Rock concert for Mendez's brother

By Anna Kristine Pasco


Do not only demand justice for Cris Anthony Mendez but also denounce fraternity inflicted violence, shouted members of the Pursuit of Unity through Leadership, Service and Excellence (NCPAG-PULSE), a student political party based in the National College of Public Administration and Governance, during “Shout for Justice, Rock for Cris,” a benefit concert held September 27 at the Bahay ng Alumni.

“Of course we are condemning frat-violence,” Lou Angela Lising of NCPAG-PULSE said, “Ayaw din naman naming mawala ang buhay ng isang tao na marami pang pwedeng gawin.”

“We [NCPAG-PULSE] are not trying to detach ourselves, but we are doing whatever we can to help stop or minimize this kind of violence,” Lising added. “We have so many friends who are members of fraternities, but this is just too obscene.”

NCPAG-PULSE also told Iskolarium they have been helping to resolve the case by collecting pledges and statements that would help in solving the Mendez case, and push for the expulsion of the perpetrators.

“Hopefully cases can be filed on [tomorrow],” Lising said. “This is not just a university issue but also a personal one [for NCPAG-PULSE]. We were murderous when we found this out. For others, it may just be another kind of vigil and rally to do, but for us, this is something.”

Efforts to help the benefit concert were expressed by the University Student Council (USC) and various organizations in the university.

According to USC President Shahana Abdulwahid, the USC helped in the distributing, selling and informing the students about the concert and the case. Also, they have been collecting statements from witnesses and also hoping that the Sigma Rho Fraternity will give a statement about the issue.

“Sa ngayon, humihingi pa lang kami ng tulong sa mga witnesses na pwedeng lumitaw at sa mga possible na witnesses,” Abdulwahid said,” Hangang ngayon kasi, kahit mga SigmaRhoans ayaw talagang magsalita, kahit pigain mo pa sila.”

Abdulwahid also stated that they are concentrating on finding possible witnesses for the case.

Funds raised from the concert will go primarily to the college education of Mendez’s little brother who is currently a third year high-school student because Cris wanted to provide for his college education.

Bands that performed in the concert were Radio Active Sago Project, Giniling Festival, Join the Club, The Dawn, Ciudad, Up Dharma Down, Silent Sanctuary, Concrete Sam, Matilda, Wanwurd, Garden of Eden, SandLady, Out of Body Special, Butterfinger, Deflower, and other local university bands.

The concert was organized by the UP NCPAG-PULSE in cooperation with the UP Alumni Association.