ASUL: The Taga-Alog 2019 Grand Concert
For the longest time, Pasig river has been a symbol of everything wrong with Metro Manila. It was dirty, grimy and a depressing reminder that we were once a powerful country whose development overshadowed our neighbouring countries. Unfortunately, it was this unsustainable development that cost us our natural environment. In the 1980s, various industrial manufacturers had settled on its banks and started the chaos that would haunt the river generations afterwards.
Long before the Metro Manila of today, Pasig river had been at the heart of Philippine trade, commerce and even cultural experience. It’s known that famous books like Florante and Laura by Francisco Balagtas were written on its banks in Pandacan and it was even a memory of comfort for our national hero, Jose Rizal, as he once compared it’s beauty superior to the Rhine river in Europe. It played such an inspiration to him that there were even scenes in his landmark novel, Noli Me Tangere, where as a student I would scratch my head as it mentioned several kinds of fishes and dishes that I no longer knew about growing up.
In the 1990s, it was declared biologically dead and a carrier of various diseases by scientists. I had grown up with this sour perspective on a dying muse and slightly resentful that I do not share the experience of seeing its pristine, clear waters during an afternoon stroll like the heroes of the novels of old Manila I had read.
But the tides have changed, mostly because there were was an army of men and women who believed otherwise. People who, despite everyone saying it wasn’t possible, believed that we could somehow bring this once glorious part of our capital back to life.
In 1999, Executive Order No. 54 was created with the sole purpose to rehabilitate Pasig River back to it’s former glory. It was a deliberate attempt by the government to bring back it’s role in recreation, transportation and tourism.
Almost 20 years after, on October 2018, the PRRC won the first Asia Riverprize, in recognition of its efforts to rehabilitate the Pasig River and aquatic life had finally returned to the river. It was a story of nature’s resilience, rebellion and how nothing is ever really beyond hope.
Taga-Alog 2019 is a joint effort by NCCA, PRRC, and PETA to bring awareness on how far we have already come in rehabilitating the river. They had a series of efforts and activities throughout the year and culminated with ASUL: The Taga-Alog 2019 Grand Concert held on November 9, 2019 at Rizal High School, Pasig City.
With the goal of creating more “River Warriors”, they call back to the time when the Pasig River was still the darling and muse of many. The event was hosted by Pepe Herrera and Yesh Burce, and with its many ambassadors Noel Cabangon, Aicelle Santos, and Ben&Ben shared their talents through songs with other performers who supported the cause, including Gloc-9, KE, Talahib People’s Band, Pasig City Band, and performers from PETA.
Taga-Alog’s advocacy brights to light the revival of the Pasig River and inspires many Filipinos to stand as one in conserving the beauty of our country’s natural resources. Ending with an oath by Taga-Alog’s Project Director Mr. Raul Alfonso we can hope to see a league of River Warriors lead the change soon.
To learn more about Taga-Alog and their advocacy, check out their Facebook page here.
