Tags: Arts Training and Workshops, Music
By Ma. Theresa Soner, Contributor
DAVAO CITY, DAVAO DEL SUR – Princess, a 15-year-old out-of-school-youth and a self-confessed gang member, says she has found a new ‘voice’ in rap and hiphop music.
Experiencing abuse from her family and discrimination from the community, she has gained confidence from learning an art where she can express herself freely and uniquely. From being tagged as ‘Bodatz’, a local slang that refers to “prostitute”, she now aspires to become lady rapper and even dreams of going back to school.
On the other hand, it wasn’t just the participants who gained something valuable during the recent Rap in Davao Workshop. The workshop held on May 23-24 at the Mindanao International College attracted a number of out-of-school-youth like Princess.
Japanese music producers/rappers “Young-G” and “Big Ben” joined Filipino rapper Shielbert (a.k.a. OG Sacred) in conducting the workshop.
At first, there was considerable challenge that facilitators, lecturers and participants would be able to communicate since they speak three different languages.
Yet, for just two days the group was able to produce a song that tackles the youth’s hopes and ideals, with Young -G and Big Ben’s doing the beats and Shielbert helping them out with writing.
Communication was mainly based on facial expressions and non verbal cues and in the end, both lecturers and participants were able to overcome whatever language barrier there was from the beginning.
“I am Japanese, I don’t speak English well. I hope our music will tell you everything we want to say because it’s from our hearts,” says Young-G, speaking through an interpreter.
Rap in Davao was conceptualized by film director Jim Libiran and organized by 8 Glasses Productions and The Japan Foundation- Manila. A similar workshop, which aims to unite different cultures through music, was held in Tondo a year ago.
This year’s workshop did not just produced a song about children’s rights; it also taught the participants from “Tambayan Center” of expressing themselves through music.
The lively beats, the meaningful message of the lyrics and the animated dance number were enough to tell the audience what kind of connection or bond was created among the facilitators, lecturers and participants during the two-day workshop.
Related stories:
Tondo rappers out to promote Filipino culture through hip-hop
German-French b-boys learn life lessons from Tondo youth
O.G. Sacred raps about life in Tondo
Animation Arts Training and Workshops Concerts and Performances Culture Dance Film Graphic Arts Indie Internet Literature Movies Music Obituaries Paintings Performing Performing Arts Photography Sculpture Showbiz Television Theater Visual arts
WP Cumulus Flash tag cloud by Roy Tanck and Luke Morton requires Flash Player 9 or better.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
