CEBU, Philippines - If protest rallies, opinion columns or Senate hearings have failed to send the message to our public officials and government agencies to end their corrupt practices, maybe an anti-corruption musical will stab at their conscience?

Not quite. But it should definitely send the powerful message that the fight against corruption is not the burden of one man or of a single government body, but that it is a communal effort of all sectors of society.

The Visayas Regional Executives Council (VECL) and the Visayas Resident Ombudsmen Council (VROCL) chose to highlight their anti-corruption campaign for their 10th year anniversary celebration next month through a musical extravaganza on November 11 at SM City Cebu Cinema One.

Dubbed "Hagit...Syagit! Pakigbisog Alang sa Kaligdong ug Kalinaw", this free-admission concert will showcase cultural presentations from original song compositions to cultural dances and musical drama. It will be staged twice, with a matinee performance at 3 pm and gala at 7 pm.

The concert is made up of two parts, the first being the cultural presentations of VECL and VROCL, which will depict the Filipino values of faith, bayanihan and resourcefulness. The second part is the musical stage play showcasing talents from various anti-corruption partners of the Ombudsman such as the Corruption Prevention Units and Junior Graftwatch Units. To help come up with quality performances, experts in the field of music, choreography and acting were hired to train them.

Guest performers were also invited such as the Mandaue City School for the Arts, the DOST Choir, the University of the Visayas Chorale, and the Cebu Normal University Dance Troupe.

A theme song made especially for this project with the title "Hagit Syagit!" was composed by architect Frederick Villarojo. He also composed another piece titled "Kariton", which will be interpreted in a musical play.

The project, coined by Rev. Fr. Albert Alejo, SJ, team leader of the "Ehem! Aha! Anti-Corruption Project" of the Society of Jesus, promises to depict Filipino culture and how it has a strong influence to a person's lifesyle, belief and principles, as well as a person's vulnerability to corruption. It will also remind us of the Filipino values that we should honor and protect against materialism and absolute power, and that all sectors of society should coordinate in the fight against corruption.

According to Fr. Alejo, the concert title was inspired by the biblical story of Longinos, the Roman soldier who guarded the tomb of Jesus, witnessed His resurrection and, despite strict orders from his Roman superiors not to talk about the resurrection of Jesus, ran around the village and shouted that Jesus had resurrected from the dead. Longinos was beheaded for his defiance and for telling the truth.

President Noynoy Aquino will be the guest of honor as the project is inspired by his campaign platform, "Kung Walang Corrupt, Walang Mahirap."

Helping organize the event are members of the Ombudsman-Visayas anti-corruption network which are the Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Couples for Christ, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, SPARKS, Centennial Force Foundation, Metropolitan Cebu Water District, Bag-ong Lampara Foundation and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

For more details and inquiries on the availability of a concert pass, contact Dr. Belle M. Quijano or any member of the Corruption Prevention and Education Group of the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas at tel. nos. 4166134, 4125341 and 2538609.