As part of BusinessMirror’s campaign to promote everyone’s safety and well-being during the global health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have invited established and independent artists to perform at least one song in their own homes while urging everyone to stay indoors.
The legendary Paul Galang is a multi-awarded, nationalist Filipino folksinger-songwriter known for his songs on human rights, social justice and peace.
Since he started his music career in the mid01970s, Galang has been one of the pioneering Filipino musicians to establish the culture of Filipino folksinging as a means of elevating people’s political consciousness and in expressing discontent against injustices.
In the 1980s, he served as the Chairperson of the Buklurang Musikero Para sa Bayan and the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Musikong Pilipino (PAKOMPIL), both artists’ collectives committed to promoting the welfare of Filipino artists engaged in peace and social justice advocacies.
At present, Paul serves as the Executive Director of Abakadang Kayumanggi Community Development Foundation (A.K.C.D.F.), a community-based non-government organization that has been providing education, nutrition and livelihood assistance to children of underemployed Filipino workers and their families who are living in the urban poor communities of Caloocan and Malabon cities for the past 20 years.
He is also the President of the Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNET) CAMANAVA Cluster of the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and currently serves as the Director of the Rotary Foundation of the Rotary Club of Malabon Highlands (RCMH).
Paul’s more popular protest song compositions include “Kailan Ka Pa Lalaya Bayan,” an ode to the Filipino people’s never-ending quest for freedom; “Maong,” a protest ballad dedicated to comrades in the Philippine social movement who dedicated their lives in advancing the struggle for freedom and social justice; and “Mapayapang Daigdig” (released under BMG records) which was awarded Best Folk Song at the Pinoy Music Awards of the FM radio station LA 105.9. It was also translated in Japanese with the title “Heiwa Na Sekai” and is considered as one of the anthems of the Japanese peace movement.
Here at SoundStrip Live & in Quarantine, Paul performs a stirring rendition of another of his classics. Described as a satirical presentation on the realities of the Filipino-American relationship throughout history as personified by Juan and Sam, “Pinggan” was included in the Karapatang Pantao compilation album back in 1989.
“In this time of Modified Enhance Community Quarantine where people’s lives and livelihood are destroyed, it is an artist’s mission to share with everyone his humble thoughts about history of man-made destruction, due to colonization and deceitful friendship of U.S. and now China who steals our national territories and exploits the resources and wealth of our beloved native land,” Paul told SoundStrip in explaining his choice of song.
Information on Paul Galang’s biography taken from his Facebook page.
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