Barangay Ginebra assistant coach Richard del Rosario shared the never-say-die spirit with the survivors of the Marawi crisis as he joined some PBA personalities and local musicians who participated in the Musikaramay Basketball: 3×3 Para sa Marawi charity event on Tuesday at the Cuneta Astrodome.
“Yun sana nga sa mga tao ng Marawi, ma-adopt nila yung never-say-die attitude. Mahirap yung pagbangon, magsisimula ulit halos lahat sa kanila. Pero may pag-asa. I just hope and pray, they don’t give up. Huwag silang susuko tuloy ang laban,” Del Rosario told InterAksyon.
Since most of the different local band groups are also into basketball, they started to join forces and play for a good cause in partnership with TV5’s Alagang Kapatid Foundation.
Del Rosario, who is part of Ginebra’s championship run in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup, joined GlobalPort head coach Pido Jarencio and PBA players Bradwyn Guinto and Mac Baracael in the event which aimed to help those affected by the conflict in Marawi.
“I feel very honored. Yung event na ganito is for a very good cause. Of course, yung pagbangon mg Marawi and not only for Marawi, but yung culture natin. Alam naman natin nangyari yun. Yung government forces natin, lumaban doon, nagbuwis ng buhay doon. In our small little way, makatulong man lang tayo dito, makabawi. Para makabangon ang Marawi,” Del Rosario said.
Musician Nyoy Volante and top local bands bannered by South Border and Climax also took part in the 3×3 basketball tournament.
The singer even participated in the slam dunk competition.
Musikaramay started as a humble event in the streets, according to Stanley Seludo, drummer of Climax which helped organize the event.
“Nagsimula kami sa kalye, it’s our advocacy of our band, Climax. We came up with an advocacy Musikaramay. Sinimulan namin ito sa pagtugtog sa kalye. Bilang musikero, gusto naming maka-give back. Ginagawa namin, namamalimos kami sa kalye, yung perang nakukuha namin, ibinibigay namin sa mga charitable institutions,” he said.
“Kasi itong, mga kasali rito sa 3 x 3, puro mga musikero and to get them together is thru basketball. Alam mo dito sa Pilipinas, basketball mahal natin eh. Ito ang naisip kong way para magtipon-tipon yung mga musikero. Itong palaro na ito, kailangan naming magbigay ng P1,000 pero yung P1,000 na yun kada tao mapupunta sa Marawi.
“Tapos with the help of our sponsors, tumulong sila sa amin. Yung concept ng pagtutulungan, at times of crisis, we need an avenue. Maraming nangyaring krisis sa Pilipinas eh. This is our initiative para makatulong sa Marawi. Sobrang laking pasalamat namin sa Alagang Kapatid Foundation.”
Manuel Tabunar of South Border was also one of those who helped Seludo in convincing the other local bands to play.
“Me and Stanley started it. It was suggested to me, so I helped him promote it. No question, I was in it agad. I hope it becomes a yearly event. Excited kaming lahat dito. We wished before na magkaroon ng ganitong klaseng tournament. No question, I was in it agad,” Tabunar said.
“If it’s for a good cause, the better. You’re having fun with friends, musicians. Yung sirkulo namin, maliit lang ito, we help each other. Magkakasama kami. Then, we tried to help people who are in need, especially now sa Marawi, it’s very special for us.”
Looking at the people of Marawi, Tabunar believes it’s not easy to start all over again, but they are hoping to inspire them.
“Swerte kami. Sila doon, grabe yung dinaranas nilang hirap. Kami, kaya naming kumain ng three meals a day. Sila, isa lang hirap na. Nakakapagsuot kami ng damit na magaganda, sila para lang may maisuot o kailangan pang hanapin. So wala kaming iniisip na nahihirapan kami, especially we’re thinking about them. Wala pa sa kalingkingan namin yung nangyayari sa kanila,” he added.
“Wala kaming naiisip na hirap or kinu-compare namin yung buhay namin as musicians. Before, tumugtog kami sa Marawi a month before mangyari yung crisis. We’ve seen the place and hearing the news na nangyari yun, nakaka-devastate kasi kagagaling lang namin doon. It’s really saddening. This is really something special for us. Stanley told me na I’m sure, mayroon pang ibang mangangailangan so in the future, this is one way for us as musicians to give up back thru our music and thru these events.”
