MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines is in turmoil, singer-songwriter Gary Granada says, as he laments over the many struggles it has – from foreign influence to gender issues to the harsh realities of climate change.

“Araw-araw, nag-aaklas tayo, (Every day, we struggle)“ Granada tells Rappler. 

Granada, along with like-minded musicians Chickoy Pura of activist band The Jerks, Cooky Chua of Color It Red, Bayang Barrios, and Lolita Carbon of Asin, formed Project: LAPIS – or The League of Authors of Public Interest Songs. It is an organization of composers and musicians who seek to articulate through music issues that Filipinos face in their everyday lives.

On Saturday, March 14, the founding members of Project: LAPIS brought together more than a hundred volunteers to participate in the making of the music video of their first song – “Bayan Muna.” 

“[Ang awit na ito] ay tungkol sa kapakanan ng marami at kasarinlan ng bansa, (This song is about the welfare of many, and national sovereignty),” Granada says.

Watch the making of the “Bayan Muna” music video, where musicians and civic-minded volunteers come together. – Rappler.com

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY: Franz Lopez

VIDEO EDITOR: Jaene Zaplan