College student composes COVID-19 rap

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – Some netizens admired the creativity and talent of a college student from Barangay Nato, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, who composed a rap song to encourage people to unite after a townmate tested positive for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

John Mel Ortega, a 23-year-old student from Carlos Hilado Memorial State College (CHMSC) in Barangay Alijis here, posted on his Facebook page – Talento ng Pinoy TV – on April 24, a three-minute rap entitled “Bato Nato!”

Ortega said in his Facebook post that he composed the song while stranded in Bacolod City amid the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) imposed by the province and the city.

He said he felt sorry for his town mates following the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in their town, specifically in the village where he is also residing.

The male patient is the second COVID-19 positive patient in the province.

The song highlights the struggle of the people in fighting COVID-19 as an invisible enemy.

Through his song, Ortega said he is hoping that the people will see the bright side of all of these, and instead of talking about negativity, he encouraged them to unite and help each other fight COVID-19.

He also encouraged people, especially those residing in the affected village, not to blame the COVID-19 positive patient because nobody wants this to happen to anyone.

He said that he is positive that people can overcome the crisis through their faith in God.

Meanwhile, Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manguilimutan said in her official Facebook account, that she was proud of the talent of one of her constituents in the town.

At present, Ortega’s video garnered almost 80,000 views, more than 3,300 reactions, and 3,800 shares on Facebook.