MANILA, Philippines — Google Philippines has launched a campaign to crowd source a song dedicated to our beloved overseas Filipino workers (OFW) to be released in time for National Heroes Day on August 31.
“We are doing it for the OFWs kasi alam namin na mahirap ang buhay ng mga Pinoy abroad (because we know the hardship Filipinos experience living abroad) and one of the things they miss the most are friends and family and all things Pinoy like music,” Google Philippines marketing head Ryan Morales said.
Users — whether an OFW missing the country or a Filipino missing OFW/s — need only to post their contribution using the hashtag #GoogleMissKoNa on their social media accounts. Google Philippines will then curate the posts with the help of five local artists Sponge Cola, ItchyWorms, Kjwan, Ebe Dancel, and Mikey Bustos, all of which will also help in putting the melody together and recording the song.
“Ang mga Pilipino sentimental talaga kaya ang sarap nila bigyan ng song na puwede nilang kantahin kapag nami-miss nila yung Pilpinas (Filipinos are really sentimental so it really feels good to make them a song they could sing whenever they miss the Philippines),” Itchyworms drummer Jazz Nicolas said.
If asked to submit his own contribution, Nicolas said it would be about Pinoy’s natural warmth and hospitality.
“Mas warm talaga yung Pinoy lalo na kapag nakakita ka ng kapwa Pinoy sa ibang bansa alam mo close ka na. Mayroon talaga kayong bond agad (Filipinos are really warm especially when we meet each other in other countries; as if we have known each other for a long time. There is an immediate bond),” Nicolas said.
Every submission to the song will also amount to a P1 donation made in behalf of the Blas Ople Policy Center to build halfway houses for victims of human trafficking.
Google said the initiative is also part of their “Balikbayan” campaign which “aims to reconnect overseas Filipinos with their families and friends and help them sustain and enrich their relationships despite physical barriers.”
*This article by Jose Bimbo Santos first appeared on InterAksyon.com