MANILA, Philippines – “Medyo weird itong gagawin namin kasi hindi kami sanay na tanghali na nasa harapan ninyo ako.”

Chickoy Pura of The Jerks, whom people are used to seeing perform at night gigs, is apologizing for the unusual time of the day he’s playing his guitar in public.

“Pero para ito sa mga kaibigan at kapatid natin na nasa Leyte, Samar, sa Visayas, sa Panay. Lahat ng mga dinaanan ng masungit na si Yolanda,” he said, as students and professors start gathering at the walkway from the Faculty Center to the iconic Palma Hall at the University of the Philippines in Diliman on Tuesday, November 26.

(But this is for our friends and families in Leyte, Samar, Visayas, Panay and all those battered by Yolanda.)

The Jerks did some burking at the UP campus together with members of the Artista Kontra Korapsyon (AKSYON) and the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP), hoping to turn the relief fundraising drive into a series.

According to Karl Ramirez of CAP, their group saw the opportunity to help typhoon victims by serenading people with their instruments and voices through a street performances.

“Even musicians, both mainstream and independent, can contribute something,” he said in a mix of English and Filipino, as some of those watching started putting dropping donations into a big woven box with a paper taped on it that says, “Harana para sa mga biktima ng Bagyong Yolanda (Serenade for victims of Typhoon Yolanda).”

“Maski beinte pa iyan o singkwenta, okay lang na i-donate. Kahit pa boyfriend ninyo!” one of the artists jokingly remarked. (Whether it’s twenty or fifty pesos, it’s okay to donate that! You can even donate your boyfriend!)

Other artists who performed were The Voice PH finalist Diday Garcellano, rapper BLKD, singer-songwriter Danny Fabella, Musikang Bayan, and other progressive, independent artists.

The group also wants to raise awareness on efforts to rechannel lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF. They said funds intended as pork barrel shoud be used instead for basic social services, including disaster preparedness programs.

“Ngayon na nai-declare nang unconstitutional ang PDAF, ngayon ang napakahalagang panahon para ibigay sa immediate recovery ng ating mga kababayan. (Now that the PDAF has been declared unconstitutional, this is the opportune time to give [the fund] for the immediate recovery of our countrymen),” Ramirez said.

They want to do a series of street gigs after this Diliman performance. Ramirez is requesting sponsors to given them venues. They are looking at business hubs, schools, parks, and other areas frequented by people.

“Pupunta kami, manghaharana kami, para sa mga kaibigan,” he said. (We’ll go anywhere, we will do a serenade, for the sake of our friends.) – Rappler.com

(In an earlier version of this story, we mistakenly identified Karl Ramirez as part of The Jerks. He is with the Concerned Artists of the Philippines. – Editors)