Finding the light in one’s suffering is difficult especially when it is too dark to see. Some of these struggles may be too great to handle but Abby Banuag shares that there will always be a silver lining in the end.
Using his God-given talent to help those who have been in trouble with the law and connecting with them through the unfathomable power of music, Abby is helping those who have been on a similar path that he had endured for the most part of his life.
Advocating for children in conflict with the law (CICL), Abby is one to not let his past haunt him. He had it rough growing up, living on the downtown streets of Cebu and fending for himself for the most part of his childhood.
An orphan for the most part of his life, the holidays were tough on him.
“I always wondered what my parents looked like,” Abby shared. “Even All Souls’ Day was difficult for me because I would always wonder whether they were alive or not.”
Abby’s life started out filled with utmost resentment and anger not only toward his parents but also toward God, constantly questioning why it had to be him. However, that didn’t stop him for envisioning a better life for himself.
After finishing his basic education in Don Bosco, he eventually graduated from college with a degree in psychology. Despite being able to overcome his personal challenges, Abby didn’t forget those who endured a similar path as him and that was when he had his calling—helping those CICL through music.
One of his most profound experiences as a musician and an advocate for CICL was when he was able to write eight songs in a span of three weeks for a stage play about children who were victims of drug abuse or grew up in an environment that were greatly affected by it. The characters were played by drug dependents, thus giving them the chance to tell the world the horrors of those who suffered greatly under the substance and were able to do so through theater and the arts.
“I was glad I was able to do that for them,” he shared. “They were given the platform to share their stories and have them share these themselves.”
With everything that this brave but wounded soul has been through, Abby got through and became a wounded healer to those in need of guidance towards the path of healing. He has now reconnected with his mother and since then, he has been moving throttling his way forward. Today, he is a member of two bands (Dance with Me Kris and AfterFive), a speaker and a consultant for the Consolacion Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program. Upon asking at this point in life, what is the soundtrack of his life?
He answered, “I would choose my song called “Kayahon ra ang Tanan.”
The world might not have been kind to Abby in the beginning but even the darkest of clouds could not dampen his spirits as he paved himself a new life for himself and for others.