies are tapped to do their share in assisting the frontliners in the COVID-19 fight. Collective efforts, big or small, can impact the situation positively and we are pleading to enjoin everyone, especially the business sector, to support this campaign to be actively supportive of the healthcare frontliners.”

Early this year, Carl and Vehnee also collaborated with couple Isay Alvarez and Robert Seña for the song Tulong Taal which Vehnee also composed. The song went viral during the crisis brought about by the Taal Volcano eruption. A successful concert was held which raised funds amounting to P1.4M which the team has set for the rehabilitation of the families in Agoncillo town in Batangas. Before the COVID-19 crisis, the team already engaged the local government and the Department of Science and Technology for the revival of the weaving technology on Agoncillo.

“Indeed, music is the language of the soul and as we face this dark phase of our humanity, we can always find meaning in it,” stressed Carl.

Here’s the complete lyrics of the song:

Bayani Ng Mundo

(Vehnee A. Saturno, 2020)

Hamon sa lahat ay kay bigat

Pa’no ba ito matatanggap

Sa `tin ba ay mayro’ng darating

Pang bukas

Takot ay laging dala-dala

Sa isipan ng bawat isa

May tanong sa puso kung

Mayro’n pang pag-asa

Refrain

Ngunit may tulad niyo

Na puso ay totoo

Handang ibuwis ang buhay

Para sa kapwa tao

Chorus

Ang tungkulin ay gagampanan

Nang walang pag-aalinlangan

Gagawin ang nararapat

Dahil sa sinumpaan

Ang pagmamahal na alay niyo

Ay bukal, wagas at totoo

Ang papuri’y aming alay

Sa mga katulad niyo

Pasasalamat ang handog naming

Sa bayani ng mundo

Di natin alam kung hanggang kailan

Ang pagsubok na magdaraan

Ngunit tayo ay di hihinto sa laban

Sama-sama sa hanggang

Darating ang kay gandang bukas

Na kasama ang tamang sagot at lunas

(E-mail reactions at [email protected]. For more updates, photos and videos, visit www.philstar.com/funfare or follow me on Instagram @therealrickylo.)