Ready for battle

MANILA, Philippines - Putting on their usual tough game faces, several PNP officers recently geared up for a very different kind of battle – the first ever PNP Battle of the Bands.

Each police band belted out three songs during the competition, with matching hip-swaying and dance moves, much to the delight of their superiors, colleagues and families, who showed their appreciation for the talented policemen with loud cheers and applause.

Each police band sang “Bed of Roses” as the contest mandatory piece. In addition, they also had to sing one other song of their choice, and an original composition which was anchored on the theme “serbisyong makatotohanan,” the motto of the PNP under the leadership of Director General Alan Purisima.

Purisima said the program, dubbed as “Serbisyong Makatotohanan at Galing ng Pulis-Battle of the Bands,” was the PNP’s way of sending the message to the public of of the PNP’s commitment to take the tuwid na daan (straight path) and truthful service through song.

“We want to show that our policemen have their own talent in singing. Sabi nila pag magaling kang kumanta, lamang ka na (they say if you can sing you have an edge),” said Purisima before the singing battle started at the jam-packed multi-purpose hall at the PNP National Headquarters in Camp Crame in Quezon City.

First to perform was the band from the National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO), which was warmly applauded by the audience.

Quite a revelation came from select members of the Special Action Force (SAF), the elite group of the PNP. The singing talents of the two female members of the SAF band were complimented by their costumes – black shorts and sleeveless tops – patterned after the SAF uniform. They certainly gave a new edge to being ready for battle.

Wearing shiny black and silver tops and fitted jeans, two policewomen and seven policemen from PNP Region 6 impressed the crowd with their rendition of “Enough is Enough.” A line from their original composition goes: “Harapin ang pagsubok. Kapulisan ay nagbabantay sa atin. Katarungan siyang minimithi. Lahat ay gagaan pag sama-sama.”

Members of the band from PRO 11, in their usual blue PNP T-shirts embellished with ethic accessories and sash, sang a medley of David Bowie’s “This is Not America” and Asin’s “Masdan mo ang Kapaligiran” as they performed a traditional Muslim dance.

 A portion of the original composition of PRO 11 speaks of the need for the people’s help and at the same time of their commitment to service: “Tungkulin ay aming gagampanan. Pero kami rin ay tao kailangan ng tulong nyo. Kailangan ng pagkakaisa. Kapit kamay tungo sa tagumpay, tungo sa kapayapaan at tagumpay. Kay dami pagsisilbihan, ano man oras, kahit magdamag, pagtinawag ng sambayanan, kayo ay poprotektahan...handang ibuwis ang sariling buhay...ang aming serbisyong totoo, ang aming serbisyo ay para sa iyo.”

The band from the PNP Intelligence Group sang “My Sharona” as their song of choice. Their own composition talked about the PNP’s service to their countrymen: “Panahon na ng pagbabago sa PNP. Serbisyong makatotohanan ang alay sa bayan. Kahit pa ang buhay ay ilalaan. Pagharap sa pagsubok pinagtutulung-tulungan. Kami ang inyong PNP maglilingkod.”

The singing doctors from the PNP Health Service surely put up a good fight, singing to the audience: “Makadiyos, makatao, makakalikasan...tungo sa serbisyong makatotohanan...mayaman, mahirap, walang pipiliin kahit sino. Serbisyo sa kapwa...kapit kamay tayong maglilingkod.”

The band’s vocalist quipped as they began their song: “Sana pagkatapos ng kanta namin ay magpagamot pa rin kayo sa amin (I hope after you hear us sing you will still let us treat you)!”

In white long-sleeved shirts with suspenders, members of the PNP Region 1 (Ilocos) band gave an outstanding performance, with their female member appearing in a shiny pink wig and colorful costume, much to the delight of the audience. They even had their own cheering squad – ladies wearing red T-shirts that read PRO-1.

PRO 1 was adjudged the 2ndrunner up and ran away with P50,000 cash prize and a trophy.

The vocalist from Region 9 band looked like a true rockstar, clad in a long curly wig with a stars-and-stripes kerchief on his head and black jacket with tassels.

“Nasaan ka man sa Pilipinas, ang iyong pulis ang inyong huwaran sa tapang. Siya ay laging maninilbihan, dugo at pawis sa serbisyong makatotohanan. Saludo kami. Sipag tyaga at disiplina di mapapantayan. Siya ay walang inuurungan kahit ano,” the PRO 9 band rocked.

They won the best rendition of the mandatory song Bed of Roses with prizes of P20,000 cash and a trophy.

As the vocalist gave a repeat performance after being announced as winner, PNP chief Purisima gamely sang along. Purisima later admitted that Bon Jovi is one of his favorite singers.

PRO 9 also won the prize for “free style” with P20,000 cash award plus a trophy.

The night’s champion, an all-male ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao) band that was the crowd favorite, showcased their dancing skills as they sang “It’s the Final Countdown,” complimented by their costumes: green satin tops and black pants with shades. They also won the special award for best original composition with P20,000 plus a trophy. According to Purisima, the winning piece in the original composition will be used as one of the official jingles of the PNP.

The PRO-ARMM band’s original composition, Serbisyong Makatotohanan, has meaningful lyrics that call for peace through service:

Sa paglayag ng puso’y busilak ang dala.

Sa bawat sulok ng bayang minamahal.

Nakita, natanaw at naramdaman.

Sumibol, busilak na hangad.

Kapakanan ng tao ang hinahangad

Ibubuwis ang buhay

Bayang Pilipinas, aming minamahal

Sa maykapal, kami’y sumusumpa

Sama-samang abutin

Kapayapaang mithiin

Kapwa bayani, iisa ang hangarin

Lingkod kami ng Pilipinas

Malinis ang aming adhikain

Saan man magpunta

Anong layo ang marating

Pilipino ang una sa amin

Ligtas ka kaibigan, pangako sa iyo

Serbisyong Makatotohanan

Bandila ng bayan, aming iwagayway

Isulong ang matuwid na daan

Kaming mga pulis

Nais na makamit

Tagumpay ng bayan ko.