MANILA, Philippines – Protests come in many forms—demonstrations, rallies, noise barrages—but former Yano frontman Dong Abay chose a unique form of expression: he tied himself to a tree.
Dong, in a report by “TV Patrol,” had himself tied up to a tree on Session Road in Baguio for one hour. Throughout his protest, he held up a banner that read, “Dong cut the trees.” This was his way of showing his concern for the environment and to display his protest over SM Baguio’s uprooting of more than 200 trees on Luneta Hill.
“Pakikisama [ko ito] sa mga tao dito sa Baguio sa pursige nila na hindi maputol itong mga pine trees,” Dong said.
The news program tried to get a statement from SM Baguio through text but the company had not responded yet.
On April 23, Sun Star Baguio posted a short report about Dong’s scene-stealing protest.
“This is my way of supporting the Earth Day celebration and my way of protesting for the environment,” Dong was quoted to have said.
The report noted, however, that, “his act is in no connection to the environmental protests against SM’s plans of expansion, which have bombarded the Baguio City the past few days.”
The news report added that Dong isn’t connected with any organization although he’s giving his full support to other environmental activists.
Apart from music, Dong is occupied with writing blogs about problems faced by Filipinos.
“I have a website where I write about every Filipino’s problem, about your problems” he said in the Sunstar Baguio interview.
An avowed environmentalist, Dong performed in a show “Dong Cut the Trees” at the University of the Philippines-Baguio Auditorium last Saturday, April 21.
Yano is known for its hits “Banal na Aso, Santong Kabayo,” “Senti,” and “Esem.”
source: mb.com.ph
