Youth converge again for a night of music, speeches vs rights’ abuses

They were often tagged as apathetic, even described as “temperamental brats,” but on Saturday hundreds of “millennials” proved otherwise as they showed their support for the human rights concert in Quezon City.

“You will be the light in times of darkness,” said Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Jose Luis Martin Gascon in a brief speech at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

CHR, together with other human-rights advocates, led the event dubbed as “Alab ng Puso: Stand up for Human Rights! Day of Art and Action”.

“Handa kaming makiisa sa inyo, mga millennials. Panahon na po ninyo. Kayo na po ang mamumuno sa kilusang pagbabago. Kayo na po ang mamumuno para ipagtanggol ang karapatang pantao,” Gascon told the youth who were present during the concert.

(We are ready to unite with you, millennials. It’s your time. You are the ones who will lead in the movement for change. You are the ones who will lead to defend human rights.)

Prominent human-rights activists and even ordinary citizens came in black shirts to witness the night of music, art exhibit and speeches.

Veteran actor Pen Medina, who was with the audience, was asked about his thoughts on human rights.

Medina said the people should be educated on the importance of human rights and how some people continue to abuse other people’s rights.

“Hindi pa galit ang tao sa pang-gagago. Gisingin ang mga tao sa pang-gagago ng mga pulitiko, businessman at iba pa,” he said.

(The people aren’t angry yet with their foolishness. Let’s awaken the people on the foolishness of politicians, businessmen and many others.)

In between speeches of human -rights advocates and youth leaders, prominent names in the music industry performed. Among the performers were Bayang Barrios, Lolita Carbon, Gary Granada, Ebe Dancel and Noel Cabangon.

Before his performance, Dancel was asked about his thoughts on human rights.

“Wag mong patayin ang kapwa mo (Don’t kill your fellow men),” was his short answer.

During his performance, Dancel sang a song he composed, which centers on how the good were imprisoned, the criminals and plunderers remain free.

Before the concert, various protests were held in Metro Manila and across the country to urge President Rodrigo Duterte to address “urgent human rights issues.”

The Duterte government’s brutal war on drugs has received international criticisms and condemnation.

Protesters also demanded justice for the human-rights violations during the martial law era. They again assailed Duterte’s order to bury former President Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. TVJ