Ilonggo artists to perform @ Iloilo River Summit

Once again, the Ilonggo artists who recorded the theme song of Run for Iloilo River and Sinadya sa Suba festival “Aton Manggad” are scheduled to perform the song live at Iloilo River Summit to be co-organized by JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang and the City Government of Iloilo. Barangay captains of Iloilo City, NGOs and other invited special guests that directly advocate the protection of Iloilo river will attend the event to create significant programs. The venue is yet to be announced very soon.

The Ilonggo artists who are coming to perform the song are pop singers Sheila Barrios, Irish D., Cherry Callao and rap group Mix Ilonggo Crew with Zpinx Angel, Stan, Vhouyeng King, Conyo Boy and Ezzy. The song is the first single off the full independent album “Aton Manggad” set to be released next year.

Irish D. @ Aton Manggad live in Run for Iloilo River

Ilonggo music artists Sheila Barrios, Irish D., Mz. JT, Zpinx Angel, Mix Ilonggo Crew, Stan of All Out Kingz, Vhouyeng Kingz, Conyo Boy and Ezzy of SYK Unit performed "Aton Manggad" live at Run For Iloilo River, Iloilo Provincial Capitol grounds last May 7, 2011, 9am. Aton Manggad is the theme song of Run for Iloilo River by JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang and will also promote Iloilo City's new annual festival "Sinadya sa Suba" on May 20-21, 2011 dedicated for the preservation of Iloilo River. The song is now released in selected FM stations in Iloilo City featuring the special participation of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Irish D. @ Aton Manggad: A song for Iloilo River

“Boundaries don’t protect rivers, people do,” a saying that inspired the men and women of JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang to start a timely advocacy. The dream to protect, rehabilitate and restore the fragile beauty of Iloilo River, a 15-kilometer arm of the sea winding through the whole City of Iloilo and the artery supplying the lifeblood of the City for over thousands of years awaken the heart of organization to pursue a noble project, a priceless advocacy that will affect the future generation of Ilonggos. This is how “RUN FOR ILOILO RIVER” was born in the consciousness of the each member of group. One of its members who pursued a passion for Ilonggo Music for the past year, envisioned to use it in channelling a significant message, a musical poetry that can touch the heart of Ilonggos towards change.

JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang decided to gather today’s new generation of Ilonggo music artists and record a special song for Iloilo River. Armed with sheer passion and God-given gift for Music, Sheila Barrios, Irish D., Cherry Callao, Mz. JT with her rap group All Out Kingz, Mix Ilonggo Crew and SYK Unit committed themselves to record “Aton Manggad” (Our Wealth). The lyrics is originally written by RSLPhoenix. The lyrics was arranged and recorded a catchy instrumental by Zpinx Angel and Joemarie Regacho of Mix Ilonggo Crew, the song is destined to become the cultural pop theme song of Run For Iloilo River. The group invited Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog to be a part of the song was warmly accepted by the city official. Recorded in the home studio of Mix Ilonggo Crew, the Ilonggo artists shared their time and combined their passion to finish the song in less than a month. Driven by their desire to inspire young and old Ilonggos for change, their labor of love resulted to a sentimentally-inspiring, pop- amalgam and meaningful song fated to be heard for many generations to come.

“Aton Manggad” will be released exclusively at 93.5 Campus Radio and Iloilo City AM stations such as Bombo Radyo, RMN and DYSI Super Radyo this week. An upcoming official music video to be co-directed by former Pinoy Dream Academy alumna, Emman Abatayo with RSLPhoenix will be released online this month to support the song. With its catchy beat and meaningful lyrics that also featured the voice of Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog, the song is eyed to promote “Sinadya sa Suba,” a yearly cultural event dedicated for Iloilo River preservation scheduled on May 20-21, 2011.

“Aton Manggad” represents the voice, the echo and the undeniable calling for Ilonggos to embrace the advocacy of preserving a priceless treasure that is Iloilo River. Let’s have a change-of-heart through this Ilonggo song and support local music artists.

