Para kay Susan

I first heard about the musician Susan Fernandez in college. I was a budding activist and feminist back then in UP Manila. Her song “Babae Ka” is every feminist’s anthem while her rendition of Ruth Mabanglo’s poem “Kung Ibig Mo Ako Makilala” represents every woman’s romantic hope in finding a man who would truly accept her for the person she is.

I met Ms. Susan when she attended a Dakila General Assembly at the Kolumn Bar in Timog two years ago. Since then, Ms. Susan has become a regular figure in Dakila activities. She is part of the 46-artist collaborative anthem, “Kaya Mong Maging DAKILA”. What I admire most in Ms. Susan is despite her long years of involvement as a protest singer, musician-activist and a feminist, I could not sense any strand of frustration or cynicism in her. Whenever I hear her speak to the younger crowd, I would always feel her passion for her principles and her undying hope that another generation would carry on the struggles that she has embraced.

To some, Susan may be a tireless activist, a professor, a nightingale who enchants with her sweet voice, a true feminist, a radical nationalist folk singer, a comrade or a friend. For the rest of us, her zeal for her advocacies and in life is what inspires us to take on the challenge to be dakila.

KUNG IBIG MO AKONG MAKILALA

Kung ibig mo akong makilala,

lampasan mo ang guhit ng mahugis na balat,

ang titig kong dagat—

yumayapos nang mahigpit

sa bawat saglitng kahapon ko’t bukas.

Kung ibig mo akong makilala

sunduin mo ako sa himlayang dilim

at sa madlang pagsukol ng inunang hilahil,

ibangon ako at saka palayain.

Isang pag-ibig na lipos ng lingap,

tahanang malaya sa pangamba at sumbat

may suhay ng tuwa’t ang kaluwalhatia’ywalang takda—

ialay mo lahat ito sa akin

kung mahal mo ako’t ibig kilalanin.

Kung ibig mo akong kilalanin,

sisirin mo ako hanggang buto,

liparin mo ako hanggang utak,

umilanlang ka hanggang kaluluwa—

hubad ako roon:

mula ulo hanggang paa.

Si Susan Fernandez ang “Nightingale” ng cause-oriented groups dahil sa matining ngunit buo niyang boses sa pag-awit na napakagandang pakinggan, tunay na walang kaparis at walang kupas sa kabila ng nagdaang panahon. Buong puso niyang ibinahagi sa marami ang kanyang talento at oras upang maisulong ang mga mabuting adhikain para sa lipunan at sambayanan

Para Kay Susan

Isang natatanging pagsasama ng ilan sa pinakamahuhusay na mang-aawit upang tulungan si Susan Fernandez labanan ang kanser!


ika-3 ng Hulyo 2008 Brother’s Mustache
Sct. Madriñan cor Sct. Tuason Sts.
(near T. Morato) Quezon City
6 – 9:30 ng gabi Gate: P150.00

GUESTS
Lolita Carbon . Joey Ayala . Becky Demetillo . Lester Demetillo . Pete Lacaba . Chikoy Pura . Noel Cabangon . Bayang Barrios . Cookie Chua . Joel Saracho . Bagong Dugo . at isang espesyal na panauhin

Special Sale!!!
Habi at Himig
Music Album of Ms. Susan Fernandez in CD

Organized by friends of Susan

in cooperation with Brother’s

Mustache