From the internet all the way to the streets. Catechism has a new sound and guess who got his first listen today.

Meet Aaron, Adrian and Jeffrey – three young rappers from Tondo, Manila who I met while covering the festivities at the Santo Nino de Tondo Parish where hundreds gathered to celebrate the canonization of Pedro Calungsod, the country’s second saint.

They call themselves “underground rappers” – often spitting rhymes about love and inspiration in the midst of crime, drugs and gang-related violence which this particular area of Manila is known for.

But over the last few months, they’ve been rapping to a different tune – trading rapid-fire verses about God and the heavens.

Sample lyrics include: Ang espirito’y magaalab
/ sa pag-ibig hindi nagmintis
/
sisigaw at nagliliyab
ang pag-ibig, pag-asa
/ At pananalig sa Diyos nating lahat

Their lead rapper, Aaron, said that they were asked by Parish officials to rap about the life and times of the new saint as part of their efforts to curb crime in the area in favor of catechism. The Church is hoping that the youth emulate San Pedro Calungsod.

“Kapag rap kasi, ito raw ‘yun uso. Ito raw ‘yung mas mauunawaan ng mga bata.”

The rappers did not hesitate to lend their talents.

“Sabi nila ‘yung rap malimit puro kalokohan lang. Kalokohan lang, puro kabastusan. Gusto namin ipakita na pwede siyang gamitin para sa maganda, na ang rap ay pwede rin sa kabutihan.”

It’s an inspiring sentiment. Considering that most of the stories that I cover in Tondo are about crime – a plethora of which involve the youth.

The three rappers are hoping to continue to spread the word of God.

One rhyme at a time.