"Aton Manggad"

Lyrics with English translation
Written by RSLPhoenix (Ronelo S. Ladiao)
Instrumental and Arrangement by Mix Ilonggo Crew
(Joemarie Regacho and Zpinx Angel)

Buksi ang imo nga dulunggan sa istorya sang aton suba
(Hear the story of our river)
Diin na ang imo paghigugma?
(Where is your love?)
Para sa bwas damlag sang aton mga bata
(For the future of our children)
Nga makatusmaw sa matin-aw nga tubig
(To bathe in a clear water)

makalangoy upod sari-sari nga isda
(To swim with wide variety of fish)
Tani dampigan ta ang manggad sang banwa
(We should protect the treasures of the city)
Diri nabuhi aton katigulangan
(Where our elders lived)

(Refrain 1)
Sa aton pagbugtaw karon
(As we wake up later on)
Paghigugma aton pukawon
(Let's awaken the love)
Pagbag-o aton nga himuon
(Let's make a change)
Kay pag-uswag aton maangkon
(For us to achieve progress)

(Chorus)
Halungan ta ang manggad sang aton banwa
(Let's take good care the wealth of our city)
Sa dughan naga-ilig ang tubig sang pag-asa
(Our hearts overflowing with hope)
Malimpyo nga suba para sa aton mga bata
(A clean river for our children)
Masanag nga buwas damlag
(A bright future)
Suba sang Iloilo, aton nga palangga...
(Iloilo River, our love...)

(Verse 2)
Diin na ang imo nga konsensya?
(Where is your conscience?)
Pabay-an mo na lang bala ang pagdamo sang basura?
(Will you neglect the rising garbage?)
Nagpalanggit-um ang tubig sang suba
(the waters of the river turned gloomy)
Nga nagpadulom sa aton pakadtuan
(That dimmed our pathway)
Tani aton responsibilidad
(It should be our responsibility)
pag-uswag sang aton banwang pinalangga
(The progress of our beloved city)
katahum sang aton nga palibot halungan ta
(The beauty of our surroundings we should take care)
kag aton nga tipigan
(And we should preserve)

(Refrain 2)
Sa aton nga paminsaron
(In our minds)
kaayuhan aton guid sundun
(We should do goodness)
palibot aton limpyohun
(Let's clean our surroundings)
kag ang katahum ma preserba naton
(so that we can preserve its beauty)

(Repeat chorus)

(Bridge)
Buksi ang imo tagipusuon sa sitwasyon sang aton suba
(Open your heart to the situation of our river)
Diin na ang imo pagpalanga?
(Where is your love?)
Ipadayon ta ang kawsa sang aton ginikanan
(Let's continue the cause of our forefathers)
Tumanon ta ang handum naton tanan
(Let's fulfill our all our dreams)
bantayan ta, halungan ta ang aton manggad
(Let's guard and preserve our treasures)
sa tubig sang suba makita ang katahum sang nagliligad
(Our river speaks of our glorious past)

(Rap verse and repeat chorus)

"Aton Manggad" Official Song Poster

Sheila is one of the four lead voices of "Aton Manggad," an Ilonggo song dedicated for the protection of Iloilo River, Iloilo City's marvelous arm of the sea cultural and economic symbol. With over 15 Ilonggo music artists who recorded and produced the song, it will promote two important events this month such as Run for Iloilo River on May 7, 5am by JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang in partnership with the city government of Iloilo and "Sinadya sa Suba" on May 20-21 as the new annual cultural festival dedicated for Iloilo River. The song will be released in FM and AM stations in Iloilon City and will have a music video soon. The song also featured the voice of Iloilo City Jed Patrick Mabilog.

