‘Peace Jam’ – a Weapon of Mass Information 
A Night of Music and Poetry for Peace

By Ronalyn Olea 
Bulatlat.com

Art and literature best reflect the people’s deepest sentiments and aspirations. 

This was proven true last March 6 when Filipino artists and writers shared a night of music and poetry to express yearnings for peace and opposition to the looming United States (U.S.) war on Iraq.

Dubbed Peace Jam, the three-hour cultural affair was held along Tomas Morato Street in Quezon City, in front of Popular Bookstore.

The cultural group Sining Bugkos interpreted Bienvenido Lumbera’s Ang Paanyaya ni Bush kay Gloria (Bush’s Invitation to Gloria), which has become a favorite by Filipino anti-war activists. Its words, dripping with wit and satire, hit President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s support to Bush:

Halina sa Iraq/ Tayo’y magpasiklab / ng gerang uutas / sa mga teroristang de-balbas. /… Halina, ikaw ay itatakas / Sa mga problema mong di malutas-lutas –  Ekonomiyang butas-butas, / Politikang waldas-waldas, / Lumulobong utang panlabas, / Lipunang winasak-wasak / Ng kriminal, kurakot at kulimbat, / Bayan mong walang hinaharap

(Come to Iraq,/Let’s make war a spectacle/ that will finish /Bearded terrorists /. . . Come, you will be freed/ from your insoluble problems—/Destitute economy, / Profligate politics, /Ballooning foreign debts / Society damaged / By the criminal, the corrupt and cheat, / Your miserable country)

Members of Sining Bugkos were effective in mimmicking Ms. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and U.S. President George W. Bush. The performance elicited applause even from the passersby. 

The band Pula’s rendition of Bob Dylan’s Blowin’ in the Wind brought back memories of the Vietnam War, the period when the song became popular:

How many times must a man look up before he can see the sky

How many ears must one must have before he can hear people cry

How many deaths will it take till he knows that too many people have died

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind

The answer is blowing in the wind.

Chickoy Pura of The Jerks raged with songs Tambol and And He Says:

Ilabas na ang tambol / Tambol ng kalayaan/ Tugtugin, tugtugin, / Gisingin ang bayan / sa buong kapuluan / at sangkatauhan / Katarungan, kalayaan at kapayapaan.

(Bring out the drums / Drums of freedom / Play the drums / Wake up the people/ in the land / and the world / Justice, freedom and peace)

Referring to American soldiers, Pura sang with all angst:

They’re the murdering kind / They’re the ones who kill and torture / They’re the ones who bleed us dry / At the court of the people / they’re guilty, guilty of the crime.

Malou Harabe of Women Working for World Peace (www. peace), an anti-U.S. war alliance of women’s groups, recited Joi Barrios’ poem Yankee Doodle Goes to War:

I am a Filipina woman./ And in my country / There are three thousand American soldiers./…My country is not a playground / For your tanks and soldiers. /… We die with your bullets,/ We perish with your bombs./ We live in poverty,/ We are people of color,/ Yet we sing of dignity, / Sovereignty, and peace. / Leave, America,/ Leave my country, Leave.

Pula performed one of Bob Marley’s progressive songs, War: 

And until that day the dream of lasting peace/ World citizenship, rule of international morality/ will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued but never attained/ Everywhere is war.

Other performers included alternative singers and bands like Lei Garcia, Alfred of The Wuds and Musikang Bayan, and young bands like the Nancy Drools and Collie Herb.

Artists for Peace convenor Julie Po called on her fellow artists and cultural workers to use art as a weapon of mass information. 

The night offered not only music and poetry but also hope of victory in the struggle for genuine peace.  As Musikang Bayan sang, “The union of the weak will defeat the strong…” Bulatlat.com

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