The nuns were the tip-off. A rare sight at MTV events, screaming and squealing to cheer on their colleague (the founder of the non-profit Visayan Forum Foundation), they proved that MTV Exit’s Friday concert was more than your typical rock event.
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The concert was in fact the finale to MTV Exit’s Freedom March, which stomped off Friday afternoon from Roxas Boulevard. Together with 80 different NGOs, the music channel is taking action to prevent more young Filipinos from falling victim to the $10 billion trade in human beings. It is the local arm of a global MTV campaign that began in Europe. The Asian campaign can be followed on www.mtvexit.org.
To keep attention-challenged teens tuned in, MTV gives them what they want: music and a connection to their favorite idols. At the concert, MTV regulars Pupil, Bamboo, Christian Bautista and Kitchie Nadal, amongst others, did their bit to get the crowd roaring. Surprise performances included Sponge Cola featuring Pupil’s guitarist, as well as a dance-off with the fit and fab Gary V. Gary V was later joined onstage by his son Gabriel; the duo brought the house down with a rousing rendition of Jump for Joy. Epi Quizon, looking increasingly like his father, Pinoy movie icon Dolphy, co-hosted the milestone event.
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| GARY V (right) WITH SON GABRIEL | VJ KAT ALANO, CECILLE FLORES, EPI QUIZON |
MTV Exit will be touring five key cities nationwide, where human trafficking is widespread and MTV (a cable channel) is not accessible to those most at risk. To follow the campaign and check out short films, performances and behind-the-scenes clips from local and foreign artists, visit www.mtvexit.org.
