Food for Filipino Musicians and mga Banda during Pandemic

A heart-warming greeting to you and hope you and your family healthy and well amid the pandemic that we are all battling.

As you well know, it has been almost 2 months since the world was in extreme quarantine due to COVID19. Global deaths, health crisis and economic downfall affected almost 70% of the world’s population. This pandemic has taken drastic and painful turn of events globally, one of which are the partial lockdowns imposed by different governments and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and MECQ extended in most areas of Luzon, Philippines, with Metro Manila and nearby cities included until May30. Indeed, these are trying times for us all. And all of our businesses have been badly affected one way or another, where many families lost their income. While we know that you are constantly bombarded with letters, requests and solicitations, we really hope you take the time to read this campaign.

One of the vulnerable people in our society who are in dire economic situation right now is the group of Filipino live band musicians from all over the Philippines. They work and perform regularly at music venues and also for special events and celebrations that people hire them for contractually but now shut down due to the COVID. They utilize their God-given talents while at the same time making a living by doing what they love, their passion for music and this is what they do best. They do not have their own recordings or songs hence no royalties, but they only rely on a daily or weekly income brought by gigs or performance contracts at functions and events. Thus, it is with heavy heart that they live on a “no work no pay situation”,even before this pandemic.Barely surviving on a weekly income basis even prior to covid19 lockdown. Some are out of town away from their hometowns stranded upon ECQ, while some band members are Overseas Filipino workers who are still on a lockdown abroad and have been living on a “no work no pay status’.

The problem is not knowing where to get the money to feed their families this time of distress that has been extended. While thankful to have received relief goods from LGUs, they know it will not suffice for the entire month or two. They tried to get cash assistance from our government however, musicians are not considered to be the poorest of the poor. But the struggle is real! In some cases, there are family members who have died during the quarantine, there are members who has gotten real hungry, without food, depressed and helpless, that makes life more difficult for them.

I am a Filipino musician band agent and have worked closely with a lot of them. While I have put out my personal resources to help a few, I could not finance big scale. The musicians are in a depressive state and the partial lockdown ECQ is extended and almost 6 weeks now that they do not have work , no income. This is the reason why as their group representative, I have written this letter to you. We would like to reach into your heart, and humbly ask for your cash donation or relief packages. We are so grateful for whatever or any amount you can give and it will be very much appreciated. It’s going to make a huge difference in the lives of our group members whose lives have been upended. Together, we can show love, feed them, and strengthen their emotional being and mental health while we are all facing this Covid19 Pandemic with hope to heal as one.