By Yanni Roxas 

It was a hot night on November 6 and Z compound, a food park at Teachers’ Village, was already brimming with enthusiasts for the world premiere of the anti-Pax Silica song anthem “Get Off Our Lands” by  the Concerned Artists of the Philippines (CAP). 

Highlight of the night was the launch of the music video, enhanced by a separate lyric video, and the actual performance of CAP’s music pool. 

The song starts in a slow tempo, then pulled off unsuspectingly into a high-energy sound by the rhythm of various instruments and the piercing wails of Bayang Barrios. Soaring vocals join in, combined with addictive hooks and riffs that sustain the track’s hype and momentum.  The melody is sharp and catchy, flowing seamlessly into a songwriting that has easy recall yet nails it as a serious political critique.  

Without a doubt, the song title sets the core message, but the punch is delivered by the chants “Tutulan, labanan, reject Pax Silica!” which can draw even a crowd into a sea of resounding voices and clenched fists.

“Get Off Our Lands” is indeed a battlecry, a sonic weapon, against the US-led Pax Silica. An initiative or agreement in collusion with the Marcos Jr regime, Pax Silica would plunder the country’s critical minerals for the US war machine. Its plan to set up Artificial Intelligence hubs would also deprive communities of scarce water resources and energy and poison the environment.  Even artists are up in arms as they might lose not just their jobs but the authenticity of their art and craft as well. 

In the video, the cries of the Aytas of Capas, Tarlac, probably the first victims of displacement, has sounded off the people’s indignation. It is an emotional, yet serene plea to stop, reject, or shot down Pax Silica, not just for themselves but also for all those who will be affected. That CAP made the Aytas, this peace-loving indigenous community, speak for themselves is a stark contrast to the destruction and violence that awaits them, and the nation in due time.

It is a grim scenario. But the night did not leave the viewers and listeners in quiet rage. Then CAP’s music pool commanded the stage. The explosion of energetic sound with astounding raw vocals brought bodies suddenly jumping on their feet, eager to sway and vibe, and without a prompt turned to the lyric video, singing, chanting, dancing. The crowd, mostly millennials and GenZs seemed to have lost it. To everyone’s applause one band member even quipped – “this is not AI”.

Political pop is not just about poverty and sufferings, domination and violence. As much as it is expository, it is also celebratory. That one night in November proved it. The awakening was palpable, though many of those who attended were probably already woke.  The crowd knew the fears, the dangers, the darkness of Pax Silica. Still the spirits were high. Optimism seemed to fill the air seeing the people’s defiance on screen: whether in the Aytas’ soft words, the sincerity of the artists, the militance of mass leaders, the fiery protest actions layered on top of the music’s vibrancy. Much as Pax Silica brings doom, the people’s collective struggle depicted in the song or video brings hope and much more.  And the crowd felt it and the response was electric. 

In addition, the passion, the conviction, and the emotion that artists have poured into “Get Off Our Lands” was borne out of their own experiences. So it has become and remains organic. The artistas ng bayan spent days with the Aytas in their own community, immersed in their own life stories, felt their surroundings, and delved into their culture.

And so it was that the making of the song did not become a private treasure.  The Aytas participated and contributed some lines. So did a roster of composers, songwriters, performers, recording engineers and fellow bands who supported, gave comments, reactions, put in a word or two, before the song ‘s debut. From a shared experience with the Aytas the song became a truly collective collaboration of artists who believed in the same goal.

Now all it takes is to spread and amplify the song in a manner so massive it awakens people to the dangers of Pax Silica and move them into action. CAP has summoned a clarion call to all interested parties to do covers, play the song in all types of events or performances, and saturate social media.  

November is also the month that US President Donald Trump is coming to the 49^th ASEAN Summit in the Philippines, and anticipation is high that the Pax Silica agreement will be signed.  By then the No to Pax Silica movement shall be ready, Trump will feel the heat of being unwelcomed, and slammed by the music “Get Off Our Lands”.