ROCK4RAI (January 31, 2012)

ROCK 4 RAI CAMPAIGN POSTER

On our birthday last Wednesday, after going veggie at Jojo and Zonito Tamase's newly opened Golden Cafe with our family, we were greeted strangely at around 7:05 p.m.

It was in the form of letter seeking our support.  

It is for an activity this coming Friday, 5 p.m., at the University of the Philippines Integrated School's 7-10 grounds or parking lot.

Usually, in our UPISPTA egroup, we get examination announcements, registration forms, minutes of the meetings, or updates on the class directory, say, from our panganay, Psalma of Grade 7-Mercury, up to our bunso, Sulat of K-Magnolia!

Dr. Ma. Auxilia Siringan, a Batch 2010 parent like us, sounded so serious.

At first, we thought she was just asking for suggestions for our Family Day's theme.

This time though, according to her, we have to raise funds.

Again?

After the Hakbang raffle and all?

For whom?

We suddenly remembered Dr. Aurora Zuňiga, the UPIS Principal, who gave us tips for our New Year's resolution last 4 January: “This is to inform you that our students Reigene Busi of Grade 10-Lauan and Raiven Busi of Grade 8-Damselfly are still unable to come to school because of the accident last 17 December 2010. While Raiven suffered minor injuries, her elder sister is still confined at the ICU of the PGH because of the internal damage and fractures sustained. She underwent multiple operations because of the damage to her lungs, pancreas, and spleen. The fractures are yet to be treated. The holidays are over but I am sure the spirit of giving is with us all year round. Any financial assistance from us all will be much appreciated. Also, please extend to both students the necessary academic assistance.”

That explains the rock, ya right, rock concert!

We were expecting the likes of Joey “Pepe” Smith who would easily appeal to the alumni from the Age of Aquarius or Arnel Pineda who can draw wildly the Gen X or Y crowd.

But for a P100 ticket?

Well, it is a bargain indeed.

Considering that for an hour and a half, we will be treated to live music and dance.

Consequently, through these artforms we can further heal the UPIS family, or families.

Together, we shall gather in the spirit of bayanihan called Rock4Rai.

We found it touching to see how her schoolmates went out of their way to help.

Ligia Griselda Daroy of Grade 5-Kanlaon, for one, did great in giving us altruistic examples in her, or their, own little way.

She came up with the idea of jamming for Rai!

Readily, all the bands, with strong UPIS base, came, saw, and conquered their fans!

Grade 10 will contribute two: Avis – composed of Christian Ferrer (vocals), Angelo Gabriel (lead guitar/vocals), Jude Agapito (rhythm guitar), and Armond Macariola (bass) – as well as Viel – involving Ericson Verdolaga (vocals/rhythm guitar), Angelo Gabriel (lead guitar), Reo Abulon (rhythm guitar), Jojo Cellona (drums), and Malaya Yu (bass).

Grade 9 has no band but will send their pride, Nefiris and Awzm, to do a Charice.

Grade 7 has one band in Infieles featuring Blaise Zamora and the gang while Grade 6 has Stronzi with Juneau Villanueva as the front man!

Add to that, expect this stress-free string instrumentalist who is a Batch '71alumnus. He is none other than John Lesaca, who used to be the concertmaster of the UP Children’s Ensem

ble, playing the violin by day and who used to serve as a lead guitarist for a rock at night!

However, this benefit gig may sound weird having a cheerleading/cheerdancing part.

The UP community won't mind since it is a huge fan since 1998 of the UP Pep Squad!

Not to be outdone are their teachers to be represented by Ms Regina Regalado.

To this day, it is still a guessing game if our dear balladeer will rock us with a Guns 'N Roses or a Metallica or a Rolling Stones production number.

One thing is for sure, Dr. Sergio Cao, the singing UP Diliman Chancellor, will never get tired of using his God-given gift of gab and good voice for a cause, just like his favorite accompanist, Dr. Rowena Guevara, who actually is the College of Engineering dean.

