The Balogo cousins
New band The Cousins lives with its name.
Members of the youthful musical band are composed of the
Balogo cousins of Toril.
All the four members are young – the youngest is seven and
the oldest is only 12.
The group is one of the acts performing on Teach Your
Children organized by the Samahan ng mga Musikeros sa Davao, Inc (Samadhi) this
Sunday at Matina Town Square (MTS).
The group is inspired and trained by founder Christopher
Balogo, father of the youngest member and uncle of the three others. The older
Balogo is himself a musician; the band leader of Twilight Dawn who plays the
drum and bass.
Christopher’s son, Kristoffer Casallas Balogo, is the
youngest member. The seven-year-old boy plays the drum. He is a Grade 2
student of Don Juan dela Cruz in Toril.
Taking the vocal works are siblings Leonor Balogo Buco, 12,
and Jess Balogo Buco, 10.
The eldest Leonor, a Grade 6 student, also takes the guitar
while Jess, a Grade 5 student, is also on the bass. The two are schoolmates of
Kristoffer.
The fourth member is 11-year-old Mikee Balogi Bucu on keys.
He is a Grade 5 student of St. Peter’s College.
The Balogo elders are also into music. Jess and Leonor are
children of Christopher’s elder sister who is also a singer. Mikee’s father
also sings.
“We impart to them our love for music,” Christopher said.
“Teaching them at very young age has the advantage since the children can
easily memorize.”
The Balogo cousins were formally organized just last summer
where they held everyday session.
“Instead of having summer vacation, they practiced their
instruments together,” Christopher said.
As exposure to the young musicians, the founder said he
always brought the children to the every gig of Twilight Dawn.
“Until now, The Cousins plays in gig where Twilight Dawn
plays,” he said.
The founder said the young group has also its own performance
in other venues aside from jamming with twilight Dawn. They have already jammed
in ABS-CBN morning show, Maayong Buntag
Mindanao and the Book Month Celebration.
The Cousins cover popular songs with positive values. But
someday, they will be having their own set of original songs and hopeful
release an album.
“Right now, the
children already have a number of original songs,” Christopher said. “Most
songs have social relevance.”
In Agoy Noy, the
children talks about the protection of environment, particularly in proper
waste disposal.
In Simulan Natin, the
band talks about the teaching positive values to the kid at very young age. The
English song Youth of a New Generation is
an anti-drug anthem.
“We hope the public will listen to the meaning of their
songs,” Christopher said.
The Cousins will be performing with other musically-talented
children in Davao in the benefit gig Teach Your Children at MTS on Sunday starting 7:30 pm. Entrance
is free.
Also in the bill are the Palad Brothers of Agdao, The
Friends A Band of Sasa and saxophone poster boy Nico Dumlao.
The event is organized by Samadhi, the biggest group of
musicians in Davao for the benefit of the street
children of Davao.
