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11/26/2009 - ROCK FOR LIFE: ROCK TO SAVE A LIFE (A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR PEPENG & ONDOY VICTIMS)
By Mateo Escueta
23 years ago, the high school student leaders of Southridge envisioned a rock concert featuring high school bands that would raise funds for the poor and needy. The idea immediately won the cause of many students who loved the idea of having homegrown talent play for the public as a means of raising money and awareness for the less fortunate.
Despite the enthusiasm and drive to organize a benefit concert in school grounds, the concert did not happen. 3 years ago, SOUL revived the idea, naming the concert "Rock For Life" (R4L) and attempted to make it happen. Right before auditions were held, the preparations were called off once again postponing the debut of Rock For Life.
In response to the recent typhoons, Ondoy and Pepeng, which ravaged the provinces of Luzon in a span of a month, the leaders of the Musicians Interact Club (MIC) of Southridge decided to take the lead and attempt to finally make Rock For Life happen. Unlike the previous attempts to organize Rock For Life, MIC sought the help and participation of their fellow clubs SOUL and AKAP thus creating a joint effort to successfully prepare and execute Rock For Life. Thus, the R4L Council was formed composed of Mateo Escueta (Director), Jandro Alonso (Concert Head), David Mendoza (Stage Manager), Angelo Santiago (Logistics), Jamey Jimenez (Finance), Mig Yatco (Marketing & Documentation), Nico Barzaga (Security) and Raffy Mutuc (Sponsors). After consulting the Student Council and Mr. Ong, the Head of Student Affairs, the R4L Council composed a formal proposal and submitted it to the school which was gratefully approved. Preparations by the R4L Council began a month before the concert, which was to be held in the auditorium.
Under the constant guidance of Mr. Ong along with the support of the Student Council, preparations for the concert went smoothly and efficiently. The measures for security were greatly addressed by hiring extra security guards and bouncers; sponsorships by 101 NY Clothing and iFrogz earphones and parents were received; MIC held auditions for the 3 high school band slots and the program was bolstered by the addition of two professional acts namely Miguel Escueta & Angulo in addition to alumni bands Mango Float and Ars Moriendis; a professional and complete lights and sounds set up were acquired; posters were put up in Southridge, tickets began to be sold and even sent to Woodrose for further support and advertising.
A Facebook site was launched broadcasting the event to the students, friends, family and alumni online. Tickets and posters were also sent to the Woodrose Student Council who also got the approval of their school to assist in promoting the event and selling tickets. The R4L Council met at least three times a week and met daily as Rock For Life drew closer.
The day before the show, a mock set up was done by the R4L Council to simulate the event and sort out the details that needed to be polished. On the day itself, the R4L Council and their selected Concert Crew composed of student security volunteers and volunteer sound crew from SOUL, AKAP and MIC came to the auditorium as early as 3:00 pm to ensure that everything was in place. The stage was barricaded, certain spots blocked off for security purposes and the very vital sound check for the bands was held so as to insure the quality sound that should be delivered by the band as they performed on stage.
At 6:00 pm, the auditorium was ready and transformed into a real rock concert venue! The chairs on the ground floor were removed, the stage was filled with equipment for the bands and the lights and smoke machines added more hype to the atmosphere! Finally, everything was in place and ready for the show! The doors opened at 6:30pm and the show was officially opened by a video of the Ondoy and Pepeng Typhoons followed by an opening speech from the chairman, Sluggo Rustia.
Asylum was the first band to rock the crowd with their debut performance as they played cover songs "Until the Day I Die" by Story of the Year and "Tears Don't Fall" by Bullet for My Valentine. Following them was Set Lasers To Stun, the quartet of sophomores who also made their debut performance with an acoustic set that warmed the hearts of the audience with their original song "Sorry, but No" and a cover of Panic! At the Disco's "New Perspective".
Next was the performance of the senior band, The Reminiscent who rocked the audience with their stellar, melodic and powerful originals "Eternity" and "Believe". The alumni band, Mango Float, returned to their alma mater to perform their popular originals "Again" and "Save Me", sweet music to the ears of those who have long listened and loved their band! Ars Moriendis once again claimed victory and glory as their blow - out performance featured their originals "Inri" and their anthem "Kampana".
Alumnus Miguel Escueta entertained and rocked out with the crowd with his songs "Balik Simula", "Handa", "Blue Monday", "The Take Back" and his new single "Sleeping While the World's Awake". Angulo, the finale band, ended the concert with such an enthusiastic, passionate and electrifying set with their songs "FLS", "Salita", "Lost In Translation", "The Best Mistake" and a new song "The Same Old Story". In between the bands, concert hosts Raffy Rodas and Luis Puno kept the audience entertained and in a good mood with their silly jokes and well done introduction for all the bands.
Videos promoting awareness of poverty and the destruction done by Pepeng and Ondoy kept the audience silent and captivated, fully realizing the sole reason for Rock For Life which was epitomized by the tagline "Rock To Save A Life". The finale video was the moving poverty - awareness video done by IIIA entitled "Live To Save A Life" directed by Mig Yatco under the inspiration and guidance under their history teacher, Mr. Chock Encabo who also spoke in the concert about raising awareness for poverty and making change being part of today's youth!
Throughout the night, the audience's energy and support for the bands was what enabled Rock For Life to become successful! Aside from ending before the set curfew, the vital factor in the end was the audience, who made the bands feel appreciated and welcome. Niles Chong, Angulo's frontman, said that Rock For Life was "One of the best gigs we have ever had. I didn't have to sing at all! The student's did it all for us! Southridge is our favorite school to perform in!"
The success of Rock For Life: A Benefit Concert for Ondoy and Pepeng Victims can be seen in the performances of the bands who really showed talent and musical prowess and in the audience who loved having the bands back. However, the real victory in this benefit concert would be the student leadership and student initiative that resurrected the old idea of Rock For Life and eventually led to its birth.
Rock For Life, being the first event of its kind done as an official school event in school grounds is only a small example of what the students of PAREF Southridge can do once they unite and take the initiative to make great things happen and in effect pave the way for change. Rock For Life showed that there is student initiative alive and present among the students who are capable of professionally planning, directing and executing projects and events under the guidance and eye of the school.
Rock For Life was not only intended to extend help to our affected brothers and sisters and raise awareness on the fight against poverty but also to somehow, someway become a symbol or some sort of inspiration for the students to come together as one and do great things for the school and for the greater good and not because of the incentive that lies waiting at the end of the tunnel rather the feeling of fulfillment and joy of service to our school and to those who benefit from our actions.
It is one of the best gifts that we, as students can give to our alma mater through pure respect and love for our school and its vision. May this truly be the beginning of bigger, better and greater things to come for Southridge from her students! Viriliter Agite!
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