Dicta License frontman Pochoy Labog and Jesuit poet Fr. Albert Alejo expressed dismay over the culture of violence and impunity in the Philippines in a recent spoken word performance. In the latest episode of Tula Somebody, a podcast series on Philippine literature by The Linya-Linya Show and PumaPodcast, Labog delivered hard-hitting verses of Fr. Alejo, otherwise known as Paring Bert.
These include the well-known 2016 poem, “Sanayan Lang Ang Pagpatay”, which talks about how President Duterte’s Drug War has become so pervasive in local communities that death is now a part of daily life.
“Naging manhid na tayo. We have suffered from the routinization of violence, the trivialization of violence,” Paring Bert said. “Pero sabi ko sana hindi tayo masanay. Dapat hindi tayo masanay sa pagpatay.”
The poem is also featured in Dicta License’s new album, Pagbigkas, which was aptly released on Araw ng Kagitingan this year. Since 1999, the band hasn’t shied away from socio-political commentary. In fact, this is what differentiates them from other bands.
“Ito ba yung gusto natin? Ito ba? Seryosong tanong sa Pilipino, ‘di ba?” Labog said about the current state of the country, challenging listeners to think critically.
“Pero may mga iba na nakinig sa amin at hindi natutuwa sa sinasabi namin. And alam mo okay lang ‘yun ‘di ba? Baka ibang landas naman na kami ng tinatahak at iba yung perspective namin sa buhay. Pero siguro yung silver lining lang doon eh nakikinig pa rin sila. At sana nakikiliti namin yung utak nila at siguro sana mapaisip din,” he said.
The works of Labog and Paring Bert are put in the spotlight once again as calls for new leadership resound around the country and are looking to stay as long as their message resonates with audiences.
Tula Somebody is a podcast series by The Linya-Linya Show in partnership with award-winning podcast production company PumaPodcast.
