Quezon ‘rockers’ salute Rizal in music

LUCENA CITY, Philippines—Young rock musicians of Quezon province paid tribute to the heroism of the country’s national hero Dr. Jose Rizal in a night of songs and music titled  “Rock Rizal Concert” on Friday.

For three hours, seven amateur rock bands from this city and neighboring towns electrified rock music fans with their performance of original compositions extolling  the life and heroism of Rizal.

The event, held in the parking lot of the Metro Pacific mall here, was initiated by Quezon Governor David Suarez through the provincial tourism office in cooperation with Rock Ed Philippines and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines as part of the yearlong celebration of Rizal’s 150th birth anniversary.

Rock Ed Philippines is a nationwide volunteer group that promotes nation-building through alternative education.

“It is the duty of the government to reach out to the future generation to propagate the heroism of Dr. Rizal. And music is the best medium to bridge the gap,” Suarez said in an earlier interview.

Since last week, the provincial tourism office held several auditions to select the finalists in what local music fans here called the battle of the bands.

Pepe Diokno, executive director of Rock Ed Philippines, said the project was launched to spread Rizal’s patriotic ideas and heroism through rock music, a popular music genre among Filipino youths.

“Listening to his ideals and love of country through music that we all dig can move us all to act and join hands together for the benefit of the Filipino people,” said Diokno, an award-winning filmmaker and a recipient of the presidential “Ani ng Dangal Award” last year.

Aside from receiving the P15,000 cash prize, the winner of the rock music competition, the five-man “Anarah” rock band, will join the country’s popular rock bands and artists in a concert at the Luneta Grandstand in September.