Irish to Record a Song about Hope

Young Ilongga music artist, Irish D. is set to record a new Ilonggo song entitled “Handum.” This will become one of the theme songs of “Iskolar Sang JCI Dinagyang,” a scholarship project for out-of-school- youth chosen by each sponsor that would provide them free 4-year college education. Irish recently released her first single “Ikaw” in Iloilo and Bacolod FM stations. She is also one of the Ilonggo artists featured in “Aton Manggad,” the theme song of “Run for Iloilo River” by JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang set on May 7 where she’s scheduled to perform the song live. Irish is passionate to her newfound interest in music and she is quickly gaining a name in local music scene in Iloilo and Bacolod.

“Handum” is a song of hope, dream and optimism in life that motivates a person to keep moving on and fulfil the longings of his/her heart. It is co-written by Irish with RSLPhoenix and will be recorded at M.I.C Studio in Maduarria0, Iloilo City. She will perform the song live sometime in May during the distribution of certificates to the scholars with JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang.

Aton Manggad (teaser mix) Run for Iloilo River

A teaser mix of "Aton Manggad," the official advocacy theme song of Run For Iloilo River project of JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang Jaycees scheduled on May 7, 2011. The song was performed and recorded by a new generation of Ilonggo music artists under RSLPhoenix Music such as Sheila Barrios, Cherry Callao of Ilonggo 3nity, Irish D., Mz. JT with All Out Kingz, Zpinx Angel with Mix Ilonggo Crew (M.I.C. Muzik), representing SYK Unit Vhouyeng King, Conyo Boy and Ezzy. "Aton Manggad" was written by RSLPhoenix (executive producer) with Joemarie Regacho, Sheila Barrios and Irish D. Beat instrumental and vocal arrangements by Zpinx Angel and Mix Ilonggo Crew.

Irish @ Run for Iloilo River Presscon

For thousands of years, the Iloilo River has been the vital source of livelihood and cultural symbol of Ilonggos. From the very of heart of this beautiful and serene river, the Ilonggo’s way of life intertwined with their past glories and future visions. It has been the meek witness and instrumental to the emergence of Iloilo’s claim as the former queen city of the south and international trading port in Asia. But for several decades, this magnificent estuary has been threatened by dreadful conditions and negligence that rapidly leading to the lost of its pristine beauty. Reconsidering Iloilo River’s ecological significance and cultural value, JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang Jaycees, a non-profit socio-civic organization of young Ilonggo professionals and future leaders banded together for a worthy cause to help preserve it for generations to come.

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, 9 a.m. at Book Latte along Quezon Street, Iloilo City (at the back of Robinson’s Place Iloilo) JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang Jaycees will held a media press conference and project launch of “Run for Iloilo River” scheduled on May 7. The press conference will gather and inform Iloilo’s tri-media to support this significant cultural and environmental advocacy to save, preserve and protect Iloilo River. The project’s main event is the “Run for Iloilo River 5K, 10K and 20K Marathon” that invite runners all over the region to take part for this worthy cause. The press con will also introduce the “Piso Para sa Iloilo River,” a 1-million signature fund-raising campaign for Iloilo River that will gather advocacy commitment from Ilonggos to put up a landmark mural this year. Another supporting project and the first-of-its-kind for Ilonggo pop culture is the unveiling of the theme song for Iloilo River originally-composed, performed and recorded by some of Iloilo’s new generation of music artists. The Ilonggo song entitled “Aton Manggad” (Our Wealth) will be released in FM stations to promote the campaign for Iloilo River protection and will soon have a music video for online release. JCI Metro Iloilo Dinagyang will also launch “Vista Magachure,” its very own monthly newsletter.

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Ilonggo music artists who performed the project theme song "Aton Manggad" (Our Wealth) are Sheila Barrios, Irish D., Cherry Callao, Zpinx Angel with Mix Ilonggo Crew, Mz. JT with All Out Kingz, SYK Unit's Vhouyeng King, Conyo Boy and Ezzy. Orignal lyrics was written by RSLPhoenix Music production, song arrangement and instrumental produced by Zpinx Angel and Mix Ilonggo Crew. It will be the first single from the upcoming EP album with all-original songs entitled "Aton Manggad" set to be released on May 2011.