In our inner ear, we can also hear our Parents Teachers Association (PTA) members and non-members – predominantly Martial Law babies -- shouting:“Let's volt in!

Many are called yet few are chosen to become the Rocker Moms!

Also known as the Rock4Rai committee, it involves, of course, Dr. Siringan, both the National Sciences Research Institute (NSRI) Board and 5-Kanlaon PTA president; Ms. Angelie Domingo, the production pro; and Dr. May Datuin, the fast becoming “Donation Diva,” who also is responsible for the Go, Jigs, Fight fund drive for Prof. Yasmin Almonte.

The wind beneath their wings, surprisingly, are from our beloved College of Arts and Letters: Prof. Amihan Bonifacio-Ramolete of the Speech Communication and Theater Arts department and the UPIS PTA Board president and Mr. Jeff Giron from the Art Studies department like Prof. Robin Rivera.

Yes, the said Eraserheads discoverer offers the services of his latest rock band – Peryodiko – which was formed in 2007 by the singer/songwriter Vin Dancel with Kakoi Legaspi (lead guitar), Simon Tan (bass), and Abe Billano (drums).

Last but not least is CAL's appointed resident gamelan or ethnic music and dance ensemble since 1993 -- Kontemporaryong Gamelan Pilipino. Kontra-GaPi is founded -- by Prof. Pedro R. Abraham Jr., from the Department of Arts Studies too -- when he was asked in 1989 to create a score that is “distinctly Filipino and Asian” for August Strindberg's A Dream Play produced by Dulaang UP, CAL's own theater group. Kontra-GaPi has gone a long way. In 1996, it won the UP Diliman Chancellor’s award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts. Last year, from May until October, it became one of the performers featured as live exhibits in the Philippine Pavilion in Shanghai World Expo 2010.

All of them will show us what they got, for free, in the name of Rai on 4 February.

As of 20 January, Dr. Eduardo Ayuste, one of the 10 Outstanding Young Scientists in the Philippines in 2007, reported from the Philippine General Hospital's division of trauma that Rai, on her 35^th hospital day, she, an English Club president, can manage to read a copy of an article about her given by her parents who have always been appreciative.

Dr. Ayuste was generous enough to tell us about her major injuries upon admission -- pneumothorax on the right and humeral neck fracture on the left. He added that on her third to fourth hospital day, she complained of abdominal pain. It happened at around 3 a.m. last 21 December, when he resuscitated her before he performed the laparotomy a few hours later. She developed a mild form of healthcare-related pneumonia, and had to be reoperated on 8 January for an intra-abdominal abscess as percutaneous drainage was inadequate (due to the location of the abscess--retrocolic and retroperitoneal). Nevertheless, Dr. Ayuste gave us the good news: “We were able to wean her off the ventilator five or six days ago and she's doing well. We might be able to send her home in the next several days.”

Another gospel according to Dr. Ayuste is that professional fees (ortho, trauma,anesthesia, intensivist, interventionist) will be all waived.

Still and all, we have to rock on!

TEXT SUPPORT:

The first Greek fraternity in the Philippines is the University of the Philippines' Upsilon Sigma Phi (established in 1918). It does not have any branches outside the UP system. Among its alumni are the preserved ex-President Ferdinand E. Marcos and his arch-nemesis, the late Senator Benigno 'Ninoy Forever' Aquino. The first sorority with a Greek name is Sigma Delta Phi, also at UP and sister sorority of Upsilon Sigma Phi, established in 1938.

Thank God, they created a site, http://rock4rai.wordpress.com, again coincidentally on our natal day, that time and again informs us abiut Raigene's speedy recovery.

CONSIDER THIS: 

Old friends are gold! New friends are diamond! If you get a diamond, don't forget the gold! Because to hold a diamond, you always need a base of gold!                                    

                                                                            

Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, God smiles from above and says, "Relax, sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!                                            

                                                                           

When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn't solve your problems He has faith in your abilities.                                            

                                                                           

A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision!"                                                      

                                                                           

When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them, and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.                              

                                                                           

Worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles, it takes away today's peace.