Raymond Marvic Baguilat
Last 29 August 2015, six bands from all-over Victoria joined KARE 2015 (Kids Actively Rocking for Education 2015), a Battle of the Bands Competition aiming to raise funds for the education of underprivileged Filipino and Indonesian children.
Emerging as the KARE Champion was Unlucky, composed of Walid Shahin, Kosta Tsourdalakis, Tasos Petropolous, and Fritz Frost.
Coming in second and third place were Paper Giants, and Marcvs, respectively.
KARE 2015 is the brainchild of Unity for Purpose, a group that was formed through the partnership of Tulong sa Kapwa Kapatid (2KK – Philippines) and Care4Kids – Indonesia.
Kritzia Santos, Executive Director of 2KK explained, “This event allows all of us to be each other’s brothers and sisters. From the amazing bands to the supportive audience, you are all winners because you all helped those in need of your support in the Philippines and Indonesia.”
Education has been elusive to the youth in both the Philippines and Indonesia and 2kk and Care4Kids have been staunch advocates that education is the key towards the eradication of poverty.
Fritz Frost of the Champion band, Unlucky shares, “May the world continue to shine with the examples of people from Unity for Purpose. You will always be at the core of why we play and a burning reminder that we should use our talents to benefit others. You guys are the real champions and you deserve more than just a trophy.”
Since 2003, 2KK has supported more than 200 children, and are currently supporting 27 scholars, while Care4Kids, supported 300 children since 2009, and are currently helping 64 scholars.
An open letter to the organisers and volunteers of #KARE2015:
There are very few people who take time out of their lives for people they will never know. There are even fewer who take time out of their day to set up an entire venue for both the bands to be looked after as well as the people attending. Even fewer still are the ones who do it all without a break, at risk of embarrassment and still have the energy to laugh and smile at the end of the day.
This was Unlucky’s fourth gig opportunity and it was EASILY our best. We may have won the competition side, but at the end of the day, there are children and teens and adults in the Philippines and Indonesia that we will never meet and yet, they have dedicated individuals that care (KARE) about them and are willing to throw these events to help end poverty in the best way; education. This is a cause that I support personally and that we all support as a collective.
The trophy we’ve received as well as certificate stands to us as the greatest gig we have ever played in the past months that we’ve been a band and it was all because of you guys; you believed in us and put so much force into all the bands and performers and we thrived on your honesty and your help.
This will be the best gig we’ll have played for a while but more importantly, something we couldn’t ever do, is provide hope for communities across the sea. With all the prizes, interviews, live recordings that we do that have been possible because of our Battle of the Bands win as well as the sponsors that pitched in, we’ll always have in mind you guys that made it all work and the people whose lives may have been changed.
May the world continue to shine with the examples of the people from Unity for Purpose. You will always be at the core of why we play and a burning reminder that we should use our talents to benefit others. You guys are the real champions and you deserve more than just a trophy.
Salamat,
Unlucky – Fritz Frost
(Kosta Rica, Walid Shahin, Lorenz Martinez)
