Tuesday, September 02, 2008 Singer lends voice to save watersheds
IT WAS snow in spring time in England which made him realize that we live in a "different world" now.
This became a wake-up call for singer-songwriter Noel Cabangon to look at this different world into something that should jumpstart efforts in preserving the environment, rather than looking at it as something magnificent.
For snow to fall in autumn is indeed unusual, but more than the superficial, Cabangon said this showed the global phenomenon of climate change, or erratic weather patterns.
And this snow-in-spring occurrence also happens here in the Philippines. "It rains in summer, the sun shines in the rainy season," Cabangon observed.
Upon his return to the Philippines, Cabangon pursued his singing career by popularizing folk music. At the same time he joined groups, which foster environmental preservation. He is a volunteer of Greenpeace International and an ambassador for the World Wildlife Fund.
Later on, the voice behind the environmental songs "Kanlungan" and "Pana-panahon" got a call from the Conservation and Research Team of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to join a concert-for-a-cause for the preservation of Cordillera forests -- the watershed cradle of the North.
Although not a native of the Cordillera, Cabangon readily agreed to perform.
A native of Rosario, La Union, Cabangon said childhood memories of playing by the riverbank made him agree to perform.
"I also reaped the benefits of the water provided by the mountains of the Cordillera," Cabangon said recalling the clear waters of the river where he used to bathe and play with his friends come from the region's watersheds.
After agreeing, Cabangon took time to visit Ifugao, to learn even for a short time something about the culture of Cordillerans. "I have to know somehow."
The Cordillera is host to 13 major river systems. It also happens to be the biggest source of water for domestic and irrigation for lowland farms. Rivers are also tapped for their potential to generate hydroelectric power.
The concert entitled Danum ken Biag (Water and Life) is scheduled on September 26. The venue will be announced later. (RO)>
