Review: ‘Sisikat ka Iha’ represents underground artists’ elevated storytelling on child
and human trafficking
ARTICLE: ROSHENNA MHAE RAPADA | FEBRUARY 17, 2024.
It is no stranger for the Philippine music scene to incorporate the realities and social dilemmas the country faces in its tunes and rhythms. One of these reality depictions is the predicament of child and human trafficking. In 2023, a total of 740 sex trafficking and 537 labor trafficking Filipino victims were recorded by the United States Department of State.
The prevalence of these issues inspired one of OPM's rising underground pop rock and alternative rock bands, Bita and the Botflies.
Consisting of lead vocalist Sofy Aldeguer, bassist Rebel Aldeguer and Rheymon Concepcion, guitarist Kevin Navea, and drummer Mark Licallo, this Filipino indie band gained popularity from their 2019 eight-track album ‘Peklat Cream’ that significantly unfolds some of the prominent societal issues of the Philippines.
Among the tracks of the album, ‘Sisikat Ka Iha’' tackles the dilemma of human trafficking or the illicit act of transporting or compelling people to benefit from them, usually through coerced labor or sexual exploitation.
Digging into ‘Sisikat Ka Iha’s’ artistry
At this point, ‘Sisikat Ka Iha’ will have its deserving recognition by digging through its layers and artistic narration using profound interpretations.
Starting with an aggressive round of drums and smooth bass guitar chords creating a jazzy funk melody, the song sets a mysterious mood. The instrumental will make you doubt its theme as it resonates so well while making your body move. Consequently, the first two verses of the lyrics will immediately go blunt as they narrate the intentions of the traffickers.
Written from the perspective of the recruiter, ‘iha’—originating from the Spanish word ‘hija’ which is used to refer to a younger girl—is being persuaded to sign a contract as she’ll be in demand and famous among customers who will admire her beauty and fair complexion.
The vocalist’s husky voice turns the chorus creepy yet fascinating as it describes the fate of the young girl. Whilst the following verses figuratively discuss the nature of the work she is coerced into, this has to be inclined to the society’s belief system where the “deed” has become a coping mechanism for lonely people; that it has become the last resort when challenges in life seem to be unresolvable.
A part of the song indicates, too, the young girl slowly becomes confident in what she does; and is more willing to do her job to get lost from the crowd’s deafening cheer.
Moreover, with another lengthy round of bass guitars matched with the tinny splash of cymbals, the song’s refrain highlights the melancholy of the dark horrors of human trafficking, especially of children manipulated into labor or sexual exploitation. This also includes how women still fall prey as victims of objectification due to society’s unrealistic standards for beauty.
As proof of this objectification and the sad fate of trafficked people, the final part of the song tells how the young girl ended up becoming the customers’ least favorite and has been replaced as if a toy or livestock.
Transcending limits
Sisikat Ka Iha’s music video is as symbolic and meaningful as its lyrics—with its spectacular production and surrealistic elements—inviting various interpretations. Digging deeply, it gives an uncanny and creepy feeling knowing how human trafficking mirrors the world’s reality.
What’s astonishing about this song is how it tackled a sensitive issue while making your body move along with the magnificent resonation of bass guitars and drums together with Sofy Aldeguer’s husky rockish vocals and overall gothic impression.
Bita and the Botflies fearlessly showcases their own music style while artistically tackling relevant issues in Philippine society. Through arts and music, the band transcends artistry and advocacy to call for the attention of those in authority.
We are reminded through Bita and the Botflies’ music that child and human trafficking should not have a place in this world because every child deserves to live safely and freely!
After all, a child's innocence should not be rapidly taken away.
