Singing for a worthy cause

Citing the importance of bringing the word out against drugged and drunk driving, a group of artists have joined forces for the holiday season to form the 3D Elves Band, which would spread its traffic safety message through music.

The group, formed specially for the Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention campaign, has been accompanying 3D members to presentations at schools. Most recently, they entertained the audience at the 3D month proclamation ceremony Friday morning at the Office of the Governor.

The band consists of 3D vice chair Rose T. Ada-Hocog, Ian Romolor, Leif Pangelinan, Jermo Taman, John Saures, Chris John Selepeo, Lino Aichi, J.J. Norita, and Steve Limes. The group will also be accompanying the program’s “Santa Claus” in the coming days during visits to schools.

“There’s so many things going on, and a lot of kids have the impression that in order to have fun they have to be intoxicated,” said Ada-Hocog. “We formed the band to show the kids that you can have fun and you don’t need beer or drugs to do so.”

Ada-Hocog said the formation of the band also serves as a way to promote working relations with the community.

“Without the community, we can’t solve any of our cases,” she said. “As a public servant, our first and foremost duty is to make sure the community is safe, and in order for us to do that, we have to form a relationship with the community…make them trust us or feel comfortable enough to come up to us anytime and say ‘hey, this is what’s bothering me.’ A lot of people have this mentality that cops or DPS is just there to bust people, put them in jail, or give tickets, but that’s not it.”

Ada-Hocog said the band’s performances are also being done in a sense of “giving back to the community.”

“The volunteers are here, and we combined the talents and give back as a way of saying thank you for the support, donations, and for just being there for the program,” she said.

Ada-Hocog said the group would play a few numbers after each 3D presentation.

“We encourage the kids to come up and dance, and after, we ask them ‘Are you having fun or did you have fun?’ and many of the answers we get is yes and that they want more,” she said. “Then we just tell them that it goes to show that you can have fun and not resort to drinking or taking drugs.”

The group will also be doing Christmas caroling around the island.

“We’re taking into account the custom where come Christmas season we have the Christmas caroling,” Ada-Hocog said.

The band was first formed when the 2004 3D campaign kicked off in October, consisting of just Romolor, Pangelinan, and Ada-Hocog before expanding.

Saures, a resident of Koblerville who has been involved with music for over 10 years, said he doesn’t mind the time and effort he puts into the program as it is “a worthy cause.

“I don’t have anything to do at the house, and [with this] I can help the CNMI with drunk and drugged driving prevention,” he said.

For his part, Taman said he enjoys using his talent to send positive and safe messages. “I really had a great passion of [music] and I’ve been into it all my life and it’s just a hobby of mine. I feel great that I’m doing this for a worthy cause…it’s worth singing to the community and sharing our talent, and the problem with drinking and driving should be attended to and I’m just trying to pitch in and help.”

Selepeo and Aichy both agreed with Taman and Saures’ comments, citing the positive effects their efforts may have on the community.